Frictional locking receptacle with release operated by actuator

• US 9,431,763 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Chapel, Steve, Pachoud, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US14/217,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20150064960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 439/312, 439/320, 439/277, 439/348, 439/349, 439/255, 439/256, 439/257, 439/346, 439/345
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/20 Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5804 comprising a separate cable clamping part H01R13/5841 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for securing an electrical connection formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly are provided. In certain embodiments, the electrical connection can be secured by frictional engagement between the plug and receptacle housings. This can be accomplished by forcing a wedge into an interface between the housings or expanding a locking element, such as an elastomeric ring, into the interface. Such locking and releasing of the secure connection can be actuated using a locking nut.

Claims

1. A locking electrical plug for use in forming a secure electrical connection by mating engagement with a receptacle, said receptacle including a receptacle housing, wherein said plug includes multiple prongs and said receptacle includes multiple sockets for receiving said prongs, wherein said prongs and sockets are arranged so as to define a specific mating orientation for said receptacle and said plug, comprising:

a plug housing structure forming said plug and housing said prongs for selectively establishing and breaking said electrical connection, said plug housing configured to matingly engage a portion of said receptacle housing when said receptacle and said plug are in said specific mating orientation, comprising;

a first plug housing portion; and

a second plug housing portion moveable relative to said first plug housing portion between first and second positions, wherein, in said first position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing are frictionally locked at least at an interface portion therebetween so as to resist breaking of said connection and, in said second position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing can be easily separated, said interface portion corresponding to a first flat surface of said receptacle housing and a second flat surface of said plug housing; and

an actuator assembly for moving said second plug housing portion between said first and second positions.

2. A locking electrical plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator assembly comprises a locking nut for advancing and retracting said second plug housing portion in relation to said first plug housing portion.

3. A locking electrical plug as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second housing portion includes tab structure adjacent said interface portion between said receptacle housing and said plug housing such that advancement of said second housing portion to said first position causes said tab structure to frictionally lock.

4. A locking electrical plug as set forth in claim 2, wherein advancement of said second housing portion causes expansion of a locking element into said interface portion between said plug housing and said receptacle housing so as to increase friction therebetween.

5. A locking electrical plug as set forth in claim 4, wherein said locking element comprises an elastomeric ring.

6. A method for use in securing an electrical plug for use in forming an electrical connection by mating engagement with a receptacle, the receptacle including a receptacle housing, wherein said plug includes multiple prongs and receptacle includes multiple sockets for receiving said prongs, wherein said prongs and sockets are arranged so as to define a specific mating orientation for said receptacle and said plug, comprising:

providing a plug housing structure forming said plug and housing said prongs for selectively establishing and breaking said electrical connection, said plug housing configured to matingly engage a portion of said receptacle housing when said receptacle and said plug are in said specific mating orientation and including a first plug housing portion and a second plug housing portion that is moveable in relation to the first plug housing portion between first and second positions, wherein, in said first position, said plug housing and said plug housing are frictionally locked at an interface portion therebetween so as to resist breaking of said connection and, in said second position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing can be easily separated, said interface portion corresponding to a first flat surface of said receptacle housing and a second flat surface of said plug housing;

providing an actuator assembly for moving said second plug housing portion between said first and second positions;

matingly engaging said plug housing and said receptacle housing with said second plug housing portion in said second position; and

operating said actuator assembly to move said second plug housing portion to said first position so as to secure said electrical connection.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the step of operating said actuator assembly to move said second plug housing portion to said second position and disengaging said plug housing and said receptacle housing.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said actuator assembly comprises a locking nut and said step of operating said actuator assembly comprises turning said locking nut to advance said second plug housing portion in relation to said first plug housing portion.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said step of operating said actuator assembly comprises forcing a tab structure into said interface portion between said receptacle housing and said plug housing.

10. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said step of operating said actuator assembly comprises causing expansion of a locking element into said interface portion between said plug housing and said receptacle housing.