Locking electrical device

• US 9,450,365 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Titan3 Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Baldwin, Ryan Liebengood
• Inventors: Baldwin, Jeffrey, Liebengood, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid
• Application Number:
  US14/694,377
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 439/11, 439/13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/4532 Rotating shutter
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• 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 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

An electrical receptacle including a body having a plurality of electrical connections, a device face connected to the body and movable with respect to the body, a plurality of electrical plug contacts positioned behind the device face, and wherein the electrical plug contacts retain an electrical plug prong at a first tension when the device face is in a first position and the electrical plug contacts retain the electrical plug prong at a second tension when the device face is in a second position.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle comprising:

a body having a plurality of electrical connections;

a device face connected to the body and movable with respect to the body;

a plurality of electrical plug contacts positioned behind the device face;

wherein the electrical plug contacts retain an electrical plug prong at a first tension when the device face is in a first position and the electrical plug contacts retain the electrical plug prong at a second tension when the device face is in a second position; and

,

wherein a tab compresses the electrical plug contact in the second position.

2. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein a plurality of electrical receptacle apertures are located on the device face.

3. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein the device face movement is rotational movement.

4. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein the electrical plug cannot be removed when the electrical receptacle is moved to the second position.

5. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein the electrical plug prong is positioned within at least one aperture in the electrical plug when the device face is moved to the second position.

6. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein a removal force between 20 to 50 pounds removes the electrical plug from the electrical receptacle when the device face is in the second position.

7. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein a removal force between 32 and 40 pounds removes the electrical plug from the receptacle when the device face is in a second position.

8. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein movement from the first position to the second position pulls the electrical plug towards the device face.

9. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein the device face further comprises a rubberized surface.

10. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 wherein the electrical receptacle is positioned on an extension cord.

11. A power strip comprising a plurality of electrical receptacles of claim 1 on a power strip or a power tap.

12. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein the second tension does not permit removal of the electrical plug prong until the electrical device applies the first tension.

13. The electrical device of claim 1 wherein movement from the first position to the second position pulls the electrical plug towards the device face.

14. The electrical device of claim 13 wherein the device face further comprises a compliant rubber surface which is a waterproof seal between an electrical plug face and the device face.

15. An electrical receptacle comprising:

a body having a plurality of electrical connections;

a device face connected to the body and movable with respect to the body;

a plurality of electrical plug contacts positioned behind the device face;

at least one projection;

wherein the at least one projection interacts with an electrical plug prong when inserted into the device face; and

,

wherein the at least one projection is positioned within an aperture in the electrical plug prong when the device face is rotated and the at least one projection moves axially away from the device face which pulls the electrical plug towards the device face.

16. The electrical receptacle of claim 15 wherein the electrical plug prong is removable with less force in an unlocked position than in a locked position.

17. An electrical receptacle comprising:

a body having a plurality of electrical connections;

a device face connected to the body and movable with respect to the body;

a plurality of electrical plug contacts positioned behind the device face;

wherein the electrical plug contacts retain an electrical plug prong at a first tension when the device face is in a first position and the electrical plug contacts retain the electrical plug prong at a second tension when the device face is in a second position; and

,

a release button to permit moving the device face from the second position.

18. A power strip comprising a plurality of electrical receptacles of claim 17 on a power strip or a power tap.

19. The electrical receptacle of claim 17 wherein the device face movement is rotational movement.

20. The electrical receptacle of claim 17 wherein the electrical receptacle is positioned on an extension cord.