LOCKING ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE

• US 20100144187A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Pachoud, William, Chapel, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/357
• 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 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629

Abstract

A method and apparatus (“utility”) for securing an electrical connection formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly are provided. The utility includes a clamping mechanism whereby the very forces that would otherwise tend to pull the connection apart serve to actuate the clamping mechanism, thereby securing the mated pair. The apparatus may be integrated into a standard receptacle, or retrofitted to work with existing devices. In one embodiment, the clamping mechanism acts solely on the ground prong of a standard plug assembly, so that it is unnecessary to consider electrical potentials applied to the clamped prong in relation to the design of the clamping mechanism. Further, the withdrawing movement of the prongs of a plug may be translated into a rotational movement of a portion of the clamping mechanism into an abutting relationship with the clamped prong.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in securing an electrical connection, said electrical connection being formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly, wherein said electrical connection is broken by withdrawal of said prongs from said receptacles, said apparatus comprising:

a clamping element moveable between a clamping configuration and a release configuration, wherein said clamping element holds said mating structure in a connected state in said clamping configuration; and

an activating element for urging said clamping element into said clamping configuration responsive to a force tending to withdraw said prongs from said receptacles, wherein said activating element is deflectable between said clamping configuration and said release configuration and is biased via an internal spring force towards said clamping configuration, said clamping element being coupled to a deflectable portion of said activating element for deflection together with said deflectable portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clamping element is operative to exert a clamping force on at least one of said prongs.

3. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein said clamping clement is operative to exert a clamping force on a ground prong maintained at ground potential.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said activating element urges said clamping element into said clamping configuration responsive to withdrawing movement of said prongs, said withdrawing movement being smaller than required to break said connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said clamping element includes a contact surface for contacting one of said prongs in said clamping configuration, and said activating element is operative to translate said withdrawing movement of said prongs into movement of said contact surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said activating element translates said withdrawing movement of said prong into movement of said contact surface having a component transverse to said movement of said prong.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said activating element translates said withdrawing movement of said prong into rotational movement of said contact surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a release element for moving said clamping element into said release configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said release element is adapted for operation by a user so as to break said connection when desired.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said release element is operated by gripping a slideable section of an end cap that extends substantially around a periphery of said end cap.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is integrated into a standard receptacle.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is integrated into a standard cord cap receptacle.

14. A method for use in securing an electrical connection, said electrical connection being formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly, wherein said connection is broken by withdrawal of said prongs from said receptacles, comprising the steps of:

providing a securing device including a clamping element, moveable between a clamping configuration, wherein said clamping element holds said mating structure in a connected state, and a release configuration, and an activating element, for urging said clamping element into said clamping configuration responsive to a force tending to withdraw said prongs from said receptacles, said securing device being provided in connection with a receptacle structure including a first housing portion, connected to a power cord, housing a first receptacle having an end at a first front surface of said first housing portion, and a second housing portion, moveably interconnected to said first housing portion, and having a second front surface; and

activating said securing device by inserting said prongs into said receptacles and moving said second front surface in relation to said first front surface.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of deactivating said securing device by forcing said clamping element into said release configuration and breaking said connection by withdrawing said prongs from said receptacles.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of deactivating includes pulling said securing device in substantially the same direction as said withdrawal of said prongs.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said clamping element is operative to exert a clamping force on at least one of said prongs.

18. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said clamping element is operative to exert a clamping force on a ground prong maintained at ground potential.

19. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said clamping element includes a contact surface for contacting one of said prongs in said clamping configuration, and said activating element is operative to translate said withdrawing movement of said prongs into movement of said contact surface.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said activating element translates said withdrawing movement of said prong into movement of said contact surface having a component transverse to said movement of said prong.

21. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said activating element translates said withdrawing movement of said prong into rotational movement of said contact surface.

22. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a release element for moving said clamping element into said release configuration.

23. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said release element is adapted for operation by a user so as to break said connection when desired.

24. The method as Set forth in claim 18, wherein said release element is operated by movement in substantially the same direction as withdrawing movement of said prongs.

25. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said apparatus is integrated into a standard receptacle.

26. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said apparatus is integrated into a standard duplex receptacle.

27. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said apparatus is adapted to fit onto a standard receptacle.

28. An apparatus for use in securing an electrical connection, said electrical connection being formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly and receptacles of a female assembly, wherein said electrical connection is broken by withdrawal of said prongs from said receptacles, said apparatus comprising:

a first housing portion of said female assembly that is connected to a power cord, said first housing portion housing at least a first receptacle having an end at a first front surface of said first housing portion; and

a second housing portion of said female assemble moveably interconnected to said first housing portion, said second housing portion including a second front surface having an opening formed therein in alignment with said first receptacle such that a prong can be inserted into said first receptacle via said opening;

wherein said second housing portion is moveable in relation to said first housing portion relative to an axis of said first receptacle between a clamping configuration and a release configuration and said mating structure is secured in a connected state in said clamping configuration.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said apparatus is moveable to said clamping configuration by moving said second housing portion such that said second front surface is adjacent said first front surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a clamping element disposed between said first front surface and said second front surface.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said clamping element comprises a deflectable plate.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said deflectable plate is formed as an integral portion of a leaf spring that flexes in relation to a pre-formed bend thereof.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said apparatus includes a clamping element that can be constructed to provide a desired release tension.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said apparatus is incorporated into a power cord end cap and said apparatus includes strain relief structure for transferring a strain relief structure for transferring a strain from said clamping element to said power cord while bypassing intermediate cord end cap structure.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said second housing portion includes an external surface, extending substantially about a periphery thereof, that can be gripped to move said second housing portion between said clamping configuration and said release configuration.

36-38. -38. (canceled)