FRICTIONAL LOCKING RECEPTACLE WITH PROGRAMMABLE RELEASE

• US 20170207576A1
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Published: 07/20/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,326,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. An electrical connection system for connecting a piece of electronic equipment to an electrical power source, comprising:

a power cord extending between said piece of electronic equipment and said power source;

a first cord cap, disposed at a first end of said power cord, for engaging a first industry standard power port associated with said piece of electronic equipment;

a first locking assembly for locking said first cord cap to said first industry standard power port, said first locking assembly being movable between a first locking configuration and a first release configuration, wherein said first locking assembly locks said first cord cap and said first industry standard power port in a connected state for power flow therebetween in said first locking configuration and allows for separation of said first cord cap and said first industry standard power port to a disconnected state in said first release configuration;

a second cord cap, disposed at a second end of said power cord, for engaging a second industry standard power port associated with said electrical power source; and

a second locking assembly for locking said second cord cap to said second industry standard power port, said second locking assembly being movable between a second locking configuration and a second release configuration, wherein said second locking assembly locks said second cord cap and said second industry standard power port in a connected state for power flow therebetween in said second locking configuration and allows for separation of said second cord cap and said second industry standard power port to a disconnected state in said second release configuration.

12. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 11, wherein a first cap of said first and second cord caps is a male cord cap carrying electrical prongs and a second cord cap of said first and second cord caps is a female cord cap carrying structure defining electrical sockets.

13. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second cord cap includes a clamping element operative to exert a clamping force on at least one prong of a mating plug.

14. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said clamping element is operative to exert a clamping force on a ground prong maintained at ground potential.

15. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said clamping element is urged into a clamping engagement responsive to withdrawing movement of said prong, said withdrawing movement being smaller than required to break said connection.

16. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said clamping element is operative to translate said withdrawing movement of said prong into movement of first and second clamping surfaces of said clamping element.

17. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said clamping element is operative to translate said withdrawing movement of said prongs into movement of said first and second clamping surfaces having a component transverse to said movement of said prong.

18. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said clamping element translates said withdrawing movement of said prong into rotational movement of said first and second clamping surfaces.

19. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a release element is suitable for operation by a user so as to break said connection when desired.

20. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first cord cap comprises:

a plug housing forming said cord cap and housing said prongs for selectively establishing and breaking an electrical connection, said plug housing being dimensioned in accordance with an industry standard to engage an industry standard receptacle and being configured to matingly engage an interface portion of a receptacle housing separate from sockets of said receptacle housing when said receptacle and said cord cap are in a mating orientation; and

a locking actuator movable relative to said plug housing between first and second positions, wherein, in said first position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing are frictionally locked at least at said interface portion so as to resist breaking of said connection and, in said second position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing can be easily separated.

21. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said locking actuator comprises a locking nut for advancing and retracting a locking element in relation to said plug housing structure.

22. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said locking element comprises tab structure adjacent said interface portion between said receptacle housing and said plug housing such that advancement of said locking element causes said tab structure to frictionally lock said receptacle housing and said plug housing.

23. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 21, wherein advancement of said locking element causes expansion of an expansion member into said interface portion between said plug housing and said receptacle housing so as to increase friction therebetween.

24. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said expansion member comprises an elastomeric ring.

25. An electrical connection system as set forth in claim 11, wherein one of said first and second locking assemblies is incorporated into a receptacle separate from said first and second cord caps.

26. A method for use in connecting a piece of electronic equipment to an electrical power source using an electrical connection system, said electrical connection system comprising:

a power cord extending between said piece of electronic equipment and said power source;

a first cord cap, disposed at a first end of said power cord, for engaging a first industry standard power port associated with said piece of electronic equipment;

a first locking assembly for locking said first cord cap to said first industry standard power port, said first locking assembly being movable between a first locking configuration and a first release configuration, wherein said first locking assembly locks said first cord cap and said first industry standard power port in a connected state for power flow therebetween in said first locking configuration and allows for separation of said first cord cap and said first industry standard power port to a disconnected state in said first release configuration;

a second cord cap, disposed at a second end of said power cord, for engaging a second industry standard power port associated with said electrical power source;

a second locking assembly for locking said second cord cap to said second industry standard power port, said second locking assembly being movable between a second locking configuration and a second release configuration, wherein said second locking assembly locks said second cord cap and said second industry standard power port in a connected state for power flow therebetween in said second locking configuration and allows for separation of said second cord cap and said second industry standard power port to a disconnected state in said second release configuration;

wherein said method comprises;

first plugging said first cord cap into said first industry standard power port;

first moving said first locking assembly to said first locking configuration;

second plugging said second cord cap into said second industry standard power port; and

second moving said second locking assembly to said second locking configuration.

27. A method as set forth in claim 26, comprising performing at least one of said steps of second plugging and second moving before performing said steps of first plugging and first moving.

28. A method for use in claim 26, wherein a first cap of said first and second cord caps is a male cord cap carrying electrical prongs and a second cord cap of said first and second cord caps is a female cord cap carrying structure defining electrical sockets.

29. A method for use in claim 28, wherein said step of second moving comprises operating a clamping element to exert a clamping force on at least one prong of a mating plug.

30. A method for use in claim 29, wherein said step of second moving comprises operating said clamping element to exert a clamping force on a ground prong maintained at ground potential.

31. A method for use in claim 29, wherein said clamping element is urged into a clamping engagement responsive to a withdrawing movement of said prong, said withdrawing movement being smaller than required to break said connection.

32. A method for use in claim 31, wherein said clamping element is operative to translate said withdrawing movement of said prong into movement of first and second clamping surfaces of said clamping element.

33. A method for use in claim 32, wherein said clamping element is operative to translate said withdrawing movement of said prongs into movement of said first and second clamping surfaces having a component transverse to said movement of said prong.

34. A method for use in claim 32, wherein said clamping element translates said withdrawing movement of said prong into rotational movement of said first and second clamping surfaces.

35. A method for use in claim 26, further comprising operating a release element associated with one of said first and second locking assemblies so as to break a connection when desired.

36. A method for use in claim 28, wherein said first cord cap comprises:

a plug housing forming said cord cap and housing said prongs for selectively establishing and breaking an electrical connection, said plug housing being dimensioned in accordance with an industry standard to engage an industry standard receptacle and being configured to matingly engage an interface portion of a receptacle housing separate from sockets of said receptacle housing when said receptacle and said cord cap are in a mating orientation; and

a locking actuator movable relative to said plug housing between first and second positions, wherein, in said first position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing are frictionally locked at least at said interface portion so as to resist breaking of said connection and, in said second position, said receptacle housing and said plug housing can be easily separated, and said step of first moving comprises;

moving said locking actuator from said second position to said first position.

37. A method for use in claim 36, wherein said locking actuator comprises a locking nut for advancing and retracting a locking element in relation to said plug housing structure and said step of first moving comprises turning said locking nut.

38. A method for use in claim 37, wherein said locking element comprises tab structure adjacent said interface portion between said receptacle housing and said plug housing and said step of first moving comprises advancing said locking element such that said tab structure frictionally locks said receptacle housing and said plug housing.

39. A method for use in claim 37, wherein said advancing of said locking element causes expansion of an expansion member into said interface portion between said plug housing and said receptacle housing so as to increase friction therebetween.

40. A method for use in claim 39, wherein said expansion member comprises an elastomeric ring.

41. A method for use in claim 26, wherein one of said first and second locking assemblies is incorporated into a receptacle separate from said first and second cord caps.