Safety power receptacle
First Claim
1. A safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines for connection with a matching power plug, having an equal plurality of prongs, comprising:
- a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;
a front plate having a receive hole aligned with each receive terminal for receiving a respective prong;
switch means in engagement with at least two of said prongs for generating a connect signal in response to each of said two prongs being fully inserted into respective ones of said receive terminals, and electrical connecting means being responsive to said connect signal for connecting at least one of said power lines with its respective receive terminal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines, including a hot line, and arranged to receive the prongs of a matching multipronged power plug has a receive terminal connected to each power line. The receive terminal is arranged to receive a corresponding prong of the power plug which upon insertion into the terminal operates a switch associated with each terminal. All switches are connected in series, and upon complete insertion of all the prongs, the series connected switches complete a power connection from the hot line to its respective prong, which in turn provides power to the external circuit connected to the power plug.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines for connection with a matching power plug, having an equal plurality of prongs, comprising:
- a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;
a front plate having a receive hole aligned with each receive terminal for receiving a respective prong;
switch means in engagement with at least two of said prongs for generating a connect signal in response to each of said two prongs being fully inserted into respective ones of said receive terminals, and electrical connecting means being responsive to said connect signal for connecting at least one of said power lines with its respective receive terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;
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3. A safety power outlet connected to a plurality of power lines for connection with a matching power plug, having an equal plurality of prongs, comprising:
- a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;
a front plate having a receive hole aligned with each receive terminal for receiving a respective prong;
switch means in engagement with at least two of said prongs for generating a connect signal in response to each of said two prongs being fully inserted into respective ones of said receive terminals, and electrical connecting means being responsive to said connect signal for connecting at least one of said power lines with its respective receive terminal, wherein said power lines include at least one high potential line and at least one low potential line, wherein said switch means include at least two normally open switches, each aligned with a respective receive terminal of said high potential line and of said low potential line;
each of said switches being closed in response to a prong being fully inserted in said receive terminal, wherein said switches form a series connection having two ends, one of said ends being connected to one of said power lines, the other end of said series connection forming said connect signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a receive terminal associated with each of the power lines;
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16. A safety power outlet for connection with a matching power plug having a plurality of prongs, comprising a plurality of power lines including a hot line, a receive terminal associated with each of said power lines, one switch only forming a series connection between said hot line and its receive terminal;
- a switch cam for each of at least two of said terminals in operative engagement with a respective one of said prong s when said prongs are fully inserted into a respective receive terminal, and mechanical linking means between each cam and said one switch for closing said switch only when each prong is fully inserted in its respective receive terminal.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A safety power outlet for connection with a matching power cord having a plurality of prongs, comprising a plurality of power lines including a hot line, a receive terminal associated with each of said power lines;
- at least one switch forming a series connection between said hot line and its receive terminal;
a switch cam for each of at least two of said terminals in operative engagement with a respective one of said prongs when said prongs are fully inserted into a respective terminal, and mechanical linking means between each cam and said at least one switch for closing said at least one switch only when each prong is fully inserted in its respective receive terminals; and
including a switch for each terminal wherein each cam is linked with a respective switch, and a series connection formed by said switches between said hot line and its receive terminal.
- at least one switch forming a series connection between said hot line and its receive terminal;
Specification