Socket, a plug, and an assembly
First Claim
1. A socket for coupling electrically to a plug, the socket comprising:
- a mating means disposed on the socket for mating with a matching means on a first plug, said mating means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and
an electrical contact on the socket for coupling electrically to a conducting terminal of the first plug;
wherein when in the compatible mode, the mating means is configured to mate with the matching means of the first plug to allow the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal of the first plug, and when in the incompatible mode, the mating means is configured to not mate with the matching means of the first plug such that the mating means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal of the first plug; and
wherein the incompatible mode comprises at least one configuration of the mating means such that for each of the at least one incompatible mode configurations of the mating means, the mating means (i) is configured to allow electrical coupling between the electrical contact of the socket and a given conducting terminal of a given plug in the event that the given plug has a given matching means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the mating means such that the given matching means is configured to mate with the mating means, and (ii) prevents electrical coupling between the electrical contact of the socket and the given conducting terminal of the given plug in the event that the given plug does not have the given matching means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the mating means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plug and socket assembly comprising (i) a socket that includes a mating means disposed thereon, and an electrical contact on the socket, and (ii) a plug that includes a matching means for mating with the mating means disposed on the socket, and a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to the electrical contact on the socket. The matching means is configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode. When in the compatible mode, the matching means allows the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the matching means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal.
15 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A socket for coupling electrically to a plug, the socket comprising:
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a mating means disposed on the socket for mating with a matching means on a first plug, said mating means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and an electrical contact on the socket for coupling electrically to a conducting terminal of the first plug; wherein when in the compatible mode, the mating means is configured to mate with the matching means of the first plug to allow the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal of the first plug, and when in the incompatible mode, the mating means is configured to not mate with the matching means of the first plug such that the mating means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal of the first plug; and wherein the incompatible mode comprises at least one configuration of the mating means such that for each of the at least one incompatible mode configurations of the mating means, the mating means (i) is configured to allow electrical coupling between the electrical contact of the socket and a given conducting terminal of a given plug in the event that the given plug has a given matching means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the mating means such that the given matching means is configured to mate with the mating means, and (ii) prevents electrical coupling between the electrical contact of the socket and the given conducting terminal of the given plug in the event that the given plug does not have the given matching means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the mating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23)
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19. A plug for coupling electrically to a socket, the plug comprising:
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a matching means on the plug for mating with a mating means disposed on a first socket; and a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to an electrical contact on the first socket; wherein when in the compatible mode, the matching means is configured to mate with the mating means of the first socket to allow the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the matching means is configured to not mate with the mating means of the first socket such that the matching means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal; and wherein the incompatible mode comprises at least one configuration of the matching means such that for each of the at least one incompatible mode configurations of the matching means, the matching means (i) is configured to allow electrical coupling between the conducting terminal of the plug and a given electrical contact of a given socket in the event that the given socket has a given mating means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the matching means such that the given mating means is configured to mate with the matching means, and (ii) prevents electrical coupling between the conducting terminal of the plug and the given electrical contact of the given socket in the event that the given socket does not have the given mating means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the matching means.
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20. A plug and socket assembly comprising:
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a socket comprising a mating means disposed thereon, said mating means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and an electrical contact on the socket; and a first plug comprising a matching means for mating with the mating means disposed on the socket; and
a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to the electrical contact on the socket;wherein when in the compatible mode, the mating means is configured to mate with the matching means of the first plug to allow the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal of the first plug, and when in the incompatible mode, the mating means is configured to not mate with the matching means of the first plug such that the mating means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal of the first plug; and wherein the incompatible mode comprises at least one configuration of the mating means such that for each of the at least one incompatible mode configurations of the mating means, the mating means (i) is configured to allow electrical coupling between the electrical contact of the socket and a given conducting terminal of a given plug in the event that the given plug has a given matching means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the mating means such that the given matching means is configured to mate with the mating means, and (ii) prevents electrical coupling between the electrical contact of the socket and the given conducting terminal of the given plug in the event that the given plug does not have the given matching means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the mating means.
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21. A plug and socket assembly comprising:
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a first socket comprising a mating means disposed thereon; and
an electrical contact on the first socket, anda plug comprising a matching means for mating with the mating means disposed on the first socket, said matching means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and
a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to the electrical contact on the first socket,wherein when in the compatible mode, the matching means is configured to mate with the mating means of the first socket to allow the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the matching means is configured to not mate with the mating means of the first socket such that the matching means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal; and wherein the incompatible mode comprises at least one configuration of the matching means such that for each of the at least one incompatible mode configurations of the matching means, the matching means (i) is configured to allow electrical coupling between the conducting terminal of the plug and a given electrical contact of a given socket in the event that the given socket has a given mating means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the matching means such that the given mating means is configured to mate with the matching means, and (ii) prevents electrical coupling between the conducting terminal of the plug and the given electrical contact of the given socket in the event that the given socket does not have the given mating means that corresponds to the incompatible mode configuration of the matching means.
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Specification