# US 10,483,694 B2 · Lock-in securable electrical plug adapter and method of use

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,483,694 B2
- Document ID: US10483694B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/235,573
- Filed: 2018-12-28
- Published: 2019-05-09
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-04
- Applicants: Robert W. Crowder
- Inventors: Robert W. Crowder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483694B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/6395: {for wall or panel outlets}
- H01R 13/447: Shutter or cover plate
- H01R 13/5825: {the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable}
- H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap}
- H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94)
- H01R 24/68: mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
- H01R 24/78: with additional earth or shield contacts
- H01R 31/065: {with built-in electric apparatus}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A lock-in adapter having a locking arm ending in a latch contained within a ground pin for securing the adapter into a wall outlet via the ground pin receiver. Internal locking arms similarly lock and retain a plug inserted into the opposite end of the adapter, thereby securing the plug to the adapter and the adapter to the wall. The adapter can be further secured to the outlet faceplate via screws through tabs located on both the top and bottom ends of the adapter. A button secures the various latches to secure the plug and adapter, and which can be selectively operated to release both the adapter from the outlet and the plug from the adapter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power adapter comprising:
an adapter body having a first surface and a second surface;
a female receptacle in the first surface of the adapter body comprising a pair of female power prong receptacles and a female ground prong receptacle;
male prongs extending from the second surface of the adapter body comprising a pair of male power prongs and a ground prong;
a pair of locking arms each ending in a respective first and second plug latch, said pair of locking arms located within said adapter body and configured to secure male prongs of a plug inserted into said pair of female power prong receptacles of said first surface of the adapter body by inserting said first and second plug latches into holes located within said male prongs of said plug; and
a button configured to selectively release said locking arms from said male prongs of said plug.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:
said ground prong comprising a concave recess containing a latch arm ending in a ground latch, said latch arm configured to secure said ground prong within a power outlet receptacle; and
said button further configured to selectively release said latch arm from said power outlet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:
a first fastening tab extending from a top edge of the second surface of the adapter body;
said first fastening tab including a first receiver hole configured to receive a mounting screw; and
wherein said mounting screw secures said power adapter against said power outlet receptacle by threading through said first receiver hole of said first fastening tab and into a center screw receiver of an outlet faceplate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The power adapter of claim 3, further comprising:
a second fastening tab extending from a bottom edge of the second surface of the adapter body;
said second fastening tab including a second receiver hole configured to receive said mounting screw; and
wherein said mounting screw secures said power adapter against said power outlet receptacle by threading through said second receiver hole of said second fastening tab and into said center screw receiver of said outlet faceplate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The power adapter of claim 3, further comprising:
an extension comprising an extension receiver hole and an extension tab;
said extension tab configured for being received within said first receiver hole of said first fastening tab; and
said extension receiver hold configured for receiving said mounting screw.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The power adapter of claim 2, further comprising:
a spring configured to depress said pair of locking arms and said latch arm, thereby preventing accidental disengagement of said respective ground latch and said first and second plug latches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising a latch arm mechanically connected to one of said pair of locking arms.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:
a button clip configured to removably engage with said adapter body such that said button clip is received beneath said button; and
said button clip further configured to prevent depression of said button.

### Claim 9

A power plug comprising:
a plug body having a first surface and a second surface;
an electrical cord connecting from a powered device to said first surface;
male prongs extending from the second surface of the adapter body comprising a pair of male power prongs and a ground prong;
said ground prong comprising a concave recess containing a latch arm ending in a ground latch, said latch arm configured to secure said ground prong within a power outlet receptacle;
a button configured to selectively release said latch arm from said power outlet;
a spring configured to depress said latch arm, thereby preventing accidental disengagement of said respective ground latch;
a first fastening tab extending from a top edge of the second surface of the adapter body;
said first fastening tab including a first receiver hole configured to receive a mounting screw;
wherein said mounting screw secures said power adapter against said power outlet receptacle by threading through said first receiver hole of said first fastening tab and into a center screw receiver of an outlet faceplate;
an extension comprising a extension receiver hole and an extension tab;
said extension tab configured for being received within said first receiver hole of said first fastening tab; and
said extension receiver hold configured for receiving a mounting screw.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The power adapter of claim 9, further comprising:
a second fastening tab extending from a bottom edge of the second surface of the adapter body;
said second fastening tab including a second receiver hole configured to receive said mounting screw; and
wherein said mounting screw secures said power adapter against said power outlet receptacle by threading through said second receiver hole of said second fastening tab and into said center screw receiver of said outlet faceplate.

### Claim 11

A power plug comprising:
a plug body having a first surface and a second surface;
an electrical cord connecting from a powered device to said first surface;
male prongs extending from the second surface of the plug body comprising a pair of male power prongs and a ground prong;
a first fastening tab extending from a top edge of the second surface of the plug body;
said first fastening tab including a first receiver hole configured to receive a mounting screw;
a second fastening tab extending from a bottom edge of the second surface of the plug body;
said second fastening tab including a second receiver hole configured to receive said mounting screw;
an extension comprising an extension receiver hole and an extension tab;
said extension tab configured for being received within said first receiver hole of said first fastening tab;
said extension receiver hold configured for receiving a mounting screw; and
wherein said mounting screw secures said power plug against said power outlet receptacle by threading through one of said first receiver hole of said first fastening and said second receiver hole of said second fastening tab and into a center screw receiver of an outlet faceplate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The plug of claim 11, further comprising:
said ground prong comprising a concave recess containing a latch arm ending in a ground latch, said latch arm configured to secure said ground prong within a power outlet receptacle;
a button configured to selectively release said latch arm from said power outlet; and
a spring configured to depress said latch arm, thereby preventing accidental disengagement of said respective ground latch.

### Claim 13

A method of connecting a powered accessory to a power outlet, the method comprising the steps:
plugging two male prongs of a plug into two male receivers of an electrical adapter;
locking said male prongs within said adapter via a pair of locking arms located within said electrical adapter, each of said locking arms each ending in a respective arm latch, and inserting said first and second plug latches into holes located within said male prongs of said plug;
plugging said electrical adapter into an outlet by inserting a pair of male adapter power prongs and a male adapter ground prong into said respective female outlet power receivers and female ground receiver of said outlet; and
locking said male adapter ground prong into said female ground receiver of said outlet via a latch arm ending in a ground latch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:
depressing a button located on said electrical adapter, thereby releasing said male prongs of said plug from said electrical adapter and said male adapter ground prong from said outlet.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:
locking a button, said button configured for releasing said male prongs of said plug from said electrical adapter and said male adapter ground prong from said outlet.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising the step:
placing a button clip beneath said button, said button clip configured for locking into place beneath said button and preventing said button from being depressed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:
inserting a mounting screw through a receiver hole of a fastening tab extending from the adapter body; and
securing said power adapter against said outlet by inserting said mounting screw into a center screw receiver of an outlet faceplate housing said outlet.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step:
connecting an extension arm into a receiver hole of a fastening tab extending from the adapter body;
inserting a mounting screw through a receiver hole of said extension arm; and
securing said power adapter against said outlet by inserting said mounting screw into a screw receiver selected from the list comprising: a top screw receiver of an outlet faceplate housing said outlet; and a bottom screw receiver of said outlet faceplate housing said outlet.