Locking plug
OwnerFernand H. Poulin, Denis Oakesinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical receptacle consisting of a casing having a lock part to releasably lock a mating electrical plug of the blade contact type, is disclosed. The lock part is a separate piece made of electric insulating material and manually-operable release buttons externally of the casing. The lock part ensures an effective locking of the plug and eliminates any possibility of electric shock to a user while inserting or removing the plug contacts.
Claims8
An electrical receptacle for use with a conventional electrical plug having blade-type contacts with an opening at their outer portions, comprising:
- a casing including a first segment and a second segment detachably secured together, said segments defining an interior cavity;
- fastening means in said cavity to connect the wires of an electrical cord;
- said first segment having an end face;
- at least wo spaced apertures provided in said end face and communicating with a pair of channels in said cavity;
- a pair of semi-rigid electrically-conductive strips disposed longitudinally in said cavity, each located adjacent one of said channels and longitudinally spaced from said end face;
- each strip being electrically connected to one of said fastening means and adapted to frictionally contact the associated blade contact of said plug;
- a lock element disposed between the two said channels made of resilient, non-conductive material;
- said lock element having a lock means adapted to releasably lock into said opening of each said blade contact;
- further having an externally-operable release means to release the lock means, whereby said plug can be lockingly engaged and disengaged from the receptacle without any possibility of electric shock.
A duplex electrical receptacle for use with conventional electrical plugs, each having blade-type contact provided with an opening at their outer portions, comprising:
- a rectangular casing formed of a front segment and a rear segment and defining an inner cavity;
- the front face of said front segment being provided with two pairs of apertures, each adapted to receive the blade contacts of one electrical plug;
- forwardly extending resiliently-bendable conductive friction members, disposed rearwardly of each one of said apertures in said cavity and defining a channel for each said blade contact;
- connection means to electrically connect each friction member to a respective conductor connected to a power source;
- a lock element made of resilient non-conductive material, and disposed between pairs of contiguous channels;
- said lock element having a lock means adapted to releasably lock into the openings of said blade contacts;
- and an externally-operable release means to release the lock means, whereby said plugs can be lockingly engaged and disengaged from said receptacle without any possibility of electric shock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.