Safety electrical receptacle
US5256076A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R13/703
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A safety electrical receptacle for household, commercial, or industrial use is described which will not transmit electrical energy through an electrical plug to output wiring until normally open switches positioned in the path of travel of the electrical plug are closed by the motion of the plug being inserted into the receptacle. An open receptacle exists in a safe condition because normally open switches are connected in series with the contacts and no voltage is available to shock or burn the adult or child who inadvertently inserts a conductive object into the receptacle. In one embodiment of the invention, posts incorporated into a specially designed plug act to close switches and allow the transmission of electrical energy to output wiring. In another embodiment, a conventional grounding tine on a plug acts to close switches which transmit electrical energy to output wiring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.