Patent · US Active

Tamper resistant mechanism with circuit interrupter

US7651347B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
68References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 2006
Grant dateJan 26, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R2103/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A tamper-proof receptacle is provided wherein the receptacle comprises sliding shutters disposed between phase and neutral terminals of the receptacle and openings in the face of the receptacle. The shutters are connected to circuit interrupting circuitry such that when one of the shutters is displaced through a specific range of motion, the circuit interrupting portion of the receptacle is triggered to disconnect electrical power from the phase and neutral terminals of the receptacle. In an embodiment, a logic circuit is connected to the shutters, and a monitoring circuit monitors supply of power to the face terminals. The logic circuit is configured to detect insertion of an object into only one of the pair of openings. A signal from the logic circuit to the circuit interrupting device is effective to prevent the object from touching any of the face terminals while power is connected to the face terminals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.