Patent ID: 6255607
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A receptacle assembly, comprising:(a) a housing having an interior chamber;(b) a switch mechanism movably mounted to said housing and having a switch shaft having opposite outer and inner portions and being rotatable mounted at said outer portion to said housing and extending into said interior chamber of said housing at said inner portion of said switch shaft, said switch mechanism capable of being moved relative to said housing and switched between OFF and ON positions;(c) a receptacle body spaced from said switch mechanism and mounted to said housing, said receptacle body having an interior cavity in which a plug can be inserted into said receptacle body; and(d) an internal interlock mechanism supported within said interior chamber of said housing and extending between said interior cavity of said receptacle body and said switch shaft of said switch mechanism extending into said interior chamber of said housing, said interlock mechanism being rotatable between unlocked and locked positions relative to said receptacle body and relative to said switch shaft of said switch mechanism such that said interlock mechanism when in said locked position relative to said receptacle body and concurrently in said unlocked position relative to said switch mechanism prevents removal of a plug from said receptacle body after said switch mechanism has been switched to said ON position whereas said interlock mechanism when in said unlocked position relative to said receptacle body and concurrently in said locked position relative to said switch mechanism prevents switching of said switch mechanism from said OFF position to said ON position once a plug is allowed to be removed from or reinserted into said receptacle body, said interlock mechanism including an elongated interlock shaft having first and second end portions and an intermediate Dortion disposed between said first and second end portions, said interlock shaft being rotatably supported within said interior chamber of said housing and extending at said first end portion to adjacent to said inner portion of said switch shaft and extending at said second end portion into said interior cavity of said receptacle body, said second end portion of said interlock shaft having a pawl thereon protruding laterally therefrom such that rotation of said interlock shaft moves said pawl between withdrawn and locking positions relative to a plug inserted in said interior cavity of said receptacle body.