Patent ID: 7967620
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A safety outlet comprising: an electrical outlet having: at least a hot plug blade aperture comprising a hot output contact and a hot input contact normally not in electrically conductive contact, and a hot safety tab; at least a neutral plug blade aperture comprising a neutral output contact and a neutral input contact normally not in electrically conductive contact, and a neutral safety tab; wherein the hot safety tab is operatively responsive to an electrical plug blade being pushed into the hot plug blade aperture, the hot safety tab responsive to move from an engaged position in which the associated hot output contact and hot input contact are not in electrically conductive contact with each other, to a disengaged position in which the associated hot output contact and hot input contact are in electrically conductive contact with each other; wherein the neutral safety tab is operatively responsive to an electrical plug blade being pushed into the neutral plug blade aperture, the neutral safety tab responsive to move from an engaged position in which the associated neutral output contact and neutral input contact are not in electrically conductive contact with each other, to a disengaged position in which the associated neutral output contact and neutral input contact are in electrically conductive contact with each other; and a timing circuit associated with the hot safety tab and configured such that if the hot safety tab is moved to its disengaged position in time relation to the neutral safety tab longer than a predetermined time interval, electrical power is not supplied to the hot plug blade aperture.