Patent ID: 6328584
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical adapter assembly for use in combination with a split circuit duplex receptacle having a first pair of connectors one of which is a hot connector connected to a hot wire lead and is at a voltage potential, and one of which is a neutral connector connected to a neutral lead, and a second pair of connectors at potentials equal to said first pair of connectors 180 degrees out-of-phase therewith, each of said pair of connectors having a grounding connector in conjunction therewith, said adapter assembly comprising in combination:an electrically insulated adapter housing having a face and a back surface;a first power prong and a first neutral prong extending outwardly from said face, configured so that said first power prong registers with said hot connector of said first pair of connectors of said duplex receptacle;a second power prong and a second neutral prong extending outwardly from said face, configured so that said second power prong registers with said hot connector of said second pair of connectors of said duplex receptacle;a ground prong extending outwardly from said face to register with a grounding connector of said duplex receptacle;a first configuration of female connectors that is configured to receive a three-pronged NEMA 6-15P plug and extends inwardly from said back surface, said back surface having openings aligned to coincide with said first configuration of female connectors, said first configuration of female connectors consisting ofa first hot female connector that is electrically connected to said first power prong,a second hot female connector that is electrically connected to said second power prong, anda ground female connector that is electrically connected to said ground prong, anda second configuration of female connectors that is configured to receive a three-pronged NEMA 5-15P plug and extends inwardly from said back surface, said back surface having openings aligned to coincide with said second configuration of female connectors, said second configuration of female connectors consisting ofa hot female connector that is electrically connected to said first power prong,a neutral female connector that is electrically connected to said first neutral prong, anda ground female connector that is electrically connected to said ground prong,wherein the ground female connector of the first configuration of female, connectors is the ground female connector of the second configuration of female connectors,thereby providing both a single 240 volt 15 amp NEMA 6-15R outlet and at least one 120 volt 15 amp NEMA 5-15R outlet configured so that both a NEMA 6-15P plug and a NEMA 5-15P plug cannot be received at the same time by the adapter assembly.