Patent ID: 7172451
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A female locking electrical outlet comprising: an outlet body having at least one pair of slots for apertured prongs of a male electrical plug; a pair of locking receptacles for each of the at least one pair of slots respectively mounted within said outlet body and each receptacle having therein locking tabs that are positional within apertures in the prongs to place said outlet in a locked position when the electrical plug is connected to the outlet, flanges for receiving electrical leads, an outer arm and inner arm for making electrical contact with one of the apertured prongs of the electrical plug, and a locking member having inner ends inwardly angled toward a longitudinal axis of the outlet and said locking tabs therein and extending along and between the outer arms; and at least one unlocking mechanism within said outlet body having a release member for engaging each of said locking receptacles and to transition said locking receptacles from the locked position to an unlocked position, said release member having tapered ends joined to a release button that a user urges toward the pair of slots during the transition from the locked position to the unlocked position causing the tapered ends of said release member to press inward on the inner ends of said locking member and to cause said locking tabs to move toward the longitudinal axis of the outlet.