Patent ID: 6113434
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: H01R,Y10S

Abstract:
A power receptacle system for removably receiving a plug having a base member and a pair of male blade terminals extending from the base member, the male blade terminals being oriented parallel to each other and each having a width, one of the male blade terminals having a width that is greater than a width of the other of the male blade terminals, and a ground lug extending parallel to the male blade terminals, the power receptacle system comprising:a power strip having a rectangular configuration with a planar rectangular top face, a planar rectangular bottom face and a thin periphery formed therebetween defined by a pair of short end faces and a pair of elongated side faces including a first side face and a second side face;a plurality of outlets mounted on the top face of the power strip along a length thereof, each outlet having a pair of spaced and parallel rectangular slits and an aperture, the slits of each outlet including a relatively large slit for accepting the male blade terminal having the greater width and a relatively small slit for accepting the male blade terminal having the smaller width, the outlets each being positioned in contiguous side-by-side relationship with the parallel rectangular slits of the other of the outlets mounted on the power strip and the slits of all of the outlets being in parallel relationship to each other, wherein the relatively small slits of adjacent outlets are positioned adjacent to each other and the relatively large slits of adjacent outlets are positioned adjacent to each other;said outlets each having the aperture thereof situated adjacent to one of the side faces, wherein the aperture of each of the outlets is oriented adjacent to the first side face and the aperture of an adjacent outlet being oriented adjacent to the second side edge such that the apertures of the outlets alternate from the first side edge to the second side edge along the length of the power strip, whereby the outlets allow a plug with an associated enlarged transformer to be plugged within each of the outlets;a power cord coupled to one of the end faces of the power strip for connection to a conventional alternating current receptacle for receiving power therefrom; anda toggle switch mounted on the top face of the power strip and connected between the power cord and each of the outlets for selectively supplying power thereto.