Patent ID: 6229107
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A safety electrical outlet receptacle comprising:(a.) a molded body of non-conductive, electrically insulating material incorporating an electrically conducting neutral socket, an electrically conducting voltage socket, cam mounting points and a cover plate of non-conductive, electrically insulating material with corresponding slots mating with the said neutral socket and said voltage socket in the molded body which receive an electrical plug with two mating prongs;(b.) resilient spring electrical bus assemblies with integral electrical contacts;(c.) two independent cams, located on a single rotational axis within said molded body, with a contact element lobe of a first said cams positioned in a slot within said voltage socket and in the path of one of said mating prongs by said resilient spring electrical bus assemblies; and, a contact element lobe of the second of said cams, positioned in said neutral socket and in the path of the other of said mating prongs by said resilient spring electrical bus assemblies and both of said cams are secured in place by said molded cover plate;(d.) normally open, electrical switch contacts mounted on said neutral socket, said voltage socket and on said resilient spring electrical bus assemblies;(e.) a first of said normally open contacts being activated by said first cam when a connector with said mating prongs is inserted into said voltage socket and displaces said corresponding contact element lobe and a resultant rotation of said first cam causes said first cam to displace a corresponding one of said resilient spring electrical bus assemblies which, in turn, closes the corresponding contacts on said neutral socket causing said neutral socket to be electrically active and supply current to said corresponding mating plug prong;(f.) a second of said normally open contacts being activated by said second cam when a connector with said mating prongs is inserted into said neutral socket and displaces said corresponding contact element lobe and a resultant rotation of said second cam causes said second cam to displace another of said resilient spring electrical bus assemblies which, in turn, closes the corresponding contacts on said voltage socket causing said voltage socket to be electrically active and supply current to said corresponding mating plug prong;(g.) when said prongs are removed from said neutral socket and said voltage socket, said resilient spring electrical bus assemblies will move said electrical contacts to the open position and position said contact element lobe of said first cam in said voltage socket and the contact element lobe of said second cam positioned in said neutral socket into the path of said mating plug prongs.