Abstract:
An electrical connector has a male portion having a center channel passing therethrough and having a dovetail tenon. The center channel of the male portion is configured to hold an electrical cord of a power consuming device. A female portion has a center channel passing therethrough and a dovetail mortise adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon. The center channel of the female portion is configured to hold electrical wires from an electrical power source.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/324,948 filed on Jan. 4, 2006 in the name of the Applicant, which is now abandoned. This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/184,489 filed on Jun. 27, 2002 in the name of the Applicant, which is now abandoned. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,304 issued on Sep. 18, 2001 to Applicant. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure generally relates to a connector and more particularly to an electrical outlet and connector and system therefor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electrical outlets are designed so that plugs are inserted perpendicularly into the socket. This oftentimes causes electrical cords to stick out, which is not aesthetically pleasing. This design also requires that a generous amount of space be left between furniture and the electrical socket so that a plug may be inserted and removed from the electrical outlet. For example, a bed may not be pushed all the way up against a wall because it may block an electrical outlet that a person may want to use for a reading lamp. The user may therefore be required to leave about 4 inches between the bed and the wall, thus wasting the space between the bed and the wall. 
         [0004]    Electrical outlets currently used today are also potentially hazardous. There may be a risk that people, especially young children, may insert metal objects into the socket and potentially get shocked and/or electrocuted. Adults tend to “baby proof” their electrical outlets by inserting rubber plugs into them, but the rubber plugs are an added expense and can easily be removed, thereby exposing the outlet again. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention an electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector has a male portion having a center channel passing therethrough and having a dovetail tenon. The center channel of the male portion is configured to hold an electrical cord of a power consuming device. A female portion has a center channel passing therethrough and a dovetail mortise adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon. The center channel of the female portion is configured to hold electrical wires from an electrical power source. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention an electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector has a male portion having a center channel passing therethrough and having a dovetail tenon. The center channel of the male portion is configured to hold an electrical cord of a power consuming device. The dovetail tenon is integral to a face of the male portion and comprises: a top surface; a bottom surface; and a pair of spaced apart side surfaces; wherein the tenon is V-shaped. A female portion has a center channel passing therethrough and a dovetail mortise adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon. The center channel of the female portion is configured to hold electrical wires from an electrical power source. The dovetail mortise is a recess formed within a face of the female portion and comprises: a pair of spaced apart side surfaces; and a plurality of apertures formed through the face, wherein a first set of apertures house a first set of wires and a second set of apertures house a second set of wires, wherein the first set of wires provide power at a first voltage level and the second set of wires provide power at a second voltage level, wherein the mortise is V-shaped 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector system is disclosed. The electrical connector system has a male portion having a center channel passing therethrough and having a dovetail tenon. The center channel of the male portion is configured to hold an electrical cord of a power consuming device. The dovetail tenon is integral to a face of the male portion and comprises: a top surface, a bottom surface; and a pair of spaced apart side surfaces, wherein the tenon is V-shaped. A female portion has a center channel passing therethrough and a dovetail mortise adapted to mate with the dovetail tenon. The center channel of the female portion is configured to hold electrical wires from an electrical power source, wherein the dovetail mortise is a recess formed within a face of the female portion and comprises: a pair of spaced apart side surfaces, and a plurality of apertures formed through the face, wherein a first set of apertures house a first set of wires and a second set of apertures house a second set of wires, wherein the first set of wires provide power at a first voltage level and the second set of wires provide power at a second voltage level, wherein the mortise is V-shaped. A control unit is coupled to the female connector and the electrical power source. The control unit stepping down a voltage level from the electrical power source to the first voltage level to the first set of wires, the control unit allowing power from the electrical power source to be sent at the second voltage level to the second set of wires when the male portion is connected to the female portion. An outlet box houses the control unit. The female portion is attached to a front surface of the outlet box. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a plug with a male portion of an electrical connector in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of the male portion of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1  shown with a locking mechanism in a deployed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a left side perspective view of the male portion of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1  shown with the locking mechanism in a retracted position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an electrical outlet box with the female portions of several electrical connectors in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the electrical outlet box of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the electrical outlet box of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a right, side view of the electrical outlet of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the electrical outlet box shown with a male portion of the electrical connector coupled to the female portion of the electrical connector. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of a circuit using the electrical connector of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]      FIGS. 1-9  together show the electrical connector  10  and system of the present invention. In one embodiment, the electrical connector  10  may be used with an electrical outlet, However, it should be clearly understood that the electrical connector  10  may be used in any suitable electrical system. 
         [0019]    In its simplest form, the electrical connector  10  may comprise a male portion  12  coupled to a power consuming device and a female portion  28  coupled to a power supply. Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the male portion  12  may have a face  14  and a conduit  20  that may extend from a rear surface  18  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . The face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  may define one or more channels  22  for housing contacts  104   a  and may have one or more channels  22  for housing the contact points of wires  104   b . Although it is shown in the figures that there are two contacts  104   a  and that the contacts  104   a  are positioned above the wires  104   b , is should be clearly understood that any suitable number of contacts  104   a  may he used and that the contacts  104   a  and the wires  104   b  may be positioned in different configuration. 
         [0020]    The wires  104   b  of the electrical cord  200  of the power consuming device may pass through the conduit  20  of the male portion  12  and out through the channels  22  in the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . Alternatively, the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  may be integral to the electric cord  200  of the power consuming device that is being plugged into the electrical outlet box  100 . In another embodiment, the male portion  12  may not have a conduit  20  and the rear surface  18  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  may be coupled directly to or integral to the plug  200  of the power consuming device that is being plugged into the electrical outlet. In yet another embodiment, the male portion  12  may not have a conduit  20  and the rear surface  18  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  may be coupled directly to or integral to an electrical circuit/device such as an electrical charger (i.e. cellular phone charger and the like), a power supply (i.e., computer monitor power supply and the like). 
         [0021]    A dovetail tenon  26  may be formed on a front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . The tenon  26  may have a pair of spaced apart side surfaces  24 , a top surface  17 , and a bottom surface  19 . As shown, the side surfaces  24  may be straight, the top surface  17  may be curved, and the bottom surface  31  may also be curved. In one embodiment, the tenon  26  may be V-shaped or tapered, wherein the width of the top surface  17  of the tenon  26  is greater than the width of the bottom surface  19  of the tenon  26 . The side surfaces  24  may be positioned at a certain angle α relative to one another; the angle α being dependent upon the size of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . For example, for a male portion  12  of an electrical connector  10  that has a diameter of approximately 1.25 in., the side surfaces  24  may be positioned at an angle α of approximately 37.5° relative to one another. This angle α formed by the two side surfaces  24  relative to one another may range between approximately 35.5° and approximately 39.5° for a 1.25 in diameter male portion  12 . The angle α formed between the side surfaces  24  relative to one another may vary according to the diameter of the male portion  12 . It should be noted that if the angle α formed by the side surfaces  24  relative to one another is too great of an angle, then the male portion  12  and female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may stick together and may not easily disengage. It should also be noted that if the angle α formed by the side surfaces  24  relative to one another is too small, then a tight fit may not be created between the male portion  12  and the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  and they may be more easily dislodged. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the side surfaces  24  of the tenon  26  may form an angle β relative, to the front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , the side surfaces  24  may form an angle β of approximately 45° with the front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from the side surfaces  24  of the tenon  26  and the front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  forming an angle β between approximately 30° and approximately 60°. 
         [0023]    The tenon  26  may have a thickness (height) that may also vary according to the size of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . In one embodiment, the tenon  26  may have a thickness of approximately 1/16 in. In one embodiment the tenon  26  may have the same thickness as a dovetail mortise  40  (described below) on the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . For example, where the mortise  40  of the female portion  28  may have a thickness of approximately 1/16in., the tenon  26  of the male portion  12  may also have a thickness of approximately 1/16 in. The tenon  26  on the front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  is configured to engage and mate with the mortise  40  on the front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may have a face  30  and a conduit  36  extending from a rear surface  34  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  The face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may define a plurality of channels  42  for housing a plurality of electrical wires  105 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8  the female portion  28  may have one or more channels  42  for housing a first set of wires  105   a  and may have one or more channels  42  for housing a second set of wires  105   b.    
         [0025]    The conduit  36  of the female portion  28  may pass through an aperture  110  in the electrical outlet box  100  and the conduit  36  of the female portion  28  may be threaded so that it may be secured to the electrical outlet box  100  with a bolt  112  or other suitable securing device. Alternatively, the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may be integral to the electrical outlet box  100 . In another embodiment, the female portion  28  may not have a conduit  36  and the rear surface  34  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  may be coupled directly to or integral to the electrical outlet box  100 . 
         [0026]    As shown, a dovetail mortise  40  may be formed within a front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . The mortise  40  is configured to mate with the dovetail tenon  26  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . The mortise  40  may have a pair of spaced apart side surfaces  38  recessed into the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . In one embodiment, the mortise  40  may be V-shaped or tapered, wherein the width of a top portion of the mortise  40  is greater than the width of a bottom portion of the mortise  40 . The side surfaces  38  may be positioned at a certain angle α relative to one another; the angle α being dependent upon the size of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . For example, for a female portion  28  of an electrical connector  10  that has a diameter of approximately 1.25 in., the side surfaces  38  may be positioned at an angle α of approximately 37.5° relative to one another. This angle α formed by the two side surfaces  38  relative to one another may range between approximately 35.5° and approximately 39.5° for a 1.25 in diameter female portion  28 . The angle α formed between the side surfaces  38  relative to one another may vary according to the diameter of the female portion  28 . It should be noted that if the angle α formed by the side surfaces  38  relative to one another is too great of an angle, then the male portion  12  and female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may stick together and may not easily disengage. It should also be noted that if the angle α formed by the side surfaces  38  relative to one another is too small, then a tight fit may not he created between the male portion  12  and the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  and they may be more easily dislodged. Generally, the angle α formed by the side surfaces  38  of the mortise  40  relative to one another may be equal to the angle α formed by the side surfaces  24  of the tenon  26  relative to one another to help ensure a proper fit between the male portion  12  and, the female portion  28 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the side surfaces  38  of the mortise  40  may form an angle β relative to the front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28 . The side surfaces  38  may form an angle β of approximately 45° with the front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from the side surfaces  38  of the mortise  40  and the front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  forming an angle β between approximately 30° and approximately 60°. Generally, the angle β formed by the side surfaces  38  of the mortise  40  with the front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  may be equal to the angle β formed by the side surfaces  24  of the tenon  26  with the front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12 . This will help to ensure a tight fit between the male portion  12  and the female portion  28 . 
         [0028]    The mortise  40  may have a thickness (depth) that may also vary according to the size of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . In one embodiment, the mortise  40  may have a thickness of approximately 1/16. In one embodiment the mortise  40  may have the same thickness as the dovetail tenon  26  (described above) on the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . For example, where the tenon  26  of the male portion  12  may have a thickness of approximately 1/16 in., the mortise  40  of the female portion  28  may also have a thickness of approximately 1/16 in. The mortise  40  on the front surface  32  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  is configured to engage the tenon  26  on the front surface  16  of the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . 
         [0029]    As described herein, the electrical connector  10  of the present invention may be used with an electrical outlet. Although  FIGS. 4-8  show the electrical outlet box  100  as being configured for use with a plurality of electrical connectors  10 , it should also be clearly understood that the electrical outlet box  100  may be configured for use with only one electrical connector  10 . Here, in  FIG. 4 , the electrical outlet box  100  has two female portions  28  coupled to a front portion  114  of the box  100  and one female portion  28  coupled to each of the sides  116  of the box  100 . It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from the use of any number of female portions  28  coupled to the box  100 . It should also be further understood that substantial benefit may still be derived from the female portions  28  being coupled to any part of the box  100 , i.e. front  114 , sides  116 , top and/or bottom. The female portions  28  may be oriented so that the narrowest portion of the mortise  40  is positioned at the bottom and pointing downwardly. However, it should also be clearly understood that substantial benefit may still be derived with the female portions  28  being oriented in any direction. 
         [0030]    The face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may also have a locking hole  43 , which may be engaged by a locking pin  27  (see  FIG. 2 ) that may be present on the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 . The locking hole  43  is shown as being positioned near a top portion of the mortise  40  of the face  30  of the female portion  28 . However, it should be clearly understood that the locking hole  43  may be positioned at any desired location on the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . Accordingly, the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  may have a locking pin  27  to engage the locking hole  43  on the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . The locking pin  27  is shown as being positioned near a top portion of the tenon  26  of the face  14  of the male portion  12 . However, it should be clearly understood that the locking pin  27  may be positioned at any desired location on the face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  as long as it is positioned to align with a locking hole  43  (described below) on the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . It should also be clearly understood that substantial benefit may nevertheless be derived from an electrical connector  10  that does not use a locking pin  27  and locking hole  43  or any other type of locking mechanism. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 4-5 , and described above, the female portion  28  on the front portion  114  of the outlet box  100  may have one or more channels  42  for housing the contact points of the first set of wires  105   a  coupled to the control unit  102  and may have one or more channels  42  for housing the contact points of the second set of wires  105   b  also coupled to the control unit  102 . The control unit  102  (see  FIG. 5 ) may be used to step down the voltage level of the power that is entering into the control unit  102 . The control unit  102  may step down the voltage transmitted to the first set of wires  104   a  that pass through the conduit  36  and that are housed within the channels  42  of the face  30  of the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . In this embodiment, the control unit  102  may cause voltage level of the power from the power supply to be stepped down to a lower voltage level which would minimize electric shock. The control unit  102  may cause voltage level of the power from the power supply to be stepped down to a voltage level of 30 volts or less. In accordance with one embodiment, the control unit  102  may cause voltage level of the power from the power supply to be stepped down to a voltage level of 12V or lower before it is delivered to the first set of wires  105   a . The control unit  102  may allow the power from the power supply to flow through to the second set of wires  105   b . Thus, the control unit  102  may allow a power level of 110 V or 220V, to be delivered to the second set of wires  105   b  directly from the power supply without stepping down the voltage. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the control unit  102  may a step down transformer  108  and a switch  106  that controls the voltage level of the power output. Initially, the power from the power supply may have a given voltage, such as 110V or 220V. The control unit  102  may use the step down transformer  108  or other such device to step down the voltage to a lower level, such as 12V or lower, before it is delivered to the first set of wires  105   a . Once the contact points of the first set of wires  105   a  of the female portion  28  come into contact with the contacts  104   a  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 , the switch  106  reroutes the power so that it is no longer stepped down; instead, the power is rerouted directly from the power supply to the second set of wires  105   b . The switch  106  may cause the power that was delivered to the low voltage wires  104   a  to cease so that power is only delivered to the second set of wires  105   b . This is a safety feature of the present invention which makes the face  30  of the female portions  28  on the front  114  of the electrical outlet box  100  safe to touch. It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may still be derived from an electrical connector  10  without this safety feature; i.e. all of the female portions  28  on the front  114  of the electrical outlet box  100  may have only the second set of wires  105   b  available; thus it would not be necessary to step down the voltage. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown in the figures, a combination may be used wherein the female portions  28  on the front  114  of the electrical outlet box  100  have the safety feature of low voltage on the first set of wires  105   a  and a high voltage on the second set of wires  105   b  while the female portions  28  on the sides  116  of the electrical outlet box  100  (which may be used to connect a series of electrical outlet boxes  100  to each other and would typically he housed within the wall and not exposed) may have only the higher voltage second set of wires  104   b . The second set of wires  105   b  of the female portions  28  coupled to the sides  116  of the electrical outlet box  100  may bypass the control unit  102  and may deliver power directly from the power supply. 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment, the female portion  28  may have one or more channels  42  for housing the second set of wires  105   b  only. The second set of wires  105   b  may be slightly recessed within the channels  42  on the face  30  of the female portion  28  for safety purposes. The face  14  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  may have pogo pins coupled to and extending therefrom and the pogo pins would be coupled to the wires  104   b  that is also coupled to the power consuming device that is to be plugged into the electrical outlet box  100 . The pogo pins on the face  14  of the male portion  12  may be configured to engage the channels  42  on the face  30  of the female portion  28 . When a user slides the dovetail tenon  26  into the dovetail mortise  40  and connects the male portion  12  to the female portion  28 , the pogo pins may initially retract so that the tenon  26  will engage the mortise  40 . When the male portion  12  engages the female portion  28 , the pogo pins of the male portion  12  may then extend out and enter into the channels  42  of the female portion  28 , thereby connecting with the second set of wires  105   b  within the channels  42  of the female portion  28 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the side surfaces  24  of the male portion  12  and the side surfaces  38  of the female portion  28  may have sharp edges. It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may still be derived if these edges were more rounded in order to provide tensile strength to the electrical connector  10 . 
         [0036]    The male portion  12  and the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10  may each have a gage point. The gage point is a reference point used to position the male portion  12  in relation to the female portion  28  so that tight connection is created between them. Specifically, for the female portion  28 , the gage point is measured from the center point of the face  30  of the female portion  28  to a point on the side surface  38  of the mortise  40 . On the female portion  28 , the height of the gage point is typically located at a point that is half the thickness (depth) of the mortise  40  and its distance from the center point of the face  30  of the female portion  28  depends upon the diameter of the face  30  of the female portion  28  and the angle β formed by the side surface  38  with the face  30  of the female portion  28 . Once the gage point of the female portion  28  is determined, the gage point of the male portion  12  may be made equal to the gage point of the female portion  28 . The gage point generally varies according to the size of the objects being connected, the shape of the electrical connector  10 , and the desired strength of the electrical connector  10 . 
         [0037]    The electrical connector  10  of the present invention may also have a locking mechanism, When the male portion  12  and female portion  28  are coupled, the locking pin  27  on the face  14  of the male portion  12  may engage the locking hole  43  on the face  30  of the female portion  28 . The locking pin  27  may be spring loaded for safety purposes, wherein the locking pin  27  would need to be retracted in order to disconnect the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10  from the female portion  28  of the electrical connector  10 . It should be clearly understood, however, that any type of suitable locking mechanism may be used with the present invention. It should also be clearly understood that substantial benefit may nevertheless be derived from an electrical connector  10  that does not use a locking pin  27 /locking hole  43  or use any other type of locking mechanism. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the control unit  102  which may be used with the electrical connector  10  of the present invention. As described above, the control unit  102  may have a switch  106  that controls the voltage of the power output. Initially, the power from the power supply may have a voltage of 110V or 220V. The control unit  102  may use a transformer  108  or other such device to step down the voltage to a lower level, such as 12V or lower, before it is delivered to the first set of wires  105   a . Once the contact points of the first set of wires  104   a  of the female portion  28  come into contact with the contacts  104   a  of the male portion  12  of the electrical connector  10 , then the electrical circuit is completed, and the switch  106  then reroutes the power so that it is no longer stepped down; instead, the power is rerouted directly from the power supply to the second set of wires  105   b . The switch  106  may also cause all power that was delivered to the first set of wires  105   a  to cease so that power is only delivered to the second set of wires  105   b . Although an example of an electrical circuit is shown herein, it should be clearly understood, that the electrical connector  10  may be used with any type of suitable electrical circuit. 
         [0039]    The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public.