Patent ID: 7198523

Claim:
A system for supplying current from a source of electrical power to a dimmable electrical lighting load, the system comprising: a receptacle adapted for receipt of a compatible plug, the receptacle arranged to be supplied with electrical power regulated by a dimmer, said receptacle comprising: an electrical contact located for contact with a blade of said compatible plug to establish an electrical connection between said blade and said electrical contact, said electrical contact dimensioned and oriented for compliance with an industry standard configuration; and a mating formation pair including a receptacle formation and a corresponding plug formation, the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair dimensioned for contact with a general-use plug compliant with said industry standard configuration and lacking said corresponding plug formation to prevent a blade of said general-use plug from contacting said electrical contact thereby preventing said general-use plug from establishing said electrical connection with said receptacle, the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair allowing the compatible plug defining said corresponding plug formation and otherwise complying with said industry standard configuration to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle, wherein a full insertion of said compatible plug into said receptacle results in an overlapping contact between said electrical contact and said blade of said compatible plug, said overlapping contact having a length, and wherein the receptacle formation of said mating formation pair comprises a projection extending from said receptacle to a height that is greater than the length of said overlapping contact thereby preventing insertion of the general-use plug that lacks said corresponding plug formation by an amount sufficient to establish said electrical connection with said receptacle.