CA1152176A - Shock stop - Google Patents

Shock stop

Info

Publication number
CA1152176A
CA1152176A CA000381751A CA381751A CA1152176A CA 1152176 A CA1152176 A CA 1152176A CA 000381751 A CA000381751 A CA 000381751A CA 381751 A CA381751 A CA 381751A CA 1152176 A CA1152176 A CA 1152176A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
plug
holder
arms
receptacle
electrical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000381751A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Richard A. Langen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LANGEN RICHARD A
Original Assignee
LANGEN RICHARD A
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LANGEN RICHARD A filed Critical LANGEN RICHARD A
Priority to CA000381751A priority Critical patent/CA1152176A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1152176A publication Critical patent/CA1152176A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/639Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
    • H01R13/6395Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap for wall or panel outlets
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00Two poles
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/76Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A safety device for preventing the removal of electrical plugs from wall outlets by children includes a body to be mounted on the cover plate normally used on wall outlets, tracks on the body for receiving arms extending outwardly from the plug holders, and either channels for frictionally retaining lugs extending outwardly from the plug holders or teeth for locking arms extending outwardly from the plug holders in fixed positions, whereby the plug cannot readily be removed from the wall outlet.

Description

~ L~76 This invention relates to a safety device for electrical plugs, and in particular to a device for retaining plugs in wall out1ets.
Safety devices of the type disclosed herein are already avail-able. Such devices include, for example, those disclosed by United States Patents Nos. 3,775,729, issued to R. C. Casper on November 27, 1973;
4,045,108, issued to E. M. Olsen on August 30, 1977; and 4,105,274, issued to R. W. Casey on August 8, 1978. The patented devices vary both in terms of complexity and efficacy. While the simpler devices are inexpensive, they permit relatively easy access to the plug, and include elements which, when repeatedly flexed, would tend to break. Moreover, because the elements are flex;ble, a strong child could damage the device or remove a plug by jerking on the electrical cord.
The object of the present invention is to provide a safety device for electrical plugs which is purposely relatively complicated and sturdy for preventing access to a wall outlet or removal of a plug by a young child.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a safety device for retaining an electrical plug in an electrical outlet of the type in-cluding at least one electrical receptacle for receiving the prongs of an electrical plug and a plate at least partially covering the receptacle;
said device comprising a body; means for connecting said body to an electrical outlet; a plug holder; track means on said body For slidably receiving said plug holder; resilient arm means on said holder for releas-ably enyaging said body rendering movement of said holder relative to said body rendering movement of said holder relative to said body difficult in ~l~l,5~l7 ~j at least one direction; and slot means in said holder for receiving a cord carrying a plug, whereby, when the plug holder is slid towards an electrical outlet so that the prongs enter the receptacle, the plug is sandwiched between the holder and the outlet and movement of said holder away from the outlet is resisted by engagement of said body by said re-silient arm means.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred em-bodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodi-ment of the safety device of the present invention during installation, Figure 2 is a perspective view from above and one side of the device of Figure 1 in use, Figure 3 is an exploded, perspective view of a second embodi-ment of the safety device of the present invention during installation;
and Figure 4 is a perspective view from above and one side of the device of Figure 3 in use.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the basic elements of one embodiment of the device oF the present invention includes a body generally indicated at 1 and a pair of plug holders generally indicated at 2. The safety device is used to hold a plug 3 in a wall outlet of the type in-cluding electrical receptacles 4 for receiving the prongs (not shown) of the plug 3, and a cover 5 surrounding and partially covering the recep-tacles 4. 0~ course, the usual arrangement is a single receptacle with a pair of plug receiving sections covered by a wall plate or cover which prevents ready access to live wires or terminals.
The body 1 is generally I-shaped with a central, rectangular web portion 6 extending between four generally L-shaped flanges 7. A hole 8 extends through the web portion 6 of the body for receiving an elongated screw 9. The body 1 is mounted on an electrical outlet by removing the short screw (not shown) normally found at the centre of the cover 5, placing the body 1 against the centre of the outlet and passing the screw 9 through the web 1 and the cover 5 into the receptacle body. The flanges 7 on each side of the web portion 6 extend vertically upwardly and down-wardly, each flange including an inwardly extending arm 10. Thus, the arm 10 is parallel to the web portion 6.
The web portion 6 and each pair of opposed flanges 7 above or below the web define tracks for receiving arms 11 projecting outwardly from each side 12 of a body 13 of each plug holder 2. The body 13 of the plug holder 2 is defined by a rectangular base 14, a rectangular wall 15 extending upwardly (or downwardly as the case may be) therefrom, the triangular sides 12 and the arms 11. A deep U-shaped notch 16 is provided in the vertical wall 15 of each plug holder 2 for receiving a cord 17 (Figure 2) carrying the plug 3.
A pair of resilient arms 18 extend outwardly from the vertical wall 15 of the holder body 13. By resilient is meant that the arms 18 can be flexed laterally. Each arm 18 has a pointed outer end 19, which normally extends laterally slightly beyond the side edges 12 of the body 13. The distance between the inner edges of opposed, inwardly extending , .
, ' . . ' .
.

l 7 ~

arms 10 7S slightly less than the width of the base 14 of the body 13.
By the same token~ the distance between the outer edges of the tracks, i.e., between the inner vertlcal surfaces of the flanges 7 is slightly greater than the distance between the outer edges of the arms 11. Thus, the holder 2 is freely slidable into the body 1. The outer ends 19 of the arms 18 normally extend beyond the sides 12 of the body 13.
Thus, when the plug holder 2 is slid into the body 1, the arms 18 flex inwardly slightly and then outwardly into locking notches 20 in the outer ends of the inner edges of the flange arms 10. Each notch 20 10 has a straight, laterally extending outer edge and an inclined inner edge, so that, while a plug holder 2 can be slid into the body 1, the plug holder cannot merely be pulled out of the body 1. Once inserted with the arms 18 engaging notches 20, the holder 2 cannot be removed except by pushing or bending the arms 18 towards each other simultaneously. Such 15 inward flexing can be effected by means of a screwdriver or other small narrow tool. In any event, it is readily apparent that the wall 15 bears against a plug 3 preventing easy removal of the plug from the receptacle 4.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the second embodiment of the 20 invention includes a body generally indicated at 25 and plug holders generally indicated at 26. This embodiment of the invention includes a cover plate generally indicated at 27 which is an optional element.
The body 25 is generally I-shaped with a central rectangular web portion 28 extending between outwardly opening, generally U-shaped 25 ends 29. A hole 30 extends through the centre of the web portion of the ~L3L~ 6 body 25 for mounting the body on an electrical outlet in the same manner as the body 1 of Figures 1 and 2. The U-shaped ends 29 define tracks for receiving arms 31 extending inwardly from the bottom or top end, as the case may be, of each side 32 of a plug holder 26. A cylindrical ridge 33 extending along the longitudinal axis of the web 28 and incorporating the hole 30 defines a pair of channels 34 on each side of the web for receiving lugs 35 extending downwardly (or upwardly) from base 36 of each plug holder 26.
The plug holder 26 is defined by the sides 32, the base 36 and a rear wall 37 extending between the sides 32. A deep U-shaped notch is provided in the rear wall 37 of each plug holder 26 for receiving a cord 17 (Figure 4) carrying the plug 3.
The arms 31 perform the same function as the arms 11 of the device of Figures 1 and 2, namely the guiding of the plug holder 26 into engagement with the body 25. The arms 25 are generally U-shaped, and are integral with the plug holder 26. Each arm 25 is connected to the main body of the holder 26 by a thin web 38, so that the arms can be flexed relative to such main body. The arms 35 extend outwardly from the base 36 a distance sufficient that when the holder 26 is slid into engagement with a body 25, the arms 35 are flexed away from the tracks 34. Thus, when the plug holder 26 is slid into the plug-in position (Figure 4), the arms 35 press against the tracks 34 making it difficult to remove the holder from the body and consequently, the plug 3 from the electrical receptacle 4. The dimensions and flexibility of the arms 35 should be such that it is difficult or impossible for a child to remove the plug 3 from ~L~ 7 6 the receptacle 4.
When there is no pluy 3 in a receptacle 4, it is preferable to cover the receptacle 4. A cover plate 27 can be used for such purpose.
The cover plate 27 is merely a rectangular plate of the same width as the holder 26, with side flanges 39 and arms 40 for sliding in the tracks 34.
In use, the plate 27 is slid into position against a receptacle 4, and a plug holder 26 is slid into position against the plate to jam the latter against the receptacle. It will be readily apparent that the plate 27 could be integral with a plug holder 26, in which case, the holder would merely be used to block a receptacle 4. Moreover, a similar cover plate can be used in the device of Figures 1 and 2.
~hile the foregoing does not contain any mention of the materials used in the safety device, it is obvious that a plastic or other insulative, non-conducting material would be used in the body plug holders and cover plates.

Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A safety device for retaining an electrical plug in an electrical outlet of the type including at least one electrical receptacle for receiving the prongs of an electrical plug and a plate at least partially covering the receptacle; said device comprising a body; means for connecting said body to an electrical outlet; a plug holder; track means on said body for slidably receiving said plug holder; resilient arm means on said holder for releasably engaging said body rendering movement of said holder relative to said body difficult in at least one direction; and slot means in said holder for receiving a cord carrying a plug, whereby, when the plug holder is slid towards an electrical outlet so that the prongs enter the receptacle, the plug is sandwiched between the holder and the outlet and movement of said holder away from the outlet is resisted by engagement of said body by said resilient arm means.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said body includes teeth means for engaging said arm means when said plug holder is in said body, preventing movement of said holder away from said body until said arm means are disengaged from said teeth means.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said body includes flange means defining said track means; teeth means in said flange means;
first arms on said plug holder for slidably engaging said track means; and second resilient arms on said plug holder for releasably engaging said teeth means when the holder is slid into said body.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said body includes channel means; and said arm means includes a resilient lug for frictional engaging said channel means, and an arm for slidably engaging said track means.
5. A device according to claim 1, 2, or 4, including a cover plate for covering said receptacle in the absence of a plug, said cover plate including arms for slidably engaging said track means.
CA000381751A 1981-07-15 1981-07-15 Shock stop Expired CA1152176A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000381751A CA1152176A (en) 1981-07-15 1981-07-15 Shock stop

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000381751A CA1152176A (en) 1981-07-15 1981-07-15 Shock stop

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1152176A true CA1152176A (en) 1983-08-16

Family

ID=4120439

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000381751A Expired CA1152176A (en) 1981-07-15 1981-07-15 Shock stop

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1152176A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4618200A (en) * 1985-02-22 1986-10-21 David Roberts Electrical plug restraint system
US4652069A (en) * 1985-05-06 1987-03-24 Smith Hager L Electrical plug retaining device
US4789353A (en) * 1987-06-15 1988-12-06 Busta Jeffrey A Electric plug retainer
US4840577A (en) * 1987-09-28 1989-06-20 David Prouty Plug locking cover
US5044976A (en) * 1990-10-22 1991-09-03 Thompson Dennis L Electrical cord holding device and method for using same
EP0756353A1 (en) * 1995-07-26 1997-01-29 CLEARPLAS FRANCE (société anonyme) Method for plugging the male and female elements of an electric connection device, and holder for carrying out this method

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4618200A (en) * 1985-02-22 1986-10-21 David Roberts Electrical plug restraint system
US4652069A (en) * 1985-05-06 1987-03-24 Smith Hager L Electrical plug retaining device
US4789353A (en) * 1987-06-15 1988-12-06 Busta Jeffrey A Electric plug retainer
US4840577A (en) * 1987-09-28 1989-06-20 David Prouty Plug locking cover
US5044976A (en) * 1990-10-22 1991-09-03 Thompson Dennis L Electrical cord holding device and method for using same
EP0756353A1 (en) * 1995-07-26 1997-01-29 CLEARPLAS FRANCE (société anonyme) Method for plugging the male and female elements of an electric connection device, and holder for carrying out this method
FR2737348A1 (en) * 1995-07-26 1997-01-31 Clearplas France METHOD FOR MOUNTING IN THE POSITION POSITION THE MALE AND FEMALE ELEMENTS OF AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE, AND SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD

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