US1349978A - Convertible plate for electrical plug-receptacles - Google Patents

Description

A. C. RECKER.

CONVERTIBLE PLATEFOH ELECTRICAL PLUG RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1919.

1 ,349, 978. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

mm; c. aaxaiaam ata .W NEQZI essIeNoa T THE .OIIIASE COMPANIES, Inc, or WATERBURY, comimcTIcUaA CORPORATION.

CONVERTIBLE PLATE FoanLEerftfCAt rtbe-iilfiefzrirecnns.

Speci ication of Letters intent. Patented Aug, 17, 1920,

Application filed September 20, 1919. Serial No. 325,210.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPH C. BECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakville, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Convertible Plates for Electrical Plug-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this application, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a face view of an electrical plugreceptacle plate embodying my invention and provided with its externally applied door whereby it is converted for use with standard plug-receptacles of the screw-plug type, the door being shown in its closed position.

Fig. 2 a corresponding view showing the plate as applied to a standard plug-receptacle of the screw-plug type and with its door in the open or clearance position thereof.

Fig. 3 a face view of the plate with its door removed and therefore as converted for use with a standard plug-receptacle of the push-plug type.

Fig. 4 a detached view of the plate with its door removed.

My invention relates to an improved plate convertible for use with electrical plug-re ceptacles of the screw-plug and push-plug types, the object being to produce a standard plate, which may be readily converted for use with one type of plug-receptacle or the other without structural change beyond the removal and replacement of an externally applied pivotal door or closure.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in a receptacle-plate having a serviceopenin and screw-holes located on opposite sides 0 the said service-opening for the reception of the screws by means of which the plate is fastened to the receptacle and the said plate having a removable door unit adapted to be applied to the exterior surface of the plate and comprising a closure-plate and a leaf to which the same is hinged, the said leaf being formed with an opening for the reception of one of the said screws.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ a beveled oblong plate 2 formed with a circular service-opening 3 and screw-holes 4: and 5 located on opposite sides of the said opening, which is made somewhat larger in diameter than the threaded socket 6 of a standard plug-receptacle of the screw-plug type, and also large enough to receive the circular boss 7 of a standard plug-rcccptacle of the push-plug type. The screw-holes 4 and 5 are of course spaced with reference to the service-opening 3, and to the screw-holes provided in the two types of plug-rcceptacles mentioned, for the attachment of the receptacle-plates.

Vthen it is intended to use my improved plate with a receptacle of the screw-plug type, it is converted for that purpose by its provision with an externally applied removable door-unit, comprising a circular closure-plate S hinged to a shaped leaf 9, having a perforation 10 for the reception of the screw 11, which discharges the double function of securing the door-unit to the plate and the plate to the receptacle. By applying the door-unit to the exterior surface of the plate, the closure-plate 8, or door proper, folds back, shown in Fig. 2, into a plane parallel with the plane of the plate, so as to be virtually out of the way, whereas doors when hinged at a point back of the face of the plate can be swung outward only into a position at a right angle to the face of the plate, in which exposed position the door is liable to be bent or broken and disabled. When the screw-plug receptacle is not in use, the closure-plate 8 is swung down into its closed position in which it prevents dust from entering the screw-socket 6 and also avoids the danger of the introduction of the fingers into the socket 6 so as to receive the current.

To convert the plate for use in conjunction with a plug-receptacle of the pushplug type, it is only necessary to discard the door-unit, which may be done without disfiguring the plate, since its screw-holes 4' and 5 are then occupied by the fastening screws 11 and 12, as shown in Fig. 3. By preference and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the closure-plate 8 is flanged as at 13 to overlap the edges of the service-opening 3, but this is not essential, but it is essential that the door-unit be mede ier removable attachment to the exteriorsurface of the plate ineteed of to the rear face thereof.

I claim:

A door-unit for the conversion of plates for electrical plug-receptacles of the screwplug and push-plug types, the said unit consisting of a closure-plate and a lee'f to which the same is secured and which is perforated for the reception of one of the screws by means of which the plate is secured to the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ADOLPH C. RECKER.

Witnesses:

JOHN S. NEAGLE, H. M. UPBON.

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