Electrical receptacle with locking feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10855030-B2
Application number	US-202016743798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2020
Priority date	Feb 5, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An electrical receptacle unit with locking feature includes a receptacle adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electricity. The receptacle includes an electrical fitting having electrical contacts contained therein and/or extending therefrom, a socket surrounding the electrical fitting, and a plate disposed at a front of the socket. The electrical receptacle unit further includes a locking bracket that includes a central portion having first and second ends, a lock tab extending from a side of the central portion, and a pair of support arms, each extending forwardly from a respective one of the first and second ends. The locking bracket is pivotably secured to the plate, with at least a portion of each support arm positioned within a respective notched area of the plate. The locking bracket is pivotable relative to the plate between a first position, whereby a plug electrically seated within the socket is unobstructed, and a second position, whereby the plug electrically seated within the socket is obstructed from removal by the lock tab.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical receptacle unit with locking feature comprising:
a receptacle adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electricity, the receptacle including
an electrical fitting having electrical contacts contained therein and/or extending therefrom,
a socket surrounding the electrical fitting, and
a plate disposed at a front of the socket; and

a locking bracket including
a central portion having first and second ends,
a lock tab extending forwardly from a side of the central portion, and
a pair of support arms, each extending forwardly from a respective one of the first and second ends;

wherein the locking bracket is slidably engaged with the plate, with at least a portion of each support arm positioned within a respective notched area of the plate; and
wherein the locking bracket is laterally maneuverable relative to the plate between a first position, whereby a plug electrically seated within the socket is unobstructed, and a second position, whereby the plug electrically seated within the socket is obstructed from removal by the lock tab.

2. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is a panel-mount receptacle.

3. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 2 , wherein the socket of the receptacle includes walls, at least one of which walls includes a locking tab that retains the receptacle in a fixture.

4. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the electrical fitting is a female electrical fitting having female electrical contacts contained therein.

5. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the plug and receptacle are of a C13/C14-type.

6. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein an inwardly-oriented hook tab is disposed at a distal end of each support arm and is received within the corresponding notched area of the plate.

7. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 6 , wherein each inwardly-oriented hook tab is maneuverable from one end of the corresponding notched area to an opposite end of the corresponding notched area as the locking bracket is transitioned from the first position to the second position.

8. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the locking bracket includes a grip tab extending from a side of the central portion opposite to that of the lock tab.

9. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the locking bracket is made from a metal material.

10. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein a length of the locking bracket does not extend beyond a footprint of the receptacle in the stacking direction.

11. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the locking bracket further includes a pair of deflectable positioning arms, each extending forwardly from the central portion at a location that is generally adjacent to, but spaced inwardly from, a respective one of the pair of support arms.

12. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 11 , wherein each deflectable positioning arm includes a bent portion that engages a front-facing surface of the plate.

13. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 12 , wherein:
when the locking bracket is in the first position, each bent portion is seated within a respective one of a first aligned pair of transverse grooves in the front-facing surface of the plate;
when the locking bracket is in the second position, each bent portion is seated within a respective one of a second aligned pair of transverse grooves in the front-facing surface of the plate; and
the second aligned pair of transverse grooves is spaced apart from the first aligned pair of transverse grooves.

14. A method of securing a plug to an electrical receptacle unit comprising:
providing an electrical receptacle unit having a female electrical fitting with a surrounding receptacle unit socket, a plate disposed at a front of the receptacle unit socket, and a locking bracket having first and second support arms arranged to extend forwardly from opposite sides of a central portion, wherein the locking bracket is slidably engaged with the plate, with at least a portion of each support arm received within a respective notched area of the plate;
providing a plug having a male electrical fitting with male electrical contacts extending therefrom and a plug socket that surrounds the male electrical contacts;
positioning the plug within the receptacle unit socket to establish an electrical connection therewith; and
laterally maneuvering the locking bracket relative to the plate from a first position, whereby the plug is unobstructed, to a second position, whereby a portion of the locking bracket obstructs the plug from removal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the plug includes a ledge formed at a junction of the male electrical fitting and the plug socket; and
when the locking bracket is laterally maneuvered from the first position to the second position, a lock tab extending forwardly from the central portion of the locking bracket is positioned over the ledge to obstruct the plug.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the locking bracket includes a pair of deflectable positioning arms;
each of the pair of deflectable positioning arms extends forwardly from the central portion at a location that is generally adjacent to, but spaced inwardly from, a respective one of the pair of support arms; and
each of the pair of deflectable positioning arms includes a bent portion that engages a front-facing surface of the plate.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
when the locking bracket is in the first position, the bent portion of each of the pair of positioning arms is seated within a respective one of a first aligned pair of transverse grooves in the front-facing surface of the plate;
when the locking bracket is laterally maneuvered from the first position to the second position, each of the pair of deflectable positioning arms is deflected by the plate, and each of the bent portions is transitioned from the respective one of the first aligned pair of transverse grooves to a respective one of a second aligned pair of transverse grooves in the front-facing surface of the plate; and
the second aligned pair of transverse grooves is spaced apart from the first aligned pair of transverse grooves.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein laterally maneuvering the locking bracket from the first position to the second position includes applying a force to the locking bracket that is sufficient to cause each of the pair of deflectable positioning arms to be deflected.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein a length of the locking bracket does not extend beyond a footprint of the electrical receptacle unit in the stacking direction.

Assignees

• Chatsworth Prod Inc

Inventors

• Bowen Jonathan

Classifications

• H01R13/6395 Primary

  for wall or panel outlets · CPC title

• H01R24/78

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/6392 Primary

  for extension cord · CPC title

• H01R24/30

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/743

  integral with the housing · CPC title