Electrical receptacle with locking feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11909143-B2
Application number	US-202217724227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2022
Priority date	Feb 5, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

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;

a locking bracket having a lock tab; and
at least one spring anchored between the locking bracket and the plate;
wherein the locking bracket is pivotably secured to the plate; and
wherein the at least one spring is biased to retain the locking bracket in a position whereby the lock tab obstructs a plug electrically seated within the socket from removal.

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 the locking bracket includes a grip tab extending from a side thereof.

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

8. 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.

9. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the lock tab extends from the locking bracket at an angle.

10. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the locking bracket is secured to the plate via a hinge pin.

11. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 10 , wherein the locking bracket is pivotable between the first and second positions about the hinge pin.

12. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring is a coil-type spring.

13. The electrical receptacle unit with locking feature of claim 1 , wherein the locking bracket is pivotable, against the bias of the at least one spring, so that the plug is unobstructed and removable from the socket.

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, a locking bracket pivotably secured to the plate, and at least one spring anchored between the locking bracket and 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;
pivoting an end of the locking bracket away from the plate, against a bias in the at least one spring, so that the plug is unobstructed;
positioning the plug within the receptacle unit socket to establish an electrical connection therewith; and
releasing the end of the locking bracket so that the bias in the at least one spring causes the locking bracket to enter and be retained in a locked position whereby a portion of the locking bracket obstructs the plug from removal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein, in the locked position, a lock tab extending from the locking bracket is positioned to obstruct the plug from removal.

16. 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.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plug and receptacle unit are of a C13/C14-type.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the locking bracket includes a grip tab extending from a side thereof.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one spring is a coil-type spring.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the locking bracket is secured to the plate via a hinge pin.

Assignees

• Chatsworth Prod Inc

Inventors

• Bowen Jonathan
• Rodriguez Samuel

Classifications

• H01R13/6395 Primary

  for wall or panel outlets · CPC title

• H01R13/6392 Primary

  for extension cord · CPC title

• H01R43/26

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• H01R13/743

  integral with the housing · CPC title

• H01R24/30

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title