US3663924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety outlet
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-29
•
Granted: 1972-05-16
•
Expires: 1991-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The device disclosed is an outlet which may be connected to a standard rubber insulated lamp cord without stripping the insulation and may be positioned at any point along the length of the cord. The cord piercing contacts are arranged to move with a clamp member which provides strain relief and which is so formed as to block the use of the outlet before the strain relief and the contacts are engaged and is further shaped to prevent the strain relief and the cord piercing contacts from being disengaged while a plug occupies the outlet.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew E Gerlat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2475; H01R4/2483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In an electrical outlet for connection to an electrical cord without stripping the insulation from the cord, a body, a cord channel for said cord through said body adapted to hold an insulated conductor in a predetermined position, a contact channel in said body and extending toward said cord channel, said contact channel being adapted to receive the projecting prong of an electrical connector, a contact within said body, said contact having a portion in said contact channel adapted to make electrical connection with a prong upon insertion of the prong into the channel, said contact being provided with a pointed end, said pointed end being directed toward said predetermined position of the conductor in said cord channel, and means to reciprocate said contact into and out of said cord channel, said means including means separate from said sharpened end of said contact to secure said conductor in said channel, said means for reciprocating said contact further including means to prevent reception of prongs into said contact channel when said contact is withdrawn from said cord channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an electrical outlet for connection to an electrical cord without stripping the insulation from the cord, a body, a cord channel for said cord through said body adapted to hold an insulated conductor in a predetermined position, a contact channel in said body and extending toward said cord channel, said contact channel being adapted to receive the projecting prong of an electrical connector, a contact within said body, said contact having a portion in said contact channel adapted to make electrical connection with a prong upon insertion of the prong into the channel, said contact being provided with a pointed end, said pointed end being directed toward said predetermined position of the conductor in said cord channel, and means to reciprocate said contact into and out of said cord channel, said means including means separate from said sharpened end of said contact to secure said conductor in said channel, said means for reciprocating said contact further including means to prevent reception of prongs into said contact channel when said contact is withdrawn from said cord channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device of claim 1 in which said means for moving said contact comprises a generally cylindrical shaft adjacent said contact, a helix on said shaft, fixed means on said body extending into engagement with said helix adapted to cause said shaft to move axially with respect to said body upon rotation of said shaft, and a rotatable connection between said shaft and said contact adapted to move said contact axially upon axial movement of said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 2 in which the rotatable connection between said shaft and said contact comprises a groove in said shaft and a protuberance on said contact extending into said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 3 in which said protuberance on said contact consists of a flange extending into said channel, said flange being struck up from the material of which the contact is made.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The device of claim 2 in which said shaft is provided with a generally circular head extending radially from said shaft at the top of said body sufficiently to cover the contact channel for reception of the prong of an electrical plug, and a recess in the margin of said head of sufficient depth to expose said channel for the reception of the said prong of an electrical plug, said recess being so positioned with respect to said helical means as to expose said channel for reception of a plug prong only when said shaft is at its positioN axially furthest into said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 2 in which said shaft is provided with a generally conical protuberance at its inward end adapted to enter said cord channel when said shaft is in its axially inward position and bear against a conductor in said cord channel whereby it prevents movement of said cord with respect to said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 6 in which the cord channel is relieved axially away from said shaft at the point where said shaft enters said cord channel whereby pressure of said shaft against a cord in said channel forces the cord into the relief.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an electric cord set, a multiple conductor cord having a plug at one end and a single outlet at the other end, a movable outlet intermediate the ends of said cord, said movable outlet comprising a body having a cord channel through which said cord extends, cord clamping means movable axially into and out of said channel, means to cause said axial motion of said clamp means upon rotation of said clamp means, a plurality of contacts each having a pointed end adapted to move axially to and from engagement with a respective conductor with said clamp means as said clamp means is rotated, openings in said body adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug, and means attached to said clamp means to block said prong openings until said clamp means and said points are moved axially into said cord channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an electric cord set, a multiple conductor cord having a plug at one end and a single outlet at the other end, a movable outlet intermediate the ends of said cord, said movable outlet comprising a body having a cord channel through which said cord extends, cord clamping means movable axially into and out of said channel, means to cause said axial motion of said clamp means upon rotation of said clamp means, a plurality of contacts each having a pointed end adapted to move axially to and from engagement with a respective conductor with said clamp means as said clamp means is rotated, openings in said body adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug, and means attached to said clamp means to block said prong openings until said clamp means and said points are moved axially into said cord channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
The device of claim 8 in which said body is provided with an integral protuberance, said clamp means comprising a shaft provided with a helical screw thread engaging said protuberance, said openings for said plug contacts comprising a pair of parallel channels extending at right angles to said cord channel, said outlet contacts being U-shaped and having a short end portion of the U extending along the side of the respective plug openings and a long leg portion of the U extending alongside the shaft of the clamp means, said shaft being provided with a circumferential groove and said outlet contact being provided with flanges entering said groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
For making strain relieved contacts with an insulated electrical conductor, a body having a channel to receive said insulated conductor, an electrical contact having a point adapted for axial movement toward and into the channel and through the insulation to make electrical contact with said conductor, a strain relief member adapted to move axially into contact with the insulation of said conductor to apply pressure thereto against the wall of said channel, an opening in said body providing access to said contact member for making an electrical connection thereto, and means operated by said strain relief member preventing access to said last mentioned opening when said strain relief member is not in a position in which pressure is applied to said electrical insulation, and having an opening permitting such access when said member is in pressure applying position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
For making strain relieved contacts with an insulated electrical conductor, a body having a channel to receive said insulated conductor, an electrical contact having a point adapted for axial movement toward and into the channel and through the insulation to make electrical contact with said conductor, a strain relief member adapted to move axially into contact with the insulation of said conductor to apply pressure thereto against the wall of said channel, an opening in said body providing access to said contact member for making an electrical connection thereto, and means operated by said strain relief member preventing access to said last mentioned opening when said strain relief member is not in a position in which pressure is applied to said electrical insulation, and having an opening permitting such access when said member is in pressure applying position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 10 in which the contact and the strain relief member are connected for simultaneous axial movement into said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 10 in which the means preventing access to said opening for making electrical contacts is also adapted to lock said strain relief member in its pressure applying position when an electrical conductor extends through said opening for connection to said contact.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |