Self-locking female receptor for electrical cord

Claim 2

A locking female electrical receptor comprising a female receptor body having a pair of holes for receiving prongs having punched holes of a male plug for electrically connecting two electrical lines respectively coupled to said receptor body and the male plug, said receptor body having actuator means mounted for selective relative movement within said receptor body, said actuator means having a manually operated element being accessible from the outside of said receptor body, a pair of locking elements mounted in said receptor body in operative relationship to said actuator means for selectively engaging the punched holes of the male plug locking the prongs of the male plug to said receptor body, said actuator means being movable to a first position for permitting insertion and removal of the prongs relative to said locking elements, and said actuator means comprising a cylindrical member having a portion being movable to a second position by resilient means relative to said locking elements in said receptor for urging said locking elements into locking contact with the prongs of the male plug.

Claim 3

The female receptor according to claim 1 wherein said locking elements are a pair of balls.

Claim 4

The female receptor according to claim 2 further including resilient means for urging said actuator means to said second position.

Claim 5

A locking female electrical receptor comprising a female receptor body having a pair of holes for receiving the prongs of a male plug for electrically connecting two electrical lines respectively couples to said receptor body and the male plug, said receptor body having actuator means mounted for selective relative movement within said receptor, said actuator means having a manually operated element being accessible from the outside of said receptor body, a pair of locking elements mounted in said receptor body in operative relationship to said actuator means for selectively locking the prongs of the male plug to said receptor body, said actuator means being movable to a first position for permitting insertion and removal of the prongs relative to said locking elements, said actuator means being movable to a second position in said receptor for urging said locking elements into locking contact with the prongs of the male plugs, said locking elements are a pair of balls, resilient means for urging said actuator means to said second position, said actuator means includes an elongated shaft movable in said receptor body and being in operative contact with said balls, said shaft having a reduced width aligned with said balls in said first position to permit disengagement of said balls.

Claim 6

A locking female electrical receptor comprising a female receptor body having a pair of holes for receiving the prongs of a male plug for electrically connecting two electrical lines respectively couples to said receptor body and the male plug, said receptor body having actuator means mounted for selective relative movement within said receptor, said actuator means having a manually operated element being accessible from the outside of said receptor body, a pair of locking elements mounted in said receptor body in operative relationship to said actuator means for selectively locking the prongs of the male plug to said receptor body, said actuator means being movable to a first position for permitting insertion and removal of the prongs relative to said locking elements, said actuator means being movable to a second position in said receptor for urging said locking elements into locking contact with the prongs of the male plugs, said locking elements are a pair of balls, resilient means for urging said actuator means to said second position, said actuator means includes an elongated shaft movable in said receptor body and being in operative contact with said balls, said shaft having a reduced width aligned with said balls in said first position to permit disengagement of said balls.

Claim 7

The female receptor according to claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes a sleeve having aligned openings, said shaft being movable in said sleeve, and said balls being retained on said sleeve.

Claim 8

The female receptor according to claim 5 wherein said reduced width of said rod is a narrowed down portion of said shaft for permitting movement of said balls for disengagement.

Claim 9

The female receptor according to claim 4 wherein said shaft includes a flared end portion arranged to contact said balls in said second position of said shaft.

Claim 10

The female receptor according to claim 7 wherein said resilient means is a spring mounted at an exterior position of said receptor body.

Claim 11

The female receptor according to claim 7 wherein said resilient means is a spring mounted in said receptor body adjacent said flared end.