US3579171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety socket
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-25
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Granted: 1971-05-18
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Expires: 1989-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A socket for an ordinary incandescent lamp which prevents electrical shock if a child sticks his finger into it, comprising an aperture for receiving the base of a lamp and a shuttle which carries an operating arm and a pair of electrical contacts. The shuttle is spring biased to a position wherein the arm lies within the aperture while the contacts are spaced from the aperture. However, when a lamp is screwed into the aperture, it pushes the operating arm and shifts the shuttle so that the electrical contacts move to the aperture to contact the base of the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur S Woodward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R33/00; H01R33/945; H01R33/96; H01R33/962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture and a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof; said electrical device having a pair of spaced electrical device terminals for reception in said aperture; said socket terminal being positioned to make and break contact with a first of said device terminals; a second socket terminal movable between second and first positions to make and break contact, respectively, with a second of said device terminals; and means for coupling said operating arm to said second socket terminal to move said second socket terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture and a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof; said electrical device having a pair of spaced electrical device terminals for reception in said aperture; said socket terminal being positioned to make and break contact with a first of said device terminals; a second socket terminal movable between second and first positions to make and break contact, respectively, with a second of said device terminals; and means for coupling said operating arm to said second socket terminal to move said second socket terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
165 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device, said socket housing having first and second openings at opposite sides of said aperture; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture and a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith, said operating arm and socket terminal being positioned to move through said first and second openings, respectively, in moving between their first and second positions; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; and means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
165 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device, said socket housing having first and second openings at opposite sides of said aperture; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture and a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith, said operating arm and socket terminal being positioned to move through said first and second openings, respectively, in moving between their first and second positions; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; and means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture anD a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said socket terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; and means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof; said aperture defining threads having a predetermined outer diameter; said means for coupling comprising a shuttle slidably mounted on said housing; said operating arm and socket terminal being mounted on said shuttle at opposite sides of said aperture and at a spacing slightly less than the outer diameter of said threads; and said socket terminal being constructed to deflect when pressed against a device in said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture anD a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said socket terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; and means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof; said aperture defining threads having a predetermined outer diameter; said means for coupling comprising a shuttle slidably mounted on said housing; said operating arm and socket terminal being mounted on said shuttle at opposite sides of said aperture and at a spacing slightly less than the outer diameter of said threads; and said socket terminal being constructed to deflect when pressed against a device in said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture and a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; and means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof; the walls of said aperture being constructed of a material which is substantially electrically nonconductive, said walls having an opening therein for permitting the passage of said socket terminal into and out of said aperture to directly touch and break contact with said electrical device, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A safety socket for receiving an electrical device comprising: a socket housing having an aperture for receiving an electrical device; an operating arm mounted on said housing for movement between a first position in the path of an electrical device moving into said aperture and a second position out of the way of said device; a socket terminal movable between a second position to establish electrical contact with a device in said aperture and a first position to break electrical contact therewith; means for coupling said operating arm to said socket terminal to move said terminal between its first and second positions as said operating arm moves between its first and second positions, respectively; and means for urging said operating arm toward said first position thereof; the walls of said aperture being constructed of a material which is substantially electrically nonconductive, said walls having an opening therein for permitting the passage of said socket terminal into and out of said aperture to directly touch and break contact with said electrical device, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A safety socket for receiving a lamp or other device having a threaded base with thread walls that serve as one device terminal and a button on the bottom of the base that serves an another device terminal, comprising: a socket housing having walls forming a threaded aperture for receiving said base, said walls having first and second openings at opposite sides thereof; a member having an operating arm and a first socket terminal, said member movably mounted on said socket housing for movement between a first position wherein said operating arm projects into said aperture while said first terminal is spaced from said aperture, and a second position wherein said first terminal is at least at the periphery of said aperture to contact said base while said arm is substantially out of said aperture; means for biasing said member toward sad fist position; and a second socket terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A safety socket for receiving a lamp or other device having a threaded base with thread walls that serve as one device terminal and a button on the bottom of the base that serves an another device terminal, comprising: a socket housing having walls forming a threaded aperture for receiving said base, said walls having first and second openings at opposite sides thereof; a member having an operating arm and a first socket terminal, said member movably mounted on said socket housing for movement between a first position wherein said operating arm projects into said aperture while said first terminal is spaced from said aperture, and a second position wherein said first terminal is at least at the periphery of said aperture to contact said base while said arm is substantially out of said aperture; means for biasing said member toward sad fist position; and a second socket terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The safety socket described in claim 5 wherein: said walls forming a threaded aperture include a third opening at the bottom thereof for receiving said button of said device; and said second socket terminal is mounted on said member for movement between a position spaced from said third opening when said member is in said first position and a position at said third opening when said member is in said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A safety socket for receiving a lamp having a threaded base that serves as a first lamp terminal and a button on the bottom of the base that serves as a second lamp terminal, comprising: a socket housing having walls forming a threaded aperture for receiving said lamp base, said walls having an operating arm opening therein; a shuttle slidably mounted on said housing, said shuttle having an operating arm at one end for movement through said opening in said aperture walls, and a socket terminal at an opposite end for movement into and out of electrical contact with saiD first lamp terminal as said operating arm moves substantially out of and into said aperture, respectively; and means for biasing said shuttle toward a position wherein said operating arm is within said aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A safety socket for receiving a lamp having a threaded base that serves as a first lamp terminal and a button on the bottom of the base that serves as a second lamp terminal, comprising: a socket housing having walls forming a threaded aperture for receiving said lamp base, said walls having an operating arm opening therein; a shuttle slidably mounted on said housing, said shuttle having an operating arm at one end for movement through said opening in said aperture walls, and a socket terminal at an opposite end for movement into and out of electrical contact with saiD first lamp terminal as said operating arm moves substantially out of and into said aperture, respectively; and means for biasing said shuttle toward a position wherein said operating arm is within said aperture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The safety socket described in claim 7 wherein; said aperture walls are constructed of a substantially electrically nonconductive material, and have a second opening opposite said operating arm opening; and said socket terminal is mounted on said shuttle for movement through said second opening in said aperture walls to directly contact a lamp base within said aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The safety socket described in claim 7 including: a second socket terminal mounted on said shuttle for movement between a first position to establish electrical contact with the second lamp terminal of a lamp base within said aperture and to break electrical contact therewith, as said operating arm moves substantially out of and into said aperture, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The safety socket described in claim 9 wherein: said walls of said aperture include a central hole at the bottom of said aperture for receiving said second lamp terminal of a lamp received in said aperture; and said second socket terminal is mounted for movement between a first position in alignment with said opening at the bottom of said aperture walls and a second position out of alignment with said opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |