Patent US3676831A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3676831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric plug
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-12
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A simple inexpensive electric plug will lock into a wall socket. It accommodates a latch which fits, edgewise into a pin so as to give a great depth of locking surface. A cam-like incline automatically depresses the latch as it enters the socket or receptacle and a spring causes the latch to engage with the rear face of the receptacle front moulding. The latch may be depressed (so that the plug may be removed) by means of a pushbutton.
Inventors
- 👤 Carey Bergwall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A lockable electric plug comprising: a. an insulating body; b. at least one elongated contact pin projecting therefrom having a free distal end and a deep narrow generally U-shaped slot extending along the pin; c. a latch member retractably mounted in said slot, said latch member being a thin strip of material having a depth many times greater than its width with both of its major surfaces being supported by the slot; d. a latch face on said latch member positioned to project beyond said pin in its unretracted position, said latch face being a deep notch within the plane of the strip presenting an edge to engage the rearward surface of a receptacle opening when inserted therein and thereby prevent withdrawal therefrom; e. means for retracting said member within the slot so as to permit withdrawal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A lockable electric plug comprising: a. an insulating body; b. at least one elongated contact pin projecting therefrom having a free distal end and a deep narrow generally U-shaped slot extending along the pin; c. a latch member retractably mounted in said slot, said latch member being a thin strip of material having a depth many times greater than its width with both of its major surfaces being supported by the slot; d. a latch face on said latch member positioned to project beyond said pin in its unretracted position, said latch face being a deep notch within the plane of the strip presenting an edge to engage the rearward surface of a receptacle opening when inserted therein and thereby prevent withdrawal therefrom; e. means for retracting said member within the slot so as to permit withdrawal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for retracting the latch face comprises an extension of the thin flat strip of rigid material so that the extension projects into the plug body member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising spring bias means for biasing the latch face to normally project out of the U-shaped slot, and wherein the means for retracting said latch face within the U-shaped slot of the contact pin comprises an extension of the thin flat strip of rigid material into the plug body cooperating with said spring bias means, said extension being bent away from the pin axis so that the extension does not lie within the plane of the flat strip but allows accommodation of the spring bias means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 1 in which said pin has, in that part forming the slot, a sheet metal rectangle folded about a line parallel to the major side thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 1 in which the contact pin having a U-shaped slot has a pivot means at the free distal end for pivoting the latch member so that the latch member can move only by rotation about the pivot in the plane of the thin strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising a spring bias means for biasing the latch normally out of the U-shaped slot, and in which the latch member profile between the pivot and the latch face is shaped so as to depress the latch against the action of the spring bias means by action of the side of a receptacle opening on the latch face profile as the plug is pushed into a socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 6 in which the means for retracting the latch face comprises an extension of the thin flat strip of rigid material so that the extension projects into the plug body, said extension being bent away from the contact pins axis so that the extension does not lie within the plane of the flat strip, the spring bias means acting upon the cranked extension of the flat strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric plug as claimed in claim 6 in which said pin has, in that part forming the slot, a sheet metal rectangle folded about a line parallel to the major side thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2498743A
Cited
US3267408A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |