Safety switch with hinge type interlocking mechanism for operating switch contacts or preventing actuation thereof

Claim 2

A safety device for electrical outlets, the device comprising, in combination, an electric switch which is connectible in circuit with an electrical outlet and which has an open condition and a closed condition, supply of electrical energy through said switch being permitted when said switch is in said closed condition and being prevented when said switch is in said open condition, anD a cover member which is movable between first and second positions in which said cover member is adapted to cover and uncover, respectively, the electrical outlet, said switch including a control member which is so connected to said cover member that with said cover member in said first position thereof said control member is positioned to cause said switch to be in said closed condition, and with said cover member in said second position thereof said control member is positioned to cause said switch to be in said open condition and to be prevented by said control member from attaining said closed condition.

Claim 3

A safety electrical supply arrangement comprising an electrical outlet mounting member provided with at least one electrical outlet location at which an electrical outlet is mountable, an electrical switch which is connectible in circuit with the outlet and which has an open condition and a closed condition, supply of electrical energy through said switch to the outlet being permitted when said switch is in said closed condition and being prevented when said switch is in said open condition, and a cover member which is movable between a first position in which said cover member covers said electrical outlet location and a second position in which said electrical outlet location is uncovered, the switch including a control member which is so connected to said cover member that with said cover member in said first position thereof said control member is positioned to cause said switch to be in said closed condition, and with said cover member in said second position thereof said control member is positioned to cause said switch to be in said open condition and to be prevented by said control member from attaining said closed condition.

Claim 4

A safety electrical supply arrangement comprising an electrical outlet mounting member provided with at least one electrical outlet location at which an electrical outlet is mountable, an electrical switch which is connectible in circuit with the outlet and which has an open condition and a closed condition, supply of electrical energy through said switch to the outlet being permitted when said switch is in said closed condition and being prevented when said switch is in said open condition, and a cover member which is movable between a first position in which said cover member covers said electrical outlet location and a second position in which said electrical outlet location is uncovered, the switch including a control member which is so connected to said cover member that with said cover member in said first position thereof said control member is positioned to cause said switch to be in said closed condition, and with said cover member in said second position thereof said control member is positioned to cause said switch to be in said open condition and to be prevented by said control member from attaining said closed condition.

Claim 5

An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said cover member is pivotally mounted for said movement of said cover member between said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 6

An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said electric switch further comprises two spaced electrical contacts, said control member of the switch comprising a disc of electrically insulating material through which a body of electrically conducting material is eccentrically mounted with said disc being fixedly mounted on the said cover member and being substantially coaxial with the pivotal mounting thereof, and said switch being in said open condition thereof when a portion of said disc of electrically insulating material is disposed between said electrical contacts, and being in the closed condition thereof when said body of electrically conducting material mounted through said disc is disposed between and in contact with said electrical contacts.

Claim 7

An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said electrical contacts are resiliently urged towards one another, the ends of said body of electrically conducting material being recessed relative to the adjacent faces of said disc of electrically insulating material.

Claim 8

An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein with said cover member in said first position thereof a cavity is provided between said electrical outlet location and said cover member, said electrical outlet location within said cavity being in communication by way of a tortuous path with the exterior of said cover member.

Claim 9

An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein an upstanding rib at least partially surrounds said electrical outlet location, and said cover member has side walls which when said cover member is in said first position thereof embrace said upstanding rib with at least a portion of said side walls being recessed and being laterally spaced from said upstanding rib thereby to provide said tortuous path.

Claim 10

An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said cover member presents a roughened portion which is in frictional engagement with said upstanding rib when said cover member is in said first position thereof thereby to restrain said cover member in said first position.

Claim 11

A safety electrical supply arrangement coMprising an electrical outlet mounting member provided with at least one outlet location at which an electrical outlet may be disposed, an upstanding rib which at least partially surrounds said electrical outlet location, an electric switch which is connectible in circuit with the outlet and which has an open condition and a closed condition, supply of electrical energy through the said switch to the outlet being permitted when said switch is in said closed condition and being prevented when said switch is in said open condition, and a cover member which is pivotally mounted for movement between a first position in which said cover member covers said electrical outlet location and a second position in which said electrical outlet location is uncovered, said cover member having side walls which when said cover member is in said first position thereof embrace said upstanding rib with a portion of said side walls being recessed and being laterally spaced from said upstanding rib thereby to provide a tortuous path by which said electrical outlet location is in communication with the exterior of said cover member, said switch comprising two spaced electrical contacts and a disc of electrically insulating material through which body of electrically conducting material is eccentrically mounted, with said disc being fixedly mounted on said cover member and being substantially coaxial with the pivotal mounting thereof, and operation of said switch being so controlled that with said cover member in said first position said body of electrically conducting material mounted through said disc is disposed between and in contact with said electrical contacts whereby said switch is in said closed condition thereof, and with said cover member in said second position a portion of said disc of electrically insulating material is disposed between said electrical contacts whereby said switch is in said open condition thereof.

Claim 12

A safety electrical supply arrangement coMprising an electrical outlet mounting member provided with at least one outlet location at which an electrical outlet may be disposed, an upstanding rib which at least partially surrounds said electrical outlet location, an electric switch which is connectible in circuit with the outlet and which has an open condition and a closed condition, supply of electrical energy through the said switch to the outlet being permitted when said switch is in said closed condition and being prevented when said switch is in said open condition, and a cover member which is pivotally mounted for movement between a first position in which said cover member covers said electrical outlet location and a second position in which said electrical outlet location is uncovered, said cover member having side walls which when said cover member is in said first position thereof embrace said upstanding rib with a portion of said side walls being recessed and being laterally spaced from said upstanding rib thereby to provide a tortuous path by which said electrical outlet location is in communication with the exterior of said cover member, said switch comprising two spaced electrical contacts and a disc of electrically insulating material through which body of electrically conducting material is eccentrically mounted, with said disc being fixedly mounted on said cover member and being substantially coaxial with the pivotal mounting thereof, and operation of said switch being so controlled that with said cover member in said first position said body of electrically conducting material mounted through said disc is disposed between and in contact with said electrical contacts whereby said switch is in said closed condition thereof, and with said cover member in said second position a portion of said disc of electrically insulating material is disposed between said electrical contacts whereby said switch is in said open condition thereof.