Shuttered electrical receptacle

Claim 1

A shutter mechanism for use in a receptacle of the type having a faceplate with slots therethrough shaped and dimensioned to permit the passage of plug blades wherein one blade lies in a first plane and a second blade lies in one of two orthogonal planes, the mechanism comprising the combination of first and second relatively movable shutter members; spring means for urging each of said shutter members toward a normal location in the absence of inserted plug blades; said first shutter member including a first blocking member having a surface lying in a position to block the path of a blade in said first plane in said normal location; a first body having a first inclined cam surface lying in the path of a blade lying in one of said two orthogonal planes, said cam surface facing away from said first member; means for substantially rigidly interconnecting said first blocking member and said first body: and means defining first and second substantially parallel, inwardly facing surfaces generally aligned with the opposite ends of said first cam surface; said second shutter member including a second body having a second cam surface lying in the path of a blade lying in either of two orthogonal planes in its normal location and in front of the blocking surface of said first member; third and fourth bodies extending toward each other to together form a second blocking member lying partly behind said first cam surface and in a position to block the path of a blade lying in either of said orthogonal planes, said third and fourth bodies meeting along a line contained in one of said orthogonal planes; means for resiliently supporting said third and fourth bodies for movement with said second body; third and fourth projections extending away from said third and fourth bodies and between said first and second parallel, inwardly facing surfaces to hold said third and fourth bodies together in said normal location; said first and second cam surfaces being contactable by the concurrent entry of plug blades to move said shutter members so that said first and second blocking members move away from the paths of blades lying in parallel planes, said first and second parallel surfaces being positioned so that said third and fourth projections are released by said surfaces when the inserted blades approach said blocking members, thereby permitting said third and fourth bodies to separate and admit a perpendicular blade therebetween.