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US5259778A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for safety non-arcing electric connection and the device using the same

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-07-10
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2012-07-10
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Abstract

Abstract A method for safety non-arcing electric connection and the device using the same, which are adapted to complete the electric connection of common domestic appliances with power supply. The device comprises a socket unit which consists of a socket cover, a socket case, an insertion element and a connection element, and a plug which has a position means. The method is performed by means of insertion and turning. Three positions are defined by several pairs of pillar shaped teeth which cooperate with a pair of pillar shaped projections on the inside of the socket case. Also, electrical contact is established and broken by rotation of the insertion element relative to the socket unit. The device has advantages of safety, simple structure, convenient operation and no arcing.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ning Zhang

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 03:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/707; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; H01R13/4532

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 509 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device, which comprises a plug and a socket unit; said plug comprises pins adapted to be connected to electric power, a plug body and position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug; said socket unit comprising a socket cover, a socket case, an insertion element and a connection element; one end of said socket case being fixedly closed by said socket cover and the other end thereof being formed with a power wire hole through which an electric power wire passes; said insertion element and said connection element being arranged in the space formed by said socket cover and said socket case; a plurality of arcuate grooves formed through said socket cover corresponding to the pins of said plug in number, width, the relative position to the center of rotation axis and the relative position to each other, so that said pins can be inserted into said grooves and so that said socket unit can be rotated relative to said plug; said insertion element comprising a round block housing jacks which correspond to said pins in number, shape, size, and the position relative to its rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to be inserted into said jacks; each of said jacks having a conductive metal element; the outer circumferential surface of the said insertion element having eight pairs of teeth generally uniformly formed of pillar shape in cross section; and said insertion element having axial positioning means; said axial positioning means of said insertion element comprising a stepped needle post which is formed at the center of the insertion element and extends along the center line thereof, and a stepped hole which is formed at the center of said socket cover to receive said stepped needle post; said connection wire element having contact points for connection to electric power via said electric power wire and being fixedly arranged in the socket case; the contact points correspond to said pins of said plug in number and the positions relative to the rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to conveniently contact with and detach from said contact points; said socket unit being formed with a cylindrical space with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of maximum enveloping curve of said insertion element, two pillar shaped projections are generally uniformly formed and extends centripetally from the inside wall of said socket case and into said cylindrical space to fit with the teeth formed on said insertion element; said insertion element being turnably arranged in said cylindrical space with means to restrict its axial movement therein; and said means for restricting the axial movement of said insertion element in said cylindrical space comprising a needle post hole which is formed in the insertion element along the center line thereof and terminates in a tapered bottom, and a needle post, which is formed on and extends from said connection element along the center line thereof and terminates in a tapered tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 509 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device, which comprises a plug and a socket unit; said plug comprises pins adapted to be connected to electric power, a plug body and position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug; said socket unit comprising a socket cover, a socket case, an insertion element and a connection element; one end of said socket case being fixedly closed by said socket cover and the other end thereof being formed with a power wire hole through which an electric power wire passes; said insertion element and said connection element being arranged in the space formed by said socket cover and said socket case; a plurality of arcuate grooves formed through said socket cover corresponding to the pins of said plug in number, width, the relative position to the center of rotation axis and the relative position to each other, so that said pins can be inserted into said grooves and so that said socket unit can be rotated relative to said plug; said insertion element comprising a round block housing jacks which correspond to said pins in number, shape, size, and the position relative to its rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to be inserted into said jacks; each of said jacks having a conductive metal element; the outer circumferential surface of the said insertion element having eight pairs of teeth generally uniformly formed of pillar shape in cross section; and said insertion element having axial positioning means; said axial positioning means of said insertion element comprising a stepped needle post which is formed at the center of the insertion element and extends along the center line thereof, and a stepped hole which is formed at the center of said socket cover to receive said stepped needle post; said connection wire element having contact points for connection to electric power via said electric power wire and being fixedly arranged in the socket case; the contact points correspond to said pins of said plug in number and the positions relative to the rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to conveniently contact with and detach from said contact points; said socket unit being formed with a cylindrical space with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of maximum enveloping curve of said insertion element, two pillar shaped projections are generally uniformly formed and extends centripetally from the inside wall of said socket case and into said cylindrical space to fit with the teeth formed on said insertion element; said insertion element being turnably arranged in said cylindrical space with means to restrict its axial movement therein; and said means for restricting the axial movement of said insertion element in said cylindrical space comprising a needle post hole which is formed in the insertion element along the center line thereof and terminates in a tapered bottom, and a needle post, which is formed on and extends from said connection element along the center line thereof and terminates in a tapered tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 54 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device according the claim 1, wherein said position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug comprises protrusions which are formed on the plug body and extend centripetally, and concave areas which are formed in the outside of said socket unit to receive said protrusions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 523 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device, which comprises a plug and a socket unit; said plug comprises pins adapted to be connected to electric power, a plug body and position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug; said socket unit comprising a socket cover, a socket case, an insertion element and a connection element; one end of said socket case being fixedly closed by said socket cover and the other end thereof being formed with a power wire hole through which an electric power wire passes; said insertion element and said connection element being arranged in the space formed by said socket cover and said socket case; a plurality of arcuate grooves formed through said socket cover corresponding to the pins of said plug in number, width, the relative position to the center of rotation axis and the relative position to each other, so that said pins can be inserted into said grooves and so that said socket unit can be rotated relative to said plug; said insertion element comprising a round block having jacks which correspond to the pins in number, shape, size, and the position relative to its rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to be inserted into said jacks; each of said jacks having a conductive metal element; the outer circumferential surface of the said insertion element having eight pairs of teeth generally uniformly formed of pillar shape in cross section; and said insertion element having axial positioning means; said axial positioning means of said insertion element comprising a needle post and a needle post hole which receives said needle post; said needle post being in alignment with the center line of said insertion element, extends along the center line of said insertion element, and terminates in a tapered tip; said needle post hole is arranged at the center of said insertion element and terminates in a tapered bottom; said connection element having contact points for connection to electric power via said electric power wire and being fixedly arranged in the socket case; the contact points correspond to said pins of said plug in the number and the positions relative to the rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to conveniently contact with and detach from said contact points; said socket unit being formed with a cylindrical space with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of maximum enveloping curve of said insertion element, two pillar shaped projections are generally uniformly formed and extend centripetally from the inside wall of said socket case and into said cylindrical space to fit with the teeth formed on said insertion element; said insertion element being turnably arranged in said cylindrical space with means to restrict its axial movement therein; said means for restricting the axial movement of said insertion element in said cylindrical space comprising a needle post which is formed on and extends from said insertion element along the center line thereof and terminates in a tapered tip, and a needle post hole which is formed in said socket cover and terminates in a tapered bottom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 523 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device, which comprises a plug and a socket unit; said plug comprises pins adapted to be connected to electric power, a plug body and position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug; said socket unit comprising a socket cover, a socket case, an insertion element and a connection element; one end of said socket case being fixedly closed by said socket cover and the other end thereof being formed with a power wire hole through which an electric power wire passes; said insertion element and said connection element being arranged in the space formed by said socket cover and said socket case; a plurality of arcuate grooves formed through said socket cover corresponding to the pins of said plug in number, width, the relative position to the center of rotation axis and the relative position to each other, so that said pins can be inserted into said grooves and so that said socket unit can be rotated relative to said plug; said insertion element comprising a round block having jacks which correspond to the pins in number, shape, size, and the position relative to its rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to be inserted into said jacks; each of said jacks having a conductive metal element; the outer circumferential surface of the said insertion element having eight pairs of teeth generally uniformly formed of pillar shape in cross section; and said insertion element having axial positioning means; said axial positioning means of said insertion element comprising a needle post and a needle post hole which receives said needle post; said needle post being in alignment with the center line of said insertion element, extends along the center line of said insertion element, and terminates in a tapered tip; said needle post hole is arranged at the center of said insertion element and terminates in a tapered bottom; said connection element having contact points for connection to electric power via said electric power wire and being fixedly arranged in the socket case; the contact points correspond to said pins of said plug in the number and the positions relative to the rotation axis and to each other, so that said pins are able to conveniently contact with and detach from said contact points; said socket unit being formed with a cylindrical space with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of maximum enveloping curve of said insertion element, two pillar shaped projections are generally uniformly formed and extend centripetally from the inside wall of said socket case and into said cylindrical space to fit with the teeth formed on said insertion element; said insertion element being turnably arranged in said cylindrical space with means to restrict its axial movement therein; said means for restricting the axial movement of said insertion element in said cylindrical space comprising a needle post which is formed on and extends from said insertion element along the center line thereof and terminates in a tapered tip, and a needle post hole which is formed in said socket cover and terminates in a tapered bottom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 56 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device according to claim 3, wherein said position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug comprises protrusions which are formed on the plug body and extend radially inwardly, and concave areas which are formed in said socket case on the outside thereof to receive said protrusions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 121 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device according to claim 1, wherein said position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug has such a structure that: at least one enlarged portion is formed at the end of each of said pins; the width of said arcuate grooves is greater than the maximum size of the cross section of the pins and less than the maximum size of the cross section of the enlarged portions of the pins; and at each of the two corresponding ends of said grooves there is a enlarged portion of said grooves, the diameter of which is greater than the maximum size of the cross section of the enlarged portions of said pins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 121 words
A safety non-arcing electric connection device according to claim 3, wherein said position means for guiding the insertion of said socket unit into said plug has such a structure that: at least one enlarged portion is formed at the end of each of said pins; the width of said arcuate grooves is greater than the maximum size of the cross section of the pins and less than the maximum size of the cross section of the enlarged portions of the pins; at each of the two corresponding ends of said grooves there is a enlarged portion of said grooves, and the diameter of which is greater than the maximum size of the cross section of the enlarged portions of said pins.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1753179A Cited
US1774230A Cited
US2127473A Cited
GB627714A Cited
US2787676A Cited
US2857570A Cited
FR1167763A Cited
FR1333873A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-11-08 1997-05-10 1997-11-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-11-08 2001-05-10 2001-11-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-11-08 2005-05-10 2005-11-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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