Global Patent Index - EP 3540868 B1

EP 3540868 B1 20230517 - LOCKING ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE

Title (en)

LOCKING ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE

Title (de)

VERRIEGELBARE ELEKTRISCHE AUFNAHME

Title (fr)

RÉCEPTACLE ÉLECTRIQUE DE VERROUILLAGE

Publication

EP 3540868 B1 20230517 (EN)

Application

EP 19170632 A 20080314

Priority

  • US 89484907 P 20070314
  • EP 08732302 A 20080314
  • US 2008057149 W 20080314

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO2009114022A1] A method and apparatus ('utility') for securing an electrical connection formed by a mating structure including prongs of a male assembly (50) and receptacles of a female assembly (20) are provided. The utility includes a clamping mechanism (40) whereby the very forces that would otherwise tend to pull the connection apart serve to actuate the clamping mechanism (40), thereby securing the mated pair. The apparatus may be integrated into a standard receptacle, or retrofitted to work with existing devices. In one embodiment, the clamping mechanism (40) acts solely on the ground prong (54) of the standard male assembly (50), so that it is unnecessary to consider electrical potentials applied to the clamped prong (54) in relation to the design of the clamping mechanism (40). Further, the withdrawing movement of the prong (54) of the male assembly (50) may be translated into a rotational movement of a portion of the clamping mechanism (40) into an abutting relationship with the clamped prong (54).

IPC 8 full level

H01R 13/633 (2006.01); H01R 13/639 (2006.01); H01R 13/652 (2006.01); H01R 43/26 (2006.01); H01R 24/78 (2011.01); H01R 103/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

H01R 13/6335 (2013.01); H01R 13/639 (2013.01); H01R 13/652 (2013.01); H01R 43/26 (2013.01); H01R 24/78 (2013.01); H01R 2103/00 (2013.01)

Citation (examination)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 2009114022 A1 20090917; WO 2009114022 A8 20100107; AU 2008352557 A1 20090917; AU 2008352557 B2 20140925; BR PI0808793 A2 20170502; CA 2680871 A1 20090917; CA 2680871 C 20130528; CN 101682154 A 20100324; CN 101682154 B 20130703; EP 2240983 A1 20101020; EP 2240983 A4 20110504; EP 2240983 B1 20190424; EP 3540868 A1 20190918; EP 3540868 B1 20230517

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 2008057149 W 20080314; AU 2008352557 A 20080314; BR PI0808793 A 20080314; CA 2680871 A 20080314; CN 200880015560 A 20080314; EP 08732302 A 20080314; EP 19170632 A 20080314