US3524072A - Electrical socket for selectively supplying different voltages - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1970 A. N. TSERGAS ELECTRIQAL SOCKET FOR SELECTIVELY S UPPLYING DIFFERENT VOLTAGES Filed NOV. 5, 1967 I INVENTOR.

756 f lax w 1am ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 307112 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical socket which includes a switch that may be selectively actuated by a plug is disclosed.

This invention relates in general to an electrical outlet socket and in particular to a novel socket in combination with a switch that may be selectively energized by a plug.

It is sometimes desirable to connect various appliances and circuits to different voltages. The novel electrical socket of this invention contains a switch that may be actuated dependent on the particular plug inserted into it.

It is an object of the present invention therefore, to provide a novel electrical outlet socket with a switch which may be selectively energized by an electrical plug.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical socket and an associated plug which will selectively energize a circuit associated with the socket when a particular plug is inserted into the socket.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision for an electrical socket formed with an actuating plunger for energizing a secondary circuit which may be either independent or associated with the circuit of the socket. A plug of varying configuration either actuates the secondary circuit or leaves it in its existing condition depending on the shape of the plug being utilized.

Further features, objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and claims when read in view of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the electrical socket of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the socket of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a plug which does not actuate the switch associated with the socket;

FIG. 4 illustrates a plug which actuatcs the switch associated with the socket; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the secondary circuit associated with the plug of this invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wall box which supports the novel socket 11 of this invention. The socket 11 comprises a central insulating portion 12 which is formed with extending arms 13 and 14 which may be attached to the box 10 by screws 15 and 16. The screws are received in brackets 17 and 18 attached to the walls of the box, as shown in FIG. 2. The socket portion 12 is formed with a pair of power openings With electrical contacts 19 and 20 mounted therein. A grounded contact 21 is also mounted in the central portion 12 of the socket.

An actuating plunger designated generally as 23, is mounted in portion 12. The plunger 23 passes through a central opening that extends from one side of the plug 12 to the other and forms an engaging cam portion 24 on one end and a switch actuator portion 26 on the other end. The cam and actuator portions 24 and 26 may be threaded or otherwise attached to a central shaft 27 of the actuator 23. A first portion 28 of the central opening through the socket 12 is enlarged so as to 3,524,0172 Patented Aug. 11, 1970 receive the switch actuator portion 24 within its confines when the plunger 23 is depressed. A second enlarged portion 29 is formed adjacent the actuating portion 26 in the socket. A spring 31 is mounted behind the cam portion 24 and rides against a shoulder 32 formed in the central Opening of the socket so as to bias the actuator to the left relative to FIG. 2.

A switch 33 is attached to the wall box 10 behind the socket 12. The switch 33 has an actuator 34 which is in alignment with the plunger 23 such that the portion 26 engages it to actuate the switch when the plunger 23 is depressed.

A pair of plugs 39 and 40 may be utilized with the socket of this invention. The plug 39, for example, may be utilized to apply conventional voltage (say volts) to a load. It has a grounding prong 41 and a pair of power supplying prongs 42 and 43. The plug 40 has a grounding prong 44 and a pair of power prongs 45 and 46. The plug 40 is also formed with a central depression 47 which fits over the switch actuator 24 so that the switch actuator 24 does not move against the switch contact 34 to close it when the plug 40 is inserted into the outlet socket 11. Plug 39, on the other hand, moves the plunger 23 to the left relative to FIG. 2, when inserted into the socket because there is no mating opening for the plunger 23.

The schematic diagram of FIG. 5 illustrates the novel socket and plug arrangement of this invention. Lines 48, 49 and 50 may be connected to a power supply so that 110 volts exists between lines 48 and 49, and between lines 49 and 50, whereas 220 volts exists between lines 48 and 50. Line 48 is connected to the socket contact 19 in the socket and contact 20 is connected to the movable contact 51 of the switch 33. In the first position the first stationary contact 52 of the switch is connected to the line 50 and the contact 53 is connected to the line 49.

When the plunger 23 is depressed by plug 39, the switch contact 34 moves contact 51 to engage the contact 53 and this connects 110 volts between the socket contacts 19 and 20, thus applying 110 volts to the load through prongs 42 and 43.

On the other hand, when a plug 40 formed with an aligned opening 47 is inserted into the socket 12, the switch actuator 24 will be received into the opening 47 and the switch 23 will remain in the position shown in FIG. 5. Under these conditions 220 volts will be applied to the socket contacts 19 and 20 and to the load through prongs 45 and 46. It is to be realized that the switch 33 has a spring, not shown, which biases actuator 34.

The plug 39 is a conventional plug having power prongs and a grounding prong so that the socket may be used in a conventional manner to supply 110 volts. The special plug 40 with the opening 47 will be attached to loads requiring 220 volts. Due to the opening 47, the user cannot connect the wrong voltage to a device.

It is to be realized, of course, that the plunger 23 may control a secondary circuit associated with the switch 33 without necessarily changing the potential applied to the load connected to the plug, but such modifications would be within the normal skill of the art.

Although this invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is not to be so limited, as changes and modifications may be made which are within the full intended scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical socket for receiving a standard power plug having a grounding prong and power prongs or a non-standard power plug having a grounding prong and power prongs, said socket formed with spaced power ice contact.openings'containing power contacts and which align with the power prongs of the standard or nonstandard plugs and a grounding contact opening which aligns with the grounding prong of the standard or nonstandard plug, a spring biased actuating plun er moveably mounted in said socket and formed with an extending portion which is engaged by said standard power plug to move it when it is inserted into said socket, and said non-standard plug formed with a depression aligned with said extending portion when said plug is inserted into said socket so that said plunger is not moved when said non-standard plug is inserted into said socket.

2. An electrical socket according to claim 1 comprising a switch mounted adjacent said socket and formed with a moveable contact and said plunger engageable with said moveable contact to position it.

3. An electrical socket according to claim 2 comprising three power lines with one connected to one of said power contacts of said socket, said switch formed with two stationary contacts which are connected to the other two power lines, and the moveable contact of said switch connected to the other of said power contacts of said socket such that a standard power voltage is applied to a standard power plug and a non-standard power voltage is applied to a non-standard power plug.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Primary Examiner D. SMITH, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 200-51.09

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