IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,553,407
Granted Patent B2
US 9,553,407 · App. 14/385,181 · Granted Jan 24, 2017

Electrical plug retainer outlet

Inventor: Gregor McDowall (Apples, CH)
Assignee: EATON INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURING GMBH
H01R13/6395H01R13/6275H01R13/6278H01R2103/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,553,407
App. No.
14/385,181
Granted
Jan 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical plug retainer outlet includes a connector outlet including a switchable plug retainer assembly mounted on the connector outlet. The plug retainer assembly includes a retaining element, a switch, and a coupling unit connecting the switch and the retaining element. The outlet is configured such that by operating the switch, the retaining element is shifted between a neutral position and an engaged position. In the engaged position, the retaining element provides a form-fit connection, a frictional connection, or both, to a plug connected to the connector outlet. The retaining element interferes with an insulation of the plug.

Claims (31)

1. An electrical plug retainer outlet, comprising:

a connector outlet;

a switchable retainer assembly mounted on the connector outlet, the switchable plug retainer assembly including a retaining element, a switch, and a coupling unit connecting the switch and the retaining element,

wherein the switch is configured to shift the retaining element from a neutral position to an engaged position,

wherein the retaining element is configured to, in the engaged position, interlock a plug connected to the connector outlet to provide a form-fit connection, a frictional connection, or both, with the plug,

wherein the retaining element is configured to, in the engage position, interlock an insulating portion of the plug,

wherein the coupling unit includes a cam contour, and

wherein the cam contour is configured to actuate the retaining element from the neutral position into the engaged position.

2. The outlet of claim 1 , wherein the cam contour includes a cam slope or cam ramp.

3. The outlet of claim 1 , configured such that, without actuation by the coupling unit, the retaining element resiliently returns into the neutral position.

4. An electrical plug retainer outlet, comprising:

a connector outlet;

a switchable plug retainer assembly mounted on the connector outlet, the switchable plug retainer assembly including a retaining element, a switch, and a coupling unit connecting the switch and the retaining element,

wherein the switch is configured to shift the retaining element from a neutral position to an engaged position,

wherein the retaining element is configured to, in the engaged position, interlock a plug connected to the connector outlet to provide a form-fit connection, a frictional connection, or both, with the plug, and

wherein the retaining element is configured to, in the engage position, interlock an insulating portion of the plug,

wherein the coupling includes a coupling ring, and

wherein the coupling ring includes a switch handle and a cam contour.

5. The outlet of claim 4 , wherein the coupling ring is pivotably mounted to the connector outlet outer wall via a pivot hub.

6. The outlet of claim 4 , wherein the switch handle projects through a flange of the connector outlet.

7. The outlet of claim 4 , wherein the coupling ring includes a protrusion configured to snap-lock into a recess formed on the connector outlet outer wall, to lock the switch handle in the engaged position.

8. The outlet of claim 5 , wherein the coupling ring includes a recess complementarily formed to accommodate a nose of the pivot hub.

9. The outlet of claim 5 , wherein the pivot hub includes snap-fit unit configured to provide a snap-fit connection of the pivot hub on a pivot arranged on the connector outlet outer wall.

10. The outlet of claim 5 , wherein the retaining element is held to the connector outlet outer wall by the pivot hub.

11. The outlet of claim 4 , wherein the coupling ring includes a locking state marking configured to indicate whether the switch is in the engaged or neutral position.

12. An electrical plug retainer outlet, comprising:

a connector outlet including a switchable plug retainer assembly mounted on the connector outlet, wherein the plug retainer assembly includes a retaining element, a switch, and a coupling unit connecting the switch and the retaining element,

wherein the outlet is configured such that by operating the switch, the retaining element is shifted between a neutral position and an engaged position,

wherein, in the engaged position, the retaining element provides a form-fit connection, a frictional connection, or both, to a plug connected to the connector outlet,

wherein the retaining element interferes with an insulation of the plug, and

wherein the retaining element is arranged on a connector outlet outer wall, at least one contact tooth of the retaining element projecting into the connector outlet through at least one slot.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2018
From: EATON INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURING GMBH
To: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047468/0579 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2014
From: MCDOWALL, GREGOR
To: EATON INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURING GMBH
Reel/Frame 033743/0963 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 12159995 · Mar 16, 2012 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150044900A1 · Feb 12, 2015