US1672219A - Switch receptacle - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1928.

H. HUBBELL SWITCH RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 30, 1925 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

June 5.- 1928,

H. HUBBELL SWITCH RECEPTACLE Filed Dec. so, 1925 --2 S heet.s--Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY j

I ATTORNEYS Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED I STATES 1,672,219 PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY HUIBBELL, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; LOUIE E. HUBBELL EXECUTRIX OF SAID HARVEY HUBBELL, DECEASED.

SWITCH RECEPTACLE.

Application filed December 30, 1925. Serial No. 78,417.

This invention relates to a combination electrical switch and receptacle, especially for use in wall outlet boxes, and has for an object to provide a device of this character in which the switch and receptacle are so constructed and arranged that the device may be used either as a switch, as'a receptacle, or both together. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the mechanism of a switch and a receptacle may be mounted in a one gang outlet box, thus requiring less space and not requiring the installation of a two gang box for mounting of the two devices as in the usual construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device in which movements of the receptacle body will operate the switch mechanism, and in which the switch may be so wired as to control the current to the receptacle contacts or a separate circuit as desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, I have devised the construction illustrated'in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, similar reference characters being employed throughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of thedevice.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the commu- "tator segments and the contacts cooperating therewith.

Fig. 5 is a side elevationthereof looking from the right of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail section substantially on line 66 of Fig. 7 showing the relative position of the operating spring when the actuat ing member is at rest, and also showing the stops for the actuating member.

Fig. 7 is a vertical'central section through the switch mechanism and the body of the receptacle, the switch being in the open position.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan of the spring release mechanism at rest.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the release mechanism ready to release.

Fig. 10 shows the release mechanism in the released and tripped position.

Fig. 11 shows the relation between the contact blades, release mechanisms and stops.

Fig. 12 shows the relation between the operating spring, the actuating member, release mechanism and stops in released and tripped position, the plane of the section being substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical view showing how the device may be wired so that theswitch may control the current to the receptacle contacts or these contacts may be left permanently in, the power circuit and the switch used to control a separate device.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the device as illustrated comprises an insulating block 15 in which the elements of the mechanism are mounted, this block being open at its rear side to facilitate assembly of the various parts and allow easy access thereto, and at the front side of this block are mounted the yoke sections 16 having the usual slots 17 by which they may be mounted in the standard wall outlet box, not shown, these yoke sections being secured to the block 15 by the screws 18 extending through the block. These oke sections also have tapped openings for the screws 19 for mounting the face plate 20.

The screws 18 are also used to mount in position a supporting yoke or plate 21 which is secured at the rear end of the block 15. At its front side the block has a circular flanged portion 22 which extends through the face plate and is provided with a circular opening 23 in which the insulating body member 24 of the receptacle is mounted for relative turning movements. This receptacle is secured to a shaft 25 mounted in the plate 21 so that this shaft is rotated by the .body member. In the construction shown, a stop plate 26 is mounted on the rear end of the body member by means of the studs 27 molded in the body-member and this plate is rigidly secured on the shaft 25. Also carried by this body member 24 are apair of metal commutator plates 28 and 29. These plates are insulated from each other, and are preferably substantially semi-circular, as shown in Fig. 4, but project beyond the side walls of the body member as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7. They are insulated from the plate 26 by the insulating members or washers 30. They are insulated from the studs 27 by the raised portions 31 on the bod member through which. these studs exten and which raised portions project into the openings 32 in the commutator segments so that these commutator sections are moved with the body member 24. The body memher is provided with pockets or recesses 33 in which are mounted receptacle contacts 34 and 35, the contact 34 being connected to the of the contact blades of an attachment plug cap to engage the receptacle contacts in the usual manner.

Stationary spring brush contacts 37 and 38 are provided engaging the projecting portions ofthe commutator segments 28 and .29 respectively, and these contacts are connected to the binding posts 39 and 40 respectively. The binding post 40 is also connected to a stationary switch contact 41, and there is a -second stationary switch contact 42- which isconnected to a third binding screw 43. The two stationary switch contacts 41 and 42 are arranged to be bridged by a movable switch contact 44 which is operated by turning movements of the receptacle body member'24 through a lock and release mechanism which will now be described. Other lock and release mechanisms may be employed, the specific lock and release mechamsm illustrated being used merely as an example as it is not my invention but is the invent-ion of one, Carl M. Petersen, and will be claimed in a separate application.

The specific lock and release mechanism illustrated comprises a pivoted plate or swinging member 45 which carries the movable switch member44. This plate has two diametrically opposite projections one of which forms stopshoulders 47 which are arranged to engage the sides of the stops 48 extending inwardly from the sides of the rear supporting plate 21 to limit the turning movements of this swinging member 45. The other projection has shoulders 46 arranged to engage opposite sides of the stop lug 49 on the locking plate 50. This locking plate is mounted for limited reciprocatory movement on the plate 21, it being guided in these movements by means of studs 51 carried by the plate 50 and projecting into slots 52 in the plate 21. The locking plate 50 is provided with an opening therethrough and has a pair of tapered cam lugs 53 and 54 projecting inwardly from the opposite side thereof. Mounted on the shaft. 25 and located within this opening in the locking plate is'a cam plate 55. This cam plate has oppositely extending projections 56 and 57, and intermediate these two a larger portion 58 having a curved outer edge 59 which cooperateswith the end of the cam lug 53 and the cam plate is provided with an oppositely curved surface 60 cooperating with the end of the cam lug 54. A coil spring 61 embraces a sleeve 62 on the shaft 25 and its opposite free arms 63 and 64 engage the lugs 65 and 66 respectively on the swinging member 45. The plate 26 mounted on the rear end of the body member 24 is also provided with lugs 67 and 68 which are adapted to engage the spring arms 63 and 64 respectively for winding or tensioning the spring as the body member 24 is given its turning movements. The plate 26 carried by the body member 24 is still further provided with stop lugs 69 and 70 which are adapted to engage the-stops 48 of the rear plate 21 to limit the turning movements of the body member 24.

The operation is as follows: Assume the elements are in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8,- which is the normal position at rest, it being understood, of course, that in this position the switch may be either On or CE depending upon the relative mounting of the movable and stationary switch contacts. If now the body member 24 of the receptacle is given a partial revolution or turning movement to the right or clockwise as viewed in these'figures and as indicated by the arrow, it will be apparent that the locking plate 50 will be held stationary by engagement of the lugs 53 and 54 with the concentric curved surfaces 59 and 60 respectively, until the shaft has made nearly a quarter revolution when the wall 71 of the lug 56 will engage the inclined wall of the lug 54 and will slide the locking plate 50 downwardly a short distance, the upper lug 53 going into the notch 72. The elements are now substantially in the position shown in Fig. 9 and the locking plate 50 still locks the swinging member 45 against movement by engagement of the shouder 46 with the stop lug 49-on the locking plate 50. During this movement the lug 67 on the plate 26 secured to the body member 24 engages the arm 63 of the spring and forces it away from the lug 65 and will wind the spring because the other 'arm 64 will be held by the lug 66. The spring is now wound and a slightly further turning movement of the body member in the same direction will move the locking plate 50 to the position shown in Fig. 10 and will release the swinging pate 45 which will immediately be swung by the arm 64 of the spring to the position shown in Fig. 12.

The shoulder 47 on the swinging plate will operation will take lace except that it will be reversed and in t e opposite direction to bring the elements back to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

It will be apparent that during these turning movements of the body member 24 the brush'contacts will each remain in engagement with their respective commutator plate sections 28 and 29 so that the receptacle contacts 34 and 35 will always remain in electrical connection with the binding posts 39 and 40 respectively, and therefore, if the leads 73, 74 (Fig. 13) from the source of current supply are connected to binding posts 39 and 40, it will be apparent the receptacle contacts 34 and 35 are directly connected with the leads 73 and 74, and the switch 44 will have no effect on the supply of current to these contacts, and therefore, any other device, as a light 75, may be wired to be controlled by this switch by merely connecting its leads 76 and 77 to the binding posts 43 and 39 respectively. If, however, it is desired to control the current to the receptacle contacts 34 and 35 by means of the switch 44 and thus to control the attachment 7 8 by the switch, the lead 74 will be connected to the binding post 43 instead of the binding post 40, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 13. It will now be apparent that the switch will control the current to the receptacle contacts.

For the purposes of manipulation, the body member 24 is preferably provided with a flange 79 forwardly of the 'face plate pro vided with a knurled edge, which flange provides a convenient grip by which the body,

member may be turned to the right or left to operate the switch. It will, therefore, be

apparent that the switch may be operated equally as conveniently when there is or there is not a cap inserted in the receptacle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have devised a device involving a receptacle and a switch in a single compact construction which occupies no more space than one of such devices ordinarily reuires, and therefore, withthis arrangement can provide both a switch and a receptacle in a one gang outlet box which is ordinarily used, for one of such devices only. Furthermore, the elements are so arranged that by mere shifting of a single connection from the power line the switch may be wired to control the current to this receptacle or to a separate device as desired.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulating body member mounted for turning movements provided with recesses and openings in its front wall leading to said recesses for passage of the contact blades of an attachment plug cap, a movable switch member, a lock and release mechanism for operating the switch memher, and means connecting the body member with the lock and release mechanism for operating the said mechanism independently of the cap. 7

2. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulating block having a chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member mounted for turning movements, in relation to said chamber, receptacle contacts carried by said body arranged to be engaged by the contacts of an attachment plug cap, said body member having an ex tension extending forwardly of the front wall of the block providing a grip for turning said member, and a switch mounted in the chamber and connected to the body member for operation thereby.

3. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulating block having a chamber and an opening in its front wall leading to said chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member mounted for turning movements in said opening and projecting into said chamber, said body being provided with a flange forwardly of the block forming a grip for operating the said member, said member being also provided with recesses and contact blade openings in its front wall leading to said recesses, receptacle contacts in said recesses, and a switch mounted in the chamber and connected to said body memberfor operation thereby.

4. In an electrical device of the character described an insulating block having a chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member mounted for turning movements' in relation to said chamber, receptacle contacts carried by said member, a pair of spaced commutator segments carried by said body and connected to the receptaclecontacts respectively, binding posts mounted in the block, brush contacts mounted to engage the respective commutator segments and connected to said binding posts, a switch having a movable member and stationary contacts, one of the stationary contacts being connected to one of said binding posts, a third binding post connected to the carried by said body member, a pair of spaced commutator segments carried by said member and each connected to a receptacle contact,;:a, pair of brush contacts each engaging a commutator segment, binding posts connected to said brush contacts, a switch comprising a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact to bridge the same, one of the stationary contacts being, connected to E one of said binding posts, a third binding post connected to the other switch contact, means for operating the movable switch contact, and an operative connection from the body member to said operating means.

6. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulating block having a chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member mounted for turning movements in relation to said chamber, said body 10 being provided with means forwardly of the block forming a grip for turning said member, said member being provided'with recesses and openings in its-front wall leading to said recesses forpassage of the contact 1 blades of an attachment plug cap, receptacle contacts in said recesses, a pair of commutator segments mounted on the body member and connected to' the respective contacts,

connected to the respective brush ,contacts,

a switch having a pair of stationary contacts and a movable member to bridge sand contacts, one of the stationary contacts being connected to one of said binding posts, a third binding post connected to the other stationary contact, and an operative connection from the body member to the movable switch member. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature.

HARVEY HUBBELL.

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