US2784268A

US2784268A - Combination switch and wall plug

Info

Publication number: US2784268A
Application number: US550695A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert J Shepherd
Original assignee: DONALD R JACKSON
Current assignee: DONALD R JACKSON
Priority date: 1955-12-02
Filing date: 1955-12-02
Publication date: 1957-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-05

Description

March 5, 1957 H. J. SHEPHERD 2,734,263

COMBINATION SWITCH AND WALL PLUG Filed Dec. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig 9e 98 /00 F/g 3 g E f 42 EH97? 92 naw F 8 7e '54 56 40 O 4 4e 50 52 b L s F/ .2

Herbert J. Shepherd Fig. 5 INI'EXTOR.

March 5, 1957 H. J. SHEPHERD 2,784,268

COMBINATION SWITCH AND WALL PLUG Filed Dec. 2, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Herbert J. Shepherd IN V EN TOR.

BY W

COMBINATION SWITCH AND WALL PLUG Herbert J. Shepherd, Miami, Fla., assignor of fifty percent to Donald R. Jackson, North Miami Beach, Fla.

Application December 2, 1955, Serial No. 550,695

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-51) This invention relates generally to electrical adapters or switch assemblies and is more particularly concerned with a switch assembly connectible in an electrical outlet for remote control of electrical applicances.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical adapter with a switch or circuitbreaker which is spring-urged between circuit making and breaking positions, wherein the circuit is manually made and remotely broken by means of force transmitting means secured to the circuit breaker.

A more specific object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a body member of a nonconductive material, the body member including male and female electrical connection portions, the electrical connection portions including a pair of linearly spaced terminal contact portions engageable by a trans verse reciprocable circuit breaker element which is spring-urged between circuit making and breaking positions, and further including a force transmitting element secured to an external end portion of the circuit breaker element to break a circuit between the male and female connection portions from a remote position.

A further object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide an electrical switch assembly of the character set forth which is readily and economically manufactured, easily installed and used, and readily acceptable for the purposes intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a novel switch assembly in a position of use in an electrical outlet with the circuit breaker element shown in a position to break the circuit in the switch assembly by means of a weight secured on a force transmitting element secured to the circuit breaker;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view from another side of the novel switch assembly;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the plate portions comprising the body of the switch assembly;

Figure 4 is a plan view of another portion of the body of the switch assembly showing the toggle link assembly and circuit breaker element mounted therein;

Figure 5 is a plan view of another section of the novel switch assembly, said portion supporting the electrical conducting portions of male and female electrical connection portions of the switch assembly;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 1 showing the position of the cooperating parts when a circuit is made between the male and female connection portions of the switch assembly;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 6 showing the relative position of the cooperating parts when a circuit is broken between the male and nited States Patent 2,784,268 Fatented Mar. 5, 1957 2 female electrical connection portions of the switch as sembly;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connection portions or elements comprising the male and female electrical connection portions of the switch assembly;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view tially on the line 9-9 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the electrical connection elements comprising a portion of the female electrical connection portion of the switch assembly;

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective 'view ofanother electrical connection element comprising a portion of the male electrical connection portion of the switch' assembly; and

Figure 12 is still another enlarged perspective view of an electrical connection element comprising portions of both the male and female electrical connection portions of the switch assembly.

The novel switch assembly is indicated generally at 10 and includes for convenience of assembly a plurality of

sections

12, 14 and 16 which are juxtaposed and secured together in any suitable manner, by means of suitable fastening screws 18, for example, these plate portions defining a body member of a suitable. non-conductive material indicated generally at 20. The plate portion 16 incorporates a pair of spaced transverse apertured portions 22 and 24 constituting the female electrical connection portion of the body member 20 for the reception of the usual male plug of an electrical appliance. As seen in Figure 2 the plate portion 16 has extending therefrom taken substana pair of spaced relatively

parallel prong elements

26 and 28 constituting the male connection portion of the switch assembly. Extending through a transverse aperture 30 in the plate portion 16 is a circuit breaker element 32 which has secured in a suitable apertured portion 34 a flexible force transmitting element such as a cord or Wire indicated at 36, and the flexible force transmitting element 36 may have secured on the lower end thereof in any suitable manner a weight element 38.

The plate portion 12, see Figure 5, includes suitable corner apertures 40 for assembly of the switch assembly, and incorporates thereon an electrical contact element indicated generally at 42 which constitutes one portion of the male electrical connection portion of the switch assem-' bly, a generally indicated electrical connection element 44, which constitutes a portion of both the male and female electrical connection portions of the switch assembly, and an electrical connection element 46 which constitutes a portion of the female electrical connection portion of the switch assembly.

The electrical connection element 42 includes the male prong element 26 which terminates in a right angular horizontal plane portion 48 having a laterally extending portion 50 to which is secured the lower support portion 52 of a terminal contact element 54 which is constituted by an arcuate portion having an inherent resiliency for engagement with the circuit breaker element as will subsequently become apparent, the horizontal support portion 52 being secured on the portion 50 by means of suitable fastening elements such as the rivet 56.

The electrical connection element 44 incorporates the prong element 28 which is inserted through the plate 16 as seen in Figure 2, said prong 28 continuing as a right angularly bent portion 5%, the portion 58 continuing as a second right angularly bent portion 60 which terminates in a still further right angularly bent portion 62 constituting a support for an electrical connection element 64 having a right angular support portion 66 secured to the portion 62 by means of a suitable rivet 68, for example, the portion 64 including a terminal end portion which may be bent over and have an inherent resiliency, said portion being indicatedat 70 and being engageable with one of the prongs of a conventional male plug elementof an electrical appliance.

The electrical connection element 46 comprises a support portion 72 including a downwardly or depending key portion 7 4-, the port-ion 72 having secured thereon in longitudinal alignment therewith a contact element 76 including an arcuate end portion 78 which may be defined as a terminal end portion which will be disposed within the body member in spaced relationship from the contact element 54, the element 76 being secured on the support portion 72 by means ofany suitable fasteningmeans such as the rivet d. The portion 72 of the element 46 includes an upwardly extending portion 32 terminating in a right angularly related support portion 84 which has secured thereon an electrical connection element 86 by means of a horizontal support portion 88 thereon, said portion 88 being secured on the portion 34- by means of a suitable rivet 91), for example, and the portion 86 continuing as an arcuate resilient contact portion 92 constituting the other half of the female electrical connection portion of the switch assembly.

As most clearly seen in Figure 8, the

terminal end portions

54 and 78 of the

electrical contact elements

42 and 46 interrupt a direct circuit between the

prong elements

26 and 28 and the

contact elements

70 and 92, respectively.

The plate portion 14 of the body member is suitably conformed to provide a spacer between

sections

12 and 16, said section 14- including apertured

portions

94 and 96 which surround the contact portions 7%) and 92, and the plate element 14 further includes a centrally located apertured portion 98 which is in overlying transverse alignment with the

terminal contacts

54 and 78. The plate element 14 includes suitable apertured portions 100 extending through the corners for alignment with the apertures 49 of the plate 12.

As seen in Figure 9, the portion 74 of the electrical connection element 46 extends into a suitable slotted portion 102 of the plate element 12 thus providing a means for mounting the element 46 on said plate.

The plate element 16 includes an internal recess or compartment portion 104 for a purpose to subsequently become apparent, further includes a pair of spaced apertured portions 106 and 168 at one end thereof for alignment with the connection elements or portions '71) and 92 of

elements

44 and 46, respectively, said plate 16 further include suitable apertured portions 110 located in each corner'for alignment with the previously mentioned apertures 49 and 1% of the

plates

12 and 14, respectively.

The circuit breaker element 32, as previously mentioned, extends through a suitable aperture 39 in the plate element 16, said aperture 39 intersecting the internal compartment res of the plate 16 and accommodating the lower end of the circuit breaker element on which is secured an electrical contact element 112 which is secured thereon by means of a suitable securing screw 114. The body portion of the circuit breaker element being made of any suitable non-conductive material, and the lower portion 112 being extendable between the terminal contacts 54 and 73 of the

electrical contact elements

42 and 44 for the purpose of completing or breaking the circuit between the male and female electrical connection portions of the switch assembly.

The body portion of the circuit breaker element has extending from an intermediate portion thereof a pivot ear portion 115 which is connected by means of suitable pivot pin 116 to a link element 113 or" a spring-urged toggle linkage assembly indicated generally at 12%. The plate element 16 includes a blind bore portion 122 which intersects the compartment 194 which is disposed in substuntial planar alignment with the circuit breaker element 32, .said blind bore portion having one end or a compression spring 124- in engagement with the end wall portion 126 thereof; A pin element 128 extends into the blind bore portion v122, said pin incorporating an annular abutment flange13t) thereon, and the spring 124 circumposed on the pin 128 with the other end thereof in engagement with the abutment flange 134 The linkage element 118 is suitably connected by means or a pivot pin 132 to the end of the pin 128 which extends into the compartment 104.

Thus whenlthe circuit breaker element 32 is moved to the positions shown in Figures 6 and 7 the pin 123 will move inwardly toward the'end 126 of the blind bore 122 whereupon the spring 124 will be compressed when the portion of the circuit breaker element is in direct linear alignment with said blind bore portion, however, in the position shown in Figures-6 and '7 the compression spring 124 will urge the circuit breaker element 32 either toward or away from the terminal contacts 54 and '78 by virtue of the ofifset relationship of the portion 114 of said circuit breakerclement.

The switch assembly is set manually wherein the circuit breaker will bein the position shown in Figure 6, upon the application of .force on the element 36 the circuit breaker element 32 maybe readily withdrawn out of contact with the

terminal contacts

54 and 78 thus breaking a circuit between the male and female electrical connection portions of the switch assembly thus cutting off the flow of current to an electrical appliance which has been attached to the female con-tact portions of the switch assembly.

As seen in Figure 1, the switch assembly could be utilized with an overhead female socket of an electrical connection and the relatively heavy weight 38 could be retained on a persons bed, for example, and just before falling asleep a person could move the element 38 off the bed whereupon the weight thereof would cause the circuit breaker element to move away from the previously mentioned

contacts

54 and 78 thus turning 01f a radio, television set or any other electrical appliance utilized with said switch assembly.

Various positional directional terms such as front, top, etc., are utilized here and have only a relative connotation to aid in describing the device and are not intended to require any particular orientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restarted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new'is as follows: 7

l. A switch assembly comprising a body member of non-conductive material having a .pair of spaced recessed portions accommodating the male plugs of electrical devices, strips of conducting material disposed within the recessed portions defining a female connection portion of the switch assembly, a pair of spaced prongs of conductive material extending out of the body member and defining a male electrical connection portion on the switch assembly, one of the prongs being directly connected to one of the conducting strips, the body member including an internal chamber portion, the other conducting strip and prong element terminating in spaced linear alignment within the chamber portion of the body member, a bore portion in the body member in transverse intersecting alignment with the terminal ends of the other conducting strip and prong element, a circuit breaker element reciprocably supported in the bore portion and including an elongated body of non-conducting material having one end extending out of the body memher, a contact element secured on the other end of the body of the circuit breaker element for engagement between .the terminal ends of the other contact strip and prong element within the internal chamber portion of thebody member, a spring-urged toggle linkage assembly pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the body of the circuit breaker element for biasing the contact element into and out of engagement with the terminal ends of the other contact strip and prong element, and force transmitting means secured on the end of the body of the circuit breaker element extending out of the body member.

2. A switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body member includes a lateral bore portion intersecting the internal chamber portion of the body member, said bore portion being in planar alignment with the circuit breaker element, a pin element extending into the bore portion, said pin element including an intermediate abutment portion, a compression spring in the bore portion in engagement with the abutment portion of the pin element, and a linkage element pivoted at opposite ends between the pin element and an intermediate portion of the circuit breaker element.

3. A switch assembly comprising a body member of non-conducting material, a female socket portion in the body member including a pair of strips of conducting material, a male connection portion comprising a pair of prong elements of conducting material extending from the body member, one of the male prong elements being directly connected to one of the strips, the other strip and prong element including spaced terminal ends in linear alignment within the body member, a circuit breaker element reciprocably supported in the body member in transversing overlying relationship to the spaced terminal ends of the strip and prong element, said circuit breaker element including a body portion of nonconducting material extending out of the body member, the circuit breaker element including a lower end of conducting material for completing a circuit between the female and male socket portions, a resilient toggle linkage contained in the body member in laterally displaced planar relationship to the circuit breaker element body portion, said toggle linkage being pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the circuit breaker element, and force transmitting means connected to the end of the circuit breaker element extending out of the body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,233,257 Grohsgal Feb. 25, 1941 2,474,454 Avery June 28, 1949 2,706,225 Freeman Apr. 12, 1955