Geometrical instruments
Patent
1975-03-04
1976-05-25
Lake, Roy
Geometrical instruments
339195A, H01R 306
Patent
active
039588491
ABSTRACT:
A convertible electrical plug is disclosed in which one of the prongs is a retractable grounding prong. A channel is provided in the plug body to receive the grounding prong. The channel in the plug body is generally parallel to the prongs and extends through the flat front end of the plug body through which the prongs pass. The channel in the plug body also extends through the rear surface of the plug body remote from the flat front end. A conductive metallic channel member is disposed in the channel in the plug body and the grounding prong is disposed within the conductive metallic channel member. The conductive metallic channel member is connected to the ground wire of a three-wire electrical cord in the preferred embodiment. The grounding prong and the conductive channel member are retained in the channel in the plug body by means of a pivot pin which passes through the plug body. The grounding prong is capable of pivoting about the pivot pin into either (a) an active position in which the grounding prong is so disposed as to be engaged with one of the female connectors of a three-wire receptacle whenever the plug is plugged into a three-wire receptacle, or (b) an inactive position in which the grounding prong does not pass through the flat front end of the plug body and thus cannot engage a female connector when the plug is plugged into a three-wire receptacle. The lips of the conductive channel are made to project inwardly so as to resiliently engage the grounding prong in either position, active or inactive, for releasably locking it in either position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2922134 (1960-01-01), Elfenbein
patent: 3440591 (1969-04-01), Whalen
patent: 3495205 (1970-02-01), Ricci
Jones DeWalden W.
Lake Roy
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