Electric outlets

Details Electric outlets Electric outlets

2000-01-27

2001-04-24

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Comprising coupling part of indeterminate length laterally...

C439S535000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06220880

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates electric outlets, and more particularly to such electric outlets that fit different electric plugs for use different countries.
The electric outlet of an extension cable is generally comprised of a plurality of socket units for receiving a respective electric plug. The socket units have same specification fitting the electric code of a particular country. This structure of electric outlet cannot be used in different countries having different electric codes. Further each socket unit is designed for receiving a particular electric plug only, i.e., the socket units of the electric outlet cannot fit different electric plugs constructed subject to different electric specifications. For the reason said above, different electric outlets should be provided for use in different countries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide an electric outlet, which fits different electric plugs for use in different countries. It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric socket for electric outlet, which fits different electric plugs for use in different countries. According to one aspect of the present invention, the electric outlet comprises a socket holder formed of a bottom shell and a top cover shell, a plurality of metal terminal holders respectively installed in the socket holder for connection to power supply, and a plurality of sockets respectively installed in respective socket receiving holes on the top cover shell of the socket holder, each socket including a socket body, the socket body having a top face panel for receiving an electric plug, spring hooks for positioning in one socket receiving hole on the top cover shell, and three bottom through holes, a positive terminal metal contact plate and a negative terminal metal contact plate and a grounding metal contact plate respectively mounted inside the socket body and aimed at respective plug insertion slots on the face panel, a plurality of metal frames mounted inside the socket body and respectively connected to the positive and negative terminal metal contact plates and the grounding metal contact plate, the metal frames each having a horizontal wire hole and a vertical screw hole perpendicularly downwardly extended from the horizontal wire hole and respectively disposed in communication with the bottom through holes on the socket body, and three metal terminals respectively threaded into the vertical screw holes on the metal frames and connected to the terminal holders in the socket holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the sockets of the electric outlet are made subject to different specifications to fit different electric plugs. According to still another aspect of the present invention, each socket of the electric outlet has different sets of plug insertion slots for receiving any of a variety of electric plugs.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3922478 (1975-11-01), Perkey
patent: 4815983 (1989-03-01), Erickson et al.
patent: 5162616 (1992-11-01), Swaffield et al.
patent: 5429518 (1995-07-01), Chen
patent: 5486979 (1996-01-01), Bowen et al.
patent: 5885109 (1999-03-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5934921 (1999-08-01), Doong

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