The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1999
John J. Putorti, Seymour, CT (US);
Carol A. Howard, Oxford, CT (US);
Christopher J. Clark, Stratford, CT (US);
Hubbell Incorporated, Orange, CT (US);
Abstract
An electrical receptacle includes a receptacle body, test and reset switches and a pair of projections. The body has electrical elements disposed therein for making electrical contact with an electrical plug of various diameter sizes. The body has a face with a set of apertures for receiving prongs of the electrical plug for mating of the plug with the receptacle. The switches are mounted to the face of the body adjacent to the set of apertures and are actuatable to affect operation of the electrical elements. The projections are made of a substantially rigid material and mounted to the face of the body adjacent to the test switch and the set of apertures and protrude from the body. The projections extend outwardly from the face of the body adjacent to the test switch such that upon mating with the receptacle a plug having an oversized diameter will engage the projections and thereby be prevented from making contact with the test switch sufficient to cause tripping thereof and thereby avoid inadvertent actuation of the test switch. The height of the projections is at least as great as the height of the test switch. The projections are located adjacent to opposite ends of the test switch.