Switchable receptacle assembly having internal interlock mechanism

Abstract

A receptacle assembly includes a housing having an interior chamber, a switch mechanism movably mounted to the housing and having a portion extending into the interior chamber with the switch mechanism capable of being moved relative to the housing and switched between OFF and ON positions, a receptacle body spaced from the switch mechanism and mounted to the housing with receptacle body having an interior cavity in which a plug can be inserted into the receptacle body, and an internal interlock mechanism supported within the interior chamber of the housing and extending between the interior cavity of the receptacle body and the portion of the switch mechanism extending into the interior chamber of the housing. The interlock mechanism is rotatable between unlocked and locked positions relative to the receptacle body and relative to the portion of the switch mechanism such that the interlock mechanism when in the locked position relative to the receptacle body and concurrently in the unlocked position relative to the switch mechanism prevents removal of a plug from the receptacle body after the switch mechanism has been switched to the ON position, whereas the interlock mechanism when in the unlocked position relative to the receptacle body and concurrently in the locked position relative to the switch mechanism prevents switching of the switch mechanism from the OFF position to the ON position once a plug is allowed to be removed from or reinserted into the receptacle body.