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:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1999
Jeff Yu, San Jose, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention is related to an improved electrical receptacle such that more than one of such electrical receptacles are capable of being electrically coupled together without electrical wires. This feature is particularly advantageous for power adapter products such as power strips and extension boxes. A preferred embodiment includes an electrical receptacle having metal contact strips extending outward from two opposite side faces of its receptacle housing. These metal contact strips are adapted to be separately and electrically coupled to the hot, neutral and ground prongs of an inserted power plug. The receptacle is further configured so that when the metal-strip sides of two of such receptacles are disposed in close proximity of each other, the metal contact strips of the receptacles would then be physically paired. The metal contacts are paired in a manner whereby electrical connection is established and whereby the two receptacles are easily fastened. The present invention reduces or eliminates the need for wire usage in receptacle coupling, and as a result, minimizes the risks of electrical shorts and fires.