Safety lug suitable for the connection to a current outlet

Abstract

A plug adapted to fit in a standard electrical outlet and supply power through a cord to an electrical device is provided with a thermostat and bistable resettable switch. When one of the plug's prongs is overheated, indicating an overload or short circuit, the thermostat actuates the switch and cuts off power to the electrical device. When the malfunction is repaired, the switch is reset to restore the circuit.

Description

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall be more evident from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the safety plug suitable for the connection to an electric current outlet according to the finding, illustrated as indicative and not limiting in the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of the safety plug in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the safety plug of FIG. 1, from which a part of the cover has been removed in order to show its contents; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the safety plug of FIG. 2, from which the temperature sensor has also been removed. With reference to the cited figures, a safety plug suitable for the connection to a current outlet is shown, particularly but not exclusive for domestic use, indicated in its entirety with the reference number 1.

Claims

1. Safety plug suitable for the connection to an electric current outlet, characterized in that it has detection means of the malfunctioning of said electric current outlet when electric current circulates through said safety plug.

2. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said detection means comprise a temperature sensor which is sensitive to the overheating produced by said current outlet in the case of its malfunctioning.

3. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said temperature sensor is a controlling thermostat of at least one opening switch of at least one of the electrical connections, present inside the cover of said plug, between the external contacts of said plug suitable for drawing the electric current from said outlet, and the internal contacts of said plug suitable for supplying the user through an electrical supply cable.

4. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said temperature sensor is in direct contact with at least one of said electrical connections.

5. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said temperature sensor is in direct contact with each of said electrical connections.

6. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said switch is bistable.

7. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said switch is a bistable plate spring.

8. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that it has manual resetting means of the closure of said switch.

9. Safety plug according to claim 1, characterized in that said resetting means comprise a switching push button outside said cover, on a face of the latter opposite that wherein said external contacts are present.

10. Safety plug suitable for the connection to an electric current outlet as described and claimed.