Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXTENSION CORD CONNECTOR E~OUSING
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the interconnection of
extension cords, and more particularly to maintaining
the connection between plugs of extension cords.
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BACKGROUND ART
Tne interconnection of several flexible extension
cords to transmit power from a source, such as an
electrical outlet, to a device is very common. In a
household envlronment, several extension cords may be
~' interconnected to provide power to a device, such as
a lawnmower or hedge trimmer for use at a distance from
a power outlet. Interconnected extension cords may also
be used in commercial applications, particularly by
construction workers operating hand tools or other
devices operated remotely from a power outlet~
The typical extension cord includes male and female
plugs interconnected by a flexible cable. In many
extension cords, the female plug of one cord is connected
to the male plug of another cord by receiving spade type
conductors from the male plug and urging internal
conductors in contact therewith. On man~ occasions, the
application of tension to a cable of a connected pair of
extension cords will induce separation or disconnection of
the conductors in the plugs and prevent the transmission
of power. This naturally results in inconvenience and
expense caused by the necessity to reconnect the plugs.
In the past, several attempts have been made to
alleviate this problem. The connected extension cords
may be tied in a knot adjacent the plugs. However, this
causes fatigue in the cable and may result in cord
failure. Examples of other attempts are disclosed
in U.S. Patents No. 4,143,934 to Siebert issued March
13, 1979, U.S. Patent No. 3,344,393 to Hendee, issued
September 26, 1967, U.S. Patent No. 3,059,209 to ~ird,
issued October 16, 1962 and U.S. Patent No. 3,014,194
to Berglund, issued December 19, 1961.
While the devices disclosed in the above referenced
patents have been eifective in certain circumstances,
3~ there remains a need for a lightweight, inexpensive
device for maintaining the connection between extension
cords. In particular, it would be most desirable to
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provide a device performing this function which is
adaptable for use with a wide cross section of the
multitude of extension cord plug designs currently
available.
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DISCLOSURE QF INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the invention there
is provided a housing for maintaining the interconnection
between plugs on a pair o~ extensi~n cords comprising
a first member having a generally elongate hemi-
cyclindrical shape about a first central axis, an interiorsurface o~ said first member defining a plurality of
C-shaped grooves spaced along the interior surface of said
first member in the elongate direction extending generally
perpendicular to the first central axis; a second member
having a generally elongate hemi-cylindrical shape about a
second central axis, an interior surface of said second
member defining a plurality of C-shaped grooves spaced
along the interior surface of said second member in the
elongate direction extending generally perpendicular to
the second central axis; a hinge member interconnecting
said first and second members along edges in the elongate
direction, said first member having at least one flexible
hook adjacent its external edge for engaging said second
member adjacent its external edge to secure said first and
second members in abutting relationship to form a capsule
for enclosing the plugs of the extension cords, the
grooves of each of said first and second members being
aligned along the elongate direction; and first and second
disc-shaped retaining washers, each of said retaining
washers being engageable with aligned grooves in said
first and second members to secure said retaining washers
therein when said first and second members are in abutting
relationship and each having a slot formed therein for
passage of a cable of an extension cord, said ~irst and
second retaining washers being positioned on opposite
sides of the interconnected plugs of the extension cords
within said first and second members to prevent dis-
connection of the plugs, said first and second retaining
washers being selectively engageable with the grooves in
said first and second members to permit the use of said
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housing with plugs of varied lengths.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, a housing for maintaining the interconnection
between the plugs on a pair of extension cords is provided.
The housing includes a first member having a generally
elongate hemi-cylindrical shape about a central axis, the
interior surface of the first member defining a plurality
of grooves spaced along the first member in the elongate
direction and extending generally perpendicular to the
central axis of the member. A second member is provided
about a central axis also having a generally elongate
hemi-cylindrical shape with an interior surface defining a
plurality of grooves spaced along the member in the
elongate direction and extending generally perpendicular
to the central axis. A hinge member is provided which
interconnects the first and second members along edges in
the elgonate direction, the first member having at least
one flexible hook adjacent the opposite edge of the member
for engaging the opposite edge of the second member
adjacent its opposite edge to secure the members in
abutting relationship to form a capsule for enclosing the
plugs of the extension cords with the grooves in each of
the members being aligned. First and second retaining
washers are provided, each being engageable with the
aligned grooves in the first and second members to secure
the washers therein. Each of the first and second
retaining washers is provided with a slot formed therein
for passage of the cable of an extension cord. The
retaining washers are positioned on opposite sides of the
interconnected plugs of the extension cords to prevent
disconnection of the plugs, the retaining washe~s being
selectively engageable with the grooves to permit the use
of the housing with plugs of varied length.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a housing for maintaining the interconnection
between the plugs on a pair of extension cords is
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provided which includes first and second members having
a generally elongate hemi-cylindrical shape formed of
injection molded plastic and interconnected with an
integral or living hinge. The ends of each of the
first and second members may be tapered at their ends
~,. in the elongate direction to define ports for passage
of the cable of the extension cord. The retaining
washers are offset to resist movement of the plugs within
the housing.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of the invention may
be had by reference to the following Detailed Description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanyiny Drawings,
wherein:
,. FIGURE 1 is a perspective view the interconnected
plugs of a pair of extension cords;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the housing forming
the present invention maintaining the connection between
a pair of extension cords;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the first and second
members of the housing showing the placement of the
retaining washers in the grooves of a member to maintain
the plugs interconnected;
FIGURE 4 is an end view of the first and second
members illustrating a retaining washer positioned in
one member with the cable of one extension cord passing
therethrough; and
FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a retaining washer for
use in the present inventionO
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the Drawings, wherein like
reference characters designate like or corresponding
parts throughout several views, FIGURE 1 illustrates a
pair of extension corAs 10 and 12 interconnected by
.- the male plug 14 of extension cord 10 and the female
plug 16 of extension cord 12. In the typical application,
the male plug 14 incl~des protruding conductors commonly
having a spade or rod-like shape. The protruding
conductors of the male plug 14 are inserted in the female
plug 16 and a conductor within the female plug 16 is
urged into contact with each conductor of the male plug
14.
FIGURE 2 illustrates a housing 18 forming the
present invention which surro~nds the interconnected
plugs 14 and 16 of the extension cords 10 and 12 and
maintains the plugs interconnected in a manner discussed
hereinafter. The streamline exterior of the housing 18
permits the housing to be pulled through obstructions
such as weeds or shrubs without becoming hooked or
tangled in the obstruction, thereby necessitating the
inconvenience of untangling the housing from the
obstruction.
With reference now to FIGURES 3-5, the housing 18
generally comprises a first member 24, a second member
26 interconnected with first member 24 by a hinge 2
and retaining washers 30 and 32. In the preferred
embodiment, the first and second members 24 and 26
and hinge 28 are formed in an integral unit from an
injection molded plastic. The hinge 28 therefore is
of the type known as a "living" hinge. The retaining
washers 30 and 32 may also be formed of plastic in the
preferred embodiment.
As is apparent with reference to FIGURES 3 and 4,
the first member 24 and second member 26 have an elongate
hemi-cylindrical shape. The interior surface 3~ and
exterior surface 40 of the first member 24 have a
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curvilinear shape with a radius centered on central
axis 42. The interior surface 44 and exterior surface
46 of second member 26 are also curvilinear and have
a radius centered on central axis 48. The central
S portion of the first member 24 includes a plurality of
:' grooves 54 formed along the interior surface 38 in the
elongate direction. The grooves generally have a uniform
depth and are curvilinear about a radius centered on axis
50 slightly offset from central axis 42 and extend
generally perpendicular to the central axis. The second
member 26 also has grooves 56 formed in its central
portion in a similar manner about a radius centered on
axis 52 slightly offset from central axis 48. However,
each of the grooves 56 includes a fla~ened portion
58 as illustrated in FIGURE 4 for preventing rotation
of the retaining washers 30 and 32 in a manner described
hereinafter. It can be seen with reference to FIGURE
3 that individual grooves 54 and 56 are aligned in
a plane perpendicular to the central axes 42 and 48.
The first member 24 and second member 26 are formed
with ends 60 and 62 in the elongate direction. The ends
60 and 62 are tapered toward the central axes 42 and 48,
respectively, to provide a streamline shape to the
exterior of housing 10. The outermost extent of ends
60 define a curved surface 64 curved in two directions to
form semi-circular ports. The outermost extent of end 62
form curved surfaces 66 also curved in two dimensions to
form semi-circular ports.
The first member 24 includes an inner edge 70
and an outer edge 72. Both inner edge 70 and outer
edge 72 lie generally in the same plane which includes
the central axis 42 and axis 50. The second member 26
includes an inner edge 74 and an outer edge 76. Both
inner edge 74 and outer edge' 7S lie in a plane containing
the central axis 48 and axis 52. As is apparent from
FIGURE 2, if the first and second members 24 and 26
are pivoted about the hinge 2~ so that the inner eAge
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70 of first member 24 and inner edge 74 of second
member 26 are abutting and the outer edge 72 of first
member 24 and outer edge 7~ of second member 26 are
abutting, the first and second members 24 and 26 form
a capsule for enclosing the plugs of the extension cords.
-'- Extensions 78 and 80 are formed on the outer edge 72 of
first member 24 to engage flexible hooks 82 and ~4
formed in the exterior surface 46 of the second member
26 to maintain the first and second members 26 in the
position shown in FIGURE 2.
The retaining washer 30, as illustrated in FIGURE
5, is disc shaped, having a generally uniform thickness
and a circular circumference. A slot 88 of uniform
width is formed in the retaining washer 30 and extends
radially inward from the outer circumference and through
the center of washer 30. The interior end of slot 88
is formed by a semicircular surface 90 having a radius
centered coincident with the center of the radius of the
outer circumference of the washer 30. The width of slot
88 and radius of surface gO are designed to be
sufficiently large to permit the cable of the extension
cords used with the present invention to be slid into
slot 88 and centered at the center of the radius of
curvature of the outer circumference of the washer 30.
Portion 92 of the outer circumference of washer 30 is
flattened as shown to cooperate with the flattened
portion 58 of the second member 26. The retaining washer
32 is identical to washer 30 in all relevant aspects.
In use, the plugs 14 and 16 of the extension cords
10 and 12 are connected and placed adjacent the interior
surface 44 of second member 26 as shown in FIGURE 3.
The retaining washer 30 is then positioned in the second
member 26 so that the cable of extension cord 10 is
slid into slot 88 and the washer 30 engages the groove
56 permitting the washer 30 to be most closely positioned
adjacent the back side of plug 14. The flatened portion
92 of washer 30 cooperates with the flatened portion 58 of
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groove 56 to prevent the washer 30 from rotating once
engaged with groove 56. The retaining washer 32 is
similarly positioned within second member 26 with the
cable of extension cord 12 being slid into slot 88 and
S washer 32 engaging the slot 56 permitting washer 32 to be
~' positioned closest to the back end of plug 16.
The first and second members 24 and 26 are then
pivoted together about hinge 28 to form a capsule as shown
in FIGURE 2. It is clear that the retaining washers 30
and 32, cooperating with the qrooves 54 and 56 within
the first and second members 24 and 26, prevent the
plugs 14 and 16 from being disconnected. Therefore,
the plugs will not be disconnected when ten.sion is
inadvertently or intentionally placed on either extension
cord 10 or 12 during use. The offset of axis 50 and 52,
and resultant offset of retaining washers 30 and 32 from
central axis 42 and 48 induce a slight curvature in the
cables of both extension cords 10 and 12. This provides
additional resistance to motion of the plugs 14 and 16
when tension is applied to an extension cord. The curved
surfaces 64 and 66 are in abutting relationship to define .
circular ports for passage of the cables of the extension
cords 10 and 12. The compound curvature of the surfaces
64 and 66 reduce wear on the cable entering housing 18.
One significant advantage of the present invention
is that the retaining washers 30 and 32 may be selectively
positioned within grOOvQs 54 and 56 to adapt the housing
i0 for use with plugs 14 and 16 having varied lengths.
One device constructed in accordance with the teachings
of this invention is adjustable for use with plug up to
5 inches in length and having a width up to 1 5/8 inches.
Another significant advantage of the present invention,
as previously noted~ is the streamline exterior shape
which prevents housing 18 from being entangled with
an obstruction. A further advantage found in the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, formed
of Injection molded plastlc, i6 the relatively licht
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weight and strength of housing 18, having only three
separate components, the integral first and second
members 24 and 26 and hinge 28 and retaining washers
30 and 32.
Although a single embodiment of the invention has
-' been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
described in the foregoiny Detailed Description, it will
be understood that the invention is not limited to the
embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous
rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts
and elements without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
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