POWER CORD HATCH

• US 3,792,414 A
• Filed: 03/15/1972
• Issued: 02/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gregory A. Smith
• Original Assignee: Gregory A. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US05/234,848
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 339/36,37,39,43,44,75-79,82 174/67 191/12,12.4
• US Class Current: 439/144
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An improved hatch for a power supply cord to be used on travel trailers and similar structures wherein it is desired to store within the structure a power supply cord and within the hatch the power supply cord plug and, from time to time, extract that cord and connect it to a source of electrical current is disclosed. The hatch may be fabricated as one piece from polypropylene or other resilient material, there being an integral hinge which pliably couples the hatch housing and cover, and there may be a second integral hinge which pliably couples a flap to the cover or to the hatch housing to selectively open and close a notch in the cover through which the power cord may pass. Means for allowing one way passage of the plug through the back of the hatch during assembly and subsequently preventing its removal during use is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A power cord hatch having spaced apart front and rear openings therein, said front and rear openings adapted to pass a power supply cord and a plug attached thereto and said hatch adapted to stow the plug during periods of nonuse, means for partially closing said rear opening whereby the cord may still pass freely therethrough however passage of the plug is prevented, said means for partially closing comprising a separate piece provided with a cord accepting notch and insertable into position for partially closing said rear opening through said front opening, a cover portion means independent of said means for partially closing said rear opening for closing at least part of said front opening to prevent passage of said plug through the front opening, and hinge means interconnecting a portion of the periphery of said cover portion to a portion of the hatch in the vicinity of the front opening.

2. The power cord hatch of claim 1 wherein the separate piece for partially closing comprises means on at least a part of the periphery thereof for mating with corresponding portions of the periphery of the rear opening to prevent the separate piece from being inadvertently dislodged from its rear opening closing position.

3. The power cord hatch of claim 1 wherein the cover portion is provided with a cord feed port, the hatch further including means for closing the cord feed port when the plug is within the housing.

4. The power cord hatch of claim 1 wherein the hinge means comprises a pliable strip of connecting material common to the cover portion and a portion of the hatch in the vicinity of the front opening.

5. A power cord hatch to be used in conjunction with a multiconductor cable having a plug attached thereto and comprising:

a plug recess defining portion having first and second opposite ends respectively having first and second openings therein;

a mounting flange attached to said recess defining portion near the first end thereof;

a cover portion adapted to close at least part of said first opening to prevent passage of said plug through said first opening; and

means for partially closing said second opening comprising a separate piece provided with a cable accepting notch and insertable into position for partially closing said second opening through said first opening whereby the cable may still pass therethrough however passage of the plug is prevented.

6. The power cord hatch of claim 5 wherein said cover portion is provided with a cutaway portion for accommodating the cable and further comprising a flap for closing the cutaway portion, and a strip of connecting material common to said cover portion and said flap and adapted to allow the rotation of said flap about the hinge means relative to said cover portion.

7. The power cord hatch of claim 5 wherein the cover portion is provided with a cord feed port, the hatch further including means for closing the cord feed port when the plug is within the housing.

8. A power cord hatch to be used in conjunction with a multiconductor cable having a plug attached thereto and comprising:

a generally cylindrical plug recess defining portion having first and second opposite ends respectively having first and second openings in the said opposite ends;

a mounting flange attached to said recess defining portion near the first end thereof;

a cover portion adapted to close at least part of said first opening to prevent passage of said plug through said first opening;

hinge means interconnecting said cover portion and said flange; and

means for partially closing said second opening whereby the cable may still pass freely therethrough however passage of the pluG is prevented, said means for partially closing including a separate piece provided with a cable accepting notch and insertable into position for partially closing said second opening through said first opening.