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Twist-lock female plug adapter

  • US 4,726,780 A
  • Filed: 09/19/1986
  • Issued: 02/23/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An adapter for a twist-lock extension cord, which twist-lock extension cord has a first male plug-end and a second female plug-end, comprising:

  • a face plate having an outer surface having three angularly spaced-apart curved cutouts formed therethrough, first and second of said three curved cutouts being shaped to correspond to the shapes of the neutral and power electrodes of a twist-lock male plug, and a third of said three curved cutouts having a substantially L-shape for corresponding to the ground electrode of a twist-lock male plug;

    said face plate further comprising a pair of parallelly-arranged straight cutouts positioned interiorly of said three curved cutouts such that a circumferential line interconnecting said three curved cutouts surrounds said pair of straight cutouts;

    a first terminal means associated with both said first curved cutout and one of said pair of straight cutouts, positioned directly adjacent to said first curved cutout and said one straight cutout;

    a second terminal means associated with both said second curved cutout and the other of said pair of straight cutouts, positioned adjacent to said second curved cutout and said other straight cutout;

    a third terminal means associated with said third curved cutout and positioned directly adjacent to said third curved cutout;

    insulating mounting means for mounting each of said first, second, and third terminal means;

    a base member for fixed connection to said face plate, and means for securing said face plate to said base member; and

    means for clamping exposed ends of wires to said base member, each of said terminal means comprising means for electrically connecting a respective wire to the respective terminal;

    each of said first and second terminal means comprising a first curved receptacle-portion for the insertion therein of a curved electrode of a twist-lock male plug, and a second substantially non-curved receptacle portion for the insertion therein of a neutral and power electrodes of a household-type male plug, said first curved receptacle-portion extending at an acute angle with respect to said second non-curved receptacle portion, each of said first and second receptacle-portions providing a through-opening;

    said third terminal means being substantially L-shaped and having a first curved portion and a second portion thereof extending from said first portion, said second portion being substantially parallel with said second receptacle portions of said first and second terminal means, said second portion of said third terminal means being positioned between said second receptacle portions so that said second portion may be used for both twist-lock ground electrode and conventional ground electrodes;

    said insulating mounting means comprising a first mounting opening for receiving therein said first terminal means, and a second mounting opening for receiving therein said second terminal means, each of said first and second mounting openings defining a shape similar to the shape of said first and second receptacle-portions for receiving therein said first and second receptacle-portions;

    each of said first and second terminal means being one integral unit, said first curved receptacle-portion of each said first and second terminal means being integrally connected with said substantially non-curved receptacle portion of the respective said first and second terminal means, whereby each said first and second terminal means may be easily installed in the respective said mounting opening and easily removed therefrom as one integral unit.

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