Electric plug with circuit breaker

• US 4,771,367 A
• Filed: 05/04/1987
• Issued: 09/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: High Q Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: High Q Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Serr, Michael J., Serr, Carlyle, Pierce, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US07/046,258
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 200/51 R, 337/112, 337/113, 337/197, 337/198, 337/380, 337/381, 361/58, 361/91, 361/92, 361/102, 361/104, 361/112, 361/113, 361/334, 361/357, 361/380, 361/381, 361/394, 361/395, 439/621, 439/622
• US Class Current: 361/730
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/954 Special orientation of electrical connector

Abstract

The specification discloses an injection-molded electric plug having an integral circuit breaker. The plug housing is molded directly onto the power cord and defines a circuit breaker chamber. A circuit breaker is slidably received within the chamber and retained therein by spring fingers. The housing is elongated and the prongs extend from one of the long sides thereof so that the housing lays substantially flat against a receptacle. The prongs are angularly oriented with respect to the elongated body so that the body will not overlie adjacent receptacle outlets.

Claims

1. An electric plug comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and a pair of opposite ends, said body further having a front face between said opposite ends, one of said ends adapted to receive a power cord in a direction generally parallel to said front face; and

a pair of power prongs extending from said front face in a direction generally perpendicular to said body axis, said power prongs being oriented such that a line drawn through said power prongs forms an angle with said body axis, said angle in the range zero degrees to approximately forty-five degrees, whereby said prongs can be inserted into one receptacle of a duplex outlet and said elongated body will not overlie an adjacent receptacle.

2. An electric plug as defined in claim 1 wherein the other of said ends is adapted to receive power-interrupt means in a direction generally parallel to said front face.

3. An electric plug as defined in claim 2 wherein said body defines a chamber opening through the other of said ends, and further wherein said power-interrupt means is slidably received within said chamber and electrically connected in series with one of said prongs, and further wherein said power-interrupt means includes spring-loaded ratchet means for permitting said power-interrupt means to slide into said body and for preventing said power-interrupt means from being removed from said body.

4. An electric plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes a pair of opposite sides, and further comprising a pair of parallel ridges, one on each of said opposite sides of said body and extending outwardly therefrom, said ridges being oriented in the longitudinal direction of the body to facilitate grasping of said body.