Electric plug holder

• US 4,784,612 A
• Filed: 08/06/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen H. Ryan
• Original Assignee: Allen H. Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Allen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US07/082,166
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 439/367, 439/369-371, 439/373
• US Class Current: 439/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A device for holding together a male plug and a female plug of an electrical connector in a connected state, each of the male and female plugs having an electrical cord extending therefrom, comprises a pair of hollow members each capable of accommodating a plug. The members each have an open end through which a plug can be accessed, and a substantially closed end, with a slot extending from the closed end to the open end, through which slot the electrical cord can be passed. The hollow members are adapted to be joined together by complementary helix threads of a sufficient large dimension to maintain the male and female members in their connected state.

Claims

1. A device for holding together a male plug and a female plug of an electrical connector in a connected state, each of the male and female plugs having an electrical cord extending therefrom, said device comprising:

male and female members of substantially cylindrical hollow configuration, each of said members adapted to accommodate one of the male or female plugs of the electrical connector, each of said members made of a flexible material and having a circular open end through which its accommodated plug can be accessed, and a shaped closed end of substantially uniform thickness and hemispherical configuration;

each of said members having a slot extending from said closed end to said open end, for receiving the electrical cord of its accommodated plug;

said male hollow member having an exterior surface, adjacent its open end, and presenting a first helix screw thread; and

said female hollow member having an interior surface, adjacent its open end, and presenting a second helix thread complimentary to said first helix thread for receiving said first helix thread, whereby said male and female members and their accommodated plugs are maintained in said connected state,

said first and second helix threads being of a sufficiently large dimension to prevent the disengagement thereof and the resultant separation of said male and female members.

2. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot of each of said members is of a width selected to permit the electrical cord of said member to pass therethrough and to retain its plug therein, and extends from a center of said closed end along the length of said member to its open end.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the electrical cords has an outer dimension, each of said slot widths of said male and female members is set substantially equal to said outer dimension, each of said slots terminating at said center, and each of said slot terminations being of a configuration conforming to that of the electrical cord, whereby the electrical cord is restrained from movement with respect to its member.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second helix threads are of at least a double helical configuration.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior surface of said female member is tapped at its open end to accept said first helix thread of said male member.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said members is made of a plastic material.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plastic material is polyethylene.

8. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said dimension of said first and second helixes is one-eight inch