Electrical plug accessory

• US 4,940,424 A
• Filed: 05/05/1989
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry E. Odbert
• Original Assignee: Larry E. Odbert
• Inventors: Odbert, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US07/348,194
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 439/133, 439/134, 439/147, 439/314, 439/318, 439/367, 439/368, 439/369, 439/370
• US Class Current: 439/369
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

A device is provided for holding together male and female electrical plugs. The device has two members, one surrounding the male plug and one surrounding the female plug. The two members are cylindrical and engage one another with protuberances on one member sliding and latching in grooves in the other.

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 a plug body and an electrical cord extending therefrom, said device comprising:

male and female members of substantially cylindrical hollow configuration, each of the member having an open end adapted to receive one of the male and the female plugs and enclose and surround said one of the male and female plugs while presenting an open end through which the surrounded male or female plug can fully protrude and be accessed and an enclosed end shaped to engage and abut its inner surface against the body of the plug it surrounds and to provide an aperture through which the electrical cord can extend and move so as to permit the male or female plug to move relative to the member and to fully protrude from the member and be grasped for connection and disconnection;

the male hollow member having an exterior cylindrical surface which fits within the interior cylindrical surface of the female hollow member, one of the two cylindrical surfaces carrying one or more axial indentations each having one more indented notches in communication with and perpendicular to the axial indentations, the other of the two cylindrical surfaces carrying one or more protuberances, the number, size and location of the protuberances corresponding to the axial indentations on the other surface, said protuberances positioned so as to engage the axial indentations and to meet the perpendicular notches when the inner surfaces of the male and female members abut against the bodies of the male and female plugs in a connected state so that upon rotation of the male and female members relative to one another, the protuberances enter and engage the notches thereby locking the two members in position holding together the male plug and the female plug in a connected state.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the number of indentations is two and the number of notches extending from the indentations is two or more.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the indentations and notches are present on the female member and the protuberances are present on the male member.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the indentations and notches are present on the male member and the protuberances are present on the female member.

5. The device of claim 1 in combination with a pair of retaining means, one of the retaining means on each of the two cords, said retaining means positioned adjacent to the male and female members so as to permit their movement along the cord away from the male and female pugs to a distance adequate to permit the plugs to fully protrude and be grasped but so as to prevent their movement along the cord substantially away from the male and female plugs.