Electrical cord connector and retainer

• US 5,104,335 A
• Filed: 03/05/1991
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul M. Conley, Richard J. Kurz
• Original Assignee: Paul M. Conley, Richard J. Kurz
• Inventors: Conley, Paul M., Kurz, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US07/665,018
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 439/368, 439/369, 439/371, 439/373, 439/452, 439/470, 439/471
• US Class Current: 439/369
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

An electrical cord connector includes a strap which is adapted to be placed over an extension cord, the strap having a plurality of retaining slots which are designed to receive a tab from a retaining member secured to a receptacle, whereby the plug end of the extension cord may be inserted in and secured to the receptacle by the strap and tab assembly. The cord connector and retainer is equally well suited for securing the plug either to a standard wall receptacle or to a second extension cord.

Claims

1. An electrical cord connector of the type for securing and retaining a pair of extension cords together, comprising:

a. a first elongate semi-rigid strap having a centerline and a head, the head including means for securing the strap to one of said cords adjacent a plug thereof;

b. a second elongate strap having a centerline and a head, the head including means for securing the strap to the cord of the second extension cord adjacent to a receptacle thereof, the means for securing the strap to the cord in said first and second elongate straps comprising a through hole in the respective head which is larger than the respective cord but smaller than the respective receptacle and plug, and an elongate through slit extending radially outward from the hole along the centerline of the respective strap, whereby each of said straps may be spread to facilitate installation and removal of said strap from each of said respective cords;

c. each of said straps including a plurality of through slots spaced along said centerline, each of said slots being substantially "U"-shaped in cross section, with the center portion of the "U" defining a tongue; and

d. the head of each strap including a retaining means adapted for passing through one of the slots in said other elongate strap, wherein the tab in each said head is dimensioned to fit into the respective slot, each tab including a through aperture adapted for receiving and engaging the center tongue portion of the respective "U"-shaped slot.

2. The cord connector of claim 1, wherein said slit intercepts each of said "U"-shaped slots.

3. An electrical cord connector for securing a plug at the end of a flexible cord to a standard wall receptacle having a removable wall cover, the assembly comprising:

a. a first elongate, semi-rigid strap having a centerline and a head, the head including means for securing the strap to the cord adjacent to the male plug;

b. a plurality of through slots in the strap, spaced along said centerline, each of said slots being substantially "U"-shaped, the center of the "U" defining a tongue; and

c. retaining means comprising a flat base plate adapted to be placed behind and securely held by the wall cover of the wall receptacle, the base plate including at least one retaining tab extending outwardly therefrom and outwardly from said wall cover for engaging a slot in said strap when the plug is inserted in the receptacle.