Electrical connector jacket

• US 5,259,782 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin H. Giffin
• Original Assignee: Kevin H. Giffin
• Inventors: Giffin, Kevin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US07/905,006
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 439/367, 439/368, 439/369, 439/370, 439/314-318, 439/365
• US Class Current: 439/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

Described is an electrical connector jacket for protecting and preserving an electrically functioning coupling between a cord attached plug and a cord attached receptacle.

Claims

1. An electrical connector jacket for preserving an electrically functioning coupling between a plug attached to a first cord and a receptacle attached to a second cord, comprising:

a) a first housing for surrounding and holding said plug, wherein said first housing comprises two like halves that interlock with one another to surround said plug and

b) a second housing for surrounding and holding said receptacle, wherein said second housing comprises two additional said halves that interlock with one another to surround said receptacle and said first and said second housings mate with one another to form said jacket, wherein each said half comprises;

a curved, elongated wall member having first and second ends with a longitudinal axis extending between said first and said second ends;

means associated with said wall member for positioning either said plug and said first cord or said receptacle and said second cord within said first or said second housing, respectively;

means associated with said wall member for said interlocking with said other housing half;

means associated with said wall member for said mating between said first and said second housings.

2. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking is reversible.

3. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 1, wherein said mating is reversible.

4. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means is located proximate said wall member second end.

5. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 1, wherein said mating means is located at said wall member first end.

6. An electrical connector jacket for preserving an electrically functioning coupling between a plug attached to a first cord and a receptacle attached to a second cord, comprising:

a) a first housing for surrounding and holding said plug, wherein said first housing comprises two identical halves that reversibly interlock with one another to surround said plug and

b) a second housing for surrounding and holding said receptacle, wherein said second housing comprises two additional said halves that reversibly interlock with one another to surround said receptacle and said first and said second housings reversibly mate with one another to form said jacket, wherein each said half comprises;

a curved, elongated wall member having an inner and an outer surface and first and second ends, wherein said wall tapers from a wide said first end to a narrow said second end with a longitudinal axis extending between said wide first and said narrow second ends;

means associated with said wall member for positioning either said plug and said first cord or said receptacle and said second cord within said first or said second housing, respectively, wherein said plug or said receptacle is proximate said wide first end and said first cord or said second cord passes through said narrow second end;

means associated with said wall member for said reversible interlocking with said other housing half;

means associated with said wall member for said reversible mating between said first and said second housings.

7. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 6, wherein said positioning means comprises:

a) a plurality of receiving grooves formed on said wall member inner surface and proximate said second narrow end and

b) a slotted positioning washer sized to fit within said receiving grooves and around said first or said second cord, abutting said plug or said receptacle, within said first or said second housing, respectively, wherein said slotted positioning washer aligns said plug or said receptacle for forming said electrically functioning coupling by preventing said coupling from disengaging within said jacket.

8. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 6, wherein said positioning means comprises a slotted spacer selected to fit around said first or said second cord, abutting said plug or said receptacle, within said first or said second housing, respectively, wherein said slotted spacer aligns said plug or said receptacle for forming said electrically functioning coupling by preventing said coupling from disengaging within said jacket.

9. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 6, wherein said reversible mating means comprises:

a) a male member projecting from each said wide first end and

b) a female member associated with said wide first end for reversibly engaging a corresponding said male member.

10. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 6, wherein said reversible mating means comprises:

a) a prong projecting from each said wide first end, wherein said prong terminates in a lip;

b) an annular ledge at said wide first end; and

c) an entrance channel within said ledge for receiving said prong, wherein after said prong of one said housing half enters said channel of another said housing half and said first housing and said second housing are rotated about said longitudinal axis in opposite directions said lip wedges beneath said annular ledge to mate reversibly said first to said second housing to form said jacket.

11. An electrical connector jacket for preserving an electrically functioning coupling between a plug attached to a first cord and a receptacle attached to a second cord, comprising:

a) a first housing for surrounding and holding said plug, wherein said first housing comprises two like halves that interlock with one another to surround said plug and

b) a second housing for surrounding and holding said receptacle, wherein said second housing comprises two said halves that interlock with one another to surround said receptacle and said first and said second housings mate with one another to form said jacket, wherein each said half comprises;

a curved, elongated wall member having first and second ends, wherein said wall tapers from a wide said first end to a narrow said second end with a longitudinal axis extending between said first and said second ends;

means associated with said wall member for positioning either said plug and said first cord or said receptacle and said second cord within said first or said second housing, respectively;

means associated with said wall member for said interlocking with said other housing half;

means associated with said wall member for said mating between said first and said second housings, wherein said mating means comprises;

a prong projecting from each said wide first end, wherein said prong terminates in a lip;

an annular ledge at said wide first end; and

an entrance channel within said ledge for receiving said prong, wherein after said prong of one housing half enters said channel of another housing half and said first housing and said second housing are rotated about said longitudinal axis in opposite directions said lip wedges beneath said annular ledge to mate reversibly said first to said second housing to form said jacket.

12. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 11, wherein said positioning means comprises:

a) a plurality of receiving grooves formed on said wall member inner surface and proximate said second narrow end and

b) a slotted positioning washer sized to fit within said receiving grooves and around said first or said second cord, abutting said plug or said receptacle, within said first or said second housing, respectively, wherein said slotted positioning washer aligns said plug or said receptacle for forming said electrically functioning coupling by preventing said coupling from disengaging within said jacket.

13. An electrical connector jacket according to claim 11, wherein said positioning means comprises a slotted spacer selected to fit around said first or said second cord, abutting said plug or said receptacle, within said first or said second housing, respectively, wherein said slotted spacer aligns said plug or said receptacle for forming said electrically functioning coupling by preventing said coupling from disengaging within said jacket.