Protector for electrical cord connections

• US 5,306,176 A
• Filed: 01/26/1993
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eugene M. Coffey
• Original Assignee: Eugene M. Coffey
• Inventors: Coffey, Eugene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/009,584
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 439/367, 439/368, 439/369, 439/370, 439/180, 439/476, 439/484, 439/521
• US Class Current: 439/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

A protector for protecting the mating plug and socket of connected electrical cords from damage and contamination and which allows quick disconnection of the plug and socket in an isolated chamber. The protector has a tubular housing formed of high impact plastic, preferably transparent, which surrounds the mating plug and socket members of connected electrical cords and resilient end plugs which are slidably received on the cords rearwardly of the plug and socket. The end plugs have a longitudinal slit extending radially from a central longitudinal bore and are installed by pressing them laterally onto the cords then sliding them axially on the cords to press them into the open ends of the tubular housing. When pressed into the ends of the housing, the end plugs define a central chamber surrounding the plug and socket connection and form a seal at the opposed ends of the chamber between the housing and the exterior of the cords. The coefficient of friction between the end plugs and interior of the housing is greater than the coefficient of friction between the end plugs and the cords such that the end plugs remain frictionally engaged with the interior of the housing while allowing relative sliding movement between the cords and end plugs. When the cords are pulled apart, the plug and socket separate completely while enclosed in the sealed chamber to isolate any spark or arc and continued axial movement pulls the end plugs from the ends of the housing.

Claims

1. A protector for protecting the plug and socket members of connected electrical cords comprising;

a hollow tubular housing open at each end slidably received over the connected plug and socket members,

a pair of end plug members slidably engaged on each electrical cord rearward the plug and socket members for axial movement relative to the cords and configured to be received and releasably engaged one at each end of said tubular housing to define a hollow chamber therebetween,

the plug and socket members of the connected electrical cords being enclosed in said chamber when said end plugs are engaged on said tubular housing,

the plug and socket members being disconnected from each other upon opposed pulling forces applied axially on the electrical cords, and

said chamber being of sufficient length to allow complete separation of the plug and socket members while enclosed in said chamber.

2. The protector according to claim 1 wherein

each said end plug member is frictionally engaged one at each end of said tubular housing, and

each said end plug member has an exterior configured to form a seal on the interior of said tubular housing at each end of said chamber and an interior configured to form a sliding seal on the exterior of the cord on which it is engaged, such that

the plug and socket members of the connected electrical cords are enclosed and sealed in said chamber.

3. The protector according to claim 2 wherein

each said end plug member is formed of electrically non-conductive resilient material of sufficient elasticity such that the coefficient of friction between said end plug member and the interior of said tubular housing is greater than the coefficient of friction between said end plug interior and the cord on which it is slidably and sealingly engaged whereby said end plug member will remain frictionally engaged with the interior of said tubular housing while allowing relative sliding movement between the cord and said end plug interior.

4. The protector according to claim 2 wherein

each said end plug member is formed of electrically non-conductive resilient material having a central longitudinal bore and a longitudinal slit extending radially from said central bore to the exterior of said end plug, and

each said end plug is engaged on the electrical cord by placing said slit on the cord and pressing said end plug laterally onto the cord until the cord is received in the central bore.

5. The protector according to claim 4 wherein

each said end plug member has a cylindrical portion at one end of sufficient diameter to be slidably received and frictionally engaged in the open end of said tubular housing and is radially compressed when engaged therein to seal said slit closed.

6. The protector according to claim 4 wherein

each said end plug member has a cylindrical portion at one end of sufficient diameter to be slidably received and frictionally engaged in the open end of said tubular housing and the exterior of said cylindrical portion is configured to provide a gripping surface to facilitate frictional engagement.

7. The protector according to claim 4 wherein

said central longitudinal bore is of sufficient diameter to form a sliding seal on the exterior of the cord on which it is engaged.

8. The protector according to claim 7 wherein

said central longitudinal bore is configured to flexibly engage the cord on which it is installed and form a sliding seal thereon.

9. The protector according to claim 4 including

an insert formed of electrically non-conductive resilient material secured within the central longitudinal bore of said end plug member and having a central longitudinal bore concentric therewith and a longitudinal slit extending radially from said central bore in alignment with said end plug member longitudinal slit to form an extension thereof,

said insert central longitudinal bore being received on the exterior of the electrical cord and is of sufficient diameter to form a sliding seal on the exterior of the cord on which it is engaged, and

the relative elasticity of said end plug member and said insert are such that the coefficient of friction between said end plug member and the interior of said tubular housing is greater than the coefficient of friction between said insert longitudinal bore and the cord on which it is slidably and sealingly engaged whereby said end plug member will remain frictionally engaged with the interior of said tubular housing while allowing relative sliding movement between the cord and said insert.

10. The protector according to claim 9 wherein

each said end plug member has a cylindrical portion at one end of sufficient diameter to be slidably received and frictionally engaged in the open end of said tubular housing and is radially compressed when engaged therein to seal said slits closed and to compress said insert to effect a sliding seal on the exterior of the cord on which it is engaged.

11. The protector according to claim 9 wherein

each said end plug member has a cylindrical portion at one end of sufficient diameter to be slidably received and frictionally engaged in the open end of said tubular housing and the exterior of said cylindrical portion is configured to provide a gripping surface to facilitate frictional engagement.

12. The protector according to claim 1 wherein

said tubular housing is of sufficient length and said end plug members define a chamber therebetween of sufficient length to allow the plug and socket members to engage the opposed inward facing surfaces of said end plug members after complete separation upon continued opposed pulling forces applied axially on the electrical cords to pull said end plug members from the ends of said tubular housing.

13. The protector according to claim 1 wherein;

said tubular housing is transparent to allow visibility form the exterior of said housing of the status of the plug and socket members within said housing.