Breakaway extension cord for preventing electrical plug damage

• US 5,399,102 A
• Filed: 04/26/1994
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Devine, Michael J.
• Original Assignee: Devine, Michael J.
• Inventors: Devine, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/233,224
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 439/173, 439/180, 439/222, 439/223, 439/369, 439/502, 439/503, 439/505, 439/932
• US Class Current: 439/505
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/562 Bending-relieving
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

A short electrical extension cord (10) is provided which is designed for use with large, mobile appliances (30) such as carpet shampooers or the like, in order to prevent damage to the male plug or electrical connector (34) forming a part of the appliance (30). The short extension cord (10) includes a short stretch of electrical cable (12) with a female electrical receptacle (16) and male electrical connector (18) operatively coupled to the cable stretch (12) adjacent the opposed ends thereof. In use, the male connector (18) is inserted into a stationary receptacle outlet (40), and the appliance male electrical connector (34) is inserted into female receptacle (16). In use of the appliance (30), the flexibility of cable stretch (12) assures that, in the event that an undue tension load is placed on appliance power cord (32), a separation occurs between appliance male electrical connector (34) and short extension cord female receptacle (16) prior to any damage to the male electrical connector ( 34).

Claims

1. A method of coupling a mobile, electrically powered floor engaging appliance having an elongated electrical power cable terminating in an appliance male connector with a normal stationary electrical outlet receptacle in order to prevent significant damage to said appliance male connector in the event that an undue tension load is experienced by the power cable during movement of the appliance, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a short electrical extension cord presenting a stretch of flexible electrical cable, a female electrical receptacle operatively coupled with said extension cord at a first end of the cable, and an extension cord male electrical connector having a mating configuration with said female electrical receptacle at a said second end of the cable, said male electrical connector being adapted for insertion into said stationary electrical outlet receptacle, wherein said short extension cord has a maximum length of up to about 8 inches;

inserting said extension cord male electrical connector into said stationary outlet receptacle; and

inserting said appliance male connector into said female electrical receptacle of said short extension cord,

said appliance male connector being separable from said female electrical receptacle by an undue tension load that turns and twists said female electrical receptacle prior to separation of the extension cord male electrical connector from the stationary electrical outlet when the mobile, floor engaging appliance is pulled at an angle to the stationary electrical outlet receptacle under said undue tension load.