Cord connector

• US 5,772,462 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Angel Guard Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Frederick F. Osten
• Inventors: Osten, Frederick F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Katrina
• Application Number:
  US08/699,500
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 439/369, 439/363, 439/367, 439/368, 439/370, 439/373, 439/357, 24/30.5 R, 24/129 R, 24/129 W, 24/715.4
• US Class Current: 439/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

A cord connector having a pair of substantially hollow receptacle-like members, with each of the members having a side wall and a first end with a plurality of resilient fingers cantilevered from the end, with the plurality of resilient fingers positioned at an acute angle to the side wall so that axial displacement of an electrical plug into the substantially hollow receptacle-like member can force the plurality of resilient fingers radially outward to permit passage of the electrical plug past the resilient fingers and into the substantially hollow receptacle-like member and thereby allow the resilient fingers to flex radially inward and engage a rear portion of the electrical plug. The resilient fingers having sufficient stiffness so that when the electrical cord connected to the electrical plug is pulled, the resilient fingers engage the electrical plug and prevent withdrawal of the electrical plug from the substantially hollow receptacle-like member.

Claims

1. An electrical cord connector for holding together a male electrical plug connected to a first electrical cord and a female electrical plug connected to a second electrical cord, comprising:

a first substantially hollow receptacle-like member, said first member having a side wall and a first end with a plurality of resilient fingers cantilevered from said first end, said plurality of resilient fingers positioned at an acute angle to said side wall so that axial displacement of the male electrical plug into said first substantially hollow receptacle-like member can force said plurality of resilient fingers radially outward to permit passage of said electrical plug past said resilient fingers and into the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member and thereby allow the resilient fingers to flex radially inward and engage a rear portion of the male elliptical plug, said resilient fingers having sufficient stiffness so that when the electrical cord connected to said male electrical plug is pulled, the resilient fingers engage the male electrical plug and prevent withdrawal of said male electrical plug from the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member; and

a second substantially hollow receptacle-like member, said second member having a side wall and a first end with a plurality of resilient fingers cantilevered from said first end, said plurality of resilient fingers in said substantially hollow receptacle-like member positioned at an acute angle to said side wall of said substantially hollow receptacle-like member so that axial displacement of the female electrical plug into the second substantially hollow receptacle-like member, forces said plurality of resilient fingers in said substantially hollow receptacle-like member radially outward to permit passage of said female electrical plug past said resilient fingers into said second substantially hollow receptacle-like member and thereby allow the resilient fingers in said substantially hollow receptacle-like member to flex radially inward and engage a rear portion of the female electrical plug, said resilient fingers in said substantially hollow receptacle-like member having sufficient stiffness so that when the electrical cord connected to said female electrical plug is pulled the resilient fingers engage a rear portion of the female electrical plug and prevent withdrawal of said female electrical plug from the second substantially hollow receptacle-like like member so that when said first substantially hollow receptacle-like member and said second substantially hollow receptacle-like member are in engagement with each other the male electrical plug and the female electrical plug are secured therein so that a pulling force on either electrical cord will not dislodge the female electrical plug from the male electrical plug.

2. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member and the fingers are of unitary construction.

3. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the fingers comprise cone segments.

4. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the first substantially hollow receptable-like member and the second substantially hollow receptacle-like member each include at least two fingers.

5. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member and the second substantially hollow receptacle-like member are made of PVC.

6. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein each of the fingers have a base and an apex with the apex of the fingers defining a central opening.

7. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the fingers extend inward at an acute angle of about 45 degrees.

8. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member and the second substantially hollow receptacle-like member each have at least four fingers.

9. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein the fingers on the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member and the fingers on the second substantially hollow receptacle-like member define a central opening.

10. The cord connector of claim 1 wherein each of the fingers on the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member have a base and an apex with the base wider than the apex and the base integrally and cantileverly secured to the first substantially hollow receptacle-like member.