Electric cord accessory

• US 5,813,879 A
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Danilo Russo
• Original Assignee: Danilo Russo
• Inventors: Russo, Danilo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/916,314
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 439/367-370, 439/180, 439/476, 439/484, 439/521
• US Class Current: 439/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accessory which is adapted to be fitted onto the male and female elements of an electrical cord. The accessory has four parts: an upper and lower half of a female housing and an upper and lower half of a male housing. The upper and lower halves of the female housing are adapted to be secured over the female portion of an electrical cord. Likewise, the upper and lower halves of the male housing are adapted to be secured over the male portion of an electrical cord. Each of the halves is secured to its corresponding half by way of arcuate protrusions along its periphery. Furthermore, each of the parts carries either a protrusion or a receptacle which is adapted to be secured to a mating element on the opposing housing.

Claims

1. An electrical plug accessory which prevents the male and female portions of an electric cord from becoming disengaged, the accessory comprising in combination:

a female housing assembly comprising an upper half and a lower half, each half having a rearward extent, a forward extent, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface, each half being tapered from the forward toward the rearward extent;

a male housing assembly comprising an upper half and a lower half, each half having a rearward extent, a forward extent, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface, each half being tapered from the forward toward the rearward extent;

an upper pair of primary arcuate flanges secured to opposite sides of the upper half of the female housing at the forward extent, an upper pair of secondary arcuate flanges secured to the opposite sides of the upper half of the female housing at the rearward extent;

a lower pair of primary arcuate flanges secured to opposite sides of the lower half of the female housing at the forward extent, a lower pair of secondary arcuate flanges secured to the opposite sides of the lower half of the female housing at the rearward extent;

screws securing the pair of upper primary flanges of the female housing to the pair of lower primary flanges of the female housing, and screws securing the pair of upper secondary flanges of the female housing to the pair of lower secondary flanges of the female housing;

an upper pair of primary arcuate flanges secured to opposite sides of the upper half of the male housing at the forward extent, an upper pair of secondary arcuate flanges secured to the opposite sides of the upper half of the male housing at the rearward extent;

a lower pair of primary arcuate flanges secured to opposite sides of the lower half of the male housing at the forward extent, a lower pair of secondary arcuate flanges secured to the opposite sides of the lower half of the male housing at the rearward extent;

screws securing the pair of upper primary flanges of the male housing to the pair of lower primary flanges of the male housing, and screws securing the pair of upper secondary flanges of the male housing to the pair of lower secondary flanges of the male housing;

an upper receptacle secured to the upper half of the female housing at the forward extent, a lower receptacle secured to the lower half of the female housing at the forward extent;

an upper protrusion secured to the upper half of the male housing at the forward extent, a lower protrusion secured to the lower half of the male housing at the forward extent.

2. An electrical plug accessory which prevents the male and female portions of an electric cord from becoming disengaged, the accessory comprising in combination:

a female housing assembly comprising an upper half and a lower half, each half having a rearward extent, a forward extent, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface;

a male housing assembly comprising an upper half and a lower half, each half having a rearward extent, a forward extent, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface;

an upper pair of primary flanges secured to opposite sides of the upper half of the female housing at the forward extent, an upper pair of secondary flanges secured to the opposite sides of the upper half of the female housing at the rearward extent;

a lower pair of primary flanges secured to opposite sides of the lower half of the female housing at the forward extent, a lower pair of secondary flanges secured to the opposite sides of the lower half of the female housing at the rearward extent;

screws securing the pair of upper primary flanges of the female housing to the pair of lower primary flanges of the female housing, and screws securing the pair of upper secondary flanges of the female housing to the pair of lower secondary flanges of the female housing;

an upper pair of primary flanges secured to opposite sides of the upper half of the male housing at the forward extent, an upper pair of secondary flanges secured to the opposite sides of the upper half of the male housing at the rearward extent;

a lower pair of primary flanges secured to opposite sides of the lower half of the male housing at the forward extent, a lower pair of secondary flanges secured to the opposite sides of the lower half of the male housing at the rearward extent;

screws securing the pair of upper primary flanges of the male housing to the pair of lower primary flanges of the male housing, and screws securing the pair of upper secondary flanges of the male housing to the pair of lower secondary flanges of the male housing.

3. The accessory as described in claim 2 wherein:

each half of the male housing is tapered from the forward toward the rearward extent; and

each half of the female housing is tapered from the forward toward the rearward extent.

4. The accessory as described in claim 2 further comprising:

an upper receptacle secured to the upper half of the female housing at the forward extent, a lower receptacle secured to the lower half of the female housing at the forward extent; and

an upper protrusion secured to the upper half of the male housing at the forward extent, a lower protrusion secured to the lower half of the male housing at the forward extent.

5. The accessory as described in claim 2 wherein:

the flanges of the upper and lower halves of the female housing are arcuate in shape; and

the flanges of the upper and lower halves of the male housing are arcuate in shape.