Spatter, dust and rain-proof plastic safety case intended for extension cord plugging

• US 5,834,690 A
• Filed: 09/28/1995
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BATO Trading BV
• Original Assignee: BATO Trading BV
• Inventors: Bastiaansen, Christ A. C. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/530,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 174/52.1, 174/68, 174/48, 174/17 CT, 174/77 R, 174/91-93, 439/367, 439/369, 220/3.8, 220/240
• US Class Current: 174/564
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

A weatherproof safety case for a plug and receptacle connection of electrical power cords. The case includes a molded plastic housing divided into first and second parts having mating edges. An integrally molded hinge of thin plastic material joins the first and second parts along one side of the mating edges. A clasp-like member extends alongside one of the mating edges. The resilient gasket is formed with an enlarged pad adjacent to each end of the hinge for providing a seal between the hinge and the mating edges when the case is shut. The case also includes labyrinth seals, each labyrinth seal being divided into two portions by the mating edges of the first and second parts of the housing Each portion is coupled to either the first or second part of the housing, and is formed with at least two spaced apart flexible partitions having semicircular edge cutouts. One of the edge cutouts is of a larger diameter than the other. Portions of each of the labyrinth seals are engagable with the partitions in the labyrinth seals of the other of the parts. The clasp-like member is arranged to lock the parts together. The housing is a cylinder with convex ends, and the first and second labyrinth seals are located in opposite ends of the cylinder. The clasp-like member on the one part fits against an outside surface of the gasket on the other part to provide an overlapping seal.

Claims

1. A weatherproof safety case for a plug and receptacle connection on respective ends of two electrical power cords, the case comprising;

a molded plastic housing divided into first and second parts having mating edges, an integrally molded hinge of thin plastic material joining the first and second parts along one side of said mating edges to permit pivoting the first and second parts between open and shut positions, and a clasp-like member extending alongside one of said mating edges of one of the parts opposite the hinge for releasably locking the first and second parts in the shut position;

a resilient gasket forming one of said mating edges of one of the first and second parts, the resilient gasket being formed with an enlarged pad adjacent to each end of the hinge for providing a seal between the hinge and the mating edges when the case is shut;

first and second labyrinth seals, each labyrinth seal being divided into two portions by the mating edges of the first and second parts of the housing, each portion coupled to one of the first and second parts of the housing, and being formed with at least two spaced apart flexible partitions having semicircular edge cutouts, one of the edge cutouts of one of the partitions being of larger diameter than the other of the edge cutouts of the other of said partitions, the portions of each of said labyrinth seal in one of the parts engagable with the partitions in the labyrinth seals of the other of the parts when the parts are shut, with the partition edge cutouts forming sealing orifices of different diameters to provide effective sealing for electrical power cords of different sizes, and the clasp-like member being arranged to lock the parts together with pressure being exerted on the resilient gasket to effectively seal the housing around a plug and receptacle connection of two power cables;

wherein the housing is a cylinder with convex ends, thee mating edges of the first and second parts lie in a plan parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and the first and second labyrinth seals are located in opposite ends of the cylinder; and

wherein the clasp-like member on the one part fits against an outside surface of the gasket on the other part to provide an overlapping seal when the first and second parts are in the shut position and the clasp is locked.

2. A weatherproof safety case for a plug and receptacle connection on respective ends of two electrical power cords, the case comprising:

a molded plastic housing divided into first and second parts having mating edges, an integrally molded hinge of thin plastic material joining the first and second parts along one side of said mating edges to permit pivoting the first and second parts between open and shut positions, and a clasp-like member extending alongside one of said mating edges of one of the parts opposite the hinge for releasably locking the first and second parts in the shut position;

a resilient gasket forming one of said mating edges of one of the first and second parts, the resilient gasket being formed with an enlarged pad adjacent to each end of the hinge for providing a seal between the hinge and the mating edges when the case is shut;

first and second labyrinth seals, each labyrinth seal being divided into two portions by the mating edges of the first and second parts of the housing, each portion coupled to one of the first and second parts of the housing, and being formed with at least two spaced apart flexible partitions having semicircular edge cutouts, one of the edge cutouts of one of the partitions being of larger diameter than the other of the edge cutouts of the other of said partitions, the portions of each of said labyrinth seals in one of the parts engagable with the partitions in the labyrinth seals of the other of the parts when the parts are shut, with the partition edge cutouts forming sealing orifices of different diameters to provide effective sealing for electrical power cords of different sizes, and the clasp-like member being arranged to lock the parts together with pressure being exerted on the resilient gasket to effectively seal the housing around a plug and receptacle connection of two power cables;

wherein the housing is a cylinder with convex ends, the mating edges of the first and second parts lie in a plan parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and the first and second labyrinth seals are located in opposite ends of the cylinder;

wherein each end of the first part is formed with a tongue extending from the mating edge of the first part, and the resilient gasket is formed with a groove in the mating edge of each end of the housing, the tongue of the first part fitting within the corresponding grooves of the gasket of the second part; and

wherein the clasp-like member on the one part fits against an outside surface of the gasket on the other pan to provide an overlapping seal when the first and second parts are in the shut position and the clasp is locked.

3. A weatherproof safety case for a plug and receptacle connection on respective ends of two electrical power cords, the case comprising:

a molded plastic housing divided into first and second parts having mating edges, an integrally molded hinge of thin plastic material joining the first and second parts along one side of said mating edges to permit pivoting the first and second parts between open and shut positions, and a clasp-like member extending alongside one of said mating edges of one of the parts opposite the hinge for releasably locking the first and second parts in the shut position;

a resilient gasket forming one of-said mating edges of one of the first and second parts, the resilient gasket being formed with an enlarged pad adjacent to each end of the hinge for providing a seal between the hinge and the mating edges when the case is shut;

first and second labyrinth seals, each labyrinth seal being divided into two portions by the mating edges of the first and second parts of the housing, each portion coupled to one of the first and second parts of the housing, and being formed with at least two spaced apart flexible partitions having semicircular edge cutouts, one of the edge cutouts of one of the partition being of larger diameter than the other of the edge cutout of the other of said partitions, the portions of each of said labyrinth seals in one of the parts engagable with the partitions in the labyrinth seals of the other of the parts when the parts are shut, with the partition edge cutouts forming sealing orifices of different diameters to provide effective sealing for electrical power cords of different sizes, and the clasp-like member being arranged to lock the parts together with pressure being exerted on the resilient gasket to effectively seal the housing around a plug and receptacle connection of two power cables;

wherein the housing is a cylinder with convex ends, the mating edges of the first and second parts lie in a plan parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and the first and second labyrinth seals are located in opposite ends of the cylinder; and

wherein the clasp-like member comprises a cylindrical section molded integrally with the first part of the housing, with a flexible hinge section joining an edge of the member to the mating edge of the first part, a longitudinal lip extending from an inner surface of the member adjacent to an edge of the member opposite the binge section, and the second part of the housing has a longitudinal groove in its outer surface, the groove being arranged to receive the longitudinal lip in locking engagement when the two parts of the housing are in the shut position with said preload applied to the gasket.