Multiple receptacle extension cord

• US 5,902,148 A
• Filed: 07/13/1998
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kevin P O'Rourke
• Original Assignee: Kevin P O'Rourke
• Inventors: O'Rourke, Kevin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANDIG, BARRY
• Application Number:
  US09/114,576
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/505, 439/135, 439/148, 439/215, 439/933, 439/936
• US Class Current: 439/505
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

An extension cord having multiple female sockets which are attached to two or more conducting wires. In one embodiment of the invention, the cord has three or more conducting wires with two or more female sockets attached to the conducting wires. Each of the female sockets is attached to two of the conducting wires and each conducting wire is attached to at least one female socket. This may provide an extension cord having two or more electrically isolated circuits. Alternatively, or in addition, the cord may be configured to provide groups of female sockets each with different voltage ratings. In another embodiment of the invention, the cord has multiple socket blocks attached to the cord; each socket block housing one or more of the female sockets. A mooring member is attached to each of the socket blocks so that the cord may be fastened or held by an external object.

Claims

1. An extension cord comprising:

a male plug;

at least three conducting wires electrically coupled to the male plug, each conducting wire having a length;

a plurality of female sockets disposed at intervals along the lengths of the conducting wires, each female socket being electrically coupled to at least two of the conducting wires, at least one socket having a first service rating and at least one socket having a second service rating the first and second service ratings being different; and

wherein each conducting wire is electrically coupled to at least one female socket.

2. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the cord further comprises a grounding wire coupled to the male plug and one or more of the female sockets.

3. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the male plug is a twist-lock plug.

4. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the female sockets are disposed at regular intervals along the lengths of the wires.

5. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the cord further comprises at least one fuse coupled to at least one of the conducting wires.

6. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the extension cord further comprises a plurality of circuit identifying marks, wherein each circuit identifying mark is proximate one of the female sockets and configured to indicate which conducting wires are coupled to the proximate female socket.

7. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the extension cord further comprises a plurality of caps, one cap being attached to each female socket, wherein the cap is configured and arranged to cover the socket when the socket is not in use.

8. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the extension cord has three conducting wires corresponding to a neutral wire, a first circuit wire, and a second circuit wire.

9. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the extension cord has four conducting wires corresponding to a neutral wire, a first circuit wire, a second circuit wire, and a third circuit wire.

10. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the extension cord further comprises an adapter having a female end configured to receive the male plug and a male end configured to plug into an electrical outlet.

11. The extension cord of claim 1 wherein the first service rating is 120 V and the second service rating is 240 V.

12. The extension cord of claim 1 wherein one of the service ratings is 208 V.

13. The extension cord of claim 1, further comprising socket blocks, each female socket being positioned in one of the socket blocks, one or more of the socket blocks further comprises a mooring member coupled to the socket block, the mooring member being configured and arranged to permit attachment of the socket block to an external holding device.

14. The extension cord of claim 13, wherein the mooring member is a loop.

15. The extension cord of claim 1, wherein the extension cord further comprises at least one socket block for housing the female sockets.

16. The extension cord of claim 15, wherein each socket block houses two female sockets.

17. The extension cord of claim 15, wherein the extension cord further comprises a sheathing surrounding and electrically insulating the conducting wires, wherein the sheathing, the plurality of socket blocks, and the male plug are molded together as a single continuous piece.

18. An extension cord comprising:

an electrical cord having a length and a first end;

a male plug coupled to the first end;

three or more conducting wires extending the length of the electrical cord and coupled to the male plug;

at least two socket blocks coupled to the electrical cord at intervals along the cord, each socket block having at least two female sockets, at least one female socket in each socket block having a first service rating and at least one female socket in each socket block having a second service rating, the first and second service ratings being different; and

at least two circuit identifying marks attached to each socket block, each circuit identifying mark being proximate one of the female sockets, wherein each circuit identifying mark visually indicates to which conducting wires the proximate female socket is attached.

19. An extension cord comprising:

a male plug;

at least two conducting wires electrically coupled to the male plug, each conducting wire having a length;

a plurality of socket blocks attached to the conducting wires at intervals along the cord, each socket block comprising one or more female sockets coupled to two of the conducting wires and configured to receive male plugs of electrically operated devices; and

wherein each socket block further comprises a mooring member coupled to the socket block, the mooring member being configured and arranged to permit attachment of the socket block to an external object.

20. An extension cord comprising:

an electrical cord having a length and a first end;

a male plug coupled to the first end;

a plurality of socket blocks coupled to the electrical cord at intervals along the cord, each socket block including at least one female socket, each female socket being electrically coupled to electrical communication with the electric cord; and

a plurality of mooring members at intervals along the electric cord.

21. The extension cord of claim 20 wherein at least one mooring member is coupled to each socket block.

22. The extension cord of claim 20 wherein each mooring member is a loop.