Electrical plug

• US 6,050,840 A
• Filed: 08/08/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coleman Cable Incorporated (Southwire Company)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Cable Systems, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kowalski, Wayne J., Holpuch, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyeon, Hae Moon
• Application Number:
  US08/908,838
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 439/369, 439/449, 439/502, 439/308, 439/309, 439/451, 439/452, 439/370, 439/371, 439/372, 439/456, 439/457, 439/458
• US Class Current: 439/369
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

An electrical plug designed to inhibit another electrical plug, mated or joined thereto, from becoming inadvertently separated as a result of pulling forces being exerted on an electrical cord extending from the other electrical plug. The salient feature of the invention is an electricfiable plug body which contains a strain relief for releasably securing or griping a lengthwise portion of a second electrical cord to the plug body thereby maintaining the electric connection between the electrical contacts of the plug body and the electrical cord when tensile or pulling forces are exerted. The strain relief comprises a series of tines extending from the plug body which combine to define a circuitous path of travel for the lengthwise portion of the second electrical cord secured by the stain relief. The surfaces of the tines define an elongated groove, arranged adjacent to the plug body, which accommodates the lengthwise portion of the second electrical cord therebetween.

Claims

1. An electrical plug, comprising:

a plug body adapted for connection to electricity through a first electrical cord extending therefrom, said plug body defining a channel for accommodating a lengthwise portion of a second electrical cord, said channel being configured to inhibit the lengthwise portion of said second electrical cord accommodated therewithin from passing endwise through the channel when a pulling force is exerted thereon.

3. The electrical plug according to claim 1 wherein said plug body has spaced apart and opposed surfaces and a peripheral edge extending between said surfaces, and wherein said channel extends along a lengthwise portion of the peripheral edge of said plug body.

4. The electrical plug according to claim 1 wherein said channel is defined by extensions projecting from a peripheral edge of said plug body.

5. The electrical plug according to claim 4 wherein said plug body is one-piece construction with said extensions being formed integrally therewith.

6. The electrical plug according to claim 1 further including structure for holding the lengthwise portion of said second electrical cord adjacent said plug body.

7. The electrical plug according to claim 1 further including structure for releasably holding the lengthwise portion of the second electrical cord within said channel.

8. The electrical plug according to claim 1 further including conductive pins operably connected to said first electrical cord and extending from said plug body.

2. An electrical plug, comprising:

a plug body adapted for connection to electricity through a first electrical cord extending therefrom, said plug body defining a channel for accommodating a lengthwise portion of a second electrical cord, said channel being configured to inhibit the lengthwise portion of said second electrical cord accommodated therewithin from passing endwise through the channel when a pulling force is exerted thereon, wherein said channel includes ingress and egress portions disposed substantially coplanar relative to each other and a midportion which is offset from the ingress and egress end portions such that the lengthwise portion of electrical cord passing therethrough is inhibited from endwise movement therethrough.

9. An electrical plug, comprising:

an electrifiable plug body having electrical contacts for electrically connecting said plug body to another electrical plug having an electrical cord, and wherein said plug body defines a strain relief for releasably securing a lengthwise portion of said electrical cord to the plug body thereby inhibiting tensile forces applied to said electrical cord from effecting separation between the electrical cord and the electrical contacts of said plug body, wherein said strain relief comprises an elongated channel defined on said plug body for accommodating a lengthwise portion of the electrical cord therewithin, said channel having ingress and egress end portions in substantial alignment to each other and a midportion arranged in offset relation relative to said ingress and egress portions and being configured to allow insertion of said electrical cord into said channel exteriorly of said plug body for inhibiting endwise movement of said electrical cord through said channel when a pulling force is exerted onto said electrical cord.

10. The electrical plug according to claim 9 wherein said strain relief is comprised of a series of tines projecting from said plug body and which, in combination with each other, define a circuitous path for the lengthwise portion of said electrical cord.

11. The electrical plug according to claim 9 wherein said electrical contacts include at least two relatively rigid conductive pins extending in a first direction away from said plug body in generally parallel relation relative to each other.

12. The electrical plug according to claim 9 wherein said channel is elongated in a direction extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the electrical contacts of said plug body.

13. The electrical plug according to claim 9 further including structure for holding the lengthwise portion of said electrical cord adjacent said plug body.

14. The electrical plug according to claim 9 further including structure for releasably holding the lengthwise portion of said electrical cord within said channel.

15. The electrical plug according to claim 9 wherein said strain relief is configured to releasably secure a lengthwise portion of a second electrical cord to the plug body.

16. An electrical plug assembly configured to mate with an electrical plug disposed at an end of an electrical cord, said plug assembly comprising:

a plug body having electrical contacts operably and electrically connected to a flexible electrical conductor extending from said plug body, said plug body further including a strain relief for gripping a lengthwise portion of the electrical cord passing adjacent said plug body thereby inhibiting relative movement between said lengthwise portion of the electrical cord and the plug body.

17. The electrical plug according to claim 16 wherein said strain relief comprises an elongated groove arranged on said plug body, said groove being defined by opposed surfaces which are sized and arranged relative to each other to grip the lengthwise portion of said electrical cord therebetween thus inhibiting endwise movement of the electrical cord through said groove.

18. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 17 wherein said electrical contacts each extend in a liner direction relative to said plug body and generally parallel relative to each other.

19. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 18 wherein said groove is elongated in generally the same linear direction as said electrical contacts.

20. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 18 wherein said elongated groove includes inlet and outlet end portions generally aligned relative to each other and a midportion arranged in offset relation relative to the end portions, and wherein said groove is elongated in generally the same linear direction as said electrical contacts whereby a loop is formed in that portion of the electrical cord between the outlet end portion of the elongated groove and the electrical plug after the electrical plug is mated with plug body of said electrical plug assembly.

21. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 17 wherein said elongated groove has ingress and egress end portions disposed in substantial alignment relative to each other and a midportion arranged in offset relation relative to said ingress and egress end portions.

22. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 20 wherein said strain relief comprises a series of tines projecting outwardly from said plug body and which, in combination with each other, define a circuitous path of travel for the lengthwise portion of the electrical cord gripped by said strain relief.

23. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 22 wherein said tines are formed integrally with said plug body.

24. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 20 wherein said strain relief includes structure for holding the gripped portion of electrical cord adjacent the plug body.

25. The electrical plug assembly according to claim 17 wherein said elongated groove opens along its entire length to one side of the plug body to promote insertion and removal of the electrical cord from the elongated groove.

26. An electrical plug configured to mate with another electrical plug having an electrical cord extending therefrom, said electrical plug comprising:

a plug body with a flexible electrical conductor extending therefrom, and a pair of electrical contacts operably connected to said electrical conductor, said electrical contacts operably engaging with other electrical connections on said another electrical plug when said plug body and said another electrical plug are mated relative to each other, wherein the electrical contacts on said plug body are arranged relative to said another electrical plug such that pulling forces exerted on either or both the electrical conductor or said other electrical connections will cause the plug body and said another electrical plug to be drawn toward engagement relative to each other, and wherein said plug body further includes a strain relief containing an open channel on said plug body having ingress and egress end portions disposed in substantial alignment relative to each other and a midportion arranged in offset relation to said ingress and egress end portions, for releasably accommodating a lengthwise portion of said electrical cord in a manner inhibiting endwise movement of the electrical cord through said channel in response to pulling forces being exerted upon said electrical cord thereby retaining said electrical plug in operable mating relationship with said plug body.

27. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said plug body has spaced apart major surfaces and a peripheral edge adjoining said major surfaces, with said electrical contacts of the plug body and the electrical conductor being disposed on the peripheral edge of said plug body.

28. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said plug body includes spaced apart top and bottom and a peripheral edge joined to the top and bottom surfaces, said peripheral edge defining a generally planar surface portion extending in a plane generally normal to said top and bottom surfaces, and wherein said electrical cord connected to said another electrical plug and said electrical contacts of said plug body extend generally normal to said plane.

29. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said channel is elongated in generally the same direction as said electrical contacts.

30. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said electrical contacts include two conductive pins projecting from said plug body.

31. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said open channel includes inlet and outlet end portions generally aligned relative to each other and a midportion arranged in offset relation relative to the end portions, and wherein said channel is elongated in generally the same linear direction as said electrical contacts on said plug body whereby a loop is formed in that portion of the electrical cord passing between the outlet end portion of the elongated channel and said another electrical plug after said another electrical plug is connected to with the plug body.

32. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said channel has ingress and egress end portions disposed in substantial alignment relative to each other and a midportion arranged in offset relation relative to said ingress and egress end portions.

33. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said strain relief comprises a series of tines projecting outwardly from said plug body and which, in combination with each other, define an open channel through which a lengthwise portion of said electrical cord endwise extends.

34. The electrical plug according to claim 33 wherein said tines are formed integrally with said plug body.

35. The electrical plug according to claim 26 further including structure for holding the portion of electrical cord releasably secured by said strain relief adjacent the plug body.

36. The electrical plug according to claim 26 wherein said channel opens along its entire length to one side of the plug body to promote insertion and removal of the electrical cord from the channel.