Electrical power cord with multiple low-voltage terminal

• US 6,805,579 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Inventors: Gull, Philip, Marchand, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US10/141,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20030211775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/505, 307/75, 307/76, 174/71.R
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables

Abstract

An electrical power cord for providing low-voltage alternating current outputs from a high-voltage alternating current source. The cord includes an input terminal that is operable to receive power from a high-voltage alternating current power source. The cord also includes first and second output terminals that are operable to output low-voltage alternating current. The input terminal includes two distinct neutral wires.

Claims

1. An electrical power cord that provides input current from a current source, the cord comprising:

an input plug operable to receive input current from the current source, the input plug having first and second prongs;

first and second neutral wires connected with said first prong of said input plug; and

first and second output terminals operable to provide output current, wherein the first neutral wire is connected to the first output terminal and the second neutral wire is connected to the second output terminal.

2. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, further comprising third and fourth output terminals operable to provide output current.

3. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth output terminals each includes a ground wire.

4. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a fuse electrically connected to each output terminal.

5. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 2, wherein each wire is potted in an insulating material such that each wire is electrically isolated from the other wires.

6. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

first and second input power wires associated with the input plug,

the first input power wire splitting into first and second output power wires, wherein the first output terminal is electrically connected to the first output power wire and the second output terminal is electrically connected to the second output power wire; and

the second power wire splitting into third and fourth output power wires, wherein the third output terminal is electrically connected to the third output power wire and the fourth output terminal is electrically connected to the fourth output power wire.

7. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 2, wherein each output terminal is a three-prong female socket having a power connector, a ground connector, and a neutral connector.

8. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the output terminals further includes a ground wire.

9. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fuse electrically connected to each output terminal.

10. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein each wire is potted in an insulating material such that each wire is electrically isolated from the other wires.

11. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input current has a voltage within a range of approximately 100 volts to approximately 250 volts.

12. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 11, wherein the output current has a voltage within a range of approximately 100 volts to approximately 125 volts.

13. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a first input power wire electrically connected to the input plug, the first input power wire splitting into first and second output power wires, and wherein the first output terminal is electrically connected to the first output power wire and the second output terminal is electrically connected to the second output power wire.

14. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein the current source is an electrical generator.

15. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input plug is a four-prong male plug having two power prongs, a ground prong, and a neutral prong, and wherein the first and second neutral wires are electrically connected to the neutral prong.

16. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein each output terminal is a three-prong female socket having a power connector, a ground connector, and a neutral connector, and wherein at least one of the first and second neutral wires is electrically connected to each neutral connector.

17. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second output terminals are included in a single housing unit.

18. An electrical power cord operable to receive power from a power source and to output power, the cord comprising:

an input cord connected to an input plug operable to receive power from the power source and to provide at least one current path, the input plug having first and second prongs, and the input cord including a first input power wire, a second input power wire, a first input neutral wire connected to said first prong, a second input neutral wire connected to said first prong, and a ground wire;

a first output cord connected to a first output terminal operable to output power and providing a first output current path, the first output cord and the first output terminal including a first output power wire, a first output neutral wire electrically connected to the first input neutral wire, and a first output ground wire;

a second output cord connected to a second output terminal operable to output power and providing a second output current path, the second output cord and the second output terminal including a second output power wire, a second output neutral wire electrically connected to the second input neutral wire, and a second output ground wire; and

a transition section disposed between the input cord on the one hand and the first and second output cords on the other hand, where said at least one current path is split into said first and second current paths.

19. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, further comprising third and fourth output cords connected to respective output terminals each operable to output power and providing respective third and fourth current paths, each output cord and each output terminal including a power wire, an output neutral wire, and a ground wire.

20. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 19, further comprising a fuse electrically connected to each output terminal.

21. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 19, wherein each wire in each output terminal is potted in insulating material such that each wire is electrically isolated from the other wires in the same output terminal.

22. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 19, wherein the second input power wire is split into third and fourth output power wires, wherein the third output power wire is electrically connected to the third output terminal, and wherein the fourth output power wire is electrically connected to the fourth output terminal.

23. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 19, wherein each output terminal includes a three-prong female socket having a power connector, a ground connector, and a neutral connector, and wherein at least one of the input neutral wires is electrically connected to each neutral connector.

24. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a fuse electrically connected to each output terminal.

25. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, wherein the received power has a voltage within a range of approximately 100 volts to approximately 250 volts.

26. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 25, wherein the output power has a voltage within a range of approximately 100 volts to approximately 125 volts.

27. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, wherein each wire in each output terminal is potted in insulating material such that each wire is electrically isolated from the other wires in the same output terminal.

28. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, wherein the first input power wire is split into first and second output power wires, wherein the first output power wire is electrically connected to the first output terminal, and wherein the second output power wire is electrically connected to the second output terminal.

29. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, wherein the current source is an electrical generator.

30. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, wherein the input terminal includes a four-prong male plug having two power prongs, a ground prong, and a neutral prong, and wherein the two input neutral wires are electrically connected to the neutral prong.

31. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 18, wherein each output terminal includes a three-prong female socket having a power connector, a ground connector, and a neutral connector.

32. An electrical power cord comprising:

an input cord including a first neutral wire and a second neutral wire and having a first distal end;

an input terminal connected to the first distal end of the input cord, the input terminal having at least one prong, the prong connected to the first neutral wire and the second neutral wire;

a first output terminal connected to the first neutral wire; and

a second output terminal connected to the second neutral wire.

33. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 32, wherein the input cord further includes a second distal end and the electrical power cord further comprises:

a housing connected to the second distal end of the input power cord, the first output terminal and the second output terminal are included in the housing.

34. The electrical power cord as set forth in claim 32, wherein the input cord further includes a second distal end and the electrical power cord further comprises:

a transition section connected to the second distal end on the input cord;

a first output cord having a first distal end and a second distal end, the first distal end connected to the transition section and the second distal end connected to the first output terminal, the first output cord including the first neutral wire; and

a second output cord having a first distal end and a second distal end, the first distal end connected to the transition section and the second distal end connected to the second output terminal, the second output cord including the second neutral wire.