Cordset assembly

• US 8,323,047 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miller Manufacturing Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allied Precision Industries, Inc. (Miller Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reusche, Thomas K., Chumbley, Philip E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers, Travis
• Application Number:
  US12/780,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20100221957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 439/638, 439/271, 439/320, 439/359, 439/106, 439/107, 411/417, 411/418, 411/437
• US Class Current: 439/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/30 with additional earth or shield contacts

Abstract

An extension cordset assembly includes a receptacle and a sealing gasket. The receptacle includes a receptacle main body, a receptacle connecting interface and first and second spade mating holes extending into the receptacle main body from the receptacle connecting interface. The receptacle is configured to mate with a plug having a standard spade configuration. The sealing gasket is positioned on the receptacle connecting interface and includes first and second spade openings aligned with the first and second spade mating holes, respectively. The sealing gasket is configured to provide a water-resistant seal between the receptacle and the plug.

Claims

1. An extension cordset assembly comprising:

a receptacle comprising a non-circular main body and a backstop, said receptacle configured to mate with a plug having a standard spade configuration; and

a connecting nut rotatably secured to said non-circular main body, wherein said backstop prevents said connecting nut from receding past a non-circular front face of said receptacle to a point in which a three-prong male plug could be improperly mated with said receptacle,

wherein said receptacle and said connecting nut cooperate to prevent improper mating of the three-prong male plug with said receptacle.

2. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said backstop prevents at least a portion of said connecting nut from receding past said front face of said receptacle.

3. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said backstop is integrally formed with said receptacle.

4. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said non-circular main body comprises at least one drainage channel formed over a length of said non-circular main body, and wherein said at least one drainage channel is underneath said connecting nut.

5. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said front face is substantially triangular.

6. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said front face is substantially pie-shaped.

7. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said connecting nut is configured to threadably secure to a portion of the plug in order to secure said receptacle to the plug.

8. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said backstop prevents at least a portion of said connecting nut from ever receding past said front face of said receptacle.

9. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking nut positioned between said connecting nut and said backstop, wherein said backstop prevents said locking nut from receding past said backstop, which, in turn, prevents said connecting nut from receding past said front face of said receptacle.

10. The extension cordset assembly of claim 3, wherein said backstop ensures that said locking nut remains on said main body.

11. The extension cordset assembly of claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises two spade mating holes and one ground pin mating hole.

12. The extension cordset assembly of claim 11, wherein said front face of said receptacle substantially extends along an inner diameter of said connecting nut along an axis that bisects said two spade mating holes.

13. An extension cordset assembly comprising:

a receptacle comprising a non-circular main body, two spade mating holes, one ground pin mating hole, and a backstop;

a connecting nut rotatably secured to said receptacle main body, wherein said backstop prevents said connecting nut from receding past a non-circular front face of said receptacle to a point in which a three-prong male plug could be improperly mated with said receptacle, wherein said connecting nut is configured to threadably secure to a portion of the three-prong male plug in order to secure said receptacle to the plug; and

a locking nut positioned between said connecting nut and said backstop, wherein said backstop prevents said locking nut from receding past said backstop, which, in turn, prevents said connecting nut from receding past said non-circular front face of said receptacle, wherein said backstop ensures that said locking nut remains on said non-circular main body,

wherein said receptacle and said connecting nut cooperate to prevent improper mating of the three-prong male plug with said receptacle.

14. The extension cordset assembly of claim 13, wherein said front face of said receptacle substantially extends along an inner diameter of said connecting nut along an axis that bisects said two spade mating holes.

15. The extension cordset assembly of claim 13, wherein said backstop is integrally formed with said receptacle.

16. The extension cordset assembly of claim 13, wherein said main body comprises at least one drainage channel formed over a length of said non-circular main body, and wherein said at least one drainage channel is underneath said connecting nut.

17. The extension cordset assembly of claim 13, wherein said front face is substantially triangular.

18. The extension cordset assembly of claim 13, wherein said front face is substantially pie-shaped.

19. An extension cordset assembly comprising:

a non-circular receptacle; and

a connecting nut rotatably secured to said receptacle,

wherein said non-circular receptacle and said connecting nut cooperate to prevent improper mating of a male plug with said non-circular receptacle.

20. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of said connecting nut is prevented from receding past a non-circular front face of said non-circular receptacle.

21. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein said non-circular receptacle is devoid of a separate and distinct obstruction configured to prevent improper mating with the male plug.

22. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein a non-circular front face of said receptacle substantially extends along an inner diameter of said connecting nut along an axis that bisects said two spade mating holes.

23. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein said non-circular receptacle comprises at least one drainage channel, and wherein said at least one drainage channel is underneath said connecting nut.

24. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein said receptacle comprises a substantially triangular axial cross-section.

25. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein said receptacle comprises a substantially pie-shaped axial cross-section.

26. The extension cordset assembly of claim 19, wherein said non-circular receptacle comprises a non-circular main body and a backstop, said non-circular receptacle configured to mate with a plug having a standard spade configuration.

27. The extension cordset assembly of claim 26, wherein said backstop prevents said connecting nut from receding past a front face of said non-circular receptacle to a point in which the male plug could be improperly mated with said non-circular receptacle.