US 7,452,230 B1Granted

Electrical cord plug assembly

AssigneeTMC Enterprises, a division of Tasco Industries, Inc.

InventorsThomas J. Miller, Zhou Dong Yue

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electrical cord plug assembly for inhibiting the removal of an inserted male electrical cord plug having at least one exposed electrical contact is disclosed. The device comprises a housing, a retention member, a biasing member, and a user actuation member. The retention member is movable between an engaged position, where the retention member engages an opening in the electrical contact of the male plug, and a disengaged position where the retention member disengages from the opening. The biasing member biases the retention member towards the engaged position. In the engaged position, the male plug is substantially inhibited from removal from the plug assembly. The actuation member engages the biasing member so as to allow a user to move the retention member to the disengaged position.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An electrical cord plug assembly for receiving a male electrical cord plug having at least one exposed electrical contact having a first and a second side and having an indentation formed therein, the assembly comprising:

a housing having a first and a second lateral side and a first face interposed therebetween, wherein an opening is formed in the first face that is sized to receive the at least one exposed electrical contact such that the first side of the electrical contact is positioned proximate the first lateral side of the housing, the second side of the electrical contact is positioned proximate the second lateral side of the housing, and the at least one electrical contact extends a first distance into the housing from the first face;
a retention member mounted within the housing wherein the retention member extends from the first lateral side of the housing towards the second lateral side of the housing so as to engage the second side of the electrical contact when the electrical contact is positioned within the housing to thereby facilitate retention of the electrical contact in the plug assembly;
a biasing member that biases the retention member towards the first lateral side of the housing to facilitate engagement of the retention member with the second side of the electrical contact;
and
a user actuation member a second distance from the first face that is less than the first distance that is positioned on the first lateral side of the housing and engages with the biasing member so that a user can move the retention member toward the second side of the housing against the bias of the biasing member to thereby disengage the retention member from the second side of the contact to thereby facilitate removal of the contact from the opening in the housing.

2 more elements

a housing having a first and a second side and a first face interposed therebetween;
a retention member mounted within the housing wherein the retention member extends from the first side of the housing towards the second side of the housing so as to engage the second side of the electrical contact when the electrical contact is positioned within the housing to thereby facilitate retention of the electrical contact in the plug assembly and wherein the retention member is user actuated so as to disengage the retention member from the second side of the electrical contact thereby facilitating removal of the contact from the plug assembly, wherein the retention member possesses a generally U-shaped body having a first end and a second end extending around the first and second sides of the electrical contact and wherein the second end of the retention member engages the second side of the electrical contact;
and
a biasing member that biases the retention member towards the first side of the housing to facilitate engagement of the retention member with the second side of the electrical contact.

1 more element

An electrical cord reel for receiving a male electrical cord plug having at least one exposed electrical contact having a first and a second side and having an indentation formed therein, the reel comprising:

an electrical plug assembly having a first face and an opening formed in the first face sized to receive the electrical contact such that the first side of the electrical contact is positioned proximate a first lateral side of the assembly and the second side of the electrical contact is positioned proximate a second lateral side of assembly wherein the opening is sized so as to receive the at least one exposed electrical contact that will extend a first distance from the first face;
said electrical plug assembly further possessing a retention member mounted within the assembly and a user activation button engaged with the retention member and positioned on the housing a second distance from the first face that is less than the first distance, wherein the retention member extends from the first lateral side of the assembly towards the second lateral side of the assembly so as to engage the second side of the electrical contact when the electrical contact is positioned within the assembly to thereby facilitate retention of the electrical contact in the plug assembly;
and
a reel which houses at least a portion of the electrical plug assembly, wherein the reel reversibly deploys an electrical cord in electrical communication with the electrical plug assembly.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/558,808Filed 10 Nov 2006 · us provisional application
Priority: 27 Jun 2006
Granted: 18 Nov 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H01R 24/22
Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable: with additional earth or shield contacts
H01R 13/6392
Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap: for extension cord
H01R 13/652
Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices , e.g. anti-static shielding: with earth pin, blade or socket
H01R 24/30
Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable: with additional earth or shield contacts