Plug removal tool and method
OwnerSidney A. Blinsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug removal tool for removing a plug from a receptacle includes an elongate body with an upper end and an opposed lower end. The upper end defines a handle and extends along a first axis. The lower end defines a pivot area and extends along a second axis transverse to the first axis. A slot is formed in the lower end to receive a prong of the plug.
Claims19
A plug removal tool for removing a plug from a receptacle, the plug having a peripheral edge, the plug removal tool comprising:
- an elongate body having an upper end and an opposed lower end having an upper face and a front edge;
- the upper end defines a handle and extends along a first axis;
- the lower end defines a pivot area and extends along a second axis transverse to the first axis;
- a slot is formed in the lower end to receive a prong of the plug;
- the slot is sized to receive the prong of the plug;
- the elongate body moves between a first position in which the plug is seated in the receptacle and a second position in which the plug is unseated from the receptacle;
- and
- during movement of the elongate body between the first and second positions, the front edge of the lower end defines a pivot for the elongate body with respect to the receptacle, and the peripheral edge of the plug slides in continuous contact against the upper face of the lower end.
A plug removal tool for removing a plug from a receptacle, the plug having a peripheral edge, the plug removal tool comprising:
- a lever for installation on a single prong of the plug for movement between a first position and a second position with respect to the receptacle, the lever having an upper end and an opposed front edge;
- the lever having an upper face;
- in the first position of the lever, the plug is seated in the receptacle;
- in the second position of the lever, the plug is unseated from the receptacle;
- and
- the front edge of the lever defines a pivot for movement of the lever between the first and second positions, during which movement the peripheral edge of the plug slides in continuous contact against the upper face of the lever.
A method of removing a plug from a receptacle, the plug including a body, a prong extending from the body into the receptacle, and a cord leading to the body, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plug removal tool on the plug, wherein the plug removal tool includes an elongate body having an upper end, an opposed lower end, an upper face on the lower end, a front edge on the lower end, and a slot formed through the lower end receiving the prong of the plug, which plug is seated in the receptacle for electrical communication between the plug and the receptacle;
- gripping the plug removal tool together with the plug;
- moving the plug removal tool and the plug together by pivoting the plug removal tool at the front edge against the receptacle and sliding the peripheral edge of the plug along the upper face of the lower end of the plug removal tool to pivot the plug removal tool with respect to the plug so as to unseat the plug from the receptacle;
- and
- retracting and removing the plug removal tool and the plug together from the receptacle;
- wherein the steps of gripping, moving, and retracting and removing are each performed while maintaining a continuous gripping arrangement on the plug removal tool and the plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.