U.S. patent number 3,781,761 [Application Number 05/238,066] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-25 for harwood retainer.
Invention is credited to Channing E. Harwood.
United States Patent |
3,781,761 |
Harwood |
December 25, 1973 |
HARWOOD RETAINER
Abstract
A retainer for preventing accidental pulling apart of a plug and
socket connecting the ends of electrical conductors comprising a
strip of flexible material with spaced apertures and openings to
the edge of the strip from each aperture.
Inventors: |
Harwood; Channing E.
(Torrington, CT) |
Family
ID: |
22896357 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/238,066 |
Filed: |
March 27, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/369; 439/371;
174/135 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/6392 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/639 (20060101); H01r 013/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/75P,103,119C,147C
;174/135 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A retainer for preventing accidental disconnection of electrical
connectors comprising a strip of flexible insulating material
having a plurality of spaced apertures of predetermined diameter,
and passages having a width smaller than the predetermined diameter
of the apertures communicating between said apertures and an edge
of the strip of flexible insulating material, and interposed
apertures with passages communicating to a different edge of the
strip.
Description
The present invention relates to connectors for electrical
conductors, and more particularly to an accessory for use with the
otherwise ordinary connector comprising a plug and socket in the
form of a retainer for preventing accidential disconnection of the
two parts of the connector. Domestic and industrial equipment are
frequently connected to the source of electricity by extension
cords. Accidential disconnection can result in inconvenience at
best or danger at the worst. Most restraining devices are
unnecessarily complicated and expensive. My invention employs a
simple strip of insulating material with apertures which provide
strain release by absorbing tension. By simplicity of use and
manufacture it provides safety economically.
The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following description and drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the retainer;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view; and
FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention. Like
parts throughout the various view are referred to by like
numbers.
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, my new
retainer is seen to comprise a strip 10 with apertures 12 through
which an electrical conductor 14 can be interwoven. Generally, the
cnductor has a socket 16 or plug 18 at the ends so that it could
not be woven through the apertures 12. For convenience, passageways
20 have been included to communicate between the apertures and the
edge of the strip 22. These passages have a lesser dimension than
the diameter of the apertures 12 so that the cord 14 will be
restrained from slipping out of the aperture. In FIG. 2, it can be
seen that tension applied to the free ends of the cord 24 and 26
will be absorbed by the retainer before it is transmitted to the
socket and plug. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in
which apertures are staggered on alternate sides of the strip.
In operation, a plug is held against the retainer while the
electrical cord is slipped through the opening in the edge into at
least two apertures. The mating socket is connected to the plug and
its cord is similarly interwoven through at least two apertures in
the opposite direction. Tension on a conductor will be absorbed by
a slight flexure of the retainer between the apertures. Transverse
disengagement is prevented by the obstruction of the aperture wall.
Heavy duty or less flexible conductors can be accommodated by
interweaving them in alternate apertures as illustrated in FIG. 3
thereby reducing the sharpness of bend required to insert the cord
in the retainer. The embodiment of FIG. 3 also permits the
connection of two cords on each retainer.
* * * * *