Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates generally to the delivery of electrical power. In particular, this invention is concerned with ensuring a proper electrical coupling between a power cord and an object utilizing electrical power.
Power or “extension” cords are commonly utilized for delivering AC or DC electrical current to various devices that consume electricity. For instance, an AC-type extension cord can be plugged into a wall outlet to deliver 110/120V electrical power supplied from the electrical utility to a consumer device plugged into the free end of the cord. Most common AC extension cord designs for consumer applications have both a standard plug-type end for connecting with a wall outlet (e.g., a 3 prong design for positive, negative, and ground leads) and a standardized receptacle end for receiving the plug of a device consuming the electricity. However, in the case of light string cords, such as those used to deliver power to multiple consumer objects providing audible and/or visual effects, i.e., “amusement” objects such as Christmas ornaments providing illumination, movement, and/or sound effects for instance, the receptacles for receiving the electrical contacts of the respective objects typically do not have a standard size. This poses a problem when a consumer attempts to plug in their amusement object to a light string receptacle. As an example, a barrel plug or other structure of the amusement object supporting the electrical contacts may not fit within or otherwise make a secure connection with the receptacle of the light string, thus rendering the amusement object useless. Furthermore, consumers purchasing light strings are often not informed as to the dimensions of the light string receptacles, and therefore cannot readily determine whether the amusement objects they possess will properly couple with the light string. Heretofore, there has been no reliable solution for ensuring that such consumer objects will be compatible with a broad range of light strings having receptacles of varying sizes, including varying diameters.
A universal adapter is provided for forming a reliable and secure electrical interconnection between a power cord and a consumer object providing amusement effects. For instance, the object receiving electrical current form the power cord may provide illumination, movement, and/or sound effects.
In one aspect, the adapter is electrically and mechanically coupled between a base plug of an object providing amusement effects and a receptacle of a power cord. The adapter, in this configuration, includes a body having first and second end sections and conductive contact structure extending between the end sections, as well as one or more cantilevered locking arms. The first end section of the body is adapted for reception of the base plug of the object and the second end section of the body is adapted to be received within the receptacle of the power cord, such that electrical contacts of the base plug and the receptacle may be electrically connected with one another through the conductive contact structure of the adapter.
In another aspect, the adapter of the present invention is formed to replace the base plug of an object providing amusement effects for connection with a receptacle of a power cord. According to this aspect, the adapter includes a body, conductive contact structure, and one or more cantilevered locking arms. The body has a first end section formed as a base plug of the object and an opposed second end section formed as a plug-type member, with the conductive contact structure extending from the first end section to the second end section. The second end section is adapted to be received within the receptacle of the power cord, such that electrical contacts of the base plug and the receptacle may be electrically connected with one another through the conductive contact structure of the adapter.
Through the various embodiments of the universal adapter of the present invention, each locking arm functions to releasably engage with an outer surface of the power cord receptacle to provide a more secure connection between the adapter and the power cord receptacle. This is especially advantageous when a secure connection between a power cord and an object providing amusement effects is sought for power cords having receptacles of varying sizes.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in a description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:
Referring now in more detail to the drawing figures, and initially
The universal adapter 100 is generally formed by a hollow body 102, conductive contacts 104 extending through the body 102 for electrically coupling with corresponding conductive members, or leads 304 and 404, of the power cord receptacle 302 and barrel plug 402, respectively, and a locking arm structure 106. A socket-type member 108 is formed in the region of a first longitudinal end 110 of the body 102 for receiving the barrel plug 402 therein. Likewise, a plug-type member 112 is formed in the region of a second, opposed longitudinal end 114 of the body 102 for being received within the power cord receptacle 302. As explained in further detail below, the socket-type member 108 generally has an internal cross-sectional dimension, or diameter, and a conductive contact 104 arrangement selected for producing a friction fit and reliable electrical coupling between the adapter 100 and the barrel plug 402 of the consumer object. However, because there is often significant variance in the internal diameter of commercially available light string-type power cord receptacles 302, as defined by its inner wall 306, a friction fit between the structure of the plug-type member 112 and the internal wall 306 of any given power cord receptacle 302 is more difficult to obtain. Accordingly, the adapter 100 employs the locking arm structure 106 to provide one or both of a friction fit and a structural interference between the adapter 100 and a given power cord receptacle 302 to inhibit the separation of the plug-type member 112 from the receptacle 302 and thus the decoupling of the conductive contacts 104 from the conductive leads 304 of the receptacle 302.
With continued reference to
Similar to the consumer object connector 400, the power cord 300 includes a pair of conductive wires 308 terminating at an electrical connection with the conductive leads 304 within the power cord receptacle 302 to deliver electrical current to the conductive contacts 104 of the adapter 100 when connected therewith. However, unlike the condition where an outside diameter of portions of the barrel plug 402 are known, the internal diameter of the receptacle 302 measured at the internal wall 306 often varies within a general range depending on the manufacturer of the particular power cord 300 selected. Accordingly, the plug-type member 112 is formed with a first engaging portion 118 sized to fit within the smallest receptacle 302 internal diameter measured at the internal wall 306 for a given range of receptacle diameter sizes. The plug-type member 112 terminates at a second engaging portion 120 extending generally axially from the first engaging portion 118 and supporting the conductive contacts 104 in electrical connection with the conductive leads 304 of the power cord receptacle 302 when the plug-type member 112 is fully inserted into the receptacle 302. The conductive contacts 104 preferably take the form of a positive conductive contact member 104a and a negative conductive contact member 104b. The pair of conductive contact members 104a and 104b extending through either a collective opening or individual openings formed in the second longitudinal end 114 of the body 102 at the plug-type member 112. In this arrangement, members 104a and 104b function to complete the circuit with the positive and negative conductive leads 304 and 404 of the power cord receptacle 302 and barrel plug 402, respectively. The members 104a and 104b are each formed with a return bend 122, enabling the conductive contact members 104a and 104b to collectively span different cross-sectional dimensions depending on size of the diameter of the receptacle 302 where the conductive leads 304 are located.
More specifically, when the conductive contact members 104a and 104b are in the unbiased position seen in
As stated above, the locking arm structure 106 provides the secure connection between the adapter 100 and the power cord receptacle 302, so that the friction fit between the adapter conductive contacts 104 (i.e., the conductive contact members 104a and 104b) and the power cord receptacle conductive leads 304 is not relied upon to provide the primary mechanical connection between the adapter 100 and the receptacle 302. With reference to
The locking arms 126 extend outwardly away from the body 102 and the collar 124 with a curvilinear shape and generally in a plane aligned with the longitudinal axis of the plug-type member 112. Continuing along the length of the locking arms 126, each arm 126 then curves inwardly back towards the longitudinal axis of the plug-type member 112 at a return bend 130 and continues to change direction until the arm begins to extend in the opposite direction back towards the collar 124 at an end flange 132. The end flanges 132 of the locking arms 126 present contact surfaces 134 that face one another and define therebetween a clearance space.
The locking arms 126 are preferably configured to present a clearance space measured orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the plug-type member 112 that is smaller than the largest expected outside diameter of a power cord receptacle 302 to be connected with the adapter 100. Accordingly, when the plug-type member 112 is being inserted into the power cord receptacle 302 to electrically couple the adapter 100 with the power cord 300, the user will simultaneously place a separation force on the locking arms 126 in the direction of the arrows FA and FB, to increase the dimension of the clearance space between the contact surfaces 134 beyond the outside diameter of the receptacle 302 at the shoulder members 314. Upon inserting the plug-type member 112 a sufficient distance into the receptacle 302 to move the contact surfaces 134 at least to the longitudinal position of the shoulder members 314 (and preferably past the members 314 for alignment with the opposed recessed surfaces 312), the user can then release the separation force on the locking arms 126. At this point, the contact surfaces 134 of the locking arms 126 are either fully seated on the recessed surfaces 312 of the receptacle 302 or are frictionally engaging with the shoulder members 314, whereby further urging of the plug-type member 112 longitudinally into the receptacle 302 causes the contact surfaces 134 to slide over the shoulder members 314 and onto the recessed surfaces 312. Through the steps, the adapter 100 and the power cord receptacle 302 become interlocked with one another, as shown in
Turning to
As can be seen in
It should be understood that various embodiments of the universal adapter 100 and 100′ may have any number of cantilevered locking arms 126. Furthermore, such locking arms 126 may be spaced evenly or non-evenly about the circumference of the collar 124 for engaging with the recessed surfaces 312 of the receptacle 302 for a structural interference fit or merely another location on the outside surface of the receptacle 302 for a friction fit. Furthermore, since certain changes may be made in the above invention without departing from the scope hereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover certain generic and specific features described herein.
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