Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6790086
-
Patent Number
6,790,086
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Date Filed
Tuesday, December 24, 200222 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, September 14, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 222
- 439 284
- 439 652
- 439 752
- 439 906
- 439 952
- 439 904
- 439 956
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International Classifications
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Abstract
An electrical plug includes a first insulating body, a first prong extending from one end of the first insulating body, a second insulating body, and a second prong extending from one end of the second insulating body. The first insulating body and the second insulating body are separably held together so as to enable the first prong and the second prong to fit into the electrical outlets of various specifications.
Description
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an electrical plug, and more particularly to an electrical plug compatible with the outlets of various specifications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional electrical plug comprises an insulating body, two prongs projecting from one end of the insulating body, and a cord fastened to the other end of the insulating body. The two prongs are fixedly projected from the one end of the insulating body and can be therefore fitted into an outlet of certain specifications. In light of the outlet specifications being different from country to country, the conventional electrical plug is limited in its use. Such a limitation in use of the conventional electrical plug often brings about inconvenience to an international traveler.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical plug which is free of the shortcoming of the conventional electrical plug described above.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by an electrical plug comprising two insulating bodies and two prongs which are projected respectively from one end of the insulating bodies and are connected to a bonding wire. The two insulating bodies are separably held together so as to enable the two prongs to be fitted into outlets of various specifications.
The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
shows an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
shows another perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4 and 5
are schematic views of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in use.
FIGS. 6-9
are schematic plan views of electrical outlets of various specifications.
FIG. 10
shows an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11
shows a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, an electrical plug
10
embodied in the present invention comprises a first insulating body
11
, a second insulating body
12
, and two prongs
13
projecting respectively from one end of the two insulating bodies
11
and
12
such that the two prongs
13
are connected to a bonding wire
14
which is fastened to the other end of the two insulating bodies
11
and
12
. The two insulating bodies
11
and
12
are separably held together, as shown in FIG.
2
. The first insulating body
11
is provided with a plurality of retaining slots
11
, while the second insulating body
12
is provided with a plurality of retaining projections
121
opposite to the retaining slots
111
of the first insulating body
11
. These two insulating bodies
11
and
12
are separably held together such that the retaining projections
121
of the second insulating body
12
are separably retained in the retaining slots
111
of the first insulating body
11
. The electrical plug
10
of the present invention further comprises a first extension insulation body
21
and a second extension insulation body
22
, which are basically similar in construction to the first insulating body
11
and the second insulating body
12
, with the difference being that the prongs
23
of the two extension insulation bodies
21
and
22
are different in cross sectional profile from the prongs
13
of the two insulating bodies
11
and
12
, and that the two extension insulation bodies
21
and
22
are respectively provided with an insertion hole
212
,
222
.
The first extension insulation body
21
is provided with a plurality of retaining slots
211
, while the second extension insulation body
22
provided with a plurality of retaining projections
221
opposite to the retaining slots
211
of the first extension insulation body
21
. The first extension insulation body
21
is removably joined with the first insulating body
11
in such a way that the prong
13
of the first insulating body
11
is removably inserted into the insertion hole
212
of the first extension insulation body
21
, and that the prong
13
is electrically connected to the prong
23
of the first extension insulation body
21
. Similarly, the second extension insulation body
22
is removably joined with the second insulating body
12
and is separably held together with the first extension insulation body
21
by the retaining projections
221
which are separably retained in the retaining slots
211
of the first extension insulation body
21
.
As shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
, an electrical plug of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first insulating body
11
, a second insulating body
12
, a grounding insulating body
41
, and prongs
13
and
40
which are respectively projected from one end of the insulating bodies
11
,
12
, and
41
. A bonding wire
14
is fastened to the other end of the insulating bodies
11
,
12
, and
41
and is connected with the prongs
13
and
40
.
The electrical plug of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a first extension insulation body
215
a second extension insulation body
22
, and a grounding extension insulation body
44
. These three extension insulation bodies
21
,
22
, and
44
are basically similar in construction to the three insulating bodies
11
,
12
, and
41
, with the difference being that the prongs
13
and
40
of the three insulating bodies
11
,
12
and
41
arc different in cross sectional profile from prongs
23
and
43
of the three extension insulation bodies
21
,
22
and
44
, and that the three extension insulation bodies
21
,
22
and
44
are respectively provided with an insertion hole
212
,
222
,
442
, which are dimensioned to accommodate respectively the prongs
13
of the first insulating body
11
and the second insulating body
22
, and the grounding prong
40
of the grounding insulating body
41
.
The three extension insulation bodies
21
,
22
and
44
are respectively provided with a plurality of retaining portions
211
,
221
,
441
, by which the three extension insulation bodies
21
,
22
and
44
are separably held together as a unit, as illustrated in FIG.
11
.
The electrical plug of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is compatible with two outlets
30
and
31
, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
. The first outlet
30
is provided with two first prong slots
301
while the second outlet
31
is provided with two second prong slots
310
different in cross sectional profile from the two first prong slots
301
.
The electrical plug of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is compatible with two outlets
50
and
51
, as shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
. The first outlet
50
is provided with three rectangular prong slots
501
, while the second outlet
51
is provided with two rectangular prong slots
511
, and one round prong slot
512
.
The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. An electrical plug comprising:a first insulating body provided in one side with at least one retaining portion; a first prong extending from one end of said first insulating body, said first prong having a circular cross-section; a second insulating body provided with at least one retaining portion opposite to said retaining portion of said first insulating body whereby said second insulating body is separately held together with said first insulating body such that the retaining portion of said second insulating body and the retaining portion of said first insulating body are separately engaged with each other; and a second prong extending from one end of said second insulating body, said second prong having a circular cross-section; and a first extension insulation body: a first prong extending from one end of said first extension insulation body, said first prong of said first extension insulation body being of a rectangular cross section, said first extension insulation body being provided at another end with an insertion slot dimensioned to accommodate said first prong of said first insulating body such that said first prong is rotatable within said insertion slot, said first extension insulation body further provided in one side thereof with at least one retaining portion whereby said first extension insulation body is removably mounted on said first insulating body in such a way that said first prong of said first insulating body is removable inserted into said insertion slot of said first extension insulation body; a second extension insulation body; and a second prong extending from one end of said second extension insulation body, said second prong of said second extension insulation body being of a rectangular cross-section, said second extension insulation body being provided at another end with an insertion slot dimensioned to accommodate said second prong of said second insulating body such that said second prong is rotatable within said insertion slot of said second extension insulation body, said second extension insulation body further provided with at least one retaining portion opposite to the retaining portion of said first extension insulation body whereby said second extension insulation body is removably mounted on said second insulating body in such a way that said second prong of said second insulating body is removably inserted into said insertion slot of said second extension insulation body, said second extension insulation body is separately held together with said first extension insulation body by the retaining portion of said second extension insulation body which is separately engaged with the retaining portion of said first extension insulation body.
- 2. The electrical plug as defined in claim 1, wherein said first prong of said first extension insulation body and said second prong of said second extension insulation body are identical in cross sectional profile with each other and are different in cross sectional profile from said first prong of said first insulating body and said second prong of said second insulating body.
- 3. An electrical plug comprising:a first insulating body provided in one side with at least one retaining portion; a first prong extending from one end of said first insulating body, said first prong having a circular cross-section; a second insulating body provided with at least one retaining portion opposite to said retaining portion of said first insulating body whereby said second insulating body is separately held together with said first insulating body in such a manner that the retaining portion of said second insulating body and the retaining portion of said first insulating body are separately engaged with each other; a second prong extending from one end of said second insulating body, said second prong being of a circular cross-section; a grounding insulating body provided with at least two retaining portions opposite respectively to the retaining portion of said first insulating body and the retaining portion of said second insulating body whereby said grounding insulating body is separately held together with said first insulating body and said second insulating body in such a way that the two retaining portions of said grounding insulating body are engaged separately and respectively with the retaining portion of said first insulating body and the retaining portion of said second insulating body; and a grounding prong extending from one end of said grounding insulating body, said grounding prong being of a circular cross-section; a first extension insulation body; a first extension prong extending from one end of said first extension insulation body, said first extension prong having a rectangular cross-section, said first extension insulation body being provided at another end with an insertion slot dimensioned to accommodate said first prong of said first insulation body such that said first prong is rotatable received in said insertion slot, said first extension insulation body further provided in one side with at least one retaining portion whereby said first extension insulation body is removably mounted on said first insulating body such that said first prong of said first insulating body is removably inserted into said insertion slot of said first extension insulation body; a second extension insulation body; a second extension prong extending from one end of said second extension insulation body, said second extension prong having a rectangular cross-section, said second extension insulation body being provided at another end with an insertion slot dimensioned to accommodate said second prong of said second insulating body such that said second prong is rotatably received in said insertion slot of said second extension insulation body, said second extension insulation body further provided with at least one retaining portion opposite to the retaining portion of said first extension insulation body whereby said second extension insulation body is removably mounted on said second insulating body such that said second prong of said second insulating body is removably inserted into said insertion slot of said second extension insulation body, and that said second extension insulation body is separately held together with said first extension insulation body by the retaining portion of said second extension insulation body which is separably engaged with the retaining portion of said first extension insulation body; a grounding extension insulation body; and a grounding extension prong extending from one end of said grounding extension insulation body, said grounding extension prong having a rectangular cross-section, said grounding extension insulation body being provided at another end with an insertion slot dimensioned to accommodate said grounding prong of said grounding insulating bodys such that said grounding prong is rotatably received in said insertion slot of said grounding extension insulation body, said grounding extension insulation body further provided with at least two retaining portions opposite to the retaining portions of said first extension insulation body and said second extension insulation body whereby said grounding extension insulation body is removably mounted on said grounding insulating body such that said grounding prong of said grounding insulating body is removably inserted into said insertion slot of said grounding extension insulation body, and that said grounding extension insulation body is separately held together with said first extension insulation body and said second extension insulation body by said two retaining portions of said grounding extension insulation body which are engaged separately and respectively with the retaining portion of said first extension insulation body and said retaining portion of said second extension insulation body.
- 4. The electrical plug as defined in claim 3, wherein said first extension prong of said first extension insulation body and said second extension prong of said second extension insulation body are different in cross section from said first prong of said first insulating body and said second prong of said second insulating body.
- 5. The electrical plug as defined in claim 4, wherein said grounding extension prong of said grounding extension insulation body is different in cross section from said grounding extension prong of said insulating body.
US Referenced Citations (7)