Patent Application
20150147908
The present invention, relates generally to a system for retaining an electrical plug in a socket, and more particularly, to a clamp including a pair of identical clamping plates configured to be drawn toward each other to capture a electrical socket therebetween and radially compress an electrical plug engaged in the socket to prevent the plug from being pulled from the socket unintentionally.
The connector attached to the end of the main power cable of an electrically operated device is commonly referred to as a “plug,” and the receptacle for receiving the plug to connect the plug to an energized electrical circuit is commonly referred to as a “socket.” Plugs typically include protruding pins that fit into matching slots in receptacles to prevent exposure of bare energized contacts. The pins typically protrude from an insulating body that conceals the electrical connections between the pins and the wires of the power cable, as well as provides strain relief from pulling forces on the cable.
In conventional plug and sockets designs, there is no integrated structure to prevent the plug from being pulled from the socket. Engagement is typically ensured by an interference fit between the pins and the contacts within the slots, which is easily overcome upon light pulling forces on the cable. While unintentionally pulling a plug from a socket may not be problematic to some electronic devices, it can be catastrophic to sensitive electronics and electronic devices requiring an uninterruptible power supply, such as computer equipment in a data room.
In a first embodiment, a clamp for securing a plug of generally circular cross-section in an electrical socket is provided herein and includes a pair of clamping plates separate from each other, each clamping plate having a pair of spaced posts and a plug retaining member defining an arcuate portion, the posts spaced from the plug retaining member such that the electrical socket can be positioned therebetween, each of the posts and the plug retaining member defining a through hole such that fasteners passing through the through holes are tightened to draw the clamping plates toward each other to secure the plug between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members.
In a further embodiment, the posts may be positioned at one end of the plate and may extend perpendicularly from the plate.
In a further embodiment, the plug retaining member may be positioned at the other end of the plate, and the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member may be arranged axially perpendicular to the through hole through the plug retaining member.
In a further embodiment, the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member may be positioned between spaced through holes in the plug retaining member.
In a further embodiment, the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member may include inwardly projecting ribs.
In a further embodiment, the inwardly projecting ribs may be laterally bisected by a recess formed in the plug retaining member.
In a further embodiment, the posts, plug retaining member, and plate may be integrally formed.
In a further embodiment, the pair of clamping plates may be arranged to capture the electrical socket therebetween such that the electrical socket is exposed through an opening formed between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members.
In a further embodiment, a recess may be defined along an edge of the plate between the posts.
In a further embodiment, the posts may be positioned along one edge of the plate and the plug retaining member may be positioned along an opposing edge of the plate and may extend the length thereof.
In a further embodiment, each clamping plate may include a removable insert tethered to the plug retaining member for engaging within the arcuate portion to reduce the inner diameter thereof.
In another embodiment, provided herein is a clamp, made in two identical half sections, for being secured around an electrical box to retain a power plug in a socket, the half sections each including a plate having spaced posts and a plug retaining member extending therefrom, the plug retaining member defining an arcuate portion, the posts spaced from the plug retaining member to position the electrical box therebetween, each of the posts and the plug retaining member defining a through hole such that fasteners passing through the through holes are tightened to draw the half sections toward each other to radially compress the plug between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members.
In a further embodiment, the posts may be positioned along a first edge of the plate, the plug retaining member may be positioned along a second, opposing edge of the plate, and the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member may be arranged axially perpendicular to the through hole through the plug retaining member.
In a further embodiment, the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member may be positioned between spaced through holes in the plug retaining member.
In a further embodiment, the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member may include inwardly projecting ribs.
In a further embodiment, the half sections may be arranged to capture the electrical box therebetween such that the socket is exposed through an opening formed between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members.
In yet another embodiment, a clamp for securing a power plug in a socket is provided herein, the clamp including a pair of identical clamping plates separate from each other that are drawn together to capture the socket therebetween and secure the power plug engaged in the socket, each of the clamping plates including a plate having spaced posts and a plug retaining member extending therefrom, the plug retaining member defining an arcuate portion arranged such that the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members oppose one another in use to radially compress the power plug therebetween as the clamping plates are drawn together.
In a further embodiment, each post of the clamping plates may define an axial passage therethrough, wherein the axial passages of the posts of the opposing clamping plates align to receive a fastener therethrough for drawing the clamping plates toward each other.
In a further embodiment, the plug retaining member of each clamping plate may have a through hole for receiving a fastener, wherein the through holes of the opposing clamping plates are aligned and the fastener is received therethrough to draw the clamping plates toward each other.
Embodiments of the invention can include one or more or any combination of the above features and configurations.
Additional features, aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present various embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings.
Referring to the figures, a power plug retaining assembly, also referred to herein as a “clamp,” is disclosed for securing a power plug engaged in an electrical socket to prevent the power plug from being pulled from the socket unintentionally. The term “power plug” is used synonymously herein with the word “plug,” and is intended to encompass any type and form of plug housing attached to the end of a power cable and having pins or prongs protruding from the end thereof. As shown throughout the drawings, the plug has a generally circular cross-section and therefore the clamp has complementary arcuate surfaces for tight fit engagement therebetween. It is envisioned that the plug may have a different cross-section such as rectangular, and the clamp engagement surface may be modified accordingly to complement such a cross-section. The terms “electrical socket,” “socket,” “electrical box,” and “receptacle” are used synonymously herein and are intended to encompass an electrical socket and its exposed housing, wherein the term “exposed” is intended to mean accessible such that the clamp can be installed around to capture the socket between the clamp halves.
The clamp for securing the power plug in the socket is shown generally throughout the figures at reference numeral 20. The clamp 20, made in two identical half sections, generally includes a pair of identical clamping plates 22 separate from each other that are drawn together using fasteners 24 to secure the clamping plates together, capture the socket therebetween, and secure the power plug in an engaged state in the socket.
The clamping plates 22 each include a plate 26 having spaced posts 28 and a plug retaining member 30 extending from a common face of the plate. The posts 28 are positioned proximate the corners of the plate 26 along one edge of the plate, and extend generally perpendicular from the face of the plate. A recess 32 may be formed along the edge of the plate 26 between the posts 28 for receiving a portion of track therein to which the socket is attached and supported, as described in detail below. Each post 28 defines an axial passage or “through hole” 34 therethrough for receiving the fasteners 24. Although shown with a slight cylindrical taper in the figures, the cross-section of the posts 28 is not critical to the design of the clamp 20, and therefore is not intended to be limiting. The posts 28 may have other cross-sections, for example, square, rectangular, cylindrical, etc. The through hole 34 is preferably arranged axially perpendicular to the plane on the plate 26 such that opposing post through holes align to form a continuous linear passage for the fasteners 24 when the opposing clamping plates 22 are aligned.
The plug retaining member 30 extends perpendicularly from the face of the plate and defines an arcuate portion 36 at a distal end thereof for engaging with the plug. The plug retaining member 30 is positioned at the opposite end of the plate from the spaced posts 28 such that the socket housing can be positioned therebetween. The plug retaining member 30 as shown extends the length of the opposing end of the plate 26. The plug retaining member defines spaced through holes 34 therethrough axially parallel to the through holes 34 through the posts 28. Thus, each clamping plate 22 includes a through hole 34 positioned at each corner thereof for securing the clamping plates together.
The arcuate portion 36 of the plug retaining member 30 is arranged axially perpendicular to the through holes 34 through the plug retaining member. The arcuate portion 36 includes inwardly extending ribs 38 for engaging the plug to radially compress the plug between the arcuate portions of the opposing clamping plates 22. The ribs 38 may be laterally bisected by a recess 40 defined in the arcuate portion.
The arcuate portions 36 of the opposed clamping plates 22 together define a circular opening for radially compressing the plug to capture the plug therebetween. Because plug diameters may vary, a removable insert 42 may be attached to the clamping plate 22 to allow the clamp 20 to accommodate the different plug diameters. The insert 42 is detachable from the clamping plate by being cut therefrom, and is shaped to engage within the arcuate portion 36 to reduce the diameter thereof to accommodate smaller plug diameters. As shown, the insert 42 includes outwardly extending ribs 44 that fit within the spaces between the inwardly extending ribs 38 of the plug retaining member 30 to secure the insert in the arcuate portion 36 to prevent axial movement therebetween, as best shown in
The plate 26, posts 28 and plug retaining member 30 may be integrally formed. Suitable examples of materials for constructing the clamping plates 22 include, but are not limited to, plastics and thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polystyrene, etc.
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The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
