Power Cord Connector

The present invention relates to a power cord connector and in particular to a connector for detachably engaging a single power cord with any number of separate electrically operated devices. 2. The Prior Art

Until recently almost all electrically operated devices, such as appliances, powered hand tools, and the like, have been provided with a permanently attached power cord or cable. Many such power cords, especially those for large tools, are of heavy crosssection and are difficult to fold into a storage container or tool box along with the appliance or tool. Also the average person accumulates more than one electrically operated device, and thus gets a substantial inventory of electric power cords which represents a sizeable investment. Recently the manufacturers of electrical devices, such as appliances and tools, have been interested in providing removable power cord sets of standard design which may be interchanged with different electrically powered devices. Such removable power cord sets must be capable of making good electrical connection and also be easily removable, but not liable to be accidentally disengaged.

The types of electrical devices which may apply the interchangeable power cord principle of the present invention include the more traditionally male operated devices such as electrically powered tools including drills, sanders, saws, and the like, and the more traditionally female operated devices such as hair dryers and all types of kitchen appliances including toasters, mixers, and the like. This is, of course, only a partial listing and is not intended to exclude other related areas, such as home entertainment equipment, industrial control cabinets and electronic testing devices.

Examples of detachable power cord connectors which are known in the prior art are represented, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 2,947,966; 2,988,724 and 3,843,224, all of which relate to a locking connector for portable electric tools; 3,054,080, which relates to an electric fry pan type of appliance; 3,309,113, which is intended for use with tubular members; and 2,787,770; 3,177,464; 3,551,880; and 3,594,696, all of which relate to quick disconnect, multiple terminal connectors.

The present invention is directed towards a novel detachable electric power cord set for an electrically operated device. The subject power cord set includes a pair of cooperating members, namely, a receptacle member mounted in the device and a plug member fixed on a free end of a power cord or cable, the other end of which is adapted to be plugged into a conventional power source or to a further power cord. The receptacle and plug members include bayonet type, retaining means to releasably secure the plug and receptacle members together. The connector also includes cable strain relief means, guard means preventing stressing of the cable and contacts, polarizing means, and means to adapt the connector for multiple wire operation. The receptacle member can be formed in two further embodiments, one of which is insertable into a device to be so modified for use with the subject power cord connection, and the other of which is insertable into a panel aperture. Sealing means can also be provided to make an environmental tight seal about the subject connector, especially when panel mounted.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce an improved power cord connector which is simple in structure, inexpensive to manufacture, and yet will provide reliable performance with safe and positive interconnection. It is another object of the present invention to produce a power cord connector which can be used to connect a standardized power cord and any number of separate electrically powered devices, such as tools and appliances.

It is still another object of the present invention to produce a power cord connector adapted for making mating engagement between an electrical power cord and an electrically operated device with positive locking therebetween.

It is yet another object of the present invention to produce a power cord connector wherein a twisting action is necessary to effect locking and unlocking of the mating members.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a power cord connector with positive locking means which allow rotation of a portion of a plug member with respect to the remaining portion of itself to effect a locking action with a corresponding receptacle member.

It is a still further object of the present invention to produce a power cord connector which can be operated from outside of a housing to effect positive locking mating between a power cord and an electrically operated device.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing objects and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a typical hand tool provided with the subject power cord assembly;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the power cord receptacle member with the plug member disconnected therefrom;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plug member of the subject power cord connector;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the plug member of the subject power cord connector in a partially assembled condition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the fully assembled plug member of the power cord connector;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1 showing the connector in the mated but unlocked position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the connector in a fully locked condition;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the housing of an electrically operated device and an alternate drop-in embodiment of the receptacle member of the subject power cord connector;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a panel mount embodiment of the receptacle member of the subject invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the panel mount receptacle member of FIG. 9 fully inserted into a panel,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a seal to be employed with the panel mount receptacle member of FIGS. 9 and 10; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the seal of FIG. 11 in position on the panel mounted receptacle member of FIGS. 9 and 10.

The subject power cord connector can be used with any type of electric power operated device as mentioned above. Examples of suitable devices cover a wide range of products from well known power tools such as drills, sanders, saws and the like, to hairdryers, vacuums and kitchen appliances of all types. This list is intended as merely illustrative and not restrictive of the type devices which can be used with the subject connector. The primary requirement for suitability use of the subject connector would be simply an electrically operated device which would probably be used in a convenient location along with a number of similar devices and where it is desired to eliminate the expenses and bothersome clutter of having a plurality of power cords, each permanently attached to a respective one of the devices. Thus the subject connector will be described with relation to an electrically operated device which will remain unnamed and only a handle portion of which will be shown and described. A typical tool is shown in FIG. 1 with the subject power cord connector assembly attached thereto. The tool 2 includes a housing 4 which encloses a motor 6 all of which are conventional and is adapted to receive the power cord assembly 8 therein. The power cord assembly includes a conventional two or three prong plug 10 on one end and the opposite end is provided with a plug member 12 mated with and locked in a receptacle member 14, which is formed as an integral portion of tool handle 16. The plug member 12 is shown in FIG. 2 disengaged from the receptacle member 14 and the tool handle 16 opened to reveal the inner profile of the housing shells 18, 20. The housing shells 18, 20, when mated, define therebetween a blind, substantially cylindrical passageway 22 including a pair of diametrically opposite channels 24, 26 extending the length of the passageways. One of the channels, in this case channel 24, is wider than the other for polarization purposes. Locking recesses 28, 30 each having a detent 32, 34 integral therewith, extend about the periphery of the passageway extending substantially normal from the respective channels 24, 26. The embodiment shown is for three wire operation with the wires 36, 38, and 40 connected to respective pin terminals 42, 44, 46 and held in parallel spaced arrangement in a planar retaining member 48. The retaining member 48 is received in grooves 50, 52 in the housing shells 18, 20, respectively, with the individual pin terminals lying in respective recesses 54, 56, 58 in housing shell 20. The contacts are held in position in these recesses by backing profiles 60, 62, 64 respectively of the mating housing shell 18.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 to 5, the plug member 12 shown in an exploded condition in FIG. 3 to reveal its two main components, namely a plug housing 66 and a plug body 68. The plug housing 66 has a central passageway which starts at annular opening 70, extends through a cylindrical portion 72 to a tapered portion 74 and finally to a profiled integral cord guard portion 76 of known slotted configuration. A pair of outwardly directed locking flanges 78, 80 are integral with the cylindrical portion 72 and immediately adjacent opening 70. Spaced to the rear of the flanges 78, 80 are a pair of elongated apertures 82, 84 extending about the periphery of the cylindrical portion. The plug housing 66 can further be provided with an integral outwardly directed radial flange 86, and a profiled, roughened gripping surface 88 to facilitate the rotational movement required for locking and unlocking of the plug.

The power cable 90 extends through a central passageway in the plug housing 66 and is shown with three wires 92, 94, and 96 each terminated with an appropriate receptacle terminal 98, 100, 102. The terminals 98, 100, 102 are adapted to be received in a molded plug body 68 having through bores 104, 106, 108, outwardly directed profiled flanges 110 and 112, locking projections 114, 116 and strain relief gripping members 118, 120 each of which is connected to the body 68 by a respective flexible connector to the body 68 by a respective flexible connector 122, 124. The flanges 110 and 112 correspond in thickness to flanges 78, 80, respectively on the plug housing 66 in order to polarize the plug member for mating with the receptacle member. The front end of the flanges 110 and 112 is profiled in order to facilitate insertion of the plug member into the receptacle member.

The plug body 68 is assembled with the plug housing 66 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Also shown in these Figures is an optional sealing O-ring 126 which is positioned on the cable 90. The receptacle terminals 98, 100, 102 are inserted into their respective bores 104, 106, 108 and the strain relief members 118, 120 are brought into engagement with the cable 90 as shown in FIG. 4. Ridges 128, 130 of the strain relief members make a biting engagement into the insulation of the cable 90 when the plug body is fully received in the plug housing. The plug body 68 and plug housing 66 are moved axially towards one another. The locking projections 114, 116 have an inclined rear surface 132 which will cam open the opening 70 allowing the projections to pass through to engage in the apertures 82, 84, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. It should be noted that the slots 82, 84 are substantially greater in length about the periphery of the plug than the dimensions of the locking projections 114, 116. Thus the plug body 68 and the plug housing 66 can be rotated with respect to each other about their common axis.

The operation of the locking the plug member into the receptacle member can best be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 show the flanges 78, 80 aligned with respect to flanges 110, 112, respectively for insertion into the channels 24, 26 of the receptacle member. Polarization of the connector by having flanges on opposite sides of the connector of different sizes is best illustrated in these Figures. When the plug member 12 is fully inserted into the receptacle member 14 the plus housing 66 is rotated with respect to the plug body 68. The plug body 68 is, of course, held in position with respect to the receptacle member 14 by the engagement of the receptacle terminals 98, 100, 102 with respective pin terminals 42, 44, 46. Rotation of the plug housing 66 drives the flanges 78, 80 beyond the respective detents 32, 34 of the locking recesses 28, 30, thus the power cord set will be securely held in the device.

It should also be noted from FIG. 5 that the O-ring 126 makes an effective seal of the plug when the plug body 68 is fully inserted into the plug shell 66. Also, the strain relief members 118 and 120 will be held in intimate gripping contact with the cable by the camming action effected through engagement of the strain relief members with the tapered surface 74 of the plug housing cable passageway.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate receptacle member, namely a drop-in receptacle member 132 which has an outer configuration adapted to be received in a profiled cavity 134 defined by housing portions 136, 138 of a well known device, such as an electrically powered hand drill. The drop-in receptacle member 132 has an outer profile which is received in the profiled cavity 134 with integral projections 140 mating in respective recesses 142 of the housing to secure the receptacle member 132 against both rotational and axial movement within the housing. The interior profile of the receptacle 132 is substantially identical to that of the previously described receptacle member and includes a blind, substantially cylindrical bore 144, diametrically opposed channels 146, 148 and locking recess 150. While the drop-in receptacle member 132 of FIG. 8 has been shown as a unitary molded member, clearly this could be a two-piece molded member for convenience in receiving the terminal pins therein.

A further alternate embodiment of the subject invention is the panel mounted receptacle member 152 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The receptacle member 152 has an interior profile adapted to receive the plug member 12 and includes a blind, substantially cylindrical bore 154 having a pair of diametrically opposed channels 156, 158, locking recesses 160 and detents 162. The exterior of the front portion 164 of receptacle member 152 is substantially cylindrical while the rear portion 166 is profiled to include a keying projection 168 and at least one locking lance 170. The panel 172 includes a profiled aperture 174 including a keying recess 176.

The receptacle member 152 is mounted in the panel 170 as shown in FIG. 10, and is accomplished in conventional manner. The keying projection 168 is aligned with the keying recess 176 and the rear portion 166 of the receptacle member 152 is pushed through aperture 174 until locking lances 170 engage the rear surface of the panel.

A sealing member 178 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is a generally cylindrical member 180 of resilient material having inwardly directed, annular flanges 182, 184 at the opposite ends thereof. Each of the flanges 182, 184 is provided with a plurality of annular, outwardly directed ridges 186, 188 respectively. The sealing member 178 is slipped over the front portion 164 of the receptacle member 152 with the ridges 186, 188 outwardly oriented. The receptacle member is mounted in panel 170, as previously described. The ridges 186 engage the panel face to provide an environmental tight seal therebetween. Likewise, when a plug member 12 is engaged in the receptacle member 152, the ridges 188 will form an environmental tight seal between the plug and receptacle members.

The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The above-described embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the invention.