Plug connection securing system

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to plug securing devices and more particularly pertains to a new plug securing device for ensuring that male and female plugs are secured together in a connected manner to prevent them from being accidentally pulled apart.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The use of plug securing devices is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a male and female plug system which ensures that once connected together, the male and female plugs will not pull apart from each other. This is particularly useful for a person who is climbing on a ladder with an electric power tool connected to an extension cord. This system will prevent the extension cord from disengaging with the power tool and thus prevent the need for the person to climb down the ladder and reconnect the power tool with the extension cord.

[0005] The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a male plug member that includes a male body with a front face and a peripheral wall extending away from the front face. A cord extends into the male body. A plurality of male connections extends outwardly of the front face. A female plug member includes a female body with a forward face and a perimeter wall extending away from the forward face. A cord extends into the female body. A plurality of female connections extends inwardly of the forward face. The male connections are removably extendable into the female connections to electrically couple the cord of the male plug member to the cord of the female plug member to define an engaged position. Each of a pair of arms has a first end and a second end. The first ends are pivotally attached to the peripheral wall of the male plug member. Each of the arms has a bend therein positioned between the first and second ends of a respective one of the arms. The second ends are selectively positionable in front of the front face. A perimeter lip is attached to the female body at a juncture of the perimeter wall and the forward face. The perimeter lip forms at least a pair of oppositely positioned shoulders. Each of the arms removably engages one of the shoulders to retain the male and female plugs in the engaged position.

[0006] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0007] The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

[0014] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new plug securing device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0015] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the plug connection securing system 10 generally comprises a male plug member 12 including a male body 14 with a front face 16 and a peripheral wall 18 extending away from the front face 16. A cord 20 extends into the male body 14. A plurality of male connections 22 extends outwardly of the front face 16. A female plug member 24 includes a female body 25 that has a forward face 26 and a perimeter wall 28 extending away from the forward face 26. A cord 30 extends into the female body 25. A plurality of female connections 32 extends inwardly of the forward face 26. The male 12 and female 24 plug members are conventional and the male connections 22 are removably extendable into the female connections 32 to electrically couple the cord 20 of the male plug member 12 to the cord 30 of the female plug member 24 to define an engaged position. As shown in FIG. 5, the female plug member 24 may include a plurality of female bodies 25 coupled together.

[0016] A pair of arms 34 is provided. Each of the arms 34 has a first end 36 and a second end 38. Each of the first ends 36 is pivotally attached to the peripheral wall 18 of the male plug member 12. The arms 34 each have a bend 40 therein positioned between the first 36 and second ends 38 of a respective one of the arms 34. The second ends 38 are selectively positionable in front of the front face 16. The bends 40 in the arms 34 each perpendicular bends. Each of the arms 34 has a plurality of teeth 42 thereon. The teeth 42 are positioned between associated ones of the bends 40 and the second ends 38. The teeth 42 extend toward the front face 16 when the second ends 38 are positioned forward of the front face 16. The arms 34 are positioned on opposite sides of the male body 14 with respect to each other.

[0017] A perimeter lip 44 is attached to the female body 25 at a juncture of the perimeter wall 28 and the forward face 26. The perimeter lip 28 forms at least a pair of oppositely positioned shoulders 46. Each of the arms 34 removably engages one of the shoulders 46 to retain the male 12 and female 24 plugs in the engaged position. The peripheral lip 44 has a plurality of catches 48 thereon. The catches 48 are positioned to frictionally couple with the teeth 42 when the arms 34 are engaged with the shoulders 46. A pair of grips 50 is provided. Each of the arms 34 has one of the grips 50 attached thereto to facilitate the removal of the arms 34 from the shoulders 46.

[0018] A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 and includes a pair of biasing members 52. Each of the arms 34 has one of the biasing members 52 attached thereto. The biasing members 52 are springs that bias the arms toward the shoulders 46. Each of the shoulders 46 has an arcuate depression 54 therein. The bends 40 in the arms 34 of the second embodiment are arcuate and form the arms 34 into a hook shape. The second ends 38 extend into and frictionally engage one of the depressions 54.

[0019] In use, the male 12 and female 24 plug members are engaged with each other. The arms 34 are then extended around the shoulders 46 to prevent the male plug member 12 from being easily removable from the female plug member 24. It should be understood that the male 12 and female 24 plug members are electrically coupled with their respective cords 20, 30 to either an electrically powered device or another male or female plug member.

[0020] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0021] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.