Electrical connectors – With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision – Direct grounding of coupling part member passing into aperture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-17
2001-09-11
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision
Direct grounding of coupling part member passing into aperture
C439S171000, C439S692000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287131
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plug with a receiving member for the grounding prong of the plug. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plug with a receiving member, wherein the grounding prong of the plug is received in the receiving member when the plug is used with a socket without a ground slot, and wherein the grounding prong of the plug is removed from the receiving member and secured in place so as to be used with a socket with a ground slot.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6
of the drawings illustrates a conventional plug
70
with two blades
72
and a grounding prong
71
that can be used with a socket with a ground slot. When used with a socket without a ground slot, the grounding prong
71
is cut (see FIG.
8
), yet the plug
70
cannot be used with a socket with a grounding slot anymore. A solution to solve this problem is to use an additional adaptor
80
with two blades
81
, as shown in FIG.
7
. However, the adaptor
80
may not be readily available such that the user has to go out to buy a new one. Inconvenience is thus occurred.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a plug with a receiving member, wherein the grounding prong of the plug is received in the receiving member when the plug is used with a socket without a ground slot, and wherein the grounding prong of the plug is removed from the receiving member and secured in place so as to be used with a socket with a ground slot.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a plug comprises:
a housing defining a compartment therein and including an end;
a base mounted in the end of the housing and including an inner side facing the compartment of the housing and an outer side facing away from the compartment of the housing, a receiving member extending from the inner side of the base and locating in the compartment, the receiving member including a receptacle;
two blades securely attached to the base;
a grounding prong including a first end and a second end, the first end of the grounding prong being securely, releasably engaged with the base with the second end of the grounding prong extended out of the housing for use with a socket with a ground slot, the grounding being removably received in the receptacle of the receiving member when used with a socket without a ground slot; and
means for electrically connecting the grounding prong to an external grounding wire.
In an embodiment of the invention, a plug comprises:
a housing defining a compartment therein and including an end;
a base mounted in the end of the housing and including an inner side facing the compartment of the housing and an outer side facing away from the compartment of the housing, a receiving member extending from the inner side of the base and locating in the compartment, the receiving member including a receptacle with an opening section;
a ground connector including a tubular member formed thereon, the tubular member being received in the opening section, the grounding connector being adapted to be electrically connected to an external grounding wire;
two blades securely attached to the base; and
a grounding prong including a first end and a second end, the first end of the grounding prong being securely, releasably engaged with the tubular member with the second end of the prong extended out of the housing for use with a socket with a ground slot, the grounding being removably received in the receiving member when used with a socket without a ground slot.
The first end of the grounding prong is threaded and the tubular member of the ground connector includes an inner threading for engaging with the threaded first end of the grounding prong. The threaded first end of the grounding prong includes a slot in an end face thereof.
The base includes a positioning slot, and the ground connector is 7-shape and includes a mediate section having a first end and a second end. The tubular member is formed on the first end of the mediate section and a connecting blade extends from the second end of the mediate section and extends through the positioning slot of the base. The connecting blade is adapted to be electrically connected with the external wire. The outer side of the base includes a recessed portion for receiving the mediate section of the ground connector. The recessed portion of the outer side of the base includes a protrusion, and the mediate section of the ground connector includes a slot that receives the protrusion to thereby provide a positioning effect. A positioning member extends from the inner side of the base, and the positioning groove extends through the positioning member for snugly receiving the connecting blade of the connector.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4015888 (1977-04-01), Draper et al.
Bradley Paula
Nguyen Truc
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
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