Abstract:
The shaft mounted receptacle extension cord set comprises an extension cord including a receptacle head which is received within a housing having a flexible clip thereon which is engageable about a shaft. For protecting an unused receptacle from the ambient environment, a receptacle cover is releasably secured over each receptacle and fixed against loss by a tether secured to the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a shaft mounted extension cord set. More particularly, the cord set includes a housing which allows a receptacle head of the extension cord to be mounted to a shaft, such as, for example, a patio umbrella shaft, a deck rail, a fence pole, or an evergreen tree trunk. 
     2. Prior art 
     Heretofore it has been proposed to provide structure for engaging an indoor extension cord head to a limb of an evergreen tree by means of two small straps fixed to and extending from one solid planar surface of the cord head. 
     As will be described in greater detail hereinafter the cord set of the present invention not only provides a far simpler method of attachment, but also incorporates structure for protecting the receptacle head from the ambient environment when not in use. 
     Further, in a preferred embodiment, a multireceptable head is provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided an extension cord set adapted for mounting to a shaft comprising an extension cord having a head incorporating at least one receptacle which is received within a housing, the housing including a flexible clip which engages about a shaft. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the cord set of the present invention engaged to a vertical rod and showing a multireceptacle head thereof in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the multireceptacle head. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one receptacle of the head taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the set of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the set of FIG. 1 showing a receptacle thereof in phantom under a receptacle cover of the set. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a clip of the housing. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the clip showing a base thereof. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the clip. 
     FIG. 9 is an interior view of a first piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 10 is an exterior view of the first piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the first piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the first piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a second piece of the housing of the set. 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the second piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 15 is a front view of the second piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 16 is a side view of the second piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 17 is an interior view of the second piece of the housing. 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of a receptacle cover assembly of the set. 
     FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the receptacle cover assembly of FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is a side view of a second embodiment wherein only one receptacle is provided. 
     FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the set of FIG. 20 showing the receptacle thereof in phantom under a receptacle cover of the set. 
     FIG. 22 is a front view of the set of FIG. 20 engaged to a rod and showing a receptacle head thereof in phantom. 
     FIG. 23 is a front view of a receptacle head of the set. 
     FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the receptacle of the head. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there is illustrated therein the shaft mounted extension cord set made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and generally identified by the reference numeral  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 19  showing a first embodiment, the set  10  includes an outdoor extension cord  12  having a multireceptacle head  14  which is adapted to engage a plurality of electrical plugs  16 , one of which is shown in phantom in FIG. 2, the particular embodiment of the set  10  shown being capable of accommodating up to three plugs  16 , by means of three spaced apart receptacles  17 , one of which is illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     The head  14  engages a power cable  18  which is used to plug the cord  12  into an electrical socket (not shown) in known fashion. At a point of juncture between the power cable  18  and the head  14 , a strain relief collar  20  is engaged about the cable  18 , the collar  20  being provided to stabilize the head  14  within a housing  22  which adapts the head  14  for engagement to a rod  24 , such as an outdoor umbrella shaft  24 , a trunk of a tree (not shown), or a deck rail (not shown). 
     As illustrated, the housing  22  comprises a multisectional body  25  incorporating a clip  26  for engaging the body  25  to the rod  24 . 
     Turning first to the clip  26 , as best shown in FIGS.  4 - 8  the structure thereof in the disclosed embodiment includes a planar base  28  which engages a first section  30  of the body  25  of the housing  22  as will be described below. Extending from one planar surface  31  of the base  28  is a pair of flexible cooperating arms  32 , which define a rounded space  34  therebetween into and within which the rod  24  is frictionally engaged. 
     The base  28  is engaged to the body  25  of the housing  22  by sliding the base  28  into a cooperating channel  36  defined in the first section  30  of the body  25  as best shown in FIGS.  9 - 12 . 
     Turning now to those Figures, a preferred embodiment of the first section  30  of the housing  22  will be found to resemble a half shell in configuration, including an interior surface  38  and an exterior surface  40 . The exterior surface  40  includes two side flanges  42  which extend over a center flat  44  thereof, in spaced manner, to provide the channel  36  therebetween by means of which side edges  41  of the clip base  28  are engaged. The channel  36  extends only a portion of the way across the surface  40 , forming a detent  48  against sliding of the base  28  too far into the first section  30 . Further, to accommodate for engagement of the rod  24 , the surface  40  includes an undercut area  50  in an area where the flanges  42  merge into one another, completing the curve accommodated by the arms of  32  of the clip  26 , as best illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     For providing structural integrity, the interior surface  38  of the first section  30  is also shown to incorporate a plurality of ribs  55  which are positioned therealong at various points, to avoid interference with reception of the multireceptacle head  14  within the body  25  of the housing  22 . Tabs  56  of a preferred embodiment are also provided engaging the first section  30  to a second section  60 , as will be described hereinafter. 
     Also, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the sections  30  and  60  are configured to engage the multireceptacle head  14  so that only the receptacles  17  thereof are exposed to the environment, and then only as desired, through removal of oversized receptacle covers  62  provided for each receptacle  17 , with removal thereof being assisted by the provision of indents  64  in the body  25  of the housing  22  at appropriate points relative to each cover  62 . 
     Referring now to FIGS.  13 - 17 , there is illustrated therein various views of a preferred embodiment of the second section  60  of the housing  22  which is seen to approximate a deep hollow cup-like structure  60  of a depth which, when engaged to the first section  30 , will accommodate snugly the thickness of the multireceptacle head  14  therewithin. 
     FIG. 15 provides an exterior view of the second section  60 , showing same to be somewhat curved and interrupted at predefined radial points therealong by the indents  64 . 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the second section  60  and shows a first opening  68  therein into which the collar  20  is slid, being held in place therein when the first section  30  is engaged to the second section  60  by a finger  70  of the first section  30  as best illustrated in FIG. 12, the finger  70  when engaged within the opening  68 , securing the collar  20  within the opening  68  as best illustrated in FIG. 1, partially in phantom. 
     An opposite or top plan view of the second section  60  is shown in FIG. 13, with the first opening  68  for the collar  20  being now visible in a far bottom wall  80  of the second section  60  with a first receptacle opening  68  being shown in a front wall  82  of the second section  60 , this opening  68  engaging a receptacle  17  of the head  14  positioned opposite the collar  20 . 
     FIG. 16 shows a side view of the second section  60 , of which an opposite side view would be a mirror image. 
     As shown, each side wall portion  84  of the second section  60  also incorporates a receptacle opening  68 , each receptacle opening  68  being positioned along the rear edge  66  of the second section  60 . Thus, in the particular embodiment disclosed, three receptacles  17  are provided by the set  10 , with finger slots  64  being provided along a forward edge  86  of each opening  68  engaging a receptacle  17 . 
     Turning to the interior of the second section  60 , it will be seen that the rear edge or periphery  66  thereof includes inner ledges  88  therein over each of which a shoulder  89  of a corresponding flexible prong  56  of the first section  30  engages when the sections  30  and  60  are engaged, holding the sections  30  and  60  securely and tightly about the multireceptacle head  14  inserted therebetween, with the collar  20  and abutment between the head  14  and the openings  68  substantially maintaining positioning of the head  14  within the housing  22 . 
     Thus, once the multireceptacle head  14  is engaged appropriately within the housing  22  and the clip  26  is in the defined position, it will be found that the cord set  10  is particularly well suited for mounting to the vertical rod  24 . 
     Further, the cord set  10  has been found to be particularly well suited to use in an outdoor environment, though this should not be construed as limiting. 
     As relating to outdoor use, it has been found preferable to provide for an unused receptacle  17  to be protected from the environment. 
     Toward this goal, the cord set  10  is provided with the plurality of receptacle covers  62  which in a preferred embodiment each include a flexible tether  90  fixing the cover  62  to a bridge  92  which is positionable within the housing  22 . A slot  94  for each tether  90  is provided in the first section  30  of the housing  22 , at a point adjacent the rear edge  66  of the second section  60 , and adjacent a corresponding opening  68  in the second section  60 . 
     Each cover  62  comprises an oversized curvilineal disk  62  having a pair of spaced apart parallel prongs  96  extending from a concave inner surface  98  thereof, the prongs  96  being configured to engage the underlying receptacle  17 , fixing the cover  62  thereover. 
     The finger slots  64  are provided to allow for slipping of a fingertip under a lipped edge area  100  of an overlying cover  62  for easing removal thereof, with the cover  62  still maintained engaged to the housing  22  by the tether  90  against loss. 
     Of course, another option would be to provide each cover  62  with a tether  90  having a free end thereof engaged directly to the housing  22  so the particular embodiment disclosed should not be construed as limiting. 
     It will be understood, of course, that the cord set  10  would be equally functional if the head  14  of the cord  18  included only a single receptacle  17 . 
     This concept will be clearly understood from a review of FIGS. 20 through 24. In these Figures, although the single receptacle  17  is illustrated as being positioned opposite the collar  20  of the cord  18 , this should not be considered limiting as the receptacle  17  would be equally functional in any other desired positioning. 
     For the sake of brevity, and inasmuch as only minor dimensional changes are required for a cord set  10  to provide a single receptacle  17 , only the differences between the embodiments will be touched upon. 
     Obviously, since no lateral receptacles  17  are provided in this embodiment, the housing  25  may be narrowed as shown in FIG. 22 to accommodate the smaller receptacle head  14  shown in FIG.  23 . 
     Further, only a single receptacle cover  62  is necessary, with the housing  25  only having two openings  68  (not shown) required, with one corresponding bore  94  being necessary to accommodate the single tether  90  for the single cover  62 . 
     Thus, it will be seen that the cord set  10  is easily adapted to accommodate a head  14  providing any reasonable number of receptacles  17 . 
     As described above, the cord set  10  has a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, modifications may be proposed to the cord set  10  without departing from the teachings herein. Accordingly the scope of the invention should only be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.