POWER PLUG EXTENDER

A power plug extender includes a bottom three-pin plug portion and a top three-pin plug receptacle portion. The top power plug receptacle portion is rotated to have a rotational offset angle between thirty degrees and sixty degrees with respect to the bottom plug portion.

BACKGROUND

Many electronic devices use power adapters that are relatively bulky compared to a typical size power output. A power strip may have, for example, four, six or eight outlet plugs. However, the spacing of the outlet plugs may be such that attaching a single power adapter into one outlet plug may make one or more of the other outlet plugs unavailable because these other outlet plugs are partially covered or crowded by the single power adapter. Short extension cords, with or without pass-through, have been used to spread out the location of outlet plugs to allow for more efficient use of the outlet plugs on power strips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a power plug extender with offset pass-through11, a power plug extender with offset pass-through12, a power plug extender with offset pass-through13, a power plug extender with offset pass-through14, a power plug extender with offset pass-through15and a power plug extender with offset pass-through16plugged into a power strip10.

Power plug extender with offset pass-through11includes a power plug extender section21having a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter31. Power plug extender with offset pass-through12includes a power plug extender section22having a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter32. Power plug extender with offset pass-through13includes a power plug extender section23having a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter33. Power plug extender with offset pass-through14includes a power plug extender section24having a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter34. Power plug extender with offset pass-through15includes a power plug extender section25having a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter35. Power plug extender with offset pass-through16includes a power plug extender section26having a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter36.

WhileFIG. 1shows each extender having an extension cord with a power plug receptacle into which is plugged an adapter, this is only illustrative. Any of the extension cords may, instead of the shown receptacle, include for example, a power receptacle having any shape or size, or even a power strip with multiple receptacles. Alternatively, the extension cord may be directly connected to equipment requiring power to operate.

FIG. 2shows the result when power plug extender with offset pass-through11, power plug extender with offset pass-through15and power plug extender with offset pass-through16are removed from power strip10.

FIG. 3shows the result when power plug extender with offset pass-through12, power plug extender with offset pass-through13and power plug extender with offset pass-through14are plugged into a power strip30. Notice that the six power outlets in power strip30are ninety degrees offset from the orientation of the six power outlets in power strip10shown inFIG. 2. Despite the 90 degree rotation, power plug extender with offset pass-through12, power plug extender with offset pass-through13and power plug extender with offset pass-through14fit on adjacent power outlets of both power strip10and power strip30.

FIG. 4shows a top view of power plug extender with offset pass-through11. At the top of power plug extender is a power plug receptacle including an AC pin receptacle41, an AC pin receptacle42and a ground pin43. An obstruction region44prevents a three-pin plug from being plugged into power plug extender with offset pass-through11in a wrong orientation. If this were attempted, the ground pin of the three-pin plug would be obstructed by obstruction region44. The result is that AC pins of a three-pin plug can only be plugged into AC pin receptacle41and AC pin receptacle42in a proper orientation.

While obstruction region44is desirable, the inclusion of obstruction region44as part of power plug extender with offset pass-through11means that without an offset, only three extender chords could be mounted on power strip10. The inclusion of obstruction region44as part of and power plug extender with pass-through would simply make the power plug extender with pass-through too long to fit six such power plug extender with pass-through onto single power strip10.

To solve this and allow six power plug extenders with pass-throughs to be placed onto power strip10, the orientation of the pass through has been offset (i.e., rotated) approximately within range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees. If the orientation is offset a full ninety degrees then, for example, this would prevent six power plug extenders with pass-throughs to be placed onto power strip30.

An offset of approximately within range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees allows allow six power plug extenders with pass-throughs to be placed onto either power strip10or power strip30.

FIG. 5shows a bottom view of power plug extender with offset pass-through11. Notice the position of cord21with respect to an AC pin51, an AC pin52and a ground pin53. When compared toFIG. 4, AC pin51, AC pin52and ground pin53are offset about forty-five degrees from AC pin receptacle41, AC pin receptacle42and ground pin43, respectively. While the offset in power plug extender with offset pass-through11is approximately forty-five degrees, this is only illustrative. Any offset within an approximate range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees may work.

FIG. 6is a top front left perspective view of power plug extender with offset pass-through11which shows the offset of AC pin51, AC pin52and ground pin53from AC pin receptacle41, AC pin receptacle42and ground pin43, respectively.

FIG. 7andFIG. 8shows arrangement of AC pin51, AC pin52ground pin53, AC pin receptacle41, AC pin receptacle42and ground pin43within a power plug extender with offset pass-through11. In this conceptual drawing, insulated portions of power plug extender with offset pass-through11are removed so it can be seen how within power plug extender with offset pass-through11AC pin51, AC pin52and ground pin53are respectively connected to AC pin receptacle41, AC pin receptacle42and ground pin43. AC pin receptacle41and AC pin receptacle41are each shown implemented by a clip.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary methods and implementations. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.