Abstract:
The present invention teaches a unique unitary “fan type” electrical extension cord outlet structure having multiple electrical outlet stations wherein each outlet station includes a separate terminal connector assembly. Each connector assembly typically includes two spade type electrode connectors and one pin type electrode connector for receiving therein a male type electrical plug. Optionally, illuminating lamps may be embodied within each terminal connector and/or the main body of the “fan type” electrical outlet that illuminate when the extension cord is powered.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to an electrical extension cord. More specifically the present invention teaches a molded, one piece, multiple electrical outlet wherein there is no distance, angular restriction, or other orientation restriction affecting the positioning of one electrical outlet with respect to the outer electrical outlets. 
   PRIOR ART 
   In a typical “fan type” extension cord outlet, of the prior art, the outlet connector stations are positioned adjacent one another, “side by side,” whereby each outlet connector station shares a common, internally embedded, electrode, or bus, assembly. 
   By the prior art structure the distance between the associated electrical outlet stations, and the overall orientation of those stations, with respect to one another, is greatly restricted. Because of this restriction all of the electrical outlets provided may not simultaneously accommodate an electrical plug, particularly in a “fan type” connector where three or more adjacent electrical outlets are provided. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a typical “fan type” extension cord electrical outlet  1  of the prior art. As illustrated, and because of the restrictiveness of the electrical outlet stations, male plugs  2  and  3  interfere with the full insertion of plug  4 . Thus center plug  4  cannot be fully inserted into the center outlet station whereby the male electrodes  5 , of plug  4 , are exposed creating a possible “electrical shock” condition. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the restrictive nature of the prior art internal electrode structure by providing each electrical outlet with a separately formed, terminal connector assembly separate and completely independent from each other. By this novel construction each electrical outlet terminal connector assembly may be positioned and/or oriented, with respect to the other electrical outlet terminal connector assemblies, without induced restrictions caused by the positioning of other electrical terminal connectors. Thus a new freedom of design and structuring of multiple extension cord electrical outlets is realized. Further, by this novel electrical cord outlet construction one or more miniature, low amperage neon lamps may be conveniently embedded within the internal structure that will illuminate when the extension cord is in use whereby the user of the extension cord readily knows that the extension cord is powered. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  presents a typical top, plan view of a “fan type” extension cord, multiple electrical outlet of the prior art. 
       FIG. 2  presents a top pictorial view of a “fan type” extension cord, multiple electrical outlet embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  presents a top plan view of the principal internal elements of the multiple electrical outlet of  FIG. 2  with the external molded material removed. 
       FIG. 4  presents a bottom view of the principal internal elements of the multiple electrical outlet of  FIG. 2  with the external molded material removed. 
       FIG. 5  presents a top view, similar to  FIG. 3 , of the, multiple electrical outlet internal elements with the top cover plate removed to more clearly show the internal wiring arrangement of the three way electrical outlet shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  presents an exploded pictorial showing the top and bottom cover plates with all other elements removed for clarity. 
       FIG. 7  presents a isolated pictorial view of one electrical outlet connector assembly. 
       FIG. 8  presents an exploded pictorial of the component parts of one electrical outlet connector assembly as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  presents an inverse exploded pictorial of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       FIG. 10  presents a front elevational view of the upper portion of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIG. 11  presents a rear elevational view of the upper portion of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIG. 12  presents a bottom view of the upper portion of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 13  present a crossectional view taken along line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  presents a front elevational view of the lower portion of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIG. 15  presents top view of the lower portion of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       FIG. 16  presents the bottom view of the lower portion of the outlet connector assembly illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 17  presents a crossectional view taken along line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 16 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 2  presents a pictorial illustration of a three way, “fan type” extension cord multiple outlet assembly  10  typically used on electrical cord extensions. Although three electrical outlets are illustrated, multiple outlet assembly  10  may include any number of electrical outlet connectors. Multiple outlet assembly  10  typically comprises an internal wiring assembly encompassed within a molded elastomeric or resinous material  12  as illustrated. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate top and bottom views of the principal internal elements of multiple outlet assembly  10  with the molded elastomeric covering  12  removed. As seen in the figures, each electrical outlet comprises a separate connector assembly  30  individually wired to the main extension cord  18  as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  presents a pictorial illustration of a single connector assembly  30 . Each electrical outlet connector assembly  30  typically contains three electrically “hook-up” wire; hot wire  14   a , common wire  14   b , and ground wire  14   c . Hook-up wires  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  are connected to the main extension cord  18  by way of junctions  15   a ,  15   b  and  15   c.    
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , an upper plate  50  and its associated lower plate  52  are provided to secure the wiring, and connector assemblies  30  in place during the final steps in manufacturing. Upper and lower plates  50  and  52  are adhesively secured to each other or may be secured to each other by any other suitable means. Positioned in the approximate center of upper and lower plates  50  and  52  is post  40  having a center bore  42  extending therethrough and continuing through upper and lower plates  50  and  52 . 
   In an embodiment wherein the molded body  12  comprises a transparent or translucent material small neon lamps  20  may be placed within the top surface of each connector assembly  30  along with an associated electrical resister  22  as described in further detail below. Further an additional neon lamp  25  and its associated electrical resister  28  may be positioned within bore  42  of post  40  as also described further below. Neon lamp  25  would be particularly used where the molded body  12  comprised an opaque material and individual lamps  20  were omitted. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7 through 17 , attached to wires  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  are connector electrodes  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  which, in turn, are retained within channels  36   a ,  36   b , and  36   c  of the upper portion  32  of connector assembly  30 . Connector electrodes  16   a , and  16   b , are typical spade type connectors while connector electrode  16   c  is a typical pin type electrode. Connector electrodes  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  typically receive therein the hot, common, and ground terminals of an inserted male electrical plug. 
   Neon lamp  20  is connected to the hot  14   a  and common  14   b  electrical wires as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . An amperage reducing resister  22  is provided between lamp  20  and hot wire  14   a . Preferably lamp  20  is a NE-2H, neon lamp made by Multiway Industries having part number 50-1605-00200, and resister  22  is a typical ¼ watt, carbon film resister having a value of 30K Ohms and a tolerance of 10% or less. 
   An additional neon lamp  25 , and its associated resister  28 , is conveniently connected to electrical wires  14   a  and  14   b  as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Lamp  25  is positioned within center post  40  whereby lamp  40  will illuminate bore  42  when activated. A transparent, or translucent, plug or cap  55   a  and  55   b  is placed within the top and bottom opening of bore  42  thereby sealing lamp  25  therein. 
   Terminal connector assembly  30  basically comprises a unitary, molded upper component  32  and a unitary molded lower component  34 . Upper component  32  includes two open ended cavities  36   a  receiving therein spade electrodes  16   a  and cavity  36   b  receiving therein spade electrode  16   b . Appropriately positioned between cavities  36   a  and  36   b  is open ended cavity  36   c  receiving therein pin electrode  16   c.    
   Lower component  34 , of assembly  30 , completes the assembly by receiving therein upper component  32  having electrodes  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  Upper and lower components,  32  and  34 , snap together and may be held together by a “snap together locking mechanism,” by a suitable adhesive, electron beam welding or any other convenient means. 
   After connector assemblies  30  are assembled, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 4 , the entire assembly is encapsulated within a molded, clear or translucent, material as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   Thus when the extension cord  18  is powered, light from neon lamps  20  and  25  will show through the molded body alerting the user that the extension and its electrical outlets are powered. If the material used to manufacture the upper and lower components  32  and  34  are colored, the reflected light from neon lamps  20  will reflect the associated color of light in each fingered outlet of multiple outlet assembly  10 . Thus the connector outlet assembly  30  may be colored red, white, and blue if desired. 
   As an alternative, the molded body  12 . of multiple outlet  10 . may be encapsulated with an opaque material. In this type of embodiment there would be no need for neon lamps  20  within each connector assembly  30  and they may be omitted. However, neon lamp  25 , within bore  42  of post  40 , would remain as a lighted signal when extension cord  18  is powered 
   While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.