Abstract:
A low profile replacement electrical plug, and more particularly a low profile plug system for use in replacing traditional plugs on power cords is provided. The low profile plug system allows a user to replace existing plugs on power cords with the low profile plug system to lessen the danger of an unsafe electrical condition or a fire should the existing plugs need to be compressed to fit into a space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/610,060 filed Mar. 13, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention pertains generally to a low profile replacement electrical plug, and more particularly to a low profile plug system for use in replacing traditional plugs on power cords. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Although a typical modern home has many electrical outlets, people still attempt to cram extension cords and outlet extenders into each socket. Traditional plugs on power cords extend outward from the socket approximately at least one inch. Furthermore, as most power cords employ an in-line cord with the plug, this distance is at least doubled to approximately two inches or more. Therefore, anything placed near the outlet must be placed at least two inches away from the wall to avoid compromising the cord. As the outlet is blocked from view by furniture or other obstructions, this practice can lead to the electrical cords being bent or broken if enough pressure is applied causing an electrical outage or electrocution hazard. Additionally, the bent live wire can create a spark which may ignite combustible material placed near the outlet such as rugs, furniture, and the like. Even electrical plugs that are not bent stick out from the wall and prevent homeowners from placing furniture close to the wall near the outlet. 
         [0004]    Consequently, there exists a need for an alternative to a bulky electrical plug and bent electrical cords at the wall outlet. The present invention discloses a low profile replacement electric plug for replacing existing traditional plugs. The low profile plug may be part of a low profile plug system allowing individuals to replace existing bulky plugs on power cords so that the power cords fit within tighter spaces without the need to bend the power cords at the plug lessening the danger of an unsafe electrical condition decreasing the likelihood of an electrical fire. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0006]    The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a low profile plug for an existing traditional power cord for an appliance, extension cord, power tool, and the like. The low profile plug comprises a pair of contact blades molded into a body with a plurality of cavities molded or cut into a back surface of the body for receiving a plurality of conductor wires from a power cord. The power cord enters the body of the low profile plug from a bottom side so that the power cord runs substantially perpendicular to an outlet saving space between a wall and obstructions such as furniture. 
         [0007]    Furthermore in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low profile plug is part of a low profile plug system for replacing at least two existing plugs of power cords. The low profile system comprises a first and a second low profile plug allowing a user to make full use of the outlet while still keeping the low profile benefits. The second low profile plug is thinner than the first low profile plug allowing the power cord from the first low profile plug to maintain its alignment without bending. The power cord from the first low profile plug is held in place along the second low profile plug with a wire clip molded into a back cover plate on the second low profile plug. Furthermore, the low profile plug system may be presented as a kit with additional tools to aid in conversion of existing electrical cords. 
         [0008]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art electrical cord in use with an electrical outlet. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of a low profile plug for an electrical cord in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a low profile plug system in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the low profile plug system plugged into a wall outlet in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0014]    The present invention discloses a low profile plug system for use with electrical cords. The preferred embodiment allows a user to quickly and easily convert existing power cords having traditional plugs with the safer low profile plug system. The low profile plug system provides a simple to install alternative for upgrading electrical safety without the need to sacrifice space. A low profile plug system kit is also provided. 
         [0015]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art existing electrical cord  10  for an appliance, a lamp, a tool, an electronics component, and the like. The existing electrical cord  10  typically comprises a plug  20  and a power cord  30  holding a plurality of conductor wires  40 . The plug  20  is typically at least one inch in length with the power cord  30  extending substantially in-line from the plug  20 . As such, at least a two inch clearance from an outlet  50  is typically required to avoid compromising the integrity of the plurality of conductor wires  40  housed within the plug  20  and power cord  30 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate a low profile plug system  100  for replacing the plug  20  of the existing electrical cord  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the low profile plug system  100  comprises at least a first low profile plug  102 . The first low profile plug  102  comprises a body  104 , a pair of contact blades  108 , and a back cover plate  122 . The body  104  comprises a front surface  106 , a back surface  110 , and a bottom side  118 . The body  104  is preferable constructed from a non-conductive material such as plastic, although it is contemplated that other suitable non-conductive materials can be used, including without limitation polymers, poly vinyl chloride, and the like without affecting the overall scope of the invention. The body  104  typically comprises a substantially square or rectangular shape, approximately between 1¼ inches by 1½ inches in length and width and approximately between ½ and 1 inches in thickness between the front surface  106  and the back surface  110 . However, this is not meant as a limitation as the body  104  may be of larger and/or smaller dimensions without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
         [0017]    The first low profile plug  102  further comprises a pair of contact cavities  112  and a wire cavity  114  molded within the back surface  110  of the body  104 . The pair of contact cavities  112  are preferably generally rectangular in shape and located substantially behind the location of the pair of contact blades  108 . The pair of contact blades  108  extend outward substantially perpendicularly from the front surface  106  of the body  104 . However, the pair of contact blades  108  also penetrate into the body  104 . Preferably, the pair of contact blades  108  are molded into the body  104  so as at least a portion of the pair of contact blades  108  penetrate into one of the pair of contact cavities  112 . The pair of contact cavities  112  extends inwardly from the back surface  110 . The minimum depth of the pair of contact cavities  112  is only limited by a diameter of the conductor wires  40  of the existing power cord  10 . In other words, the conductor wires  40  must be able to completely fit within the pair of contact cavities  112  once the back cover plate  122  is installed. 
         [0018]    The wire cavity  114  is similarly molded into the back surface  110  of the body  104 . The wire cavity  114  is generally Y-shaped with a bottom of the Y entering the body  104  from the bottom side  118  and branching apart to terminate in the pair of contact cavities  112 , however the wire cavity  114  may be generally U-shaped as well. To replace the plug  20  of the existing electrical cord  10 , a user cuts off the plug  20  and splits the power cord  30  so that approximately a ½ inch of the conductor wires  40  are separated. Approximately a ¼ inch of insulation is then removed from around each conductor wire  40 . The power cord  30  may then be placed within the wire cavity  114  so that the separated conductor wires  40  each extend into one of the pair of contact cavities  112 . 
         [0019]    The first low profile plug  102  further comprises a pair of attachment elements  120  for electrically connecting the conductor wires  40  of the existing electrical cord  10  to the pair of contact blades  108 . As each of the conductor wires  40  enters one of the pair of contact cavities  112 , the conductor wires  40  are connected to one of the pair of contact blades  108 . The pair of attachment elements  120  are typically a pair of wire screws, although any other electrical connectors known in the art may be used as well. In the preferred embodiment, an electrical terminal, such as but not limited to, a fork connector or a ring connector may be attached to each of the conductor wires  40  so that the electrical terminal may be screwed onto each of the pair of contact blades  108  with one of the wire screws to ensure a safe connection. Once the connection is complete, the back cover plate  122  is attached to the back surface  110  of the body  104  completely encapsulating the electrical connection, and the first low profile plug  102  is ready to be plugged into the outlet  50  for use. 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , the low profile plug system  100  further comprises a second low profile plug  124 . The second low profile plug  124  is substantially identical to the first low profile plug  124  as described supra, with the following differences. The body  104  of the second low profile plug  124  is approximately between ¼ and ⅝ inches thick and thinner than the first low profile plug  102  body. Additionally, the back cover plate  122  comprises a wire clip  130  molded onto or otherwise attached to an outside portion  128  of the back cover plate  122 . 
         [0021]    The low profile plug system  100  allows the user to utilize an entire outlet  50  while maintaining the benefits of the low profile plug system  100 . As the body  104  of the second low profile plug  124  is thinner than the first low profile plug  102 , the first low profile plug  102  preferably engages a top plug of the outlet  50 . The power cord  30  attached to the first low profile plug  102  extends out of the bottom  118  of the first low profile plug  102  substantially in-line with the outlet  50 . The thinner second low profile plug  124  allows the user to engage a bottom plug of the outlet  50 , and permits the power cord  30  attached to the first low profile plug  102  to run along the back plate cover  122  of the second low profile plug  124  without bending the conductor wires  40  or sacrificing space. The power cord  30  attached to the first low profile plug  102  is also held securely and neatly in place with the wire clip  130  on the back plate cover  122  of the second low profile plug  124 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the invention, an electrical plug conversion kit comprises the first low profile plug  102 , the second low profile plug  124 , a wire stripper, and a screw driver. As such, the user may easily convert one or more existing electrical cords  10  to the low profile plug system  100 . The electrical plug conversion kit may further comprise a plurality of terminals such as fork connectors and an adhesive for permanently attaching the back cover plates  122  to the back sides  110  of the bodies  104 . 
         [0023]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0024]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0025]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.