Patent Publication Number: US-2023163517-A9

Title: End-to-end stackable waterproof electrical plugs

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/673,822, filed Nov. 4, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/704,030, filed Nov. 2, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Electrical connections, such as plugs, sockets, and the like, can raise concerns when used in wet or moist environments, such as environments where they may come in contact with a liquid, vapor, or the like, that is capable of causing electrical short circuits that can damage equipment and/or lead to injury or even death. Examples of such nonlimiting environments includes outdoor locations where electrical connections can be exposed to a wide range of temperature, moisture, and weather conditions. In other nonlimiting examples, such electrical connections can be utilized in indoor environments where liquid and/or moisture can be a concern, such as disaster cleanup sites, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, and the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  1 B  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  1 C  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  2 A  illustrates an engagement seal of an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  2 B  illustrates an engagement seal of an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 A  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 B  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 C  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 A  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 B  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 C  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 D  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 E  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 F  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  7 A  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  7 B  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  8 A  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  8 B  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  8 C  illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment; and 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an electrical device in accordance with an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details can be made and are considered included herein. Accordingly, the following embodiments are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, any claims set forth. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Also, the same reference numerals in appearing in different drawings represent the same element. Numbers provided in flow charts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating steps and operations and do not necessarily indicate a particular order or sequence. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details may be provided, such as examples of layouts, distances, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that such detailed embodiments do not limit the overall concepts articulated herein but are merely representative thereof. One skilled in the relevant art will also recognize that the technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, layouts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure. 
     In this application, “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing” and “having” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like, and are generally interpreted to be open ended terms. The terms “consisting of” or “consists of” are closed terms, and include only the components, structures, steps, or the like specifically listed in conjunction with such terms, as well as that which is in accordance with U.S. Patent law. “Consisting essentially of” or “consists essentially of” have the meaning generally ascribed to them by U.S. Patent law. In particular, such terms are generally closed terms, with the exception of allowing inclusion of additional items, materials, components, steps, or elements, that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics or function of the item(s) used in connection therewith. For example, trace elements present in a composition, but not affecting the compositions nature or characteristics would be permissible if present under the “consisting essentially of” language, even though not expressly recited in a list of items following such terminology. When using an open-ended term in this written description, like “comprising” or “including,” it is understood that direct support should be afforded also to “consisting essentially of” language as well as “consisting of” language as if stated explicitly and vice versa. 
     As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is “substantially free of” particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint. However, it is to be understood that even when the term “about” is used in the present specification in connection with a specific numerical value, that support for the exact numerical value recited apart from the “about” terminology is also provided. 
     As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. 
     Concentrations, amounts, distances, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 1.5, 2, 2.3, 3, 3.8, 4, 4.6, 5, and 5.1 individually. 
     This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of phrases including “an example” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example or embodiment. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed, and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method. 
     The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. 
     As used herein, comparative terms such as “increased,” “decreased,” “better,” “worse,” “higher,” “lower,” “enhanced,” and the like refer to a property of a device, component, or activity that is measurably different from other devices, components, or activities in a surrounding or adjacent area, in a single device or in multiple comparable devices, in a group or class, in multiple groups or classes, or as compared to the known state of the art. 
     An initial overview of embodiments is provided below, and specific embodiments are then described in further detail. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the disclosure more quickly, and is not intended to identify key or essential technological features, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Electrical connections, such as plugs, sockets, and the like, can raise concerns when used in wet or moist environments, such as environments where they may come in contact with a liquid, vapor, or the like, that is capable of causing electrical short circuits that can damage equipment and/or lead to injury or even death. Examples of such nonlimiting environments includes outdoor locations where electrical connections can be exposed to a wide range of temperature, moisture, and weather conditions. In other nonlimiting examples, such electrical connections can be utilized in indoor environments where liquid and/or moisture can be a concern, such as disaster cleanup sites, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, and the like. In some cases, electrical connections can be utilized in providing electricity for decorative lighting, such as, for example, outdoor decorative lighting for holidays, aesthetics, advertising, and the like. In one nonlimiting example, outdoor decorative strings of lights can be coupled to trees, bushes, fences, or other landscape structures, as well as building structures, signage, houses, and the like. In many cases, a string of lights can include a plug with at least two electrical contacts, or prongs, configured to insert into an electrical outlet, power supply, surge protector, extension cord, or the like, in order to provide power to the lights on the string of lights. At least two insulated electrical wires electrically are generally coupled to the electrical prongs and extend from the plug with lights spaced along the wires at regular or irregular intervals. In order to power multiple strings of lights with a single electrical connection, in some examples the string of lights can include a socket configured to receive and make electrical contact with the electrical prongs (a second set of electrical prongs) of a plug of another string of lights. When inserted into the socket, the second set of electrical prongs electrically couple to corresponding socket contacts and thus electrically couple to the electrical connection through the first set of electrical prongs to receive power. In some examples, strings of lights can be coupled in series, where each string of lights has a plug on one end of the string and a socket on the opposite end of the string. In other examples, strings of lights can include a single connector on one end having both a plug and a socket. In this configuration, the plug side of the single connector of each subsequent string of lights is plugged into the socket side of the single connector of an adjacent string of lights. In this manner, a “backbone” of single connectors is formed with strings of lights extending therefrom in a parallel orientation. 
     In addition to strings of lights, in some examples a power cord to an electrical tool, an extension cord, or the like, can similarly include a plug with at least two electrical contacts, or prongs, configured to insert into an electrical outlet, power supply, surge protector, extension cord, or the like, in order to provide power. A power cord for an electrical tool can be plugged directly into an electrical power outlet or into an extension cord that is plugged into an electrical power outlet. Furthermore, multiple extension cords can be coupled in series together to provide power to more distant locations. 
     One example embodiment of an electrical device having a plug and socket connection for resisting or preventing liquid, moisture, vapor, and the like, from contacting the internal electrical circuitry, is shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C .  FIG.  1 A  shows an electrical assembly  100  including a power source socket  102  coupled to a connector  104  and a cap seal  106  coupled to the connector  104 . The power source socket  102  further includes power source wires  108  and the connector  104  includes power distribution wires  110 . While the power source wires  108  and the power distribution wires  110  are shown having a two-wire configuration, such is not limiting, and any number of wires and wiring configurations are contemplated.  FIG.  1 B  shows an example isometric view and  FIG.  1 C  shows an example having multiple connectors  104  coupled between the power source socket  102  and the cap seal  106 . As such, multiple connectors  104  can be coupled to the power source socket  102  to provide power along multiple power distribution wires  110  in a given electrical assembly  100 . The connections between the power source socket  102  and the connector  104 , between each pair of connectors  104 , and between the connector  104  and the cap seal  106  are sealed to exclude moisture/liquid from causing shorting, as is described in more detail below. 
     The power distribution wires can be coupled to a variety of electrical devices, both decorative and nondecorative, which are not considered to be limiting. In one example, however, an electrically powered decorative device can be electrically coupled to the power distribution wires. Nonlimiting examples of such a decorative device can include decorative lighting, moving decorations, inflation devices for inflated decorations, sound devices, and the like, including combinations thereof. Additionally, in some examples all of the power distribution wires in an electrical assembly can be coupled to the same type of decorative devices, such as for example, decorative lighting. In other examples, power distribution wires in the same electrical assembly can be coupled to different types of decorative devices. As one nonlimiting example, an electrical assembly can include a plurality of power distribution wires coupled to decorative lighting and at least one set of power distribution wires can be coupled to an inflatable lawn decoration. In some cases, the power distribution wires to a decorative device such as a lawn decoration can also power decorative lighting or other electrical device associated with the inflatable lawn device. 
       FIG.  2 A  shows an example illustration of two connectors, a first connector  104  and a second connector  105 , uncoupled and oriented 90° relative to one another along a common central axis. The connectors  104 ,  105  include a plug  202  and a socket  208 . The plug  202  further includes an upper plug engagement  204  and a lower plug engagement  206  (not shown in  FIG.  2 A ). The socket  208  further includes an upper socket engagement  210  (not shown in  FIG.  2 A ) and a lower socket engagement  212 . In some examples, the upper plug engagement  204  and the lower plug engagement  206  can each have a slope that at least approximate the slopes of the upper socket engagement  210  and the lower socket engagement  212 , respectively. When the plug  202  of the first connector  104  is inserted into the socket  208  of a second connector  105 , as shown by arrow  230 , the upper-most end  220  of the upper plug engagement  204  of the first connector  104  is positioned above the lower-most end  222  of the upper socket engagement  210  of the second connector  105  (See  FIG.  2 B ). When positioned in such a manner, rotating either the first connector  104  in a direction indicated by  232 , the second connector  105  in a direction indicated by  234 , or both, the upper plug engagement  204  rides along the slope of the upper socket engagement  212  to press the first connector  104  and the second connector  105  closer together in direction  230 , thus increasing the seal between the two connectors against moisture, liquid, and the like. 
     Similarly, when the plug  202  of the first connector  104  is inserted into the socket  208  of a second connector  105 , as shown by arrow  230 , the upper-most end  220  of the lower plug engagement  206  of the first connector  104  is positioned above the lower-most end  222  of the lower socket engagement  212  of the second connector  105  (See  FIG.  2 B ). When positioned in such a manner, rotating either the first connector  104  in a direction indicated by  232 , the second connector  105  in a direction indicated by  234 , or both, the lower plug engagement  206  rides against the lower socket engagement  212  to press the first connector  104  and the second connector  105  closer together in direction  230 , thus increasing the seal between the two connectors against moisture, liquid, and the like. 
       FIGS.  3 A- 3 C  show an example of a pair of connectors, a first connector  104  and a second connector  105 , inserted together but prior to rotation. The first connector  104  is represented with dashed lines to allow differentiation between the connectors at the interface.  FIG.  3 B  shows a side view of the plug assembly,  FIG.  3 A  shows a cross section of  FIG.  3 B  taken in the A-A direction and  FIG.  3 C  shows a cross section of  FIG.  3 B  taken in the B-B direction. By rotating the second connector  104  in  FIG.  3 A  to the left, the lower plug engagement  206  engages and slides along the lower socket engagement  212 . Due to the complimentary slopes of the lower plug engagement  206  and the lower socket engagement  212 , the rotation causes the two connectors  104 ,  105  to be pulled and tightened together to thus form a sealed connection. Similarly, rotation of the first connector  104  in  FIG.  3 C  causes the upper plug engagement  204  to engage and slide along the upper socket engagement  210  and the complimentary slopes of the upper plug engagement  204  and the upper socket engagement  210  cause the two connectors  104 ,  105  to be pulled and tightened together to thus form a sealed connection. In some examples the connection can be further sealed using a gasket or other sealing device. 
     While  FIGS.  2 A and  3 A- 3 C  show a pair of connectors  104 ,  105 , it is noted that additional connectors can be further coupled to the connector assembly to continue the chain. Once the final connector has been coupled thereto, a cap seal  106  can be similarly inserted and rotated within the socket  208  to provide a terminal seal to the plug assembly. Additionally, the insertion and rotation shown in these figures applies to coupling the plug of connector to the socket  208  of a power source. 
       FIGS.  4 A- 4 F  show various views of an exemplary connector  104 , including isometric views ( FIGS.  4 A,  4 B,  4 D, and  4 E ), a top-down view ( FIG.  4 C ), and a bottom-up view ( FIG.  4 F ).  FIG.  5    illustrates connector  104  with the external housing  502  shown as dashed lines to improve the clarity of the internal components. The connector  104  includes an outer plug conductor  504  and an inner plug conductor  506  at the plug  202  end and an outer socket conductor  510  and an inner socket conductor  512  at the socket  208  end. The outer plug conductor  504  and the outer socket conductor  510  can be electrically coupled together by an outer conductor  514 , which can be electrically coupled to a first distribution wire  516  of the power distribution wires  110 . The inner plug conductor  506  and the inner socket conductor  512  can be electrically coupled together by an inner conductor  518 , which can be electrically coupled to a second distribution wire  520  of the power distribution wires  110 . In some examples, the inner plug conductor  506  and the inner socket conductor  512  can be electrically coupled together by the inner socket conductor  512  (not shown). Additionally, the outer plug and outer socket conductors  504 ,  510  are electrically insulated from the inner plug and inner socket conductors  506 ,  512 . A gasket  522  can be positioned around the base of the outer socket conductor  510  to provide a seal between the outer socket conductor  510  and an outer plug conductor  504  of a subsequent connector  104  coupled thereto. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an example of a power source socket  102  with the external housing  602  shown as dashed lines to improve the clarity of the internal components. The power source socket  102  includes an outer socket conductor  510  and an inner socket conductor  512  at the socket  208  end. The outer socket conductor  510  can be electrically coupled to a first source wire  616  of the power source wires  108  and the socket conductor  512  can be electrically coupled to a second source wire  620  of the power source wires  108 . An electrical power plug  630  can provide power to the power source wires  108  when inserted into an electrical outlet (not shown). 
       FIG.  7 A  shows a connector  104  being inserted into a power source socket  102 .  FIG.  7 B  shows the connector  104  coupled to the power source socket  102 , which in some examples can be accomplished as shown in  FIG.  2   . The gasket  522  can provide a seal  702  between the outer plug conductor  504  and the outer socket conductor  510 . The outer plug conductor  504  and the outer socket conductor  510  thus make electrical contact  704  with one another, and thus provide a conductive pathway between the first source wire  616  and the first distribution wire  516 . Similarly, the inner plug conductor  506  and the inner socket conductor  512  make electrical contact  706  with one another and thus provide a conductive pathway between the second source wire  620  and the second distribution wire  520 .  FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  show isometric views of the internal electrical components separated from the plug housings of the assembly shown in  FIG.  7 B . 
     In another cases, an electrical device can have a plug and a socket connector on each end of a length of distribution wire. Such devices can include strings of lights, power cords to devices such as electrical tools, decorations or the like, extension cords, etc. In one example embodiment, such a device can have a plug and socket connection for resisting or preventing liquid, moisture, vapor, and the like, from contacting the internal electrical circuitry. As is shown in  FIG.  9   , an electrical assembly  900  includes a power source socket  902  coupled to a plug connector  904 . The power source socket  902  further includes power source wires  908  and the plug connector  104  includes power distribution wires  910  extending from the plug connector  104  opposite power source socket  902 . The power distribution wires  910  electrically couple to a socket connector  912 , which is in turn coupled to a subsequent plug connector  904 .  FIG.  9    shows a linear chain comprised of electrical subunits of a plug connector  904  and a socket connector  912  wired together by a length of power distribution wires  910 . The plug connector  904  of each electrical subunit is coupled to the socket connector  912  of either an adjacent socket connector  912  or a power source socket  902 . It is noted that the connections between the plug connector  904  and the socket connector  912  and between the plug connector and the power socket source  902  provide a seal for resisting or preventing liquid, moisture, vapor, and the like, from contacting the internal electrical circuitry. Similar to that shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C , a cap seal  906  is shown coupled to a socket connector  912  to seal the electrical chain assembly. The power source wires  108  and the power distribution wires  110  are shown within a single insulating sheath, which can contain any number of wires and wiring configurations. In one example, the power distribution wires can include a plurality of decorative lights electrically coupled therealong. 
       FIG.  10    shows an example illustration of a plug connector  904  and a socket connector  912 , uncoupled and oriented 90° relative to one another along a common central axis. The plug connector  904  includes a plug  922 , which further includes an upper plug engagement  924  and a lower plug engagement  926 . The socket connector  912  includes a socket  928 , which further includes an upper socket engagement  930  and a lower socket engagement  932 . In some examples, the upper plug engagement  924  and the lower plug engagement  926  can each have a slope that at least approximate the slopes of the upper socket engagement  930  and the lower socket engagement  932 , respectively. When the plug  904  of the plug connector  904  is inserted into the socket  928  of the second socket connector  912 , as shown by arrow  940 . The various engagements interact as described above and shown in  FIG.  2 B . When positioned in such a manner, rotating either the plug connector  904  in a direction indicated by  942 , the socket connector  912  in a direction indicated by  944 , or both, the upper plug engagement  924  rides along the slope of the upper socket engagement  930  to press the plug connector  904  and the socket connector  912  closer together in direction  940 , thus increasing the seal between the two connectors against moisture, liquid, and the like. 
     The foregoing detailed description describes the invention with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The detailed description and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative, rather than as restrictive, and all such modifications or changes, if any, are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as described and set forth herein.