Patent Publication Number: US-11038306-B2

Title: Power plug retention device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Many electronic devices, such as computer devices, use power plug assemblies to couple the electronic device to a power source. Typically, in these power plug assemblies, when the plug on the power cord is plugged into a recessed receptacle of the power plug assembly, the plug may potentially be vibrated or accidentally be pulled loose causing power to the electronic device to be lost. 
     SUMMARY 
     A power plug retention device for use with a power plug inserted in a power receptacle is provided. The power plug retention device may comprise a body including an insertion portion and a gripping portion formed along an insertion axis of the body. The insertion portion may be shaped as a wedge configured to be inserted in a gap between the power plug and the power receptacle. The gripping portion may include an insertion force receiving surface formed orthogonal to the insertion axis and configured to receive an insertion force from a user in an insertion direction along the insertion axis to thereby insert and lodge the wedge in the gap to form an interference fit between the wedge, the power plug, and the power receptacle when the wedge is inserted in the gap. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an example power plug assembly including a power plug retention device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows an example power plug inserted into an example power plug receptacle of the power plug assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows an overhead view of a first embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of the first embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the first embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows four different views of the first embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows an overhead view of a second embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the second embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a side view of the second embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  shows four different views of the second embodiment of the power plug retention device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Typical solutions use open-ended sleeves that are fit around the end of the plug of the power cord before the plug is inserted into the power receptacle. However, these sleeves can make it difficult for a user to push the plug all the way into the receptacle to fully seat the plug, which may cause insufficient contact between the plug and receptacle contacts. The insufficient contact may potentially cause the contacts to overheat, potentially causing an electrical hazard. Additionally, these sleeves than make it difficult for the user to remove the plug from the receptacle, and typically cause the user to have to pull on the cord of the power plug during removal, which may potentially cause damage to the power cord. 
     To address these issues,  FIG. 1  illustrates an example power plug retention device  10  that is designed to help prevent power cords from being accidentally unplugged or worked loose via vibration from their power receptacles. The power plug retention device  10  is configured to be both insertable and removeable from a power plug assembly while the power plug is inserted into the power receptacle.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example electronic device  12  that includes a power plug assembly  14  for the electronic device  12 . The electronic device  12  may take any suitable form, such as, for example, a server device, a desktop computer device, a speaker device, or any other type of electronic device that includes the power plug assembly  14 . In one example, the power plug assembly of the electronic device  12  includes a power plug  16  and a power receptacle  18 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of the example power plug assembly before insertion of the power plug retention device  10 . Typically, when the power plug  16  of the power cord  20  is inserted into the power receptacle  18 , there is a gap  22  between an inside surface of the power receptacle and an outside surface of the power plug  16 . Additionally, the power receptacle  18  is typically formed out of a hard plastic, and the power plug  16  is typically formed out of a vinyl material that is softer and more elastic than the hard plastic of the power receptacle  18 . As will be described in more detail below, an insertion portion of the power plug retention device  10  may be inserted and lodged into the gap  22  to form an interference/friction fit with the head of the power plug  16  and the inside surface of the power receptacle  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the insertion portion  24  power plug retention device  10  may be inserted into the gap  22  while the power plug  16  is already inserted into the power receptacle  18 . 
     In one example, the power plug retention device  10  may be formed out of a glass strand filled nylon material. More particularly, the material may include 25-30% glass strand, and 70-75% nylon 66. However, it should be appreciated that other materials and proportions may be used to form the power plug retention device  10 . As will be described below, the power plug retention device  10  further includes other structures to aid in the insertion and removal of the insertion portion  24  into/out of the gap  22  between the power plug  16  and the power receptacle  18 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an overhead view of a first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10  for use with a power plug  16  inserted in a power receptacle  18 . As shown, the power plug retention device  10  may include a body  26  including an insertion portion  24  and a gripping portion  28  formed along an insertion axis  30  of the body  26 . The insertion axis  30  may be defined by a direction of a force that is applied to the power plug retention device  10  to insert or extract the insertion portion  24  into/out of the gap  22 . In the illustrated example, the insertion portion  24  may be shaped as a wedge  32  configured to be inserted in the gap  22  between the power plug  16  and the power receptacle  18 . Due to the wedge shape, the insertion portion  24  may be inserted into the gap  22  between the power plug  16  and the power receptacle  18  while the power plug  16  is plugged into the power receptacle  18  until a suitable degree of friction/interference fit is established to help prevent the power plug  16  from being accidentally pulled out and/or worked loose via vibration. 
     The gripping portion  28  may include a channel  34  formed in the body  26 . The channel  34  may be formed to be sized for a user&#39;s fingers. That is, the user may insert their fingers into the channel  34 , and grip the power plug retention device  10  via surfaces of the gripping portion  28 . As illustrated, the channel may be defined by a first wall  36 , a second wall  38 , and surfaces of the gripping portion  28  that extend between the first wall  36  and the second wall  38 . The channel may be formed to be orthogonal to the insertion axis  30  of the power plug retention device  10 . That is, a direction of the channel defined as extending between two openings of the channel  34  may be orthogonal to the insertion axis  30 . Similarly, the first wall  36  and second wall  38  may also extend orthogonally to the insertion axis  30 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 . In the illustrated example, the channel  34  of the gripping portion  28  is formed to have a downward facing U-shape with at least two opposing channel portions  34 A and  34 B formed around a space  40  sized to fit the power plug  16 . The two opposing channel portions  34 A and  34 B extend downward from the power plug retention device  10  and form the two wings of a “U” shape. An open space  40  extends between the two opposing channel portions  34 A  34 B. The two opposing channel portions  34 A are sized and positioned relative to each other such that the space  40  extending between the two opposing channel portions  34 A and  34 B is sized to fit the power plug  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the power plug  16  fits inside the space  40  extending between the “U” shaped channel  34  of the power plug retention device  10 , thus allowing the power plug retention device  10  to securely rest on top of the power plug  16 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 . As shown, the insertion portion  24 , which may take the form of a wedge, extends in the direction of the insertion axis  30 . In one example, the insertion portion  24  may be further formed to point downwards at an angle θ from the insertion axis  30 . In one example, the downward angle may be between 10 to 20 degrees from the insertion axis  30 . However, it should be appreciated that other suitable downward angle ranges may be used, such as, for example, 5 to 10 degrees, 15 to 30 degrees, etc. The downward angle θ may help guide the insertion portion  24  into the gap  22  between the power plug  16  and the power receptacle  18 . 
     Additionally, the gripping portion  28  may include an insertion force receiving surface  42  formed orthogonal to the insertion axis  30 . The insertion force receiving surface  42  may be configured to receive an insertion force  44  from a user in an insertion direction along the insertion axis  30  to thereby insert and lodge the wedge  32  in the gap  22  to form an interference fit between the wedge  32 , the power plug  16 , and the power receptacle  18  when the wedge  32  is inserted in the gap  22 . The insertion force  44  may be applied by the user&#39;s fingers that are resting in the channel  34  by pushing against the insertion force receiving surface  42 . In the first embodiment, the insertion force receiving surface  42  may be formed on a back portion of the first wall  36 , with “front” and “back” being defined relative to the insertion axis  30 , with the insertion portion  24  being formed on a “front” of the power plug retention device  10 . 
     The first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10  may further include a stopping surface  46  configured to contact an outer surface  48  of the power receptacle  18  to stop ingress of the power plug retention device  10  into the power receptacle  18  at a predetermined insertion depth  50 . As shown, the stopping surface  46  extends outward from the power plug retention device  10  such that the stopping surface  46  will contact the outer surface  48  of the power receptacle  18  illustrated in  FIG. 2  when the power plug retention device  10  is fully inserted. 
     In the first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 , the stopping surface  46  is formed as a front portion of the first wall  36  defining the channel  34 . As illustrated, the first wall  36  is positioned behind the insertion portion  24 , and is formed orthogonal to the insertion axis  30 . As shown, the position of the first wall  36  may further be defined as being positioned between the insertion portion  24  and the gripping portion  28  of the body  26 . In the first embodiment, the insertion force receiving surface  42  and the stopping surface  46  are formed as two opposite sides of the first wall  36 , such that an insertion force  44  may be applied to the insertion force receiving surface  42  until the stopping surface  46  contacts the outer surface  48  of the power receptacle  18  and ingress of the insertion portion  24  into the gap  22  is stopped. 
     After the first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10  has been inserted into the gap  22 , it may be configured to be extracted via an extraction force  52  applied to an extraction force receiving surface  54 . In the first embodiment, the extraction force receiving surface  54  may be formed as a front portion of the second wall  38  of the channel  34 . That is, to remove the power plug retention device  10 , the user may place their fingers into the channel  34  and grip the surfaces of the gripping portion  28 . Then, by pulling, the user&#39;s fingers may apply an extraction force  52  to the extraction force receiving surface  54  which will pull the insertion portion  24  out of the gap  22  between the power plug  16  and the power receptacle  18 . In this manner, it should be appreciated that the power plug retention device  10  may be both inserted and extracted from the gap  22  while the power plug  16  is inserted into the power receptacle  18 . However, it should further be appreciated that the power plug retention device  10  may also be inserted into the power receptacle  18  at the same time as the power plug  16  to form the friction/interference fit. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , the power plug retention device  10  may further include an attachment portion  56  configured to removably attach the power plug retention device  10  to an attachment surface  58 . In the first embodiment, the attachment portion  56  may take the form of a loop mount that may be removably attached via a fastening cord, such as, for example, cord, string, zip ties, etc. 
     The attachment portion  56  may be fastened to any suitable attachment surface  58 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the attachment portion  56  in the form of a loop mount may be fastened to an attachment surface  58 A located on the electronic device  12 . In another example, the attachment portion  56  may be fastened to an attachment surface  58 B in the form of the cord of the power plug  16 . By using the attachment portion  56 , the power plug retention device  10  may be configured to be removably attached to the cable of the power plug  16  while the power plug  16  is plugged into the power receptacle  18 . On the other hand, the power plug retention device  10  may also be removably attached before the power plug  16  has been plugged into the power receptacle  18 . Removably attaching the power plug retention device  10  to the attachment surface  58  may help prevent loss of the power plug retention device  10  by a user. It should be appreciated that the power plug retention device  10  may be removably attached to any suitable type of attachment surface  58 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates several different views of the first embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 . The downward facing U-shape of the channel portions  34  of the gripping portion  28  is shown from several different angles in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an overhead view of a second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 . As illustrated, the second embodiment also includes the body  26  including the insertion portion  24  and the gripping portion  28  formed along the insertion axis  30  of the body  26 . Similarly to the first embodiment, the insertion portion  24  may be shaped as a wedge  32  configured to be inserted in the gap  22  between the power plug  16  and the power receptacle  18 . The second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10  also include the attachment portion  56 . 
     As illustrated, in the second embodiment, rather than a channel, the gripping portion  28  may include a loop structure  60  having openings that face orthogonal to the insertion axis  30 . That is, the curving surfaces of the loop structure  60  curve along the insertion axis  30 , and the openings of the loop structure open in a direction that is orthogonal to the insertion axis  30 . To grip the power plug retention device  10 , the user may insert their fingers into the loop structure  60  and grip the surfaces of the loop structure. 
     To insert the insertion portion  24  into the gap, the user may then apply an insertion force  44  to the insertion force receiving surface  42 . For example, while the user&#39;s fingers are inserted into the loop structure  60 , then user may press their finger&#39;s forward against the insertion force receiving surface  42  to push the insertion portion  24  into the gap  22 . In the second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 , the insertion force receiving surface  42  may be formed on an inside surface of the loop structure  60 . In some examples, the insertion force receiving surface  42  may further include extended surfaces that extend outward from the loop structure  60  in a direction that is orthogonal to the insertion axis  30  to provide greater surface area for the user to push on. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of the second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 . As shown, the attachment portion  56  of the second embodiment may take the form of a clip device  62  configured to fasten to the cable of the power plug  16 . The clip device  62  may be formed out of a spring and/or flexible material that is sized to fit around the cable of the power plug  16 . The clip device  62  may be removably attached to the cable via pressing the clip device  62  onto the cable until the clip device  62  fastens around the cable. It should be appreciated that in this manner, the clip device  62  may be attached and removed from the cable of the power plug  16  while the power plug  16  is already plugged into the power receptacle  18 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10 . As discussed above, the insertion portion  24 , which may take the form of a wedge, extends in the direction of the insertion axis  30 . In one example, the insertion portion  24  may be further formed to point downwards at an angle θ from the insertion axis  30 . In one example, the downward angle may be between 10 to 20 degrees from the insertion axis  30 . However, it should be appreciated that other suitable downward angle ranges may be used, such as, for example, 5 to 10 degrees, 15 to 30 degrees, etc. The power plug retention device  10  may further include a stopping surface  46  formed on a surface of the loop structure  60  facing the insertion portion  24 . As described above, the stopping surface is configured to contact an outer surface  48  of the power receptacle  18  to stop ingress of the power plug retention device  10  into the power receptacle  18  at a predetermined insertion depth  50 . In one example, the stopping surface  46  may take the form of a wall surface that is formed on the front side of the loop structure  60 . As illustrated, the stopping surface  46  and the insertion force receiving surface  42  may be positioned on opposite sides of a front curved surface of the loop structure  60 . 
     In one example, the user may extract the second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10  from the power receptacle  18  by inserting fingers into the loop structure  60  and pulling to apply an extraction force  52  to an extraction force receiving surface  54 . The extraction force receiving surface  54  may be located on a back curved surface of the loop structure  60 . In this manner, it should be appreciated that the second embodiment of the power plug retention device  10  may be inserted and removed while the power plug  16  is inserted into the power receptacle  18 .  FIG. 10  illustrates several different views of the second embodiment of the power plug retention device. 
     In the example power plug retention devices  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-10 , the wedge is shown as being inserted into a gap between a top of the power plug and a top of the power receptacle. However, it should be appreciated that in some examples, gaps may also be present between each side of the power plug and power receptacle. The insertion portion  24 , which may take the form of a wedge, may be positioned and orientated on the power plug retention device  10  to be inserted into any of these gaps. For example, the wedge may be orientated vertically such that the wedge may be inserted into vertical gaps located between a left and right side of the power plug and the power receptacle. 
     Additionally, while the power plug retention devices  10  have been illustrated as resting on top of the power plug  16 , it should be appreciated that the power plug retention devices  10  may be configured to secure to other positions on the power plug  16 . For example, the power plug retention device may be configured to be attached to a left or right side of the power plug. As another example, the power plug retention device  10  may be configured to secure to a bottom side of the power plug  16 , and the insertion portion  24  may be configured to be inserted into a gap between a bottom of the power plug  16  and a bottom of the power receptacle. 
     Further, it should be appreciated that the dimensions of the power plug retention device  10  may be configured to 1 U form factors. For example, the power plug retention device  10  may be configured to fit into a server rack having a height dimension that is set based on the 1 U form factor. For example, the power plug retention device  10  may be sized such that the power plug retention device  10  does not extend above a height of the server device when the power plug retention device  10  is inserted into the power assembly of that server device. 
     In the examples described herein and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-10 , the gripping surface  28  has been describe as taking the form of a channel or a loop structure. However, it should be appreciated that other structures may be used to perform the described functions of the gripping surface, insertion force receiving surface, and the extraction force receiving surface. For example, the gripping surface may take the form of a single wall, tab, or another type of protrusion that may be gripped by a user. As another example, the gripping surface  28  may take the form of indents sized to fit a user&#39;s fingers. The surfaces of the indents may server as the insertion and extraction receiving surfaces. As yet another example, the gripping surface  28  may take the form of a friction surface that facilitates the user&#39;s grip of the power plug retention device  18 , and the user may apply an insertion force and extraction force to the friction surface. It should be appreciated that the gripping surface  28  is not limited to the forms described herein, but may take any suitable form. 
     The following paragraphs provide additional support for the claims of the subject application. One aspect provides a power plug retention device for use with a power plug inserted in a power receptacle. The power plug retention device comprises a body including an insertion portion and a gripping portion formed along an insertion axis of the body. The insertion portion is shaped as a wedge configured to be inserted in a gap between the power plug and the power receptacle. The gripping portion includes an insertion force receiving surface formed orthogonal to the insertion axis and configured to receive an insertion force from a user in an insertion direction along the insertion axis to thereby insert and lodge the wedge in the gap to form an interference fit between the wedge, the power plug, and the power receptacle when the wedge is inserted in the gap. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the wedge may be configured to be inserted into the gap between the power plug and the receptacle while the power plug is plugged into the power receptacle. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the power plug retention device may further include a stopping surface configured to contact an outer surface of the power receptacle to stop ingress of the power plug retention device into the power receptacle at a predetermined insertion depth. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the stopping surface may be a front portion of a wall positioned behind the insertion portion, the wall being formed orthogonal to the insertion axis. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the insertion force receiving surface may be a back portion of the wall. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the gripping portion may include channel formed in the body, the channel being sized for a user&#39;s fingers. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the insertion force receiving surface may be a back portion of a first wall of the channel, the first wall being positioned between the insertion portion and the gripping portion of the body. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the power plug retention device may further include an extraction force receiving surface that may be a front portion of a second wall of the channel. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the channel may be formed orthogonal to the insertion axis. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the gripping portion may include a loop structure having openings that face orthogonal to the insertion axis. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the power plug retention device may further include a stopping surface formed on a surface of the loop structure facing the insertion portion, the stopping surface being configured to contact an outer surface of the power receptacle to stop ingress of the power plug retention device into the power receptacle at a predetermined insertion depth. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the power plug retention device may include an attachment portion configured to removably attach the power plug retention device to an attachment surface. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the attachment portion may be configured to be removably attached to a cable of the power plug while the power plug is plugged into the power receptacle. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the attachment portion may be a clip device configured to fasten to the cable of the power plug. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the attachment portion may be configured to be removably attached via a fastening cord. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the wedge may be formed to extend in a downward angle from the insertion axis. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the downward angle may be 10 to 20 degrees from the insertion axis. 
     Another aspect provides a power plug retention device for use with a power plug inserted in a power receptacle. The power plug retention device may comprise a body including an insertion portion and a gripping portion formed along an insertion axis of the body. The insertion portion is shaped as a wedge configured to be inserted in a gap between the power plug and the power receptacle. The gripping portion includes a channel that is sized for a user&#39;s fingers formed in the body, the channel having a downward facing U-shape with at least two opposing channel portions formed around a space sized to fit the power plug. The gripping portion includes an insertion force receiving surface formed on a wall defining the channel that is orthogonal to the insertion axis and configured to receive an insertion force from a user in an insertion direction along the insertion axis to thereby insert and lodge the wedge in the gap to form an interference fit between the wedge, the power plug, and the power receptacle when the wedge is inserted in the gap. In this aspect, additionally or alternatively, the downward facing U-shape of the channel may be configured to fit around and rest on top of the power plug when the wedge is inserted in the gap. 
     Another aspect provides a power plug assembly for an electronic device comprising a power plug, a power receptacle, and a power plug retention device for use with the power plug inserted in the power receptacle. The power plug retention device comprises a body including an insertion portion and a gripping portion formed along an insertion axis of the body. The insertion portion is shaped as a wedge configured to be inserted in a gap between the power plug and the power receptacle. The gripping portion includes an insertion force receiving surface formed orthogonal to the insertion axis and configured to receive an insertion force from a user in an insertion direction along the insertion axis to thereby insert and lodge the wedge in the gap to form an interference fit between the wedge, the power plug, and the power receptacle when the wedge is inserted in the gap. 
     It will be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. As such, various acts illustrated and/or described may be performed in the sequence illustrated and/or described, in other sequences, in parallel, or omitted. Likewise, the order of the above-described processes may be changed. 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.