Patent Publication Number: US-2016240987-A1

Title: Braided decorative electrical extension cord

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to electrical extension cords and particularly to a decorative, aesthetically eye pleasing, and flexible extension cord. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrical extension cords are well known in the art and it is also known to have different types of connectors secured to the ends of the cord. Most of these extension cords are for outdoor use. When these are used indoors, it is common to try and conceal these cords on the floor surface close to the wall and behind furniture pieces as they are unpleasant to look at. When concealing the cords under carpets they form bulges which is also unpleasant to the eye. These extension cords are also formed from hard polymeric material to provide protection against sharp objects which could cut into the cable and the inner conductive wires. Because of this hard covering material, the extension cord is not very flexible and retains curved shapes due to they usually being stored in a wound bundle form. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a braided decorative electrical extension cord which substantially overcomes the above mentioned problems of the prior art electrical extension cords. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a braided decorative electrical extension cord which is pleasant to the eye, has a decorative appearance and is highly flexible. 
     A further feature of the present invention is to provide a braided decorative electrical extension cord wherein the braided outer surface of the cable is formed of colored fabric or fabric like polymeric material of uniform color or patterns of color and wherein the connectors at the end of the cord are of a complimentary color. 
     According to the above mentioned features, from a broad aspect the present invention provides an electrical extension cord comprising a pair of electrical conductors enclosed in an electrically insulating and flexible material to form a flexible cable. A braided material is disposed about the flexible cable and is immovably secured at opposed ends thereof into injected molded electrical connectors. The filaments of the braided material provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and a smooth texture and enhances the flexibility of the cable. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmented perspective view of the braided decorative electrical extension cord of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the braided electrical cable showing its internal construction without a connector secured thereto: 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of  FIG. 2 : 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified diagrammatic view of the braiding process; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the braided cable wherein some of the filaments or ribbons are of a different color(s), and 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a power bar connector. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , there is shown generally at  10  the braided decorative electrical extension cord of the present invention. It is comprised of a braided cable  11  having connectors  12  and  13  secured to respective ones of the opposed ends of the braided cable. Although the connectors herein shown are comprised of a male plug connector  12  and an outlet connector  13  having electrical power sockets  13 ′ for supplying electrical power. Other type of outlet connectors are contemplated. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the electrical extension cord is formed from a standard two wire electrical cord  14  comprised of a pair of conductors  15  and  15 ′ disposed in side-by-side relationship and each encapsulated or embedded in an outer electrically insulating sleeve  16  which is also molded in an electrically insulating outer cover  17  which may be formed of elastomeric or resinous material or a silicone rubber material. A ground wire (not shown) may also be disposed in the elastomeric material at a precise position if the cable is a grounded cable. Alternatively, the two wires  15  and  15 ′ may be molded directly within the elastomeric material which is electrically insulating. The elastomeric material provides high flexibility to the electrical cord  14 . The electrical cord  14  is fed through a braiding machine  25 , as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 4 , where a braided material covering  18  is formed about the electrical cord. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cable  11  is a substantially flat rectangular cable but it could also have a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the braiding machine  25  has a plurality of spools  26  each provided with filaments or narrow ribbons  27  trained about one or more guide spools, only one guide spool  28  illustrated herein to guide the filaments or ribbons  27  in a winding spinning device  29  which weaves the filaments or ribbons about the cable  14  which is pulled from a cable spool  30  through the winding spinning device  29 , in the direction of arrow  31 , to form the braided cover  18 . The filaments or ribbons are colored to form a colored extension cord with the connectors  12  and  13  being of a complimentary color. Some of the spools  26  may contain filaments or ribbons of different colors whereby to weave a pattern of colored filaments or ribbons about the flexible cable  11 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a pattern of different colored filaments or ribbons wherein the different colored ribbons  32  appear in a repeat sequence amongst the other ribbons  33  which are of a different uniform color. 
     The braided filaments or ribbons are tightly wound about the cable  14  but in an alternative embodiment a glue may be applied to the cable by a gluing machine  35  disposed at a convenient position along the travel path of the cable  14  before it enters the winding spinning device  29  to assure that the braided material is firmly attached to the outer surface of the cable  14 . 
     In the manufacture of the braided electrical extension cord illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a specific length of braided cable  11  has end portions thereof striped and positioned in an injection molding mould to connect to the metal blades, blade receptacles and ground prong and ground receptacle with a portion of the cable with its braided outer covering extending in the mould wherein the injected elastomeric material binds the braided material to the connectors  12  and  13 . 
     Although  FIG. 1  shows the connectors  12  and  13  as being male and female electrical connectors, other connectors may be utilized instead of the female connector. For example, a power bar  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  containing two or more female connectors  39  may be secured to the cable  11  instead of the connector  13 . The power bar  40  may also have a switch  38  and USB ports  37  or other type of power sockets. 
     It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any other obvious modifications provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.