Patent ID: 7001202

Claim:
A retaining device for retaining in a joined state a socket and a plug of a pair of electrical power cords, the retaining device comprising: a first cylindrically walled receptacle having a first open end and a second open end, a motion limiting member disposed therebetween, and an opening extending from the first open end through the motion limiting member to the second open end of the first receptacle; and a second cylindrically walled receptacle having a first open end and a second open end, a motion limiting member disposed therebetween, and an opening extending from the first open end through the motion limiting member to the second open end of the second receptacle; the first open end, the second open end and the opening extending from the first open end to the second open end of each of the first receptacle and second receptacle together forming a space for receiving at least the socket and plug of the pair of electrical power cords between the motion limiting members of the first and second receptacles, the motion limiting members limiting motion of the socket and plug of the pair of electrical power cords, one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle having a plurality of linearly arranged slots formed within the cylindrical wall thereof, each slot having a plurality of edges, the other of the first receptacle and the second receptacle having a resilient locking tab formed within the cylindrical wall thereof, the locking tab lockingly engaging with one of the linearly arranged slots by relative linear motion between the first receptacle and the second receptacle, the locking tab having a sloped surface, the locking tab disengaging with the one of the linearly arranged slots by relative rotation of the first and second receptacles such that the sloped surface of the locking tab moves under the one of the plurality of edges of the one of the linearly arranged slots to unlockingly disengage the first receptacle from the second receptacle, one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle having a motion limiting slot formed within the cylindrical wall thereof, the motion limiting slot bounded by a plurality of edges, the other one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle having a motion limiting tab formed within the cylindrical wall thereof, the motion limiting tab movably disposed within the motion limiting slot such that at least one of the plurality of edges of the motion limiting slot limits at least one of linear and rotational motion of the one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle with respect to the other of the first receptacle and the second receptacle.