Patent ID: 7179130

Claim:
An intermediate connector for electrically coupling an external device between a first connector coupled to one electrical device, the first connector having prongs extending from the connector, and a second connector coupled to another electrical device, the second connector having receptacles extending into the second connector, wherein the second connector is capable of electrically connecting to the first connector by way of mating the prongs in the receptacles, the intermediate connector comprising: a plurality of prongs, extending from one end of the intermediate connector and capable of electrically connecting with the receptacles of the second connector; a plurality of receptacles extending into an opposite end of the intermediate connector and capable of electrically connecting with the prongs of the first connector; a first conductor having a length and capable of being electrically coupled to the external device, the first conductor being electrically coupled at a first end of the first conductor to at least one of the plurality of prongs at a first coupling point; a second conductor being electrically coupled at a first end of the second conductor to at least one of the plurality of receptacles at a second coupling point; a connector body enclosing and electrically insulating the first coupling point and the second coupling point from external contact, except by one of the plurality of prongs, one of the plurality of receptacles, a distal end of the first conductor or a distal end of the second conductor, wherein the distal end of the first conductor extends from the connector body and is capable of being electrically coupled to the external device; and wherein the plurality of prongs, the plurality of receptacles, the first conductor, and the second conductor are disposed and electrically coupled such that, when the intermediate connector is inserted between the first connector and the second connector, an electric current from at least one of the prongs of the first connector is diverted to the first conductor prior to being redirected to the receptacle of the second connector to which it would have otherwise been directed if the prongs of the first connector remained directly connected to the receptacles of the second connector without insertion of the intermediate connector between the first connector and the second connector.