Cage for removably enclosing coupled electrical plugs

Claim 2

A retaining cage for coupled electrical plugs comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced rings, elongated bars extending between and rigidly fixed to said rings, and means providing for a lateral introduction of said cage over coupled electrical plugs with the plug engaged current conductors projecting outward of the cage through said rings, one of said rings being of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cage defined by the cage bars to preclude movement of a cage received plug therethrough, said bars, at the end corresponding to the one ring of lesser diameter, turning inward to engage this ring, the second ring also being of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the bar defined cage.

Claim 3

The cage of claim 1 wherein the means providing for a lateral introduction of the cage over the plugs includes formation of each ring in a pair of sections hingedly connected at one end and incorporating releasable latch means at the second ends, said bars being engaged between corresponding sections on the two rings for movement therewith.

Claim 4

The cage of claim 1 wherein said rings and bars are provided with a non-conductive coating.

Claim 5

The cage of claim 3 wherein said cage is completely enclosed by a non-conductive housing, the ring and bar coating constituting a portion of said housing.

Claim 6

A. retaining cage for coupled electrical plugs comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced rings, elongated bars extending between and rigidly fixed to said rings, means providing for a lateral introduction of said cage over coupled electrical plugs with the plug engaged current conductors projecting outward of the cage through said rings, one of said rings being of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cage defined by the cage bars to preclude movement of a cage received plug therethrough, said bars, at the end corresponding to the one ring of lesser diameter, turning inward to engage this ring, the second ring being of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the cage, and a rigid slotted ear fixed to the second ring and projecting outwardly therefrom for engagement over the cover plate mounting screw of a wall receptacle for a fixing of the cage thereto.

Claim 7

A. retaining cage for coupled electrical plugs comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced rings, elongated bars extending between and rigidly fixed to said rings, means providing for a lateral introduction of said cage over coupled electrical plugs with the plug engaged current conductors projecting outward of the cage through said rings, one of said rings being of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cage defined by the cage bars to preclude movement of a cage received plug therethrough, said bars, at the end corresponding to the one ring of lesser diameter, turning inward to engage this ring, the second ring being of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the cage, and a rigid slotted ear fixed to the second ring and projecting outwardly therefrom for engagement over the cover plate mounting screw of a wall receptacle for a fixing of the cage thereto.

Claim 8

A retaining cage for coupled electrical plugs comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced rings, elongated bars extending between and rigidly fixed to said rings, each of said rings comprising a pair of sections hingedly connected at one end and incorporating releasable latch means at the second ends, said bars engaging between corresponding sections on the two rings for movement therewith about the hinged section ends whereby an outward swinging of the sections relative to each other so as to allow for a lateral positioning of the cage over coupled plugs can be effected, at least one ring being of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cage defined by the cage bars to preclude movement of a cage received plug therethrough, said bars, at the end corresponding to the one ring of lesser diameter, turning inward to engage this ring, and a non-conductive flexible housing enclosing the rings and bars.

Claim 9

A retaining cage for coupled electrical plugs comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced rings, elongated bars extending between and rigidly fixed to said rings, each of said rings comprising a pair of sections hingedly connected at one end and incorporating releasable latch means at the second ends, said bars engaging between corresponding sections on the two rings for movement therewith about the hinged section ends whereby an outward swinging of the sections relative to each other so as to allow for a lateral positioning of the cage over coupled plugs can be effected, at least one ring being of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cage defined by the cage bars to preclude movement of a cage received plug therethrough, said bars, at the end corresponding to the one ring of lesser diameter, turning inward to engage this ring, and a non-conductive flexible housing enclosing the rings and bars.

Claim 10

The cage of claim 6 wherein the second ring is also of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cage defined by the cage bars.