Electrical connector device

Claim 2

A connector device for placement between a female electrical outlet and a male plug comprising a housing, a first end wall on said housing, side wall means extending from said first end wall, a first post extending from said first end wall within said side wall means, a pair of first slots extending through said first end wall on opposite sides of said first post, a tubular member for mounting on said first post in mating relationship, a pair of diametrically opposed teates extending radially outwardly from said tubular member, a pair of combined prongs and prong receptacles having prong portions at first ends extending through said slots and having prong receptacles at their second ends for receiving prongs of an external male plug, central portions on said combined prong and prong receptacles, apertures in said central portions for fitting on said teats, a second end wall mountable on said side wall means in opposition to said first end wall, a pair of second slots in said second end wall in alignment with said prong receptacles, and means for securing said second end wall relative to said side wall means.

Claim 3

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including means for preventing relative rotation between said first post and said tubular member.

Claim 4

A connector device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for preventing relative rotation comprises a key member on said first end wall, and a key receiving slot on said tubular member.

Claim 5

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including stabilizing members on said first end wall for receiving said central portions therebetween.

Claim 6

A connector device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stabilizing members comprise two pairs of stabilizing members, and wherein one of said teats is positioned between each pair of stabilizing members.

Claim 7

A connector device as set forth in claim 4 including base means on said tubular member located between said pairs of stabilizing members.

Claim 8

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including second post means on said second end wall in axial alignment with said tubular member for holding said tubular member against axial movement on said first post.

Claim 9

A connector device as set forth in claim 7 including a first bore in said second post terminating at an aperture in said second end wall, a second bore in said first post in alignment with said first bore, and a screw extending through said aperture and first bore and being threadably received in said second bore to maintain said second end wall in assembled relationship with said side wall means.

Claim 10

A connector device as set forth in claim 7 including means for preventing relative rotation between said first post and said tubular member.

Claim 11

A connector device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for preventing relative rotation comprises a key member on said first end wall, and a key-receiving surface on said tubular member.

Claim 12

A connector device as set forth in claim 7 including stabilizing members on said first end wall for receiving said central portions therebetween.

Claim 13

A connector device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said stabilizing members comprise two pairs of stabilizing members, and wherein a teat is located between each pair of stabilizing members.

Claim 14

A connector device as set forth in claim 11 including base means on said tubular member located between said pairs of stabilizing members.

Claim 15

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including a second tubular member extending from said first end wall within said side wall means and in substantially parallel relationship to said first post, an aperture in said first end wall in alignment with said second tubular member, and a grounding pin having a pin portion at one end extending through said aperture and a grounding pin receiving portion at its opposite end within said side wall means for receiving an external grounding pin and a central grounding pin portion received within said second tubular member, and a second aperture in said second end wall in alignment with said grounding pin receiving portion.

Claim 16

A connector device as set forth in claim 14 including guide means on said second end wall and located within said side wall means for guiding said external grounding pin into said grounding pin receiving portion.

Claim 17

A connector device as set forth in claim 15 including alignment means for maintaining said grounding pin receiving portion in alignment with said second aperture.

Claim 18

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including limiting means on said second end wall for limiting spreading of said prong receptacles in an inward direction.

Claim 19

A connector device as set forth in claim 17 including second limiting means on said second end wall for limiting spreading of said prong receptacles in an outward direction.

Claim 20

A connector device as set forth in claim 17 including second post means on said second end wall in axial alignment with said tubular member for holding said tubular member against axial movement of said first post, and wherein said limiting means comprises the outer surface of said second post means.

Claim 21

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including limiting means on said second end wall for limiting spreading of said prong receptacles in an outward direction.

Claim 22

A connector device as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of said prong receptacles include inner and outer members and wherein said limiting means comprises first and second elongated bosses extending lengthwise of said outer members.

Claim 23

A connector device as set forth in claim 21 wherein said outer members of said prong receptacles include outer end portions and inner end portions between said outer end portions and said teats, and wherein said outer end portions and said inner end portions are positioned in contiguous relationship to said elongated bosses.

Claim 24

A connector device as set forth in claim 22 wherein said inner members include outer end portions and inner end portions between said outer end portions and said teats and wherein said limiting means includes protuberance means on said second end wall in spaced relationship to said bosses and in contiguous relationship to said outer end portions of said inner members.

Claim 25

A connector device as set forth in claim 23 wherein said limiting means includes an outer surface of said tubular member in contiguous relationship to said inner end portions of said inner members.

Claim 26

A connector device as set forth in claim 1 including a printed circuit board, and a pair of rods, first ends on said rods rigidly mounted on said central portions of said combined prong receptacles, and second ends on said rods rigidly mounted on said circuit board.

Claim 27

A connector device as set forth in claim 25 wherein said printed circuit board has a close fit with said side wall means and with said first and second end walls.

Claim 28

A connector device for placement between a female electrical output and a male plug comprising a housing, a first end wall on said housing, side wall means extending from said first end wall, a post extending from said first end wall within said side wall means, a pair of first slots extending through said first end wall on opposite sides of said post, a tubular member for mounting on said post in mating relationship, a pair of combined prongs and prong receptacles having prong portions at first ends extending through said slots and having prong receptacles at their second ends for receiving prongs of an external male plug, central portions on said combined prong and prong receptacles, means mounting said central portions on said tubular member, a second end wall mountable on said side wall means in opposition to said first end wall, a pair of second slots in said second end wall in alignment with said prong receptacles, means for securing said second end wall relative to said side wall means, a printed circuit board, a pair of rods, first ends on said rods rigidly mounted on said central portions, and second ends on said rods rigidly mounted on said circuit board.

Claim 29

A connector device for placement between a female electrical output and a male plug comprising a housing, a first end wall on said housing, side wall means extending from said first end wall, a post extending from said first end wall within said side wall means, a pair of first slots extending through said first end wall on opposite sides of said post, a tubular member for mounting on said post in mating relationship, a pair of combined prongs and prong receptacles having prong portions at first ends extending through said slots and having prong receptacles at their second ends for receiving prongs of an external male plug, central portions on said combined prong and prong receptacles, means mounting said central portions on said tubular member, a second end wall mountable on said side wall means in opposition to said first end wall, a pair of second slots in said second end wall in alignment with said prong receptacles, means for securing said second end wall relative to said side wall means, a printed circuit board, a pair of rods, first ends on said rods rigidly mounted on said central portions, and second ends on said rods rigidly mounted on said circuit board.

Claim 30

A connector device as set forth in claim 27 including a window on said side wall means, and an indicator lamp mounted on said circuit board and located proximate said window.

Claim 31

A connector device as set forth in claim 27 wherein said printed circuit board has a close fit with said side wall means.

Claim 32

A connector device as set forth in claim 27 wherein said printed circuit board has a close fit with at least one of said end walls.