US5401184A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Face plate for securing a waterproof connection between electrical plug and receptacle
Assignee: Lynx Enterprises Inc
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Filing: 1993-04-26
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Granted: 1995-03-28
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Expires: 2013-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A face plate for an electrical outlet having a pair of bosses each supporting, on an exterior surface thereof, a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a substantially water impermeable material for encasing a plug and the boss. The tubular member has opposed open first and second ends with the first end dimensioned to engage an exterior surface of the boss and a second portion dimensioned to pass over the plug and be resiliently expanded thereby to minimize penetration of liquid between the tubular member and the plug to achieve a substantially waterproof engagement therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Sundstrom
- 👤 Donald R. Dumont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/639; H01R13/6392; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5213; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53657
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
An electrical outlet receptacle connecting member comprising: an elongate boss defining an exterior surface with opposed first and second ends, the first end of said boss being configured to be encased by a resilient waterproofing tubular member and a second end of said boss for sealingly communicating with a receptacle to prevent liquid from accessing a desired plug; opening means having an inner perimeter slightly larger than an exterior perimeter of a said desired plug, said opening means, being formed in said first end of said boss and being encompassed by said boss, for providing for an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle of an electrical outlet; and a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a single unitary piece of a substantially water impermeable material, said elongate tubular member having opposed first and second open ends, said first open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said desired plug whereby said first open end is resiliently expanded when said first open end encases said first end of said boss and said second open end is resiliently expanded when said second open end encases said desired plug so that said first and second open ends of said elongate tubular member intimately engage the exterior surface of said boss and said desired plug, respectively, thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween and minimizing the possibility that said desired plug will become disconnected from a said receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
An electrical outlet receptacle connecting member comprising: an elongate boss defining an exterior surface with opposed first and second ends, the first end of said boss being configured to be encased by a resilient waterproofing tubular member and a second end of said boss for sealingly communicating with a receptacle to prevent liquid from accessing a desired plug; opening means having an inner perimeter slightly larger than an exterior perimeter of a said desired plug, said opening means, being formed in said first end of said boss and being encompassed by said boss, for providing for an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle of an electrical outlet; and a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a single unitary piece of a substantially water impermeable material, said elongate tubular member having opposed first and second open ends, said first open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said desired plug whereby said first open end is resiliently expanded when said first open end encases said first end of said boss and said second open end is resiliently expanded when said second open end encases said desired plug so that said first and second open ends of said elongate tubular member intimately engage the exterior surface of said boss and said desired plug, respectively, thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween and minimizing the possibility that said desired plug will become disconnected from a said receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said boss has a circumferential recess formed in an exterior surface thereof for accommodating said tubular member and forming a substantial waterproof connection between said plug and said boss and maintaining engagement therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
319 words
An electrical outlet receptacle connecting member comprising: an elongate boss defining an exterior surface with opposed first and second ends said first end of said boss being configured to be encased by a resilient waterproofing tubular member and a second end of said boss for sealingly communicating with a receptacle to prevent liquid from accessing a desired plug; opening means having an inner perimeter slightly larger than an exterior perimeter of a said desired plug, said opening means, being formed in said first end of said boss and being encompassed by said boss, for providing for an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle of an electrical outlet; and a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a single unitary piece of a substantially water impermeable material, said elongate tubular member having opposed first and second open ends, said first open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said desired plug whereby said first open end is resiliently expanded when said first open end encases said first end of said boss and said second open end is resiliently expanded when said second open end encases said desired plug so that said first and second open ends of said elongate tubular member intimately engage the exterior surface of said boss and said desired plug, respectively, thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween and minimizing the possibility that said desired plug will become disconnected from a said receptacle; wherein said second end of said boss is connected to a face plate, for an electrical outlet, sized to substantially cover a said electrical outlet to which said face plate is to be attached, and said face plate has means for securing said face plate to a said electrical outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
319 words
An electrical outlet receptacle connecting member comprising: an elongate boss defining an exterior surface with opposed first and second ends said first end of said boss being configured to be encased by a resilient waterproofing tubular member and a second end of said boss for sealingly communicating with a receptacle to prevent liquid from accessing a desired plug; opening means having an inner perimeter slightly larger than an exterior perimeter of a said desired plug, said opening means, being formed in said first end of said boss and being encompassed by said boss, for providing for an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle of an electrical outlet; and a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a single unitary piece of a substantially water impermeable material, said elongate tubular member having opposed first and second open ends, said first open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said desired plug whereby said first open end is resiliently expanded when said first open end encases said first end of said boss and said second open end is resiliently expanded when said second open end encases said desired plug so that said first and second open ends of said elongate tubular member intimately engage the exterior surface of said boss and said desired plug, respectively, thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween and minimizing the possibility that said desired plug will become disconnected from a said receptacle; wherein said second end of said boss is connected to a face plate, for an electrical outlet, sized to substantially cover a said electrical outlet to which said face plate is to be attached, and said face plate has means for securing said face plate to a said electrical outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 3, wherein: said boss defines an axis; said face plate is a substantially planar member; and said boss is supported on a first surface of said face plate and said axis of said boss extends substantially perpendicular to said planar member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 3, wherein said boss has one of a generally oval and a cylindrical transverse cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 3, wherein said opening means is a through hole extending completely through said boss, said through hole is sized to facilitate passage of said plug therethrough for direct engagement with a said receptacle of a said electrical outlet, and the exterior perimeter of said boss and the perimeter diameter of said desired plug are sized to facilitate rolling and unrolling of said elongate tubular member from said first end of said boss directly onto an exterior surface of said plug and viz versa.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 6, wherein said through hole accommodates an intermediate member, having a plurality of female contacts located on a first surface thereof, permanently secured within said boss, an opposite end of said intermediate member having an equal number of male contacts located thereon, and each female contact is electrically connected with a corresponding male contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 7, wherein said face plate is a substantially planar member, and said male contacts of said intermediate member extend substantially perpendicular from a second surface of said face plate to facilitate engagement with female contacts of a said receptacle of a said electrical outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 7, wherein said intermediate member is made from one of an insulating material and a non-conductive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 3, wherein said face plate supports a plurality of said receptacle connecting members thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 2, wherein said tubular member has a thickness of from about 15 to about 200 mils.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is manufactured from one of vinyl plastisol, polyvinyl chloride, nitrile latex, rubber latex, acrylic latex, liquid neoprene, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoset plastic and butyl rubber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said boss encompasses a said receptacle and is sealed therewith so as to provide a waterproof connection and prevent liquid from entering therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 13, wherein the exterior surface of said boss is sized to pass through an opening in a face plate for said electrical outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said first open end of said resilient elongate tubular member is in engagement with and encases said first open end of said boss and said second open end of said resilient elongate tubular member is in engagement with and encases an exterior surface of said desired plug.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of said tubular member is provided with a plurality of axially extending and spaced reinforcing means for substantially preventing axial stretch of said tubular member when a disconnecting force F is applied thereto while allowing resilient expansion of said tubular member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is resiliently stretched between 10 and 100 percent upon encasing said boss and said desired plug.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of said tubular member is provided with a lubricating material to facilitating rolling and unrolling of said tubular member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receptacle connecting member according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member is coated with a coating to protect and prolong the useful life of said tubular member.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
405 words
A method of achieving a substantially waterproof connection between a desired plug and a receptacle of an electrical outlet via an electrical outlet receptacle connecting member comprising an elongate boss defining an exterior surface with opposed first and second ends, said first end said boss being configured to be encased by a resilient waterproofing tubular member and a second end of said boss being configured to intimately communicate with said receptacle to prevent liquid from accessing said desired plug; opening means having an inner perimeter slightly larger than an exterior perimeter of a said desired plug, said opening means, being formed in said first end of said boss and being encompassed by said boss, for providing for an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle of an electrical outlet; and a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a single unitary piece of a substantially water impermeable material, said elongate tubular member having opposed first and second open ends, said first open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said desired plug whereby said first open end of said elongate tubular member is resiliently expanded when said first open end encases said first end of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member is resiliently expanded when said second open end encases said desired plug so that said first and second open ends of said elongate tubular member intimately engage the exterior surface of said boss and said desired plug, respectively, thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween and minimizing the possibility that said desired plug will become disconnected from a said receptacle; said method comprising the steps of: applying said tubular member, in at least a partially rolled-up donut configuration, onto one of said first end of said boss and said desired plug; forming an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle via said opening means; unrolling said at least partially rolled-up tubular member from one of said boss and said plug to the other of said boss and said plug so that said tubular member is resiliently expanded and directly engages both the exterior surface of said boss and the exterior surface of said desired plug thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
405 words
A method of achieving a substantially waterproof connection between a desired plug and a receptacle of an electrical outlet via an electrical outlet receptacle connecting member comprising an elongate boss defining an exterior surface with opposed first and second ends, said first end said boss being configured to be encased by a resilient waterproofing tubular member and a second end of said boss being configured to intimately communicate with said receptacle to prevent liquid from accessing said desired plug; opening means having an inner perimeter slightly larger than an exterior perimeter of a said desired plug, said opening means, being formed in said first end of said boss and being encompassed by said boss, for providing for an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle of an electrical outlet; and a resilient elongate tubular member formed from a single unitary piece of a substantially water impermeable material, said elongate tubular member having opposed first and second open ends, said first open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member having an inner perimeter smaller than an exterior perimeter of said desired plug whereby said first open end of said elongate tubular member is resiliently expanded when said first open end encases said first end of said boss and said second open end of said elongate tubular member is resiliently expanded when said second open end encases said desired plug so that said first and second open ends of said elongate tubular member intimately engage the exterior surface of said boss and said desired plug, respectively, thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween and minimizing the possibility that said desired plug will become disconnected from a said receptacle; said method comprising the steps of: applying said tubular member, in at least a partially rolled-up donut configuration, onto one of said first end of said boss and said desired plug; forming an electrical connection between said desired plug and a said receptacle via said opening means; unrolling said at least partially rolled-up tubular member from one of said boss and said plug to the other of said boss and said plug so that said tubular member is resiliently expanded and directly engages both the exterior surface of said boss and the exterior surface of said desired plug thereby forming a substantially waterproof connection therebetween.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |