I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure concerns a retainer to resist decoupling of a first connector of a first cord from a second connector of a second cord.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,987, Paul Degnan et al., concerns a detachable electrical connector for an electrical cord. The device includes two detachable connector components. Each connector component has a body; electrical contact means carried by each body and arranged to be brought into engagement on said connector components being moved longitudinally toward each other. Each of the bodies are arranged to have a separate electrical cord section connected to its contact means.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,105, Melvin Denney et al., concerns a connector attachable between a pair of cable ends having a plurality of conductors. The connector has a pair of body means. Each of the body means having a passage therein for receiving a cable end therethrough. Each of the body means have longitudinally extending chamber. Further a terminal support member fits snugly in each of the chambers. Also, a plurality of terminal receiving chambers is in each of the terminal support members. The terminal receiving chambers in one terminal support member aligning axially with terminal receiving chambers in the other terminal support member. Electrical sockets are placed in the terminal receiving chambers in one the terminal support members. Electrical pins are placed in the terminal receiving chambers in the other terminal support member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,176, Eugene Coffey, concerns a protector for protecting the mating plug and socket of connected electrical cords from damage and contamination and which allows quick disconnection of the plug and socket in an isolated chamber. The protector has a tubular housing formed of high impact plastic, preferably transparent, which surrounds the mating plug and socket members of connected electrical cords and resilient end plugs which are slidably received on the cords rearwardly of the plug and socket. The end plugs have a longitudinal slit extending radially from a central longitudinal bore and are installed by pressing them laterally onto the cords then sliding them axially on the cords to press them into the open ends of the tubular housing. When pressed into the ends of the housing, the end plugs define a central chamber surrounding the plug and socket connection and form a seal at the opposed ends of the chamber between the housing and the exterior of the cords. The coefficient of friction between the end plugs and interior of the housing is greater than the coefficient of friction between the end plugs and the cords such that the end plugs remain frictionally engaged with the interior of the housing while allowing relative sliding movement between the cords and end plugs. When the cords are pulled apart, the plug and socket separate completely while enclosed in the sealed chamber to isolate any spark or arc and continued axial movement pulls the end plugs from the ends of the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,583, Andrew Szegda, concerns a male splice adaptor having a tubular housing having first and second sections which are detachably coupled to one another. Each of the sections includes an output port from which a connector pin extends from within the housing. A seal is provided in each of the output ports and is configured so that as the first and second sections are coupled to one another, the seal is expanded so as to create a weather-tight seal within the output port.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,704, John Anthony, concerns a shroud seal having an annular ring portion and an annular lip portion. The annular ring portion is installed on the shroud of an electrical connector such that the annular lip portion is axially compressed on the shroud by a mating shrouded electrical connector. The annular ring portion has a frustoconical inner sealing surface which is sized to be twisted from its original molded frustoconical form to a cylindrical form when installed around the shroud of the electrical connector. This twisting of the shroud seal produces a concentrated hoop stress in the seal at its points of contact with the shroud. The annular ring portion and the lip portion are compliant to allow for large axial tolerance variations between the mating electrical connectors and provides for low insertion force between the mating electrical connector. The electrical connector can be in the form of a plug having a tubular portion or seal guard for encircling the shroud seal to protect the seal.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a retainer to resist decoupling of a first connector of a first cord from a second connector of a second cord. The retainer includes a first receiver having a contact surface and an adjuster which in cooperation enable adjustment of the first receiver from an uncoupled orientation into a fixedly coupled orientation with the first cord. The retainer further includes a second receiver having a contact surface and an adjuster which in cooperation enabling adjustment of said second receiver from and uncoupled orientation into a fixedly coupled orientation with said second cord. The first receiver is connected to the second receiver. The retainer when in the installed orientation has its first receiver residing in the fixedly coupled orientation with the first cord. The first cord resides in the first receiver. Also, the second receiver resides in the fixedly coupled orientation with the second cord. The second cord resides in the second receiver. The retainer resists decoupling of the first connector from said second connector. The retainer of claim can resist decoupling of said first connector of said first cord from said second connector of said second cord when said retainer subjected to fifteen (15) pounds of force applied through the first cord or the second cord to the retainer in a decoupling direction.

The adjuster of the first receiver and the adjuster of the second receiver can each comprise a fastener. The fastener can include a holdfast. The adjuster of the first receiver and the adjuster of the second receiver can each have structure selected from a group of structures consisting of: a hook, a loop, a snap, a strap, interlocking ridges, a plurality of interlocking teeth, a slider, a clasp, a zipper, an interlocking track and groove, a ratchet, teeth engageable with a pawl, a pawl insertable into delimited open spaces, hooks which couple to loops, interlocking ridges, and combinations thereof.

The retainer can include a first seal, wherein when the retainer resides in the installed orientation, the first cord resides in a space delimited by the first seal. A contact surface of the first receiver resides disposed about said first seal. The retainer can further include a second seal, wherein when the retainer resides in the installed orientation, the second cord resides in a space delimited by the second seal. A contact surface of said second receiver disposed about said second seal.

A housing to receive the first and second connectors can interconnect the first receiver to said second receiver. The housing can include an adjuster having structure selected from a group of structures consisting of a hook, a loop, a snap, a strap, interlocking ridges, a plurality of interlocking teeth, a slider, a clasp, a zipper, an interlocking track and groove, a ratchet, teeth engageable with a pawl, a pawl insertable into delimited open spaces, hooks which couple to loops, and combinations thereof. Both the first receiver adjuster and second receiver adjuster each can share structure with the housing adjuster. When the retainer is in the installed orientation, said housing envelopes the first connector of the first cord and the second connector of second cord.

The first receiver, the second receiver, and connecting housing can comprise an integrated jacket. The integrated jacket can comprise an elastomeric material. The first receiver and second receiver can comprise rubber. The contact surface of said first receiver and second receiver can comprise a tactile surface. The integrated jacket without an opening therethrough when the retainer in said installed orientation. Wherein when the retainer resides in the installed orientation, the integrated jacket delimits an interior chamber, and in the chamber, reside the first connector of the first cord and a cord portion of said first cord adjacent said first connector; and the second connector of the second cord and a cord portion of said second cord adjacent said second connector. The retainer resists incursion of water into said interior chamber.

Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.

