Electrical plug assist tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9933152-B1
Application number	US-201615277764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 27, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A tool includes a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle, and a tip coupled to the shaft such that the shaft is between the handle and the tip. The tip includes a tip body that defines a recess configured to receive a plug. The tip body further defines a first opening configured to provide a first passageway for the plug into the recess, and the tip body further defines a second opening configured to provide a second passageway for a cord attached to the plug out of the recess.

First claim

I claim:

1. A tool comprising:
a first member including a first end and a second end opposite the first end with respect to a first direction;
a second member that extends from the second end in the first direction, the second member including a first end of the second member and a second end of the second member opposite the first end of the second member with respect to the first direction; and
a third member that extends from the second end of the second member in the first direction, the third member including a first end of the third member and a second end of the third member opposite the first end of the third member with respect to the first direction, the third member including a third member body and a third member recess that extends into the third member body, the third member body defining: 1) a first opening of the third member recess that faces the first direction, 2) a second opening of the third member recess that faces a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and 3) a third opening of the third member recess that faces a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;
wherein the first opening defines a first width measured in a fourth direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the third direction, the second opening defines a second width measured in the fourth direction, and the first width is greater than the second width.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first opening defines a first depth measured in the third direction, the second opening defines a second depth measured in the third direction, and the first depth is greater than the second depth.

3. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a light source.

4. The tool of claim 3 , wherein the light source is supported by the third member such that the light source is configured to emit light in the first direction.

5. The tool of claim 4 , further comprising a battery and a switch, the switch electrically coupled to both the battery and the light source such that: 1) when the switch is in a first position the battery is electrically coupled to the light source and the light source emits light, and 2) when the switch is in a second position the battery is electrically decoupled from the light source and the light source does not emit light.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the first member includes a first member body that extends between the first end of the first member and the second end of the first member, the first member body defines a first member recess that extends into the first member body in the third direction, and the switch is positioned within the first member recess.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the first member body includes a concave surface that at least partially defines the first member recess, and the switch is positioned on the concave surface.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a first member body that extends between the first end of the first member and the second end of the first member, the first member body defines a first member recess that: 1) extends into the first member body in the third direction; and 2) extends through the first member body from the first end of the first member to the second end of the first member in the first direction.

9. The tool of claim 1 , the first member, the second member, the third member, or any combination thereof is monolithic.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second member and the third member are releasably coupled such that the second member and the third member are configured to be repeatedly coupled and decoupled.

11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second member is extends along a central axis that is parallel to the first direction, and the central axis intersects the third member recess.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the central axis: 1) intersects the first opening, and 2) is offset from the second opening with respect to the third direction.

13. A tool comprising:
a first member including a first end and a second end opposite the first end with respect to a first direction;
a second member that extends from the second end in the first direction, the second member including a first end of the second member and a second end of the second member opposite the first end of the second member with respect to the first direction, the second member elongate along a central axis that is parallel to the first direction; and
a third member that extends from the second end of the second member in the first direction, the third member including a first end of the third member and a second end of the third member opposite the first end of the third member with respect to the first direction, the third member including a third member body and a third member recess that extends into the third member body, the third member body defining: 1) a first opening of the third member recess that faces the first direction, and 2) a second opening of the third member recess that faces a second direction that is opposite the first direction,
wherein the central axis intersects the first opening, and the central axis is offset from the second opening with respect to a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

14. The tool of claim 13 , further comprising a light source supported by the third member such that the light source is configured to emit light in the first direction.

15. The tool of claim 14 , further comprising a battery and a switch, the switch electrically coupled to both the battery and the light source such that: 1) when the switch is in a first position the battery is electrically coupled to the light source and the light source emits light, and 2) when the switch is in a second position the battery is electrically decoupled from the light source and the light source does not emit light.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the first member includes a first member body that extends between the first end of the first member and the second end of the first member, the first member body defines a first member recess that extends into the first member body in the third direction, and the switch is positioned within the first member recess.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the first member body includes a concave surface that at least partially defines the first member recess, and the switch is positioned on the concave surface.

18. A tool kit comprising:
a first member including a first end and a second end opposite the first end with respect to a first direction;
a second member configured to be releasably coupled to the second end of the first member such that the second member extends from the first member in the first direction, the second member including a first end of the second member and a second end of the second member opposite the first end of the second member with respect to the first direction when the second member is coupled to the first member;
a third member configured to be releasably coupled to the second end of the second member, the third member including a first end of the third member and a second end of the third member opposite the first end of the third member with respect to the first direction when the third member is coupled to the second member, the third member including a third member body and a third member recess that extends into the third member body, the third member body defining a shape of the third member recess within a plane parallel to the first direction; and
a fourth member configured to be releasably coupled to the second end of the second member, the fourth member inclu

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Cannon Lawrence Dale

Classifications

• F21V23/0414

  specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V23/04

  the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) · CPC title

• F21V33/0084 Primary

  Hand tools; Toolboxes · CPC title

• B25B27/00

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title

• F21L4/00

  Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells · CPC title