Domestic electric power-supply plugs being moulded into one piece with the cable has obviated the need to "pull on the plug not the csble".

Oldies still grip the plug but everybody else seems to tug on the cable with increasing force, from any angle or distance, until it comes out with a clatter, sometimes accompanied by bits of the plastic socket breaking up.

Owners of low-rental properties might welcome therefore a PopPlug which loads itself with tension when pushed in, and uses that tension to pop itself out with harmlessly, when triggered by a tug from any angle.

Safety authorities might welcome the PopPlug too.

PeterSealy is baking it right now 5-4-3 ...
-- rayfo, Jul 09 2001

For [StarChaser]. http://www.t-g-m.co.uk/strimmers.html
(Takes ages to load.) [angel, Jul 09 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Apple's MagSafe power connector http://www.apple.co...bookpro/design.html
This laptop power connector pops off if you yank on the cord from any angle. Don't think this idea would work for higher voltages though. [FishFinger, Jan 22 2007]

strange... [ps] doesn't seem to have baked it yet... is something wrong?
-- RobertKidney, Jul 09 2001


Actually a pretty good idea...Put a little peg or something in the plug that sproings and pushes it out. Some sockets are tighter than others, so it might not work everywhere, but still kind of cool. And as a benefit, if the sproinger loses it's boing, the plug still works.
-- StarChaser, Jul 09 2001


what if you're just moving the appliance, and don't want to pull it out?
-- MuddDog, Jul 09 2001


I believe that US plugs tend to have the cable exiting horizontally, so a straight pull would tend to remove them from the socket. UK plugs (and NZ?) have the cable exit at the bottom so the cable hangs down. A tug on the cable is thus more hazardous and less effective. Good one, [rayfo].
-- angel, Jul 10 2001


I didn't know that about perverse and peculiar plugs of the world--thanks, angel. rayfo, I also am a yea-voter. Despite best intentions, I become exasperated at cords plugged into sockets behind heavy bookcases, and finally jerk them out whilst swearing. And like the revered PeterSealy, I end with bent, crippled prongs.
-- Dog Ed, Jul 10 2001


Nice one.

>>Peter: what a fine young man you've become.<<
-- iuvare, Jul 13 2001


I promised myself I wouldn't say anything, but when sparky talked about people pulling their wire.....

What we need is some ingenious inventor to create a world-wide universal standard remote-control plug popper! (Of course the drawback there is when you push the button ALL your plugs pop out. DOH!)
-- Canuck, Jul 16 2001


Would be easy enough to rig the cord to come from the center of the plug instead, and the sproinger would help too.

What's a 'Flymo'? 'Strimmer' I know, but find odd...
-- StarChaser, Jul 16 2001


'Strimmer' isn't a USAn thing that I know of...I know what it means because I watch a lot of British TV <and my fiancee is UKan too>...Here, the generic term is 'weedwhacker'.

Have seen the flying orange lawnmowers on TV...
-- StarChaser, Jul 19 2001


There are so many great ideas on this site and this one gets two croissants? I think afroassaults ideas are more enlightened.
-- sh4linux, Aug 21 2001


I can't tell if that's a shot at me or a compliment
-- AfroAssault, Aug 23 2001


Congratulations Afro, I think.
Great Idea rayfro. Tea with your croissants, rayfroAssault?
-- thumbwax, Aug 23 2001


Sh4linux; two and a half croissants are all any idea CAN get. Five half-croissants.
-- StarChaser, Aug 23 2001


Why not eliminate the prongs altogether? Make the contact plates come together through the use of magnetic elements. This would also eliminate the numerous accidents attributed to partially unplugged plugs. As the magnet would also hold the plug to the socket it wouldn't need to be such a tight fit.
-- nobrainer, Nov 20 2001


Bent prongs would be difficult in the UK. Our superior socket system means that as well as more robust pins, the user is protected.

Once the plug is even partially removed from the socket, the live is no longer connected and the guards close down over the inside of the plug socket. This is due to a longer top pin, plastic concealing hinged flap, and plastic half coating on the pins.

Oh and we have these strange things called on/off switches on the plugs that make the process safer, and would still need turning off rendering the reference to plugs behind bookcases etc. void.

I love American sockets. Whilst in the USA I bent two plugs and also ruined my watch after being near electrocuted due to static discharge conducting the current to my watch whilst unplugging an electrical device from these non-switch bearing sockets :-)

PS Half way through recording your favourite programme the video recorder plug pops out...

PPS Still gets a croissant though.
-- AJCrowley, Apr 20 2003



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