apparatus for keeping a power cord plugged

The overmold is a transitional plastic or rubber region located between the cord and the receptacle end of the powercord. The use of the overmold is for embedding the wire connections and for providing strain-relief. Because no industry standard governs the size or shape of the overmold, different vendors have produced a variety of differently shaped and sizedovermolds. Consequently, a power cord retention mechanism designed for one style of power cord may be inadequate or of no use for another style of power cord.

The power cord-retainer assembly has means for coupling the bracket to the electronics housing so that the first and second sidewalls of the bracket are onopposite sides of the plug receptacle. A cable tie, having first and second ends, is coupled at the first end to an anchor point near the first sidewall of the bracket. The cable tie has sufficient length to extend from the anchor point through theopening in the first sidewall of the bracket and, after looping around a power cord plugged into the plug receptacle, to couple at the second end to the lock mechanism of the second sidewall of the bracket.

The apparatus also includes means for tying a loop around the power cordadjacent to the overmold, means for coupling a first end of the tying means to an anchor point on one side of the plug receptacle, and means for coupling a second end of the tying means to a locking point on another side of the plug receptacle oppositethe side of the anchor point.

The method includes coupling a first end of a cable tie to an anchor point on one side of the plugreceptacle, looping the cable tie around the power cord adjacent to an overmold of the power cord, and coupling a second end of the cable tie to a locking point on another side of the plug receptacle opposite the side of the anchor point.

Inadvertent disconnection from the electronics housing can cause system failure. Forstorage systems, the loss of power can result in data loss and downtime. Notwithstanding, many power cords do not have built-in retention features. Previous efforts to devise a power cord retention mechanism have used a clip or a flange with featuresdesigned to grasp and hold a specific style of power cord.