Electrical plug

Abstract

An electrical plug for connecting an electrical cable such as an electrical heating cable to an electrical power outlet. Contained within the housing of the plug are first and second contact members which comprise a first prong and a second prong, respectively, each prong being suitable for insertion into a socket of an electrical power outlet. A cutting module and a cutting element which fits within the cutting module are used to remove polymer, e.g. insulation or a conductive polymer composition, from the first and second electrodes of the cable at the end of the cable in order to make electrical connection from the electrodes to the first and second contact members. Present within the cutting module are first and second electrode-contact sections positioned on the concave arcuate inner surface of the wall of a cavity in the cutting module. The electrode-contact sections can be electrically connected to the first and second contact members. The cutting element comprises a cutting wedge which has (a) a convex arcuate outer surface which complements the inner surface of the wall of the cutting module, and (b) piercing means suitable for penetrating the polymer. The cutting element rotates within the cavity of the cutting module from an opened position to a closed position so that, after the cable has been inserted into the cavity and the cutting element is rotated, the rotation first causes the piercing means to penetrate the polymer between the first and second electrodes, then causes an end portion of the polymer to separate from the electrodes, and then forces the first electrode into physical contact with the first electrode-contact section and the second electrode into physical contact with the second electrode-contact section. The cutting module and the cutting element can also be used as a tool for removing polymer from an electrical cable, and in a connector to make electrical connection from a first electrical cable to a second electrical cable.