Abstract: An AC line power coupling system secures a conventional plug (700) of an appliance cord or extension cord (702). A adapter (400) is fitted onto the prongs (704) of the cord, and semi-permanently attached with a connector (300) including two half housings (301 and 302) that fasten over the plug and a clamp (200) that holds the cord. The adapter prongs mate, which have a conventional layout, with a special socket (600). The adapter is locked onto the socket by a sleeve (500). The sleeve moves relative to the socket, rotating and axially sliding. When the sleeve is slid onto the protruding cylindrical end of the adapter and rotated, lugs on the inside of the sleeve engage in grooves, locking the adapter to the socket; the sleeve motion is reversed to unlock. The adapter can be plugged into conventional sockets while the connector remains fastened over the plug, but when plugged into the special socket and locked, the cord is prevented from pulling out under tension.

Abstract: A composition of matter for use as dielectric shield in an electric power cable having insulation of XLPE, EPR or EPDM comprises: a base polymer which is a copolymer of ethylene with a mono-unsaturated ester; conductive carbon black in an amount to give the composition an electrical resistivity below 500 Am; and as an adhesion-adjusting additive, 1-20% by weight of the base polymer of a copolymer which consists essentially of ethylene and a comonomer having in its molecule at least one carbon-oxygen dipole, said copolymer having a molecular weight less than 20,000 Daltons but a melting point higher than 30° C. This new class of additive permits use of EVA's with lower vinyl acetate content than prior art additives and so enables the composition to have less rubbery physical properties.