If you live in the United States, you are aware of the holes in cracks Electric plugs. Many, if not most, American plugs have them. So what exactly is?
The answer dates back to the early twentieth century, when Harvey Hobeel Junior patented a number of electric plugs (starting with The first semester electric plug In 1904). Some of the designs of Hobeel appeared The fork with indoor distances That is in line with a few bumps inside the electricity sockets. When inserting a plug in a socket, the bad and huge distance system helped secure the fork in place. Ultimately, the indirect distances give the road to the holes, which, which, which, which, According to Kestov WuxIt works in the same way.
But this is only part of the story. various YouTube Ownership Performed, Modern ports Usually she no longer has bumps – it uses friction and pressure to prevent plugs from falling from the wall. These days, holes serve other purposes. Some manufacturers, like those in the video below, enter a rod across all holes in a line of thorns to lock them in place while installing them with plastic.
Warning messages can also be linked through holes, ensuring that consumers see warning before using the attached device. The manufacturers can even Connect a little lock or zip-te Through one or both as a way to clarify the factory. Another common theory is that the holes save the metal, which helps reduce costs over time.
according to Official regulations It was developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the National Electricity Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the “optional” holes and “dedicated to manufacturing purposes only”. But if you want to place a small lock through a plug to prevent your children from operating certain devices, you are not likely not to mind NEMA.
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A copy of this story was originally published in 2022 and was updated for 2025.
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