GB2181309A

GB2181309A - An electrical socket

Info

Publication number: GB2181309A
Application number: GB08524687A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alistair Charles Mitchell; Paul Wright Clowney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-07
Filing date: 1985-10-07
Publication date: 1987-04-15
Also published as: GB2181309B; GB8524687D0

Abstract

The socket has a planar front face which defines the apertures (5-7 to receive the pins of a plug. Guide means in the form of grooves or ribs (8-11 are formed on the front face of the socket, the guide means being adapted to lead the pins of a plug to the respective apertures in the socket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to an electrical socket The present invention relates to an electrical socket and more particularlyto an electrical socket adapted to be connected to an electricity supply circuit, the socket being adapted to receive a plug connected to an electrical appliance that isto be connected to the said electricity supply.

In the United Kingdom, it is now conventional to utilise a three-pin plug made in accordance with British Standard No.1363:1967. Such a plug has a central earth pin, of rectangular configuration, having a length of approximateiy 22.2 mm and has two shorter rectangular line and neutral pins each of a length of approximately 17.4 mm. Sockets are provided to receive such plugs, the sockets having an aperture dimensioned and located to receive the earth pin and two further apertures dimensioned and located to receivethe line and neutral pins.

Many different designs of socket have been proposed previously, including single sockets, single switched sockets, double sockets, double switched sockets, and multi-outlet sockets. Sockets also are formed integ rally with certain types of adaptor provided to enable two or more appliances to be connected to asingle primary socket.

In each case the said apertures are formed in a substantially planarface of the socket, and the plug must be correctly aligned with the socket before the pins and the plug can be introduced into the socket.

It is often the case that sockets are located where they are not readily visible or accessible, for example behind heavy pieces offurniture or the like, and it maythen bedifficultreadilyto locatetheplug inthe exact position necessary to enable the plug to be inserted into the socket. Also, people who are infirm or disabled may find it difficu It to locate a plug in position and insert it in a socket.

The present invention seeks to provide a socket which,when used, may facilitate the insertion of a plug intothesocket.

According to this invention there is provided a socket adapted to be connected to an electrical supply and adapted to receive a plug to enable an appliance orthe like to be connected to said supply, the socket comprising a substantially planarfront face, a plurality of apertures formed in the front face adapted to receive the pins ofthe plug, and one or more elongate guide means formed in or on the front face of the socket, the guide means each leading to a respective aperture in the front face of the socket.

Preferably the guide means include at least one guide slot.

Conveniently at least one guide slot is ofsubstanti- ally "V" configuration,the apexofthe "V" being substantially at one of said apertures.

Advantageously a groove is provided in the base of the "V" shape guide slot pin, the said grooveandthe "V" configured guide slot being symmetrically ori entated with regard to the said aperture.

Preferably the or each guide slot is in the form of a recess formed below the plane of the front face ofthe socket.

Advantageouslythe or each guide slot is formed by means protruding above the plane of the front plate of the socket.

Alternatively the guide means comprise means protruding above the plane of the front plate ofthe socket.

Preferably the socket is adapted to receive a plug in accordance with the BS 1363:1967, the socket having a "V" configuration channel associated with a first relatively large aperture adapted to receive the earth pin of the plug, and guide channels intheform of ramps leading to the apertures adapted to receive the line and neutral pins ofthe plug.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a non-switched socket in accordance with the invention, Figure2is a top view of the socket, and Figure 3 is a front view ofthe socket.

The socket in accordance with the present invention is illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, mounted on a conventional box 1 of the type adapted to be screwed or otherwise secured to a wall. The socket comprises a front plate 2 which is connected to the box 1 by means of two screws 3, 4, that is conventional. The socket defines a first relatively large rectangular apertureS adapted to receive the earth pin of a conventional three pin plug, and the socket also defines two smaller rectangular apertures 6,7 adapted to receive the line and neutral pins ofthe three pin plug. Asthusfar described the socket is conventional.

The apertures 5,6,7 are formed in a substantially planarfrontface of the front plate 2, but as can be seen in the drawings, associated with the aperture 5 is a substantially "V" shaped guide slot 8 which is formed as a recess in the planarfrontface ofthefront plate2 in a region above ina regionabovetheaperture5,whenthe socket is in the illustrated orientation. The "V" shaped recess has a deepened central portion 9 adapted to accommodate the conventional pointed end ofthe earth pin of a three pin plug. The recess 8 and the central portion 9 are symmetrically located about the vertical axis defined by the aperture 5, as can be seen mostclearlyfrom Figure 3.

Associated with the apertures 6 and 7 are guide ramps 10,11, these guide ramps being located immediately above the aperture 6, 7, the ramps being recessed in the front plate 1.

As will be appreciated, when a conventional three pin plug is to be inserted into the illustrated socket, even if the person inserting the plug into the socket cannot actually see the socket to enable the plug to be aligned accurately with the socket, the plug can be moved towards the socket in such an orientation that the earth pin will be directed towards the socket. The earth pin may,forexample,thencontacttheplanar front face of the front cover 2 of the socket. The pin may then be slid over the front face until the pin encounters the guide slot 8. The pin will then drop into the guide slot 8. The plug may then be moved downwardly, and the configuration ofthe guide slot 8 is such that as the plug moved downwardly the earth pin ofthe plug becomes aligned with the aperture 5.

Simultaneously the line and neutral pins may slide down the ramps 10, 1,thus becoming aligned with the apertures 6 and 7. When the pins are aligned with the apertures the plug may be pushed into the socket.

Itwill be appreciated that in utilising a socket as described above, it is possible to insert a plug into a socket relatively easily, even if the socket is notvisible. Also it is believed that the use of a socket as described may make it easierforthe inform or disabled to insert a plug in a socket.

Whilstthe invention has been described with referpence to one particular embodiment it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

For example, whilst the illustrated socket is anon- switched socket a socket in accordance with the in vention could easily be provided with a switch.

Whilstthe invention has been described with referenceto a one-gang socket, the invention may equally applied to multi-ganged sockets, and indeed may be applied to socket assemblies including four or five sockets. It isto be appreciated that a socket in accordance with the invention may also be incorporated in an adaptor plug. WHilst the described embodiment is surface mounted on a box, it is to be appreciated that sockets in accordance with the invention may be flush mounted.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a socket intended for use with a plug made in accordance with British Standard No.1363:1967 it is to be understood that embodiments of the invention may be designed for use with plugs of many different designs. For example, in the U.S.A. certain plugs are used which are of the three pin type, having a re lativelylong earth pin which may be of "U" channel configuration and two flat pins to carrythe actual electrical current. The invention may easily be used with a socket designed to receive a plug ofthis type.

Thus it is to be appreciated that the invention is not related solelyto sockets to accommodate three pin plugs ofthetype presently commonly used in Britain.

It is to be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described with reference to an embodiment in which a guide slot are constituted by recesses formed in the planarface of the front plate ofthe socket. In alternative embodiments of the invention guide means in the form of ribs protruding above the planarface ofthe socket may be provided. The ribs may effectively define a guide slot between two cooperating ribs, or a single rib may be provided so located that when an appropriate pin of a plug engages one side of the rib the plug may be moved so thatthe pin is guided to the respective aperture in the socket.

Claims

1. A socket adapted to be connected to an electrical supply and adapted to receive a plug to enable an appliance orthe like to be connected to said supply, the socket comprising a substantially planarfront face, a plurality ofperturns formed in the front face adapted to receivethe pins ofthe plug, and oneor more elongate guide means formed in or on the front face ofthe socket, the guide means each leading to a respective aperture in the front face of the socket.

2. A socket according to claim 1 wherein the guide means include at least one guide slot.

3. A socket according to claim 2 where at least one guide slot is of substantially "V" configuration, the apex ofthe "V" being substantially at one of said apertures.

4. A socket according to claim 3 wherein a groove is provided in the base ofthe "V" shape guide slot pin, the said groove and the "V" configured guide slot being symmetrically orientated with regard to the said aperture.

5. Asocketaccordingto claim 2,30rclaim4 wherein the oreach guide slot is in the form of a recess formed below the plane of the front face ofthe socket.

6. A socket according to claim 2,3 or 4wherein the oreach guide slot isformed by means protruding above the plane of the front plate ofthe socket.

7. A socket according to claim 1 wherein the guide means comprise means protruding above the plane of the front plate of the socket.

8. A socket according to any one ofthe preceding claims adapted to receive a plug in accordance with the BS 1363:1967, the socket having a "V" configura- tion channel associated with a first relatively large aperture adapted to receive the earth pin of the plug, and guide channels in theform of ramps leadingto the apertures adapted to receive the line and neutral pins ofthe plug.

9. A socket substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein.