GB2414870A

GB2414870A - Guide for plug

Info

Publication number: GB2414870A
Application number: GB0507977A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William James Peters
Original assignee: PETERS JAMES WILLIAM
Current assignee: PETERS JAMES WILLIAM
Priority date: 2005-04-20
Filing date: 2005-04-20
Publication date: 2005-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-20
Also published as: GB0507977D0; GB2414870B

Abstract

A socket, such as an electrical mains socket, has a face panel 2. The panel has one or more apertures 3, 6 through which pins of the plug pass, and a channel 4 which connects to one of the apertures. This allows blind mating, ie use of the socket in the dark, when it is out of sight or by a visually-impaired person. The pin of the plug is moved over the panel until it engages the channel and is then slid along the channel to guide the plug to the correct place for mating.

Description

Plug Socket Surround This invention relates to a plug socket surround

adapted for use by people with impaired sight, which is for use particularly, but not exclusively, with mains electricity sockets.

In order to seat a plug in a socket it is necessary to line the plug up with the socket. This is not a problem when the plug socket is visible, however it can be difficult when the socket cannot be clearly seen. This could occur if there were no direct line of sight to the socket, for example if it is obscured behind another object, or if there were little, or no, light. Of course, it also a fact of life for the visually impaired.

A ready solution is to use ones hands to locate the exact position of the socket, however this can be difficult and may be unsafe when the plug socket is a mains electricity socket.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems.

Therefore, according to the present invention a plug socket surround comprises a panel provided with one or more apertures through which one or more pins of a plug can pass, in which at least one channel is formed in the panel, and in which a first end of the channel connects with one of said apertures.

The channel of the present invention provides a guide for locating the apertures in the panel. With a normal smooth faced plug socket surround panel it is necessary to correctly align the pins of the plug with their respective sockets in both the horizontal and the vertical axes of the panel. However, with the present invention the user need only locate the channel in whichever axis it extends, then slide the pin down the channel to locate the socket.

lt will be appreciated that this invention can be used with any plug socket type, including electrical sockets, telephone sockets, any of the various computer port plugs like USB or Firewire, or even with something as simple as a bath plug.

However, if the plug socket is for a plug with more than one pin, the invention will only work with one channel if one of the pins is longer than the others. Without this being so, no pin could sink into the channel because the others would contact the panel and prevent this.

In a preferred embodiment the panel can be provided with three rectangular apertures arranged in a triangular configuration, which are adapted to receive the three pins of a standard United Kingdom mains electricity plug. The channel can connect to the top aperture of the three, and it can connect to the top side of said top aperture. (The invention will work with just the one channel because the UK mains electricity plug has a leading pin longer than the other two.) Preferably the channel can be straight and can be substantially orthogonal to the top side of said top aperture. A second end of the channel can be at a top edge of the panel, and the second end can be provided with chamfering.

In one arrangement a second channel can provided, which second channel can be orthogonal to the first channel, and can be arranged along the top edge of the panel. The ends of the second channel can be rounded off.

With this arrangement the user need only locate the second channel along the top edge of the panel and slide it along until it falls into the first channel, from where the socket can be located.

The above described problem of multiple pins of the same length can be overcome by having a separate channel for each socket. Therefore, in one alternative embodiment the panel is provided with two apertures arranged on a line, which are adapted to receive the two pins of a standard European Mains Electricity plug, and in which two parallel channels are provided, each one connected to one of said apertures.

In any of the above described arrangements the panel can be a wall mounted panel which overlies the functional socket in question, for example mains electricity or telephone. However, in an alternative arrangement the panel can be part of body which is remote from the wall, for example a row of electricity sockets on the end of an extension cable, or similar.

The invention can be performed in various ways, but five embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a plug socket surround according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the plug socket surround as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a second plug socket surround according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a front view of a third plug socket surround according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a front view of a fourth plug socket surround according to the present invention; and, Figure 6 is a front view of a fifth plug socket surround according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1 a plug socket surround 1 comprises a panel 2 provided with one or more apertures, in the form of three apertures 3, through which one or more pins of a plug (not shown) can pass, in which at least one channel, in the form of channel 4, is formed in the panel 2, and in which a first end 5 of the channel 4 connects with one of said apertures 3. In the case of plug socket surround 1, that is top aperture 6.

The plug socket surround 1 is for a UK mains electricity plug socket. The apertures 3 are rectangular and are formed into a triangular configuration. The channel 4 connects with the top side of top aperture 6.

The channel 4 is straight and extends vertically up the panel. In plug socket surround 1 a second channel 7 is provided, which is orthogonal to the first channel 4 and is arranged along the top edge 8 of the panel 4. The second end 9 of the channel 4 meets the second channel 7, and the ends 10, 11, of the second channel 7 are rounded off.

The panel 1 is mounted on a wall over an electricity socket (not shown), with the apertures 3 aligned with the appropriate pin sockets.

In use a plug (not shown) for insertion into the socket is arranged with the pins facing the panel 1. The user locates the top edge 8 of the panel with their hands, and arranges the lead pin in the second channel 7. Alternatively the user can speculatively move the plug around until it slots into the second channel 7. The user then moves the lead pin along the second channel 7 until it falls into the first channel 4. The user slides the lead pin down the first channel 4 until the lead pin meets the top aperture 6, and the plug can be pushed through the plug socket surround 1 and into the electricity socket.

When the lead pin reaches the top aperture 6, the other two pins are aligned for entry into the other apertures 3. The plug cannot be axially rotated about the lead pin such that the other two pins are rotationally out of position, because the lead pin fits squarely into the channel 4 and cannot rotate.

It will be appreciated that the user could also slot the lead pin directly into the first channel 4 and slide into position without using the second channel 7. The plug socket surround 1 is flexible in that it will function wherever the lead pin first enters one or other of the sockets 4 and 7.

Thus, with the present invention it is not necessary to locate the top aperture 6 in both the horizontal and the vertical axes as would be the case with a known arrangement. If the user employs the second channel 7, it is simply a case of locating the top edge of the panel 1, and placing the lead pin in the second channel 7. In such a method neither the horizontal or vertical position of the top aperture 6 need be located as the channels 7 and 4 will guide the lead pin to the correct location.

Alternatively, if the user only employs the first channel 4, they need only locate it on the horizontal axis, and the vertical position of the top aperture 6 does not need to be located.

Figures 3 to 6 show variations of the above embodiment.

In Figure 3, plug socket surround 30 is also for fitting over a UK mains electricity wall socket, and functions in the same manner as plug socket surround 1, except that it is of a simpler design, and only features a first channel 31.

In Figure 4, plug socket surround 40 is also for fitting over a UK mains electricity wall socket, and functions in the same manner as plug socket surround 30, except that the channel 41 reaches up to the top edge 42 of the panel 43, and is provided with a chamfered opening 44. Thus in use the user can run the lead pin of a plug (not shown) along the top edge 42 until it reaches the opening 44 and can be slid down to the top aperture 45.

ln Figure 5, plug socket surround 50 is also for fitting over a UK mains electricity wall socket, and essentially functions in the same manner as plug socket surround 1, except that channel 51 is funnel shaped, and expands to a wide opening 52 at the top edge 53. In use the user locates the lead pin anywhere in the channel 51 and draws it down until it meets one of the sides 54 or 55 of the channel 51 and can be guided into the top aperture 56.

In all the above described embodiments the plug socket surrounds are used with the standard three pin UK mains electricity socket, and thus with the standard UK mains electricity plugs. Such plugs have a lead pin which is longer than the other two pins, and thus the invention described above will work. Without this being so, the lead pin could not sink into the channel because the other pins would contact the panel and prevent this.

The invention can also be used with plugs with pins which are the same length, but only when a channel is provided for each pin. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 6, in which plug socket surround 60 comprises a panel 61 provided with two circular apertures 62 arranged in a line, which are adapted to receive the two pins of a standard European Mains Electricity plug (not shown). Each aperture 62 is provided with its own channel 63. The plug socket surround 60 works in essentially the same manner as those described above. The user places the pins into contact with the panel 61 and moves them back and forth until they slot into the channels 63. From there they can be drawn down into the apertures 62.

The embodiments described above can be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example any of the features of one of the above embodiments can be combined with any feature from one of the other embodiments.

In addition, in one alternative embodiment (not shown) a plug socket surround is formed as one of the surfaces of a body on the end of an extension cable. In another alternative embodiment (not shown) a plug socket surround is formed as one of the surfaces of a cube-shaped adapter.

In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the channels are arranged at different angles, and lead to the apertures from points other than directly above.

Further, in other alternative embodiments (not shown) plug socket surrounds are formed with apertures adapted for use with other types of socket, including telephone sockets, USB, Firewire, and any other known type of electrical or communications socket.

Thus a plug socket surround is provided which is simple and easy to use when it cannot be viewed.

Claims

Claims 1. A plug socket surround comprising a panel provided with one or

more apertures through which one or more pins of a plug can pass, in which at least one channel is formed in the panel, and in which a first end of the channel connects with one of said apertures.
2. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 1 in which the panel is provided with three rectangular apertures arranged in a triangular configuration, which are adapted to receive the three pins of a standard United Kingdom Mains Electricity plug, and in which the channel connects to the top aperture of the three.
3. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 2 in which the channel connects to the top side of said top aperture.
4. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 3 in which the channel is straight and is substantially orthogonal to the top side of said top aperture.
5. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 4 in which a second end of the channel is at a top edge of the panel.
6. A plug socket face panel substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings. . .

8 . '

6. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 5 in which the second end of the channel is provided with chamfering.

7. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 5 in which a second channel is provided, which second channel is orthogonal to the first channel, and is arranged along the top edge of the panel.

8. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 7 in which the ends of the second channel are rounded off.

9. A plug socket surround as claimed in Claim 1 in which the panel is provided with two apertures arranged in a line, which are adapted to receive the two pins of a standard European Mains Electricity plug, and in which two parallel channels are provided, each one connected to one of said apertures.

10. A plug socket surround substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings. lo

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A plug socket face panel provided with one or more apertures through which one or more pins of a plug can pass, in which one or more first channels and a second channel are formed in the panel, in which the one or more first channels extend from one or more of said apertures to a top edge of the panel, and in which the second channel extends along the top edge of the panel and is orthogonal to said one or more first channels.

2. A plug socket face panel as claimed in Claim 1 in which the panel is provided with three rectangular apertures arranged in a triangular configuration, which are adapted to receive the three pins of a standard United Kingdom Mains Electricity plug, and in which one first channel extends from the top aperture of the three.

3. A plug socket face panel as claimed in Claim 2 in which said one first channel is straight and is substantially orthogonal to a top side of said top aperture.

4. A plug socket face panel as claimed in Claim 3 in which the ends of the second channel are rounded off.

5. A plug socket face panel as claimed in Claim 1 in which the panel is provided with two apertures arranged in a line, which are adapted to receive the two pins of a standard European Mains Electricity plug, and in which two first channels are provided, each one extending from one of said apertures.