GB2552675A

GB2552675A - Socket adapter

Info

Publication number: GB2552675A
Application number: GB1613311.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fennell Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-02
Filing date: 2016-08-02
Publication date: 2018-02-07
Also published as: GB201613311D0

Abstract

A first multi-socket adapter 100 comprises an insulating box 11 holding one or more mains sockets 12, a plug 15, and a projecting female interconnection coupler 20, for example an IEC connector C13. Hence any electrical device that incorporates a corresponding male interconnection coupler 30 can be connected to the first multi-socket adapter. As one option a second multi-socket adapter 200 is provided with an IEC connector C14 so it can be connected directly to the first multi-socket adapter. The projecting coupler may be mounted on a flexible cable (Fig 2) or built into the box (Fig 4).

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Paul Fennell

Sinodun Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8HW, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Paul Fennell (56) Documents Cited:

EP 2860825 A1 US 5616968 A US 20120264328 A1

US 5885109 A US 20140120765 A1 US 20070026728 A1 (58) Field of Search:

INT CL H01R

Other: Online: WPI, EPODOC (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Peter Turquand Mansfield

Fugro House, Hithercroft Road, WALLINGFORD,

Oxon, 0X10 9RB, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Socket adapter

Abstract Title: Socket strip with interconnecting socket (57) A first multi-socket adapter 100 comprises an insulating box 11 holding one or more mains sockets 12, a plug 15, and a projecting female interconnection coupler 20, for example an IEC connector C13. Hence any electrical device that incorporates a corresponding male interconnection coupler 30 can be connected to the first multi-socket adapter. As one option a second multi-socket adapter 200 is provided with an IEC connector C14 so it can be connected directly to the first multi-socket adapter. The projecting coupler may be mounted on a flexible cable (Fig 2) or built into the box (Fig 4).

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Socket Adapter

The invention relates to a socket adapter, and enables the number of available sockets to be increased.

Multi-socket adapters are widely used domestically where a number of electrical items are to be operated simultaneously from the same mains socket. It will be appreciated that in the UK (and many other countries) the electrical power available from a standard domestic mains socket is considerably more than that required by many items. For example a standard domestic mains socket provides a voltage of 240 V and can provide current up to 13 A, which would correspond to 3120 W, whereas devices such as computers and table lamps may require a power of less than 100 W, so theoretically one could connect thirty such devices to a single socket; LED Christmas tree lights may for example draw less than 5 W, so that theoretically one could connect over 600 Christmas tree light strings to a single socket. That may be an extreme example, but nevertheless there may be situations in which it would be advantageous to be able to plug in more than say four such devices.

According to the present invention there is provided a first adapter comprising an insulating box that defines at least one mains-type socket, internal electrical connections within the insulating box, and a plug whereby electrical connections within the insulating box are connectable to a powered mains socket, wherein the first adapter also comprises a projecting female interconnection coupler.

The interconnection coupler is preferably a coupler suitable for an electric current up to 10 A, and preferably includes an earth terminal. It may for example be an IEC connector C13 or C15, in conformity with standard IEC 60320. However, in an alternative, the interconnection coupler may be a non-earthed coupler, for example for a maximum current of 2.5 A it would be possible to use a two-hole C7 connector. It will therefore be appreciated that any appliance that has a mating male appliance coupler can then be connected directly to the female interconnection coupler. As is well known, a male three pin C14 plug fits into a female connector C13 or C15, while a male three pin C16 plug fits into a female connector C15.

The first adapter may be used in combination with a second adapter that comprises an insulating box that defines at least one mains-type socket, internal electrical connections within the insulating box, and a male interconnection coupler, whereby the electrical connections within the insulating box are connectable to the female interconnection coupler.

Thus for example the first adapter may be a multi-socket adapter, defining three or four conventional mains-type sockets for conventional 13 amp plugs. Similarly the second adapter may be multi-socket adapter and may also define three or four conventional sockets; by connecting the male interconnection coupler to the female interconnection coupler that projects from the first multi-socket adapter, there may then be up to eight conventional sockets available for the user.

Thus in a second aspect, the present invention provides the combination of a first multisocket adapter as described above, with a second multi-socket adapter as described above.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view, partly perspective, of both a first multi-socket adapter and a second multi-socket adapter;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the female interconnection coupler of the first multi-socket adapter of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the female interconnection coupler of the second multi-socket adapter of figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a modification to the first multi-socket adapter; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a modification to the second multi-socket adapter.

Referring to figure 1, two different multi-socket adapters 100 and 200 are shown, which are distinguished by being referred to as a first multi-socket adapter 100 and a second multi-socket adapter 200. In many respects they are the same, as they both consist of a moulded insulating plastic box 11 which (in this example) defines a row of four conventional three pin mains-type sockets 12. The construction and mode of operation of the first multi-socket adapter 100 will be described first.

The first multi-socket adapter 100 has a flexible cable 14 connected to a conventional 13 amp plug 15, so it can be plugged into a powered mains socket (not shown). The cable 12 has three wires: live, neutral and earth. Within the box 11 the wires are connected to three brass rails (not shown) which extend substantially the length of the box, one rail connecting to electrical terminals aligned with the earth pin holes 12E, another rail connecting to electrical terminals aligned with the neutral pin holes 12N, and the third rail connecting to electrical terminals aligned with the live holes 12L. The four sockets 12 hence enable four devices to be plugged into the first multi-socket adapter 100 and so connected to a mains supply. In addition the first multi-socket adapter 100 is provided with a red light 15 (a neon bulb or an LED) to indicate when it is connected to a live socket. These aspects are conventional.

At the opposite end of the box 11 to the flexible cable 14 a C13 female interconnection coupler 20 projects from the end wall, and its electrical terminals are connected electrically to the brass rails within the box 11. As shown in figure 2, the coupler 20 defines a generally-polygonal end portion 21 which defines three apertures 22 which are aligned with electrical terminals within the coupler 20, the electrical terminals being connected respectively to the earth, neutral and live rails within the box 11; the end portion 21 and the shapes and arrangement of the apertures 22 correspond to the IEC standard for a C13 female interconnection coupler. The coupler 20 in this example is connected substantially rigidly to the box 11, but alternatively it may project much further, for example it might be attached by a flexible cable. Alternatively it may project less far, so for example only the generally-polygonal end portion 21 (as required by the IEC standard) may project from the box 11, as described below in relation to figure 4.

Hence, any electrical device that is fitted with a corresponding C14 male interconnection coupler 30, such as a personal computer or electronic peripheral device, can be connected to the coupler 20, and so provided with electric power without needing to use any of the sockets 12.

Referring again to figure 1, as a further option there may be provided a second multi-socket adapter 200. In many respects this is identical to the first multi-socket adapter 100, but it does not have a flexible cable connected to a mains plug. Instead, it is connected by a short length of cable 32 to a C14 male interconnection coupler 30 as shown in figure 3, the coupler 30 including three pins 33 that are electrically connected to the brass rails within the box 11 of the second multi-socket adapter 200. The three pins 33 are positioned and sized so that they would fit into the corresponding apertures 21 in the female interconnection coupler 20, and are enclosed within a protective sleeve 34 which is shaped to fit around the generally-polygonal end portion 21 of the female interconnection coupler 20, in accordance with the IEC standard. The combination of the protective sleeve 34 and the three pins 33 correspond to the IEC standard for a C14 male interconnection coupler.

Hence the second multi-socket adapter 200 can be connected to the first multi-socket adapter 100 by connecting the male interconnection coupler 30 to the female interconnection coupler 20. The user can then use conventional plugs to connect various electrical devices to the additional sockets 12 on the second multi-socket adapter 200.

Referring now to figure 4 there is shown a first adapter 300 which is a modification to the first multi-socket adapter 100, identical features being referred to by the same reference numerals. The adapter 300 includes a moulded insulating plastic box 311, and has a flexible cable 14 connected to a conventional 13 amp plug 15, these features not being shown in figure 4, so it can be plugged into a powered mains socket (not shown). The box 311 defines one or more conventional three pin mains-type sockets 12 (only one of which is shown), and as previously described the three wires from the cable 12 are connected within the box 311 to conducting metal rails which provide connection to terminals aligned with the corresponding holes of the sockets 12. These features are conventional.

At one end of the box 311 a C13 female interconnection coupler 320 projects from the end wall, the coupler 320 consisting of the generally-polygonal end portion 21 required by the IEC standard, and its electrical terminals are connected electrically to the conducting metal rails within the box 311. It will be appreciated that any electrical device that is fitted with a corresponding C14 male interconnection coupler such as the coupler 30, such as a personal computer or electronic peripheral device, can be connected to the female coupler 320, and so provided with electric power without needing to use any of the sockets 12.

In particular, an adapter such as the second multi-socket adapter 200 as shown in figure 1 may be connected in this way to the adapter 300.

It will also be appreciated that the second multi-socket adapter 200 may be modified in a substantially equivalent fashion. So, referring now to figure 5 there is shown a second adapter 400 which is a modification to the second multi-socket adapter 200, identical features being referred to by the same reference numerals. The adapter 400 includes a moulded insulating plastic box 411 that defines one or more conventional three pin mains-type sockets 12 (only one of which is shown), and within the box 411 are conducting metal rails which provide connection to terminals aligned with the corresponding holes of the sockets 12. These features are conventional.

At one end of the box 411 is a C14 male interconnection coupler 430 in the form of three pins 33 surrounded by a protective sleeve 34 shaped to fit around the generally-polygonal end portion 21 of the female interconnection coupler 20, in accordance with the IEC standard; the protective sleeve 34 is entirely mounted within the box 411, so the open end of the protective sleeve 34 is flush with the wall of the box 411. The three pins 33 are connected electrically to the conducting metal rails within the box 411. Hence the C14 male interconnection coupler 430 can be connected to a C13 female interconnection coupler such as the coupler 20 or the coupler 320, and so provided with electric power without needing to use any of the sockets 12.

It will be appreciated that an adapter may be modified in various ways while remaining within the scope of the invention, for example a first adapter such as the adapter 100 or 300 may include more than one projecting female interconnection coupler 20 or 320. In a further variation, an adapter may comprise a female interconnection coupler 20 or 320 and also a male interconnection coupler 30 or 430. For example the second adapter 400 might be modified so as to comprise not only a male interconnection coupler 430 at one end of a box, but also a female interconnection coupler 320 projecting from the opposite end of the box.

Claims

Claims

1. A socket adapter comprising an insulating box that defines at least one mains-type socket, internal electrical connections within the insulating box, and a plug whereby electrical connections within the insulating box are connectable to a powered mains socket, wherein the first adapter also comprises a projecting female interconnection coupler.
2. A socket adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the female interconnection coupler is suitable for an electric current up to 10 A.
3. A socket adapter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the female interconnection coupler includes an earth terminal.
4. A socket adapter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the adapter is a multi-socket adapter defining a plurality of mains-type sockets.

4. A multi-socket adapter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings
6. A combination of a first socket adapter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in combination with a second socket adapter that comprises an insulating box that defines at least one mains-type socket, internal electrical connections within the insulating box, and a male interconnection coupler, whereby the electrical connections within the insulating box of the second socket adapter are connectable to the female interconnection coupler and thereby connectable to the electrical connections within the insulating box of the first socket adapter.
7. A combination of the first socket adapter and a second socket adapter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

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Intellectual

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Office

Application No: GB1613311.8 Examiner: Paul Nicholls