GB2227130A - Adaptor arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

An adaptor arrangement, which permits a two-pin European type plug (8) to be accommodated within the casing of a three-pin UK type plug, includes a hollow open-topped housing (1) having at least live and neutral square pins (2, 3) and containing electrical spring clip terminals to accommodate the neutral and live pins (6, 7) of the two-pin plug (8). A closure lid latched to the housing (1) is provided with a plastics substitute earth pin which extends through, and snap pivotally engages with, an aperture (4) in the housing (1) to provide pivotal action of the lid relative to the housing. A fuse (5) is provided in a fuse-carrier (12) that partially blocks the aperture (4) to prevent lid pivoting when the carrier is in position. The earth pin can alternatively be of metal and/or secured to the housing (1), and the lid can move rectilinearly. <IMAGE>

Description

ADAPTOR ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to adaptor arrangements, and it relates in particular to arrangements whereby a two-pin European electrical plug can be converted into a three-pin UK type 13 amp plug.

It is well known that various adaptor devices can be provided to convert one kind of plug fitting to another, for example the well known electric shaver adaptors which consist of a plastics housing having the usual three square pins emerging from one side and a pair of apertures on the other, into which the pins of a two-pin plug of the kind conventionally fitted to electric shavers can be inserted.

Such adaptors, however, are separate from the plug associated with the appliance which is to be connected to the mains power supply, and the provision of such separate adaptors can be inconvenient both from the stand point of marketing, and from the users point of view because the adaptor and the plug for which it is intended may become separated and, indeed the adaptor may be lost.

This invention provides an adaptor arrangement which permits a two-pin European type plug to be accommodated within the casing of a three-pin UK type plug, the casing being to all intents and purposes sealed and, from the user's standpoint, the appearance is merely that of the usual three-pin plug duly connected to the lead of the appliance in question.

In accordance with one example of the invention, a hollow open topped housing containing at least live and neutral square pins, is formed with electrical contact means to receive the respective pins of the two-pin plug and make electrical connection thereto.

One of the contact means is directly connected to the neutral pin and the other, via a fuse, to the live pin. A closure lid for the plug is fabricated separately and may contain a plastics pin to substitute for the earth pin which is normally found in British three-pin plugs. The lid is, preferably, pivotally mounted to the open topped housing and the pivot action is, preferably, about the plastics pin so that the cover cannot be opened whilst the pins are inserted into the apertures of an electrical socket. The lid is latched to the open housing by any of the means which are known for latching plastics components together. In the event that the aforementioned pivotal action is provided, the open topped housing requires to be formed with an aperture for the plastics pin which is somewhat larger than the pin itself, to accommodate the pivotal movement thereof.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a plan view into the aforementioned open topped housing, with the position of the two-pin plug shown in dashed outline, and Figure 2 shows, in schematic perspective view, the lid and plastics earth pin substitute fabrication which is intended to be pivotally mounted to the open topped housing. Referring now to Figure 1, an open topped plastics housing is shown at 1, this housing being formed with apertures through the base for neutral and live pins 2 and 3 respectively, for the plastics substitute earth pin, the aperture fo: this being shown at 4, and a relatively large cut-out to accommodate a fuse 5.

Upstanding from the plastics base of the housing 1 are respective contact means comprising spring clip terminals 6 and 7 to accommodate the neutral and live pins of a two-pin plug (shown in dashed outline at 8) which is connected via a flex 9 to an appliance not shown. The neutral and live pins 2 and 3 are anchored in any convenient way into the base of the housing 1, and suitable electrical links connect the terminal 6 to the pin 2 directly, and the terminal 7 through the fuse 5 to the terminal 2. The fuse 5 is mounted in conventional fashion between spring clip terminals 10 and 11, and is accessible by way of a removable plastics cover which carries the terminals 10 and 11 and snap fits into the base from the underside thereof.The plastics cover is shown in dashed outline at 12 and assists in also covering part of the aperture 4 which is extended beyond the bounds of the plastics earth pin substitute to be described later, which passes therethrough, in order to allow for pivotal movement of the plug cover relative to the housing 1.

The aperture 4 is provided with inwardly directed hinge portions 13 and 14, which control the aforementioned pivotal movement in a manner which will become clear hereinafter. In the vicinity of the cable accommodating aperture 15, in the upright wall of housing 1, there are provided latching arrangements 16 and 17 which can take any convenient form and are intended to co-operate with suitable complementary arrangements on the lid of the plug to latch the lid firmly and securely to the housing 1 in the closed position. If necessary, further latching means can be provided at other places on the wall of the plug.

Turning now to Figure 2, the lid moulding is shown at 18, with the integral plastics earth pin substitute shown at 19. Both sides of the substitute pin 19 are formed with channels such as that shown at 20, which terminate in blind apertures, such as that shown at 21. These channels and apertures such as 20 and 21 are intended to co-operate with respective ones of the hinge members 13 and 14, firstly to enable the lid member 18 to be assembled to the base housing 1, and secondly to control the aforementioned pivotal movement. The channels, such as 20, are formed so as to be relatively deep at the leading extremity of the pin substitute 19 and to gradually become more shallow in 'ramp' fashion as they proceed away from that extremity, reaching the shallowest extent just prior to opening into the blind aperture 21.This construction permits the pin 19 to be pushed into the aperture 4 with the hinge members 13 and 14 engaged in the respective channels such as 20, and for the hinge members 13 and 14 to be gradually urged apart by distortion and compression as the channels such as 20 become more and more shallow and these hinge members then snap out into the apertures, such as 21, when the pin is fully inserted then.

In this position the lid 18 can be pivoted relative to the open topped housing 1), about the hinge members 13 and 14, provided that the facing surfaces of the lid 18 and the upright wall of open topped housing 1 are suitably shaped and configured to accommodate such motion, and provided that adaptor 1 and 18 is not inserted in an electrical socket and the fuse cover 12 has been removed to allow the plastics pin 19 to move within the aperture 4. The pivotal motion is sufficient to allow the lid 18 to be opened wide enough for the two-pin plug 8 to be properly inserted into the housing 1. This having been done, the lid is again pivoted into the closed position, and the co-operating fixing members such as 16 and 17 and their counterparts on the lid 18 snap into engagement to create a closed plug structure. The fuse cover can then be replaced and the plug is ready for use.

It will be appreciated that, if the fuse cover with the fuse is not in place, the plug will not be useable. On the other hand if the adaptor 1, 18 is inserted in a socket and/or the fuse and cover 12 are in place, the lid 18 can no longer pivot relative to the base 1 because the socket and/or the cover 12 prohibits the necessary movement of the plastics pin 19.

It will be appreciated that other constructions than the one shown specifically herein may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the open topped housing (1) and the lid portion 18 need not be capable of relative pivotal movement, but in fact may be engaged by relative rectilinear movement, and additional fixings as necessary may be provided to ensure that the lid portion 18 cannot be withdrawn from the open topped housing 1 as long as the pins of the latter are inserted into any electrical socket. Furthermore, whether the two portions of the adaptor are interengaged by means of pivotal movement, rectilineas movement or some other geometry of relative movement, the said portions may be welded together instead of, or in addition to, any snap-fitments that may be provided.

The placement of the fuse is another area in which departures from the configuration shown may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and also in some configurations it may be preferable to have the plastics pin substitute, or even a metal pin, secured to the open topped housing 1 rather than integrally formed with the lid portion 18.

In any event what is provided is a standard British three-pin plug the body of which is a receptor for a two-pin plug of Continental design, and which may be closed to give the appearance of a conventional three-pin plug. Such arrangements have, as has been indicated, advantages in marketing and packaging as well as advantages for the user in providing an integral plug unit rather than a plug and a separate adaptor.

Claims (11)

1. An adaptor arrangement which permits a two-pin type plug to be accommodated within the casing of a three-pin type plug, the arrangement comprising a hollow open-topped housing provided with at least live and neutral square pins and containing electrical contact means to receive the respective pins of the two-pin plug and make electrical connection therewith.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the electrical contact means is directly connected to the neutral pin and another of the electrical contact means is connected, via a fuse, to the live pin.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said electrical contact means comprise spring clip terminals arranged to accommodate the neutral and live pins of the two-pin plug.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, including a closure lid for the housing, said lid being fabricated separately from the housing.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 ,wherein the closure lid is provided with a plastics pin to substitute for an earth pin used in the three-pin type plug.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the open-topped housing.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein the pivotal action is about the plastics pin so that the lid cannot be opened whilst the pins are inserted into the apertures of an electrical socket.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the open-topped housing is formed with an aperture for the plastics pin, the aperture being larger than the pin to accommodate the pivotal movement thereof.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the aperture and the plastics pin are provided with interengaging parts to enable the lid to be assembled to the housing and to control the pivotal action.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, including means for latching the lid to the housing.

11. An adaptor arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.