AU2010100095A4

AU2010100095A4 - Outdoor electrical adaptor

Info

Publication number: AU2010100095A4
Application number: AU2010100095A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Ron Betterridge
Original assignee: DAVID BETTERRIDGE
Current assignee: DAVID BETTERRIDGE
Priority date: 2010-02-01
Filing date: 2010-02-01
Publication date: 2010-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-01
Also published as: AU2010100095B4

Description

1 OUTDOOR ELECTRICAL ADAPTOR This invention relates to an electrical adaptor for providing power from a domestic residence to a mobile home or caravan. 5 Background to the invention Most caravan's or RV's have a power source rating of 15 Amps so that a number of appliances can be run at one time. However domestic power outlets are rated to 10 amps. Because of this the plugs and sockets are designed to be incompatible to prevent damaging the domestic power circuits or worse initiate a fire. 10 Another difficulty with connecting a caravan power to a domestic circuit is that the leads and connections are exposed to the elements It is an object of this invention to provide an adaptor that solves these problems. Brief description of the invention 15 To this end the present invention provides an electrical adaptor which incorporates a socket that accepts a plug rated to a first maximum current load , a circuit breaker set for said first maximum current load, a residual circuit device compatible to a an electrical circuit rated to a higher maximum current load where in the socket is enclosed in a compartment adapted to receive the plug and the compartment is 20 provided with a releasable cover. This combination means that the external circuit in the caravan can be operated up to the first maximum current which in Australia is 10 amps for most domestic power circuits. The releasable cover for the socket compartment ensures that the plug and socket remain dry and protected from the weather. The adaptor includes a plug that 25 is compatible with the external power socket of the caravan or RV. The adaptor preferably includes a circuit breaker switch that can be turned back on after the circuit has been broken. The switch is also preferably enclosed in a compartment with a releasable cover. Preferably the cover for the socket compartment ant and the cover for the switch compartment are transparent. 30 Detailed description of the invention A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which 2 Figure 1 shows the adaptor of this invention; Figure 2 shows the adaptor of figure 1 with a domestic plug attached; Figure 3 shows a detail of the socket cover being closed; Figure 4 shows a detail of the socket cover closed; 5 Figure 5 shows a detail of the opening of the socket cover; Figure 6 is an exploded view of the socket cover closure mechanism. The adaptor 10 as illustrated consists of a body 10 having a lead 11 for connection to a caravan or RV. This adaptor is suitable for any application using a current limit different to that of a domestic power outlet. The body includes two covered 10 compartments 13 and 22. Compartment 13 includes the circuit breaker 15 and reset switch 16 protected from the elements by transparent cover 18. Socket compartment 22 includes a socket 23 for a conventional domestic electric plug 24 and lead 25. Compartment 22 is sealed by transparent cover 33 which is releasably locked to the body 10 15 The cover 33 includes a latch portion 34 that incorporates a channel 35 to accommodate the lead 25. The channel 35 is defined by the sealing block 36 which is complementary to the channel block 56 in the channel portion 55 of the body latch mechanism 53. The cover latch includes a snap fit tongue 38 which snaps over the retaining ledge 58 of the body latch mechanism 53. 20 The lead 25 also rests on the spring loaded cable guide 44 which is located within compartment 22. As shown in figures 3 and 4 as the cover 33 is closed the guide 44 is bent under tension and held under tension by the tongue 38 engaging the ledge 58. As shown in figure 5 when the release tab 59 is lifted it displaces the tongue 38 away from 25 ledge 58 and the release tension of guide 44 displaces the cover 33 upwards so that the lead 25 and plug 24 can be removed from the compartment 22. Those skilled in the art will realise that this invention provides a unique, convenient and cost effective solution to the provision of an electrical adaptor for caravans and RV's. Those skilled in the art will also realise that this invention can be implemented 30 in embodiments other than that described without departing from the core teachings of the invention.

Claims

1. An electrical adaptor which incorporates 5 a socket that accepts a plug rated to a first maximum current load, a circuit breaker set for said first maximum current load, a residual circuit device compatible to a an electrical circuit rated to a higher maximum current load wherein the socket is enclosed in a compartment adapted to receive the plug 10 and the compartment is provided with a releasable cover.

2. An electrical adaptor as claimed in claim 1 which also includes a lead and an electrical plug. 15

3. An electrical adaptor as claimed in claim 1 in which the circuit breaker includes a switch which is enclosed in a compartment with a releasable cover.

4. An electrical adaptor as claimed in claim 3 in which the covers for the socket 20 and switch compartments are transparent. 25