AU2012101538A4 - Power Board - Google Patents

Abstract

C.\NRPrb\DCO EX14673244_ I DOC- 5/111/2012 A power board, including: a housing including a face plate having a front surface and a rear surface; 5 at least one socket accessible via the front surface, the socket having apertures to receive pins of an electrical plug; and a gasket associated with the socket; wherein the gasket is in engagement with the rear surface of the face plate, and includes apertures configured to form an interference fit with the pins of the plug. 1/5 -j o NN C)C I co N o NN

Description

- I - 15 October, 2012 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: Arlec Australia Pty. Ltd. of Building 3, 31-41 Joseph Street, Blackburn North, Victoria 3130 Australia Actual Inventors: TAM, Kar Lun PUIKA, Monty Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia Innovation Patent specification for the invention entitled: "Power Board" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: C\NRPorbl\DCC\KZS\4673244_I DOC-12/1U/2012 POWER BOARD The present invention relates to a power board capable of outdoor use and/or use in other environments in which exposure to water, humidity, other moisture or particulate matter is 5 a potential problem. Power boards (also known as power strips, extension blocks or plug boards) are a widely used means of permitting multiple electrical devices to be powered from a single electrical outlet. 10 As with other electrical equipment, power boards can be assessed against the IEC 60529 standard and assigned an ingress protection (IP) rating which provides an indication of how resistant the power board is to ingress of liquids and solid matter. For example, power boards for indoor use typically have a minimum rating of IP22. Safety standards may 15 require that power boards intended for outdoor use have a rating of IP44 or better. Previously proposed IP44-rated power boards have a cover or flip door covering the sockets. These known power boards are rated at IP44 or better when not in use. However, when the cover or flip door is removed in order to insert a plug into the socket, the IP 20 rating drops below IP44. It would be desirable to provide a power board which is capable of maintaining an IP44 rating or above whilst in use, or at least to provide a useful alternative. 25 Accordingly, the present invention provides a power board, including: a housing including a face plate having a front surface and a rear surface; at least one socket accessible via the front surface, the socket having apertures to receive pins of an electrical plug; and a gasket associated with the socket; wherein the gasket is in engagement with the rear surface of the face plate, and includes apertures configured to form an interference fit with the pins of the 30 plug.

C:WRPonbhDCC\KZSW673244_ILDOC.12/11W2012 -2 Advantageously, the engagement of the gasket with the rear surface of the face plate, and the interference fit of the pins with the gasket apertures, allows the power board to maintain a seal against ingress of moisture and particulate matter whilst the socket is in use with the plug. The power board is thus capable of maintaining an IP44 rating or better even 5 whilst in use. Preferably, the power board includes a plurality of sockets. The power board may also include a plurality of gaskets, respective gaskets being associated with respective sockets. 10 In preferred embodiments, the (or each) gasket is mounted to the rear surface by a mounting plate. In another aspect, the present invention provides a face plate assembly for a power board, the face plate assembly including: a face plate having a front surface and a rear surface; at 15 least one socket region accessible via the front surface, the socket region having apertures to receive pins of an electrical plug; and a gasket associated with the socket region; wherein the gasket is in engagement with the rear surface of the face plate, and includes apertures configured to form an interference fit with the pins of the plug. 20 Preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial exploded view of a power board according to one embodiment of the invention; 25 Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of a face plate assembly of the power board of Figure 1, shown from the rear; Figure 3 shows the face plate assembly of Figure 2 in assembled form; Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of a gasket used with the face plate assembly and power board of Figures 1 to 3; 30 Figure 5 is a front projection view of the gasket; and Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the gasket.

C \NRPortbl\DCC\KZS\4611244_1 DOC-I 1W2012 -3 Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a power board 100 including a face plate assembly 200. Not shown in the Figure is a base of a housing of the power board 100 to which face plate assembly 200 attaches, for example via screws received in threaded bores 234 of the 5 face plate (Figure 2). The base houses electrical components of the power board 200 including contact elements, circuit boards, wiring and so on (not shown). The face plate assembly 200 includes a series of socket regions 212, each associated with a rocker switch assembly 110 when the face plate assembly 200 is coupled to the base of the 10 power board housing. The respective actuators 116 of rocker switch assemblies 110 are used to open (or close) pairs of contacts associated with respective socket regions 212 so as to turn off (or on) power to the associated socket. Each of the socket regions 212 has an associated hinged cover 216 within which is seated 15 an O-ring 218, such that when the socket is not in use and the cover 216 is in place, the 0 ring seals the socket to prevent or substantially reduce ingress of moisture or other contaminants such as particulate matter which may affect performance of the power board 100. Hinged covers 216 each include a grippable portion 216a to assist a user in gripping the cover 216 to open it by rotation about a hinge pin 216b associated with cover 216. 20 Rocker switch assemblies 110 each include an actuator 116 seated in a frame 114. An upper surface of the frame 114 has a recessed edge l I4a such that a moulded silicone switch cover 112 can be placed on the frame 114. The switch cover 112 has a lip 1 12a which abuts against a seat 122 on a rear or internal surface 204 of face plate 210 (Figures 2 25 and 3) when the assembly 110 is received in apertures 120 of the face plate, such that the switch cover 112 provides a seal against moisture or particulate matter entering the interior of the power board 100 via the switch regions 120. The switch cover 112 is resiliently deformable to allow the actuator 116 of switch assembly 110 to be easily operated to switch power to socket 212 on or off. 30 The face plate assembly 200 includes a face plate 210 having a front surface 202 to which C:\NRPonbI\DCC\KZS\4673244_ 1 DOC-12/V V2012 -4 the socket covers 216 are mounted via hinge pins 216b, and a rear surface 204. Each socket region 212 of the face plate 210 includes a plurality of elongate slots 214 to receive pins of a standard 3-pin electrical plug of the type used in Australia and New Zealand. Mounted to the rear surface 204 of face plate 210, and associated with each socket region 5 212, are silicone gaskets 220. As best shown in Figures 4 to 6, each gasket 220 has three elongate slots 402 which are sized, shaped and oriented to match the configuration of the slots 214 in face plate 210, such that when mounted, the gasket 220 can accommodate the pins of a plug inserted into socket 212. As shown in the Figures, the socket and gasket accommodates the two live pins and ground pin of a three-pin plug as used in Australia, 10 New Zealand and other countries, but it will be appreciated that the gasket configuration can be modified to suit plugs used in other countries. In the preferred embodiments, each gasket 220 is mounted to the rear surface 204 of face plate 210 by a mounting plate 224. The perimeter 410 of each gasket 220 includes recessed 15 or cut-out portions 404 which accommodate threaded bores 232 extending from the rear surface 204 of face plate 210. The cut-out portions 404 may alternatively be located radially inwardly of the perimeter 410 of the gasket. Gasket 220 is seated in recessed region 230 of the rear surface 204 with the cut-out portions 404 overlying the bores 232. Mounting plate 224 is then affixed via screws inserted through apertures in the mounting 20 plate 224 and into bores 232 so that the gasket 220 is sandwiched between the mounting plate 224 and rear surface 204 of the face plate 210. Mounting plate 224 has three elongate slots with a configuration matching those of the face plate 210 and gasket 220, and has a lug projecting from one surface to be received in a blind bore 420 in the rear surface of gasket 220 (Figure 6). 25 It will also be appreciated that the gaskets 220 can be affixed to the face plate 210 by other means, such as by use of a suitable adhesive or other fixing agent. In this case bores 232 may still be used to locate gasket 220 in the correct position by virtue of engagement with the cut-out portions 404. 30 The gasket 220 is preferably formed of a resilient material such as a silicone or another CANRPonbl\DCC\KZS\673244_ IDOC-121W2012 -5 polymeric material capable of forming a seal against the rear surface 204 of face plate 210. Preferably, the material should also be relatively resistant to degradation under thermal and light conditions typically encountered outdoors. 5 The elongate slots 402 are tapered inwardly from the front surface of the gasket (Figure 4) via inclined sidewalls 406. The angle of sidewalls 406 may closely match the angle of bevelled edges of the pins of the electrical plug, such that as the plug is inserted, the pins initially enter the slots 402 easily until they engage with sidewalls 406. Then, as the pins are pushed further in, their external surfaces engage with surfaces of narrower sections of 10 the slots 402 to form an interference fit. The resiliency of the material of the gasket 220 aids in maintaining the interference fit such that moisture and particulate matter are substantially prevented from ingress into the power board 100. In some embodiments, the plurality of gaskets 220 may be formed as a single web of 15 silicone material with apertures or cut-out portions at locations which match the relative locations of elongate slots 402 and cut-out portions 404 of the individual gaskets shown in Figures 2 and 3. This may provide greater ease of assembly in that the single web of material can be aligned with the threaded bores 232 and mounting plates 224 can then be attached, as opposed to having to position individual gaskets prior to mounting. 20 The power board as described herein in its preferred embodiments is advantageously suitable for use outdoors, and in indoor environments where it may be exposed to significant levels of moisture and/or solid matter, for example in a workshop environment in which large amounts of moisture and/or particulate matter such as dust, sawdust, metal 25 shavings etc. may from time to time be present. Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of 30 any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

C:NRPonbl\DCCKZSW673244. DOC-12/11V2012 -6 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of 5 endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (5)

1. A power board, including: a housing including a face plate having a front surface and a rear surface; 5 at least one socket accessible via the front surface, the socket having apertures to receive pins of an electrical plug; and a gasket associated with the socket; wherein the gasket is in engagement with the rear surface of the face plate, and includes apertures configured to form an interference fit with the pins of the 10 plug.

2. A power board according to claim 1, including a plurality of sockets.

3. A power board according to claim 2, including a plurality of gaskets, respective 15 gaskets being associated with respective sockets.

4. A power board according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the (or each) gasket is mounted to the rear surface by a mounting plate. 20

5. A face plate assembly for a power board, the face plate assembly including: a face plate having a front surface and a rear surface; at least one socket region accessible via the front surface, the socket region having apertures to receive pins of an electrical plug; and a gasket associated with the socket region; 25 wherein the gasket is in engagement with the rear surface of the face plate, and includes apertures configured to form an interference fit with the pins of the plug.