AU707724B2 - Improvements in or relating to electrical power outlet devices - Google Patents

Description

-2- IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ELECTRICAL POWER OUTLET DEVICES This invention relates to electrical power outlet devices and, in particular, to a device adapted to be connected to a source of electricity and having one or more outlet sockets for receiving one or more electrical plugs connected to electrical appliances.

It is well known to provide a multi-socket device having a plurality of power outlet sockets to enable a plurality of electrical appliances to be connected to a source of power at a single location.

Multi-socket power outlet devices generally consist of a housing formed of at least two body parts, one of which (usually the upper part) has two or more sockets consisting of three apertures for receiving the active, neutral and earth pins of an electrical plug. Each socket has internal conductive components within the housing which are disposed to be contacted by the pins of a plug inserted into the socket, and electrical conductors are required to provide an electrical connection from the internal conductive components of each socket to the source of electrical power outside the housing. Usually, the electrical conductors are provided by conductive wires having flexible insulating sleeves so that the wire conductors do not come into contact with each other. However, the assembly of a multi-socket power outlet device which includes conductive wires having flexible insulating :sleeves can be time consuming, and such insulated conductors can suffer from the drawback that the flexible sleeves may perish with age, making the power outlet socket unsafe to use.

It is therefore desirable to provide a power outlet socket device in which at 25 least some of the disadvantages of the prior art are alleviated.

It is also desirable to provide a multi-socket device of a safe construction that is relatively easy to assemble.

It is further desirable to provide a multi-socket device which does not require conductive wires with flexible insulating sleeves to provide the required electrical connections within the housing.

JRG:NB:#ISO3SPC 6 July 1995 According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrical power outlet device comprising an elongate socket housing formed of a plurality of housing parts, said housing having at least one set of socket apertures in a front surface thereof for receiving the pins of an electrical plug, electrical terminals at opposite ends of the housing which are adapted for connection to a mains power supply, and a plurality of overlapping electrical conductors within the housing providing an electrical connection between said electrical terminals at opposite ends of the housing and an electrical socket formed by said at least one set of socket apertures, wherein at least one of the overlapping electrical conductors has portions which extend in different planes within the housing and which include a bridging portion in one plane that crosses over a portion of another one of the conductors at another plane within the housing, the conductors being supported and located by insulating walls, partitions or other formations provided on at least one of the housing parts.

Preferably, the power outlet device has more than one set of socket apertures 15 so that it provides a plurality of sockets capable of receiving a corresponding number of electrical plugs. Each socket preferably has three apertures for receiving the active, neutral and earth pins of an electrical plug, and in this case the housing will include o••o active, neutral and earth conductors to provide an electrical connection from each a socket within the housing to terminals at the end of the housing for connection to a three phase mains power supply.

Preferably, the terminals at one end of the housing are in the form of pin connectors and the terminals at the other end of the housing are in the form of socket connectors. In this form of the invention, the power outlet device can form part of a modular wiring system which includes a plurality or network of power outlet devices interconnected by extension leads, each extension lead having a plug of pin connectors at one end and a socket of pin-receiving connectors at its #15038JRG

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10/05/99 -4other end for co-operation with pin-receiving terminals and pin-terminals respectively such as those of a power outlet device in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with a further advantageous feature of the invention, the power outlet device may include at least one spring-loaded electrical contact associated with an aperture of a socket. Preferably, the spring loaded electrical contacts are associated with the active and neutral apertures of a socket and form part of switches activated by the insertion of the active and neutral pins of an electrical plug into the active and neutral apertures of the socket.

Each spring-loaded electrical contact associated with an aperture of a socket is preferably received within a contact chamber which may conveniently be formed by internal wall portions provided on one or more of the housing parts. The internal wall portions may also assist in supporting portions of the electrical conductors at the required levels within the housing. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the spring-loaded electrical contacts comprise a generally bulb-shaped contact element having a lower, wider portion remote from the associated socket aperture, and a narrower, upper portion forming a mouth for receiving the pin of a plug inserted into the socket, whereby insertion of a pin into a socket aperture causes the contact to place the pin in electrical connection with a portion of an associated electrical '-'."conductor extending into the contact chamber.

20 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of :example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an external view from above of a multi-socket power outlet device in accordance with the invention formed from upper and lower housing parts; Figure 2 is an internal view from below of the device of Figure 1 with the 25 lower housing part removed; ~Figure 3 is an internal view from below of an upper housing part of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an internal view from above of a lower housing part of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of an earth conductor of the device of jI:NB.&5038SPC 6 July 1995 Figure 1; Figure 6 is an inverted side elevation of the earth conductor of Figure Figure 7 is an isometric view of the earth conductor of Figure Figure 8 is an underneath plan view of a neutral conductor of the device of Figure 1; Figure 9 is an inverted side view of the neutral conductor of Figure 8; Figure 10 is an isometric view of the neutral conductor of Figure 8; Figure 11 is an underneath plan view of an active conductor of the device of Figure 1; Figure 12 is an inverted side view of the active conductor of Figure 11; Figure 13 is an isometric view of the active conductor of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a sectional view on the line I-I through an active or neutral pin receiving aperture of a socket of the device; Figure 15 is a sectional view similar to Figure 14 with an active or neutral pin of an electrical plug fully inserted into the socket aperture; Figure 16 is a sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 2 of an earthreceiving aperture of a socket of the device; Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16 with an earth pin of a plug fully inserted into the aperture of the socket; and 20 Figure 18 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 1 through an end part of the device; The multi-socket power outlet device shown in the drawings comprises an elongate housing 1 formed of an upper housing part 2 and a lower housing part 3 and having first and second electrical sockets 4 and 5, each of which is adapted to 25 receive a three pin electrical plug having active, neutral and earth pins.

The upper housing part 2 has a top wall 20, side walls 22 and end portions 23 and 25, whereas the lower housing part 3 consists of a base plate of similar shape having side flanges 32 and end portions 33 and 35, the side flanges 32 being adapted to be secured to the lower edges of the side walls 22 of the upper housing part 2.

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JRG:NB:#IS038SPC 6 July 199S -6- Each socket 4 and 5 has a set of three apertures 12, 14 and 16 formed in the top wall 20 of the upper housing part 2, each aperture 12, 14 and 16 being adapted to receive the active, neutral and earth pins respectively of an electrical plug.

The end portion 23 at one end of the upper housing part 2 (the left hand end as shown in Figures 2 and 3) has a transversely extending wall 24 formed with three recesses 27, 28 and 29 which receive conductive active, neutral and earth terminals 42, 44 and 46 respectively in the form of pins which extend from within the housing to outside the housing. Similar recesses 17, 18 and 19 are provided in a transversely extending wall 34 of the end portion 33 of the lower housing part 3. The pin terminals 42, 44 and 46 form a three-pin plug connection 40 which enables the power outlet device to be connected to other power outlet devices and/or to a threephase mains power supply by an extension lead having a socket complementary to the three-pin plug connection 40. The end portion 25 at the opposite end of the upper housing part 2 (the right hand end as shown in Figures 1 and 2) has a S 15 transversely extending wall 26 formed with three recesses 47, 48 and 49, each of which leads to a respective pin-receiving terminal 52, 54 and 56 located within the :housing. Similar recesses 37, 38 and 39 are provided in a transversely extending wall 36 of the lower housing part 3. The pin-receiving terminals 52, 54 and 56 and the pairs of recesses 37, 47; 38, 48; and 39, 49 form a socket connection 50 which enables the power outlet device to be connected to another power outlet device i and/or to a three-phase mains power supply by an extension lead having a three-pin connector of similar form to the plug connection As shown in Figures 5 to 13, each pin-receiving terminal 52, 54 and 56 is formed by a bifurcated conductive member having a terminal head portion 57 and two fork portions 58. The fork portions 58 extend from the terminal head portion 57 with a gap therebetween before tapering inwardly to meet each other at a position towards respective pairs of the recesses 37, 47; 38, 48; 39, 49, with the ends 59 of the fork portions extending away from each other to form a mouth for receiving a pin terminal of a complementary plug connector on an extension lead. When the pins of a plug on an extension lead or the like are inserted into the mouths of the JRG:NB:#lS03.SC 6 July 1995 -7bifurcated pin-receiving terminals 52, 54 and 56 they force the fork portions 58 of the terminals apart and the resilience of the fork portions thus assists in retaining the plug connector of the extension lead positively within the socket connection formed by the three pin-receiving terminals 52, 54 and 56. The central pin-receiving member 56 is an earth connector which is disposed within two longitudinally extending walls or partitions 60 formed on the lower surface of the top wall of the upper housing part 2. The walls or partitions 60 isolate the earth pin-receiving terminal 56 from the outer terminals 52 and 54 which are active and neutral pinreceiving terminals 52 and 54. Two shorter longitudinal partitions 62 extend partly along the sides of the active and neutral pin-receiving terminals 52 and 56 and are formed with tubular locating portions 61 which, together with complementary post formations 63 on the lower housing part 3 assist in locating the upper and lower housing parts 2 and 3 together during assembly. A plurality of transversely extending wall portions 64 extend partly between the longitudinal partitions 60 and o 15 62 to assist in locating and retaining the pin-receiving terminals 52, 54 and 56 within chambers formed by the longitudinal wall portions 60 and 62.

The pin terminals 42, 44 and 46 are also electrically isolated from one another and located in position by longitudinally extending walls or partitions 65, 66, 67 and 68 formed on the upper housing part 2. Also, a transversely extending partition 69 is formed on the upper housing part 2 with tubular formations 70 being provided to cooperate with complementary post formations 71 on the lower housing part 14 to assist in location of the housing parts 2 and 3 together during assembly.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 to 4 and 14 to 17 of the drawings, below each pin-receiving aperture 12, 14 and 16 there is provided a respective contact chamber 72, 74 and 76, each of which has side and end walls formed by internal wall portions of the upper and lower housing parts 2 and 3. Figures 14 and of the drawings show a contact chamber 72, 74 below one of the active or neutral pin-receiving apertures 12, 14 which has end walls formed by wall portions 80 and 82 which depend downwardly from the top wall 20 of the upper housing part 2 and by wall portions 84 and 86 which extend upwardly from the base plate 30 of the 6 July 1995 -8lower housing part 3. The contact chamber contains a spring loaded electrical contact switch member 88 which is adapted to receive the active or neutral pin 89 of an electrical plug 90 inserted into the socket aperture 34.

The contact switch member 88 is formed of a generally bulb-shaped conductive wire element having a rounded lower portion 92, and limb portions 93 and 94 which extend upwardly and inwardly from the lower portion 92 to meet at an intermediate position before extending outwardly to the upper ends 96 and 98 of the limb portions. The upper end 96 of one of the limbs 93 is retained between the wall portion 80 and a finger 97 extending downwardly from the top wall 20 of the upper housing part 2, and the upper end portion 98 of the other limb portion 94 has a silver switch contact 99 thereon which is movable into contact with a silver contact 199 on a switch portion 127, 147 of an active or neutral electrical conductor 120, 140 which provides the electrical connection between the active or neutral terminals 42, 44 and 52, 54 at opposite ends of the housing.

The neutral contact chambers 74 and the active contact chambers 72 of the first and second sockets 16 and 18 are of substantially identical form as shown in 9"Figures 14 and 15, and include electrical contact switch members of similar form to the contact switch member 88 shown in Figures 14 and 2 Figures 16 and 17 show an earth contact chamber 76 below an earth pinreceiving aperture 36 and a spring-loaded electrical contact element 108 received in the chamber 76 and which is adapted to receive an earth pin 101 of an electrical plug 90 inserted into the socket aperture 36. The contact chamber 76 has side and end walls formed by wall portions which depend downwardly from the upper housing part and wall portions which extend upwardly from the base of the lower housing part. Figures 17 and 18 show end wall portions 100 and 102 which depend downwardly from the top wall 20 of the upper housing part and wall portions 104 and 106 which extend upwardly from the base plate 30 of the lower housing part 14 and which meet with the lower ends of the wall portions 100 and 102. The electrical contact element 108 is similar to the switch contact member 88 in that it is also formed of a generally bulb-shaped conductive wire element having a rounded JRG:N:#1503S.SPC 6July 1995 -9lower portion 112, limb portions 113 and 114 which extend upwardly and inwardly from the lower bulb-portion 112 and outwardly extending end portions 116 and 118 which form a mouth for receiving the earth pin 101 of electrical plug 90. The contact element 108 differs from the neutral switch contact member 88 in that a vertically extending contact portion 167, 169 of an earth conductor 160 extends into the mouth of the contact member 108 between the limb portions 113 and 114.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the active, neutral and earth conductors 120, 140 and 160 comprise overlapping bare electrical conductors within which provide electrical connections between the pin terminals 42, 44 and 46 and the pin-receiving terminals 52, 54 and 56 at opposite ends of the housing and the electrical contact members 88 and 108 located within the contact chambers 72, 74 and 76 below the pin-receiving apertures 12, 14 and 16 of the first and second sockets 4 and Each of the active, neutral and earth conductors 120, 140 and 160 comprises a solid metal electrical conductor preferably formed from brass wire two millimetres in diameter. Each conductor is formed with a plurality of bends so that when assembled in the housing it has generally horizontally extending portions at different heights or levels within the housing joined by generally vertically extending portions.

As seen from left to right in Figures 2 and 11 to 13, the active conductor 120 has a first horizontal portion 121 at a first level connected at one end to the pin terminal 42, a second horizontal portion 122 at a second level which is joined by a first vertically extending portion 221 to the other end of the first portion 121 and which leads into the active contact chamber 72 of the first socket 4, a vertically extending generally U-shaped switch portion 127 within the contact chamber 72 which forms a contact member with which the switch contact member 88 within the chamber is engageable, a third horizontal portion also on the second level joined to the portion 127 and which leads out of the contact chamber 72, a cross-over part 128 comprising a diagonally extending horizontal portion 220 at the first level having vertical portions 222, 223 at each end, one of which 223 is joined to the third horizontal portion 123, a horizontal portion 124 on the second level which is joined JRG:N:#1S038.SPC 6 July 1995 to the other vertical portion 224 of the cross-over part 128 and which leads into the active contact chamber 72 of the second socket 5, a further U-shaped vertically extending switch portion 129 joined to the fourth horizontally extending portion 124 within the second active contact chamber 72, a fifth horizontal portion 125 on the second level leading from the second active contact chamber 72, and an L-shaped sixth horizontal portion 126 on the first level formed by a first limb 226 joined to the fifth horizontal portion 125 by a vertically extending portion 225 with its second limb 227 connected to the active pin-receiving terminal 52. As shown in Figures 2 and 11 to 13, the first horizontally portion 121 has an intermediate diagonally extending part 228 between longitudinally extending parts 229 and 230.

The neutral conductor 140 is of generally similar form to the active conductor 120 and as shown from left to right in Figures 2 and 8 to 10 has an L-shaped first horizontal portion 141 on the first level within the housing having a first longitudinally extending limb 243 connected to the neutral pin terminal 44 and a second limb 244 which extends transversely towards the adjacent side of the housing, a second horizontal portion 142 on the second level having a longitudinally :extending part 245 joined by a first vertically extending portion 241 to the end of the transversely extending second limb 244 of the first portion 141 and a diagonally extending part 246 which leads in to the neutral contact chamber 74 of the first socket 16, a U-shaped vertically extending switch portion 147 which is joined to an end of the diagonally extending part 246 of the second portion 142 within the contact chamber 74 and which forms a switch with the associated electrical contact member 88 within that chamber, a third horizontal portion 143 on the second level which leads from the switch portion 147 out of the contact chamber 74, a cross-over portion 148 on the second level joined to the third portion 143 and which extends diagonally and transversely across the housing, a fourth horizontal portion 144 also on the second level joined to the diagonally extending cross-over portion 148 and which leads into the neutral contact chamber 74 of the second switch 18, a second U-shaped vertically extending switch portion 149 which, together with an associated electrical contact switch member 88, forms a switch in the second neutral contact JRG:NB:#ISOSS.SPC 6 July1995 11 chamber 74, a fifth horizontal portion 145 on the second level leading from the neutral contact chamber 74 of the second socket, and a longitudinally extending sixth horizontal portion 146 on the first level joined at one end to the fifth horizontal portion 145 by a second vertically extending portion 242 connected at its other end to the neutral pin-receiving terminal 54. The fifth horizontal portion 145 has a first part 247 connected to the switch portion 149 and which leads out of the contact chamber 74 a transversely extending second part 248 joined at one end to the part 247 and a longitudinally extending part 249 joined to the other end of the transversely extending part 248.

The earth conductor 160 as seen from left to right in Figure 2 has a first horizontal portion 161 on a first level having a longitudinally extending end part 261 at one end connected to the earth pin terminal 46, an intermediate V-shaped part 262 which extends around one of the tubular formations 70 and a longitudinally extending part 263 at its other end joined to a first vertically extending contact 15 portion 167 which leads into the earth contact chamber 76 of the first socket 4 and which is arranged to extend between the limb portions 113 and 114 of the spring :loaded contact member 108, a second horizontal portion 162 on a second level connected to the contact portion 167 and which leads from the earth contact chamber 76 and extends transversely to a side of the housing, a third horizontal portion 163 on the second level joined to the second portion 162 and which extends longitudinally along the side of the housing, a fourth horizontal portion 164 on the second level joined to the third portion 163 and which extends transversely inwards leading to the earth contact chamber 76 of the second socket 5, a second vertically extending contact portion 169 which extends between the limb portions 113 and 114 of the associated spring-loaded contact member 108 within the second earth contact chamber 76, and a fifth, longitudinally extending, horizontal portion 165 on the first level connected at one end to the vertical contact portion 169 and which extends out of the earth contact chamber 76 with its other end connected to the earth pinreceiving terminal 56.

It will be appreciated that in the arrangement of the active, neutral and earth 6 July 1995 12conductors 120, 140 and 160 described above and as illustrated by Figure 2, the conductors overlap and cross over each other at several locations within the housing.

Since bare metal conductors are used, it is important that accidental or inadvertent contact between the conductors is avoided during use of the multi-socket power outlet device. For this purpose, a plurality of partitions integrally formed with the upper and lower housing parts 2 and 3 are provided which, together with the wall portions of the contact chambers 72, 74 and 76 support the horizontal portions of the overlapping conductors at the two different levels in the housing. Several of these partitions are shown in Figures 2 and 3 wherein the upper housing part 2 has partitions 171 to 177 which locate and support various portions at the first level which corresponds to the level at which the pin and pin-receiving terminals are located. A transversely extending partition 171 supports the first longitudinally extending conductor portions 121, 141 and 161 at the first level, diagonally extending partitions 172 and 173 support the diagonally extending cross-over portion 128 of the active conductor so that it is held out of contact with the diagonally extending cross-over portion 148 of the neutral conductor 140, and partitions 174 and 175 are provided to support different parts of the L-shaped sixth horizontal portion 124 of the active conductor at the first level within the housing. Partition 175 extends transversely and also serves to separate the horizontal portions 145 and 164 of the neutral and earth conductors respectively.

~The upper housing part 2 also has shorter partitions which assist in retaining the various portions of the conductors at the second level which corresponds to the level and which conductor portions enter and leave the contact chambers 72, 74 and 76. For instance, partition 181 is a longitudinally extending partition which supports the second earth conductor portion 162, and partitions 182 and 183 are short diagonal portions which support the diagonally extending cross-over portion 148 of the neutral conductor.

Preferably, at least some of the supporting partitions 171 to 176, 181 to 183 and the wall portions 80, 82, 100 and 102 of the contact chambers 72, 74 and 76 have recesses therein for receiving various portions of the conductors so that the JRG:NBE15038.SPC 6 July 1995 13 conductors can be clipped into the partitions and wall portions to be held securely therein.

The lower housing part 3 is also formed with partitions which assist in supporting and locating the various portions of the conductors at the two levels within the housing. For instance, partitions 191 extending upwardly from the base of the lower housing part 3 may be provided adjacent to the active and neutral contact chambers 72 and 74 to support portions of the conductor 120 or 140 which enter or leave the contact chamber 72 or 74 (as shown in Figures 14 and The multi-socket connector described above with reference to the drawings may be readily assembled in the following manner. First, an earth sub-assembly comprising the earth conductor 160, the earth pin terminal 46, and the earth pinreceiving terminal 56 is placed in position with the various parts of the earth conductor 160 being clipped into recesses in the appropriate partitions of the upper housing part 2. Then a neutral sub-assembly comprising neutral conductor 140, S 15 neutral pin terminal 44 and neutral pin-receiving terminal 54 is placed in position followed by an active sub-assembly comprising active conductor 120, active pin terminal 42 and pin-receiving terminal 52 so that the portions of the conductors 140 and 120 are supported and securely held in position by the relevant partitions and wall portions of the upper housing part 12. The electrical switch contact members 88 and 108 are then placed into position in the active, neutral and earth contact chambers 72, 74 and 76 and finally the lower housing part 3 is placed in position and secured to the upper housing part preferably by welding so that the partitions and wall portions of the lower housing part also assist in locating and securely retaining the various conductor portions in position. The electrical power outlet device described above is therefore easy to assemble without requiring the time consuming task of connecting flexible conductive wires with insulating sleeves to the pin terminals and the pin-receiving terminals at opposite ends of the housing.

Also, the switches in the active and neutral contact chambers 72 and 74 formed by the switch contact members 88 and the switch contact portions 127, 129, 147 and 149 of the active and neutral conductors 120 and 140 help to make the power outlet JRG:NB:#1503SIC 6 July 1995 14device safe to use.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and alterations may be made to the electrical power outlet device described with reference to the drawings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, the form and arrangement of the conductors 120, 140 and 160 may be altered for different applications, for instance when different arrangements or numbers of sockets are required to be provided by the multi-socket power outlet device.

The contents of associated provisional patent application No. PM6726 are incorporated herein by reference and form part of the disclosure of this application as well as the accompanying claims.

••o a a *o o* JRG:NB:#1503SPC 6 July 1995 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. An electrical power outlet device comprising an elongate socket housing formed of a plurality of housing parts, said housing having at least one set of socket apertures in a front surface thereof for receiving the pins of an electrical plug, electrical terminals at opposite ends of the housing which are adapted for connection to a mains power supply, and a plurality of overlapping electrical conductors within the housing providing an electrical connection between said electrical terminals at opposite ends of the housing and an electrical socket formed by said at least one set of socket apertures, wherein at least one of the overlapping electrical conductors has portions which extend in different planes within the housing and which include a bridging portion in one plane that crosses over a portion of another one of the conductors at another plane within the housing, the conductors being supported and located by insulating walls, partitions or other formations provided on at least one of

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the housing parts.

e 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the power outlet device has a plurality of sets of socket apertures to provide a plurality of sockets for receiving a Q plurality of electrical plugs.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the terminals at one end of the housing are pin connectors and the terminals at the opposite end of the housing are socket connectors.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each socket has three socket apertures for receiving active, neutral and earth terminals of an electrical plug, and three conductors are provided within the housing to provide for electrical connection between active, neutral and earth terminals at a side or at least one end of the housing and the or each socket.

A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the conductors within the housing are bare wire conductors.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ,oj ,device includes at least one spring-loaded electrical contact associated with a JRG IA 10/05/99

Claims (7)

1. 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said at least one spring-loaded contact forms part of a switch activated by insertion of a pin of an electrical plug into the associated socket aperture.
2. 8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said at least one set of socket apertures includes active and neutral socket apertures which include a switch activated by insertion of an active or neutral pin into an associated active or neutral socket aperture.
3. 9. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the at least one spring-loaded electrical contact is received within a contact chamber formed by internal wall portions provided on one or more of the housing parts.
4. 10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said internal wall portions assist in supporting the electrical conductors within the housing.
5. 11. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein the or each spring-loaded electrical contact comprises a generally bulb-shaped contact element having a lower, wider portion remote from the associated socket aperture, and a narrower, upper portion forming a mouth for receiving the pin of a plug inserted into the socket, whereby insertion of a pin into a socket aperture causes the contact to place the pin in electrical connection with a portion of an associated electrical conductor within the housing.
6. 12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is formed in two parts.
7. 13. An electrical power outlet device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 10 May 1999 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: SCHITECH PTY LTD #15038 JRG JA 10/05/99 ABSTRACT An improved multi-socket electrical power outlet device is provided which has a plurality of socket apertures (12, 14 and 16) in a housing and a plurality of overlapping bare electrical conductors (120, 140, 160) within the housing to provide electrical connections between pin terminals (42, 44 and 46) at one end of the housing and socket terminals (52, 54 and 56) at the other end of the housing. The overlapping bare conductors (120, 140 and 160) are supported and located out of contact with each other by insulating walls and partitions (171 to 177; 191) formed on upper and lower housing parts The device has contact chambers (72, 74 and 76) disposed below the socket apertures (12, 14 and 16) and the contrast chambers (72, 74) for the active and/or neutral socket apertures (12, 14) may include spring-loaded switch contacts (88). 0 0** 000 0**0 0 0000 0* 0 0 0000 JRGNB#15M38SPC 6 uly 1995