CA2036840C - Multiple socket attachment - Google Patents
Multiple socket attachmentInfo
- Publication number
- CA2036840C CA2036840C CA 2036840 CA2036840A CA2036840C CA 2036840 C CA2036840 C CA 2036840C CA 2036840 CA2036840 CA 2036840 CA 2036840 A CA2036840 A CA 2036840A CA 2036840 C CA2036840 C CA 2036840C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conductors
- channels
- multiple socket
- strips
- slots
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
- H01R31/02—Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multiple socket attachment for accommodating a plurality of cord plugs is made of a flat box-like receptacle containing four electrical conductors made of metal strips disposed in recess channels. The receptacle is provided with two longitudinal rectilinear channels and a plurality of transversal channels leading to slots through the lateral walls. Each longitudinal channel contains two superposed metal srtips in spaced relationship and each transversal channel containing a plurality of transversal strips in adjacent relationship. Each conductor has an L-shaped leg extending through one face of the receptacle and consisting of prongs located to fit into conventional wall outlet.
A multiple socket attachment for accommodating a plurality of cord plugs is made of a flat box-like receptacle containing four electrical conductors made of metal strips disposed in recess channels. The receptacle is provided with two longitudinal rectilinear channels and a plurality of transversal channels leading to slots through the lateral walls. Each longitudinal channel contains two superposed metal srtips in spaced relationship and each transversal channel containing a plurality of transversal strips in adjacent relationship. Each conductor has an L-shaped leg extending through one face of the receptacle and consisting of prongs located to fit into conventional wall outlet.
Description
- - 2 ~
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
_. ___ _ ____________._ MULTIPLE SOCKET ATTACHMENT
B~CKROUND OF TIIE INVENTION
,: --____.
Field of tlle inventioll:
Thi 9 invention relates to fln attachment adapted to be connected to a conventional electric wall out]et and capable of accommodating multiple electrical appliance cord plugs and in particular six, eight, ten or a higher multiple of pairs of cord pl IJgS .
Prior Art:
U.S. patent No. 3,005,179 discloses a multipl n electric outlet which is limited to six outlets. The design oE
the inner conductors defines a complex path and the superpogition .:
of positive and negative conductors carries A risk of short~
:.:-circuit.
The present applicant has a pending application S.N. 457,102 describing a multiple socket attachment which can accommodate a maximum of only four cord plugs. In this application, the conductors extend crosswise between the lateral wal 19 through which the cord plugs are inserted.
... 2 SUMMf~RY_OF_ HE_INVENTION_ In the pregent multiple gocket attflchment, the main strip of the conductors extends parallel to the lateral walLs through which the cord p1ugs are inserted. The design of the conductors is simple and leads to the possibility oE
accommodating an unlimited number of pairs of cord plugs.
The present multiple socket attachment comprises a rectangular box-like receptacle having two parallel lateral walls provided with a plurality of pairs of slots for receiving the tineg of electrical appliance cord plugs and two Fflcing walls extending between the lateral walls. One of the facing walls comprise a plurality of interna]ly projecting pnrtitions defining chanl1els. The attachment also includes four electrical conductors disposed in two of the channels. Each of the conductors extends from positions adjacent a plurality of the ; slots to a prong projecting perpendicularly outwardly through the one facing wall.
:..
The channels compromise two gymmetrical rectilinear channelg logitudinally extending parallel to the lateral walls and a purality of transversal channels extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal channels in the direction of the adjacent lateral wall and in line with each of the slots.
... 3 -~ ~ 2 0 3 ~
:
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
_. ___ _ ____________._ MULTIPLE SOCKET ATTACHMENT
B~CKROUND OF TIIE INVENTION
,: --____.
Field of tlle inventioll:
Thi 9 invention relates to fln attachment adapted to be connected to a conventional electric wall out]et and capable of accommodating multiple electrical appliance cord plugs and in particular six, eight, ten or a higher multiple of pairs of cord pl IJgS .
Prior Art:
U.S. patent No. 3,005,179 discloses a multipl n electric outlet which is limited to six outlets. The design oE
the inner conductors defines a complex path and the superpogition .:
of positive and negative conductors carries A risk of short~
:.:-circuit.
The present applicant has a pending application S.N. 457,102 describing a multiple socket attachment which can accommodate a maximum of only four cord plugs. In this application, the conductors extend crosswise between the lateral wal 19 through which the cord plugs are inserted.
... 2 SUMMf~RY_OF_ HE_INVENTION_ In the pregent multiple gocket attflchment, the main strip of the conductors extends parallel to the lateral walLs through which the cord p1ugs are inserted. The design of the conductors is simple and leads to the possibility oE
accommodating an unlimited number of pairs of cord plugs.
The present multiple socket attachment comprises a rectangular box-like receptacle having two parallel lateral walls provided with a plurality of pairs of slots for receiving the tineg of electrical appliance cord plugs and two Fflcing walls extending between the lateral walls. One of the facing walls comprise a plurality of interna]ly projecting pnrtitions defining chanl1els. The attachment also includes four electrical conductors disposed in two of the channels. Each of the conductors extends from positions adjacent a plurality of the ; slots to a prong projecting perpendicularly outwardly through the one facing wall.
:..
The channels compromise two gymmetrical rectilinear channelg logitudinally extending parallel to the lateral walls and a purality of transversal channels extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal channels in the direction of the adjacent lateral wall and in line with each of the slots.
... 3 -~ ~ 2 0 3 ~
:
The conductors comprise two pairs of conductors and each pair ofconductorg comprise a linear strip ~uperposed in the longitudinfll channnel~s. Tran~versal strips laterally extend from the linear strips through each of the transver~sal channels. A spring contact is secured at the end of each transversAI ~trip adjacent one of the 610ts. Eacll prong comprises an L-shaped strip secured to each of the linear strips. The L-shaped strips are secured to the superposed l;near strips forming a pnir of ndjacently positioned prongs adapted to fit into the conventional wall out1et. The superposed conductors are maintained in a spaced relation~sllip by abutting over the edge of the pnrtitions which are crenelated.
The attacllment may also be provided with grounding prongs Eixed to a grounding plate inside the receptacle while tlle grounding prongs extend outside the receptacle to fit into the conventional electric wall outlet. The grounding plate is also provided with spring clamps laterally disposed and fldjacent each pair of slots for resi~iently clamping and grounding the tines of the cord plugs projecting through the slots.
. .:
~ ~RIEF DESCRIPTI()N ()F THE DRAWINGS:
__________________._______ ________ - Figure I is an exploded view of a conventional electric wall outlet and n multiple socket attachment according to the invention .,~'' .
.
2 ~ 3 ~ ~ L~& ~
' .
Figure 2 is a front view of the multiple socket attachment mounted on a wall outlet and to which a purality of electrical appliance cord plugs are attached, Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively rear and side - view~ of an embodiment o~ the novel attachment, Figure~ 4a and 5a are two side views of alternative embodiments of the invention, Figure 6 is a perspective view of an empty and open box-like receptacle for the socket attachment, Figure 7 is an exploded view of the superposed - elements to be fitted inside tlle receptacle shown in figure 6, ., Figure 8 is an internal elevation view of the cover sl-own in figure 7, Figure 9 i~ an enlarged view of the portion 9 ~llnwn in fig. 8, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along ` line 10-10 of Eigure 9, -~ Figure 11 is a front view of a grounding plate mounted in the attachment shown in figure 7, Figure 12 is a side view of the grounding plate shown in figure 11, Figure 13 is an enlarged view of portion 13 shown - in figure 12, ... 5 `" 2~36~40 Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of figure 11 showing a grounding prong mounted on a portion of the grounding plate, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-lS of the cover shown in figure 8, Figure 16 is a plan view of the conductors to be installed in the channels of the cover shown in figure 8, . I
Figure 17 and 17a are cross-sectional views of `~the conductors taken along lines 17-17 and 17a-17a in figure 16, Figure 18 is an enlarged view of a spring contact shown in encircled portion 18 of figure ~6, Figure 19 is a side view of the spring contact shown in f igure 18, Figure 20 is an end view of the spring contact shown in figure 18, .-.;Figure 21 and 2la are cross-sectional views taken along lines 21-21 and 21a-21a of figures 3 and 4a ~-; respectively, `Figure 22 is a perspective view of an alterna-.~:tive embodiment of a conductor to be installed in a receptacle ;..
as shown in figures 4a and 5a, Figure 23 is an enlarged view of a spring contact for a conductor as shown in figure 22, Figure 24 is a side view of a portion of the -conductor shown in figure 22 including a spring contact, ... 6 2 ~ 3 Figure~ 25-28, 25a and 27a are side and rear views of different alternative embodiments of multiple 60cket attachment according to the invention, Figure 29 is a perspective view of a box like receptacle including a switch and a reqet button, and Figure 30 is an electrical diagram including the ~witch and reset button u6ed in f;gure 29.
DErAILED_DESCRlPTION_OF_TH _INVENTION_ ,...
Figure 1 illustrates the combination of a conventional electricsl wall outlet 10 which has two socket~ 12 and 14 and a multip1e socket attachment 16 which is adapted to fit into the ~ockets 12 and 14. The outlet 10 i~ covered by a rectangular wall plate 18 and the socket attachment 16 has a periphery slightly exceeding the periphery of the wall plate 18 in order to fit over it. Similarly, two pairs oE prongs 20 and 22 with their matching grounding prong 24 and 26 are located to fit preci~ely into the corre~ponding sockets 12 and 14. Rach lateral wall 28 and 30 of the attachment 16 is provided with three ~ets of slots adapted to receive the tines of six :
electrical appliance cord plugs 30-42. These plugs are laterally introduced in the attachment 16. Such an arrangement, differs trom the plog5 which projeot: perpend~cularly from t~e wall.
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Because they project a smaller distance away from the wall, they have many advantages. In particular, they allow a piece of furniture to re~t closer to a wall having such an attachment.
Furthermore~ plug~ such as 32-42 do no~ have the tendency to pull away Erom the wall the .socket attachment such as 16 contrary to the plugs wl1ich are introduced from the front in the commonly known socket attachment.
' The attachment 16 is provided with wide and narrow s10ts 44 and 46 to suitab1y accept the polarized plugs which have a wide nnd A narrow prong according to the first embodiment a8 shown in figure~ 3, 4 and 5. The narrow slot 46 is below the wide slot 44 on one lateral wall 30 (figure 4) while on the other lateral wall 28 the position of the slots is reversed that is the wide slot 48 is below the narrow slot 50 (figure 5). In other embodiments, as may be seen ]ater, the wide and narrow slots can be positioned side by side on the same vertical plane as sl1own in figures 4a and 5a.
Figure 6 illustrates a empty box-like receptacle 52 in which is mounted in sequence a grounding plate 54 an insulating sheet 56, a set of four conductors 58 and a cover 60.
A set of 4 internally threaded sleeves 62 projects inside the receptacle whici1 are adapted to penetrate through correspondingly located holes in plate 54 and sheet 56 and be retained to the --- 2 0 3 ~ 3 .`.
~ --8--.
cover 60 by screws 64, such as shown ;n figure 3.
The four conductors 58 are held by partitions internally projecting from the cover 60. The partitions consist ot two main partions 66 an 68 which are parallel and adjacently disposed each side oE a longitudinal central axis of the base plate 70. The main partions 66 and 68 are longitudinally aligned while a set of trElnsversal partions such QA 72, 74, 76 and 78 extendfi towards the edge of the base 70. The spnce between the main partition 68 and the transversal partition~ 72-78 and the other partitions on the other side of the base plate 70 forms a channel 80 adapted to receive the longitudinal strips of two of the conductors 58 as explained later. Another channel 82 similar to channel 80 i~9 provided on the opposite ~ide of the bsse plate 70 between the main partition 66 and the adjscent transversal partitions such as 72a, 74a, 76a and 78a and the other transversal partitions located above the previous ones.
, -The space between the two main partitions 66 and , .
68 al~o have dividing partitions to hold the prong~ of the conductors 58 as explained later. These partitions consist of ., partitions 84 and 86 for one of the prong~ and 88 and 90 for the other prong. These partitions are particularly illustrated in figures 9 and 10.
. ~
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Let us consider conductors 92 and 94 which are adapted to extend into the channel 80. These conductors are made of a linear strips 96 and 98, three transversal strips 96a and ~pring contact 96b. Conductor 94 is similarly made oE a linear flat strip 98 with three transversal strips 98fl from which extends three spring contact 98b.
., ``` The conductor 92 hAs a grounding prong 96c constituted by an L-shaped arm having one portion extending in the direction opposite the transversal strip 96a and another pnrtion orthogona]ly extending through the base plate 70 between the partitions 88 and 90. Similarly, conductor 98 has a grounding prong 98c constituted of an L-shAped nrm having A
: ~
portion extending in a direction opposite the direction of the transversal strips 98a and another portion orthogonolly extending through the base plate 70 between the partitions 84 and 86 tsee figure 10)-' ~' The description of the conductors 92 and 94substantially applies equally to the conductoru 101 and 102 which ; are disposed in the channel 82. The conductor 100 has a grounding prong lOOc which extendsd through the slot 108 (fig.8) and the conductor 102 has a grounding prong which extends through the slot 110 (fig.8).
The upper edge of the longitudinal ~rt~tion ~,~
, ~
~ ' .''' .
:~ 2~3~
.: .
adjoinillg the transverqal partitions such as 7Za, 74a, 76a and 78a are crenelated for supporting the transversal strips of the conductors 100 and 102 in space relationship, RO that one strip lies against the base plate 70 while the other one is supported by a portion of the crenelated edge of the partition adjoining .,~
` the transversal partitions such as 72-78 and 72a-78a.
. ~
The transversal channels extending between the trAnsversal partitions 72-78 and the other transversal partitions on the same ~ide as the base plate 70 as well as the partitions 72a-78a and the other partitions on the opposite side AS the base plate 70 are located so that the spring contacts are lined up with the slots such as 44 and 46 provided for receiving the tines o~ the plugs such as shown in fig.2. More specifically the :~ plug 32 of fig.2 is intended to be introduced in the slots 44 and :.
46 such as sllown in fig. 6. Similarly, the positioning of the ; prongs 96c and 98c are positioned 80 as to be aligned with the - slots 104 and 106 (fig. 8) while the prongs lOOc and 102c are vertically positioned on the strips 100 and 102 respectively to be aligned Witll the slots 108 and 110.
Figure 16 i9 a front view of the conductors 92, .A 94, 100 and 102 flS seen in figure 7. Conductors 92 and 94 are .
~uperposed and adjacently positioned relative to the superposed - conductors 100 and 102. Figure 16 particularly identifies the ... 11 :
, . ' . " ' '''' ' " ' .
'' ', ' ' ' ', ' '' ' --- 2 ~
`- I I
spring contncts 96b and 98b which are located to face the slots `~ sucll as 44 and 46 sllown in figure 4. The contact spring extending from the oppositely positioned conductors 100 and 102 which are not numericfllly identified are similarly located to face the oppositely positioned slots such as 48 and 50.
As seen in figures 17 and 17a the tines 96c and 98c projects side by side in a parallel fashion for insertion into - tlle wall outlet 10 sllown in figure 1. Similarly the tines IOOc and 102c extend.q from tlle conductors 100 and 102 in a parallel - relationsllip witll the tines 96c and 98c.
`' - Figure~ 18 19 nnd 20 illustrates one embodiment of the spring contact wherein the metal from the conductor is punched out in such a .sllape to form a lobe 112 which ends with two forwardly projecting strips 114 splitting out at their forward end to face slots such as 44 snd 46 and tightly receive the prongs of the pl-g~ 30-42.
It is pointed out that the conductors are made from punche(l out strip of metal such as brass having lateral protecting portions adapted to be folded as previously described.
The ground prongs 96c 98c IOOc and 102c which have a L-shaped leg are welded or riveted at one end to the ].inear portion of the conductor at locfltions defined above. The production of such ... 12 ,, .
"
2 ~ 3 ~
conductors is simplified considering the linearity of the strips ~ o~ the conductors and of the channels 80 and 82 receiving them asp well as the orthogonality of the tranversal strips 98a. The embodiment illustrated and described in the present application is suitably designed for receiving six cord plugs 30-42 but the design according to the present invention can easily be adapted to receive a plurality of pairs of cord plugs by lengthening the linear qtrips and multiplying the trnnver~qal strips to the number oi pairs of plugs desired.
.
As explained previously, the multiple socket attachment according to the invention may be limited to a pair of polarized prongs suci- as 20 and 22 without the use of a specific grouniing prong. ~lowever, the present invention i9 suitably .~
conceived to provide a grounding prong to be inserted into the wall outlet 10. For tllis purpose, A grounding plate 54 is inserted into the box-like receptacle 52 behind the conductors as shown in figure 7. Plate 54 shown in figures 11-14, includes two lamina~ l20 and 122 joined by spring clamps or clips 126 and provided with similar spring Clip8 128 at the outer four corners i28 of the laminas 120 and 122. The spring clips are shaped so as to surround a grounding prong such as 130 shown in figure 13.
The prongs such as prong 24 are riveted to the lamina 120 to maintain a rigid orientation perpendicular to the lamina 120 as 2 ~ 3 ~
ShOWIl in figure 14. Figure 2I shows a cross-sectional view oE an attachment as described above, along line 21-21, of figure 3.
~owever, for a box-like receptacle 132 as shown in figures 4a and 5a, wherein the slots 134 are parallel to the vertical axes of the receptac]e and to the strip 136 (fig. 22) of the corresponding conductors, the box-1;ke receptacle 132 is slightly different as ællown in f;gure 21a Erom the one shown in Eig. 21.
Figure 21a is a crosq-sectional view along line 21a-21a of figure 4a. Considering that the slots 134 are positioned side by side, the back o~ the receptacle is made thicker but lightened by a pularity of grooves or recesseq 136 provided on the inside of the box. The conductors used for this embodiment have essentially the same silape as shown in figure 2 but are provided with transversal strips extending into spring contacts 140 adapted to be paral]el and in line the slots 134 shown 4a and 5a. The :
conductor~q, as shown in figure 22, can be made from blank ~heetæ
. .
o[ metal, pre~qs, cut and folded to provide the shape of the æpring clips 140. The latter is also made with a lobe 142 resiliently holding to fingers 144 spreading out a~q lips 146.
The conductor shown in figure 22 has an L-shaped leg 148 serving as a ground prong similar to the one~q described above.
The present invention has also the flexibility of being adaptable to various types of multiple socket attachment used in various countries of the world. :The attachment shown in ., . ~
~ - 203~0 figures 25, 25a and 26 are provided with circular apertures 149 on their lateral walls and corresponding inner spring clip8 Auitable For many European countries. The embodiment shown in figc. 27, 27a and 28 have slots 151 in the lateral walls which are ang~llarly diAposed relative to each other in each pair of slots. This arrangement is suitable for Australian regulations and can be eaAily made from the conductors de~scribed above.
'I'he same arrangement as described above is mounted in the box-like receptacle 150 illustrated in figure 29. This ..
embodiment is provided with a lighted switch 152 and ~ reset button 154. A circuit suitable Eor switching oEE the circuit inside the receptacle 150 is illustrated in figure 30. The part of the circuit enclosed by the dotted line l56 corresponds to the socket Erom the wall outlet such as 10. The spring Clip8 such as 96b and 98b are symmetrically aligned on the right- and on the leEt-hand side~q oE the diagram identified by ~ and - fork-like member~s 160. The switch 152 can close the current from the pring clips to the circuit 156 and is adapted to be ]ighted when the Aocket receptac]e 150 is in operation. ilowever, such an attachment having a pural;ty oE outlets suitable to be connected to a pluraity oE cord plugs, is liable to be overloaded. For this purpose, any overloading of the circuit is prevented by the re~qet device 154 and may be reconnected by the same device of known reset devices.
The attacllment may also be provided with grounding prongs Eixed to a grounding plate inside the receptacle while tlle grounding prongs extend outside the receptacle to fit into the conventional electric wall outlet. The grounding plate is also provided with spring clamps laterally disposed and fldjacent each pair of slots for resi~iently clamping and grounding the tines of the cord plugs projecting through the slots.
. .:
~ ~RIEF DESCRIPTI()N ()F THE DRAWINGS:
__________________._______ ________ - Figure I is an exploded view of a conventional electric wall outlet and n multiple socket attachment according to the invention .,~'' .
.
2 ~ 3 ~ ~ L~& ~
' .
Figure 2 is a front view of the multiple socket attachment mounted on a wall outlet and to which a purality of electrical appliance cord plugs are attached, Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively rear and side - view~ of an embodiment o~ the novel attachment, Figure~ 4a and 5a are two side views of alternative embodiments of the invention, Figure 6 is a perspective view of an empty and open box-like receptacle for the socket attachment, Figure 7 is an exploded view of the superposed - elements to be fitted inside tlle receptacle shown in figure 6, ., Figure 8 is an internal elevation view of the cover sl-own in figure 7, Figure 9 i~ an enlarged view of the portion 9 ~llnwn in fig. 8, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along ` line 10-10 of Eigure 9, -~ Figure 11 is a front view of a grounding plate mounted in the attachment shown in figure 7, Figure 12 is a side view of the grounding plate shown in figure 11, Figure 13 is an enlarged view of portion 13 shown - in figure 12, ... 5 `" 2~36~40 Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of figure 11 showing a grounding prong mounted on a portion of the grounding plate, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-lS of the cover shown in figure 8, Figure 16 is a plan view of the conductors to be installed in the channels of the cover shown in figure 8, . I
Figure 17 and 17a are cross-sectional views of `~the conductors taken along lines 17-17 and 17a-17a in figure 16, Figure 18 is an enlarged view of a spring contact shown in encircled portion 18 of figure ~6, Figure 19 is a side view of the spring contact shown in f igure 18, Figure 20 is an end view of the spring contact shown in figure 18, .-.;Figure 21 and 2la are cross-sectional views taken along lines 21-21 and 21a-21a of figures 3 and 4a ~-; respectively, `Figure 22 is a perspective view of an alterna-.~:tive embodiment of a conductor to be installed in a receptacle ;..
as shown in figures 4a and 5a, Figure 23 is an enlarged view of a spring contact for a conductor as shown in figure 22, Figure 24 is a side view of a portion of the -conductor shown in figure 22 including a spring contact, ... 6 2 ~ 3 Figure~ 25-28, 25a and 27a are side and rear views of different alternative embodiments of multiple 60cket attachment according to the invention, Figure 29 is a perspective view of a box like receptacle including a switch and a reqet button, and Figure 30 is an electrical diagram including the ~witch and reset button u6ed in f;gure 29.
DErAILED_DESCRlPTION_OF_TH _INVENTION_ ,...
Figure 1 illustrates the combination of a conventional electricsl wall outlet 10 which has two socket~ 12 and 14 and a multip1e socket attachment 16 which is adapted to fit into the ~ockets 12 and 14. The outlet 10 i~ covered by a rectangular wall plate 18 and the socket attachment 16 has a periphery slightly exceeding the periphery of the wall plate 18 in order to fit over it. Similarly, two pairs oE prongs 20 and 22 with their matching grounding prong 24 and 26 are located to fit preci~ely into the corre~ponding sockets 12 and 14. Rach lateral wall 28 and 30 of the attachment 16 is provided with three ~ets of slots adapted to receive the tines of six :
electrical appliance cord plugs 30-42. These plugs are laterally introduced in the attachment 16. Such an arrangement, differs trom the plog5 which projeot: perpend~cularly from t~e wall.
.
- ` ~
-- 2 0 ~
:
Because they project a smaller distance away from the wall, they have many advantages. In particular, they allow a piece of furniture to re~t closer to a wall having such an attachment.
Furthermore~ plug~ such as 32-42 do no~ have the tendency to pull away Erom the wall the .socket attachment such as 16 contrary to the plugs wl1ich are introduced from the front in the commonly known socket attachment.
' The attachment 16 is provided with wide and narrow s10ts 44 and 46 to suitab1y accept the polarized plugs which have a wide nnd A narrow prong according to the first embodiment a8 shown in figure~ 3, 4 and 5. The narrow slot 46 is below the wide slot 44 on one lateral wall 30 (figure 4) while on the other lateral wall 28 the position of the slots is reversed that is the wide slot 48 is below the narrow slot 50 (figure 5). In other embodiments, as may be seen ]ater, the wide and narrow slots can be positioned side by side on the same vertical plane as sl1own in figures 4a and 5a.
Figure 6 illustrates a empty box-like receptacle 52 in which is mounted in sequence a grounding plate 54 an insulating sheet 56, a set of four conductors 58 and a cover 60.
A set of 4 internally threaded sleeves 62 projects inside the receptacle whici1 are adapted to penetrate through correspondingly located holes in plate 54 and sheet 56 and be retained to the --- 2 0 3 ~ 3 .`.
~ --8--.
cover 60 by screws 64, such as shown ;n figure 3.
The four conductors 58 are held by partitions internally projecting from the cover 60. The partitions consist ot two main partions 66 an 68 which are parallel and adjacently disposed each side oE a longitudinal central axis of the base plate 70. The main partions 66 and 68 are longitudinally aligned while a set of trElnsversal partions such QA 72, 74, 76 and 78 extendfi towards the edge of the base 70. The spnce between the main partition 68 and the transversal partition~ 72-78 and the other partitions on the other side of the base plate 70 forms a channel 80 adapted to receive the longitudinal strips of two of the conductors 58 as explained later. Another channel 82 similar to channel 80 i~9 provided on the opposite ~ide of the bsse plate 70 between the main partition 66 and the adjscent transversal partitions such as 72a, 74a, 76a and 78a and the other transversal partitions located above the previous ones.
, -The space between the two main partitions 66 and , .
68 al~o have dividing partitions to hold the prong~ of the conductors 58 as explained later. These partitions consist of ., partitions 84 and 86 for one of the prong~ and 88 and 90 for the other prong. These partitions are particularly illustrated in figures 9 and 10.
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Let us consider conductors 92 and 94 which are adapted to extend into the channel 80. These conductors are made of a linear strips 96 and 98, three transversal strips 96a and ~pring contact 96b. Conductor 94 is similarly made oE a linear flat strip 98 with three transversal strips 98fl from which extends three spring contact 98b.
., ``` The conductor 92 hAs a grounding prong 96c constituted by an L-shaped arm having one portion extending in the direction opposite the transversal strip 96a and another pnrtion orthogona]ly extending through the base plate 70 between the partitions 88 and 90. Similarly, conductor 98 has a grounding prong 98c constituted of an L-shAped nrm having A
: ~
portion extending in a direction opposite the direction of the transversal strips 98a and another portion orthogonolly extending through the base plate 70 between the partitions 84 and 86 tsee figure 10)-' ~' The description of the conductors 92 and 94substantially applies equally to the conductoru 101 and 102 which ; are disposed in the channel 82. The conductor 100 has a grounding prong lOOc which extendsd through the slot 108 (fig.8) and the conductor 102 has a grounding prong which extends through the slot 110 (fig.8).
The upper edge of the longitudinal ~rt~tion ~,~
, ~
~ ' .''' .
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.: .
adjoinillg the transverqal partitions such as 7Za, 74a, 76a and 78a are crenelated for supporting the transversal strips of the conductors 100 and 102 in space relationship, RO that one strip lies against the base plate 70 while the other one is supported by a portion of the crenelated edge of the partition adjoining .,~
` the transversal partitions such as 72-78 and 72a-78a.
. ~
The transversal channels extending between the trAnsversal partitions 72-78 and the other transversal partitions on the same ~ide as the base plate 70 as well as the partitions 72a-78a and the other partitions on the opposite side AS the base plate 70 are located so that the spring contacts are lined up with the slots such as 44 and 46 provided for receiving the tines o~ the plugs such as shown in fig.2. More specifically the :~ plug 32 of fig.2 is intended to be introduced in the slots 44 and :.
46 such as sllown in fig. 6. Similarly, the positioning of the ; prongs 96c and 98c are positioned 80 as to be aligned with the - slots 104 and 106 (fig. 8) while the prongs lOOc and 102c are vertically positioned on the strips 100 and 102 respectively to be aligned Witll the slots 108 and 110.
Figure 16 i9 a front view of the conductors 92, .A 94, 100 and 102 flS seen in figure 7. Conductors 92 and 94 are .
~uperposed and adjacently positioned relative to the superposed - conductors 100 and 102. Figure 16 particularly identifies the ... 11 :
, . ' . " ' '''' ' " ' .
'' ', ' ' ' ', ' '' ' --- 2 ~
`- I I
spring contncts 96b and 98b which are located to face the slots `~ sucll as 44 and 46 sllown in figure 4. The contact spring extending from the oppositely positioned conductors 100 and 102 which are not numericfllly identified are similarly located to face the oppositely positioned slots such as 48 and 50.
As seen in figures 17 and 17a the tines 96c and 98c projects side by side in a parallel fashion for insertion into - tlle wall outlet 10 sllown in figure 1. Similarly the tines IOOc and 102c extend.q from tlle conductors 100 and 102 in a parallel - relationsllip witll the tines 96c and 98c.
`' - Figure~ 18 19 nnd 20 illustrates one embodiment of the spring contact wherein the metal from the conductor is punched out in such a .sllape to form a lobe 112 which ends with two forwardly projecting strips 114 splitting out at their forward end to face slots such as 44 snd 46 and tightly receive the prongs of the pl-g~ 30-42.
It is pointed out that the conductors are made from punche(l out strip of metal such as brass having lateral protecting portions adapted to be folded as previously described.
The ground prongs 96c 98c IOOc and 102c which have a L-shaped leg are welded or riveted at one end to the ].inear portion of the conductor at locfltions defined above. The production of such ... 12 ,, .
"
2 ~ 3 ~
conductors is simplified considering the linearity of the strips ~ o~ the conductors and of the channels 80 and 82 receiving them asp well as the orthogonality of the tranversal strips 98a. The embodiment illustrated and described in the present application is suitably designed for receiving six cord plugs 30-42 but the design according to the present invention can easily be adapted to receive a plurality of pairs of cord plugs by lengthening the linear qtrips and multiplying the trnnver~qal strips to the number oi pairs of plugs desired.
.
As explained previously, the multiple socket attachment according to the invention may be limited to a pair of polarized prongs suci- as 20 and 22 without the use of a specific grouniing prong. ~lowever, the present invention i9 suitably .~
conceived to provide a grounding prong to be inserted into the wall outlet 10. For tllis purpose, A grounding plate 54 is inserted into the box-like receptacle 52 behind the conductors as shown in figure 7. Plate 54 shown in figures 11-14, includes two lamina~ l20 and 122 joined by spring clamps or clips 126 and provided with similar spring Clip8 128 at the outer four corners i28 of the laminas 120 and 122. The spring clips are shaped so as to surround a grounding prong such as 130 shown in figure 13.
The prongs such as prong 24 are riveted to the lamina 120 to maintain a rigid orientation perpendicular to the lamina 120 as 2 ~ 3 ~
ShOWIl in figure 14. Figure 2I shows a cross-sectional view oE an attachment as described above, along line 21-21, of figure 3.
~owever, for a box-like receptacle 132 as shown in figures 4a and 5a, wherein the slots 134 are parallel to the vertical axes of the receptac]e and to the strip 136 (fig. 22) of the corresponding conductors, the box-1;ke receptacle 132 is slightly different as ællown in f;gure 21a Erom the one shown in Eig. 21.
Figure 21a is a crosq-sectional view along line 21a-21a of figure 4a. Considering that the slots 134 are positioned side by side, the back o~ the receptacle is made thicker but lightened by a pularity of grooves or recesseq 136 provided on the inside of the box. The conductors used for this embodiment have essentially the same silape as shown in figure 2 but are provided with transversal strips extending into spring contacts 140 adapted to be paral]el and in line the slots 134 shown 4a and 5a. The :
conductor~q, as shown in figure 22, can be made from blank ~heetæ
. .
o[ metal, pre~qs, cut and folded to provide the shape of the æpring clips 140. The latter is also made with a lobe 142 resiliently holding to fingers 144 spreading out a~q lips 146.
The conductor shown in figure 22 has an L-shaped leg 148 serving as a ground prong similar to the one~q described above.
The present invention has also the flexibility of being adaptable to various types of multiple socket attachment used in various countries of the world. :The attachment shown in ., . ~
~ - 203~0 figures 25, 25a and 26 are provided with circular apertures 149 on their lateral walls and corresponding inner spring clip8 Auitable For many European countries. The embodiment shown in figc. 27, 27a and 28 have slots 151 in the lateral walls which are ang~llarly diAposed relative to each other in each pair of slots. This arrangement is suitable for Australian regulations and can be eaAily made from the conductors de~scribed above.
'I'he same arrangement as described above is mounted in the box-like receptacle 150 illustrated in figure 29. This ..
embodiment is provided with a lighted switch 152 and ~ reset button 154. A circuit suitable Eor switching oEE the circuit inside the receptacle 150 is illustrated in figure 30. The part of the circuit enclosed by the dotted line l56 corresponds to the socket Erom the wall outlet such as 10. The spring Clip8 such as 96b and 98b are symmetrically aligned on the right- and on the leEt-hand side~q oE the diagram identified by ~ and - fork-like member~s 160. The switch 152 can close the current from the pring clips to the circuit 156 and is adapted to be ]ighted when the Aocket receptac]e 150 is in operation. ilowever, such an attachment having a pural;ty oE outlets suitable to be connected to a pluraity oE cord plugs, is liable to be overloaded. For this purpose, any overloading of the circuit is prevented by the re~qet device 154 and may be reconnected by the same device of known reset devices.
Claims (7)
1-. A multiple socket attachment adapted to be inserted in a conventional electric wall outlet for electrically bridging the wall outlet and tines of a plurality of electrical appliance cord plugs, said attachment comprising:
- a rectangular box-like receptacle having two parallel lateral walls provided with a plurality of pairs of slots for receiving the tines of said plugs and two facing walls extending between said lateral walls, - one of said facing walls comprising a plurality of internally projecting partitions defining channels, - four electrical conductors disposed in said channels, each of said conductors extending from positions adjacent a plurality of said slots to a prong projecting perpendicularly outwardly through said one facing wall, said channels compromising two symmetrical rectilinear channels longitudinally extending parallel to said lateral walls and transversal channels extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal channels in the direction of the adjacent lateral wall and in line with each of said slots, said conductors compromising two pairs of conductors, each conductor of each pair of conductors compromising a linear strip being superposedly disposed in said longitudinal channels, trans-versal strips laterally extending from each of said linear strips through each of said transversal channels, a spring contact secured at the end of each of said transversal strip adjacent one of said slots, each prong comprising an L-shaped strip being secured to said superposed linear strips forming a pair of adjacently positioned prongs adapted to fit into said conventional wall outlet.
- a rectangular box-like receptacle having two parallel lateral walls provided with a plurality of pairs of slots for receiving the tines of said plugs and two facing walls extending between said lateral walls, - one of said facing walls comprising a plurality of internally projecting partitions defining channels, - four electrical conductors disposed in said channels, each of said conductors extending from positions adjacent a plurality of said slots to a prong projecting perpendicularly outwardly through said one facing wall, said channels compromising two symmetrical rectilinear channels longitudinally extending parallel to said lateral walls and transversal channels extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal channels in the direction of the adjacent lateral wall and in line with each of said slots, said conductors compromising two pairs of conductors, each conductor of each pair of conductors compromising a linear strip being superposedly disposed in said longitudinal channels, trans-versal strips laterally extending from each of said linear strips through each of said transversal channels, a spring contact secured at the end of each of said transversal strip adjacent one of said slots, each prong comprising an L-shaped strip being secured to said superposed linear strips forming a pair of adjacently positioned prongs adapted to fit into said conventional wall outlet.
2-. A multiple socket attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said pairs of L-shaped strips compromises one firm orthogonally extending from each of said linear strips, one arm of each of said pair of L-shaped strips being longer than the other arm of said pair of L-shaped strip and overlapping the latter.
3-. A multiple socket attachment as recited in claim 2, wherein the partitions are crenelated for abuting the superposed conductors in spaced relationship.
4-. A multiple socket attachment as recited in claim 3 comprising an insulating plate disposed between said superposed conductors for preventing electrical contact therebetween.
5-. A multiple socket attachment as recited in claim 4, comprising a grounding plate spacedly mounted from said conductors in a plane parallel to said facing walls said grounding plate having a pair of grounding prongs orthogonally projecting from said plate through said one facing wall, a spring clamp laterally disposed on said grounding plate at location adjacent each of said pair of spring contacts for resiliently clamping a grounding tines of said cord plugs.
6-. A multiple socket attachment as recited in claim 5, comprising an insulating sheet disposed between said grounding plate and said conductors for electrically insulating the latter from the grounding plate.
7-. A multiple socket attachment as recited in claim 6, wherein the other of said facing walls is removably mounted on said receptacle against said grounding plate, internally threaded sleeves projecting from said other facing wall towards said one facing wall, said latter wall being provided with holes for receiving screws threaldedly engaging said sleeves for closing said receptacle and maintaining the conductors and the grounding plate in their aforementioned position.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2036840 CA2036840C (en) | 1991-02-21 | 1991-02-21 | Multiple socket attachment |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2036840 CA2036840C (en) | 1991-02-21 | 1991-02-21 | Multiple socket attachment |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2036840A1 CA2036840A1 (en) | 1992-03-30 |
| CA2036840C true CA2036840C (en) | 1994-03-01 |
Family
ID=4147031
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2036840 Expired - Fee Related CA2036840C (en) | 1991-02-21 | 1991-02-21 | Multiple socket attachment |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2036840C (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2087021B1 (en) * | 1994-02-11 | 1998-03-01 | Fenoplastica Sa | MULTIVIA DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. |
| GB0903446D0 (en) * | 2009-03-02 | 2009-04-08 | Power Logic South Africa Pty L | Power supply units having sockets into which plugs can be inserted |
-
1991
- 1991-02-21 CA CA 2036840 patent/CA2036840C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2036840A1 (en) | 1992-03-30 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |