CA2382915A1

CA2382915A1 - Garden socket

Info

Publication number: CA2382915A1
Application number: CA002382915A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Dieter Hoffmeier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Oase Pumpen Wuebker Soehne GmbH and Co Maschinenfabrik
Priority date: 1999-09-03
Filing date: 2000-08-25
Publication date: 2001-03-15
Also published as: DE10082709D2; ATE269594T1; EP1210748B1; DE50006840D1; WO2001018916A3; DE19942204A1; EP1210748A2; WO2001018916A2; AU1128301A

Abstract

The invention relates to a garden socket with a socket housing in which a socket is accommodated comprising a connection consisting of an electrical supply and a remotely radio-controlled on and off switch for said electrical supply. The invention is characterized in that a detachable socket lid is provided for fixed enclosure of said socket housing.

Description

GARDENSOCKET
The present invention relates to a garden socket in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
S
Such garden sockets are well-known in the art. They are used in gardens, in order to connect for example pumps and filters for garden ponds and water decorations, or to connect lights for illumination of the garden.
Such garden sockets have several disadvantages. As outdoor sockets, it must be possible to switch them off. As such, there is a central on/off switch in the house, the garage or in another safe, locked structure. Frequently switching on and off are however forgotten. If there are several garden sockets that are to be selectively switched on or off, there must be accordingly many switches in the structure.
Furthermore known garden sockets are permanently wired to a supply of electrical power. However, it would be desirable to position a socket at an arbitrary location and connect the socket by way of an extension cord. This is not yet possible.
As a further disadvantage, garden sockets with their plug covers and similar exterior mechanisms are exposed to the effects of the environment. This leads to relatively quick wear.
As a further disadvantage, plugs plugged in such typical garden sockets are not secured against tugs and the like. An inadvertent tug on a supply cable can unplug a plug from its socket, leading to an interruption of power.
It is an object of the present invention is to provide an garden socket which is better shielded from environmental effects and which may more easily be addressed.
This object is provided according to invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

An embodiment of the invention is more particularly described with reference to the drawings. They illustrate Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective opinion of a garden plug socket of the available invention, without dust cover;
Fig. 2 a schematic explosion representation of the garden plug socket according to invention.
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a garden socket 1. A socket housing 3 includes two side walls 3.1, 3.2, an upper wall 3.2 and a bottom wall 3.3. In the present embodiment, four plug sockets 3.4 are arranged in pairs with one above another, in the upper half of the generally rectangular plug socket housing 3. Each plug sockets 3.4 includes a flap 3.5 to protect the socket connection against external effects, if no plug is inserted. Side walls 3.1 and 3.2 extend beyond the vertical plane of the plug sockets 3.4 so that lateral protection is ensured.
A rear wall 3.6 of the housing 3 extends between side walls 3.1, 3,2 in the upper half of the sockets 3.4 against the rear edges and with bottom wall 3.7 (Fig.
2) forms a closed space, that is additionally sealed, so that a space for electronics, sealed against environmental influences, is formed.
In the present embodiment, no rear wall 3.6 is provided in the lower half of the plug socket housing 3. A rear wall 3.6 could additionally extend in the lower half towards the front to act as a support.
Bottom wall 3.7 includes an additional plug socket 3.8 (Fig. 2), to which a plug of an extension cord may be connected.

In the lower, plug free, half of housing 3 a series of pins 5 are provided as cable tension relief arrangement. In the present embodiment sidewalls 3.1 and 3.2 also include vertically spaced pins 5.
Bottom wall 3.3 of housing 3 includes an exterior clamping slot 3.9, which serves 7 adapted to accommodation a spike 7. Spike 7 allows the garden socket to be positioned and fixed at any place in the ground.
Side walls 3.1 and 3.2 of housing 3 each include a guide slot 3.10, which is preferably formed between side panels 3.1 and 3.2 and rear wall 3.6. A cover 9 is generally closed and includes a bottom opening 9.1 and matches the external dimensions of garden plug socket 1. On its interior, cover 9 includes on two opposite sides lengthwise extending ridges 9.2, which can engage guide slots 3.10.
Cover 9 can be pushed from above onto the housing 3, until the bottom wall 3.3 comes into contact with an inner wall area of cover 9.
Cover 9 can have the outer appearance of stone or another natural substance, so as to disguise the technical mechanism under.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Garden socket comprising a housing (3) in which a socket (3.4) and a cord tension relief arrangement (5) for an electrical cord connected to the socket (3.4) are accommodated, and comprising a connector (3.8) for a supply of electric power characterized in that the electrical socket (3.4) is radio-remote controlled for switching power therefrom on and off;
the connector (3.8) for a supply of electric power is formed as a socket for receipt of a plug;
the cord tension relief assembly (5) comprises a series of pins.

2. Garden socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the pins of the cord tension relief assembly (5) are arranged on sidewalls (3.1, 3.2) of said housing (3).

3. Garden socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the pins of the cord tension relief assembly (5) are arranged above each other on the sidewalk (3.1,3.2).

4. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the housing (3) includes a bottom wall (3.3) having a clamping slot for reception of a spike (7).

5. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the housing (3) comprises a rear wall (3.6) formed in the region of the sockets (3.4).

6. Garden socket according to any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the sidewalls (3.1, 3.2) each comprise a guide slot (3.10) for a cover (9).

7. Garden socket according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide slot (3.10) is formed between the sidewalls (3.1, 32.) and the rear wall (3.6).

8. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the cover (9) comprises at each of two opposing interior edges a ridge (9.2) that may engage the guide slots (3.10) as the cover (9) is slid therein from above.

9. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the cover (9) has the appearance of an item found in nature.

10. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the cover (9) has the appearance of a stone.