EP0066559A2

EP0066559A2 - Continuous socket with matching connecting plug

Info

Publication number: EP0066559A2
Application number: EP82830154A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Arena
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-06-03
Filing date: 1982-06-02
Publication date: 1982-12-08
Also published as: IT1218281B; EP0066559A3; IT8106618A0; FR2507400A3; DE8218771U1

Abstract

The invention covers a continuous socket and a connecting plug thereof. The socket consists of a strip (1) made of insulating material provided with two internal housings (2,3) situated lengthwise and opposed, designed to enclose two electrical conductors (4 and 5), and a lengthwise opening (6) obtained on a face thereof and intended to gain access to these conductors. The plug designed to be used in conjunction with said socket consists of a container of insulating material, provided with four openings diametrally opposed two-by-two, where two bracket members are installed, each comprising an insulating and a conducting arm, the free ends of them protruding from said openings. The conducting ends are reclining type and can be brought back elastically from the protruding position by the action of pressure exerted simultaneously on the corresponding insulating ends of said bracket members.

Description

This invention covers an electrical continuous socket and its relevant connecting plug. At present the distribution networks situated inside buildings designed for residential or civil purposes are embedded in the outside main walls and in the partitions, in the floor or in the ceiling. A certain number of socket-outlets is provided to match with the ordinary connecting plugs, thus assuring the electrical contact with the appliance.
It may happen that the socket-outlets are not easily accessible owing to the position of a piece of fornitu- re or to the flexible cords of applicances whose length results to be insufficient for the use they are intended. A tentative solution of the inconvenience often consists of temporary and emergency fixtures that are often impractical and even hazardous.
The present invention is intended to remove the above mentioned trouble. The invention provides for a continuous socket consisting of a strip of insulating material with two internal longitudinal housings in opposite position, designed for two cords to be connected with'a power-supply system, and a longitudinal continuous opening on a side thus permitting to gain access to the housings.
In addition, the invention provides for a connecting plug to be matched with said socket, which is characterized by the following:

- a container made of insulating material having a peripheral edge on which four openings are formed in a two-by-two diametrally opposite relation;
- a couple of bracket members, complanar in position and whose fulcrum lies inside said container, consisting each of an arm of insulating material and an arm of conducting material, the free ends of them protruding from the aforesaid openings;
- means for electrically connecting said conductor arms and the applicance;
- elastic means connected between said container and said bracket members for returning the last in protruding position when, subject to pressure on the free ends of said insulating arms, said bracket members are caused to turn around their fulcrum so as to position the conductor arms free ends inside the container.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In the drawings:

.- figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the continuous socket according to the present invention;
- figure 2 is a perspective view of connecting plug suitable to match with the socket as per figure 1;
- figure 3 is a sectional view of the internal portion of the plug as per figure 2.

With reference to figure 1, the socket in accordance with the invention consists of a strip of insulating material, linear in development, provided - internally and lenght- wise - with two opposite housings 2 and 3 inside which two tubular elements of conducting material (referred to as 4 and 5) are secured. The face 1a of strip 1 is provided with a longitudinal opening 6 allowing the electrodes of the connecting plug described below to gain access to housings 2 and 3. Interior rims 7a, b and 8a, b are.provided around the longitudinal openings 6 at level of housings 2 and 3.
They are designed to extremely minimize the access port of housings 2 and 3 thus preventing the user to inadvertently touch conductors 4 and 5.
The continuous socket according to this invention shall be preferably supplied in the form of prefabricated modular elements of suitable length whose ends can electrically connect with each other, for instance by means of pins of conducting material to be housed in the opposite tubular ends of two corresponding conductors or using whatever coupling system known in the field of the electrical connections. In case of corner connections angular pins shall be provided for fitting inside the conductor tubular ends, as mentioned above, or the use of end connections only have to be made.
Figure 1 also shows a connecting plug installed in the socket outlet, which is shown in detail in figures 2 and 3.
This plug consists of a box-type container 9 made of insulating material and equipped with a cover 10 fastened by screws or fit with it or using whatever applicable procedure. Container 9 is provided with four openings, forming two couples 11 and 12, each opening being formed on one side thereof.
Openings 12 are substantially corresponding while openings 11 are located simmetrically of the centerline of the container.
A support plate 13 of insulating material secured to cover 10 at a slight distance therefrom is enclosed in container 9. Two brackets, generally referred to as 14 and 15, lying in parallel with plate 13, are pivotally connected to same by means of pins 16 and 17. Each bracket 14 and 15 consists of an arm in the form of a blade 14a and 15a made of conducting material and of an arm of insulating material 14b and 15b. The free endsof the conducting blades, or electrodes, project from openings 11 of container 9 whereas the free ends of conducting arm 14b and 15b project from openings 12.
Helical springs 18 and 19, situated on the same plane as brackets 14 and 15 are intended to connect the elbow thereof to pins 20 and 21 respectively located near two opposite angles of plate 13, said springs 18 and 19 operating by traction substantially along the same diagonal of plate 13.
Additional set pins 22 and 23 are provided on plate 13, just inside the openings 11, against which arms 14a, 15a are urged by the action of traction of springs 18 and 19.
Pins 16 and 17, of conducting material, are coupled to brackets 14 and 15 in correspondence of an intermediate point of their conducting arms 14a and 15a where the relevant electrical connections 24 branch off in the direction of terminals 25 which are substantially located in the centre of support plate 13 and protrude from the opposite side thereof into a cavity 26 of container 9 where they are available for connection with cable 27 of the appliance. Cavity 26 is closed by a cover fitting flush in the face of housing 9 secured by whatever fastening device, for instance screws 29.
The connecting plug as described above shall be dimensioned so as to match with the aforementioned socket-outlets, in particular the plug width shall be substantially the same as,or slightly less,that the width of the longitudinal opening 6 provided on strip 1. Introducing the plug in the socket outlet shall be made by simultaneously pressing the ends of protruding arms 14b and 15b of openings 12 so as to pivot blades 14a and 15a around pins 16 and 17 thus allowing their free ends to enter openings 11 and countainer 9 to be inserted through opening 6 of the socket. Subsequent to positioning the plug in the socket-outlets the electrical contact can be made by releasing the pressure exerted on arms 14b and 15b thus allowing the free ends of conductor arms 14a and 15a, by the action of springs 18 and 19, to protrude from openings 11 and be in contact with conductors 4 and 5 in the socket.
It shall be pointed out that the continuous socket-plug assembly according to the present invention not only solves the problem of having an electric power supply everywhere available in a room, but also allows a considerable saving on electric plant installation costs. In fact, most of it can be installed without having to prepare suitable chases on the walls, as the continuous socket according to the invention constitutes a part of distribution network itself.
The assembly shall be manufactured under the safety provisions governing this field.
The invention is not to be considered as being limited by the embodiment described herein at it is understood that it comprises any form of variation or modification which falls within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A continuous socket with a matching connecting plug characterized by the fact that it consists by a strip of insulating material comprising two interior longitudinal, opposite housings designed to enclose two electrical conductors,and a lengthwise opening obtained on a face thereof for gaining access to said housings, said connecting plug comprising:

- a container made of insulating material having a peripheral edge on which four openings are formed in a two-by-two diametrally opposite relation;

- a couple of bracket members situated on the same plane and having their fulcrum inside said container, each consisting of an arm of insulating material and an arm of conducting material, the free ends of said arms protruding from said openings;

- means for electrically connecting said conductor arms and the applicance;

- elastic means connected between said container and said bracket members for returning the last in protruding position when, subject to pressure on the free ends of said insulating arms, said bracket members are caused to pivot around their fulcrum so as to locate their conductor arms free ends inside said container.

2. Continuous socket according to claim 1 consisting of prefabricated modular elements designed for end and/or corner electrical connection.

3. Connecting pin intended to be used in conjuction with the socket according the above claims, wherein said container encloses a support plate of insulating material for pivotally mounting said bracket members on a paralel plane thereof, on the same plane said elastic means being located for connecting the elbows of said bracket members and corresponding pins located near two opposite angles of said plate.