EP0342942A2 - Adaptateurs pour fiches électriques - Google Patents
Adaptateurs pour fiches électriques Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0342942A2 EP0342942A2 EP89304962A EP89304962A EP0342942A2 EP 0342942 A2 EP0342942 A2 EP 0342942A2 EP 89304962 A EP89304962 A EP 89304962A EP 89304962 A EP89304962 A EP 89304962A EP 0342942 A2 EP0342942 A2 EP 0342942A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- adapter
- plug
- pins
- lower portion
- receiving
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Images
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
- H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
Definitions
- This invention relates to adapters for moulded electrical plugs. These adapters enable moulded plugs having a pin arrangement incompatible with that of the mains socket, such as 2 pin shaver-plugs, to be connected to the mains.
- a known adapter for connecting a 2 pin shaver plug to a three pin mains socket comprises a lower and an upper portion. These portions are removably secured to each other. Extending out from the lower portion in a standard arrangement are the neutral, earth and live pins.
- the upper portion has two slots through which the pins of the incompatible moulded plug can be pushed. The internal surfaces of the slots are metallic so that when the pins of the incompatible plug are inserted into the slots, they are electrically connected to the metallic portions of the slots. The metallic portions are in turn electrically connected to the live and neutral pins respectively of the lower portion.
- the incompatible plug When the incompatible plug is required for use, its pins are pushed into the slots of the adapter. The adapter, with the incompatible plug mounted onto it, is then simply pushed into a standard household three pin socket. The incompatible moulded plug is now electrically connected to the mains.
- the present invention provides an adapter for a moulded plug which can safely retain the plug. This is achieved by providing an adapter for retaining a moulded plug within itself.
- an adapter comprising: an upper and a lower portion; a plurality of pins which extend from the lower portion for connecting the adapter to the mains; means for securing a moulded plug having at least two pins within the adapter; means for receiving in electrical contact respective ones of the plug pins, each receiving means being electrically connected to a respective one of the mains pins; and means for removably securing the upper portion to the lower portion.
- the lower portion comprises a platform having formed on its periphery an upstanding wall, said platform having a plurality of holes for receiving and supporting the mains pins; and the upper portion comprises a platform having formed on its periphery a depending wall.
- a first alternative securing means for the moulded plug comprises an appropriately shaped recess formed by the upper and/or lower portions for receiving all or part of the plug body within the adapter.
- a second alternative securing means comprises a plurality of ribs or cones formed on the lower portion, the upper portion or both, which tightly abut the plug when the upper and lower portions are secured together.
- a third alternative securing means comprises a series of indentations formed in the upper and/or lower portions of the adapter for receiving the pins.
- a fourth alternative securing means comprises a sleeve which fits around part or all of the plug body.
- the sleeve may have a plurality of ribs for co-operation with suitable grooves formed in the upper and/or lower portions.
- a fifth alternative securing means comprises resilient clips located in the adapter for bearing on the body of the plug when located in the adapter.
- the above-mentioned securing means may be used alone or in any combination.
- the means for receiving the plug pins comprise metallic spring clips or sleeves of the appropriate size.
- the clips or sleeves may be mounted on the lower portion or directly onto the mains pins.
- the means for receiving the plug pins are not mounted directly on the mains pins, it will be necessary to provide electrical connections from the pin receiving means to the mains pins.
- the electrical connections comprise electrically conductive strips.
- a fuse arrangement is provided within the lower portion.
- the fuse is in series with one of the electrical strips.
- Suitable means for securing the upper portion to the lower portion may comprise at least one standard screw and thread arrangement.
- the upper portion may be hinged to the lower portion, the two portions being interlocked when in a closed position by means of a cam locking mechanism.
- the securing means may include means for allowing the upper portion to slide over, and be secured to the lower portion and to be locked in place.
- a preferred adapter has the standard 3 pin arrangement i.e. a neutral pin, an earth pin and a live pin for connection to the mains, and has three clips mounted within the lower portion for receiving moulded plugs having either 2 pins or 3 pins.
- the present invention provides an adapter that can retain moulded plugs, such as 2 pin or 3 pin moulded plugs, within the body of the adapter itself. As the moulded plug is retained within the adapter it cannot become free while in use.
- moulded plugs such as 2 pin or 3 pin moulded plugs
- an adapter 1 comprising a lower portion 3 and an upper portion 5.
- the lower portion comprises a generally square, planar platform 7 having formed on its periphery an upwardly extending wall 9. On one side of the wall 9 there is formed a recess 11, and on the opposite side there is formed a series of small indentations 13.
- the lower portion 3 also has a plurality of moulded ribs 14 on the upper surface of the platform 7.
- each hole an electrical pin 15, 17 and 19 is located in such a fashion that one end of each pin is secured just above the platform 7 as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the remainder of the pin extending below the platform.
- the pins 15, 17 and 19 are respectively the neutral, earth and live pins and are arranged so that the adapter can be plugged into a conventional mains socket.
- Two electrically conductive clips 21 and 23 are mounted, by means of electrically conductive supports 25 and 27 respectively, on platform 7.
- a third electrically conductive clip 29 is mounted, by means of an electrically conductive support 31, directly on the earth pin 17.
- Two further electrically conductive clips 33 and 35 are mounted on platform 7. These sleeves 33 and 35 provide support for a fuse 37, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
- the clip 21 is electrically connected to the neutral pin 15 by means of an electrically conductive strip 39.
- the clip 23 is electrically connected to the first fuse clip 33 by means of a electrically conductive strip 41, and the second fuse clip 35 is electrically connected to the live pin 19 by means of an electrically conductive strip 43.
- the upper portion 5 also comprises a generally square, planar platform 45. On the periphery of the platform 45 is formed a depending wall 47. On one side of the wall 47 there is formed a recess 49 which in use is aligned with the recess 11 in the lower portion. A plurality of ribs 50 are moulded onto the lower surface of the upper portion 5.
- the adapter 1 is also provided with suitable securing means (not shown) such as one or more screw and thread arrangements for removably securing the lower portion 3 to the upper portion 5 in a fashion as shown generally in Figures 2 and 4.
- suitable securing means such as one or more screw and thread arrangements for removably securing the lower portion 3 to the upper portion 5 in a fashion as shown generally in Figures 2 and 4.
- the upper portion 5 When required for use, the upper portion 5 is removed from the lower portion 3.
- a moulded two pin plug 51 such as a shaver plug, is then placed within the lower portion 3, in such a fashion that the first electrical pin 53 of the moulded plug 51 is located within clip 21, and the second electrical pin of the moulded plug 51 is located within clip 23.
- the moulded plug 51 is then pushed in a direction away from the recess 11, until pins 53 and 55 rest in the small indentations 13.
- the other end of the plug 51 and the electrical cable 57, joined to the moulded plug 51 protrude from the lower portion 3 through the recess 11.
- a fuse 37 if necessary, is then mounted between the first and second fuse clips 33 and 35.
- the upper body 5 is then secured to the lower body 3, in such a fashion that the recess 49 fits over the rear portion of the plug 51 and the cable 57. Securing the upper portion to the lower portion causes the ribs 14 and 50 to press into the plug body 52.
- the plug 51 is now secure within the adapter 1 as any form of relative movement is prevented by recess 11, indentations 13 and ribs 14 and 50.
- the adapter, with the 2 pin moulded plug retained within it, is then inserted into a standard household 3 pin plug socket.
- the above example first describes the insertion of a 2 pin plug into the adapter 1.
- the earth clip 29 is redundant.
- the provision of this clip makes the adapter 1 suitable also for the insertion of a moulded 3 pin plug having an earth.
- suitable earthing means can be provided to be compatible with that of the moulded plug to be fitted, such as a scraping earth (not shown) commonly used in countries such as Germany.
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8811664 | 1988-05-17 | ||
GB888811664A GB8811664D0 (en) | 1988-05-17 | 1988-05-17 | Adapters for electrical plugs |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0342942A2 true EP0342942A2 (fr) | 1989-11-23 |
EP0342942A3 EP0342942A3 (en) | 1990-06-20 |
EP0342942B1 EP0342942B1 (fr) | 1994-11-09 |
Family
ID=10637046
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89304962A Expired - Lifetime EP0342942B1 (fr) | 1988-05-17 | 1989-05-17 | Adaptateurs pour fiches électriques |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0342942B1 (fr) |
AT (1) | ATE114081T1 (fr) |
DE (1) | DE68919274T2 (fr) |
ES (1) | ES2067539T3 (fr) |
GB (1) | GB8811664D0 (fr) |
HK (1) | HK63297A (fr) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1991019335A1 (fr) * | 1990-05-29 | 1991-12-12 | Simon Hossack | Ameliorations apportees a des adaptateurs pour fiches electriques |
GB2399461A (en) * | 2003-03-11 | 2004-09-15 | Sandal Plc | A lockable electrical adapter |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4494809A (en) * | 1983-02-15 | 1985-01-22 | Leonard Soloman | Security attachment for electrical plug |
US4605273A (en) * | 1984-12-17 | 1986-08-12 | Horton Paul D | Parallel-blade/twist-lock adapter plug |
-
1988
- 1988-05-17 GB GB888811664A patent/GB8811664D0/en active Pending
-
1989
- 1989-05-17 ES ES89304962T patent/ES2067539T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-17 AT AT89304962T patent/ATE114081T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-05-17 EP EP89304962A patent/EP0342942B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-17 DE DE68919274T patent/DE68919274T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1997
- 1997-05-15 HK HK63297A patent/HK63297A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4494809A (en) * | 1983-02-15 | 1985-01-22 | Leonard Soloman | Security attachment for electrical plug |
US4605273A (en) * | 1984-12-17 | 1986-08-12 | Horton Paul D | Parallel-blade/twist-lock adapter plug |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1991019335A1 (fr) * | 1990-05-29 | 1991-12-12 | Simon Hossack | Ameliorations apportees a des adaptateurs pour fiches electriques |
AU656139B2 (en) * | 1990-05-29 | 1995-01-27 | Simon Hossack | Improvements in adapters for electrical plugs |
GB2399461A (en) * | 2003-03-11 | 2004-09-15 | Sandal Plc | A lockable electrical adapter |
WO2004082082A1 (fr) | 2003-03-11 | 2004-09-23 | Sandal Plc | Adaptateur pour prises |
US7658635B2 (en) | 2003-03-11 | 2010-02-09 | Sandal Plc | Plug adapter |
CN1792010B (zh) * | 2003-03-11 | 2010-04-28 | 桑达尔公司 | 插头适配器 |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8811664D0 (en) | 1988-06-22 |
EP0342942A3 (en) | 1990-06-20 |
DE68919274T2 (de) | 1995-03-23 |
EP0342942B1 (fr) | 1994-11-09 |
ES2067539T3 (es) | 1995-04-01 |
DE68919274D1 (de) | 1994-12-15 |
ATE114081T1 (de) | 1994-11-15 |
HK63297A (en) | 1997-05-23 |
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