EP0478172B1 - Splash-proof electrical in-line socket - Google Patents
Splash-proof electrical in-line socket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0478172B1 EP0478172B1 EP19910308230 EP91308230A EP0478172B1 EP 0478172 B1 EP0478172 B1 EP 0478172B1 EP 19910308230 EP19910308230 EP 19910308230 EP 91308230 A EP91308230 A EP 91308230A EP 0478172 B1 EP0478172 B1 EP 0478172B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- socket
- end section
- splash
- tubular end
- socket according
- 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 - Lifetime
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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
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
Description
- This invention relates to an electrical in-line socket which is splash-proof so that it is safe for use in an outdoor environment, for example as a cable connector for connecting an electric mains cable to a corresponding plug on a cable connected to an outdoor appliance. A recently issued British Standard, BS 6991 of 1990, specifies amongst other things that the socket be splash-proof and sufficiently rigid to withstand transverse stresses arising from the normal use of the socket with the plug. It is a purpose of the invention to provide a socket of this type which has a minimum number of component parts and is inexpensive to manufacture.
- The invention provides a splash-proof electrical in-line socket comprising a two-piece elongate body enclosing and clamping rigidly an electric terminal insert adapted for connection to an electric cable extending into the elongate body, the body comprising a first unitary piece (preferably a one-piece moulding) having a rigid tubular end section from which depends, in the longitudinal direction of the socket, a first side wall, and a second unitary piece in the form of a second side wall whose edge mates with a corresponding edge of the first side wall and with an inner edge of the tubular end section to form a splash-proof enclosure, and the electric terminal insert being clamped between the opposed side walls and having an end portion containing electric terminals and projecting into the tubular end section. The socket is thus capable of receiving in its tubular end section the terminals of a correspondingly-shaped male plug to effect an electrical interconnection with the socket terminals whilst the plug is removably coupled to the rigid tubular end section.
- The first unitary piece can be made with sufficient strength to resist bending stresses derived from the plug in use; an important feature of the invention in this regard is that the end section is tubular, i.e. it is not split lengthwise. The cross-sectional shape of the tubular section may be oval, or rectangular with radiussed corners, for example.
- Preferably, the edges of the side walls mate with a tongue-and-groove joint in order to achieve splash-proofing.
- Preferably, the three components of the socket are clamped together by a single connection member extending through the electric terminal insert.
- Preferably, the electric terminal insert is rewireable and its cable-receiving terminals are accessible upon removal of the second piece of the socket.
- Preferably, the electric terminal insert is formed so as to be a lengthwise push fit, conveniently a one-way snap fit, in the tubular end section from within the socket. This facilitates assembly of the socket.
- Preferably at least the two-piece body is of electrically-insulating plastics material.
- In order to close the end of the tubular end section to prevent the ingress of moisture in the absence of a plug, a closure member is preferably provided on the socket. Conveniently the end closure member comprises a flap pivoted adjacent an end edge of the tubular end section. The flap preferably has an edge which mates with the end edge of the tubular end section to form a splash-proof seal; conveniently also it has a handle to effect pivotal disengagement of the flap from the end edge (prior to fitting a plug into the socket in use).
- The invention, in another aspect, provides a splash-proof electrical in-line connector assembly comprising a socket in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and a correspondingly-shaped plug which is a removable push fit in the socket.
- One example of a splash-proof in-line connector assembly embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled socket in line with the plug, ready for coupling together;
- Figures 2a to 2g show a first unitary piece of the two-piece elongate body of a splash-proof electrical in-line socket embodying the invention;
- Figure 2a being an underneath plan view,
- Figure 2b being a longitudinal section on the line Z-Z of Figure 2a,
- Figure 2c being a top plan view,
- Figures 2d and 2e being opposite end views,
- Figure 2f being a section on the line X-X of Figure 2a, and
- Figure 2g being a part section on the line Y-Y of Figure 2a;
- Figures 3a to 3e show a second unitary piece which, with the first unitary piece of Figures 2a to 2g, forms the two-piece elongate body,
- Figure 3a being an underneath plan view,
- Figure 3b being a longitudinal section on the line Z-Z of Figure 3a,
- Figures 3c and 3d being opposite end views, and
- Figure 3e being a part section on the line Y-Y of Figure 3a;
- Figures 4a to 4e show an electric terminal insert adapted for insertion into the first unitary piece of Figures 2a to 2g to form, with the second unitary piece, the complete socket embodying the invention;
- Figure 4a being a top plan view;
- Figures 4b and 4c being opposite end views and
- Figures 4d and 4e being respectively a side elevation and a section on the line A-A of Figure 4a;
- Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are respectively an underneath plan view, a side elevation and a top plan view of a cover flap adapted for pivotal connection to the first unitary piece of Figures 2a to 2g;
- Figures 6a to 6d show an electric plug for connection in-line to the socket assembled from the four components of Figures 2 to 5,
- Figure 6a being a plan view partially broken away,
- Figures 6b and 6c being opposite end views and
- Figure 6d being a side elevation partially broken away.
- An electrical in-line coupling system for mains supply to an outdoor appliance comprises; a short length of cable between a male plug, shown in Figures 6a to 6d, and the appliance; and an extension cable between a standard mains wall plug (not shown) and a female socket, of which four components are shown in Figures 2 to 5. The socket is splash-proof whether or not it is coupled to the plug, so as to resist moisture ingress in the outdoor environment.
- With reference to Figures 2 to 5, the socket comprises a "three-quarter" unitary plastics insulative moulding 10, a "one-quarter" unitary plastics insulative moulding 20 which mates with the three-quarter moulding 10, an electric terminal insert in the form of an insulative plastics moulding 30 supporting metal conductive components, and an
end closure flap 40, formed as a unitary insulative plastics moulding, for pivotal connection to the three-quarter moulding 10. The assembled socket is shown figuratively in Figure 1 connected to anelectric cable 61. Thecorresponding plug 50 is connected to anothercable 60. - The three-
quarter moulding 10 has atubular end section 13 with a generally rectangular cross-section but with rounded corners. One edge of theend section 13 is continued longitudinally to form aside wall 16 which is generally flat and rectangular but has a peripheral flange having agroove 14. Theside wall 16 is moulded with atransverse projection 17 for a hand grip, and is centrally apertured at 11 for receiving a closure bolt 62 (Figure 1). Theside wall 16 also has aperturedprojections 12 extending longitudinally for the pivotal mounting of theclosure flap 40, which has corresponding stub projections on itspivot axis 41. A cable clamping arrangement is provided at the end remote from thetubular end section 13, and includesmoulded recesses 15 for receiving clamping screws. A transverse intermediate wall depends from theside wall 16 and closes the inner end of thetubular end section 13, except for a generally rectangular opening which receives part of the electric terminal insert 30 into theend section 13, as described below. - The one-quarter moulding 20 is generally a mirror image of the
side wall portion 16 of the three-quarter moulding 10, so that the two parts are complementary. The periphery has atongue 22 which is received in thegroove 14 of the three-quarter moulding 10 to form a splash-proof seal. Themoulding 20 has a hand-grip projection 24 and a bolt-receivingaperture 23; at the end clamping the cable (61, Figure 1), an end wall has a semi-circular cut-out 21. - The
electric terminal insert 30 has a rectangular-section block with a deeper, rearward portion and a shallowerforward projection 35 whose outer surface is a push fit longitudinally through the generally rectangular opening in the intermediate wall of the three-quarter moulding 10. In this example, the push fit is one-way, by virtue of a pair ofrecesses 63 each of which co-operates with acorresponding projection 64 on the inner surface of theside wall 16. Thus when the insert is pushed in, it cannot easily be removed; this facilitates assembly. The wider block portion has abore 31 at one end through which the clamping bolt 62 (Figure 1) passes so as to clamp rigidly together thesocket components - The wider, block portion is also bored at 32 to receive bolts for clamping metal terminal plates over the cable wires; an electrical connection is thus made, in use, between the cable wires and
metal terminals 33 within theblock 30. The terminals includefemale pins 34 extending longitudinally within theprojection 35, which are shaped to receivemale pins 53 of the plug 50 (Figure 6). - The
closure flap 40 is a unitary plastics moulding having aflap portion 43 integral with an L-shaped handle portion 42 withshort pivot stubs 41 at its elbow. It is free to pivot on thejournals 12 of the three-quarter moulding 10 (Figure 2b) over an angle of about 90°, between an open position (Figure 1) and a closed position at which theflap 43 covers and seals thetubular end portion 13 of the socket. A raisedportion 44 on the inside of theflap 43 corresponds to the inner shape of thetubular end portion 13 so that its side wall is a push fit to seal the periphery. Afurther projection 47 has a shoulder at such a longitudinal position as to engage ashoulder 63 on theplug body 50 only when theplug 50 is fully inserted into thesocket projection 52 within thetubular end portion 13. Thus the closure flap also serves to lock the plug and socket together; their coupling is releasable upon operation of thehandle portion 42 to pivot the projectingwedge 47 clear of engagement. Although not shown, the closure flap is biased resiliently towards its closed position, preferably by a torsion spring. - The socket, once assembled, is of course rewireable by removing the one-
quarter moulding 20 to gain ready access to the wider block portion of theinsert 30, and to the cable end.
Claims (11)
- A splash-proof electrical in-line socket comprising a two-piece elongate body (10,20) enclosing and clamping rigidly an electric terminal insert (30) adapted for connection to an electric cable (61) extending into the elongate body (10,20) characterised in that the body comprises a first unitary piece (10) having a rigid tubular end section (13) from which depends, in the longitudinal direction of the socket, a first side wall (16), and a second unitary piece (20) in the form of a second side wall (22) whose edge mates with a corresponding edge of the first side wall (16) and with an inner edge of the tubular end section to form a splash-proof enclosure, and the electric terminal insert (30) is clamped between the opposed side walls (16,22) and has an end portion containing electric terminals (33) and projecting into the tubular end section (13).
- A socket according to Claim 1, in which the edges of the side walls (16,22) mate with a tongue-and-groove (22,14) joint.
- A socket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the three components (10,20,30) of the socket are clamped together by a single connection member (62) extending through the electric terminal insert (30).
- A socket according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the electric terminal insert (30) is rewireable and its cable-receiving terminals (33) are accessible upon removal of the second piece (20) of the socket.
- A socket according to any preceding claim, in which the electric terminal insert (30) is formed so as to be a lengthwise push fit in the tubular end section (13) from within the socket.
- A socket according to any preceding claim, in which the two-piece body is of electrically-insulating plastics material.
- A socket according to any preceding claim, in which a closure member (40) for the tubular end section (13) is provided on the socket.
- A socket according to Claim 7, in which the end closure member (40) comprises a flap (43) pivoted adjacent an end edge of the tubular end section (13).
- A socket according to Claim 8, in which the flap (43) has an edge (44) which mates with the end edge of the tubular end section (13) to form a splash-proof seal.
- A socket according to Claim 9, in which the flap (43) has a handle (42) to effect pivotal disengagement of the flap (43) from the end edge (prior to fitting a plug into the socket in use).
- A splash-proof electrical in-line connector assembly comprising a socket (10,20,30) in accordance with any preceding claim, and a correspondingly-shaped plug (50) which is a removable push fit in the socket.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9021000 | 1990-09-27 | ||
GB909021000A GB9021000D0 (en) | 1990-09-27 | 1990-09-27 | Splash-proof electrical in-line socket |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0478172A2 EP0478172A2 (en) | 1992-04-01 |
EP0478172A3 EP0478172A3 (en) | 1992-08-05 |
EP0478172B1 true EP0478172B1 (en) | 1995-04-19 |
Family
ID=10682812
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19910308230 Expired - Lifetime EP0478172B1 (en) | 1990-09-27 | 1991-09-09 | Splash-proof electrical in-line socket |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0478172B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69109032T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9021000D0 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2729792B1 (en) * | 1995-01-20 | 1997-06-06 | Blue Moon Ww Sa | WATERPROOF CONNECTOR HOUSING |
DE102004045455A1 (en) * | 2004-09-20 | 2006-04-06 | BöSha GmbH + Co KG | Explosion-proof electrical equipment, in particular lights and distribution boxes, in monitored circuits with plug connections |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4037907A (en) * | 1976-02-23 | 1977-07-26 | The Echlin Manufacturing Company | Tractor-trailer electrical receptacle |
DE8310859U1 (en) * | 1983-04-13 | 1985-01-24 | Grote & Hartmann Gmbh & Co Kg, 5600 Wuppertal | Electrical plug |
JPH01103283U (en) * | 1987-12-28 | 1989-07-12 |
-
1990
- 1990-09-27 GB GB909021000A patent/GB9021000D0/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-09-09 EP EP19910308230 patent/EP0478172B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-09-09 DE DE1991609032 patent/DE69109032T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69109032T2 (en) | 1995-08-31 |
GB9021000D0 (en) | 1990-11-07 |
DE69109032D1 (en) | 1995-05-24 |
EP0478172A2 (en) | 1992-04-01 |
EP0478172A3 (en) | 1992-08-05 |
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