EP1331697A1

EP1331697A1 - Grounding device

Info

Publication number: EP1331697A1
Application number: EP02001742A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Albert Stekelenburg
Original assignee: All Line Inc
Current assignee: All Line Inc
Priority date: 2002-01-25
Filing date: 2002-01-25
Publication date: 2003-07-30

Abstract

The invention relates to the grounding of power strips or socket outlets, which do not provide a grounding connection by the electric network.
For that purpose the invention proposes a grounding device, comprising a grounding terminal (10), a plug (30) with N/L contacts (33, 32) and an earth contact (31) and a single wire (20), which connects the grounding terminal (10) with the earth contact (31). The grounding terminal (10) is in contact with an earthed surface, so that the earth contact (31) is grounded. In this way a plugged in electric or electronic apparatus is provided with a connection to ground.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a grounding device which allows a circuit with a provision of earth, that is most likely to be connected to a non earthed socket outlet by the consumer thus loosing its grounding capability, to recapture a grounding protection.

Background of the invention

Normally, the socket and plug have three contacts which enable to contact N/L as well as grounding. But actually in many houses in Europe, the electric sockets of several rooms only provide two contacts. These sockets are so-called CLASS 0 (zero) socket outlets. These CLASS 0 (zero) socket outlets however accept plugs with earth provision. That means, this kind of socket outlets provides no contact for grounding.

Previously, the rooms with socket outlets without earth did not require further grounding, because even if these rooms are fitted with accessible metal parts from water tubes or central heating radiators, people were not expected to use equipment in these rooms that require earth.

But, nowadays, due to the increasing private use of electric and electronics apparatus of appliances, such as computers, in private rooms, the grounding and surge protection is very important. Furthermore, grounding is the basic requirement for compliance with EMC-directive (Electro Magnetic Compatibility) as well as with surge protection requirements. Let alone that it is the actual basis for compliance with Electrical Safety requirements and requirements for connecting appliances to telecom circuitries. (see also requirements for Computers with modems)

Referring to Fig. 1, a power strip with a plug provides three contacts which include N/L (neutral/live) contact (A & C) and E (earth) contact (B). Said N/L contacts (A & C) extend to terminals (D & F) of socket outlet as well as E contact (B) extends to grounding terminal (E). When the plug is inserted into the so-called CLASS 0 socket outlet, obviously, the socket outlets of the power strip provide no grounding, because the E contact is ungrounded.

As mentioned above, many consumers in Europe have computers for their private use and also other equipment that requires an earth connection. Therefore, the socket outlet without earth is a problem to these equipments. Due to the net-filtering and surge-protection of these equipments they will not work at all or they will not work with 100% of their functionality. It's a really important issue in which we must be concerned.

Summary of the invention

The major object of the present invention is to solve the problem of no grounding of appliances that require grounding, due to being connected to mains, direct or indirect, coming from a non-earthed socket outlet.

The secondary object of present invention is to provide a simple way to connect their equipment to parts as the earthed metal to obtain the grounding.

Besides, there are some appliances set on the no grounding circuit. By using the present invention set on one of the power strip, all the appliances on the circuit will catch the grounding protection.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1:: is a perspective, parts sectional view of the power strip.
Fig. 2:: is a perspective, parts sectional view of the present invention.
Fig. 3:: Combination of the present invention showing the operation by plug in.
Fig. 4:: is a perspective, parts sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5:: is a perspective, parts sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

As stated above, the power strip of Fig. 1 provides an E contact (B) for grounding. But, if the socket outlet provides no earth contact, then the E contact (B) provides no function in grounding.

Referring to Fig. 2, the grounding device of the present invention includes a grounding terminal 10, a single wire 20 and a plug 30. Said grounding terminal 10 further comprising a clip 11 and a screw 12 which enables the grounding terminal 10 to be connected with the outside earthed material. The single wire 20 has a wire terminal 21 which can be connect to said clip 12 by but not limited to riveting or soldering.

However, in practice, the grounding terminal 10 can be in any shape. In some circumstance, the grounding terminal can be omitted but use the wire 20 as grounding wire.

Said plug 30 was provided with two

pins

32, 33, and an earth plate 31 with a hole 311. Said

pins

32, 33 function is to plug in the N/L contact holes of the socket and they are isolated to each other. Actually, they also can be made by non-conductive material and acting no electric carrying function. Thereby, they can function to support the product when connecting to any regular portable (multiple) socket outlet as well as opening of the safety shutter if any provided. Alternatively, the

32, 33 also can be omitted but provide an earth plate 31.

When plug in, the earth plate 31 can be connected with the E pin 441 of the power strip by inserting into holes 311. Therefore, through said grounding terminal 10 and said single wire 20, said earth plate 31 could be grounded. As shown in Fig. 2, all elements are fixed by an isolated body 34.

As used for portable (multiple) socket, the hole 311 can be omitted and the earth plate 31 could be a pin.

Refer to Fig. 3, it shows a plug 30 stuck in the socket 41 of the power strip 40. The power strip 40 had habitually structure, providing two connecting

holes

42, 43 of N/L contact and one earth plate 44 for grounding. Due to the bolts, the earth plate 44 upwardly extends the E pin 441 and can ground earth by the end of the said grounding terminal 10.

The plug 45 of the power strip 40 provides two

pins

46, 47 of N/L contact and an earth plate 48, which is equipped with the power strip. When said plug 30 was plugged into the outlet, said E pin 441 inserts into said hole 311, then, via the single wire 20 and grounding terminal 10, the power strip is available to catch the grounding protection.

Fig.4 shows the second embodiment. Said grounding device includes a grounding wire 50 and a power strip 60. The grounding wire 50 was provided with a grounding terminal 51, a single wire 52 and a bolt 53. Said power strip 60 had habitually structure, every socket providing two connecting

holes

61, 62 for N/L contact, an earth plate 63 with upward pin 64 is added on the outlet upon the bus bar. Said earth plate 63 further forms a hole 65 which through the housing of power strip 60. When said bolt 53 is plugged into the outlet hole 65, the power strip is available to catch the grounding protection.

As mentioned above, in practice, the grounding terminal 51 can be omitted and wire 53 can act as grounding wire. Furthermore, the connection of wire 52 to power strip 60 via terminal 65 can be done by various means, such as plug in type, screw type...etc. By this way a portable (multiple) socket outlet is enabled to be provided with a terminal that is connected to internal grounded parts in the same way these parts are connected to the ground plate (31) of the plug and that this terminal is accessible for the consumer and that this terminal allows the consumer to connect the earth provisions of the portable (multiple) socket outlets to earth in an alternative way then via the earth connection provided via the plug.

Fig.5 illustrates another embodiment of a surge plug 70 and it was provided with two

pins

72, 73 for N/L contact and an earth plate 71. The single wire 81 screwed on the E contact 74 which extends from earth plate 71, the surge plug 70 can ground earth by grounding terminal 82. When said surge plug 70 plugs in the socket of the power strip, through the connection of grounding terminal 82 and the E contact 74, said power strip is able to catch the ground and surge protection. Therefore, the surge plug 70 also catch the surge protection function. In practice, the

pins

72, 73 can be made by a non-conductive material or omitted.
Concluded the above, the present invention was set for grounding protection when the circuit is without ground connection.

While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood the modification or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A grounding device, comprising a grounding terminal, a single wire which connects to said grounding terminal, a plug connected to said single wire; said plug providing two contacts for N/L contact and an earth contact for E contact, whereby, said earth contact can contact the E contact to obtain the grounding protection.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said grounding terminal further comprising a clip and a screw, by which said grounding terminal can be connected with the earthed material.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said single wire provides a terminal, by which said terminal can be connected with said clip.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 1, said plug can be connected with one of socket outlets of power strip or multiple sockets on the wall.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 1, said N/L contacts can be made by non-conductive material.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 1, said N/L contacts can be omitted and carrying no electrical function.
A grounding device comprising a surge plug, a single wire and a grounding terminal; said surge plug provides a two contacts for N/L contact, an earth contact; said single wire connects to said earth contact; said grounding terminal connects to said single wire; whereby the earth contact is able to catch grounding protection through grounding terminal contact with earthed material.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 7, said ground terminal further comprising a clip to contacting the earthed material and a screw to screw up said single wire and said clip.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 7, said grounding material further comprising a clip to connect with the earthed end.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 7, said N/L contacts could be made by non-conductive material.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 7, said N/L contact could be omitted.
The grounding device as claimed in claim 7, said connection between single wire and earth contact could be plug in type, screw type, or other connecting type.