EP1900067B1

EP1900067B1 - Angle plug

Info

Publication number: EP1900067B1
Application number: EP05754976.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olle SKÖLDMARK
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2005-06-30
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-30
Also published as: CN101218717A; ES2565456T3; PL1900067T3; WO2007004922A1; EP1900067A1

Description

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for slimmer electrical installations and accessories for use in residential as well as office buildings. The reason for this is mainly the desire to increase the floor space available for freely placing furniture without interfering with wall sockets and electrical plugs connected thereto. In my earlier European Patent application No. 1 330 858 is disclosed an electrical outlet adapter that provides a very advantageous solution to the specific problem of increasing the available number of outlet sockets in rooms without interfering significantly with the free space available therein.
However, an even more common problem is the rather bulky design of connector plugs that are used for connecting electrical appliances to wall sockets. For space saving purposes it is preferable to use the angle plug type of connector plug, in which the electrical cord is directed sideways, parallel to the wall. The size of most connector plugs, and especially said angle plug, in a direction outwardly from the wall is to a great extent dependent upon the gripping means required to facilitate withdrawal of the plug from a socket. In fact, standards covering plugs in practically all countries specify a minimum gripping means or surface on the plug to permit easy withdrawal of a plug without the potentially hazardous application of force to the actual cord.
The attached Figs. 1A-B and 2 disclose an example of such a conventional angle plug 1 of the so called Schuko-type (corresponding to the CEE standard) that on the actual body 2 of the plug has a required gripping surface 8 of specified design and minimum size. The gripping surface requirements contribute to the fact that such conventional angle plugs even in an unearthed version protrude at least 30 mm from the bottom of a wall outlet 10 socket 13. Said conventional Schuko-type plug will be described more closely below, with further reference to said drawing figures.
With regard to the actual problem of disconnecting electrical appliances from electrical wall outlets, attempts have been made to provide specific mechanisms that shall facilitate the removal of electrical plugs. Such mechanisms, as the one disclosed in US Patent No. 5, 447, 443 , normally include parts that are separate from the actual plug and that will have to be handled and stored separately, when not in use. In most cases such mechanisms do in addition thereto add even more to the protrusion of the electrical plug from a wall outlet. Another example of such a separate gripping means is disclosed in GB 2 215 145 A and consists of a plastic strap that at the ends is fitted over the pins at the bottom side of a plug to form a ring shape at the outer side of the plug. The ends of the strap are caught between a bottom of the plug and a wall socket so that the ring shape may be gripped for removal of the plug.
US 6,095,849 A discloses an angle plug that has a body with a bottom surface from which prongs are extended and an opposite top surface. A separate lever of solid material is extended through the plug body. The lever is pivotally supported in the plug body and is adjustable between a first position extending outwardly from the top surface and a second space saving position being accomodated within the body. The lever may be pulled and swung out from the body to loosen and disconnect the plug from a wall socket.
In view of the above discussion, it is obvious that there is a clear demand for electrical plugs that interfere as little as possible with the space in a room, but that still satisfy the existing standards in most countries, with regard to the required means provided for secure gripping and disconnection of the plug.

SUMMARY

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical angle plug for connecting electrical accessories and appliances to electrical outlets.
In particular, it is a principal object of the invention to suggest an electrical angle plug of such configuration that when connected to an electrical outlet, it requires minimum space outside the outlet, while still providing excellent means for withdrawal thereof from the outlet.
These and other objects are met by the invention as defined by the accompanying patent claims.
The invention generally relates to the reduction of the height of an electrical angle plug body between a bottom surface thereof, from which prongs are extended, and an opposite top surface by providing adjustable gripping means connected directly to the body and being adjustable between an active gripping position spaced from the top surface and an inactive position adjacent the top surface. A basic idea is to provide such a gripping means where the adjustable gripping means is formed of a strip of resilient material that is attached to the plug body at or near the top surface and that is foldable to the inactive position, against said top surface. It will be specifically preferable for cost efficiency reasons.
By forming the adjustable gripping means in the shape of a ring that in the active gripping position extends outwardly from the body top surface, a very good grip for at least one finger will be provided for secure withdrawal of the plug from an outlet.
In another embodiment of the invention the adjustable gripping means is formed integral with and from the same material as the actual body, which will facilitate manufacturing of the complete plug and specifically will lower the machining costs.
An angle plug according to the present invention offers a number of advantages, including:

Compact plug design with reduced protrusion from an electrical outlet;
Provides gripping means complying with the standards of most countries;
Low machining costs, thereby;
Allowing for a low total manufacturing cost;
Equally adaptable to earthed and unearthed plugs; and
Applicable to plugs of different types for different standards.

Advantages offered by the present invention, in addition to those described above, will be readily appreciated upon reading the below detailed description of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 A: is a schematical perspective view illustrating a conventional electrical angle plug;
Fig. 1B: is schematical side view of the conventional angle plug of Fig. 1A;
Fig. 2: is a schematical illustration of the conventional angle plug of Figs 1A-B connected to a standard electrical wall socket;
Fig. 3A: is a side view of a schematical first embodiment of an angle plug according to the invention;
Fig. 3B: is a top view of the first embodiment of the angle plug according to the invention;
Fig. 3C: is an end view of the first embodiment of an angle plug according to the invention;
Fig. 4: is a schematical illustration of the first embodiment of an angle plug according to the invention in a view similar to that of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5: is a partial, schematical illustration of a modified design of the gripping means illustrated in Figs. 3A-C and 4;
Figs. 6A-C: are schematical illustrations of a further exemplifying embodiment of the angle plug in accordance with the invention; and
Figs. 7A-C: are schematical illustrations of yet another exemplifying embodiment of the angle plug in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be explained with reference to exemplifying embodiments of the inventive electrical angle plug, which are illustrated in the drawing figures. The main illustrated and described, exemplifying embodiments relate primarily to an application of the inventive solution to an unearthed electrical plug that is similar to the Schuko-type plug. The Schuko-type plug is regarded as an earth contact type plug, but is also to some extent available as an unearthed plug normally also having the later described guides and cut-outs to fit an earthed type of outlet. However, it shall be emphasized, and will be clarified further below, that the invention is in no way restricted to such an application of the inventive solution, nor to the particulars of the plugs that relate specifically to that type of plug. The invention is equally applicable for earthed angle plugs as well as angle plugs of different types and standards, protective classes etc. The application of the inventive principles to plugs of such other standards and types may require that details of the invention are modified for adaption thereto, and such modifications will fall within the scope of the invention.
As mentioned briefly in the introduction, Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional Schuko-type angle plug 1. The plug 1 has a main body 2 to which an electrical cable 7 is secured through a cable relief means 5. The cable relief 5 is often formed integral with the body 2 and firmly connected to the outer insulation of the cable 7, such as by heating. Within the plug body 2, the leads (not illustrated) of the cable 7 are electrically connected to prongs or pins 6 that spaced from one another protrude from a bottom surface 3 of the body 2. The prongs 6 extend approximately at right angles to the cable 7 and, when connected, face the socket 13 of an electrical outlet 10 that is schematically and partially illustrated with dash-dot lines in Fig. 2. The body has an opposite top surface 4 facing away from the outlet 10 in the connected position. For simplicity the plug 1 is basically drawn in an unearthed model. However, in the drawing figures 1A-B and 2 the modifications required in an earthed model of the Schuko-type and normally present also in an unearthed plug have been included indicated. These modifications include a chamfer and guide lug 14 provided at two opposite sides of the plug body 2 and two opposing cut-outs 15 for accommodating side grounding contacts (not illustrated) of an earthed socket 10.
On the sides of the plug 1 body 2, below the outer top surface 4 thereof, are provided gripping means for facilitating correct withdrawal of the plug 1 from the socket 10. In the angle plugs that are available on the market said gripping means are designed as gripping surfaces 8. In accordance with the present standard requirements such gripping surfaces 8 for the Schuko type angle plugs must have a certain design. Briefly, it is stipulated that such gripping surfaces 8, not counting the cable 7, shall have such a shape that a testing tool having a ball with a diameter of approximately 12 mm can intrude at least 2 mm therein from two opposite sides or 4 mm from one side. An angle plug of the Schuko-type that meets these requirements will, in an unearthed model, have a substantial minimum height H of 30-31 mm counted from the bottom surface 3 of the body 2, or, in the connected position, from the bottom of the outlet 10 socket or receptacle 13, and to the top surface 4. In applications where room space is not an issue, such a protrusion from a wall outlet 10 may not be regarded as very troublesome. However, in many situations such a protrusion will be a problem, both for purely esthetical reasons and due to the fact that furniture cannot be positioned as close to a wall, in front of a wall outlet occupied by a plug, as would be desirable.
The above related standard requirements also include the possibility of providing a plug having a special pull out device, such as a hook, ring or similar. However, this option has never or very rarely been used, and definitely not for applications where the overall height of the plug is a concern. The reason for this is naturally the additional plug height that would be caused by such a separate gripping and pull out device.
It has now been realized by the inventor that the apparently contradicting standard gripping and pull out requirements, on the one hand, and the desire to minimize the height of the plug, on the other hand, can both be satisfied by means of the angle plug suggested in accordance with the present invention. The invention is based on the insight that by providing a separate gripping and pullout means, which will subsequently be referred to only as a gripping means, the standard requirements will be satisfied and that by making the gripping means adjustable in position, from an active gripping position and to an inactive position of minimum or no protrusion, the desired slimness in the design of the angle plug will be obtained.
Figs. 3A-C and 4 are schematical illustrations of a first exemplary embodiment of an angle plug 21 according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment is illustrated an angle plug 21 that is basically of the Schuko-type having a body 22 with an upper surface 24, a lower surface 23 from which connecting pins 26 are extended and a cable relief means 25. The cable relief means 25 is normally formed integral with and from the same material as the body 22 and serves to protect a cable 27 that is connected to the plug 21. In accordance with the invention the height BH (see Fig. 4) of the actual body 22, from the upper 24 to the lower surface 23 thereof, is minimized without any consideration to the dimensioning of the conventional gripping surface. Decisive for the minimum allowable height BH of the body 22 is instead only that it must still be able to accommodate therein the ordinary, not illustrated, electrical connections for the leads of a cable 27 to the connections pins 26 and that said cable 27 as well as the cable relief means 25 must pass freely outside a wall outlet 30 when the plug 21 is connected thereto. Again, the plug 21 is basically illustrated as an unearthed type, although the modifications required in the earthed model have likewise been indicated, including a chamfer and guide lug 31 provided at two opposite sides of the plug body 21 and two opposing cut-outs 32 for accommodating the grounding contacts of an earthed socket.
In accordance with the invention the angle plug 21 is provided with an adjustable gripping means 29 that is generally adjustable between a first gripping position A extending outwardly from the top surface 24 of the body 22 and a second space saving position B extending primarily in a plane parallel to the top surface. Specifically, the gripping means 29 has the general shape of a ring 38 that in its basic first gripping position A, wherein it is not subjected to any substantial force, extends with its ring shape outwardly from the top surface 24 of the body 22. In the illustrated embodiment the gripping means 29 consists of a strip of resilient material that is attached to the body 22 in the area of the top surface 24 thereof and that is foldable to the second space saving position B, lying flat against said top surface. In this case the gripping means 29 is foldable generally in the direction of the cable 27 and the cable relief means 25. Furthermore, the adjustable gripping means 29 is here formed integral with and from the same material as the body 22.
As is evident from especially Fig. 4, one end of the adjustable gripping means 29 is here connected directly to the top surface 24 of the body 22, approximately in the position where the cable relief 25 connects to the main body part 22. The other end thereof is connected directly to a chamfered side surface 36 of the body, adjacent the top surface 24. With reference to Fig. 3A, it will be evident that the gripping means 21 in its first gripping position A presents a ring shape that is easily gripped with one or more fingers F to pull out the plug 21 from an outlet 30 installed in a schematically indicated wall 11. On the other hand, said Fig. 4 clearly indicates that when the angle plug 21 is connected to a wall outlet 30, a piece of furniture 12 may be moved up into contact with the actual plug body 22, folding the gripping means flat against the upper surface 24 thereof.
In accordance with the principles of the invention, the overall height OH of the angle plug 21, from the bottom surface 23 of the body 22 to the upper surface of the adjustable gripping means 29 in its second space saving position B, may therefore be reduced to approximately 20 - 26 mm, preferably 23 - 24 mm. The gripping means 21 is easily foldable from its first gripping position A to its second space saving position B and reverse. To achieve this, the ring 38 of the gripping means 29 consists of a strip of resilient material having a thickness of approximately 0, 5 - 2 mm, preferably 0, 5 - 1 mm. In a practical embodiment of the invention that will be used to exemplify the benefits thereof, the angle plug 21 is of the unearthed type, and the resilient strip material of the ring 38 has a thickness of 1 mm. In this case the height BH of the actual body 22, from the bottom surface 23 to the upper surface 24 thereof, is 23 mm, to which will be added the 1 mm height GH of the gripping means 29 in its second space saving position B being folded flat against the upper surface 24. The overall height OH of the plug 21 counted from the bottom surface 23, is then 24 mm, and with a wall outlet height SH, counted from a bottom of a socket or receptacle 33 therein, of 19 mm the maximum protrusion PH of the inventive angle plug 21 from the wall outlet 30 will be 5 mm. This should be compared with the protrusion of the conventional plug 1 of at least 11 mm from the same wall outlet.
In the illustrated embodiment, gripping surfaces 28 that are of the conventional type, but do not conform to the standard regulations in view of the reduced body height, have been formed on the sides of the body 22. These gripping surfaces 28 are optional but may be useful, i.e. for providing a grip assisting during initial connection of the plug.
In Fig. 5 is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the electrical angle plug 41 that is specifically preferred in combination with a cable relief 45 means formed integral with the plug body 42. In this case one end of the adjustable gripping means 49 is connected to the cable relief means 45 well outside the actual plug body 42 whereas the other end thereof is still connected directly to the chamfered side surface 56 of the body, adjacent the top surface. With this configuration, the point P where the ring 58 of the gripping means 49 is connected to the cable relief means 45 will be outside the perimeter of a wall outlet when the plug 41 is connected thereto. This in turn means that when a piece of furniture 12 is advanced up against the plug 41 so that the gripping means 49 thereof is folded to its second space saving position B, the cable relief will be able to bend towards the wall in case the gripping means 49 is folded also at this connection point P. In other words, with this configuration the gripping means 49 will not increase the overall height OH of the plug body 42 with more than the thickness of the ring 58 material, even if the ring is folded at both ends, as is illustrated in Fig. 5.
In Fig. 6A-C is illustrated a further embodiment of the inventive angle plug 61, wherein the ring 78 of the adjustable gripping means 69, in the first gripping position A forms an angle of approximately 45° with the upper surface 64 of the body 62. For reasons of simplicity, the above described guides and cut-outs for earthed types have not been included in these drawing figures.
As illustrated with full lines, the adjustable gripping means 69 is again formed integral with and from the same material as the body 62. However, in this case it is foldable sideways, namely generally transversal to the direction of the cable relief means 65, from its first gripping position A to its second space saving position B and reverse. In a first modification of this embodiment the end sections of the ring 78 of the adjustable gripping means 69 will be received in a recess 75 formed in the top surface 64 of the body 62 when it is folded to its second space saving position B. The recess 75 is indicated in dash-dot lines in Figs. 6A and 6B. With this modification, the overall height of the plug 61, from the top surface 64 to the bottom surface 63, will in the second position B be reduced by the thickness of the ring material when compared to the previously described embodiments, so that said overall height OH of the above given practical embodiment may be additionally reduced by 1 mm to 23 mm.
In a further modification of the basic embodiment of Figs. 6A-C the ring 78 of the adjustable gripping means 69 is pivotally attached to the body 62 for pivoting between its first gripping position A and second space saving position B. This is schematically embodied in Fig. 6B by a pin 74 that is drawn with dash-dot lines, that in any conventional manner is pivotally mounted in the recess 75 formed in the top surface 64 of the body 62 and that carries the gripping means 69. In the space saving position B the ring 78 may therefore likewise be partly received in the recess 75.
Fig. 7A-C illustrate yet another embodiment of an electrical angle plug 81 of the invention, likewise drawn without the above described guides and cut-outs for earthed types. Here, the adjustable gripping means 89 has a general T-shape with a base 96 that with one end is attached to the top surface 84 of the body 82 and in the opposite end carries a plate-like cross member 97. Like the ring 78 in the embodiment of Figs 6A-C the base 96 of the adjustable gripping means 89, in the first gripping position A forms an angle of approximately 45° with the upper surface 84 of the body 82. The plate-like cross member 97 is preferably extended parallel to the body top surface 84 to provide a good grip. As illustrated with full lines, the adjustable gripping means 89 is basically formed integral with and from the same material as the body 82. However, in this case too it is foldable sideways, namely generally transversal to the direction of the cable relief means 85, from its first gripping position A to its second space saving position B and reverse.
In a modification of this embodiment the lower portion of the base 96 of the adjustable gripping means 89 may likewise be received in a recess 95 formed in the top surface 84 of the body 82 when it is folded to its second space saving position B. The recess 95 is indicated in dash-dot lines in Figs. 7A and 7B. With this modification, the overall height of the plug 81, from the top surface 84 to the bottom surface 83, will in the second position B again be reduced by the thickness of the base material, so that said overall height OH of the above given practical embodiment may be additionally reduced by 1 mm to 23 mm.
Like in the embodiment of Figs 6A-C, the base 96 may in a further modification of the basic embodiment be pivotally attached to the body 82 for pivoting between its first gripping position A and second space saving position B. This is schematically embodied in Fig. 7B by a pin 94 that is drawn with dash-dot lines, that is pivotally mounted in the recess 95 formed in the top surface 84 and that carries the gripping means 89. In the space saving position B the base 96 may therefore likewise be partly received in the recess 95.
For the embodiments of Figs 6A-C and 7A-C the ring 78 and the base 96, respectively, of the adjustable gripping means may likewise preferably consists of a strip of resilient material having a thickness of approximately 0,5 - 2 mm, preferably 0,5 - 1 mm.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with specific reference to applications for an unearthed Schuko-type of angle plug, the invention is in no way restricted to such applications. The basic principles of the invention may be applied to most of the presently known plugs and plug standards. Also, the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. The invention is therefore intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

An electrical angle plug (1; 21; 41; 61; 81) having a body (2; 22; 42; 62; 82) with a bottom surface (3; 23; 43; 63; 83) from which prongs (6; 26; 46; 66) are extended and an opposite top surface (4; 24; 44; 64; 84), and gripping means (8; 28, 29; 49; 68, 69; 88, 89) for facilitating withdrawal of the plug from an electrical outlet (10; 30), the gripping means (29; 49; 69; 89) being adjustable between a first gripping position (A) extending outwardly from the top surface (24; 44; 64; 84) and a second space saving position (B) extending primarily in a plane parallel to the top surface characterized in that the adjustable gripping means (29; 49; 69) consists of a strip of resilient material that is foldable to the second space saving position (B), lying flat against said top surface that the strip of resilient material is attached to the body (22; 42; 62) in the area of the top surface (24; 44; 64) thereof.
An electrical angle plug (21; 41; 61) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustable gripping means (29; 49; 69) has the shape of a ring (38; 58; 78) that in the first gripping position (A) extends with its ring shape outwardly from the top surface (24; 44; 64).
An electrical angle plug (21; 41) according to claim 2, characterized in that one end of the adjustable gripping means (29; 49) is connected directly to the top surface (24; 44) of the body (22; 42) and in that the other end thereof is connected directly to a side surface (36; 56) of the body, adjacent the top surface.
An electrical angle plug (41) according to claims 2 or 3, having cable relief means (45) formed integral with the plug body (42), characterized in that one end of the adjustable gripping means (49) is connected to the cable relief means and in that the other end thereof is connected directly to a side surface (56) of the body, adjacent the top surface.
An electrical angle plug (81) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustable gripping means (89) has a general T-shape with a base (96) that in one end is attached to the top surface (84) of the body (82) and in the opposite end carries a cross member (97), and in that in the first gripping position (A) the base extends outwardly from the top surface (84).
An electrical angle plug (21; 41; 61; 81) according to any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that in the applicable case the ring (38; 58; 78) or the base (96) of the adjustable gripping means (29; 49; 69; 89) consists of a strip of resilient material having a thickness of approximately 0,5 - 2 mm, preferably 0,5 - 1 mm.
An electrical angle plug (61; 81) according to any of claims 2-6, characterized in that in the applicable case, the ring (78) or the base (96) of the adjustable gripping means (69; 89), in the first gripping position (A) forms an angle of approximately 45° with the upper surface (64; 84) of the body (62; 82).
An electrical angle plug (21; 41; 61; 81) according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the adjustable gripping means (29; 49; 69; 89) is formed integral with and from the same material as the body (22; 42; 62; 82) and is foldable from its first gripping position (A) to its second space saving position (B) and reverse.
An electrical angle plug (61; 81) according to any of claims 1, 2 and 5-6, characterized in that the adjustable gripping means (69; 89) is pivotally attached to the body (62; 82) for pivoting between its first gripping position (A) and second space saving position (B) and in the space saving position is partly received in a recess (75; 95) in the top surface (64; 84).
An electrical angle plug (21; 41; 61; 81) according to any of claims 1- 9 of the unearthed type, characterized in that its overall height (OH) from the bottom surface (23; 63; 83) of the body (22; 42; 62; 82) to an upper surface of the adjustable gripping means (29; 49; 69; 89) in its second space saving position (B), is approximately 20 - 26 mm, preferably 23 - 24 mm.