EP2082459A2 - Electrical socket arrangement - Google Patents
Electrical socket arrangementInfo
- Publication number
- EP2082459A2 EP2082459A2 EP07824848A EP07824848A EP2082459A2 EP 2082459 A2 EP2082459 A2 EP 2082459A2 EP 07824848 A EP07824848 A EP 07824848A EP 07824848 A EP07824848 A EP 07824848A EP 2082459 A2 EP2082459 A2 EP 2082459A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- socket assembly
- socket
- arrangement
- face
- aperture
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 20
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008054 signal transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
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
- H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R27/00—Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R27/00—Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
- H01R27/02—Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R39/00—Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
- H01R39/64—Devices for uninterrupted current collection
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
- H02G3/12—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
- H02G3/18—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes providing line outlets
-
- 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
- H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
- H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R35/00—Flexible or turnable line connectors, i.e. the rotation angle being limited
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an electrical socket arrangement which may comprise a plurality of different socket types.
- Hotels can also seek to provide a commercial advantage by offering sockets in their rooms of different national types, whereby if they guarantee this facility in all their hotels, particularly if they are an international chain, a client who can book all his accommodation within one chain avoids the need to carry any adaptors and thus may be tempted to book accommodation purely within that one chain or within chains that provide this facility. This is therefore desirable for some hotel chains, but installing banks of sockets of different types in each room can be expensive and unsightly.
- Other properties to which the present invention may also be of benefit include international headquarters, corporate offices and boardrooms, leisure resorts, sports facilities, journalist facilities, student campus accommodation, internet cafe's and airports. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement providing socket outlets.
- an electrical socket arrangement comprising a housing including a face plate and a socket assembly, the socket assembly including a casing with a plurality of faces and a at least one electrical socket, wherein at least a first socket is located on a first face of the socket assembly and at least one further device is located on a second face of the socket assembly, the socket assembly being rotatably mounted in the housing such that the socket assembly can be rotated to sequentially present successive faces, together with any socket located thereon, to an aperture in the face plate, through which aperture an appropriate plug can be connected, the electrical socket arrangement being characterised in that the housing comprises an actuator mechanism for permitting the socket assembly to rotate, which actuator mechanism is operable through an aperture in the face plate.
- the present invention enables an electrical socket and one further device to be accessed through a single aperture in a face plate. Therefore, the electrical socket arrangement may have a face plate no larger than a conventional electrical socket.
- the at least one further device could in one embodiment be a blanking plate.
- the at least one further device comprises a second socket, having a different configuration to the first socket and wherein an appropriate plug can be connected through said first aperture to a corresponding socket type.
- a second socket having a different configuration to the first socket and wherein an appropriate plug can be connected through said first aperture to a corresponding socket type.
- the electrical socket arrangement comprises a latch mechanism for retaining the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly is aligned in a plane across said aperture, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a release mechanism for releasing the socket assembly so that it may rotate within the housing and includes a mechanism for remotely rotating the socket assembly without contacting a face of the socket assembly.
- a latch mechanism ensures that an appropriate face of the socket assembly can be correctly aligned with the face plate and retained in that position even whilst a plug is inserted in that face of the socket assembly, with the mechanism for remotely rotating the socket assembly avoiding the need for the user to place his fingers near the sockets of the socket assembly.
- the actuator mechanism may be arranged to permit a single movement of the actuator mechanism, by a user, to first release the socket assembly, rotate the socket assembly to a location where another face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of the aperture and lock the socket assembly in this position.
- This arrangement permits the user to take the socket assembly by means of the actuator mechanism in a seamless manner without the need for him to perform multiple tasks to obtain the desired socket type.
- the socket assembly may comprise a wheel located on the axis about which the socket assembly is rotated, wherein said wheel partly protrudes through an aperture in the face plate such that it can be rotated by a user, and wherein the wheel is indirectly coupled to the socket assembly, the actuator mechanism comprising at least one locking member for locking the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate and is arranged such that initial rotation of the wheel initially releases the locking member prior to continued movement of the wheel then engaging the socket assembly and causing it to rotate to the next desired position where a further face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate.
- the wheel permits a very convenient means of actuating the release mechanism, rotating the socket assembly and subsequently enabling it to be locked - A - in position.
- the actuator mechanism may also allow the socket assembly to rotate in both directions, which is particularly advantageous when only two faces are required.
- the actuator mechanism may comprises a lever which partly protrudes through an aperture in the face plate such that it can be moved by a user, and wherein the lever is indirectly coupled to the socket assembly, the actuator mechanism comprising at least one locking member for locking the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate and is arranged such that initial actuation of the lever initially releases the locking member prior to continued movement of the lever then engaging the socket assembly and causing it to rotate to the next desired position where a further face of the socket assembly lies, in the plane of the aperture in the face plate.
- This arrangement has the same advantages as the wheel arrangement but provides for an alternative appearance of the face plate of the electrical socket arrangement.
- full displacement of the lever may only cause the socket assembly to rotate partially to the next position, with the arrangement comprising biasing means such that it is primed by the actuation of the lever mechanism, with the biasing means subsequently urging the socket assembly to a position where the further face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of the aperture in the face plate.
- the face plate preferably comprises a first aperture to which the socket is accessible and a second aperture through which the actuator mechanism protrudes, thereby avoiding the need for the user to place his fingers anywhere near the socket assembly.
- a single aperture may be provided with the actuator mechanism protruding through the aperture immediately adjacent to the socket assembly.
- the socket assembly is in the form of a four sided cube with a central axis. This provides the possibility of having four different socket types while minimising the dimensions of the housing.
- the depth of the housing is no greater than 10 cm, enabling it to fit within a standard wall construction.
- the socket assembly has rounded or chamfered off corners between adjacent faces a minimising the depth required to permit the socket assembly to be rotated within the housing.
- the socket assembly may be arranged to rotate about a pivot parallel to the face plate with the pivot, at opposite sides of the socket assembly, mounted so as to be resiliently urged away from the aperture, the arrangement further comprising means for forcing the socket assembly forward into the aperture as the socket assembly is rotated, reducing the clearance required at the back of the housing to enable to socket assembly to rotate, as the socket assembly rotates in an oblique manner.
- the socket has the dimensions of the standard electrical socket in the country of which it is to be supplied, for this enables the socket arrangement to be substituted for a standard socket in that country.
- the socket arrangement comprises a buzz bar arrangement including fixed contacts and conductive rings for conducing electrical power between the housing the socket assembly.
- a slip ring arrangement can be used to permit a fixed contact between the socket assembly and the electric wiring contact connected to the housing.
- the socket arrangement in accordance with the present invention provides not only for the plurality of different socket types to be provided in the socket assembly but may also enable other devices to be located within the socket assembly.
- Such alternatives may for example comprise of as a transformer and associated battery charger located in at least one face of the socket assembly, or it may comprise a transformer connected to a low voltage outlet socket, preferably with the voltage of the transformer and the outlet socket being varied or the transformer having a number of outlet voltages connected to appropriate low voltage outlet sockets, for example the type commonly employed by mobile phone or laptop computers.
- One face of the socket assembly may be translucent with the socket assembly comprising a nightlight behind the translucent face.
- This provides a convenient, safe nightlight which cannot be removed from the socket, such nightlights being typically employed in children's bedrooms and nurseries.
- the nightlight may be automatically switched on when the face in which it is located is at the aperture in the face plate of the housing.
- a surveillance camera could be built into one face of the socket assembly.
- the socket assembly may comprise an alternative key for locking the blank face in position in the aperture. This provides a way of blanking a socket which is desirable when young children are around and such socket may find particular application in either domestic or commercial nurseries and infant schools.
- a socket in accordance with the present invention may have particular application on sea vessels and aircraft, where space is at a premium but also where a plurality of different types of socket outlets are required as the vessel or aircraft would typically be carrying passengers from different countries.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical socket arrangement in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention
- FIGS. 2a to 2c illustrate the principle of the operation of the socket arrangement of Figure 1;
- Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the components of the socket arrangement of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 5 is an enlarged view of selected components illustrated in Figure 4.
- FIGS 6 to 11 schematically illustrate the operation of the actuator mechanism employed in the socket arrangement of Figure 1 ;
- Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a modification that may be employed with the socket arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
- Figures 14a and 14b illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention, which is essentially identical to that of the first, but comprises a slidable lever for operating the actuator mechanism.
- the socket arrangement in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, indicated generally as 1, which includes a face plate 2, which face plate has apertures 3 and 4 located therein. Aligned with the first aperture is a first face 5a of a socket assembly 6, the face 5a having a first socket type 7a located therein.
- the second aperture 4 has a thumb wheel 8 associated with an actuator mechanism for rotating the socket assembly 5, which is described in detail later.
- FIGS. 2a to 2c show the face plate with thumb wheel 8 being rotated to cause a second face 5b to be presented to the user instead of the previous face 5a, the second face 5b having a second socket type 5b located thereon.
- FIGs 3 and 4 show the various components of the socket arrangement of Figure 1.
- the socket assembly 6 is shown located in the housing 1 (with the face plate 2 removed and the components to the left of the housing shown broken away).
- the components to the left of the housing comprise an insulator 9 in which conductive rings 10 are located, which rings are thus all fixed relative to the socket assembly 6.
- the conducting rings make electrical contact with associated buzz bar assembly 11 housed in casing 12.
- the casing 12 is also the connection point for wiring 13 to the socket.
- the buzz bar assembly 11 thus provides a rotating contact with the socket assembly 6.
- the components to the right hand side of the socket assembly are shown broken away.
- a pivot pin 14 passes through holes 15 in either side of the socket assembly 6, about which pivot pin the socket assembly 6 can rotate.
- the pivot pin 14 extends through locking wheel 16, which is fixed to the socket assembly 6, and through the thumb wheel 8.
- Various casing components 17a to 17d form part of the housing 1 and extend over the locking wheel 16 and thumb wheel 8, to end face 18 of the housing.
- the locking wheel 16 comprises a semi-circular protrusion 28 which, together with two jaws 19, 20 and connecting lever 21, interact with thumb wheel 8 to form the actuator mechanism for the socket arrangement.
- Figure 5 the main components of Figure 4 are shown to an enlarged scale, but from a different perspective, to show the other side of thumb wheel 8. From Figure 5 it can be seen that the thumb wheel is attached a release wheel 22 that rotates with the thumb wheel 8.
- the release wheel 22 comprises a number of lobes 23, 24, 25 and 26 and a semi-circular recess 27.
- the components also illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 comprise the housing component 17b, the thumb wheel 8 and the release wheel 22 attached thereto (see Figure 5), jaws 19 and 20, lever 21 and spring 29 (not shown in Figures 4 or 5). Additionally shown in bold in Figures 6 to 9 are components of the locking wheel 16, comprising lobes 16a to 16d and semi-circular protrusion 28. These components are all mounted on the locking wheel 16 although the locking wheel itself, for clarity, has not been shown in Figures 6 to 9. Referring to Figure 6, the actuation mechanism is shown in a rest position, with the locking wheel 16 positioned such that the socket assembly 6 is aligned with a first face squarely positioned in the first aperture 3 of the face plate 2.
- jaws 19 and 20 suspended from respective pins 30 and 31 attached to casing component 17b are urged by spring 19 and lever 21 into contact with side faces of lobes 16a and 16c of locking wheel 16.
- the jaws 19 and 20 thus lock the locking wheel in position to prevent any forces on socket assembly 6 rotating the socket assembly 6.
- thumb wheel 8 When it is desired to rotate socket assembly 6 within housing 1 , then a user rotates thumb wheel 8, either clockwise or anticlockwise.
- the operation of the thumb wheel and actuator mechanism are from hereon described with the thumb wheel being operated in a clockwise direction as shown (the thumb wheel being urged vertically through the aperture 4 of Figure 1).
- the thumb wheel is rotated in the direction of arrow 37, until an end face of the semi-circular recess 27 of the release wheel 22 engages the semicircular protrusion 28 of the locking wheel 16.
- this rotation of the release wheel 22 cause lobe 26 of the release wheel 16 to move in the direction of arrow 38, displacing pin 33 of jaw 20 in the direction of arrow 40.
- This action raises the jaw 20 as shown and causes lever mechanism 21 to raise jaw 19 in a corresponding manner.
- cam surface 19a eventually clears the lobe 16a, but the jaws are still maintained in an open position by cam surface 20a of jaw 20 resting on lobe 16d.
- the actuator mechanism has been described with reference to an operation rotating the socket assembly 6 through 90°. However, it will be appreciated that subsequent rotation of the thumb wheel in the same direction will rotate the socket assembly through 90°, 180°, 270°, 360° and integers thereof. Similarly, it will be appreciated that if the thumb wheel 8 is rotated in anticlockwise direction the components will function in exactly the same manner, enabling the thumb wheel to permit the socket assembly to be rotated in either direction to any desired position.
- the socket arrangement 1 will often be mounted in a wall or recess having limited depth. Thus, it may be desirable to reduce the depth of the socket assembly when it is rotated to permit a smaller overall depth of the housing 1. This may be achieved by rounding off the corners of the socket assembly or chamfering off corners of the socket assembly, as indicated by imaginary lines A in Figures 12 and 13.
- Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a modification to the previously described socket arrangement, whereby each end of the socket assembly 6 is fixed a cam plate 50, with additional pins 51 mounted to the housing. The pins 51 run against the cam plates 50.
- the cam plates 50 are fixed to the socket assembly, with pivot pin 14 passing through the centre thereof.
- Each cam plate 50 houses a spring 52 in a slot 53.
- the spring and slot arrangements 53 urges the cams 50 against pins 51 keeping the socket assembly 6 pressed towards to the back of the housing 1.
- pins 51 force the cams 50 (and thus socket assembly 6) forward through the aperture 3 in the face plate 2 during rotation, reducing the clearance required at the back housing for rotation.
- the socket assembly then returns to its normal position when the faces of the socket assembly are orientated in the plane of the aperture 3.
- the invention has so far been described with reference to a thumb wheel actuation mechanism.
- this could be replaced with a slider mechanism, as illustrated in 14a and 14b, when the slider, in the form of a lever, is moved from the position illustrated in 14a to the position illustrated in 14b.
- This slider mechanism may simply be attached by a ratchet to the actuator mechanism previously described. Operation of the lever mechanism through its full stroke being sufficient to displace the actuator mechanism to the point at which it will lock the next aperture into position.
- the operation of the slider mechanism may rotate the actuator mechanism through only 45° or more, with a suitable biasing means being included to complete the rotation.
- the sliding mechanism could equally be employed with any appropriate actuator mechanism, the one illustrated being given by way of example only.
- socket assemblies with different numbers of sides are envisaged and that some faces of the socket assembly may comprise features other than sockets.
- one face could be blank to discourage tampering by young children.
- a simple locking means could be included to retain the blank face in position whereby the locking means could require release by a key, possibly in the form of a simple pin being inserted through a small additional aperture in the face plate, or by simultaneous operation of another component on the face plate 2. This would enable a blank face plate, or any face to be locked in a position, possibly requiring operation of a removable key to release it.
- the socket assembly could also comprise, on one or more faces, a number of desirable features, for example a nightlight which may be illuminated only when that face is presented to the aperture 3, or appropriate transformer and battery charger or power outlet, for example as used by mobile phones or laptops could be incorporated in one face, providing a low voltage outlet socket in that one face. It is also envisaged that, for some applications, a surveillance camera could be incorporated, although this would require a wireless transmission medium to be built into the socket assembly to permit the transmission of signals between the socket assembly and the housing.
- socket arrangement could comprise only a single socket with additional faces of the socket assembly comprising other devices such as those mentioned above.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Structural Engineering (AREA)
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Abstract
An electrical socket arrangement comprises a housing (1) including a face plate (2) and a socket assembly (6), the socket assembly including a casing (12) with a plurality of faces (5) and a at least one electrical socket (7a), wherein at least a first socket is located on a first face of the socket assembly and at least one further device (7b) is located on a second face of the socket assembly, the socket assembly being rotatably mounted in the housing such that the socket assembly can be rotated to sequentially to present successive faces, together with any socket located thereon, to an aperture in the face plate, through which aperture an appropriate plug can be connected The electrical socket arrangement further includes an actuator mechanism for permitting the socket assembly (6) to rotate, which actuator mechanism is operable through an aperture (4) in the face plate (2). The invention enables an electrical socket and one further device to be accessed through a single aperture in a face plate. The at least one further device may comprise a second socket, having a different configuration to the first socket and wherein an appropriate plug can be connected through said first aperture to a corresponding socket type. This permits a plurality of socket types to be accessed through a single face plate.
Description
Electrical Socket Arrangement
The present invention relates to an electrical socket arrangement which may comprise a plurality of different socket types.
When travelling aboard it has always been an inconvenience to carry adaptors to enable appliances, such as laptop computers and portable DVD players, to be used in foreign countries. This inconvenience is becoming more of a problem, particularly for businessmen, often travelling with very little luggage but requiring chargers and adaptors for a number of electrical items such as mobile phones and cameras. This is especially a problem where different countries are to be visited requiring different adaptors for each to be carried.
From another perspective, hotels who receive a lot of foreign travellers often find that outlet sockets are damaged by attempts to insert inappropriate foreign plugs into the standard national socket. This is often only identified by a subsequent client and can cause substantial inconvenience, both to the client and the hotel in having to get the socket replaced at short notice and the cost involved with this.
Hotels can also seek to provide a commercial advantage by offering sockets in their rooms of different national types, whereby if they guarantee this facility in all their hotels, particularly if they are an international chain, a client who can book all his accommodation within one chain avoids the need to carry any adaptors and thus may be tempted to book accommodation purely within that one chain or within chains that provide this facility. This is therefore desirable for some hotel chains, but installing banks of sockets of different types in each room can be expensive and unsightly. Other properties to which the present invention may also be of benefit include international headquarters, corporate offices and boardrooms, leisure resorts, sports facilities, journalist facilities, student campus accommodation, internet cafe's and airports.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement providing socket outlets.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrical socket arrangement comprising a housing including a face plate and a socket assembly, the socket assembly including a casing with a plurality of faces and a at least one electrical socket, wherein at least a first socket is located on a first face of the socket assembly and at least one further device is located on a second face of the socket assembly, the socket assembly being rotatably mounted in the housing such that the socket assembly can be rotated to sequentially present successive faces, together with any socket located thereon, to an aperture in the face plate, through which aperture an appropriate plug can be connected, the electrical socket arrangement being characterised in that the housing comprises an actuator mechanism for permitting the socket assembly to rotate, which actuator mechanism is operable through an aperture in the face plate.
The present invention enables an electrical socket and one further device to be accessed through a single aperture in a face plate. Therefore, the electrical socket arrangement may have a face plate no larger than a conventional electrical socket. The at least one further device could in one embodiment be a blanking plate.
Preferably the at least one further device comprises a second socket, having a different configuration to the first socket and wherein an appropriate plug can be connected through said first aperture to a corresponding socket type. This permits a plurality of socket types to be accessed through a single face plate.
Preferably, the electrical socket arrangement comprises a latch mechanism for retaining the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly is aligned in a plane across said aperture, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a release mechanism for releasing the socket assembly so that it may rotate within the housing and includes a mechanism for remotely rotating the socket assembly without contacting a face
of the socket assembly.
Employing a latch mechanism ensures that an appropriate face of the socket assembly can be correctly aligned with the face plate and retained in that position even whilst a plug is inserted in that face of the socket assembly, with the mechanism for remotely rotating the socket assembly avoiding the need for the user to place his fingers near the sockets of the socket assembly.
In one embodiment, the actuator mechanism may be arranged to permit a single movement of the actuator mechanism, by a user, to first release the socket assembly, rotate the socket assembly to a location where another face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of the aperture and lock the socket assembly in this position.
This arrangement permits the user to take the socket assembly by means of the actuator mechanism in a seamless manner without the need for him to perform multiple tasks to obtain the desired socket type.
In one embodiment, the socket assembly may comprise a wheel located on the axis about which the socket assembly is rotated, wherein said wheel partly protrudes through an aperture in the face plate such that it can be rotated by a user, and wherein the wheel is indirectly coupled to the socket assembly, the actuator mechanism comprising at least one locking member for locking the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate and is arranged such that initial rotation of the wheel initially releases the locking member prior to continued movement of the wheel then engaging the socket assembly and causing it to rotate to the next desired position where a further face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate.
In this embodiment, the wheel permits a very convenient means of actuating the release mechanism, rotating the socket assembly and subsequently enabling it to be locked
- A - in position. The actuator mechanism may also allow the socket assembly to rotate in both directions, which is particularly advantageous when only two faces are required.
As an alternative to the wheel arrangement described above, the actuator mechanism may comprises a lever which partly protrudes through an aperture in the face plate such that it can be moved by a user, and wherein the lever is indirectly coupled to the socket assembly, the actuator mechanism comprising at least one locking member for locking the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate and is arranged such that initial actuation of the lever initially releases the locking member prior to continued movement of the lever then engaging the socket assembly and causing it to rotate to the next desired position where a further face of the socket assembly lies, in the plane of the aperture in the face plate.
This arrangement has the same advantages as the wheel arrangement but provides for an alternative appearance of the face plate of the electrical socket arrangement.
With the lever arrangement described above, full displacement of the lever may only cause the socket assembly to rotate partially to the next position, with the arrangement comprising biasing means such that it is primed by the actuation of the lever mechanism, with the biasing means subsequently urging the socket assembly to a position where the further face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of the aperture in the face plate.
The face plate preferably comprises a first aperture to which the socket is accessible and a second aperture through which the actuator mechanism protrudes, thereby avoiding the need for the user to place his fingers anywhere near the socket assembly. However, in an alternative arrangement a single aperture may be provided with the actuator mechanism protruding through the aperture immediately adjacent to the socket assembly.
In one preferable arrangement, the socket assembly is in the form of a four sided cube with a central axis. This provides the possibility of having four different socket types
while minimising the dimensions of the housing. Preferably, the depth of the housing is no greater than 10 cm, enabling it to fit within a standard wall construction.
Preferably, the socket assembly has rounded or chamfered off corners between adjacent faces a minimising the depth required to permit the socket assembly to be rotated within the housing.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the socket assembly may be arranged to rotate about a pivot parallel to the face plate with the pivot, at opposite sides of the socket assembly, mounted so as to be resiliently urged away from the aperture, the arrangement further comprising means for forcing the socket assembly forward into the aperture as the socket assembly is rotated, reducing the clearance required at the back of the housing to enable to socket assembly to rotate, as the socket assembly rotates in an oblique manner.
It is preferable that the socket has the dimensions of the standard electrical socket in the country of which it is to be supplied, for this enables the socket arrangement to be substituted for a standard socket in that country.
Preferably, the socket arrangement comprises a buzz bar arrangement including fixed contacts and conductive rings for conducing electrical power between the housing the socket assembly. Alternatively, a slip ring arrangement can be used to permit a fixed contact between the socket assembly and the electric wiring contact connected to the housing.
The socket arrangement in accordance with the present invention provides not only for the plurality of different socket types to be provided in the socket assembly but may also enable other devices to be located within the socket assembly. Such alternatives may for example comprise of as a transformer and associated battery charger located in at least one face of the socket assembly, or it may comprise a transformer connected to a low
voltage outlet socket, preferably with the voltage of the transformer and the outlet socket being varied or the transformer having a number of outlet voltages connected to appropriate low voltage outlet sockets, for example the type commonly employed by mobile phone or laptop computers.
One face of the socket assembly may be translucent with the socket assembly comprising a nightlight behind the translucent face. This provides a convenient, safe nightlight which cannot be removed from the socket, such nightlights being typically employed in children's bedrooms and nurseries. The nightlight may be automatically switched on when the face in which it is located is at the aperture in the face plate of the housing.
A surveillance camera could be built into one face of the socket assembly.
The socket assembly may comprise an alternative key for locking the blank face in position in the aperture. This provides a way of blanking a socket which is desirable when young children are around and such socket may find particular application in either domestic or commercial nurseries and infant schools.
A socket in accordance with the present invention may have particular application on sea vessels and aircraft, where space is at a premium but also where a plurality of different types of socket outlets are required as the vessel or aircraft would typically be carrying passengers from different countries.
Two embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying figures of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical socket arrangement in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2a to 2c illustrate the principle of the operation of the socket arrangement of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the components of the socket arrangement of Figure 1 ;
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of selected components illustrated in Figure 4;
Figures 6 to 11 schematically illustrate the operation of the actuator mechanism employed in the socket arrangement of Figure 1 ; Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a modification that may be employed with the socket arrangement in accordance with the present invention; and
Figures 14a and 14b illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention, which is essentially identical to that of the first, but comprises a slidable lever for operating the actuator mechanism.
Referring to Figure 1 , the socket arrangement in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, indicated generally as 1, which includes a face plate 2, which face plate has apertures 3 and 4 located therein. Aligned with the first aperture is a first face 5a of a socket assembly 6, the face 5a having a first socket type 7a located therein. The second aperture 4 has a thumb wheel 8 associated with an actuator mechanism for rotating the socket assembly 5, which is described in detail later.
Referring to Figures 2a to 2c, these show the face plate with thumb wheel 8 being rotated to cause a second face 5b to be presented to the user instead of the previous face 5a, the second face 5b having a second socket type 5b located thereon.
Figures 3 and 4 show the various components of the socket arrangement of Figure 1. Referring first to Figure 3, the socket assembly 6 is shown located in the housing 1 (with the face plate 2 removed and the components to the left of the housing shown broken away). The components to the left of the housing comprise an insulator 9 in which conductive rings 10 are located, which rings are thus all fixed relative to the socket assembly 6. The conducting rings make electrical contact with associated buzz bar assembly 11 housed in casing 12. The casing 12 is also the connection point for wiring 13 to the socket. The buzz bar assembly 11 thus provides a rotating contact with the socket assembly 6.
In Figure 4, the components to the right hand side of the socket assembly are shown broken away. A pivot pin 14 passes through holes 15 in either side of the socket assembly 6, about which pivot pin the socket assembly 6 can rotate. The pivot pin 14 extends through locking wheel 16, which is fixed to the socket assembly 6, and through the thumb wheel 8. Various casing components 17a to 17d, form part of the housing 1 and extend over the locking wheel 16 and thumb wheel 8, to end face 18 of the housing. The locking wheel 16 comprises a semi-circular protrusion 28 which, together with two jaws 19, 20 and connecting lever 21, interact with thumb wheel 8 to form the actuator mechanism for the socket arrangement.
Referring now to Figure 5, the main components of Figure 4 are shown to an enlarged scale, but from a different perspective, to show the other side of thumb wheel 8. From Figure 5 it can be seen that the thumb wheel is attached a release wheel 22 that rotates with the thumb wheel 8. The release wheel 22 comprises a number of lobes 23, 24, 25 and 26 and a semi-circular recess 27.
Referring now to Figures 6 to 9, these sequentially illustrate the operation of the actuator mechanism and show identical components during the different stages of operation. Only those components necessary to the understanding of the operation of the actuation mechanism are shown and these are schematically illustrated superimposed upon each other.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the components also illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 comprise the housing component 17b, the thumb wheel 8 and the release wheel 22 attached thereto (see Figure 5), jaws 19 and 20, lever 21 and spring 29 (not shown in Figures 4 or 5). Additionally shown in bold in Figures 6 to 9 are components of the locking wheel 16, comprising lobes 16a to 16d and semi-circular protrusion 28. These components are all mounted on the locking wheel 16 although the locking wheel itself, for clarity, has not been shown in Figures 6 to 9.
Referring to Figure 6, the actuation mechanism is shown in a rest position, with the locking wheel 16 positioned such that the socket assembly 6 is aligned with a first face squarely positioned in the first aperture 3 of the face plate 2. In this position, jaws 19 and 20, suspended from respective pins 30 and 31 attached to casing component 17b are urged by spring 19 and lever 21 into contact with side faces of lobes 16a and 16c of locking wheel 16. The jaws 19 and 20 thus lock the locking wheel in position to prevent any forces on socket assembly 6 rotating the socket assembly 6.
When it is desired to rotate socket assembly 6 within housing 1 , then a user rotates thumb wheel 8, either clockwise or anticlockwise. The operation of the thumb wheel and actuator mechanism are from hereon described with the thumb wheel being operated in a clockwise direction as shown (the thumb wheel being urged vertically through the aperture 4 of Figure 1).
With reference to Figure 7, the thumb wheel is rotated in the direction of arrow 37, until an end face of the semi-circular recess 27 of the release wheel 22 engages the semicircular protrusion 28 of the locking wheel 16. As illustrated in Figure 7, this rotation of the release wheel 22 cause lobe 26 of the release wheel 16 to move in the direction of arrow 38, displacing pin 33 of jaw 20 in the direction of arrow 40. This action raises the jaw 20 as shown and causes lever mechanism 21 to raise jaw 19 in a corresponding manner. The jaws 19 and 20 are now released from lobes 16a and 16c such that continued rotation of the thumb wheel 8 in the direction of arrow 37 causes semi-circular recess 27, in the release wheel 22, to engage semi-circular protrusion 28 on the locking wheel and rotate the locking wheel in the direction of arrows 41 and 43 of Figure 8. This rotation results in the cam surface 19a of jaw 19 resting upon lobe 16a of locking wheel 16, as illustrated in Figure 9. This maintains both jaws 19 and 20 in the open position during continued rotation of the thumb wheel 8, locking wheel 16 and socket assemblyό.
Referring to Figure 10, the cam surface 19a eventually clears the lobe 16a, but the jaws are still maintained in an open position by cam surface 20a of jaw 20 resting on lobe
16d.
When the second face 5b of the socket assembly is aligned with the aperture in the face plate, the actuator mechanism will have adopted the position in Figure 11, whereby the jaws 19 and 20 have both cleared respective lobes 16a and 16d. This permits the jaws 19 and 20 to close under the action of the spring 29, with the jaws now engaging lobes 16b and 16d, in the manner they previously engaged lobes 16a and 16c (Figure 6), thus acting to both align the second face 5b of the socket assembly 6 with the first aperture 3 and the face plate 2 and also to lock the second face 5b in position in the first aperture 3.
The actuator mechanism has been described with reference to an operation rotating the socket assembly 6 through 90°. However, it will be appreciated that subsequent rotation of the thumb wheel in the same direction will rotate the socket assembly through 90°, 180°, 270°, 360° and integers thereof. Similarly, it will be appreciated that if the thumb wheel 8 is rotated in anticlockwise direction the components will function in exactly the same manner, enabling the thumb wheel to permit the socket assembly to be rotated in either direction to any desired position.
The socket arrangement 1 will often be mounted in a wall or recess having limited depth. Thus, it may be desirable to reduce the depth of the socket assembly when it is rotated to permit a smaller overall depth of the housing 1. This may be achieved by rounding off the corners of the socket assembly or chamfering off corners of the socket assembly, as indicated by imaginary lines A in Figures 12 and 13. However, Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a modification to the previously described socket arrangement, whereby each end of the socket assembly 6 is fixed a cam plate 50, with additional pins 51 mounted to the housing. The pins 51 run against the cam plates 50. The cam plates 50 are fixed to the socket assembly, with pivot pin 14 passing through the centre thereof. Each cam plate 50 houses a spring 52 in a slot 53. The spring and slot arrangements 53 urges the cams 50 against pins 51 keeping the socket assembly 6 pressed towards to the back of the housing 1. On rotation of the housing, as indicated by arrow 54, pins 51 force the cams 50 (and thus
socket assembly 6) forward through the aperture 3 in the face plate 2 during rotation, reducing the clearance required at the back housing for rotation. The socket assembly then returns to its normal position when the faces of the socket assembly are orientated in the plane of the aperture 3.
The invention has so far been described with reference to a thumb wheel actuation mechanism. However, if desired, this could be replaced with a slider mechanism, as illustrated in 14a and 14b, when the slider, in the form of a lever, is moved from the position illustrated in 14a to the position illustrated in 14b. This slider mechanism may simply be attached by a ratchet to the actuator mechanism previously described. Operation of the lever mechanism through its full stroke being sufficient to displace the actuator mechanism to the point at which it will lock the next aperture into position. Alternatively, the operation of the slider mechanism may rotate the actuator mechanism through only 45° or more, with a suitable biasing means being included to complete the rotation. However, the sliding mechanism could equally be employed with any appropriate actuator mechanism, the one illustrated being given by way of example only.
The present invention has so far been described with reference to a socket arrangement for enabling different socket types to be selected and the arrangements illustrated have shown a four sided socket assembly. It should however be appreciated that socket assemblies with different numbers of sides are envisaged and that some faces of the socket assembly may comprise features other than sockets. For example, one face could be blank to discourage tampering by young children. Additionally, it is envisaged that a simple locking means could be included to retain the blank face in position whereby the locking means could require release by a key, possibly in the form of a simple pin being inserted through a small additional aperture in the face plate, or by simultaneous operation of another component on the face plate 2. This would enable a blank face plate, or any face to be locked in a position, possibly requiring operation of a removable key to release it. The socket assembly could also comprise, on one or more faces, a number of desirable features, for example a nightlight which may be illuminated only when that face is
presented to the aperture 3, or appropriate transformer and battery charger or power outlet, for example as used by mobile phones or laptops could be incorporated in one face, providing a low voltage outlet socket in that one face. It is also envisaged that, for some applications, a surveillance camera could be incorporated, although this would require a wireless transmission medium to be built into the socket assembly to permit the transmission of signals between the socket assembly and the housing.
It is also envisaged that the socket arrangement could comprise only a single socket with additional faces of the socket assembly comprising other devices such as those mentioned above.
It will be appreciated that only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail and that many alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which embodiments will fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An electrical socket arrangement comprising a housing including a face plate and a socket assembly, the socket assembly including a casing with a plurality of faces and at least one electrical socket, wherein at least a first socket is located on a first face of the socket assembly and at least one further device is located on a second face of the socket assembly, the socket assembly being rotatably mounted in the housing such that the socket assembly can be rotated to sequentially present successive faces, together with any socket located thereon, to an aperture in the face plate, through which aperture an appropriate plug can be connected, the electrical socket arrangement being characterised in that the housing comprises an actuator mechanism for permitting the socket assembly to rotate, which actuator mechanism is operable through an aperture in the face plate.
2. An electrical socket arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the at least one further device comprises a second socket, having a different configuration to the first socket and wherein an appropriate plug can be connected through said first aperture to a corresponding socket type.
3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, comprising a latch mechanism for retaining the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly is aligned in a plane across said aperture, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a release mechanism for releasing the socket assembly so that it may rotate within the housing and includes a mechanism for remotely rotating the socket assembly without contacting a face of the socket assembly.
4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the actuator mechanism is arranged to permit a single movement of the actuator mechanism, by a user, to first release the socket assembly, rotate the socket assembly to a location where another face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of the aperture and locks the socket assembly in this position.
5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a wheel located on an axis about which the socket assembly is rotated, wherein said wheel partly protrudes through an aperture in the face plate such that it can be rotated by a user, and wherein the wheel is indirectly coupled to the socket assembly, the actuator mechanism comprising at least one locking member for locking the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate and is arranged such that initial rotation of the wheel initially releases the locking member prior to continued movement of the wheel then engaging the socket assembly and causing it to rotate to the next desired position where a further face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate.
6. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a lever which partly protrudes through an aperture in the face plate such that it can be moved by a user, and wherein the lever is indirectly coupled to the socket assembly, the actuator mechanism comprising at least one locking member for locking the socket assembly in a position where a face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of an aperture in the face plate and is arranged such that initial actuation of the lever initially releases the locking member prior to continued movement of the lever then engaging the socket assembly and causing it to rotate to the next desired position where a further face of the socket assembly lies, in the plane of the aperture in the face plate.
7. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the full displacement of the lever only causes the socket assembly to rotate partially to the next position and wherein the arrangement comprises biasing means that is primed by the actuation of lever and urges the socket assembly to a position where the further face of the socket assembly lies in the plane of the aperture in the face plate.
8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the face plate comprises a first aperture through which the socket assembly is accessible and a second aperture through which the actuator mechanism protrudes.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket assembly is in the form of a cube with a central axis.
10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket assembly has rounded corners between adjacent faces.
11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket assembly rotates about a pivot parallel to the face plate, with the pivot at opposite sides of the socket assembly mounted so as to be resiliently urged away from the aperture, the arrangement further comprising means for forcing the socket assembly forward into the aperture, as the socket assembly is rotated reducing the clearance required at the back of the housing to enable the socket assembly to rotate.
12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket arrangement has a maximum depth from the face plate of 10 cm.
13. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the face plate has the dimensions of a standard electrical socket.
14. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket arrangement comprises a buzz bar arrangement including fixed contacts and circular conductive rings for conveying electrical power between the housing and the socket assembly.
15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a transformer and a battery charger located in at least one face of the socket assembly, connected to the transformer.
16. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a transformer and a low voltage outlet socket.
17. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one face of the socket assembly is translucent and the socket assembly comprises a nightlight behind the translucent face.
18. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the nightlight is automatically switched on when the face in which it is located is at the aperture in the face plate of the housing.
19. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a surveillance camera located in one face of the socket assembly.
20. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising one or more light switches located on one or more faces of the socket assembly.
21. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a blank face and an external key for locking the blank face in position in the aperture.
22. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to be wall mounted.
23. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an electric motor connected to the axis of the socket assembly which will rotate the socket assembly to the next face when an actuator switch, mounted in a separate aperture, is depressed.
24. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a voltage transformer to automatically change the voltage as the socket assembly is rotated, to provide the correct voltage for the socket type.
25. A socket assembly arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described, in one or more of the accompanying figures.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0620509A GB2442999B (en) | 2006-10-16 | 2006-10-16 | Improvements to electricity supply sockets |
PCT/GB2007/050636 WO2008047161A2 (en) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-10-15 | Electrical socket arrangement |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2082459A2 true EP2082459A2 (en) | 2009-07-29 |
Family
ID=37491595
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP07824848A Withdrawn EP2082459A2 (en) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-10-15 | Electrical socket arrangement |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2082459A2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2442999B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008047161A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IES20090194A2 (en) * | 2009-03-11 | 2009-10-28 | John Meehan | An electrical socket assembly |
TWI394061B (en) * | 2009-05-22 | 2013-04-21 | Wistron Corp | Electronic device and socket changing apparatus thereof |
CN103107464A (en) * | 2011-11-14 | 2013-05-15 | 施耐德电气东南亚(总部)有限公司 | Socket |
ITMI20121119A1 (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2013-12-27 | Alfonso Colacchio | HOUSING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC FRUITS |
CN104934817B (en) * | 2014-03-21 | 2018-04-27 | 国基电子(上海)有限公司 | Adaptor plug |
NZ721086A (en) * | 2015-06-12 | 2022-08-26 | Schneider Electric Australia Pty Ltd | Electrical device mounting system |
IT201600075211A1 (en) * | 2016-07-19 | 2018-01-19 | Daniel Gasparini | MODULAR ELECTRIC ELEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS |
EP3518348B1 (en) | 2018-01-26 | 2020-11-11 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Electrical socket apparatus, electrical plug apparatus and method of operation |
CN109066231B (en) * | 2018-07-22 | 2019-12-03 | 福州普来尔电器有限公司 | A kind of embedded data line socket in intelligentized Furniture |
CN111064028B (en) * | 2020-01-20 | 2020-12-08 | 嘉兴市大明实业有限公司 | Wall conversion socket |
GB2607006A (en) | 2021-05-17 | 2022-11-30 | Keltbray Ltd | Pile cap |
GB2606724B (en) | 2021-05-17 | 2024-06-05 | Hiper Pile Ltd | Pile assembly and method of making a pile assembly |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US4747788A (en) * | 1987-01-28 | 1988-05-31 | Byrne Norman R | Manually operable retractable power center |
US5023396A (en) * | 1989-03-10 | 1991-06-11 | Square D Company | Pop-up service fitting |
US5122069A (en) * | 1989-07-28 | 1992-06-16 | Amp Incorporated | Access flooring module |
US5318453A (en) * | 1992-10-30 | 1994-06-07 | Hwang Chung Ho | Electric wall receptacle |
US5660554A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1997-08-26 | Mead; Michael S. | Universal plug adaptor |
GB2320983B (en) * | 1996-04-27 | 2001-08-15 | Board Tech Electric Co Ltd | Electrical outlet device for connection with various types of plugs |
DE29622212U1 (en) * | 1996-12-20 | 1997-05-07 | Werfl, Christian, 85123 Karlskron | Extendable socket to accommodate multiple consumers |
GB2359422A (en) * | 2000-02-15 | 2001-08-22 | Cyberkinetics Res Inc | Assembly for an outlet |
PL355559A1 (en) * | 2002-08-20 | 2004-02-23 | H F Industrie-Teile-Vertrieb Gmbh | Multiple plug-in socket |
WO2006040634A2 (en) * | 2004-10-14 | 2006-04-20 | Clipsal Asia Holdings Limited | Circuit connection device with a rotatable connector carrier |
JP2006147424A (en) * | 2004-11-22 | 2006-06-08 | Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd | Adjustable outlet |
-
2006
- 2006-10-16 GB GB0620509A patent/GB2442999B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2007
- 2007-10-15 EP EP07824848A patent/EP2082459A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-10-15 WO PCT/GB2007/050636 patent/WO2008047161A2/en active Application Filing
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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See references of WO2008047161A3 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0620509D0 (en) | 2006-11-22 |
GB2442999A (en) | 2008-04-23 |
GB2442999B (en) | 2009-03-18 |
WO2008047161A3 (en) | 2008-08-07 |
WO2008047161A2 (en) | 2008-04-24 |
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