EP2403071A1

EP2403071A1 - An actuator, an electrical plug and socket assembly

Info

Publication number: EP2403071A1
Application number: EP10167741A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mahesh Reddy; Arjun Rao; Vijai S Bhaskar; Raghunath T Prabhu
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2010-06-29
Filing date: 2010-06-29
Publication date: 2012-01-04

Abstract

An actuator, an electrical socket and electrical plug and socket assembly are disclosed. The actuator (11) is configured for operational with an electrical plug (14), where the actuator (11) includes a cylindrical projection (111) formed with a guiding means (112) that is carved on its outer surface. A shutter (12) can cover apertures (131) in the electrical socket when the socket is not in use. This shutter (12) includes a pair of projections (121) that is guided in the guiding means (112) of the actuator (11) when the plug (14) is inserted into the socket, which opens the shutter (12) to enable easy accessibility of the protected power socket outlet. Such arrangement can avoid the insertion of non-protected power plugs and achieve efficient utilization of protected power. It also achieves a balanced and/or symmetric poke yoke design with child protection and foreign particle protection.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the fields of electrical plug and socket assembly. The present invention specifically relates to actuators and shutters for the electrical plug and socket assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, advanced electrical products have become the daily necessities of households. Some of examples of these electrical products are computers, laptops, medical equipments in hospitals and other electrical products. These electrical products are usually run on UPS to function without interruption. In order to provide power for the UPS, usually an electrical socket provided on the UPS accepts plugs, which tap the UPS power. When the products are not in use, the electrical plug can simply and conveniently be pulled out of the electrical sockets.
Such electrical sockets are commonly provided with an aperture plate with a pair of apertures for receiving pins of the electrical plug, and a shutter that covers the apertures when the electrical plug is not connected to the electrical socket. In the conventional socket and plug assembly of patent GB529597 , the electrical plug may utilize an earth pin to move the shutter through an arm or lever to a prepared position, i.e. shielding or unshielding position. On withdrawal of the plug, the pins of the electrical plug disengage from the shield such that a spring is enabled to move the shutter to cover the apertures of the sockets.
Similarly, in the patent GB2234865 , the electrical socket exhibits a wall containing a pair of apertures for receiving pins of an electrical plug. The shutter is mounted behind the wall for sliding movement in an operating direction, which is substantially perpendicular to a plane including the pins when such a plug is inserted therein, Bias means can act on the shutter to urge it into a position in which it doses or substantially doses the apertures. The shutter includes an inclined face for engagement by leading ends of the plug pins so as to move the shutter in the operating direction on insertion of the pins. Further, the shutter is mounted for tilting movement relative to the operating direction into engagement with abutment means fixed with the wall to prevent sliding movement in the operating direction.
In such conventional electrical plug and socket assembly, the socket outlet shutter is movable on insertion of the plug pins in order to expose the sockets and thus making it possible for electrical contact to take place between the pins of the plug and the socket connectors by engagement of the former into the latter. However, no special structures and arrangements of the plug and socket assembly are provided to protect the plugs and the sockets against the insertion of non-protected power plugs. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved plug and socket assembly, which avoids the insertion of non-protected power plugs.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an actuator for an electrical plug, which provides easy accessibility for protected power socket outlet
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical socket capable of providing child protection and ensuring that the socket outlet is no more home for insects.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved plug and socket assembly, which avoids the insertion of non-protected power plugs and achieves efficient utilization of protected power.
A further object of the present invention is to design a universal actuator for schuko (side earth) and French plug (centre earth).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, the present invention, which achieves these objectives, relates to an actuator for an electrical plug, can be configured for operational with the electrical plug, where the actuator can be made up of a plastic material. The actuator can be provided with a cylindrical projection either at its center or any other location of the actuator in accordance with the design of electrical plug. The cylindrical projection is formed with a guiding means that is carved on an outer surface of the cylindrical projection. These guiding means can make the socket accessible, which provides easy accessibility for a protected power socket outlet.
According to another embodiment, the present invention, which achieves these objectives, relates to an electrical socket powered by protected power (UPS) comprising a shutter that covers apertures in the electrical socket when the socket is not in use. A shutter seat can be configured for receiving the shutter in a rest on position, and a torsion spring can be configured for moving and holding the shutter in a closed position. The shutter can include a pair of projections that is guided in the guiding means of the actuator when the plug is inserted into the socket, which opens the shutter to enable the socket accessible. Such shutter arrangement can achieve a balanced and/or symmetric design with child protection and foreign particle protection, and also ensure that the socket outlet is no more home for insects.
According to further embodiment, the present invention, which achieves these objectives, relates to an electrical plug and socket assembly comprising an electrical plug with an actuator and an electrical socket that are designed in a poke yoke manner. This poke yoke design can avoid the insertion of non-protected power plugs and achieve efficient utilization of protected power. Additional, this poke yoke design is compact and balanced in its position, which takes care of failure in design due to unbalance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying Figures.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an actuator for an electrical plug, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a shutter for an electrical socket, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 shows a front view of a shutter seat for the electrical socket, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of an electrical plug and socket assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled view of the electrical plug and socket assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an actuator 11 for an electrical plug 14, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The actuator 11, which may be of any convenient shape, can be configured for operational with the electrical plug 14 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The actuator 11 comprises an actuator plate 110 provided with a perpendicular extending cylindrical projection 111 either at its center or any other location of the actuator 11 in accordance with the design of electrical plug 14. The actuator plate 110 has an external shape which corresponds to the external shape of a cooperating electric plug in order to fit into a corresponding electrical socket. The cylindrical projection 111, which may be of any convenient shape, is formed with a guiding means 112 that are carved on an outer surface of the cylindrical projection 111. The guiding means 112 comprise a first guiding groove 1121 parallel arranged on and at the base of the guiding means 112 together with a connected second guiding groove 1122 curved or angled in relation to the first guiding groove and arranged at the tip of the cylindrical projection 111. The guiding means 112 can make an electrical socket accessible, where the actuator 11 can be made of, but not limited to a plastic material. The actuator 11 further comprises a set of through holes 113 on it for receiving earth, neutral and live pins of the electrical plug 14.
Referring to FIG. 2 an isometric view of a shutter 12 for an electrical socket is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numbers are assigned to identical components in FIGS. 1-5. The shutter 12, which may be of any convenient shape, can be positioned on a shutter seat 13, as shown in FIG. 3, for covering a set of apertures 131 of the shutter seat 13 in the electrical socket when the socket is not in use. The shutter seat 13 can also be described as contact cover. The shutter 12 comprises a pair of radial directed projections 121 formed on its center holes, where the shutter 12 can be designed in an aesthetic manner. The outer shape of the projections 121 converge towards the center of the shutter and are sized to fit into the guiding means 112 of the actuator during use of the same. The shutter seat 13 can be designed for receiving the shutter 12 in a rest on position, where the shutter seat 13 and the shutter 12 are connected by means of snap fit 132. The set of apertures 131 of the shutter seat 13 is configured for receiving the earth, neutral and live pins of the electrical plug 14, respectively. The shutter seat 13 is also provided with at least one shutter stop 133 towards which shutter stop 133 the shutter 12 abuts when it is in its rest position.
Referring to FIG. 4, an exploded view of an electrical plug and socket assembly is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electrical plug and socket assembly comprises the actuator 11, an electrical plug 14 and an electrical socket that is powered by protected power (UPS). Such electrical plug and socket assembly is meant for providing power for certain range of products such as computers, laptops, medical equipments in hospitals and all products that run on UPS. The electrical socket includes a torsion spring 15 that is configured for moving and holding the shutter 12 in a closed position abutting the shutter stop 133. The torsion spring 15 can be arranged between the shutter seat 13 and the shutter 12 so as to urge the shutter 12 into the closed position by means of sliding or rotating movement. FIG. 4 also discloses the set of apertures 131 and the shutter stop 133 of the shutter seat 13, the cylindrical projection 111 and its guiding means 112 of the actuator 11 as well as the projections 121 of the shutter 12.
Furthermore, the actuator 11 of the electrical plug 14 and the shutter 12 of the electrical socket can be designed in a unique poke yoke manner, where the poke yoke design of the electrical plug and socket assembly is compatible with competitor products. Such poke yoke design can avoid the insertion of non-protected power plugs and achieve efficient utilization of protected power. Additionally, this poke yoke design is compact and balanced in its position, which takes care of failure in design due to unbalance.
Referring to FIG. 5, an assembled view of the electrical plug and socket assembly is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numbers are assigned to identical components in FIGS. 1-5. The shutter 12, the shutter seat 13 and the torsion spring 15 are completely covered by a top cover (not shown) and a casing (not shown) of the electrical socket outlet. The actuator 11 can be assembled into the electrical plug 14 before inserting the electrical plug 14 into the electrical socket. When the electrical plug 14 is inserted into the electrical socket, the pair of projections 121 of the shutter 12 is first guided by the second guiding groove 1122 in the guiding means 112 of the actuator 11, which exerts a rotating movement to and thus opens the shutter 12 to enable the socket accessible by urging the shutter 12 against the action of the torsion spring 15. When the electric plug 14 is pushed further into the electrical socket the first guiding groove 1121 of the actuator 11 holds the shutter 12 in a rotated open position with no further rotation of the same. The projections 121 of the shutter 12 and the guiding grooves 1121, 1122 of the actuator 11 can enable easy accessibility for a protected power socket outlet. Such shutter arrangement can achieve a balanced and/or symmetric design with child protection and foreign particle protection, and also ensure that the socket outlet is no more home for insects.

Claims

An actuator for an electrical plug comprising:
a plurality of holes configured for receiving a plurality of pins of said electrical plug; and

at least one actuator projection formed with a guiding means, wherein said guiding means are formed on an outer surface of said projection enables access of a protected power socket outlet.
The actuator of claim 1 wherein said at least one projection is located either at center and/or any other location of said actuator in accordance with the design of said electrical plug,
The actuator of claim 1 wherein said actuator is made of an electrically non-conducting material like plastic.
The actuator of claim 1 wherein said actuator is molded into said electrical plug.
An electrical socket comprising:
at least one shutter for covering a plurality of apertures in said electrical socket when said electrical socket is not in use;

at least one shutter seat configured for receiving said at least one shutter in a rest on position; and

at least one torsion spring configured for moving and holding said at least one shutter in a closed position, wherein said at least one shutter is formed with a plurality of projections.
The electrical socket of claim 5 wherein said plurality of projections of said at least one shutter is guided in said guiding means of the said actuator when the electrical plug is inserted into the electrical socket such that said at least one shutter is opened to enable said electrical socket accessible.
The electrical socket of claim 5 wherein said at least one shutter, said at least one shutter seat and said at least one torsion spring are completely enclosed by a top cover and a casing of said electrical socket.
The electrical socket of claim 5 wherein said at least one shutter includes a balanced and/or symmetric design.
An electrical plug and socket assembly comprising:
an electrical plug comprising:
an actuator with at least one actuator projection formed with a guiding means, wherein said guiding means are formed on an outer surface of said projection; and

an electrical socket including:

at least one shutter for covering a plurality of apertures in said electrical socket when said electrical socket is not in use, wherein said shutter is formed with at least one guiding means such that when the guiding means of said actuator is guided into said guiding means of said shutter when the electrical plug is inserted into the electrical socket such that said shutter is moved to enable access to said electrical socket.
The electrical plug and socket assembly of claim 9 wherein the guiding means of the actuator projection has a first guiding groove parallel to the actuator projection direction and a second guiding groove at the tip of the actuator projection connected and angled or curved to the first guiding groove.
The actuator of any of the claims 1-4 wherein the actuator projection extends perpendicular from an actuator plate.
The actuator of any of the claims 1-4 or 11 wherein the actuator projection has a cylindrical shape.
The actuator of any of the claims 1-4 or 11-12 wherein the guiding means of the actuator projection has a first guiding groove parallel to the actuator projection direction and a second guiding groove at the tip of the actuator projection connected and angled or curved to the first guiding groove.
The electrical socket of any of the claims 5-8 wherein the shutter seat is provided with at least one shutter stop towards which the shutter abuts when it is in its rest position.
The electrical socket of any of the claims 5-8 or 14 wherein the shutter seat is provided with a snap fit onto which the shutter is mounted.