FI124741B - Double socket - Google Patents

Description

A DOUBLE WALL SOCKET FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention reduced to electric power socket-Outlets. More specifically, the invention relates to fixed double socket-Outlets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need for electric power socket outlet increases constantly, as the number of electric appliances increases. In a home or office environment a traditional solution is to use extension leads and multiple Portable sockets-Outlets to increase the number of available sockets. Buildings have fixed mounting boxes for sockets; therefore retrofitting larger wall sockets is not possible.

One solution is presented in FI86927, having a double wall socket outlet having two outlet openings forming a symmetric axis is inclined relative to the sides of a rectangular wall socket outlet for fitting the double wall socket outlet into the space defined by the attaching frame. The attaching frame is purposed for one Schuko outlet.

Many power plugs are equipped with a 90-degree angle connector body. When the socket-outlet Outlets are on the same axis, engaging plugs may cause overlapping of the angled cables. In such cases, angled plugs do not fit in, or another one may have to be engaged in angled cable facing up. This causes the cable to extend upwards that may have an unpleasant effect on the interior of the house.

Fixed socket-Outlets should remain free from any maintenance for at least 30 years, even in harsh conditions. The existing design is as simple as possible to improve durability. The symmetric structure helps the socket-outlet assembly to retain its form. The assembly according to prior art has prevented the double socket outlet to fit into the mounting box in any other form than symmetric assembly.

SUMMARY

The invention discloses a fixed double socket outlet being provided with a cover plate and a cylindrical mounting box, the size of the mounting box is arranged for a single socket outlet and the main part of the socket outlet is arranged to fit into the space defined by the mounting box. According to the invention, the first axis of the outlet openings of the first and second socket-outlet is arranged at an angle between 38 and 42 degrees to the second axis of the first and second socket-outlet. In one embodiment two socket-contact openings form a parallel axis for the first and second socket-outlet. In another aspect of the invention, the outlet openings are arranged to an Asymmetric axis relative to the rectangular cover plate and the openings for the electric plug are arranged at the same angle to the side of the cover plate.

In one, the socket-outlets are the Schuko socket-outlets. In one embodiment, the cover plate comprises a rectangular shape and the axis of the outlet openings is arranged at an angle between 38 and 42 degrees to the side of the rectangular cover plate. In one embodiment, the main part comprises straight fixed links for the interconnection of the socket-contacts in parallel between the two socket-contact openings. In one, the main part consists of Asymmetric fixed link for Interconnection of earthing contacts between two socket-Outlets.

In one the fixed links for the Interconnection of earthing contacts are constructed from a single piece of metal comprising a first earthing contact, a second earthing contact and a flat asymmetric link between the first and second earthing contact. In One Purpose Fixed Links For Interconnection Of Earthing Contacts Is Made From A Single Piece Of Flat Metal That Is At least To The Shape. In one embodiment the flat Asymmetric link comprising a Guiding portion arranged to be connected to the earthing terminal and retain the Interconnection in the main part; and hole in the first and second earthing contact for fixing the Interconnection to the main part. In one embodiment the fixed link for the Interconnection of the socket-contacts in parallel is constructed from a single piece of metal that is Bent to the shape.

The present invention enables fitting a double socket outlet into a mounting box that has a space defined for a single device. Outlet terminal holes are parallel; therefore two angled plugs and cables can be inserted into both socket-outlets simultaneously. The arrangement is solid, preventing the double socket outlet or earthing contacts from being deformed by the insertion of the plug, without the risk of damaging the safety of the socket outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings that are included to provide further understanding of the invention and to form part of this Specification illustrate the embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exemplary illustration of one double socket outlet according to the invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b are exemplary illustrations of a combination of a cover-plate and a fixed link for the interconnection of earthing contacts;

Figs. 3a and 3b are an exemplary illustration of a fixed link with earthing contacts;

Fig. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of the main part from straight ahead;

Figs. 5a and 5b are examples of an assembly comprising a cover plate and a main part; and

Figs 6a and 6b are an example of another embodiment of an invention having different earthing configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

General Requirements for Socket Outlets According to the Present Invention are laid out in International Standard IEC 60884-1, Edition 3.1, 2006-07; which is supported by reference. The socket outlet is also known as Schuko outlet.

The mounting box for a single Schuko socket outlet is usually cylindrical in shape. The round form restricts the space available for any devices to be fitted into the box. The standard lays several requirements for socket-Outlets. Socket Outlets to be installed in a box are so designed that the conductor ends can be prepared after the box is mounted in position, but before the socket outlet is fitted in the box. Multiple socket-Outlets with common base are provided with fixed links for Interconnection of socket-contacts in parallel. The fixing of these links is independent from the connection of the supply wires.

Figure 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the invention, viewing the cover plate 101 that is covering the main part of the double socket outlet 102 from the front. Earthing contacts 104 fixed to the main part protrude through the cover plate 101. The cover plate 101 and the link for the interconnection of the earthing terminals and corresponding earthing contacts 104 are connected by two screws through holes 105, 106. The socket- outlet is an accessory having socket-contacts 107, 108, 109, 110 designed to engage with pins of plug and having terminals for cable connection. The cover-plate 101 comprises socket-contact openings 111, 112, 113, 114.

The double socket outlet is installed into the mounting box resulting in the socket contact openings 111, 112, 113, 114 of the first and second socket outlet 102, 103 are either horizontally or vertically. The socket-contact openings 111, 112 of the first socket-outlet 102 form an axis that is parallel to the axis formed by the socket-contact openings 113, 114 of the second socket-outlet 103.

In this example, the angle of the second axis 115 of the outlet openings is arranged at an angle of 40 degrees to the side 116 of the rectangular cover-plate 101. The angle of 40 degrees provides the optimum result with the largest material thickness between the two socket outlets and a mounting box. Angles between 38 and 42 degrees are possible for this arrangement. The first axis 117 is defined for example passing through the first socket outlet opening 113 and the second socket outlet opening 114, in Fig. 1 is illustrated by line 117 that is tangential to the openings 113, 114. In this example the rectangular cover-plate 101 is squared, but the invention is not limited to rectangular cover-plate - the cover-plate 101 may be of any shape, for example round. The arrangement of the first 102 and the second 103 socket outlet is asymmetric in relation to the symmetry axis defined by the square cover plate 101. The symmetry axis of the square cover plate 101 is defined from one corner to the opposite corner.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the invention, viewing the combination of the cover plate 101 and the fixed link 201 for the interconnection of the earthing contacts 104 between the first and second socket outlet 102, 103. The fixed link 201 is of Asymmetric form. Figures 3a and 3b further illustrate one example of a fixed link 201 with earthing contacts 104. In one example, the assembly is fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal that is at least the desired shape. In another exemplary assembly fixed link 201 and earthing contacts 104 are separate pieces that are joined together for example by riveting. The fixed link 201 comprises a Guiding portion 202 arranged to be connected to the earthing terminal. The earthing terminal is not illustrated.

Figure 4 illustrates one example of the invention, viewing the main part 401 from straight ahead. The main part 401 comprises straight fixed links for the interconnection of the socket contacts in parallel between the two socket contact openings. The first straight fixed link 402 is configured to interconnect socket contacts 107 and 110 and the second straight fixed link 403 is configured to interconnect socket contacts 108 and 109. The first fixed link 402 and the second fixed link 403 are in this example to the shape from a single piece of sheet metal. Cable terminals are in this example arranged to the space beside the straight fixed links 402, 403, not illustrated in the figures.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate one example of an assembly, the cover plate 101 and the main part 401 being connected together. The illustrations comprise two different views from the side of the assembly.

Another example of a double socket outlet according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b. In this example, the configuration for earthing contacts is modified. Socket-Outlets 102 comprise an earthing pin 601 protruding from the socket-outlet plate. Corresponding fixed link 201 is arranged accordingly to be connected to earthing Pins 601.

Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional or may be combined. Although various aspects of the invention are set forth in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise the other combinations of the features from the described embodiments and / or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the advancement of technology, the basic idea of invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above; instead they may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims (8)

A fixed double socket (102, 103) provided with a cover plate (101) and a cylindrical mounting box, wherein the size of the mounting box is arranged for a single socket and the major part of the socket (102, 103) is arranged to accommodate a the first axis (117) of the contact openings (111, 112; 113, 114) of the second socket (102, 103) being arranged at an angle of 38 to 42 degrees with respect to the second axis (115) of the first and second socket (102, 103). Double socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the sockets (102, 103) are double sockets. Double socket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the main part (401) comprises direct fixed connections (402, 403) for connecting the sockets contacts in parallel (108-109, 107-110) between the two socket contact openings. Double socket according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the main part (401) comprises an asymmetric fixed connection (201) for connecting the grounding contacts (104) between the first and second sockets (102, 103). Double socket according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixed connection (201) for connecting the grounding contacts (104) is formed from a single metal piece comprising a first grounding contact (104), a second grounding contact (104) and a flat asymmetrical connection (201). between the first (104) and second (104) grounding contacts. Double socket according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fixed connections (201) for connecting the grounding contacts (104) are formed from a single flat metal piece which is bent. Double socket according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the flat asymmetrical connection (201) comprises a control part (202) arranged to be connected to the grounding terminal and to hold the connection in the main part (401); and a hole (105, 106) in the first and second grounding contacts (104) for securing the connection to the main body (401). Double socket according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fixed connection (402, 403) for connecting the socket contacts in parallel (108-109, 107-110) is formed by a single piece of metal which is bent in its shape.