GB2143425A

GB2143425A - An electric plug holder

Info

Publication number: GB2143425A
Application number: GB08416270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wei Kuan Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-21
Filing date: 1984-06-26
Publication date: 1985-02-13
Also published as: GB8416270D0

Abstract

An electric plug holder comprising an attachment portion 1 provided with means e.g. adhesive pad 3 for securing it to a support and a carrier portion 2 which can support an electric plug with the cable extending through an opening 13 in the portion. Resilient lips 16 are forced apart when the cable is introduced via gap 6 into the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric plug holder This invention relates to an electric plug holder which can be usedfordomesticorcommercial applications to hold an electric plug in a raised position, for example, alongside an electric socket in which the plug isto be used.

Atthe presenttime a single electric socket is frequently used to accommodate two or more plugs relating to different appliances and if the socket is raised above floor level the electric plugs which are not in use tend to be allowed to fall to the floor where they are likely to be damaged orto short circuit if there is a loose wire in the plug. The present invention therefore provides a device which can be used to retain the electric plug in a convenient position.

Another advantage ofthe invention is that if two or more plugs are in use they can be arranged neatly withoutthewire becoming entangled, and any plug which is to be used will fall easilyto hand.

According to the present invention an electric plug holder comprises an attachment portion provided with means forsecuring itto a support and a carrier portion provided with a pair of substantially horizontal arms which cansupportan electric plug with the electric cable extending through the open ended gap between said arms.

Thus, the plug holder can be secured, for example, to a wall or a shelf and can be used to hold an electric plug when it is not in use.

Preferably means are included for resiliently closing the open outer end of the gap so that when the plug is in position in the plug holder it is not easily dislodged.

In a convenient construction the gap between the arms is of reduced width at the open outer end which again assists in retaining the plug in position.

Thus, in plan viewthe gap may be substantially circularwith a short inlet portion with substantially parallel sides which provides the said portion of reduced width at the open outer end.

The means for resiliently closing the open end of the gap may comprise two lips of resiliently deformable material which extend over the inlet portion.

Thus, the upper surfaces of the arms may be covered in resiliently deformable material, the lips being provided by a cut extending from an outer edge of said material to an opening aligned with said gap.

The securing means for attaching the deviceto a support may comprise an adhesive portion.

The plug holder may be adapted for attachmentto a substantially vertically extending surface and may comprise a bracket having a substantially horizontal portion which is formed with the arms and gap.

If desired the holder can be provided with three or more arms adapted to supporttwo or more electric plugs with their electric cables extending through the open ended gaps between said arms.

The invention can be performed in many ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa front elevation of an electric plug holder according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation ofthe same device; Figure 3 is a side elevation; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation on the lines IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view from above; Figure 6 is a plan view from below; Figure 7 is an isometric view of a holderforthree plugs, with one plug position; and, Figure 8 is an isometric view of another construction forfour plugs.

As shown in Figures 1 to 7 ofthe drawings the electric plug holder is intendedforattachmentto a vertically extending surface, for example, the edge of a shelf or a wall and comprises an attachment portion 1 and a carrier portion 2. As will be seen from the drawings, the plug holder is in the form of an L-shaped bracket made from a plastics material, the vertical arm ofthe bracket providing the attachment portion 1 and the horizontally extending portion providing the carrier portion 2. The attachment portion 1 is provided on its rear face with an adhesive pad 3 to enable itto be attached to the vertical surface on which it is to be used.

The carrier portion 2 is shaped to provide a pair of substantially horizontal arms 4 and 5, most clearly shown in Figure 6. A gap 6 is provided between the arms 4 and 5 and is formed by a substantially circular portion 7 with a short inlet portion 8 having substantially parallel sides 9. This short inlet portion thus provides a portion of reduced width at the open outer end ofthe gap 6.

The edge of the carrier portion 2 is provided with an upstanding rim 10which helps to locate a layer of resiliently deformable material 11 which covers the upper surface of the carrier portion 2. This resiliently deformable material may be rubber or a plastics material which has the appropriate characteristics.

The upper surface of the material is ribbed as indicated by reference numeral 122 and it is provided with a circular opening 13 which is aligned with the circular portion 7 of the gap 6. A cut 14extends from the circular opening 13 to the outer edge of the material which is also cut away to provide an indent indicated by reference numeral 15. It will be seen therefore that the cut 14 provides a pair of lips 16 which extend overthe inlet portion 8 ofthe gap 6.

In use the adhesive pad 3is usedto secured the electric plug holder to a vertical surface, for example a wall, at a convenient position adjacent to the socket with which the plug isto be used. When the electric plug is not in use it is located in the plug holder by pushing the electric cable extending from the plug into the gap 6 between the arms 4 and 5. The lips 16 of resilient material are deformed to allow entrance of the cable into the circular part7 ofthe gap where it is retained by the resilient lips 16 which have closed behind it.The plug is therefore supported bythearms 4and 5 but itis prevented from being accidentally displaced bythe resilient lips 16 acting onthecable. The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

When it is necessary to use the plug it is merely removed from the plug holderbyforcing the lips 16 apart by the cable as it is pulled through the inlet portion 8 ofthe gap 6.

Figure 7shows an alternative construction for supporting three plugs. In this Figure the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts as in Figures 1 to 7 buy twill be seen thatfour horizontally extending arms are provided which produce three gaps 6. Thewidth of the arms is sufficientto allow adjacent plugs to be located in position in the gaps 6. This type of construction is particularly useful when it is intended to use a number ofappliancesfrom one plug socket so that tte pl ugs which are not in use can be held out of the way.

Th e pl ug holder is thus provided by an L-shaped bracket which has a substantially vertically extending portion which providesthe attachment portion 1 panda substantially horizontal portion which provides the carrier portion 2 and is formed with the arms and gaps 6.

Another construction according to the invention is shown in Figure 8 in which the same numerals are again used to indicate similar parts. In this construction the L-shaped bracket of Figure 7 is replaced by a T-shaped bracketthe substantially vertically extending arm of which provides the attachment portion 1 and the horizontal portion of which provides the carrier portion 2. In this construction gaps 6 are provided around three ofthe edges of the carrier portion 2 so thatthe plugs when located are held in a "cluster".

Otherconfigurations can also be used, for example the gap 6 could be arranged to extend radially from a point in linewith or behind the attachment portion 1 and as many plugs as is convenient could be supported provided sufficient gaps 6 and appropriate support arms are provided.

Claims

1. An electric holder comprising an attachment portion provided with means for securing itto a supportandacarrierportion provided with a pair of substantially horizontal arms which can support an electric plug with the cable extending through the open ended gap between said arms.

2. An electric plug holder as claimed in claim 1 including means for resiliently closing the open outer end ofthe gap.

3. An electric plug holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the gap between the arms is of reduced width atthe open outer end.

4. An electric plug holder as claimed in claim 3 in which in plan view the gap is substantially circular with a short inlet portion with substantially parallel sides which provides the said portion of reduced width atthe open outer end.

5. An electric plug holder as claimed in claim 4 when dependenton claim 2 in which the meansfor resiliently closing the open end ofthe gap comprises two lips of resiliently deformable material which extend oversaid inlet portion.

6. An electric plug holder as claimed in claim 5 in which the upper surfaces of said arms are carrier in said resiliently deformable material said lips being provided by a cut extendingfrom an outer edge of said material to an opening aligned with said gap.

7. An electric plug holder as claimed in claims 1 to 6 in which the securing means comprises an adhesive portion.

8. An electric plug holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is adapted for attachment to a substantiallyvertically extending surface and which comprises a bracket having a substantially vertical portion which provides said attachment portion and a substantially horizontal portion which provides the carrier portion which is formed with the arms and gap.

9. An electric plug holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims provided with three or more arms adapted to supporttwo or more electric plugs with their electric cables extending through the open ended gaps between said arms.

10. An electric plug holder substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 and Figures 7 and 8 ofthe accompanying drawings.