GB2161836A - Plastics electrical plug coated with decorative material having metallic appearance - Google Patents

Plastics electrical plug coated with decorative material having metallic appearance Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2161836A
GB2161836A GB08418666A GB8418666A GB2161836A GB 2161836 A GB2161836 A GB 2161836A GB 08418666 A GB08418666 A GB 08418666A GB 8418666 A GB8418666 A GB 8418666A GB 2161836 A GB2161836 A GB 2161836A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
plug
decorative material
aluminium
cover
appearance
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB08418666A
Other versions
GB8418666D0 (en
GB2161836B (en
Inventor
John William White
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BG ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES LIMI
Original Assignee
BG ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES LIMI
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BG ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES LIMI filed Critical BG ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES LIMI
Priority to GB08418666A priority Critical patent/GB2161836B/en
Publication of GB8418666D0 publication Critical patent/GB8418666D0/en
Publication of GB2161836A publication Critical patent/GB2161836A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2161836B publication Critical patent/GB2161836B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases

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  • Cookers (AREA)

Abstract

The decorative material may be metal eg. brass, aluminum, steel applied by vacuum deposition or may be a lacquer coloured to give the required metallic appearance and applied by spraying or dipping. In the embodiment the cover of the plug is sprayed with lacquer, then sprayed with aluminium and finally with a brass coloured protective top lacquer.

Description

SPECIFICATION A plug This invention relates to a plug.
Plugs for connecting electrical appliances to outlet sockets are in everyday use in homes, factories and offices. In recent years there has been a tendency for the outlet sockets to be produced such that they have a metallic appearance instead of the usual white plastics appearance. Currently socalled brass outlet sockets are much in fashion and a standard white plastics plug in a brass outlet socket tends to look anomalous.
It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce this problem.
Accordingly this invention provides a plug which is made of a plastics material, the plastics material being provided with a coating of a decorative material that has a metallic appearance.
Thus, the plug or the coated part of the plug looks metallic and can so be produced to match a metallic outlet socket.
The metallic appearance can be such that the coating has a highly polished, mat or brushed metal appearance.
The decorative material may be a metal. Usually, the metal will be brass, aluminium or stainless steel. When the metal is aluminium, it may advantageously be produced to have a brushed aluminium appearance.
Alternatively, the decorative material may be a material that looks like a metal, for example looks like the aforementioned brass, aluminium or stainless steel.
The decorative material may be in any form and it may be applied to the plastics material in any convenient way. Thus, for example, the decorative material may be in the form of a paint. The decorative material may be painted or sprayed on to the plastics material or the plug may be dipped into the decorative material.
Advantageously, the decorative material is vacuum deposited. The vacuum deposition has been found to be particularly cost effective and various areas of the plug where it is not desired to have the decorative material can easily be masked.
The decorative material may be vacuum deposited by providing the plug with a base lacquer, spraying aluminium on to the base lacquer, and providing a layer of the decorative material on the aluminium, the decorative material being in the form of a lacquer which is coloured to give it the required metallic appearance.
The base lacquer may be sprayed on to the plug and it may be stoved at approximately 145"F.
The aluminium is preferably sprayed on under vacuum.
The layer of the decorative material is preferably force dried at 130"F.
Apart from the provision of the decorative material, the plug may be a standard known plug. Thus, for example, the plug may be moulded to have a base and a cover. The plug may be moulded from white or black plastics material.
Generally, the decorative material can be provided where desired on the plug with appropriate masking. Because the decorative material will normally be electrically conducting, it is preferred to only provide the decorative material on the cover.
The decorative material may be provided solely on the face of the cover or, alternatively, the decorative material can extend over the face of the cover and down the sides of the cover. When the decorative material extends down the sides of the cover, it advantageously ceases at approximately 3mm from the split line of the plug where the cover abuts the base.
The plug can be a non-resilient urea formaldehyde resin plug produced to BS 1363 or it can be a resilient nylon 66 plug produced to BS 1363 A.
Generally, the plugs can be two or three pin plugs.
The plugs can thus be 13 amp square pin plugs, or 15, 5 or 2 amp round pin plugs. The 13, 15 and 5 amp plugs will normally be three pin plugs whilst the 2 amp plug will normally be a two pin plug.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Referring to the drawing, there is shown a fused 13 amp plug 2 having three pins 4, 6, 8 which are of rectangular cross section. The plug 2 has a cover 10 and a base 12. The cover 10 abuts the base 12 at a split line 14.
The cover 10 has a face 16 and sides 18. The cover 10 and the base 12 are made of a plastics material but the face 16 is additionally provided with a coating of a decorative material. The decorative material is such as to give the face 16 the appearance of polished brass.
The face 16 is provided with its polished brass appearance by a vacuum metalisation technique.
More specifically, a base lacquer is sprayed on to the face 16 and is stoved at approximately 145"F.
Aluminium is then sprayed on under vacuum on to the base lacquer. Thereafter, a brass coloured protective top lacquer is provided, for example under vacuum, on the aluminium and the protective top lacquer is force dried at 130 F. The sides 18 are appropriately masked to avoid them also being provided with the decorative material.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, the decorative material can be a different type of decorative material, for example to give the appearance of another metal such for example as brushed aluminium or stainless steel.
Instead of a polished mirror-type finish, the decorative material can have a matt finish. Also other types of plug can be provided with the decorative material and other deposition techniques can be employed for providing the decorative material on the plug. Also, if desired, the sides 18 could be provided with the decorative material as could the base 12.
1. A plug which is made of plastics material,
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A plug This invention relates to a plug. Plugs for connecting electrical appliances to outlet sockets are in everyday use in homes, factories and offices. In recent years there has been a tendency for the outlet sockets to be produced such that they have a metallic appearance instead of the usual white plastics appearance. Currently socalled brass outlet sockets are much in fashion and a standard white plastics plug in a brass outlet socket tends to look anomalous. It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce this problem. Accordingly this invention provides a plug which is made of a plastics material, the plastics material being provided with a coating of a decorative material that has a metallic appearance. Thus, the plug or the coated part of the plug looks metallic and can so be produced to match a metallic outlet socket. The metallic appearance can be such that the coating has a highly polished, mat or brushed metal appearance. The decorative material may be a metal. Usually, the metal will be brass, aluminium or stainless steel. When the metal is aluminium, it may advantageously be produced to have a brushed aluminium appearance. Alternatively, the decorative material may be a material that looks like a metal, for example looks like the aforementioned brass, aluminium or stainless steel. The decorative material may be in any form and it may be applied to the plastics material in any convenient way. Thus, for example, the decorative material may be in the form of a paint. The decorative material may be painted or sprayed on to the plastics material or the plug may be dipped into the decorative material. Advantageously, the decorative material is vacuum deposited. The vacuum deposition has been found to be particularly cost effective and various areas of the plug where it is not desired to have the decorative material can easily be masked. The decorative material may be vacuum deposited by providing the plug with a base lacquer, spraying aluminium on to the base lacquer, and providing a layer of the decorative material on the aluminium, the decorative material being in the form of a lacquer which is coloured to give it the required metallic appearance. The base lacquer may be sprayed on to the plug and it may be stoved at approximately 145"F. The aluminium is preferably sprayed on under vacuum. The layer of the decorative material is preferably force dried at 130"F. Apart from the provision of the decorative material, the plug may be a standard known plug. Thus, for example, the plug may be moulded to have a base and a cover. The plug may be moulded from white or black plastics material. Generally, the decorative material can be provided where desired on the plug with appropriate masking. Because the decorative material will normally be electrically conducting, it is preferred to only provide the decorative material on the cover. The decorative material may be provided solely on the face of the cover or, alternatively, the decorative material can extend over the face of the cover and down the sides of the cover. When the decorative material extends down the sides of the cover, it advantageously ceases at approximately 3mm from the split line of the plug where the cover abuts the base. The plug can be a non-resilient urea formaldehyde resin plug produced to BS 1363 or it can be a resilient nylon 66 plug produced to BS 1363 A. Generally, the plugs can be two or three pin plugs. The plugs can thus be 13 amp square pin plugs, or 15, 5 or 2 amp round pin plugs. The 13, 15 and 5 amp plugs will normally be three pin plugs whilst the 2 amp plug will normally be a two pin plug. An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing, there is shown a fused 13 amp plug 2 having three pins 4, 6, 8 which are of rectangular cross section. The plug 2 has a cover 10 and a base 12. The cover 10 abuts the base 12 at a split line 14. The cover 10 has a face 16 and sides 18. The cover 10 and the base 12 are made of a plastics material but the face 16 is additionally provided with a coating of a decorative material. The decorative material is such as to give the face 16 the appearance of polished brass. The face 16 is provided with its polished brass appearance by a vacuum metalisation technique. More specifically, a base lacquer is sprayed on to the face 16 and is stoved at approximately 145"F. Aluminium is then sprayed on under vacuum on to the base lacquer. Thereafter, a brass coloured protective top lacquer is provided, for example under vacuum, on the aluminium and the protective top lacquer is force dried at 130 F. The sides 18 are appropriately masked to avoid them also being provided with the decorative material. It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, the decorative material can be a different type of decorative material, for example to give the appearance of another metal such for example as brushed aluminium or stainless steel. Instead of a polished mirror-type finish, the decorative material can have a matt finish. Also other types of plug can be provided with the decorative material and other deposition techniques can be employed for providing the decorative material on the plug. Also, if desired, the sides 18 could be provided with the decorative material as could the base 12. CLAIMS
1. A plug which is made of plastics material, the plastics material being provided with a coating of a decorative material that has a metallic appearance.
2. A plug according to claim 1 in which the decorative material has a metallic appearance such that the coating has a highly polished, matt or brushed metal appearance.
3. A plug according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the decorative material is a metal.
4. A plug according to claim 3 in which the metal is brass, aluminium or stainless steel.
5. A plug according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the decorative material is a material that looks like a metal.
6. A plug according to claim 5 in which the decorative material is a material that looks like brass, aluminium, or stainless steel.
7. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative material is vacuum deposited.
8. A plug according to claim 7 in which the decorative material is vacuum deposited by providing the plug with a base lacquer, spraying aluminium on to the base lacquer, and providing a layer of the decorative material on the aluminium, the decorative material being in the form of a lacquer which is coloured to give the require metallic appearance.
9. A plug according to claim 8 in which the base lacquer is sprayed on to the plug.
10. A plug according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the aluminium is sprayed on under vacuum.
11. A plug according to any of claims 8 to 10 in which the layer of decorative material is force dried at 130C.
12. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the plug is moulded to have a base and a cover, and in which the decorative material is provided only on the cover.
13. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims which is a non-resilient urea formaldehyde resin plug.
14. A plug according to any one of claims 1 to 12 which is a resilient nylon 66 plug.
15. A plug substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB08418666A 1984-07-21 1984-07-21 Plastics electrical plug coated with decorative material having matallic appearance Expired GB2161836B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08418666A GB2161836B (en) 1984-07-21 1984-07-21 Plastics electrical plug coated with decorative material having matallic appearance

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08418666A GB2161836B (en) 1984-07-21 1984-07-21 Plastics electrical plug coated with decorative material having matallic appearance

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8418666D0 GB8418666D0 (en) 1984-08-22
GB2161836A true GB2161836A (en) 1986-01-22
GB2161836B GB2161836B (en) 1987-12-31

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08418666A Expired GB2161836B (en) 1984-07-21 1984-07-21 Plastics electrical plug coated with decorative material having matallic appearance

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2161836B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140263869A1 (en) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Necia Clark-Mantle Casing system with cable retainer for electronic device chargers

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB251535A (en) * 1925-09-02 1926-05-06 Jean Paisseau Process for the obtainment of surfaces having a lustrous or metallic appearance
GB1083190A (en) * 1963-10-29 1967-09-13 Celanese Corp Applying metallic coatings to plastics by electrodeposition
GB1157825A (en) * 1965-08-20 1969-07-09 Union Carbide Corp Metallized Thermoplastic Polyarylene Polyether and method for making the same
GB1249309A (en) * 1968-05-27 1971-10-13 Ciba Ltd Plastics materials having electrodeposited metal coatings
GB1253502A (en) * 1969-01-06 1971-11-17 Avisun Corp Polyolefin compositions containing phenol-formaldehyde resins
GB1302224A (en) * 1969-07-01 1973-01-04
GB2068654A (en) * 1980-01-21 1981-08-12 Itt Electrical connector

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB251535A (en) * 1925-09-02 1926-05-06 Jean Paisseau Process for the obtainment of surfaces having a lustrous or metallic appearance
GB1083190A (en) * 1963-10-29 1967-09-13 Celanese Corp Applying metallic coatings to plastics by electrodeposition
GB1157825A (en) * 1965-08-20 1969-07-09 Union Carbide Corp Metallized Thermoplastic Polyarylene Polyether and method for making the same
GB1249309A (en) * 1968-05-27 1971-10-13 Ciba Ltd Plastics materials having electrodeposited metal coatings
GB1253502A (en) * 1969-01-06 1971-11-17 Avisun Corp Polyolefin compositions containing phenol-formaldehyde resins
GB1302224A (en) * 1969-07-01 1973-01-04
GB2068654A (en) * 1980-01-21 1981-08-12 Itt Electrical connector

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
}VACUUM DEPOSITION OF THIN FILMS} BY L HOLLAND PUBLISHED BY CHAPMAN AND HALL LIMITED, 1966, CHAPTER 12 ESP. PAGES 366-368 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140263869A1 (en) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Necia Clark-Mantle Casing system with cable retainer for electronic device chargers
US9350150B2 (en) * 2013-03-13 2016-05-24 Necia Clark-Mantle Casing system with cable retainer for electronic device chargers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8418666D0 (en) 1984-08-22
GB2161836B (en) 1987-12-31

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19970721