GB2173051A - Connector having plural socket outlets - Google Patents

Abstract

An extension connector comprising a plurality of socket outlets e.g. for receiving 3-pin plugs, is characterised in that common pin-receiving contacts of each outlet are rivetted (at 14) to a respective common conductor (11, 21, 28). The connector base (4) includes columns (5, 6, 9) for receiving respective contacts (13, 18, 19). Each contact comprises a block rivetted to a conductor and a blade (12) for touching a plug pin. Contacts (18) are identical to contacts (13) except for their orientations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical socket This invention relates to electrical sockets and more particularly to sockets for connection to extension cables.

Known electrical sockets for connection to extension cables have a base formed with receiving means into which are located pin contact means. For rectangular pins, such pin contact means have hitherto comprised a piece of metal bent into a C-shape to form a pair of opposing blades defining a constricted pin receiving aperture. The interconnection of common types of pins has been achieved by interweaving a linking conductor amongst the pin receiving means and further bending each pin contacting means to grip the linking conductor.

The above known socket is difficult to manufacture and there is continual pressure to reduce costs of production of the socket either by means of material or by cutting down the time required for assembly steps of the socket.

It is an object of the invention to provide a more simplified socket allowing quicker assembly than hitherto known sockets.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical socket for receiving two or more plugs and electrically connecting common type pins of the plugs to a conductor, the socket having respective pin contact means for each pin - of the received plugs and wherein the pin contact means associated with at least one common type of pin comprise an electrically conducting terminal member riveted to an electrically conducting pin touching element.

By providing a pin contact means comprising a terminal member riveted to a pin touching element a simple and easily assembled pin contact means is formed so that only interconnection of the terminal members of a common type of pin is required.

preferably, the terminal members associated with a common type of pin are electrically connected together by a linking conductor riveted to respective terminal members.

By riveting the linking conductor to respective terminal members simple interconnection of the pin contact means associated with a common type of pin is achieved. Such a process is particularly suitable for mass production processes. In particular, it is preferable that the conductor passes through the terminal member. Consequently the linking conductor can be threaded through the terminal members prior to riveting. Once again, this leads to a simplified production process.

In a preferred embodiment, the rivet attaching a respective terminal member to its pin touching element has a central aperture through which said linking conductor passes.

By having the conductor passing through the aperture of each rivet means, it is possible to orientate the pin contact means parallel to one another so that the linking conductor can if desired be in a straight line.

As an alternative, the terminal members include an axial channel and the rivet attaching the pin touching element to the terminal member has a central aperture and said linking conductor comprises a straight line conductor with side branches, a respective side branch passing through a rivet aperture and into said channel wherein rivet means holds the side branch of the link conductor in the channel.

Preferably, the pin touching elements comprise one or more flexible blades located to define a restrictive pin receiving aperture.

Consequently the blades are moved when a pin is inserted so that the blades grip the pin to ensure good electrical contact therewith.

Conveniently, the terminal member in combination with the pin touching element define the pin receiving aperture.

Preferably, one wall of the terminal member is a pin touching surface.

As a result, with rectangular pins only one blade element is required to touch the pin since the other touching contact is provided by the wall of the terminal member.

In another embodiment of the invention the received plugs have adjacent pairs of pins and adjacent pins of the pairs lie in a straight line, wherein the pin contact means associated with one common type of pin of the adjacent pair are orientated at 1800 to the pin contact means associated with the other common type of pin of the adjacent pairs.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a socket embodying the invention in exploded form.

Referring to the drawing, a socket 1 comprises a base 4 and a cover 23. The cover 23 includes apertures 25 through which screws (not shown) can be located for screwing into corresponding pillars 2 formed in the base 4.

The cover 23 includes rectangular apertures 24 for receiving a three pin plug, although it will be apparent that the invention extends to other than three pin and rectangular pin plugs.

The base is formed to have upstanding hollow columns 5, 6 and 9 associated with the positive, negative and earth pins respectively. It should be noted that the columns 5 and 6 are identical except that they are orientated 1800 to each other. The columns 5 are formed to receive pin contact means 10 associated with the positive plug pin. Each pin contact means 10 comprises an electrically conducting terminal block 13 having an axial channel into which a rivet 20 holds a pin touching blade 12. The pin touching blade is electrically conducting and flexible. A conductor 11 passes through each pin contact means 10 and is held therein by means of rivets 14 riveted through a hole found in the upper surface of the block 13.It can be seen therefore that each pin contact means 10 is identical and can be formed by the step of taking the block 13, attaching the blade 12 to the block 13 by means of rivet 20, locating the block and blade 12 at predetermined separations, passing the conductor 11 through the aperture of the rivet 20 and through the axial channel formed in block 13 prior to connecting the conductor 11 to the block 13 by means of rivet 14. Consequently the pin connact means can be connected together by a straight line conductor thereby avoiding any necessity to have complicated bends in the conductor 11.

Thus, the ipterconnecting of pin contact means associated with a common type of pin is considerably simplified. One end of the conductor is bent to connect to a terminal 15 onto which is riveted a pair of jaws 27 for holding a fuse. The other end of the conductor 11 is connected to a light emitting diode 8 which is located within a pillar 7 formed on the base 4.

Further pin contact means 18 are associated with the negative- pins of the received plugs.

The pin contact means 18 are identical to the pin contact means 10 but are rotated 1800 relative thereto. The pin contact means 18 are interconnected by a conductor 28 in a manner similar to the interconnection of the pin connecting means 10. One end of the conductor 28 is also attached to the light emitting diode 8 whereas the other end is riveted to a negative terminal 17. The pin contact means 10 are received within pillars 5 formed in the base 4 and the pin contact means 18 are received in pillars 6 also formed in the base 4. A block 16 can be screwed to the base 4 to hold the terminal 15 in place. A similar block 16 can hold the positive terminal (not illustrated)- which also includes a fuse holder 27, the fuse not being shown for reason of clarity.Thus, it can be seen that the pins received by the pin contact means 10 and 18 are all in a straight line to correspond with the apertures 24 in the cover 23. By the construction illustrated this is achieved whilst maintaining interconnection of identical pin contact means 10 and 18 by respective straight conductors. Consequently, the mass production of the elements required to make pin contact means 10 and 18 is simplified and the interconnection of them by linking conductors is also simplified.

Pin contact means 19 for the earth pins of the received plugs also comprise a blade 12 riveted as hereinabove described to a terminal block 13. A linking conductor 21 links the pin contact means 19. This conductor comprises a straight line conductor having side branches which extend through the aperture formed in the rivet 20 holding the blade 12 to the block 13 and the side branches are then riveted in place by rivets 14 in a similar manner to that with pin contact means 10 and 18, An earth terminal 22 can also be riveted to a flange 29 formed on the conductor 21. Accordingly, it can be seen that the terminal blocks 13 are identical for all the pin contact means and the blades 12 for the pin conntact means 19 are simply mirror images of the blades 12 for the pin contact means 18 and 10. The means of attachment by rivets 20 and 14 is the same for all the pin contact means.Thus, mass pro duction of the components for the socket is simplified.

It will be apparent that since the pins- of the received plugs are rectangular the blades 12 push a received pin against a wall of the appropriate terminal block 13. Thus, only one blade is required since a wall of the terminal block 13 defines a part pin receiving aperture.

This results in a saving of production steps and material costs. The cover 23includes-a translucent portion 26 provided above the light emitting diode 8 so a user can check whether the socket has been switched on.

The base of the socket also includes a cable clamp 30 for clamping a received cable. The cable has not been shown in the drawing for the purpose of increasing clarity thereof. Preferably, both the base and cover comprise moulded plastics and the terminal blocks com prise brass. The cover 23 incorporates slide elements for blocking the apertures 24 which are arranged such that the initial insertion of the earth pin. into apertures 24 opens the re maining apertures. An aperture 31 is also pro vided for receipt of the fuse for location in the fuse blades 27, and is arranged such that on removal of the fuse a slidable cover moves across to obstruct the aperture 31.

It will be apparent that the present invention is not restricted to the number or type of pins illustrated. Riveting of the conductors to the terminal blocks ensures a good contact there between which is unlikely to be shaken apart in use. Furthermore, the incorporation of rivet ing into the construction of the pin contact means and their interconnection allows simplified production more suitable for mass pro duction processes. It will be apparent that other pin contact means can be formed than those shown.

Claims (11)

1. An electrical socket for receiving two or more plugs and electrically connecting com mon type pins of the plugs to a conductor, the socket having respective pin contact means for each pin of the received plugs and wherein the pin contact means associated with at least one common type of pin comprise an electrically conducting terminal member riveted to an electrically conducting pin touching element.

2. A socket as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the terminal members associated with a common type of pin are electrically connected together by a linking conductor riveted to re spective terminal members.

3. A socket as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the linking conductor passes through the respective terminal members.

4. A socket as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the rivet attaching a respective terminal member to its pin touching element has a central aperture through which said linking conductor passes.

5. A socket as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the linking conductor forms a straight line.

6. A socket as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the terminal members include an axial channel and the rivet attaching the pin touching element to the terminal member has a central aperture and said linking conductor comprises a straight line conductor with side branches, a respective side branch passing through a rivet aperture and into said channel wherein rivet means holds the side branch of the link conductor in the channel.

7. A socket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the pin touching elements comprise one or more flexible blades located to define a restrictive pin receiving aperture.

8. A socket as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the terminal member in combination with the pin touching element define the pin receiving aperture.

9. A socket as claimed in Claim 8 wherein one wall of the terminal member is a pin touching surface.

10. A socket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the received plugs have adjacent pairs of pins and adjacent pins of the pairs lie in a straight line, wherein the pin contact means associated with one common type of pin of the adjacent pair are orientated at 180 to the pin contact means associated with the other common type of pin of the adjacent pairs.

11. A socket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the pin connecting means are located in hollow pillars extending from a base of the socket.