GB2184307A

GB2184307A - Radio or television with mains connection plug

Info

Publication number: GB2184307A
Application number: GB08612340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hein Wilke
Original assignee: BRUNNQUELL ELEKTRO GmbH
Current assignee: BRUNNQUELL ELEKTRO GmbH
Priority date: 1985-12-11
Filing date: 1986-05-21
Publication date: 1987-06-17
Also published as: EP0229324B1; NO864997L; DE3672592D1; FI865059A0; FI865059A; GB2184307B; NO864997D0; GB8612340D0; EP0229324A1

Description

1 k 1 1 A GB 2184307 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Radio with mains connection plug The invention relates to a radio with a mains connec tion plug.

In such known radios the mains connector plug is disposed atthe end of a lead led out of the radio. For its supportthe radio requires a mounting or must be located on a support surface, for example a bracket, tabletop orthe like. With restricted space conditions, forexample in the small sparselyfurnished hotel rooms, adequate space forthis purpose is frequently notavailable.

If the radio is relativelysmall and in accordance with modern technology also light, for operating for example rotary knobsthe userhasto employ both hands, in particularwhen the knobs aresomewhat difficult to turn.

The invention is based on the problem of provid ing a radio comprising a mains connection plug which requires little space, is light and thus can be used as travelling set, can be easily operated and above all for its support does not need any support area which can otherwise be usefully employed.

According to the present invention, there is prov ided a radio having a mains connection plug with connector pins projecting out of its radio rearwall and connected to the radio rearwall in such a mannerthat in its operating position the entire radio is held by the socket.

With the invention, for its supportthe radio re quires only insertion into a conventional powerout let orsocket, in particular a socketwith grounding 100 contact. It is as itwere itself constructed as a plug. Its electrical supply is via the connector pins of the mains connection plug. For miniaturizing purposes, part of the interior of the mains connection plug can itself be used to accommodate functional parts of the 105 ratio. If rotary knobs are provided as control el ements one-handed operation is possible because the radio is securely held bythe connector pins and thusthe user does not have to employ his other hand to take up the reaction forces.

Preferably, the mains connection plug is disposed centrally on the rear wall. With this feature the radio projectsto an equal extenton both sides beyond the insertion opening of the socket. Preferably, also,the width of the radio housing is so dimensioned when inserted into a socket strip or multiple socket it does not obstructfree access to the adjacent socket open ing, and in particular does not project with its side walls beyond half the distance between two adjacent sockets. This means that it is possible with multiple sockets when using the radio according to the inven tion to still use without obstruction the adjacent in sertion openings, in particular to be able to insert a further radio according to the present invention without mutual obstruction.

Preferably also the longitudinal axis of the loud speaker or its sound exit openings in the radio front extend eccentrically beneath the centre plane ining the connector pins, whilsttwo control el bE ements formed as rotary knobs lie symmetrical to a vertical centre plane of the radio which extends perpendicularlyto the horizontal centre plane containing the connector pins and are arranged above the horizontal centre plane outside the sound exit region of the loudspeaker or outsidethe loudspeaker housing. Thistakes account of thefactthatthe radio as a rule will be used inserted into a wall socket. Such wall sockets are generally notveryfar above thefloor of a room. With thefeature of the invention, it is possible to arrangethe control elements or rotary knobs atthe greatest possible distance from thefloorso thatthe user need not bend down too much to operate it.

According to a further preferred feature there is provided a circular loudspeaker housing having its centre axis in the vertical centre plane and integrated into the housing wall of the radio front side.

The control knobs can be disposed in the two upper corner regions of thefront side of the radio without impairing the form of the loudspeaker housing which to promote sound quality of the loudspeaker is as large as possible in spite of the small dimensioning of the radio.

Preferably also, the radio has a two-shell structure forthe radio housing, the radio frontside and radio rearwall being associated therewith different housing shells,the joint between thetwo housing shells extending substantially centrally between thefront side and rearwall in ajoint plane lying per- pendicularlyto the horizontal plane and to the vertical centre plane. This makes the radio particularly easyto repair. All the parts are easily accessible due to the location of the joint plane between thetwo housing shells connected detachable to each other.

The mains connection plug may be a safetytype plug with edge grounding which means a particularly good firm fit of the radio in a socket is ensured. With thisfit comparatively high reaction forces can betaken up as can occurfor example when the control elements are somewhatstiff.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description which is given byway of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a frontvIew of thefront side of the radio; Figure2 is a side view of the radio; Figure 3 is a centre vertical section through the radio along the line 111-111 of Figure 1; Figure4is a section along the line IV-1V of Figure 3; Figure 5is a section along the line V-V of Figure4.

The functional parts of the radio are accommodated in a housing (1) having thefront side (2) andthe rearwall (3) extending substantially parallel thereto.

The rearwall (3) is made integrallywith the mains connection plug (4). The connector pins (5) thereof project substantially perpendicularly to the rearwall (3) rearwardly. The mains connection plug (4) is an integral prat of the radio rearwali (3).

On the radio front side (2) two rotary knobs (6,7) for program selection are disposed (robary knob 6) and switching on and off and volume control (rotary knob7).

The mains connection plug (4) is disposed cent- rally on the radio rearwall (3). The maximum width 2 GB 2 184 307 A 2 (8) of the housing (1) is so dimensioned that in the state inserted into a socket strip or multiple socket it does not obstructthe free accessto the adjacent insertion opening, in particular does not projeetwith its vertical side walls (9,10) over half the distance between two adjacent insertion openings of the same socket strip or multiple socket (not shown). The line contour of the radio housing is square in the front view (arrow direction 11). The upper and lower sides (12 and 13) extend parallel to a plane containing the connector pins (5). - The centre longitudinal axis (17) of the loudspeaker (20) or its sound exit openings (22) transmitting from the radio frontside (2) extends eccentr- ically beneath the centre plane (15) containing the connector pins (5). The two control elements formed a. rotary knobs (6,7) lie symmetricallyto the vertical centre plane (14) of the radio which extends perpendicularly to the horizontal centre plane (15) con- taining the connector pins (5). They are arranged above the horizontal centre plane (15) outside the sound exit region of the loudspeaker (20) or of the circular loudspeaker housing (21). The circular loudspeaker housing (21) is integrated into the housing wall of the radio front side (2) (housing shell 19) and lies with its centre axis (17) in the vertical centre plane (14) of the radio.

The radio housing (1) is of two-shell construction. The radio front side (2) and the radio rearwall (3) are associated with different housing shells (18, 10). The joint betweent he two housing shells (18,19) extends substantially centrally between the front side (2) and rearwail (3) in a joint plane (16) lying perpendicularly to the horizontal plane (15) and the vertical centre plane (14). The mains connection plug (4) is a safetytype plug with edge grounding which is held particularly securely in a wall socket.

Similar principles may be employed in a miniature television setwhich is to be regarded as included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A radio having a mains connection plug with connector pins projecting out of its radio rear wall and connected to the radio rearwall in such a manner that in its operating position the entire radio is held by the socket.

2. A radio according to claim 1 having at least one rotary control knob on the radio front side.

3. A radio according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the mains connection plug is disposed centrally on the radio rearwall.

4. A radio according to claim 3, wherein the width of the radio housing isso dimensioned when inser';ed into a socket strip or multiple socket it does not obstructfiree access to the adjacent socket opening, and in particulardoes not projeetwith its side walls beyond half the distance between two adjacent 00 Sockets.

5. A radio according to any preceding claim having a square outline of the frontside of the radio,-;ozjslng and two sides extending parallel to a norhorizontal plane containing the connector F- p a n S.

6. A radio according to claim 5, wherein the centre longitudinal axis of the loudspeaker or its sound exit openings in the radio front side extend eccentrically beneath the centre plane containing the connector pins, whilsttwo control elements formed as rotary knobs lie symmetrical to a vertical centre plane of the radio which extends perpendicuiarlyto the horizontal centre plane containing the connector pins and are arranged above the horizontal centre 76 plane outside the sound exit region of the loudspeaker or outside the loudspeaker housing.

7. A radio according to any preceding claim including a circular loudspeaker housing having its centre axis inthe vertical centre plane and integrated into the housing wall of the radio frontside.

8. A radio according to any preceding claim having a two-shell structure forthe radio housing, the radio front side and radio rear wall being associated therewith different housing she] Is, the joint between the two housing shells extending substantially centrally between the front side and rearwall in a joint plane lying perpendicularly to the horizontal plane and to the vertical centre plane.

9. A radio according to any preceding claim wherein the mains connection plug is a safety-type plug with edge grounding.

10. A radio substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (UK) Ltd, 4187, D8991685. Published byThe Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.

l! 1 A 4 1