GB2213331A - Key-operated plug to prevent unauthorised current use - Google Patents

Key-operated plug to prevent unauthorised current use Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2213331A
GB2213331A GB8828319A GB8828319A GB2213331A GB 2213331 A GB2213331 A GB 2213331A GB 8828319 A GB8828319 A GB 8828319A GB 8828319 A GB8828319 A GB 8828319A GB 2213331 A GB2213331 A GB 2213331A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
plug
mains supply
electrical
appliance
connection
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB8828319A
Other versions
GB8828319D0 (en
Inventor
George Morgan
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.)
PEKTRON Ltd
Original Assignee
PEKTRON Ltd
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
Priority claimed from GB878728365A external-priority patent/GB8728365D0/en
Application filed by PEKTRON Ltd filed Critical PEKTRON Ltd
Priority to GB8828319A priority Critical patent/GB2213331A/en
Publication of GB8828319D0 publication Critical patent/GB8828319D0/en
Publication of GB2213331A publication Critical patent/GB2213331A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical plug comprising a housing (10) and plug-in pins (12) has a switch body (18) in the cover (14) presenting a key aperture (20). A unique key inserted into the aperture (20) can move the plug between an "off" position wherein there is no electrical connection between one of the pins (12) and its respective terminal within the plug, and an "on" position wherein electrical connection is made. Thereby unauthorised use of a connected appliance may be prevented by switching off the plug. Alternatively the key may operate a mechanical interlock preventing insertion of the plug. <IMAGE>

Description

Electrical Plugs This invention relates to apparatus for providing electrical connection between a mains supply and an electrical appliance, particularly a plug for plug-in connection to a mains supply.
Heretofore electrical plugs to which cables from appliances are connected are connected to a mains supply by plugging into a suitable socket. Electrical power can therefore be made available to any particular appliance by anyone simply inserting the plug in the socl < et. Unauthorised use of certain equipment, for example highly sensi tive and/or expensive equipment such as hi-fi equipment in the home and computer equipment in the office, can damage the equipment and/or affect information for example stored in a computer.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for effecting electrical connection between a mains supply and an electrical appliance, the apparatus comprising terminal means for connection to electrical leads of the appliance, means for plug-in connection to the mains supply, and means for selectively preventing unauthorised completion of a circuit between the mains supply and the appliance.
Preferably the means for preventing circuit completion comprises switch means for selectively completing or breaking electrical connection between the terminal means and the plug-in means.
Alternatively the means for preventing circuit completion comprises means for selectively providing a mechanical interlock whereby to prevent plug-in connection to the mains supply.
The means for preventing circuit completion is preferably adapted For operation by a unique key. The latter may be engageable through a cover of the apparatus and is preferably engageable through that face of the cover opposite to the plug-il-l means.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention.
Referring to the drawing, an electrical plug, which can be generally of any conventional design, comprises a housing 10 from one face of which projects three pins 12 for plug-in to a socket whereby to connect with a mains supply. A cover 14 is provided for the housing 10 and is secured thereto by any suitable conventional arrangement, the housing 10 and the cover 14 providing for access into the housing 10 of a cable 16, the latter being connected at its other end to an electrical appliance (not shown).
The cable 16 has conventional electrical wiring for which respective terminals are provided within the housing 10.
In one arrangement an electrical connection between at least one of the terminals for the live and neutral wires and the respective pin 12 within the housing 10 can be selectively made or broken for example by an integral isolating switch (not shown). The latter provides a switch body 10 in the cover 14 presenting a key aperture 20. Insertion of a special or unique key (not shown) into the aperture 20 from externally of the plug can move the switch between an "off" position, wherein there is no electrical connection between the respective terminal and the pin 12, and an "on" position wherein electrical connection is made. The "on" and "off" positions of the switch are identified by marking of the outer surface of the cover 14.
Thereby the user of the electrical appliance may prevent unauthorised use o f the appliance by switching off the plug, insertion of the plug in the socket without use @ Une @es @@ swilch the pluy "un", not in itsolf enabling electricity to flow to the appliance.
In an alternative arrangement the terminals may be permanently in electrical connection with the respective pins 12, but operation of the key may be adapted to provide a mechanical interlock, for example by rotating the earth pin 12 whereby it is not possible to insert the plug into a socket.
It is to be appreciated that any other suitable switching arrangement may be adopted provided the authorised user can selectively and uniquely control completion of a circuit between the main supply and the appliance.
The invention therefore provides the designated user or owner of valuable or sensitive electrical equipment with the possibility of ensuring that an electrical supple is only available to the appliance by the operation of a personal key.
It is preferred that the plug is so designed as to be difficult to disconnect from the cable of the electrical appliance so that any attempt to open the plug, or sever or re-connect the cable to the plug leads to visible evidence of interference.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the plug may differ from that described and shown and the key operated switch may also differ from that described and shown.

Claims (8)

Claims:
1. Apparatus for effecting electrical connection between a mains supply and an electrical appliance, the apparatus comprising terminal means for connection to electrical leads of the appliance, means for plug-in connection to the mains supply, and means for selectively preventing unauthorised completion of a circuit between the mains supply and the appliance.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the means for preventing circuit completion comprises switch means for selectively completing or breaking electrical connection between the terminal means and the plug-in means.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the means For preventing circuit completion comprises means for selectively providing a mechanical interlock whereby to prevent plug-in connection to the mains supply.
4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein means for preventing circuit completion is adapted for operation by a unique key.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the unique key is engageable through a cover of the apparatus.
G. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the unique key is engageable through that face of the cover opposite to the plug-in means.
7. Apparatus for effecting electrical connection between a mains supply and an electrical appliance, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. Ans novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether o r not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claim
GB8828319A 1987-12-04 1988-12-05 Key-operated plug to prevent unauthorised current use Withdrawn GB2213331A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8828319A GB2213331A (en) 1987-12-04 1988-12-05 Key-operated plug to prevent unauthorised current use

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB878728365A GB8728365D0 (en) 1987-12-04 1987-12-04 Electrical plugs
GB8828319A GB2213331A (en) 1987-12-04 1988-12-05 Key-operated plug to prevent unauthorised current use

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8828319D0 GB8828319D0 (en) 1989-01-05
GB2213331A true GB2213331A (en) 1989-08-09

Family

ID=26293142

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8828319A Withdrawn GB2213331A (en) 1987-12-04 1988-12-05 Key-operated plug to prevent unauthorised current use

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2213331A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2247995A (en) * 1990-08-13 1992-03-18 Roger Charles Tucker A lockable electric plug
GB2580543A (en) * 2018-12-28 2020-07-22 Lst Engineering Ltd Safety plug

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB914433A (en) * 1958-09-12 1963-01-02 Foxboro Co Safety switch arrangements
US3524029A (en) * 1968-07-22 1970-08-11 Robert M Laff Keylock for electrical plugs
US3781913A (en) * 1972-06-08 1973-12-25 F Liburdi Electrical safety block
US4143933A (en) * 1977-09-06 1979-03-13 Aitkins Richard L Safety sleeve for attachment to the prong of an electrical connector and key for its removal
GB2100528A (en) * 1981-06-15 1982-12-22 Bevis Smythe Edward Anthony Power supply connector
US4407554A (en) * 1981-03-16 1983-10-04 Drall Jerry E Electrical plug safety device
GB2126805A (en) * 1982-09-10 1984-03-28 Robert Brooks Wilson Electrical plug
GB2150767A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-07-03 Thomas Jago Locking plugs in sockets
GB2174258A (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-10-29 Crow Electro Instr Limited Circuit for preventing unauthorised use of electrical equipment

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB914433A (en) * 1958-09-12 1963-01-02 Foxboro Co Safety switch arrangements
US3524029A (en) * 1968-07-22 1970-08-11 Robert M Laff Keylock for electrical plugs
US3781913A (en) * 1972-06-08 1973-12-25 F Liburdi Electrical safety block
US4143933A (en) * 1977-09-06 1979-03-13 Aitkins Richard L Safety sleeve for attachment to the prong of an electrical connector and key for its removal
US4407554A (en) * 1981-03-16 1983-10-04 Drall Jerry E Electrical plug safety device
GB2100528A (en) * 1981-06-15 1982-12-22 Bevis Smythe Edward Anthony Power supply connector
GB2126805A (en) * 1982-09-10 1984-03-28 Robert Brooks Wilson Electrical plug
GB2150767A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-07-03 Thomas Jago Locking plugs in sockets
GB2174258A (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-10-29 Crow Electro Instr Limited Circuit for preventing unauthorised use of electrical equipment

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Electrical Review,Vol 222,No 16,17/24 June 1987,page 11 Article entitled "Plug for plug locks" *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2247995A (en) * 1990-08-13 1992-03-18 Roger Charles Tucker A lockable electric plug
GB2580543A (en) * 2018-12-28 2020-07-22 Lst Engineering Ltd Safety plug
GB2580435A (en) * 2018-12-28 2020-07-22 Lst Engineering Ltd Safety plug

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8828319D0 (en) 1989-01-05

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)