GB2215531A - Electrical plug with folding pins - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical plug 2 has pins 10 which project from the front face 6 of the plug body 4 in an operative condition of the plug 2 and which are foldable towards the front face 6 of the body 4 in an inoperative condition of the plug 2. Pivoting of the pins may be controlled by a slide (24) on the body opposite to the pins (figs 4, 5, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

AN ELECTRICAL PLUG This invention relates to an electrical plug.

Electrical plugs are well known and they comprise a body having front and rear faces. Usually three pins project from the front face of the body.

The pins make the plug hard to pack and store since they greatly increase the area occupied by the plug. The pins also tend to make the plug and its associated packaging look unsightly. Furthermore, the known plugs can be dangerous when they are stepped on in the home by persons not wearing shoes since the pins can stick into a person's feet.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, this invention provides an electrical plug comprising a body having a front and rear faces, at least two pins which project from the front face of-the body in an operative condition of the plug, an inlet aperture in the body for an electrical lead, and terminal devices for electrically connecting wires from the electrical lead to the pins, and the plug being such that the pins are foldable towards the front face of the body in an inoperative condition of the plug.

Because the pins of the plug of the present invention are foldable, the plug can more easily be packaged, and it will fit into smaller packages. This saves space which is advantageous at the point of sale where shelf space in shops may be at a premium. The folded pins also enable the plug to be packaged in a neater and better looking manner than would be the case if the pins were not foldable. When persons wish to travel with the plug, for example when going on holiday, the folded pins enable the plug to fit more easily into bags or suitcases.

Still further, when the plug is left lying on a floor in homes or other establishments, general safety is improved when the pins are in their folded condition.

The pins are thus not available to spike unshod feet and the pins are also not available for making the plug a generally unsafe item to tread on, leading to twisted ankles. Thus the electrical plug of the present invention looks better and is safer to use. Because the plug is so compact with the pins folded, it is possible to store the plugs in or on an electrical device requiring a plug if desired.

Preferably, the pins fold into a recess or recesses in the front face of the body.

There may be one recess for all the pins.

Alternatively, there may be a separate recess for each pin.

Usually, the pins will fold substantially completely into the recess or recesses.

Preferably, the plug is one in which the pins fold and unfold by pivoting about base parts of the pins.

The base parts of the pins may be connected to the body by pivot arrangements. The pivot arrangements may be plain bearing arrangements or they may alternatively be toothed arrangements. The pivot arrangements may be such as to generate sufficient friction to retain the pins in their folded or unfolded positions.

The pins may be individually foldable and unfoldable. In this case, the plug will usually be such that a free end of the pins can easily be gripped, for example by having the pins extending slightly proud of the front face of the body of the plug, or by having the front face of the body of the plug provided with finger-receiving recesses.

Alternatively, the pins may be inter-connected so that the folding or unfolding of one of the pins causes the other pin or pins to fold or unfold.

Preferably, the plug includes mover means for folding and unfolding the pins.

Advantageously, the mover means is a slide device forming part of the body of the plug. The slide device may form part of the rear face of the body.

As an alternative to a slide device, a rotating device or a pull out device may be employed.

Usually, the pins will have a rectangular cross sectional shape. The pins may alternatively have a circular cross sectional shape or any other desired and suitable cross sectional shape.

Usually, the plug will be one in which there are three of the pins. There may be two pins if desired.

The body will usually be in two portions in order to enable access to be gained to the interior of the body.

The two portions of the body of the plug will usually be screwed together as in conventional plugs.

The terminal devices will usually be screw and cylinder arrangements. The terminal devices may also be screwless connections, for example friction connections as are currently available on the market.

The plug will usually include clamp means for clamping the electrical leads to the plug.

The clamp means may comprise a bridge member and a pair of screws. Alternatively, the clamp means may comprise one or more flexible gripper members which are such that they flex and grip the electrical lead.

The plug will also usually include fuse holder means for a fuse.

Generally, the plug may be of a known construction with known parts, except for the folding pins and any associated equipment in the plug required for enabling the pins to fold and unfold.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first plug with pins in an unfolded condition; Figure 2 shows the plug of Figure 1 with the pins in a partially folded condition; Figure 3 shows the plug of Figure 1 with the pins in a completely folded condition; Figure 4 shows a second plug with the pins in a completely folded condition; and Figure 5 shows the plug of Figure 4 with the pins in an unfolded condition.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown an electrical plug 2 comprising a body 4 having a front face 6 and a rear face 8.

Three pins 10 project from the front face 6 of the body 4 in an operative condition of the plug, this operative condition of the plug being shown in Figure 1.

The plug 2 has an inlet aperture (not shown) for an electrical lead 12. The plug 2 also has terminal devices (not shown) for electrically connecting wires (not shown) from the electrical lead 12 to the pins 10.

The inlet aperture may be any of the known inlet apertures that are currently available for plugs. Also, the terminal devices may be any of the terminal devices, for example screw and cylinder arrangements, that are currently available on known plugs for connecting wires from an electrical lead to the pins.

As can be seen from Figures 1 to 3, the plug 2 is such that the pins 10 are foldable towards the front face 6 of the body 4 in an inoperative condition of the plug 2, which inoperative condition of the plug 2 is shown in Figure 3. In the folded position of the pins 10 as shown in Figure 3, the plug 2 looks neat. The plug 2 does not occupy as much space as when the pins 10 are in their outwardly projecting position as shown in Figure 1.

W5th the pins 10 folded, the plug 2 can thus easily be packaged and it will not occupy as much space as would a packaged plug in the condition shown in Figure 1. If the plug 2 as shown in Figure 3 is stepped on, the pins 10 are not available for digging into a persons feet.

Also the plug 2 as shown in Figure 3 is a more stable item so that it will not twist when trod on and thus possibly cause a person to sprain his or her ankle.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the pins 10 fold into recesses 14 in the front face 6 of the body 4.

There is one recess 14 for each pin 10. As can be seen from Figure 2, the earth pin 10 (which is the largest pin) folds towards the other two pins (which are the live and neutral pins). Figure 3 illustrates how the pins 10 fold substantially completely into the recesses 14.

Figure 2 illustrates how the pins 10 fold and unfold by pivoting about base parts of the pins 10.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a second plug 2. Similar parts as in Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

In Figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that the pins 10 have base parts 16 and these base parts 16 are apertured to receive pivot pins 18. The base parts 16 pivot about.

the pivot pins 18 with respect to bearing shells 20 which are fixed to and which extend from the front face 6 of the body 4. Thus the pins 10 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 pivot about plain bearing pivot arrangements.

The plug 2 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is somewhat schematically drawn so that the body 4 may have a peripheral wall 22 extending from the front face 6 and thus defining a large single recess into which the pins 10 fold. Alternatively, the plug 2 shown in Figures 4 and 5 could have a front face 6 which extends level with the edge of the wall 22 and which thus masks the base parts 16 of the pins 10 and their associated pivot arrangements. In this latter case, a recess or recesses would be required into which the pins 10 could fold, similarly as illustrated in Figure 2.

The plug 2 shown in Figures 1 - 3 is shown to illustrate the general principle of the folding pins 10.

Thus the pins 10 in the plug 2 shown in Figures 1 - 3 could be individually foldable, or the pins 10 could be interconnected so that a folding/unfolding movement on one pin 10 would cause all the pins 10 to fold or unfold, or the plug 2 could be provided with mover means (not shown) for folding and unfolding the pins 10).

In Figures 4 and 5, the plug 2 is shown with mover means for folding and unfolding the pins 10. The mover means is a slide device 24 which slides in the direction of the arrow 26 from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 in order to cause the pins 10 to move from their folded condition as shown in Figure 4 to their unfolded condition as shown in Figure 5. As in the case of Figures 1 - 3, the earth pin 10 folds towards the live and neutral pins 10. The slide device 24 forms part of the rear face 8 of the body 4. For simplicity of illustration, the precise mechanical connection between the slide device 24 and the pins 10 has not been shown but this may be any suitable and appropriate mechanical connecting arrangement.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the illustrated pins 10 have a rectangular cross sectional shape. Other pins having a circular cross sectional shape or any other desired type of cross sectional shape may be employed. Similarly, the plugs 2 shown in the drawings have three pins. The plugs 2 may alternatively be provided with two pins. The body 4 has been shown as provided in two portions 28,30 in order to enable access to be gained to the interior of the body 4 of the plug 2. These two portions will usually be screwed together as in conventional plugs but other arrangements may be employed. More than two portions may also be employed.The plugs 2 illustrated in the drawings may include conventional plug parts such for example as clamp means (not shown) for clamping the electrical lead 12 to the plug 2, and fuse holder means (not shown) for a fuse. The mover means, for example the slide device 24, may be such that it requires manual movement from one position to another. Alternatively, the mover means, for example the slider device 24 may be biased to the position shown in Figure 4. Thus the pins 10 will automatically fold when the plug is pulled out of an electrical socket. The mover means may be biased by one or more springs. The folding of the pins 10 will usually be effected in one action but it may be effected in more than one action if desired.

The present invention also extends to the fold down electrical plug as described in my earlier filed arplication No. 8801131, and extends to all the parts described in the said application No. 8801131 taken separately or in any combination.

Claims (19)

1. An electrical plug comprising a body having front and rear faces, at least two pins which project from the front face of the body in an operative condition of the plug, an inlet aperture in the body for an electrical lead, and terminal devices for electrically connecting wires from the electrical lead to the pins, and the plug being such that the pins are foldable towards the front face of the body in an inoperative condition of the plug.

2. A plug according to claim 1 in which the pins fold into a recess or recesses in the front face of the body.

3. A plug according to claim 2 in which the pins fold substantially completely into the recess or recesses.

4. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pins fold and unfold by pivoting about base parts of the pins.

5. A plug according to claim 4 in which the base parts of the pins are connected to the body by pivot arrangements.

6. A plug according to claim 5 in which the pivot arrangements are plain bearing arrangements.

7. A plug according to claim 5 in which the pivot arrangements are toothed arrangements.

8. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pins are individually foldable and unfoldable.

9. A plug according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the pins are inter-connected so that the folding or unfolding of one pin causes the other pin or pins to fold or unfold.

10. A plug according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and including mover means for folding and unfolding the pins.

11. A plug according to claim 10 in which the mover means is a slide device forming part of the body.

12. A plug according to claim 11 in which the slide device forms part of the rear face of the body.

13. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pins have a rectangular cross sectional shape.

14. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are three pins.

15. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is in two portions in order to enable access to be gained to the interior of the body of the plug.

16. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims in which the terminal devices are screw and cylinder arrangements.

17. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims and including clamp means for clamping the electrical lead to the plug.

18. A plug according to any one of the preceding claims and including fuse holder means for a fuse.

19. An electrical plug substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.