GB2242571A

GB2242571A - Device for shielding a switch

Info

Publication number: GB2242571A
Application number: GB9006992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew John Chipling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-28
Filing date: 1990-03-28
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-28
Also published as: GB2242571B; GB9006992D0

Abstract

A device 4 for shielding an electrical switch 3 comprises a support 5, which is mounted to the surround of the switch 3, and a cover 6 which obstructs access to the switch. The support and the cover are connected together by a hinge 7. The supports may be mounted above the switch 3 and adjacent the lower end of the cover 6, there is provided a flange 11, which extends substantially perpendicular to the cover to abut the surround below the switch 3. When in its normal position, the device shields the switch from any inadvertent knocking or tampering and a positive action of manually pivoting the cover away from the switch is required in order to operate the switch. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR SHIELDING A SWITCH The present invention relates to a device for shielding a switch, in particular a switch on an electrical power socket or an electrical light switch.

There are many modern, electrically-operated machines for which it is necessary to ensure a continuous supply of power in order to avoid, for example, any loss or damage to the contents of the machines or undesirable consequences for which the machine may be checking. Examples of such machines are freezers and fridges in domestic use for food storage, incubators and fridges used for medical and research purposes, medical monitoring equipment, computer systems and burglar alarms. In general, these machines are simply connected to the power supply by a plug and socket arrangement and a manually-operated switch located adjacent the socket. However, in some cases, the switch can be inadvertently knocked or otherwise tampered with, thereby causing unintentional disconnection of the vital power supply to the machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which is capable of shielding the switch such that a deliberate action must be taken in order to operate the switch to disconnect the power supply.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention consists in a device for shielding a switch comprising a support intended to be mounted on a surround of the switch and supporting a cover for obstructing access to the switch, the cover being privotally movable relative to the support to enable the switch to be operated.

In a preferred embodiment, the support and the cover are connected together by a hinge. The support may be arranged to be mounted, for example by means of a foambacked adhesive strip or other glue, to the surround above the switch such that the cover hangs over the switch. The cover is preferably hinged at its upper end to the support and is provided at its lower end with a flange arranged to abut the surround below the switch in order to prevent the cover from contacting the switch. The cover is also preferably shaped and dimensioned to conform to the size of the switch without also covering a substantial area of the surround.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch having a surround on which a device for shielding the switch is mounted, the device comprising a support attached to the surround and supporting a cover for obstructing access to the switch the cover being pivotally movable relative to the support to enable the switch to be operated.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a switch shielded by a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and Figures 2 to 4 show respective views from the side of the device and from above and below the device.

Referring now to the Figures, an electrical power socket 1 is provided with switches 2 and 3 for connecting mains power to a machine (not shown) when coupled to the socket 1 via an electric cable and plug (also not shown).

A device 4 comprises a support 5, which is mounted to the surround above the switch 3, and a cover 6 which hangs down, under gravity, over the switch 3. The support and the cover are connected together by a hinge 7. The hinge comprises two outwardly extending lugs 8 provided on extended part 10 of the support 5. The lugs 8 engage in apertures formed in flanges 9 on the cover 6, so as to provide the pivotal action.

Adjacent the lower end of the cover 6, there is provided a flange 11 integrally formed with the main body of the cover and extending substantially perpendicular thereto to abut the surround below the switch 3. In this way, the cover 6 can be kept clear from the switch. The main body of the cover extends slightly beyond the flange 11 to enable the cover to be manually pivoted away from the switch. The support 5 may also be formed with an abutment portion 12 against which the inner surface of the cover abuts to limit the extent of the pivotal movement of the cover towards the switch.

It can thus be envisaged that, when in its normal position, the device in accordance with the present invention shields the switch from any inadvertent knocking or tampering and that the positive action of manually pivoting the cover away from the switch is required in order to operate the switch.

The cover is preferably shaped and dimensioned to conform to the shape and size of the switch to be shielded and does not extend over a substantial area of the switch surround. In this way, only one switch of a double socket, as shown in Figure 1 having two switches 2, 3 side by side, can be covered, and the cover can also be shaped so as not to obstruct access to the socket inlets 13 by insertion of a conventionally shaped plug.

In the case where a double socket is employed, two devices in accordance with the present invention may be used side by side in order to cover the two switches of the socket.

The device may be mounted to any switch surround by any suitable means, such as a foam-backed adhesive strip or other glue. Alternatively, the device may be fixed to the switch surround during manufacture of the switch. The device is preferably formed from a plastics material and the support may be a solid block or a hollow moulding possibly strengthened by inner cross-braces. The device may however be made from any other material, such as brass, in order to match the switch surround.

Whilst a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described, various modifications will be envisaged without departure from the scope of the invention.

For example, the support and cover of the device may be integrally formed from moulded plastics material with the hinge being formed by a stretched portion of the material between the support and the cover. In such an embodiment, it may be advantageous to provide releasable inter-engaging means, such as a snap-fit catch, between the lower end of the cover and the switch surround, to retain the cover in its shielding position over the switch.

In an alternative arrangement also utilising releasable inter-engaging means, the support may be attached to the switch surround below the switch with the interengaging means located above the switch.

The device may be used to shield other forms of switches apart from switches on single or double electrical power sockets, such as electrical light switches.

Although the cover is preferably shaped and dimensioned to conform to the shape and size of the switch, it may alternatively be smaller than the actual switch, whilst still preventing the switch from being knocked because access to the switch is largely impaired.

The device in accordance with the present invention could of course be employed to protect a switch intended to supply power to any electrically-operated machine or other mechanism

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for shielding a switch comprising a support intended to be mounted on a surround of the switch and supporting a cover for obstructing access to the switch, the cover being pivotally movable relative to the support to enable the switch to be operated.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support and the cover are connected together by a hinge.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the support is arranged to be mounted to the surround above the switch such that the cover hangs over the switch.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support is arranged to be mounted by means of a foam-backed adhesive strip or other glue.
5. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the cover is hinged at its upper end to the support and is provided at its lower end with a flange arranged to abut the surround below the switch in order to prevent the cover from contacting the switch.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover extends beyond the flange to enable the cover, when mounted on the switch surround, to be manually pivoted away from the switch.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is formed with an abutment portion, against which an inner surface of the cover is arranged to abut so as to limit the extent of the pivotal movement of the cover towards the switch.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is shaped and dimensioned to conform to the size of the switch without also covering a substantial area of the surround.
9. A device for shielding a switch, said device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A switch having a surround on which a device for shielding the switch is mounted, the device being constructed in accordance with any preceding claim.