GB2256756A - Shuttered electrical socket - Google Patents

Description

1 Title: Plug and Socket and Multiway connector using same.

DESCRIPTION :z 2 2' Z_ J67-5b The present invention relates to an electrical accessory, in particular a mains elec-Lrica-l accessory, and more especially to a connector providing one or more socket outlets from an input, and to a plug -for use with the sockets, and to the method of cons-Lruc--Jon of the aforesaid.

Mains electrical accessories in the U.K., at least for domestic use, have standardised on the 3-D-in flat 13 amp plug and socket for connecting U'D electrical leads to mains. Such plugs are large and bulky and there are numerous occasions where the socket- outlet provisions in a room are insufficient zo accommodate all plugs of electrical loads. Domestic HiFi typifies the situation, where four or more components have to be provided with mains input. Providing same, each by way of its own 3-pin plug, requires 4 sockets which are rarely found as standard. Because of the size of 3-pin 13 amp ulug/sockezs, adapters providing multiway outlets become large 2 probably unnecessarily so having regard purely to load carrying requirements and hence can become unsightly items. One aspect of the invention aims to provide an adapter which is more acceptable size-wise whilst still being capable of carrying required current loading. Most plugs require the body of the plug to be gripped and pulled to remove, this can be difficult where good Din contact is provided and the problem can easily be magnified when plug sizes are reduced, presenting the temptation ZO Dull the wiring itself. A further aim is to provide a plug which is more easily pluged into and removed from its intended socket.

According to a first aspect of the we provide a plug having a body member an accessible abutment when the plug is mating socket, which abutment can take a to facilitate release of the plug from the According to another asnect of the invention then which presents inserted in a pushing force socket.

invention the plug body is provided with an extension for use in guiding the plug into its mating socket or assembly thereof.

More particularly, we find that the abutment of the body member is conveniently on an extension of the plug member, which extension is preferably aligned in parallel with pins of the plug and preferably extends 3 beyond the end of the pin. A particularly convenient construction of plug and socket results where the extended body is greater in length than the depth of Lhe socket when measured from the socket receiving C face. This is not essential, and the extension can be of shorter length whilst still permitting it to operate as an a - outment to facilitate pushing to disengage the P_' U_z - We find that the extension can also serve advantageously as the guide means for the plug, especially in conjunction with ribbing or shoulders on zhe socke-L extending in the direction of plug socket connecting engagement. A further advantageous feature is to have the pins of the plug shrouded, and the socket of the connector receiving the shrouded plug may itself be shrouded - with spacings of course to receive the plug pin shroud. It. is further advantageous if the connector also provides an extension forward of the socket face, conveniently as part of the shroud. This socket extension can act as a guide to align the plug with the socket on installation. This may act in addi-tion or as an alternative to the guide provided by the plug extension.

We are concerned with what may be termed an Jn-line connector, in which multi-socket outlets are A io provided in a connector body which has a wire leading a from it and provided with a plug for connecting zo a mains socket to provide electrical input to the connector. We are also concerned with providing an adapter type connector where the connector is provided with pins for plugging directly into the mains outlet, socket. In such cases the configuration 0 f zhe for the inline z-v-'De sa3 side by connecior may be the same as Wth two or more sockets disposed in a body i side or anozher convenient co n f i- gu, r at i 0 r rr, a y 0 e utilised. There is also con-ltemplated a single i n 1. i n e for extension DurDOSeS. Each of zhe aforementioned types of connector/socket is inzended for use with the described plug and to make use of the aforedescribed advantageous assembly and disassembl-Y proceedures.

Another aSDeCt of the invention concerns zhe way in which pins are held in the plug. Currently 13 amp 3-pin plugs are in two parts which allow pins to be fitted into one Dart and then retained in position by fixing the second Dart to the first, the separazion of parts also serving to allow access for wiring up zhe plug. Such a construction can present difficulties in assembly and the D-resent invention aims to provide a solution by having the plug body moulded with aperiures connectioi to receive Dins on a Dush 'Lit basis and to Dro,.-ide cooperation between the body and the pins once introduced therein. A simple way of doing this is to have a rib in the moulding with which terminal connection provision of the pins cooperate when the pins are in position so preventing withdrawal. The plug may -,hen be pro-x,--Lded wizi, a simple cover to al low access -o -.he zerrf inal cs f or wir-ing ur.

A yez further aspect Of Lhe invention is concerned w-:-T,. r)ro.,--id-ine e'-,ec-Er-ica-, connec-lion to the socket terminals of the connector for receiving the plugs. from the input wiring or direct Dins.

Known in-line 13 amp 12-pin flat connectors have used flexible wiring for the socket terminals. The soldering up of same and assembIv into the socket/connector body necessarily increases assemblY time.

The Dresent invention aims to overcome that by providing hard wiring of the terminal, to electrical conduction straps. However, this in itself can cause difficulties in achieving satsifactory cross-over, and this has been solved by providing for at least certain of the conductor szriDs to be stepped at different levels within the connector. In fac-L we prefer the neutral, li7e and earth connectors each to be at 6 different levels relative to one another.

A Yet furmber aspect of the invention concerns tne method of assembly of shuttering for electrical socket connections of the connector.

advantageous construction results from having the connector body mould split in a plane intersecting the three pins, thereby facilitating emplacement of the shutters and electrical conductors for the sockets into balf of the connection body before securing the -L,r. The shutter can be easily retained In this regard an one -1 C) other hal:f to by providing detenz parts acting as retention means. Actuation of the shutters is adanzageously achieved by the plug pin shroud with spring means acting between the shutters to urge them outwardly.

According to a yet further aspect of the invention there is Drovided a method of assembling a shuttered electrical socket wherein a socket body of insulaz-ing material is aDertured to receive shutters for electrical contacts to live and neutral and wherein the apertures are open to the side of the socket and the shutters are inserted into the aperture by way of the exterior of the socket, and the respective opening from with deformation of resilient retaining means, 7 the retaining means serves to thereafter relaxing of retain the shu-crers in the apertures.

7 More particularly the shutters themselves incorporate the resilient retaining means in the form of resilient detents. A spring acting between two shutters serves to urge them outwardly, and the spring is installed Drior to or with the shutters, usually received in a bore of one shutter on assembly of same.

The aforementioned preferably finds application shutter construction in a socket construction and especially that envisaged for a 4-waY Plug-in tY-De adapter where the socket assembly allows such side ways assembly of the shuttering and is separate from the surrounding shrouding.

Another aspect of the invention. concerns an adapter in which multiple sockets are positioned to the bottom thereof, preferably all on the same level, say in a 2 x 2 matrix and adaT)ted to receive the aforedescribed plugs with guide extension. The casing of the adapter shrouds the four sockets as a group.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plug assembled in a four way connector; Jve view of zhe Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspect.

plug and connector of Figure 1 before connection:

8 Figure 3 way connector; Figure 4 is an end view in the direction of arrow A of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 3 showing internal detail with pin wiring terminals omitted; Figure 6 is a plan view of terminal wiring for assembly into the socket of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an end view in direction of arrow B of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side view in of Figure 6; is a plan view of one embodiment of 4 direction of arrow C Figure 9 is a section view on IX-IX of Figure showing terminal conductor wire positions; Figure 10 is a plan view of a plug; Figure 11 is a sectional side view of the plug of Figure 10 with pins omitted; Figure 12 is an end view of the plug in the direction of arrow D of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view of a shutter assembly for a socket of a connector; Figure 14 is a section on X-X of the plug of Figure 11 showing pins in position and retention ribs therefor; Figure 15, 16 and 17 shows respective plan, side 9 and end views of a socket shutter; Figure 18 is a perspective view of a basic socket unit; Figure 19 is a side view of a 4-way plug-in type adapter with plugs in position; Figure 20 is a front view of the adapter of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a rear view of the adapter of Figure 19 with plugs omitted; Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter showing socket detail; and Figure 23 is an underneath view of the adapter, omitting pins.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated one embodiment of plug, a connector of in-line type actually shown as a 4-way but could be more or less depending on the number of socket outlet provisions, and a.4-way plug-in type connector. The basic configuration of plug and socket corresponds to the flat 3-pin type currently used in the British market for electrical appliances such as kettles, slow cookers and the like, usually in such applications the socket serves as the electrical input to the appliance and is on the end of a wire connected to a 3-pin 13 amp plug for plugging into mains wiring electrical socket.

The illustrated embodiment of 4-way in-line connector will be described first. It comprises a body 1 formed in two halves 3, 5 conveniently referred to as upper and lower parts. These are formed as a plastics moulding providing socket provision 7 (four in the illustration) for plugs 59 illustrated further with reference to Figures 11 to 14 and described further herein below. The plug has a body 11 from which 3 pins 12 (one each for live, neutral and earth) project (see Figure 14) and the pins are surrounded by a shroud 13 which is formed as an extension from the body. Also extending from the body is a guide extension member 15 shown spaced by gap 17 from the shroud in the illustrated design, but in the alternative, could be an extension thereof. The plug body is moulded in one piece, save for a cover 19 received in a cutout therefor and secured in place by screw means through hole 21 -into reception bore 22. The pins 12 each has terminals 23 as part thereof which are provided with screw means for securing electrical wires thereto. A cable clamp is shown as 24 with the plug being apertured at 23 for pasage therethrough of the cable/flex from the appliance. It will be noted that the body has through holes 26, one for each pin, to allow the pins to be inserted axially from the inside 11 of the plug in the direction of arrow E (see Figure 14). The mould to the said holes has a rib formation 28 with which the terminal engages when in its installed position, with the terminal then retained in position. The terminals can be pushed past the rib-for installation purposes.

Also of particular note are the recesses 29 to the exterior of the guide extension member to from abutment surfaces with which a person installing the plug or more especially removing ii can gain -frictional this contact with a finger or thumb. The purpose o will be described further hereinafter.

Referring again to the connector 1, it will seen that the socket provisions for receiving the aforedescribed plug comprises a moulded body 31 corresponding substantially in cross-section to the internal aperturing of the pin shroud 13. Thus the plug shroud fits around the socket projection and with the pins of the plug received in the terminals of the socket. Each socket projection is itself accommodated within spaced shielding members comprising a base wall 33 a top wall 35 and side walls 37. The spacing 39 is dimensioned to receive the crosssectional shape of the shroud 13.

It will be noted that the base wall 33 extends 12 beyond the end face 41 of the socket and that extension thereby serves as an abutment and guide for aligning the plug with the socket. That guiding is also aided by the side walls 37 which is will be seen also extend above the level of the top wall 35 so as to provide guide rails 43. Thus, it will been seen by reference to Figure 2 that the cooperation of the guide extension 15 of the Dlug with the guide rails 43 aids alignment of the plug with the socket, which is advantageous where the connection has to be made in areas of limited access. The base wall extension 33 further assists in this regard. It will be noted that all pins and sockets are shielded so that the likelihood of electrocution is eliminated.

A particular advantage construction arises when it plug. Instead of having to grip the plug to remove it, the shape of the connector of the plug and connector is required to remove the body and pull allows contact with the plug to the opposite side of the connector to the direction of "plugging-in" so that contact of the guide extension 15 by a finger or thumb allows the plug to be pushed, whilst the operator may take the reaction against the socket. Note also in the illustrated embodiment the fact that the guide extension extends beyond the far edge of the connector - see 45 in Figure 13 1 -, which further assists in release - such as by pressing on the end 47 of the guide extension 15 say with the thumb and with fingers contacting the socket entry side of the connector. This facilitates release of the plug with a squeezing action.

By making the connector body in two halves 3, 5, terminal connections and shutters for the live and neutral terminals of the sockets may simply be assembled into place before securing the two parts together - such as by sonic welding. Each socket projection has recessing 49 for contacts to receive plug pins, and in the case of live and neutral these have recessing 40 to receive end shutters 51. The shutters themselves are illustrated in Figures 15 to 17 whilst their assembly is shown with reference to Figure 13. Essentially they comprise insulating blades having appertures 53 dimensional for the passages therethrough of plug pins when aligned therewith, a detent 55 having a shoulder 56 to prevent their outward movement past side walling 57 of the socket mouldings under the action of a spring 60 using two shutters apart and seated in bores 61. A chamfered actuating part 59 is arranged to extend beyond the socket wall into space 39 for contact by the plug shroud to actuate the shutters for alignment of their apertures with the plug pins to 14 allow insertion of same. The shutter can simply be placed into the recesses 40 therefor, before fitting the top part in place and of course that is done after all other parts have been fitted in place as described below.

The contacts of the sockets for the plug pins are shown at 61 in Figure 6 and comprise suitable conducting materials usually having birfurcated resilient tags. These are soldered, rivited or otherwise securely fixed to conduction rails shown as 63, 65 and 67 for live, neutral and earth respectively.

These are substantially strip-like members, which makes for ease of assembly compared with the alternative connection of contacts 61 to flexible insulated wiring.

By controlled spacing of the conduction strips the need for additional insulation can be avoided, so further reducing costs. We find this can be done by having the respective conductor rail 63, 65, 67 stepped within the body, i.e. at different levels. For this purpose the bottom part 5 of the connection has staging 71, 73 75 at a different level for each of the respective conduction rails - as seen from Figure 9. The connections of the conduction rails to the contact 61 and the terminal connection thereto, 81, 83, 85 can then allow for suitable offsetting, as shown with 1 reference to Figures 7 and 8. It will be seen that the live conductor passes to the terminal 81 by way of fuse connections 87, 88. Thus, it will be seen that the conductors bridge one another without need for insulation. Holes 89 allow for fixing of conductors to the staging of the body by way of plastic pegs suitably headed using heat deformation after assembly of conductors. The top part 3 provides an access cover 92 to the terminals 81, 83, 85 and a fuse block 91.

The above described connector block has 4-in-line sockets. In addition we also envisage providing a larger connector, with six sockets, in-line, but otherwise of identical construction.

-or may in It is also envisaged that the connect its more basic form simply comprise a single socket as illustrated diagrammatically with reference to Figure 18. That connector urovides a single socket 31' accommodated within a spaced shroud comprised of bottom top and side walls 33', 35' and 37' respectively, and being configured like a single socket version of the aforedescribed connector so as to further provide guide rails 43'. The side of the connector opposite to the socket entry is apertured for passage through of a flex 44'. Such a connector can serve as a socket in an extension lead. It is a straight forward matter to 16 envisage required. A multiplication of socket provisions as yet further embodiment of connector is described with reference to Figures 19 to 23, which illustrate a plug-in type 4-way connector. The connector has a body 100 accommodating three pins (13 amp flat pin type) for connection into a mains electrical outlet socket of known type.

four sockets 101 of the aforedescribed of the The body has type which emerge from the base adapter in the illustration, all disposed at the same level. The sockets are surrounded by a shroud 103 made up of the lower edge of a support plate 105 and the lower edges cover 107. The sockets 101 are in pairs by identical moulded plates 109 disposed side by side (see Figures 22 and 23). A circuit board 110 has contacts 61' secured directly thereto which are received in apertures 112 therefor in the socket moulding. Each socket has at least for live and neutral contacts, shuttering. The shutters are as described with reference to Figures 15 to 17 and are actuated by the shrouds of the plugs as previously described. However, they are assembled differently. In fact they are pressed into position from the exterior of the socket moulding by way of the openings 114 of a 3-dimensional formed 1 17 through which the ends 59 will project. The detent 55 is resilient, so as to collapse inwardly on assembly allowing the shutter into the aperture 112. Once in place the detents expand back to their original position so that the shoulder 56 then prevents the shutters from moving outwardly more than prescribed by contact of the shoulder 56 with the socket moulding wall. A spring is fitted into the bore 61 of the shutter prior to assembly into the socket, and this serves to ensure that the shutters are urged outwardly.

Figure 21 shows the back view with flat pins 130 and fuse holder 132. Figure 19 shows an external side view showing the three pins 130 projecting from the plate 105, and two plugs in their fitted position.

Figure 20 shows the corresponding front view with two plugs to each side. It will be seen that in this embodiment the extension guide arms of the plugs do not extend beyond the socket body but terminate where they body starts to taper. Nevertheless this allows for the end extension to serve as an abutment to receive a pushing force to disengage th e plugs.

The pins 130 are carried from a mounting plate 134 which also carries insulated sleeving 136 in which the respective pins are received, with that for the live and neutral projecting from the plate 105. The 18 circuit board 110 and two socket mouldings are located by ribbing 138 of the plate 105 and cover 107.

1 ig

Claims (1)

1. 7.1 method of assembling a shuttered electrical socket, havinc a socket body which is aperzured tc receive shutters for electrical contacts to live and neutral, and wherein the apert-Ures are open to t_he side ofo zhe socke--, --he method comprising inse.-r-t-ina t-he -;-n-c zhe aDer--u--e by wa-y.. of -.-he -::-or -=lie exze--Jor of the socket with def-o--maz:ion means, and therea-f-ter the Z C -- et- a ' Ln the shu::t-ers in zhe open-ing res -nz re-:--a'r-i nc aDertures. having a so--ke body whi- 2. A shu-=zered socket L- -h is aDer--u--ed to receive shUtters fOr electrical contacts to neu--ral in which the apertures are open to the resilient retaining means which permit assembly and 1.o retain the shutter by cooperation ofE facing surfaces with 'Ithe socket body.

   3. A shuttered socket as claimed in claim 2 in which L-he shutters incorporate resilienIC retaining means as a,esilient detent L- L.

   4. A shUtitered socket as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which a spring acts between the two shutters zo urge t 4-hen out-Wardly.

   5. A shu-:-.e--r-ed sockez as claimed in cl'a-iiT. 4 in which.

   live and side of i:)rovidinp thereafter ac- 1= rezai n ng meancs serves the socket-, and cooDerable surfaces 0 L.he shutters are urged by the spring into a position in which they extend beyond sides of the socket for actuation inwardly by a cooperating plug part.

   6. A shuttered socket constructed and arranged and adaDtLed to operate substantially as here-inbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

   7. 1- method of assembling a shuttered ele--tLr-ica--, socket substantially as hereinbefore described wIth reference to the accomDanyina drawinas.

   21 8) An elecz-rical connector COMDrising a-,- leasz one plug and socke-. In wn -L cr the plug has a body member which presenzs an accessible abu-umenz when tne plug i-s mazIng sockez, which abuzmen-. can facc- " case f 1 U ú7 L,ake a i)usr ing fo--r-ce -,c J z a -_ e re -om zhe socke--- inserted:In conriec-c,-- as --!aimed in claim 8 In wnici, zne plug body is p:-os--lded an ex-cens.:'.on f 0 r use i n guiding zbe plug Inl-0 izs mazing sockez.

   10) An connector comDrsis-ing a-L.--teas-, one plug and so--kez in whIch -,tie plug body is provided wJ--,h its pins for use in guiding an extension separate from, the plug into:--zs ma-L:.ng soc.Kei.

   11) A. conneczor as claimed --;In claim. 9 in which -.he abutment is on the extension of the plug member.

   12) A connector as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11 in wJ.c"r the extension is aligned in parallel w-izn 1D--ns o_ -,,ne plug.

   2 0 13) A connector a s claimed in claim, 5 in wh-Lch zbe exzens-on e> :zends uD to or beyond zhe end of sald rIns, az leasi for 2Lye and nuezral.

   22 :z A con-neczo,-r as claimed i_r any one of claims 9 -,c 141 13 in wh i cb the extension of cbe plug is greazer i n length than the depth of the sockez when measured fro,,:, L zhe socke-, receiving face.

   J, E J_ isi A conneczor as cl-imed "r any one of -'aims 9 zo14 in which zbe socker S provided v. z h ribbing and/o-snoulders extending i n h e d i::- e -- z o n of Dlug/sockeT connecz-,ng engagemenz and which are ccooperable W:L z h -be e-,:zer.,son for guide DUrDOses.

   -imed - c 16,' A -onrie--o-- as cla, claims 9 to- 15 comprising a zhe nug.

   A conneezor as 17 Din rece-;v-ing body spacing z.berebezween 18) A connector as whicb -,,be sockei has receiving socket face to align zbe plug and 19) A. connector as wh--"cr mu!T:-liD!e socket outlets _lying lead is provided _for The socke-s.

   20) A conneczor as claimed in cla-iiL 19 in which said sockezs are disposed in I-Lne s--:,de by side.

   X r. any one 0 sn-roud for the Dins off claimed in claim16 in which the of zbe socket is shrouded with to receive said Dlug pin shroud.

   claimed in anyomcfclairm;9 to 17 in an extensi.on forward of its Dir which extension acts as a guide socket on installation.

   claimed in any ore of claims 9 to 18 in are D-1-ovided anQ wbereir e 1 ec,zrica-11 connections zo 23 %i -. 1.

   21 1" -- connector as c-aimee in any one off c"-..--ims 9 -. c A in which the socket body has multiple sockets and L integral plugs, eg. 13 amp 3 pins, type for fitting In.r.c. a mains electrical socket.

   conneczor as claimed in ciaiir 21 in wh--lcn a-, 22 two sockets are provided and accessed in no r ma I to -.be inzeg-.c--! D i r. a X:L s ' and downward. 13. relaT--i-x;,e -.c a d--lrec-z:ior. r,--e--erab 1 y facrig claJn... 22 23 A r-onne---.or as claimed WrIcr in.usockezs are provided mounted in two Pairs side by siQcand having their socket faces in the same plane.

   24) An e-',ec-t.-.LCal connector constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference 19 to and as illustrated in figures 1 to 17, or 18 or. zo 23.

   j A IDIUg conszrucz-ion having a plug b o d y v--- t t apertures therein to receive a respective pin on a push fit basis and wherein cooperating rib means provide cooperating interengagement between the lpins and zbe plug body to retain zbe pins in posizion.

   26) A plug conszrucz.-Lon as claimed in clair. 25 in wrjicr. eacn aperture has at least one rit or lir- wh-JIcn presents a shoulder facing opposite zo rin inserz-on c--reczion to acz as retenzion for the uins.

   a 1 1 24 27) A plug construction as claimed in claim 26 r which the rib or lip is resiliently deformable to permit passage of the Din part in the insertion direction.

   28,', A plug construction as cl-aimed in claim 27 ir which the shoulder lies adjacent to the inward enC o the Din.

   29) A ri--fug Consz_rucz-Jon - n wh -L ch a c' aims 25, 26 or 27 ,oo-,,ti---1-ike ribs are provided zo one or -zwo Din and zne Din has cooperating formazions.

   30) A plug construction subszanz-J,-^lly as described of Figure 14.

   31) A n e 1 e c -- r JIL c a 1 socket connector having mulrlple socket outlets and connecti-ons for electrical supply to said sockets wherein wiring conencT-:Lons for such as live neutral and earth is by means of hard wiring as conductor strips, and wherein at least certain of the conductor sirips are stepped a-t- di.:f7'Lereni, levels within the conector.

   32) A conrieczor as claimed in clalm. 31 in which. each of the neutral, live and earth conductors are ai different levels and sDaced one behLnd the ozbe-relazve to socket ouzie-. posLz-;Lon zhereb-,, Derrn-,z-,ing 1 cl, as claimed -; r - one 0 an3 L -D 1 U ra -, -- z Y of say sices o:-hehereinbefore with reference ZO the accomPanYing drawIngs 1; 2 0 - Z, wiring --orlauc-Lors ze cross.

   tor constructed 33 An electrical socket connect arranged subs as hereinbefore described -ed i -igures 5, 6, efernce zo and as i lI uszra,. _n anc 9 of zbe accompanying drawings.

   an- W iT, b 17 (. 8 - L - - a -L 3 4 L meznod of assembJng a shu-tere3 eleczr-ca" having a sockel b o dy wrlicr, is aperrurec ZG rece - e r s f o - e I e cz. r:. ca -- c o nz a ez s - ve sruz - c Ve and rieu-, ral and whe re in z he a e:--,ures are open ze zhe side P C zbe socke-l., zbe inezbor- com.Dri-s--ng -JLnse--z"-ng -,be snu-,-..e.-s --nze zbe arje---.ure ov wav of oi)er.-;rig zhe e -:z e r -- o r of zbe deformaz ior C) -1 r e s i s z a n -1, retaining means, and thereafter releasing of zhe retaining means serves to rezain zbe shutters in zbe apertures.

   3 5 ') A shuzzered socket having a socket body which is aiDerzured zc receive sbuzzers foor electrical conzaczs apertures are open to o live anc neuzral in which the zhe side off -the socket. and resilient retaining means provid-ing cooperable surfEaces which permit assembly and zbere.afzier acz zc rezain zbe sbuzzer by coolpe-razion 0 f 4aces.

   su= 36 A shuttered socke-L as claimed in claim 9 in whi-ch - n e - in coriDorF.-,e resil- sbu-.lers -Ienz retaining means as:-es--jien-. dezen-c.

   the resepc:-JIve socke-, W-;-t, 26 Z1 'i 3.7 A. shu-,-cez-ed socket as claimed J11n Cla-Lir. 35 or 36 in which a spring acts between the two sburLers to urge zneiL ouzwardly.

   38', A snuzzered socke-. as claimed -Ln cl-aim, 37 in which zbe shutters are urged by the spring into a DOSiZiOn In which they extend beyond sides of the socke-, zo o a--zuaz--Lon inwardly by a COODerazing p 2. U g Da=.

   0 4 sbuzzere,' socket conszrucued and a-an-ed and a d a r) z e d --0 or)eraze subszanzia-llx7 as be--ei-nbe"Lore des-r--"oed w--'-,I reference to and as MUS-Lrazed in the accompanying drawings O-F Figures IL and 5 zo 17 In cor-juncz---Jor- wi zh Figures 19 to 22.

   '/ An electrical connector comprising a bousing baving pins flor,plugging into a mains electrical ouzule- and a D1UralitY of socket outlets disposed in said bousipg and presenting socket faces downwardly relazilve to horizonzal pin orienzation for a normal. 3-Din plug, and wherein said socket faces are all on zbe same level.

   An electrical connector as claimed in claim 44 in 41) which the socket outlets are mounted in Dairs back zo back.

   42:, An. e--,.ecz..--icaj.

   c 12, 1 m S 40 1- 0 41 i n conenczo--, wh i eh as claimed in anvone o.

   the bousing shrouds the 27 sockets as a group.

   43) An electrical connector as claimed in any one 0 claims 40 to 42 and adapted to receive a Plug with a guide extension.

   1 44) An eleczrica-l connector conszructed and arranged substantially as bereinbefore described re-fer-nce z o and as illustrated in the accomiDanying dray.,-n,-s o F-Lgure!g to 23.

   45) A DIUg for- mating w-1 z ri plug comprises a body hav--'-ng ins. W17 i ch d-i.-ec-,ior of z S -p- an el, eczric,--- socke-- ar e,-.zens-or -n -h;-= ex--ens-or. serves as -a guide for mating engagement ol- the plug wJ.zh zne sockez and/or as an P-buzmenz to facilitate release frou- a mating socket.

   46 A D1U9 as claimed in clairr 45 ir W r! L C1r z h e the pins and extension is.disiDosed sDaced ouzwa.-r-dly of subszan-.-;a'Lly parallel thereto and is subszanta'l'iv 1Dianar.

   47) A plug as claimed in claim 45 or46 furTbe- comprising a shroud around the pins.

   48) A plug as claimed in clalm 47 in which the shroud Erom t is sDaced f Lhe extension.

   49) A plug constructed and arranged subszan-E-Ja-.^-,3- as bereinbefore described W it h reference Z0 and---S -:llus-.ra-z,ed ir the accompan3ing drawings figures 10, 11 and 12.