GB2261329A - Electrical plug cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover for shielding at least one electrical plug engaged in a socket, comprises a back plate (1) for retention between the engaged plug head and the socket face such that in use interengagement of the plug and socket is effective to secure the plate in a position. A shield part (10) is engageable with the back plate by sliding, hingeing or snap fit, or may be integral with the plate. The back plate (1) is apertured to allow plug pins to pass through before engagement with the socket, or the plate is applied after plug engagement with the socket. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL PLUG COVER This invention relates to covers for electrical plugs.

Standard electrical plugs include a plug head having protruding pins for engagement in matching holes in sockets.

Plug heads, particularly those for household or domestic use, are available in various materials and in a variety of decorative finishes, for coordination with household decor, for example. Metallic style plug heads, especially brass effect plug heads are currently particularly popular, although they are more expensive than the conventional plastic alternatives.

Additionally, socket faces may have decorative quality by provision of beading or other ornamental effects. The appearance of the engaged plug and socket may also be enhanced by provision of shields capable of overlying plug heads, which are integrally formed with the socket face, or alternatively hingedly connected thereto. Such shields are also advantageous for safety reasons, since they hinder access to plug pins and electrical contacts.

The present invention seeks to provide alternative covers for electrical sockets and for one or more electrical plugs engaged therein.

According to a broad aspect of the invention, shielding of an engaged electrical plug and socket is facilitated by way of a cover which is releasable from the socket. More particularly, shielding is assisted by way of a cover which includes a back plate for retention between engaged plug head and socket face, for securing the cover in plug shielding position.

Accordingly, the invention provides a cover for shielding at least one electrical plug engaged in a socket, the cover including a back plate for retention between the engaged plug head and the socket face such that, in use, interengagement of the plug and the socket is effective to secure the cover in a plug shielding position.

Preferably, the back plate is of similar dimensions to the socket face and is preferably apertured to allow passage of the or each plug pin therethrough for engagement in the corresponding socket holes, while retaining the plug head.

Suitably aperturing in the back plate corresponds substantially in form to the plug pins.

Typically, the back plate is arranged for alignment and engagement of apertures with plug pins prior to insertion of pins into the socket holes. Alternatively, appropriate aperturing in the back plate may allow for insertion of the back plate between an engaged plug head and socket face.

Preferably, shielding of the engaged plug and socket is assisted by use of a cover which comprises one or more back plates and shield parts, which back plates and shield parts are capable of being brought together to face one another and thereby substantially define a chamber for the plug head, or at least partially overlie and obscure the plug head.

Conveniently,-the back plate and shield parts have corresponding surface formations of projection/reception or engager/receiver types for mutual interengagement. Such interengagement may be effected by sliding, snap-fitting, interference fitting or the like.

For safety reasons, the back plate at least comprises an insulator material. Conveniently the back plate comprises plastic such as a fire retardant ABS, nylon or other material conforming to British Standard 1363, which defines appropriate insulator material for construction of plugs and sockets.

At least in the case where the back plate is of a plastics material, it may be made by moulding techniques, typically injection moulding. In such circumstances, any appropriate surface formations are preferably integrally formed in the back plate by moulding.

Preferably the cover is of appropriate dimensions so that it overlies substantially a full socket face. The back plate is typically of an appropriate thickness such that electrical contact between plug pins and socket holes is not unduly impaired as the back plate is retained between the plug head and socket face. Typically, the thickness will be of the order of a few millimetres or less, say, lmm for standard electrical plugs having pins including approximately lOmm of insulator material along their extent.

Preferably the cover, suitably the shield part has an outer surface of decorative quality. Suitable decorative effects may be achieved by appropriate pattern, shape or colouration of the shield, for example. Particularly preferred effects are achieved by applying a metallic lacquer to provide a metallic finish to a plastics moulded base say by anodising, for example.

Specific implementation of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a back plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are front and side views respectively of a shield part for interengagement with the back plate of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows plugs engaged with a back plate, viewed from the rear, prior to insertion of plug pins into socket holes.

Figures 5 and 6 show plugs engaged with a back plate and subsequently with both back plates and socket respectively.

Figures 7 and 8 show mounting of a shield part onto the back plate.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a back plate (1), injection moulded of plastics material such as fire retardant ABS and of generally rectangular shape, substantially corresponding to the outline of a socket face (35) (see Fig.

5). The back plate (1) has a body (2) of lmm in thickness, which is provided with apertures (3a, b, c) and (3a', b', c') of generally rectangular shape. The apertures are disposed in triangular relation corresponding to the arrangement of conventional plug pins (30a, b, c) and (30a', b', c') for two plug heads 5, 5', such as shown in Figure 4. The body (2) of back plate (1) also has aperture (7) to allow access to socket switches (12) such as shown in Figure 6.

The moulded back plate (1) has integral surface formations of projection/reception type. These comprise protruding lips (15, 16) which extend from opposite vertical edges of the body (2) of the back plate (1). The lips (15, 16) also have elongate channels (25, 25' and 26, 26') respectively, running along their outer edges. Here, at the lips (15, 16) of the plate (1), thickness of the plastics material is greater to improve strength.

Turning to Figure 2, there is illustrated a generally rectangular shield part (10) having inner dimensions matching outer dimensions of the back plate (1) so that the shield part (10) and back plate (1) are interengagable. The shield part (10) has an integral protruding lip (12, 14, 12') which extends from 3 peripheral edges of shield part (10).

Opposite lip faces (12, 12') on the inside of shield part (10) have surface formations of projection/reception type comprising elongate ridges (22) and (22') respectively.

The shield part (10) is made of moulded plastic provided with a brass effect finish by anodising. The shield part (10) also has an outer surface of decorative quality achieved by polishing and beading (32).

In use, plug pins (30a, b, c) are passed through corresponding back plate apertures (3a, b, c), typically fitting closely therein, and inserted into matching socket holes as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The back plate (1) is thus secured between plug head (5) and the face of socket (35), the protruding lips (15, 16) of the back plate (1) projecting outwardly with respect to socket (35). The shield part (10) is then slid over the lips (15, 16) from above, the channels (25, 25' and 26, 26') in the back plate (1) providing tracks for ridges (22, 22') in the shield part (10). The duly interengaged back plate (1) and shield (10) thus define a chamber for plug head (5).

To disengage plug pins (30A, 30B, 30C) from holes in socket (35), the cover assembly (1, 10) as a whole may be withdrawn from the socket. Alternatively, selective disengagement of one or more plugs may be effected by releasing shield part (10) by sliding it upwardly from the back plate (1), removing appropriate plug head (5) and thereafter replacing the shield (10). Likewise access to socket switches (12) may be effected by removal of cover assembly (1, 10) or selective removal of shield part (10).

It will be appreciated that various decorative finishes may be applied to shield part (10) to coordinate with household decor. In this regard, covers according to embodiments of the invention can be particularly versatile. A further advantage is that the covers are simple to use. For example, the illustrated embodiment may be employed to provide a new decorative effect without the need for removal or adaptation of existing socket faces.

Also, whilst the illustrated embodiment is described with reference to 3 pin electrical plugs, clearly cover assemblies according to the invention are adaptable for use with a variety of plugs, by, for example, varying the form and number of apertures in the back plate as appropriate. If desired, an aperture may be of appropriate dimensions to accept more than one plug pin. In the alternative, the back plate may take the form of a flange or tongue which, in use, will extend between spaced pins to be retained between the plug head and socket face.

Similarly, perimeter dimensions of the cover may be varied according to number of plugs to be shielded and shape/outline of socket. Depth of back plate and/or shield in the cover assembly may also be varied such that together they define a chamber for any number or form of plug heads, including any adaptors.

Clearly aperturing in the back plate and optionally the shield part may also be chosen according to form and number of socket switches, if any. Alternatively, the perimeter of the cover assembly may be indented to expose switches, if desired.

Also, the illustrated assembly shows a shield part having a lip extending from three perimeter edges such that the chamber provided by the back plate and shield part has an open bottom for plug flexes. However, in the alternative, the cover assembly may include a lower lip as part of the back plate and/or shield part with appropriate aperturing/rebating to allow passage of plug flexes therethrough.

As previously mentioned, the back plate and any shield parts may be adapted for fitting together in any number of ways, perhaps by appropriate choice of surface formations. In the alternative, the cover assembly may comprise a single integral apertured back plate and shield part for sliding over engaged plug and socket. Additionally, sockets moulded from plastic may be provided with surface formations, such as described in relation to the base part, to assist interengagement with a releasable cover part.

If desirable the cover assembly may be provided with rebating/recessing to provide a finger grip to assist withdrawal of assembly or simply just the shield part.

As discussed, choice of materials for the shield part may be influenced by desired decorative effect.

Claims (12)

1. A cover for shielding at least one electrical plug engaged in a socket, the cover including a back plate for retention between the engaged plug head and the socket face such that, in use, interengagement of the plug and the socket is effective to secure the cover in a plug shielding position.

2. A cover according to Claim 1 wherein the back plate is apertured to allow passage of the plug pin(s) therethrough for engagement with corresponding socket hole(s).

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or 2 further comprising one.

or more shield parts, the shield part and back plate capable of being brought together to define a chamber for the plug head.

4. A cover according to Claim 3 wherein the shield part and back plate are hingedly connected together.

5. A cover according to Claim 3 wherein the back plate and shield part are separable from each other.

6. A cover according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the back plate and shield part have corresponding surface formations for mutual interengagement.

7. A cover according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the back plate and shield part are adapted for slidable interengagement.

8. A cover according to any preceding claim wherein the back plate is apertured to allow access to a socket switch.

9. A cover according to any preceding claim which is moulded from a plastics material.

10. A cover according to any preceding claim, including one or more lands for provision of aesthetic decoration.

11. A cover according to claim 10 having an outer surface provided with a metallic coating.

12. A cover substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.