GB2288287A - Electrical connector - Google Patents
Electrical connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2288287A GB2288287A GB9404621A GB9404621A GB2288287A GB 2288287 A GB2288287 A GB 2288287A GB 9404621 A GB9404621 A GB 9404621A GB 9404621 A GB9404621 A GB 9404621A GB 2288287 A GB2288287 A GB 2288287A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- connector
- electrical
- plug
- male
- wires
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R25/00—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
- H01R25/003—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Abstract
An electrical connector 10 having male connector means 16 - 20 electrically connected to female connector means 22 - 26, and internal terminal means (60, 66, 70, 78, figure 2B, not shown) for receiving electrical connector wires 14 and for forming an electrical connection between said wires and said male connector means. The connector 10 can comprise a mains supply plug/adaptor. The plug body is in two parts and includes wire guiding partitions, a cable clamp and a shutter. <IMAGE>
Description
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
The present invention relates to an electrical connector and, in particular, but not exclusively, to an electrical plug for connecting an appliance to a mainssupply socket.
Electrical connectors form essential elements in electrical signal conduction means that, in particular, can be readily adapted for connection to, or removal from, receiving, or socket, means for the connector. As such, an electrical signal transmission line can be created or broken as required and, in particular, an electrical appliance associated with the electrical connector can be readily transported from one particular location at which such receiver means are provided to another such location.
Such electrical connector means and receiver means are particularly useful as part of the electrical power-supply circuitry for an electrical appliance.
In particular, in a domestic situation, such electrical connectors commonly comprise three-pin plugs having a two-core or three-core wire connected thereto and which extends to connect to an associated electrical appliance. Each of the two or three wires provided in the two or three core wire is connected to terminal means within the electrical plug and each of the terminal means is associated with a male connector member comprising one of the three pins of the plug. The three pins extend from a flat face of the plug's housing and are arranged to be received in a mains-supply socket commonly provided in the wall of a domestic location.
In view of the wide variety of electrical appliances that are now available, particularly in a domestic situation, it is commonly found that the locality at which the electrical appliances are to be positioned, are not provided with sufficient electrical mains sockets or electrical "points". So-called adaptors have commonly been provided so as to increase the number of sockets available in a room.
Such known adaptors comprise a member having a threepin connector portion and two or more portions offering socket means for receipt of two or more three-pin plugs.
The portions offering receipt of the two or more three-pin plugs can be provided on the same housing from which the three-pins of the adaptor extend or can be provided on a separate housing connected to the other housing by way of an electrical wire.
However, such known adaptors are particularly disadvantageous in that they are generally bulky and unsightly in appearance and often result in a waste of space. For example, such adaptors are generally arranged to receive three or four mains connector plugs, and so if only two of the sockets on the adaptor are employed, this can lead to wastage of the space taken up by the adaptor.
Commonly such adaptors are used in restricted spaces and so this latter aspect can prove particularly disadvantageous.
Also, known adaptors render it unfortunately easy for wires to become entangled and can often serve to prevent ready identification of the correct one of the plurality of plugs that needs to be disconnected.
The present invention seeks to provide improved electrical connector means.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising male connector means, terminal means for receiving electrical connector wires and for forming an electrical connection between said wires and said male connector means, and female connector means electrically connected to said male connector means.
The invention is particularly advantageous in that it can provide an electrical connector which serves as a connection means for an electrical apparatus as required, and that also serves as socket means for receiving a further electrical connector associated with further electrical apparatus.
Preferably, the number of terminal means corresponds to the number of male connector means.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the number of female connector means corresponds to the number of male connector means. As such, each of the male connector means is paired with the respective one of the female connector means. Thus, while offering the appropriate electrical connection for an electrical appliance associated with the connector of the present invention, the electrical connector also offers a single socket means for the receipt of an electrical connector associated with another electrical appliance.
Preferably, the terminal means are arranged for releasably securing said electrical connector wires.
Advantageously, said male connector means extend from one side of said electrical connector and said female connector means are arranged on a side opposite said one side.
Preferably, said male and female connector means of the electrical connector of the present invention extend in the direction of a common longitudinal axis.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, said electrical connector comprises connector means for the conduction of an electrical supply current. As such, the present invention can preferably comprise a connector for the connection of an electrical appliance to the mains supply.
Thus, the present invention can comprise an electrical plug having male connector means comprising connector pins and female connector means comprising socket means for receiving such pins of another plug.
It can therefore be seen that the present invention advantageously provides a combined electrical plug and adaptor. Thus, in use, the plug according to a particular embodiment of the present invention can be received in a mains-supply wall socket so that the mains supply can be conducted to the appliance connected to the plug by way of the electrical connector wires extending from terminals of the plug, while the plug also presents a socket for receiving a plug connected to another appliance.
Thus, the invention is particularly advantageous in providing a simple and effective and tidy arrangement for the connection of a plurality of electrical plugs and associated electrical appliances to the mains supply by way of a single wall socket. Also, particular cost savings will also be experienced with the present invention since it is the actual plug itself that also forms the adaptor means for connecting other electrical appliances to the same wall socket and so a separate, and often relatively expensive, adaptor is not required.
With the increasing availability of electrical appliances provided with plugs, the present invention can therefore lead to particular cost savings.
The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector embodying the present invention;
Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c show the separate parts of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;
Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c show a top view, bottom view and side view of an electrical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
Figs. 4a and 4b show part of an electrical connector according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig.
1 is in the form of an electrical plug 10 having a housing 12 with an electrical wire 14 extending therefrom. The electrical wire 14 comprises a standard two or three-core connector wire, the other end of which is connected to the appropriate electrical appliance as required. Three pins, 16, 18 and 20 extend from a front face of the housing 12 and a socket comprising three apertures 22, 24 and 26 is provided on a back face of the housing 12. The housing 12 is actually formed in two parts and comprises a housing body member 28 and a relatively flat backplate 29 which can be secured to the body member 28 by way of screw means 84, 86.
As will be appreciated from Fig. 1, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention has an appearance that is substantially similar to that of a normal three-pin mains plug, along with its associated electrical connector wire 14. However, the plug 10 is also arranged to receive a three-pin electrical plug by way of the apertures 22, 24 and 26 provided in the backplate 29 of the plug 10.
Appropriate connector elements are therefore provided within the housing 12 so as to allow for the electrical connection between the two or three cores of the wire 14 and the pins 16, 18 and 20 and the socket comprising the apertures 22, 24 and 26. These features are described further with reference to Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c.
Fig. 2a represents a plan view of the body portion 28 of the plug 10 with the backplate 29 removed. The body 28 includes apertures 30, 32 and 34 through which the pins 16, 18 and 20 respectively extend. Also, the body portion 28 is provided with threaded bores 36, 38 for receipt of the screw means 84, 86 for the attachment of the backplate 29 to the body portion 28.
Standard clamp means 40 is provided for securing an end of the electrical connector wire 14 in the plug 10 so that the wire 14 enters the plug in the direction 42 and the three cores of the wire 14 are arranged to extend within the body portion 28 along the left-hand side as shown in Fig. 2a via the channel 44. An upstanding support wall 46 is provided within the body portion 28 and is commonly integrally moulded therewith. A support wall 46 is formed so as to enhance the rigidity of the body portion 28 and also the connector means associated with the pins 16, 18 and 20.
Further details of the pins are shown with reference to Fig. 2b. Both of the pins 18, 20 comprise an elongate body potion 48 forming a male connector element 50 at one end and a female connector element comprising a U-shaped resilient connector 52 at the other end. An electrical terminal member 64 is arranged to be located in space A (see Fig. 2a) and in the orientation shown in Fig. 2b. The terminal member comprises a clamp screw 66 for securing one of the core-wires of the connector wire 14 and also comprises a connector tongue for forming electrical connection with the U-shaped female connector 52 of the plug 18.
The plug 16 comprises an elongate member 58 having a male connector portion 56 at one end and a female connector element 58 at the other end thereof. Also, formed integrally with the male and female connector elements 56, 58 is a connector lug 60 having a clamping screw 62 associated therewith for securing one of the core-wires of the electrical connector wire 14 thereto.
A connector element 70, similar to the element 64 is arranged to be located at location B (see Fig. 2a) and in the orientation shown in the plan view of Fig. 2b. Again, the connector element 70 comprises a clamping screw 72 for connection of one of the core wires of the connector wire 14 and also a connector tongue 74 for electrical connection to the pin 20. The connector element 70 also includes a Ushaped clamp 76 which is arranged to receive one end of a fuse. The other end of the fuse is arranged to be received in the U-shaped clamp 82 of a further connector element 78 which is arranged to be located at C (see Fig. 2a) and in an orientation as shown in Fig. 2b. The connecting element 78 also includes a clamping screw 80 for securing one of the core-wires of the electrical connector wire 14 thereto.
As will be appreciated, the connector element 78 comprises the live terminal of the plug 10 and the connector 64 comprises the neutral terminal of the plug 10.
The lug 60 of the pin 16 comprises the earth terminal of the plug 10 if required.
As will be clearly appreciated from the above description of one embodiment of the present invention, a further three-pin electrical plug can be mounted in piggyback fashion on the plug embodying the present invention.
The connection of that further plug to the mains supply is achieved by way of the elements described above with reference to Fig. 2b. Of course, if a fault in the electrical appliance connected by way of connector wire 14 causes the fuse to be connected between U-shaped clamps 76 and 82 to blow-out, the electrical conduction path between the mains supply and the plug connected by way of the apertures 22, 24 and 26 remains intact. Thus, a blown fuse only affects the electrical supply to the appliance connected directly to that plug, i.e. the appliance at the end of wire 14.
Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c show a view from above, a view from below and a view from the side of an electrical plug having a different shape and configuration from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2a-2c.
Figs. 4a and 4b show an additional feature that can be incorporated into an electrical connector according to the present invention and, in particular, incorporated into a backplate member such as that shown as 30 in Fig. 1. Fig.
4a shows a backplate 129 according to such an arrangement and having apertures 122, 124 and 126 therein for receiving a three-pin plug. Fig. 4b shows a plan view of a safetyslider arranged to be mounted in the orientation shown in
Fig. 4b. The slider comprises transversely extending side wings 90, 92 and an upwardly extending blocking member 94 having a bevel edge 95 arranged to face in the direction of the aperture 122. A compression spring 96 is operatively mounted on the slider 88 and abuts against an upstanding wall portion 98 of the backplate 129. The compression spring 96 biases the safety slider in an upward direction as in Fig. 4a so that the blocking member 94 blocks the aperture 122. In such a position, the side-wings 90, 92 extend to cover the apertures 24 and 26 respectively. The inserted pin of the plug being moved into the electrical connector acts on the bevelled surface 95 of the safety slider mechanism 88 and this forces the slider 88 in a downward direction as in Fig. 4a and against the biasing force of the spring 96. Such a downward motion moves the side-wings 90, 92 out of alinement with the apertures 24, 26 so that connection to the live and neutral terminals of the electrical connector of the present invention can be achieved by the "inserted" plug by way of the apertures 24, 26.
It will be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments.
For example, each respective male connector member, female connector member and terminal can be provided as a onepiece member. Further, such male connector member, terminal member or female connector member, or said one piece member, can be formed integral with the electrical connector.
It will be appreciated that variations in and modifications to the present invention as described above may be made within the scope of this application.
Claims (10)
1. An electrical connector comprising male connector means, terminal means for receiving electrical connector wires and for forming an electrical connection between said wires and said male connector means, and female connector means electrically connected to said male connector means.
2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the number of said terminal means corresponds to the number of said male connector means.
3. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of said female connector means corresponds to the number of said male connector means.
4. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said terminal means are arranged for releasably securing said electrical connector wires.
5. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said male connector means extend from one side of said electrical connector and said female connector means are arranged on a side opposite said one side.
6. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said male and female connector means extend in the direction of a common longitudinal axis.
7. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising an electrical plug having male connector means comprising connector pins and female connector means comprising socket means for receiving such pins of another plug.
8. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising connector means for the conduction of an electrical supply current.
9. A connector as claimed in Claim 8, comprising a connector for the connection of an electrical appliance to a mains supply.
10. A connector as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, and comprising a combined electrical plug and adaptor.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9404621A GB2288287A (en) | 1994-03-10 | 1994-03-10 | Electrical connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9404621A GB2288287A (en) | 1994-03-10 | 1994-03-10 | Electrical connector |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9404621D0 GB9404621D0 (en) | 1994-04-27 |
GB2288287A true GB2288287A (en) | 1995-10-11 |
Family
ID=10751596
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9404621A Withdrawn GB2288287A (en) | 1994-03-10 | 1994-03-10 | Electrical connector |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2288287A (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2318692A (en) * | 1996-10-22 | 1998-04-29 | Joseph Patrick Reid | Electrical power supply plug/adaptor |
GB2319671A (en) * | 1996-11-21 | 1998-05-27 | Donald Robert Belcher | Plug with integral adapter socket |
GB2334155A (en) * | 1998-01-29 | 1999-08-11 | Chen Nan Chen | An electrical connector for computer peripherals |
GB2331636B (en) * | 1997-06-20 | 2002-02-20 | Freda Wolfowitz | Electrical plug |
GB2410382A (en) * | 2004-01-26 | 2005-07-27 | Sandal Plc | Electrical plug adaptor having elastic retaining sleeve |
SG125899A1 (en) * | 2001-07-30 | 2006-10-30 | Lim Seong Kheng | Electrical plug with integrated socket |
WO2006126174A1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-11-30 | Willem Abraham Prinsloo | An electrical plug |
EP1752942A1 (en) * | 2005-07-19 | 2007-02-14 | Cash Bases Limited | Purchase scanning system |
GB2457217A (en) * | 2007-04-11 | 2009-08-12 | Baruch Entpr Ltd | Cascadable electrical connector |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB325690A (en) * | 1929-02-14 | 1930-02-27 | Charles Leonard Arnold | Improvements in electrical connectors of the plug and socket type |
GB492058A (en) * | 1937-04-10 | 1938-09-14 | Crabtree & Co Ltd J A | Improvements in or relating to adaptors for use in connection with electrical couplings of the plug-and-socket-type |
GB619329A (en) * | 1946-12-03 | 1949-03-08 | Johann Billeter | Improvements in adapters for electric plug and socket couplings |
GB977947A (en) * | 1961-02-10 | 1964-12-16 | Ass Elect Ind | Improvements relating to electric adaptors |
GB1259497A (en) * | 1969-03-19 | 1972-01-05 | ||
GB1416259A (en) * | 1972-03-29 | 1975-12-03 | Hitachi Ltd | Multiple connector |
GB2180414A (en) * | 1985-09-12 | 1987-03-25 | James Macdonald Fursdon | An electrical plug with branching circuit |
GB2228631A (en) * | 1989-02-27 | 1990-08-29 | Cliff Electron Components Ltd | Plug adaptor for electrical branching |
GB2237455A (en) * | 1989-09-27 | 1991-05-01 | Electricity Council | Branching electric connector |
-
1994
- 1994-03-10 GB GB9404621A patent/GB2288287A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB325690A (en) * | 1929-02-14 | 1930-02-27 | Charles Leonard Arnold | Improvements in electrical connectors of the plug and socket type |
GB492058A (en) * | 1937-04-10 | 1938-09-14 | Crabtree & Co Ltd J A | Improvements in or relating to adaptors for use in connection with electrical couplings of the plug-and-socket-type |
GB619329A (en) * | 1946-12-03 | 1949-03-08 | Johann Billeter | Improvements in adapters for electric plug and socket couplings |
GB977947A (en) * | 1961-02-10 | 1964-12-16 | Ass Elect Ind | Improvements relating to electric adaptors |
GB1259497A (en) * | 1969-03-19 | 1972-01-05 | ||
GB1416259A (en) * | 1972-03-29 | 1975-12-03 | Hitachi Ltd | Multiple connector |
GB2180414A (en) * | 1985-09-12 | 1987-03-25 | James Macdonald Fursdon | An electrical plug with branching circuit |
GB2228631A (en) * | 1989-02-27 | 1990-08-29 | Cliff Electron Components Ltd | Plug adaptor for electrical branching |
GB2237455A (en) * | 1989-09-27 | 1991-05-01 | Electricity Council | Branching electric connector |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2318692A (en) * | 1996-10-22 | 1998-04-29 | Joseph Patrick Reid | Electrical power supply plug/adaptor |
GB2319671A (en) * | 1996-11-21 | 1998-05-27 | Donald Robert Belcher | Plug with integral adapter socket |
GB2331636B (en) * | 1997-06-20 | 2002-02-20 | Freda Wolfowitz | Electrical plug |
GB2334155A (en) * | 1998-01-29 | 1999-08-11 | Chen Nan Chen | An electrical connector for computer peripherals |
GB2334155B (en) * | 1998-01-29 | 1999-12-22 | Chen Nan Chen | An electrical connector for computer peripherals |
SG125899A1 (en) * | 2001-07-30 | 2006-10-30 | Lim Seong Kheng | Electrical plug with integrated socket |
GB2410382A (en) * | 2004-01-26 | 2005-07-27 | Sandal Plc | Electrical plug adaptor having elastic retaining sleeve |
GB2410382B (en) * | 2004-01-26 | 2008-06-11 | Sandal Plc | Electrical plug adaptor |
WO2006126174A1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-11-30 | Willem Abraham Prinsloo | An electrical plug |
EP1752942A1 (en) * | 2005-07-19 | 2007-02-14 | Cash Bases Limited | Purchase scanning system |
GB2457217A (en) * | 2007-04-11 | 2009-08-12 | Baruch Entpr Ltd | Cascadable electrical connector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9404621D0 (en) | 1994-04-27 |
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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) |