GB2303259A

GB2303259A - An electrical socket outlet

Info

Publication number: GB2303259A
Application number: GB9614220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Albert Massey; Brian Draisey
Original assignee: Wandsworth Electrical Ltd
Current assignee: Wandsworth Electrical Ltd
Priority date: 1995-07-10
Filing date: 1996-07-05
Publication date: 1997-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-05
Also published as: GB2303259B; GB9614220D0; GB9514012D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical socket outlet 1 comprising a face plate 4 and a fuse holder means 3 accessible via the face plate 4, the arrangement being such that a fuse in the fuse holder means 3 can be replaced in use from in front of the outlet 1.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET OUTLET The present invention relates to an electrical socket outlet, and to an electrical circuit including such an outlet.

Modern electrical safety requirements require that electrical devices such as plugs and sockets are fused to obviate the dangers of fire and electrocution. Many existing electrical devices of this kind include a fuse holder placed in the body of the device, so that the fuse can only be changed by dismantling the body. This has the advantage that it prevents users from attempting to change fuses whilst the device is live, but has the disadvantage that dismantling a device each time it is necessary to replace a fuse can be time consuming and often requires the use of tools.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate disadvantages such as these.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical socket outlet, comprising a face plate and a fuse holder means accessible via the face plate, the arrangement being such that a fuse in the fuse holder means can be replaced in use from in front of the outlet.

Using the invention it is possible to provide for easy removal and replacement of the fuse.

It is preferred that at least a part of the fuse holder means is covered or overlapped by a part of a plug when plugged into the socket. This prevents removal of the fuse when the outlet is in use and helps to prevent risk of electrocution.

It is preferred that the fuse holder means includes a cover part, which may substantially cover the fuse in the outlet.

The cover part may comprise a means to aid its removal from the outlet, thereby giving relatively easy access to the fuse. The means may comprise a cut-away, slot, depression, or raised part of the cover part.

It is preferred that the fuse holder means comprises a spring clip.

The cover part may include an extension part adapted to act on a fuse in use, to aid withdrawal thereof from the outlet. The extension part may comprise a substantially U-shaped part, and may comprise a resilient rnaterial.

The outlet may comprise a plurality of sockets, each socket having an associated fuse holder means. The outlet may be adapted to be secured to a substrate in use, or alternatively may be adapted to be free standing, and movable, in use.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical circuit including an outlet as hereinabove defined.

A device according to the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view with a front face plate removed, of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional view along line W-W of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a sectional view along line U-U of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a sectional view along line T-T of Figure 4; Figure 9 is a sectional view along line X-X of Figure 4; Figure 10 is a sectional view along line Y-Y of Figure 4; and Figure 11 is a sectional view along line Z-Z of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an electrical socket outlet 1 comprising a face plate 4 and a fuse holder means 3 accessible via the face plate 4, the arrangement being such that a fuse in the fuse holder means 3 can be replaced in use from in front of the outlet 1.

The outlet 1 illustrated consists of a planar face plate 4 which is adapted for mounting flush with, or substantially flush with a substrate, and which is provided with three apertures 5 for insertion of a plug (not shown). The socket has a body portion mounted behind the face plate which consists of a back cover 6 underneath which are located connection blocks 7 for connection of circuit wires.

As illustrated, the three blocks 7 are arranged in a line on one side of the device, in electrical connection with the contacts of the apertures 5. The back cover 6 has entry points for live, earth and neutral wires 8. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a fuse holder means 3, which in this embodiment includes a cover part 9 which has means 10 in the form of a cut-away part to allow it to be easily removed from the outer face 4. The cover part 9 covers a fuse aperture 2 in the device 1 in which a fuse 11 is mounted by means of spring clips 12 and is dimensioned to completely cover the fuse when in place. The cover part 9 has an extension part 13 which, when it is in place in the device 1, extends down into the fuse aperture 2, substantially enclosing the central section of the fuse 11 on three sides thereof.As can be seen from Figures 6, 9 and 10, in section the cover 9 and extension part 13 have a square S-shape, with the fuse 11 being received in the lower, as viewed, u-section of the S. As illustrated in Figure 8, the spring clip 12 is in electrical connection with the live connection block 7 by means of connection part 14. The cover part 9 and extension part 13 are dimensioned to fit snugly into the fuse aperture 2.

In use, to remove the fuse from the device 1, the cover part 9 is raised by means of the rernoval means 10, and lifted away from the outer face 4, bringing with it the extension part 13. The bottom bar of the S of the extension part forms a base part 15 (Figure 9) which exerts an upward pressure under the fuse 11, thereby forcing the arms of the spring clips 12 apart, and thus drawing the fuse 11 out of the fuse aperture. The base part 15 may have two lugs 16 which extend sideways therefrom, between the arms of the spring clips 12, under the ends of the fuse 11, to aid removal thereof. Thus, it can be seen that it is not necessary to remove the outer face 4 of the device 1, and exposure of the electrical contacts is avoided.

For replacement, the fuse 11 is placed in the bottom u-section of the S which is then pressed into place into the fuse aperture. The middle bar 17 of the S exerts a downward pressure on the fuse 11, forcing it into the spring clips 12, and when the fuse 11 is fully received in the spring clips 12, the cover part 9 is substantially flush with the outer face 4. Thus, the extension part 13 is retained in place by the body of the fuse 11 which is in turn retained in place by the spring clips 12.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the cover part 9 is placed near enough to the apertures 5 so that at least a part of it is covered by a plug when plugged into the socket. This prevents removal of the cover part 9 when the socket is in use.

An outlet embodying the invention and described herein with reference to the drawings may, in addition to the three-pin socket shown, be used on any desired socket, such as in standard wall boxes. It may also be modified, in that the moulding forming the body of the socket outlet (which is moulded from plastic) may be extruded at 100 (Fig. 5) as shown in dashed lines to provide a smooth outside moulding profile, which also provides added strength, and the inserts 101 may be modified too, so as to be without a flange 102, but with a collar located at 103 (all not shown).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical socket outlet, comprising a face plate and a fuse holder means accessible via the face plate, the arrangement being such that a fuse in the fuse holder means can be replaced in use from in front of the outlet.

2. An outlet according to claim 1, wherein the fuse holder means is disposed in the device, such that removal of a fuse is prevented when a plug is plugged into the socket.

3. An outlet according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the fuse holder means is covered by a part of a plug plugged into the socket.

4. An outlet according to any preceding claim, wherein the fuse holder means includes a cover part, which substantially covers the fuse in the device.

5. An outlet according to claim 4, wherein the cover part comprises a means to aid its removal from the device.

6. An outlet according to claim 5, wherein the means comprises a cut-away, slot, depression, or raised part of the cover part.

7. An outlet according to any preceding claim , wherein the fuse holder means includes a spring clip.

8. An outlet according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the cover part includes an extension part adapted to act on a part of a fuse in use, to aid withdrawal thereof.

9. An outlet according to claim 8, wherein the extension part comprises a substantially U-shaped part.

10. An outlet according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the extension part comprises a resilient material.

11. An outlet according to any preceding claim comprising a plurality of sockets, each socket having an associated fuse holder means.

12. An outlet according to any preceding claim, adapted to be secured to a substrate, in use.

13. An outlet according to any of claims 1 to 11, adapted to be free standing, and movable, in use.

14. An outlet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. An electrical circuit, including an outlet according to any of claims 1 to 14.