GB2320371A

GB2320371A - A combined socket and timer assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2320371A
Application number: GB9625597A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Wan
Original assignee: Frontier Tech Co Ltd
Current assignee: Frontier Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 1996-12-10
Filing date: 1996-12-10
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-10
Also published as: FR2758014B3; GB9625597D0; GB2320371B; FR2758014A3; DE29700345U1

Abstract

A wall-mounted socket in integral combination with a timer is provided with a plug concealing countersink so that the plug of an electrical appliance can be received when plugged in the socket of the present invention. The timer can set in advance the on/off time in a digital manner for the electrical appliance.

Description

A COMBINED SOCKET AND TIMER ASSEMBLY 2320371 is The present invention

relates to a wall-mounted timer assembly, and particularly to a plug-in socket having a countersink for concealably receiving a plug of an electrical appliance and a timer for setting on/off time in a digital manner for the appliance. The socket is made up of an upper shelter and a lower shelter, a circuit board and a retaining bracket. In the upper shelter is housed a timer, and in the lower shelter is disposed a circuit board and a countersink socket is also defined thereon. The upper shelter and the lower shelter are first engaged with each other and are further firmly locked together by way of the retaining bracket.

Nowadays, timers are widely used to control the operation time of household electrical appliances. A conventional timer, as shown in Figure 1 is plugged into a wall-mounted socket with the plug of an electrical appliance engaged with a relay socket defined on the timer, as shown in Figure 1. Such prior art timer is bulky in size and is easily disengaged from a wall-mounted socket as a result of accidental bumping-into of the timer by a child in play, or even a person in walking. Besides, the plug of an electrical appliance is directly plugged into the relay socket, making the timer protrude in such a manner that the timer is more likely to be bumped off in accident when plugged for use. Moreover, the conventional timer and a wall-mounted socket are not integrally produced and a consumer has to buy an extra timer to engage with such a socket. It is not only inconvenient but also wasteful.

Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a wall-mounted socket in integral combination with a timer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wall-mounted socket in combination with a timer having a plug-concealing countersink so as to make the plug of an electrical appliance concealably received when plugged into the socket of the present invention.

According to the present invention there is disclosed a combined socket and timer assembly comprising a fixed electric socket in integral combination with a timer.

An advantage of the present invention is that a consumer does not need to buy an extra timer to engage with a socket. This reduces waste.

Preferably the combined socket and timer assembly comprises: a housing; socket means for receiving an electric plug; means for conducting electric current; switching means for regulating the flow of electric current; means for programming the switching means; display means; wherein the assembly comprises:

3 - fixed connection means for supplying electricity from a source external the assembly; and mounting means for fixedly securing the assembly to a structure.

Hence a convenient and simple means for switching electric current at timed intervals is achieved.

Preferably the present invention comprises a means for concealably receiving the plug.

An advantage of this invention is that the danger of the plug being accidentally knocked out of the is timer assembly by a person, such as a child, walking past the timer assembly is much reduced.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a conventional timer having a relay socket being plugged into a wall- mounted socket with the plug of an electrical appliance engaged therewith; Figure 2 is a perspective diagram showing the exploded components of the present invention; Figure 3 is a diagram showing the retaining bracket being ready to engage with the combined upper and lower shelters; Figure 4 is a perspective diagram of the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, the wall-mounted socket in integral combination with a timer of the present invention mainly comprises an upper shelter 1 and a lower shelter 2 together forming a housing, a circuit board 3 and a retaining bracket 4.

The upper shelter 1, rectangular in shape, has four smoothly rounded corners and a protruded portion is defined at the front of the upper half thereof. The protruded portion has an opening 15 for exposing a control face board 10 having an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 101 and a plurality of operation buttons 102.

A round plug-concealing countersunk socket mount 11 in which a socket is concealably received is defined right under the opening 15 of the upper shelter 1. The circuit board 3 is fixedly engaged with the upper shelter in assembly.

The lower shelter 2 has an IC board 24 secured by a screw at the upper portion thereof with a cavity 20 disposed right under the IC board 24 at the lower portion for housing a wiring means 25 and a connection board 21.

The wiring means 25 has a clamping plate 252 and an electrical wire (not shown) connected to an external electricity supply means such as a mains electricity supply or portable generator passes through an opening in the cavity 20 of the lower shelter 2 and is placed between the clamping plate 252 and the wiring means 25 and is fixed in place by a screw 251. The wiring means 25 is fixed at the upper portion of the cavity 20 of the lower shelter 2.

Just above the cavity 20 is fixed the IC board 24 by a screw. The IC board 24 has 3 coupling terminals including two connection legs 240 and an L-shaped plate 241. The L-shaped plate 241 is coupled to a clamping lips 253 of the wiring means 25. The two connection legs 240 are mounted onto two mounting grooves 211 of the connection board 21.

Between the two mounting grooves 211 of the connection board 21 is located a grounding wire seat 210 to which is fixed a conduction plate 212 coupled to a grounding wire (not shown). There are 3 retaining blocks 201 defined on the peripheral wall of the cavity 20 and on the periphery of the connection board 21 are provided with 3 recesses 215 in correspondence to the blocks 201 so as to permit the connection board 21 to be engaged with the cavity 20.

The conduction plate 212 fixed to the connection board 21 has its ends exposedly extended through two symmetric slots 110 defined on the wall of the countersunk socket mount 11.

The retaining bracket 4 of a U-shaped structure is forced into locking engagement with the integrally assembled upper and lower shelters 1, 2, from the bottom thereof, as shown in Figure 3.

The upper shelter 1 accommodates the control face board 10 having an LCD 101 and the board of buttons 102 in the protruded portion. The countersunk socket mount 11 having plug holes for receiving an inserted plug.

A slot 12 disposed on each side of the countersunk socket seat 11 is defined for receiving a screw used to fix the upper shelter 1 onto the wall of a building.on the lower shelter 2 and on the sides - 6 of the cavity 20 are defined the slots 22 in alignment with the slots 12 so as to permit the assembled upper and lower shelters 1, 2 to be mounted onto the wall of a building.

As shown in Figure 2, a cavity is disposed at the lower half portion thereof having a crescent-shaped protrusion seat and a plug seat having plug holes defined therein.

Referring to Figure 2, the upper shelter 1 has four cylindrical male locking posts 13 and the lower shelter 2 also has four cylindrical female post receiving seats 23 disposed in alignment with the male posts 13 of the upper shelter 1 for receiving the male locking posts 13 in assembly of the upper shelter 1 and the lower shelter 2.

The programmable circuit board 3 capable of setting time and regulating the switching on and off of the timer assembly by operation on the set of buttons 102 of the control face board 10 is placed inside the upper shelter 1 and the LCD 101 used to show the status of the timer.

Referring to Figure 5, in another embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the plug holes of the countersunk socket seat 11 can be varied from two round holes, as shown in Figure 4 into two rectangular holes plus one round hole.

Even though the present invention has been described and illustrated as mounted on a wall of a building, it should be understood that the present invention is not restricted to mounting on a wall of a building but may be mounted in other ways. For instance, the timer assembly may be mounted on a desk, workshop unit, as part of an extension reel or mounted in a mobile home, caravan or other semi-permanent structure.

Claims

CLAIMS: -

1. A combined socket and timer assembly comprising a fixed electric socket in integral combination with a timer.

2. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising: a housing; socket means for receiving an electric plug; means for conducting electric current; switching means for regulating the flow of electric current; means for programming the switching means; display means; wherein the assembly comprises:

fixed connection means for supplying electricity from a source external the assembly; and mounting means for fixedly securing the assembly to a structure.

3. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the assembly comprises a means for concealably receiving the plug.

4. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fixed connection means comprises a wiring means connected to electrical wire passing through a cavity of the assembly.

9 -

5. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for concealably receiving the plug comprises a countersunk socket and retaining bracket.

6. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 2, comprising:- an upper shelter; lower shelter; retaining bracket; wherein said upper shelter being rectangular in shape having a protruded portion being disposed at the upper half thereof and having a window for exposing a display and a plurality of operation buttons; around countersink in which a socket seat is defined on said upper shelter; a circuit board being fixedly engaged with said upper shelter in assembly; said lower shelter having an integrated circuit board at the upper portion thereof and having a cavity at the lower portion for housing a wiring means and a connection board; said retaining bracket having a U-shaped structure being forced into snug fit with the integrally assembled upper and lower shelters from the bottom thereof.

7. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said upper shelter is comprised of:- a control face board housed in the protruded portion of the upper half of said upper shelter having a set of buttons and an LC display; a around countersunk socket seat for concealably receiving a plug having plug holes for receiving said plug; on the symmetric topmost and bottommost point of the periphery of said countersink being disposed a horizontal slot; a vertical slot disposed on each side of said countersunk socket seat for receiving a screw used for fixing said upper shelter onto a wall of a building; a circuit board capable of setting time by operation on said buttons of said control face board being placed inside said upper shelter and said LC display used to show the status of said timer being externally exposed in the opening of said upper shelter; a number of cylindrical male locking posts for engaging said upper shelter with said lower shelter in assembly being disposed under and above each said slot.

8. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plug holes are made two in rectangular shape and one in round shape.

is

9. A combined socket and timer assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5.

8. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said lower shelter is comprised of:- a cavity disposed at the lower half portion thereof having a crescent- shaped protrusion seat and a plug seat having plug holes defined therein; a number of cylindrical female post receiving seats disposed in alignment with said male posts of said upper shelter for receiving said male posts in assembly; a slot disposed on each side of said cavity - 11 being placed in alignment with each said slot of said upper shelter for fixing said socket to the wall of a building by screws; an IC board fixed just above said cavity by a screw having 3 coupling terminals including two connection legs and an L-shaped plate; said L-shaped plate being engaged with a wiring means having a clamping lips and a clamping plate secured to said wiring means by a screw; said connection legs disposed at the end of coupling terminals being mounted onto said connection board.

9. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said connection board comprises a ground wiring seat and two mounting seats, and the ground wiring seat is used for housing a grounding plate fixed by a screw; and said mounting seats are used for the accommodation of said connection legs.

10. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plug holes are made two in rectangular shape and one in round shape.

11. A combined socket and timer assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5.

12 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A combined socket and timer assembly comprising a housing; socket means for receiving an electric plug; means for conducting electric current; switching means for regulating the flow of electric current; means for programming the switching means; display means; wherein the assembly comprises:

fixed connection means for supplying electricity from a source external the assembly; mounting means for fixedly securing the assembly to a structure; and a means for concealably receiving the plug.

2. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixed connection means comprises a wiring means connected to electrical wire passing through a cavity of the assembly.

3. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for concealably receiving the plug comprises a countersunk socket and retaining bracket.

4. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising:- 12) an upper shelter; lower shelter; retaining bracket; wherein said upper shelter being rectangular in shape having a protruded portion being disposed at the upper half thereof and having a window for exposing a display and a plurality of operation buttons; around countersink in which a socket seat is defined on said upper shelter; a circuit board being fixedly engaged with said upper shelter in assembly; said lower shelter having an integrated circuit board at the upper portion thereof and having a cavity at the lower portion for housing a wiring means and a connection board; said retaining bracket having a U-shaped structure being forced into snug fit with the integrally assembled upper and lower shelters from the bottom thereof.

5. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said upper shelter is comprised of:- a control face board housed in.the protruded portion of the upper half of said upper shelter having a set of buttons and an LC display; a around countersunk socket seat for concealably receiving a plug having plug holes for receiving said plug; on the symmetric topmost and bottommost point of the periphery of said countersink being disposed a horizontal slot; a vertical slot disposed on each side of said countersunk socket seat for receiving a screw 14 used for fixing said upper shelter onto a wall of a building; a circuit board capable of setting time by operation on said buttons of said control face board being placed inside said upper shelter and said LC display used to show the status of said timer being externally exposed in the opening of said upper shelter; a number of cylindrical male locking posts for engaging said upper shelter with said lower shelter in assembly being disposed under and above each said slot.

6. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said lower shelter is comprised of:- a cavity disposed at the lower half portion thereof having a crescent-shaped protrusion seat and a plug seat having plug holes defined therein; a number of cylindrical female post receiving seats disposed in alignment with said male posts of said upper shelter for receiving said male posts in assembly; a slot disposed on each side of said cavity being placed in alignment with each said slot of said upper shelter for fixing said socket to the wall of a building by screws; an IC board fixed just above said cavity by a screw having 3 coupling terminals including two connection legs and an L-shaped plate; said L-shaped plate being engaged with a wiring means having a clamping lips and a clamping plate secured to said wiring means by a screw; said connection legs disposed at the end of coupling terminals being mounted onto said connection 19.

board.

7. A combined socket and timer assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said connection board comprises a ground wiring seat and two mounting seats, and the ground wiring seat is used for housing a grounding plate fixed by a screw; and said mounting seats are used for the accommodation of said connection legs.