GB2357196A

GB2357196A - Socket with two part switch

Info

Publication number: GB2357196A
Application number: GB9928961A
Authority: GB
Inventors: King Wan Wong
Original assignee: EVER WINNER ELECTRIC WORKS Ltd
Current assignee: EVER WINNER ELECTRIC WORKS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-07
Filing date: 1999-12-07
Publication date: 2001-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-07
Also published as: HK1035965A1; CN2475187Y; GB2357196B; GB9928961D0

Abstract

A socket 20, which is part of a power socket extension 100, has a switch 30 which is actuated by manipulation of either one of two pads 37,38. Each pad 37,38 allows complete operation of the switch 30 to connect and disconnect the socket 20 to and from a power supply. The pads 37,38 are located in laterally opposite positions on the front wall 12 of the extension's body 10, and preferably do not extend beyond the sides of the body 10. The switch pads 37,38 can move simultaneously and can provide indication of the condition of the switch (i.e. whether it is on or off).

Description

2357196 POWER SOCKET EXTENSION The present invention relates to a power

socket extension providing one or more sockets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power socket extensions are in abundant use for supplying power from a mains power source to one or more electrical appliances connected to the socket extension by means of power plugs. In certain designs, the sockets of a socket extension are provided with individual built-in switches for switching on and off the supply of power.

With most if not all, of the sockets being in use, it is sometimes difficult for a person to gain access to and operate the switches, as they are blocked by the various power plugs and adaptors on the socket extension. The situation gets worse when the socket extension is used in a confined space.

The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such a problem by providing an improved power socket extension of this type in general.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a power socket extension comprising a body having a front wall on which at least one socket for a power plug is provided, conductors arranged inside the body for supplying power from a mains power source to the socket, and a built-in switch incorporating an actuator for operation to switch on and off the power supplied to the socket, said actuator having two parts provided at opposite lateral sides of the body front wall, each of which is engageable by a person to move the actuator for the complete operation of the switch.

Preferably, the two parts are integral parts of the actuator and are simultaneously movable during the operation of the switch.

More preferably, the actuator is elongate and has opposite ends acting as the two parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuator is slidable with respect to the body for operating the switch.

More preferably, the actuator is slidable to such an extent that its two parts are restricted from extending beyond respective opposite lateral sides of the body.

In a preferred construction, the actuator is provided immediately behind the body front wall, and the body front wall is formed with two openings at its opposite lateral sides for exposing the respective parts of the actuator.

More preferably, each part of the actuator is raised to form a respective knob for engagement by a person.

It is pref erred that at least one of the two parts of the actuator is marked to indicate the status of the switch when that part is fully exposed through the respective opening.

It is preferred that a light signal is provided directly behind one of the two openings for indicating the status of the switch when the respective part of the actuator is least exposed through the opening.

In a specific embodiment, the body is elongate and a series of said sockets is provided on the body front wall, each of which sockets is associated with a respective said switch for individual operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a f ront view of an embodiment of a power socket extension with built-in switches in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view corresponding to Figure 1, showing the internal construction of the power socket extension; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the power socket extension of Figure 1, taken along lines A-A to show a switched-off condition; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the power socket extension of Figure 1, taken along lines B-B to show a switched-on condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a power socket extension 100 embodying the invention, which has a elongate body 10 providing on its front side (or wall) 12 a series of four power sockets 20A to 20D (or 20 collectively) for receiving corresponding power plugs (not shown). Each socket 20 has three holes 22E, 22N and 22L for the insertion of the respective earth, neutral and live pins of a power plug, and is controlled by means of an individual built-in switch 30 having first and second terminals 31 and 32.

Extending longitudinally within the interior of the body are an earth bar 40, a neutral bar 42 and a live bar 44, all having leftmost ends for connection to a mains power source. The earth bar 40 is formed with four U shaped plug-pin contacts 41 located behind the respective earth holes 22E. The neutral bar 42 extends past behind the neutral holes 22N to provide four respective plug-pin contacts 43. The live bar 44 is physically associated with the four live holes 22L by means of respective conductive links 45. The links 45 are electrically connected to the live bar 44 via the corresponding switches 30, whose first terminals 31 are connected to the live bar 44. Each link has a first end reaching behind the respective live hole 22L to provide a plug-pin contact 46 and a second end 47 connected to the second terminal 32 of the is corresponding switch 30.

The arrangement for each power socket 20 is such that, whilst its earth and neutral plug-pin contacts 41 and 43 are permanently connected to the earth and neutral bars 40 and 42 respectively, the connection of its live plug-pin contact 46 (or the link 45) to the common live bar 44 is switchable on and off by means of the corresponding switch 30.

Each socket 20 is provided with an indicator lamp 50 for indicating the status of the corresponding switch 30. The lamp 50 is electrically connected across the common neutral bar 42 and the corresponding link 45, such that it will be turned on when the switch 30 connects the link 45 to the live bar 44 and turned off when the switch 30 disconnects the link 45 from the live bar 44.

on the right side of each socket 20 (centrally between two adjacent sockets 20), the front wall 12 of the socket extension body 10 is formed with a pair of openings 14 and 16 on opposite lateral sides (upper and lower sides as shown).

Apart from the first. and second terminals 31 and 32 (connected to the common live bar 44 and individual link respectively), each switch, 30 includes, internally, a contact lever 33 for connecting the second terminal 32 to the first terminal 31 (as from Figures 3 to 4) and a bi stable spring-loaded rocker 34 for pivoting the lever 33 (as between Figures 3. and 4) In addition, the switches 30 incorporate individual actuators 35 for flipping their rockers 34. Each actuator has a elongate body 36 having opposite integral ends 37 and 38 and includes, on its rear side, a projection 39.

The actuators 35 are housed within the extension body 10, lying slidably against the rear side of the front wall 12 and extending transversely relative to the length of the extension body 10.

Each actuator 35 is arranged to have its ends 37 and 38 exposed through respective openings 14 and 16 of the extension body 10 and to have its projection 39 in engagement with the associated rocker 34. The extremity of each end 37/38 is raised and serrated to form a knob 37A/38A for engagement by a finger or thumb. A person gripping either one of the knobs 37A and 38A may slide the actuator 35 in opposite lengthwise directions (up and down as shown) in order to f lip the rocker 34 and in turn open and close the switch 30 for complete operation (as between Figures 3 and 4).

A coloured transparent or translucent light guide 52 is provided directly behind each opening 14 of the body front wall 12, for illumination by the respective indicator lamp is 50 inside the socket extension body 10. The light guide 52 serves to transmit the light of the indicator lamp 50 out to provide a light signal for indicating the (switched-on) status of the respective switch 30, when the end 37 of the associated actuator 35 is slid off or least exposed through the opening 14 (see the switches 30 for the sockets 20B to 20D of Figure 1) The end 37 of each actuator 35 is marked.. at a position adjacent the extreme end knob 37A, with the word "OFP' (as shown in relation to the switch 30 for the socket 20A of Figure 1) for indicating the (switched-off) status of the respective switch 30, when that end 37 is slid across or fully exposed through the respective opening 14 of the body front wall 12. It is appreciated that, alternatively or additionally, the opposite end 38 may be marked with the word "ON" for providing an equivalent indication.

By reason of the arrangement that the knobs 37A and 38A are accessible on opposite lateral sides of the body lo of the socket extension 100, the switches 30 may conveniently be operated by a person from either side, even when the socket extension 100 is used in a confined space.

Each actuator 35 is slidable to such an extent that its end knobs 37A and 38A are restricted from extending beyond respective opposite lateral sides of the socket extension body 10. This avoids any unintended operation of the switches 30 through hitting of their knob(s) 37A/38A by a nearby object.

It is appreciated that the subject power socket extension may, in the simplest form, have only one single socket.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. A power socket extension comprising a body having a front wall on which at least one socket for a power plug is provided, conductors arranged inside the body for supplying power from a mains power source to the socket, and a built-in switch incorporating an actuator for operation to switch on and off the power supplied to the socket, said actuator having two parts provided at opposite lateral sides of the body front wall, each of which is engageable by a person to move the actuator for the complete operation of the switch.

2. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two parts are integral parts of the actuator and are simultaneously movable during the operation of the switch.

3. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuator is elongate and has opposite ends acting as the two parts.

4. A power socket extension as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is slidable with respect to the body for operating the switch.

5. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 4, wherein the actuator is slidable to such an extent that its two parts are restricted from extending beyond respective opposite lateral sides of the body.

6. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the actuator is provided immediately behind the body front wall, and the body front wall is formed with two openings at its opposite lateral sides for exposing the respective parts of the actuator.

7. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 6, wherein each part of the actuator is raised to form a respective knob for engagement by a person.

8. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein at least one of the two parts of the actuator is marked to indicate the status of the switch when that part is fully exposed through the respective opening.

9. A power socket extension as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein a light signal is provided directly behind one of the two openings for indicating the status of the switch when the respective part of the actuator is least exposed through the opening.

10. A power socket extension as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is elongate and a series of said sockets is provided on the body front wall, each of which sockets is associated with a respective said switch for individual operation.

11. A power socket extension substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.