GB2396260A

GB2396260A - Pull device for electric plug

Info

Publication number: GB2396260A
Application number: GB0324555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: R H Cornelius; R E J Cornelius
Original assignee: CORVETTE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES L
Current assignee: CORVETTE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES L
Priority date: 2002-12-03
Filing date: 2003-10-22
Publication date: 2004-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-22
Also published as: GB2396260B; GB0324555D0; GB2380072A; GB0228160D0

Abstract

A device for fitting to an electrical plug P to enable the plug P to be pulled more easily from its socket, the device comprising a carrier frame 10 into which the plug fits, the carrier frame 10 having clamping means S1 for clamping against the periphery of the plug P, and the device having a handle or grip 14 extending at least partly across the carrier frame 10. The clamping means S1 may comprise one or more screws. The carrier frame 10 may further house a smaller carrier frame 20 to allow use of the device on smaller size plugs. An assembly jig to assist in fitting a device to an electrical plug is also disclosed.

Description

) l Pull_ Device for Electrical Plus The present invention relates to a

device for fitting to the plug of an electrical appliance, to enable the plug to be removed more easily (especially by the elderly or infirm) from an electrical socket.

5 It is known to form an electrical plug with an integral handle around which a user can loop his or her fingers, for pulling the plug from its electrical socket. This makes the plug easier to pull out of the socket, than if the body of the plug had to be gripped directly: the arrangement provides a 10 convenient aid especially for the elderly or infirm.

Nowadays, the plug is often moulded onto the end of the electrical lead of the appliance and it is undesirable to cut the lead, in order to remove the moulded-on plug and replace it with a plug having an integral handle. Moreover, removal of 15 the moulded-on plug invariably invalidates the manufacturer's guarantee of the appliance.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for fitting to an electrical plug, the device having a carrier frame into which the plug fits, the carrier 20 frame having clamping means for clamping against the periphery of the plug to hold the device to the plug, and the device having a handle or grip extending at least partly across the carrier frame, to enable the plug to be pulled from its socket.

The device may be fitted to the plug without affecting 25 its attachment to the electrical lead of the appliance.

In one embodiment, the carrier frame may include an inwardly-directed lip or flange on its upper rim, against which the top of the plug seats.

In this embodiment, preferably the lower rim of the 30 carrier frame is formed with a slot, through which the electrical lead from the plug extends.

Also in this embodiment, preferably the clamping means comprises a number of clamping screws threaded through the carrier frame, and extending radially inwardly. Preferably one

clamping screw is positioned to bear against the head end of the plug, diametrically opposite where the electrical lead extends from it: preferably two further clamping screws are positioned to bear against the tail end of the plug, either 5 side of its electrical lead.

Preferably the opposite sides of the carrier frame are formed with recesses, flats or cut-outs to avoid the carrier frame interfering with the switch of any mains socket into which its plug is engaged.

10 A single-size device will preferably fit a wide variety of plugs of different shapes and sizes. However, the device is preferably provided with an adaptor in the form of an inner carrier frame to be received within the main carrier frame, the plug then being fitted into the inner frame. The device will 15 then fit a variety of smaller plugs.

In other embodiments, the carrier frame may comprise a clamping member which is displaceable to clamp the plug against the inside of one end of the frame. The latter end of the frame may be formed with an opening through which the 20 electrical lead of the plug may extend: preferably the end of the carrier frame is provided, either side of this opening, with toothed or serrated formations for engaging the corresponding, tail end of the plug. Preferably the clamping member is provided with a toothed or serrated formation for 25 engaging the head end of the plug: preferably a screw extends through the adjacent end of the carrier frame and is adjustable to displace the clamping member. In an alternative embodiment, the clamping member is arranged to engage the tail end of the plug: the clamping member may comprise a displaceable slide, 30 from which a pair of abutments project, for engaging the tail end of the plug either side of its electrical lead. Preferably the arrangement is such that the head end of the plug is clamped against the inside of the carrier frame, at its opposite end: preferably this end of the carrier frame is 35 provided with at least one toothed or serrated formation

against which the head end of the plug is clamped.

Preferably a jig assembly is used to ensure that the plug is clamped into the device with the underside of the plug in a plane spaced, by a predetermined distance, outwardly from 5 the rim of the carrier member. In this way, when the plug is engaged into a mains socket, the rim of the carrier frame of the device will be spaced, by a predetermined distance, from the front surface of the mains socket, so that the device will not interfere with the switches of the mains socket.

10 Preferably the plug is engaged to the assembly jig, with the underside of the plug seated against the jig at a first reference level (e.g. against a front surface of the jig): then a device in accordance with the present invention is positioned over the plug, with its carrier frame around the 15 latter and seated against the jig at a second reference level: then the carrier frame is clamped to the plug, which is then removed from the jig, ready for use.

Also in accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided an assembly jig which comprises 20 a body for engagement of an electrical plug therewith so that the underside of the plug seats against said body at a first reference level, said body being provided with raised or projecting formations for the carrier frame of a device, into which said plug is arranged to fit, to seat against at a second 25 reference level.

Preferably the body of the jig comprises a front face formed with a set of openings or sockets into which the pins of the plug engage. Preferably the raised formation of the body extends across one end and along two opposite sides 30 thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a first 35 embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an end view of the device of Figures 1 and 2, shown with its adaptor ring removed; 5 FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a side view of the device of Figure 4; FIGURE 6 is an underside view of the device of Figures 4 and 5; 10 FIGURE 7 is a view of one end of the device of Figures 4 to 6; FIGURE 8 is a view of the opposite end of the device of Figures 4 to 7; FIGURE 9 is a plan view of an assembly jig for use in 15 fitting a plug into the device of Figures 4 to 8; FIGURE 10 is an end view of the jig shown in Figure 9; FIGURE 11 is a side view of a third embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 20 device of Figure 11; and FIGURE 13 is an underside view of the device of Figures 11 and 12.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of device for attaching to the mains 25 plug of an electrical appliance, to make it easier for those who are elderly or infirm to remove the plug from a mains socket. The device which is shown comprises an outer carrier frame 10, which in the example shown is in the form of a circular ring having an annular flange 12 around its top rim.

30 A handle 14 extends across the top of the frame 10, the downwardly-andinwardly-turned ends of the handle being connected to the top of the flange 12 at diametrically opposite locations of the carrier frame 10. Also in the example shown, a smaller carrier frame or ring 20 fits into the outer carrier 35 frame 10, the frame 20 having an annular flange 22 around its

top, which fits against the underside of the annular flange 12 of the outer frame.

The electrical plug P is received within the smaller or inner frame 20, with the top of the plug seated against the 5 underside of the annular flange 12 of the inner frame and its pins projecting from the bottom of the two frames 10,20. The frames thus encircle the periphery of the plug P. The electrical lead L of the plug P extends outwardly through slots 16, 26 which are formed in the carrier frames 10,20 and are open 10 to the bottom rims of these frames: the slots 16,26 lie below one end of the handle 14.

Clamping screws S1,S2,S3 are threaded through the outer frame 10 and pass through respective holes in the inner frame 20. Screw S1 lies below the end of the handle 14, opposite the 15 slots 16,26 for the electrical lead L, whilst screws S2, S3 lie to either side of the slots 16,26. The clamping screws S1, S2,S3 are tightened against the plug P. S1 against the head end of the plug and S2,S3 against the tail end of the plug, either side of lead L, in order that the plug P is held firmly within 20 the device.

The plug P can accordingly be engaged into a mains socket, and subsequently removed from the mains socket, by gripping the handle 14 of the device.

It will be noted that the outer carrier frame 10 is 25 formed with cutaways 11, at locations either side of the end of the handle remote from the slot 16, so that the device does not interfere with the switch of any of the mains socket into which the plug P is engaged.

The inner frame 20 may be removed altogether to enable 30 the device to receive a plug of a larger size. The top of the plug then seats directly against the underside of the flange 12 of the outer frame, the screws S1, S2,S3 being used to clamp the device to the plug, in the same manner as described above.

The inner and outer carrier frames are preferably 35 moulded from plastic material, preferably with the handle 14

formed as one-piece with the outer carrier frame 10.

Referring to Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings, there is shown a second embodiment of device for attaching to the mains electrical plug of an electrical appliance. The device 5 comprises a carrier frame 30 having a generally rectangular top portion 31 and a skirt 32 which depends from the top portion 31 and extends across one end and along the opposite sides of the top portion, leaving the carrier frame open at its bottom and across its opposite end. The end section of the skirt 32 10 is formed, on its inner surface, with a pair of abutments 33, which extend from the lower rim of the carrier frame and part-

way towards the underside of the top portion 31 of the carrier frame: these abutments are formed with convex-curved faces which are transversely-serrated, as shown. The device further 15 comprises a slide 34, in the form of a flat plate disposed against the underside of the top portion 31 of the carrier frame, and arranged for displacement longitudinally of the carrier frame, towards and away from the end section of the skirt 32. A pair of abutments 35 are carried on posts 36 20 projecting from the underside of the slide 34: these abutments 35 are spaced further apart than the fixed abutments 33 and extend from adjacent the lower rim of the carrier frame and part-way towards the underside of the top portion 31 of the carrier frame; the abutments 35 are formed with convex-curved 25 faces which are transversely-serrated, these faces being angled inwardly generally towards the abutments 33.

A handle 37 extends from end-to-end of the carrier frame 30, over its top: downwardly-and-inwardly-turned ends of the handle 37 are connected to the top portion 31 of the 30 carrier frame at the opposite ends of the latter.

The top portion 31 of the carrier frame includes a longitudinal housing 31a for a threaded shaft 38, which can be turned by a thumb-wheel 39 at one end of the device, and is engaged with a threaded nut (not shown) on the top of the slide 35 34: this threaded nut is free to slide along a slot 31b in

the underside of the top portion 31 of the carrier frame.

In use, an electrical plug (not shown) is fitted into the carrier frame 30, between the pair of abutments 33 on the one hand and the pair of abutments 35 on the other hand, and 5 with the electrical lead of the plug extending through the open end of the carrier frame. The thumb-wheel 39 is then turned to displace the slide 34, and its abutments 35, towards the closed end of the carrier frame, until the opposite ends of the plug become clamped between the respective pairs of abutments 10 33 and 35.

Use is made of the assembly jig, shown in Figures 9 and 10, to ensure that the electrical plug is positioned with its underside in a plane spaced a predetermined distance (6mm) outwardly from the plane of the lower rim of the carrier frame 15 of the device. In this way, it is ensured that the device will not interfere with the switch of any mains socket into which the plug is engaged.

The assembly jig comprises a body 40 having a flat upper surface 41, provided with a set of three rectangular 20 shaped apertures or sockets 42, to receive the three pins of the plug, so that the plug seats with its underside flat against the upper surface 41 of the jig body 40. A raised portion or wall 43 extends across the top and down the opposite sides of the body 40: a projection 44 is formed on the upper 25 edge of the raised portion 43, centrally of its top section; a pair of projections 45 extend upwardly at the lower end of the body 40, inset from its opposite edges.

In use of the jig, the electrical plug is engaged with it, to seat on the upper surface of the body 40, as described 30 above. Then the carrier frame 30 of the device of Figures 4 to 8 is positioned over the plug, so that the lower rim of the carrier frame seats on the top edge of the raised portion or wall 43 of the jig. The positioning of the carrier frame is also such that a notch 32a in the edge of the skirt 32 of the 35 carrier frame, centrally at its top end, is engaged over the

projection 44 of the jig, and the opposite sides of the skirt 32 are disposed outwardly of, but located by, the projections 45. The thumbwheel 39 of the device is then tightened, to clamp the plug in place between the two pairs of abutments 5 33,35 of the device.

When the jig is out of use, it may be fixed to the wall adjacent a mains socket, so that the electrical appliance may be engaged into it, when the appliance itself is out of use.

In order to fix the jig to the wall, the underside of the jig 10 body may be provided with a self-adhesive backing.

Referring to Figures 11 to 13 of the drawings, there is shown a third embodiment of device for attaching to the mains electrical plug of an electrical appliance. The device comprises a carrier frame 50 having a top wall 51 and a skirt 15 52 which depends from the top wall and extends around the entire periphery to the latter. The bottom of the carrier frame 50 is open, to receive an electrical plug, with the electrical lead of the plug extending through a notch 52a formed in the lower rim of the skirt 52, centrally of one end 20 of the carrier frame. A pair of pointed projections 53 are provided on the inner surface of the skirt at this end of the carrier frame, either side of the notch 52a and adjacent the lower rim of the skirt 52. At its opposite end, the carrier frame 50 is formed with a compartment which houses a clamping 25 member 54, comprising a block 54 to the inner face of whicha plate 54a is fixed, this plate having an inturned, serrated lower end 54b. A screw 55 passes through the skirt 52, at this end of the device, and is threaded through the centre of the clamping member: by turning the screw 55, the clamping member 30 is displaced longitudinally of the device.

A handle 57 extends from end-to-end of the carrier frame 50, over its top: downwardly- and inwardly-turned ends of the handle are joined to opposite ends of the latter.

In use, the electrical plug is fitted into the carrier 35 frame and the screw 55 is turned in order to advance the

clamping member 54, until the plug becomes firmly clamped between the serrated end 54b of the plate 54a of the clamping member 54, at the head end of the plug, and the pair of pointed projections 53, at the tail end of the plug. However, use of 5 an appropriate assembly jig is made, similar to that described above, for positioning the plug correctly relative to the rim of the carrier frame.

Claims

Claims

1) A device for fitting to an electrical plug, the device having a carrier frame into which the plug fits, the carrier frame having clamping means for clamping against the periphery 5 of the plug to hold the device to the plug, and the device having a handle or grip extending at least partly across the carrier frame, to enable the plug to be pulled from its socket.

2) A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said carrier frame includes an inwardly-directed lip or flange on its upper 10 rim, against which the top of the plug seats.

3) A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the lower rim of said carrier frame is formed with a slot through which, in use, the electrical lead of the plug extends.

4) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which 15 said clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping screws threaded through said carrier frame and extending radially inwardly thereof.

5) A device as claimed in claim 4, in which a said clamping screw is positioned to bear against the head end of the plug, 20 diametrically opposite where the electrical lead of the plug extends from it.

6) A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which two said clamping screws are positioned to bear against the tail end of the plug, either side of its electrical lead.

25 7) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said handle extends diametrically across said carrier frame.

8) A device as claimed in claim 7, in which said handle has opposite ends connected to the top rim of said carrier frame, at diametrically opposed locations thereof.

9) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which 5 opposite sides of said carrier frame are formed with recesses, flats or cut-outs to avoid the carrier frame interfering with the switch of any socket into which its plug is engaged.

10) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, provided with an adaptor which comprises an inner carrier frame to be 10 received within the aforementioned carrier frame and arranged to receive a plug.

11) A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said clamping means comprises a clamping member which is displaceable to clamp the plug against the inside of one end of said frame.

15 12) A device as claimed in claim 11, in which said one end of said frame is formed with an opening through which, in use, the electrical lead of the plug extends.

13) A device as claimed in claim 12, in which said one end 20 of said frame is provided, either side of said opening, with toothed or serrated formations for engaging the tail end of the plug. 14) A device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, in which said clamping member is provided with a toothed or 25 serrated formation for engaging the head end of the plug.

15) A device as claimed in claim 14, in which a screw extends through the adjacent end of said frame and is adjustable to displace said clamping member.

16) A device as claimed in claim 11, in which said clamping 5 member is arranged to engage the tail end of the plug.

17) A device as claimed in claim 16, in which said clamping member comprises a displaceable slide from which a pair of abutments project, for engaging the tail end of the plug.

18) A device is claimed in claim 16 to 17, in which said lo one end of said frame is provided with at least one toothed or serrated formation against which, in use, the head end of the plug is clamped.

19) An assembly jig which comprises a body for engagement of an electrical plug therewith so that the underside of the 15 plug seats against said body at a first reference level, said body being provided with raised or projecting formations for the carrier frame of a device, into which said plug is arranged to fit, to seat against at a second reference level.

20) A device for fitting to an electrical plug, substantially 20 as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, Figures 4 to 8 or Figures 11 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

21) A jig assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.