GB2450527A

GB2450527A - Electrical connector with movable fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2450527A
Application number: GB0712577A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Graham Mcboyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-28
Filing date: 2007-06-28
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-28
Also published as: GB0712577D0; GB2450527B

Abstract

An electrical connector, such as a UK or Indian mains plug, has terminals of pins 2a, 3a, 4a mounted on a baseplate 1. This facilitates the wiring of the connector by allowing the terminals to be moved, together, clear from the housing of the connector, making them more accessible. Insulating walls (7, 8, Fig 1) and a lug (6, Fig 1) provide insulation between the wires. Also, because the connector housing is simpler, it is cheaper to re-brand it.

Description

Page 1 flue Base Plate Fitting

Background

When connecting the conducting core wires required to any electrically powered item, it can be quite difficult to cut the wires to the correct lengths. It is also difficult to then locate these core wires in to the fastening point holes. It is also difficult to make a good connection using the supplied screw fasteners and there is always the chance of losing these screws if they are backed off too far and dropped. Some types of electric connections require the wrapping of the exposed core wire around a pin, which is even more difficult to do correctly. All in all quite a fiddly process for domestic and industrial users alike in part due to space restrictions while working on the electrical fitting

Statement of Invention

To overcome thçse problems and to make wiring the core wires of an electric connection as simple as possible, this proposal describes the invention or use of a simple base plate mounting that allows the connector assemblage ( such as the three pins in JK plug) to be partially or wholly uplifted from their normal positions within a housing in one complete piece and still held soundly in place on the base plate mounting such that the user then has clear access to the components on the plate because they are no longer surrounded by a housing.

Advantages Faster, easier, safer. When there is restricted space to work in the base plate makes it easy to improve accessibility and the wiring job can be completed much more easily and to a better standard.Effectively, a sub assembly is created that can be removed A plurality of embodiments are envisaged. Several models have been made by slightly modi1ing currently available electrical connection housings which demonstrate that the system works very well.

Page 2

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention Wit! now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, a base plate for a 3pm UK plug is described but the idea is adaptable to other electrical plugs and fittings.

Fig 1 shows a base plate designed for use in 3-pin UK plug.

Fig 2 shows a plan view of the same base plate of Fig I Fig 3 shows the base plate supporting the internal components of a UK plug out with the main plug housing Fig 4 shows an empty UK plug main housing in which the base plate and components would be re-installed and the lid for that main housing Fig 5 Shows a base plate for an Indian style (round pin) plug with no fittings on it Fig 6 Shows a base plate for an Indian style plug ( round pin) with fittings installed Fig 7 show the housing of an Indian style plug (round pin) into which the base plate Page 3

Detailed Description

Fig I Detail of a base plate I designed for a 3-pin UK plug, with holes cut for plug pins ( pole connectors) to pass through.

Hole 2 for the earth pm Hole 3 for the live pin Hole 4 for the neutral pm Also shown is holeS which is for the plug housing assembly screw of parts 9 and 10. An insulating lug6 provides insulation between the earth and live tenninals and ensures the component parts such as pins and fasteners stay together as one unit. REQUIRES MY SECONDARY MOUNTING.. Insulating walls 7 and 8 are provided to separate out core wires Fig 2 Detail of the same base plate of Fig I in plan view.

Fig 3 Detail of the base plate 1 and associated components removed completely from the main housing 9. Access to pins 2a, 3a and 4a and other fittings is now much easier Fig 4 Shows an empty main housing 9 which also has holes cut for the pins to pass through.

Hole 2b for the earth pin Hole 3b for the live pin Hole 4b for the neutral pin Also shown is screw hole Sb Also shown is the housing lid 10.

Figs Detail of a base plate I, for an Indian round pin style plug. Holes 2,3,4 are indicated.

Page 4 Fig 6 Detail of a base plate with wires or wire mounts 11, in place. Also indicated are copper connecting strips 12 with connected fasteners 13. To wire up the plug, the wires clamping screws are removed, which allows the base plate to be uplifted from the plug or totally removed. The wires are then inserted into and beyond the fasteners without stripping back the core wires. Electrical connection is made when the fastener screws are tightened up. Wires are then trimmed and the base plate inserted back into the plug.

Alternatively, a manufacturer may prefer to change the holes in the top of the wall pins such that the base plate is permanently riveted to the wall pins, which are the non-removeable type This would mean the base plate could not be removed for wiring up but would still be easier to wire up due to the more easily accessed fasteners 13 and the method of inserting wires completely through the fastener and not stripping the wire. To overcome the problem of length, in this case, the copper strips could be fixed to the base plate at the holes 2,3,4 and to the fasteners 13.11 the fastener was not attached to the base plate it would then be possible to uplift a fastener 13, just enough ( bending the copper strip at the same time) so that wires are inserted with more length than needed. The excess is then trimmed off and the fastener pushed back in to place. Alternatively, it can be done without uplifting and just trial and error for lengths, as is done at the moment.

Or, a template can be provided to show lengths required. Fasteners could be on springy ( bent upwards) copper strips, still riveted to the pins at 2,3 and 4, so would be already uplifted. Lid would push uplifted fasteners down. Primary mount / cord grip, when present, could still be uplifted a wee bit too.

Fig 7 Detail of an empty housing 15, in to which this type of base plate fits with holes 2,3,4 which in this type of plug, are located within the wall pins.

Page 5 Alternative Embodiment Italian, Indian, American versions and so on

Claims

Page 6 Claims What is claimed is 1. An internal mounting base plate for

electrical connector fittings that allows the user to move internal fittings partially or wholly outside a main housing and thereby creates space between the said electrical fittings and said main housing and at the same time keeps the internal fittings together, such that tasks, such as connecting electrical core wires can be performed more easily and to a better and safer standard.
2. A housing associated with the base plate of claim! which has a recess in the shape of the base plate ofclaim! such that the base plate of claim! fits into the recess and thus allows the pins to extend out with the housing the same amount as if a normal housing without base plate allows.
3. Abaseplateasinclaimlandahousingasinclaim3thatdoesnothavearecess but instead uses slightly elongated pins to achieve the same extension due to the depth that the base plate of claim 1 occupies
4. A base plate as in claim 1 that has holes cut to allow the pole connectors ( pins) of a device such as an electric plug to pass through
5. A base plate as in claim I that has a means of attachment to the components mounted upon it such as the lug 6 of fig I or other means such as clips or a simple friction fit with the pole connectors ( pins) passing through it.
6. A base plate as in claim 1 which by virtue of the lug of claim 6 or clips or other means of attachment keeps all parts together in a sub assembly that can be removed from the maln housing.

Page 7 7. A base plate as in claim I which may have the insulating walls 7 and 8 in different locations than those indicated in Figi or not present at all, depending on a manufacturers needs 8. A base plate as in claim I which may have additional fittings or mouldings incorporated within it rather than as an integral part of the main housing, according to a manufacturers preference and components used.

9. Abaseplateasinclaim 1 whichatthemanufacturing/assemblyoruserstagehas the function, in that it can hold the three pins in place while work is done such as connecting the core wires to the wall pins.

lO.Abaseplateasinclaim 1 whichbecseithasallthefeaturesthatwere previously integral to the main housing, offers manufacturers to easily revamp the main housing for re-branding with much lower reduced retooling costs, due to the simple " empty" interior of the housing needed for the base plate ofclaiml.

II. All features as described by figures 1 tofl -Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A new component with corresponding housing, for electrical plugs of the type designed to be opened for rewiring or fuse changing, where the said new component comprises a removable replacement interior mounting on which are provided the mouldings or mountings to install and insulate internal plug parts which comprise of pole connectors, fuse and fuse yokes ( and cord grip when desired) and which resultant sub assembly can then be installed and secured in the corresponding main housing of the electrical plug such that the said resultant sub assembly can be removed again from its corresponding housing by opening the housing and pushing on the pole connectors.

2. A removable replacement mounting, as in claim 1, that is so formed that when pole connectors are mounted upon it, conductor core wire can be located to the fastener I connector hole on any pole connector head, and said conductor core wire can then pass in to the pole connector head and out the other side of the pole connector head, without obstruction.

3. A plug casing and removable replacement mounting as in claim I, that are so formed that any required fittings on the interior face of the plug casing which are rendered inoperative because of the removable replacement mounting 1, are instead replaced, on to the removable replacement mounting 1, which then mates to the interior face of the plug casing.

4. A removable replacement mounting, plug housing and pole connectors as in claim I, that are so formed that when the removable replacement mounting and pole connectors are fitted to the interior of the plug casing, the pole connectors mounted thereon will extend beyond the aperture or apertures in the plug casing the distance required by the regulating authority for that particular electric plug type.

5. A plug housing as in claim 1,3 and 4, that is so formed that when the plug housing and removable replacement mounting are assembled together, the insulation of those electrically conducting internal parts mounted on the removable replacement mounting will be complete to regulating authority standards. ( relying on Fig 7 to support this) 6. A removable replacement mounting, as in claim 1 and 2, that is so formed around the pole connector heads, that when conductor core wire are passed through pole connector fastener holes there is minimal impediment to trimming the conductor * ,* core wire as close to the pole connector head as possible by the use of cutting tools, such as pliers or snips or even scissors. * .**
7. A removable replacement mounting and plug casing as in claims 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 * and as described in the accompanying text and Figs. I to 7

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