GB2463688A

GB2463688A - Locking plugs and the like into a three pin electrical socket

Info

Publication number: GB2463688A
Application number: GB0817289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony David Jackson-Lockyer; Richard Anthon Jackson-Lockyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-22
Filing date: 2008-09-22
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Also published as: GB0817289D0

Abstract

A three pin connecting plug has slots or grooves 4, 5, 6 cut or formed into the plug's pins which engage the gate / shutter mechanism of the electrical socket outlet to lock the plug into position until intentionally released. The release may use a pin 9 or any form of probe, key, rod, switch, button or the like to open the gate or shutter mechanism. The plug may be a conducting plug, or may be an adaptor, converter, or dummy plug.

Description

Safety & Security Enhancements To Three Pin, Plugs, Adaptors, Converters, Apparatus, Fittings & Other Devices Plugged Into Three Pin Electrical Socket Outlets.

This invention relates to Safety & Security Enhancements To Three Pin, Plugs, Adaptors, Converters, Apparatus, Fittings & Other Devices, with either round or rectangular pins (hereinafter referred to as the CONNECTING PLUG) plugged into three pin electrical socket outlets, where such electrical socket outlets contain an internal safety gate or shutter mechanism.

The standard electrical socket is made up of a switched or un-switched socket face and internal electrical connections, contacts and in some cases circuitry, which externally has three entry slots into which the three pins of the CONNECTING PLUG are inserted to make contact with the connections within the socket (see Figure-4 for an example). The entry slots are commonly described as Earth, Live and Neutral indicated in Figure-4 as E, L, N respectively.

Cable or electrical circuitry from or within the CONNECTING PLUG is connected directly or indirectly to an appliance, which receives power when the CONNECTING PLUG is inserted into the socket and the electrical circuit is activated.

Irrespective of whether the socket is switched or un-switched, an internal gate / shutter system is included as a safety device within the socket outlet structure to close off entry to the live and neutral slots when the plug is not in position.

When a Three Pin CONNECTING PLUG is inserted into the socket, the earth pin of the plug which is longer than the live and neutral pins pushes down on the internal mechanism within the socket and in doing so opens the shutter system to the live and neutralslots thus allowing the pins of the plug to enter the socket and make the necessary electrical contacts. If the socket outlet is un-switched the circuit within the CONNECTING PLUG becomes live to the accessory, if the socket is switched the CONNECTING PLUG and accessory is still isolated until the switch is set to the on position.

u In addition to three pin plugs designed to conduct electricity through all three pins, there are plugs connected to equipment which does not require a conductive earth.

These have three pin CONNECTING PLUGS attached which contain a non-conductive earth pin used primarily to open the socket's internal gate / shutter mechanism.

u Additionally there are three pin CONNECTING PLUGS in which all three pins are made of non conductive material. These are designed to fit into the electrical socket outlets for the purpose of blanking off the entry slots. They are often used on ow level sockets to deter children from attempting to probe into the socket outlets. Such non conductive plugs are used in the same manner as previously described but do not conduct electricity through themselves or to any appliance.

With existing equipment there is nothing to prevent the three pin CONNECTING PLUG being pulled out of the socket outlet. Existing plugs can, with a little force be intentionally or unintentionally pulled out from the socket outlet by children or adults. Unintended or unapproved removal of the equipment attached to the CONNECTING PLUG can raise safety or security concerns including > Critical equipment can be disconnected without knowledge of the owner or responsible person > Equipment can be unplugged and removed / stolen without others knowledge Non Conductive blanking plugs can be removed by children or others leaving open faced sockets which can and do attract children to probe into the socket slots.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes to incorporate modifications to CONNECTING PLUGS to ensure that the plug is locked in place until purposely released from the socket outlet by an appropriate pin, probe, key, rod, switch, button, mechanism or the like.

To accomplish the locking modification, slots are incorporated into the CONNECTING PLUG'S Live, Neutral and Earth pins into which the socket outlet's internal gates / shutters will automatically locate and lock as soon as the plug is fully inserted. The plug cannot be released until intentionally removed by application of the appropriate release tool or mechanism.

To accomplish release, a pin, probe, key, rod, switch, button, mechanism or the like, is passed through a hole or channel incorporated into the Earth Pin and Plug Casing which is used to press the tongue of the earth socket shutter mechanism forward, which in turn will release the shutter from the Earth pin and open the shutters previously locked into the slots in the Live and Neutral pins, thus allowing the plug to be pulled from the socket in the normal way.

By application of the enhancements brought about by the invention described herein the following advantages can be realised: Critical equipment will no longer be able to be disconnected unintentionally or by accident.

> If the CONNECTING PLUG'S release mechanism is button or switch operated a suitable means of preventing activation of the switch or button could be installed which would prevent the plug or its attached equipment from being unplugged, removed or stolen.

> The cost of manufacturing CONNECTING PLUGS to include the modifications required to incorporate the invention should not significantly add to the product costs or manufacturing time when compared with conventional plugs.

> CONNECTING PLUGS incorporating the invention would be able to be retrofitted easily and relatively cheaply to many appliances.

> Non Conductive blanking plugs which include the enhancements incorporated by the invention will not be able to be removed by children or others incapable of operating the release mechanism. This will ensure that open faced sockets will not be on view or unguarded and hence will not attract children or others to probe into the socket slots.

An example of the invention will now be described referring to the accompanying drawings: u Figure-i shows an illustration of an existing simple 13 amp plug which has rectangular pins.

u Figure-2 shows an illustration of a simple 13 amp plug incorporating the slots in the plug's earth, live and neutral pins as described in this specification, together with a depiction of the entry grove, slot or hole in the Earth pin through which the release pin, probe, key, rod, switch, button, mechanism or the like is passed.

u Figure-3 is similar to figure-2 but shows an alternative routing for the release mechanism.

u Figure-4 illustrates a single, switched socket outlet into which a CONNECTING PLUG would be inserted. The gate / shutter mechanism lies beneath the sockets casing openings labelled E, L, N. Existing CONNECTING PLUGS as generically illustrated in Figure-i have straight sides and edges on their Live, Neutral and Earth Pins Figure-i Items i, 2 and 3 respectively. These pins slide in and out of the socket outlet's slots / chambers shown in Figure-4 items L, N E. To obtain the safety and security enhancements developed by this invention, slots are incorporated into the Live, Neutral and Earth pins as shown in Figure-2 and Figure-3 Items 4, and 6.

The slots in the Live and Neutral pins are cut or formed across the widest section of the pin and face towards the rear of the plug i.e. away from the Earth Pin. The slots are located at an appropriate distance from the tip of each pin so as to allow the internal gate / shutter within the socket outlet to snap into place. The width and depth of the slots shall be sufficient to allow the internal gate I shutter mechanism in the socket outlet to hold and retain the unit in place once it is pushed into the socket.

The slot in the Earth pin is cut or formed across the narrow side of the pin and again faces towards the rear of the plug. The slot is located at an appropriate distance from the tip of the pin so as to allow the internal gate / shutter within the socket outlet to slide into place. The width and depth of the slot shall be sufficient to allow the internal gate / shutter mechanism in the socket outlet to hold and retain the unit in place once it is pushed into the socket. The profile of the bottom edge of the slot shall preferably be tapered from the bottom edge of the slot towards its tip to facilitate release of the socket's gate / shutter mechanism.

In order to release the plug, a hole is formed which extends from the top of the slot in the Earth pin and up through the earth pin and out of the plug's casing as illustrated in Figure-2 & Figure-3 item 8. A pin, probe, key, rod, switch, button, mechanism or the like (preferably non conductive) can then be passed downwards through the casing and earth pin, exiting as indicated in Figure-2 & Figure-3 item 9.

In order to release the hold that the socket outlet's internal gate I shutter mechanism has on the plug pins, the said pin, probe, key, rod, switch, button, mechanism or the like is pressed downwards to extend its tip into the earth pin's slot which will press the tongue of the earth socket shutter mechanism forward and simultaneously release the gate / shutter mechanism from the Earth pin and open the shutters locked into the slots in the Live and Neutral pins.

Whilst the gate or shutter mechanism is held open the plug can be pulled from the socket in the normal way.

Buttons or switches could be added to a fixed or floating release mechanism to effect opening and / or to incorporate the addition of devices to disable and / or secure the opening mechanism.

Although shown as a simple 13 amp plug, this invention will also cover use on three pin round CONNECTING PLUGS where a gate / shutter mechanism is incorporated within the socket outlet.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A Three Pin, Plug, Adaptor, Converter, Apparatus, Fitting or Other Device (hereinafter referred to as a CONNECTING PLUG), which is Plugged Into a Three Pin Electrical Socket Outlet and utilises any form of slot or groove or the like cut or formed into the pins of the plug into which the gate or shutter mechanism within the socket outlet engages with or in, for the purpose of retaining or securing the plug in place.
2. A CONNECTING PLUG according to CIaiml, which incorporates or utilises any form of a pin, probe, key, rod, switch, button, mechanism or the like to open the gate or shutter mechanism within the socket outlet in order to release the plug from the socket outlet.
3. A CONNECTING PLUG according to Claim 1 which is used to deliver power by electrical wire, cord, cable or other circuit to any electrical appliance or connector.
4. A CONNECTING PLUG according to Claim 1 which is incorporated into, forms part of or is an attachment to any other electrical fitment, appliance or device.
5. A CONNECTING PLUG according to Claimi in which the earth, live, neutral connecting pins are rectangular or round in shape.
6. A CONNECTING PLUG according to Claimi, in which all three pins, Earth, Live and Neutral are made substantially of material which conducts electricity.
7. A CONNECTING PLUG according to Claimi, in which any or all of the pins are made from material which does not conduct electricity.
8. A CONNECTING PLUG according to Claim 2 in which the release mechanism incorporates any form of locking or securing system to prevent its unauthorised removal from the socket outlet.