GB2468270A

GB2468270A - Remote-controlled mains socket

Info

Publication number: GB2468270A
Application number: GB0819232A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald William Mcgee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-21
Filing date: 2008-10-21
Publication date: 2010-09-01
Also published as: GB0819232D0

Abstract

A wall-mounted electrical main socket has a relay switch which may be controlled from a remote switch C located elsewhere in the room. The remote switch C may be integrated into a conventional light switch. A manual switch B may be provided on the socket to disable operation of the socket by the remote switch C. The circuit which operates the relay is powered by the existing local main ring live circuit. A user may therefore select which sockets are to be isolated, using the manual switches B on the sockets, and then when they leave the room they may switch off all the selected sockets at once from the remote switch C. In this way, standby energy consumption of electrical appliances is reduced.

Description

Description:

A wall-mounted Electrical Mains Socket, modified with additional relay switches to provide an extra on/off control from another switch in a fixed point of the room (See Figure 1A). The new switch has been designed to be incorporated into the same fascia as a rooms existing electrical light switch. It would also be powered by the existing local main ring live circuit (See Figure 2A).

Once an electrical device, such as a mobile phone charger, is plugged into the socket, the user has an extra button on the socket to choose whether the device will be controlled by the, wall mounted, switch. If it is selected, then once the user leaves the room, they can turn off the wall mounted switch, and those selected sockets will be switched off/on.

The main workings of the "eco-socket" are comprised of an additional circuit joining all of the sockets in any given room to a main switch situated at the doorway. This circuit is utilised to operate each of the relays incorporated into the housing of the electrical outlet. The incorporation of these relays, into the workings of socket, means that the additional circuit, supplied by the local main live, can be utilised to operate the relay in each socket. When the low power supply is turned on, and the outlets to be operated are selected using the additional button built into the fascia of each socket, the armatures in each of the selected relays are then utilised to cut the power supply to each of the selected outlets. If the green button on any outlet is switched off, then the aforementioned relay remains in its original position allowing the flow of electricity to continue to the socket.

Field of the invention:

The invention relates to electrical supply devices (outlet sockets and associated switches) for improved energy efficiency, for use in a domestic environment.

Background and Prior Art Known to the Applicant:

With the increasing number of electrical devices at use in the home today, more electrical power is being consumed, even when the equipment is not in use, by the use of "Standby Mode", in which power is removed from the main circuitry but retained to sensing and other circuits to allow the equipment to be switched on remotely by a user. Systems such as these are common in televisions, D\TD players, personal computers, mobile phone chargers, and other audio equipment. Many other, so called "white-goods" such as dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, and digital microwaves also incorporate these features.

With the increased use of mobile devices such as mobile telephones, MP3 players etc, consumers often have a multitude of chargers for recharging the integrated batteries within the device. These devices also consume power when connected to a mains supply, even though the device they charge is not connected. All of these devices result in the use of electricity for little or no gain. To prevent this loss of power, the consumer has to individually switch off or unplug every device manually.

1-listorically, mains electricity sockets are located low down on the internal walls of buildings, and often behind the equipment they provide the power for, sometimes making it difficult to access.

Failure to switch off manually increases energy costs and can add to ecological problems caused by carbon emissions. Furthermore, even if a consumer is willing (in principle) to unplug and switch off devices when leaving a room, or going to bed for the evening a lot of energy is expended visiting every socket and individually switch it off, and even the most ecologically minded person can be prone to forget to switch off the sockets.

Summary of the Invention:

In particularly preferred embodiments, the mains electrical supply outlet is a wall-mountable socket. The use of such technology in a wall-mounted context is advantageous due to the fact that it is these, type of, sockets that are usually particularly difficult to gain access to (often behind electrical equipment, or behind cupboards etc.).

In any form of the invention, the socket body also comprises a second manually operated switch to disable operation of the chosen socket. There are some electrical devices that a consumer might wish to always be supplied with power, such as fridges and freezers, but also perhaps video recording equipment that needs to be left with power to permit timed recordings to be made. The provision of a manually-operated switch to allow the controller to be disabled allows the installation of electrical socket outlets at any point in the room and to be connected to the wall mounted switch.

The invention solves the problem of consumers forgetting to remove power from the outlet sockets by co-locating the new eco-switch with a conventional light switch (either a standard on/off switch or a light dimmer switch). Therefore, when consumers leave a room, they are already preconditioned to switching off the lights in the room, arid are presented with the "eco-socket" power switch in the same location. There are a variety of advantages that occur from this configuration; such as the switch would be in a mounted position and cannot be lost or misplaced, and the switch has a secure power supply, being connected to the mains supply, meaning that there is no need to recharge the switch or replace any batteries.

Also electrical cabling plus switch mounting back boxes afready in place in homes may be used to house these improved electrical light switch, and mains electrical supply outlet assemblies thereby allowing them to be retro-fitted into existing installations so that existing homes, as well as new-build homes may benefit from the energy savings resulting from the system.

Preferably, also and in any embodiment of the invention, the "green" button incorporated into the mains electrical socket assembly further comprises a visible indication of the system being powered and turned on. It is also possible to include a visual indicator within the electrical light assembly to show if the device is in use.

Also included within the scope of the invention is an electrical light switch assembly substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings (See Figure2A).

Description of Preferred Embodiments:

In overview, and without limitation to scope of the invention described in the claims that follow, the invention provides a wall-mounted electrical light switch control with an additional switch that controls a number of modified wall-mounted electrical socket outlets. The present invention will offer the consumer an on/off control over a number of modified mains electrical socket outlets, with the touch of an additional switch on the wall mounted electrical light switch panel, without having to, physically, visit every individual mains electricity supplying socket outlet.

Neither part of the present invention (the socket panel or the light switch) uses batteries that have to be replaced or recharged. Both parts of the invention are fixed to walls, so they cannot be mislaid. Also whereas it can be difficult to access mains electrical wall mounted sockets, the exact opposite could be said about the controlling panels of the current invention, Usually, wall mounted electrical light switch control panels are located in easily accessible places near entrances or exits of rooms, and therefore allowing the user to have complete control over the chosen sockets, as well as the room lights, when leaving the room or area. Typically, the time when a user is most likely to leave electrical equipment in "Standby Mode" is overnight while they sleep; therefore the present invention allows the user to "switch off" these devices at the same time when they perform the final task they usually carry out at night, when switching off the lights. Lj

The wall mounted electrical light switch control panel with a separate switch, as part of the new invention, can operate a countless amount of connected modified mains electrical socket outlets. The control panel can also be installed wherever the user wishes to have the switch placed within the room.

The system could be used to connect every modified wall mounted mains electrical socket outlet to a single "switch" in a house or area, or can be used with a separate controlling "switch" in every room or isolated area.

If installed and used, the present invention can save the user money on their energy bills, but more importantly can reduce the amount of energy used and wasted causing ecological problems on our planet. The consumer saves money and we all feel the difference.

Another benefit of the "eco-socket" is the additional safety feature provided, by being able to have all of the chosen electrical devices in each room turned off, when there is no-one present, from one isolated position.

The invention is a mains electrical socket outlet, which has been modified, with the inclusion of a new electromagnetic relay switch per individual outlet (2 x relay switch if the socket has 2 x outlets) (See Figure 1A). The casing/fascia of the mains socket has also been modified to include a new button/switch (the "green" button), in the top corners of the casing, to control the new relay switch. Therefore, there will be one "green" button for every individual outlet (See Figure 1B) (which means there will be 2 x "green" button on a double socket) (See Figure 1A).

The function of the new relay is to give the user the option to be able to control individually selected socket outlets from a separate location, away from the socket itself. In this invention, the new switch for this system is incorporated into the electrical light switch assembly (See Figure 2A). This allows the user to plug in an appliance such as a mobile phone charger or television, and by pressing the "green" button on the socket casing, they are now able to turn the socket off or on from the new switch located alongside the room's electrical light switch.

The switch that is incorporated into the new light switch assembly is connected to, and powered by the existing local main ring live, thus enabling the control switch to be located anywhere within the isolated area. The control switch is, also designed to be controlled from an external power supply if the user so chooses.

Generally, people will "switch" off the lights when they vacate a room, while several appliances stay consuming some power, even when turned off. This is due to the appliances staying on "Stand-By" mode, and the users only alternative is to visit each socket outlet individually to disconnect the power supply. The present invention gives users the choice to select the individual outlet, and to disconnect this power supply as they leave or enter a room, in conjunction with the light switch (See Figure 2A).

The invention is unique, in the fact that it allows control not only over every socket, but every individual outlet. This gives users the opportunity to use this invention in any environment. For example, there are some goods that always require power, such as a refrigerator, and on the same socket within a kitchen you may have a microwave. The present invention gives users the choice to select the microwave, while ignoring the refrigerator, and once the 2nd switch is selected when the user leaves the room, the microwave will be disconnected and relieved of power, while the refrigerator will suffer no change.

Description of Accompanying Artwork:

Figure IA: (Mains Double Switched Socket) (A) "Green Button" to activate or deactivate the relay within the selected socket Figure 1B: (Single Switched Socket) (A) "Green Button" to activate or deactivate the relay within the selected socket.

Figure 2A: (Standard Double Switched Electric Lighting Assembly) (A) "Green Switch" to power the relay system and activate the relays within the selected outlets.

(B) "Green Switch" power supply, connected to the live main ring circuit.

(C) Light switch connected to standard lighting power supply.

Figure 2B: (Double Switch with Dimmer Lighting Control) (A) "Green Switch" to power the relay system arid activate the relays within the selected outlets.

(B) "Green Switch" power supply, connected to the live main ring circuit.

(C) Light switch connected to standard lighting power supply.

Figure 3: (Illustration of "Eco-Socket" System in an Isolated Area) (A) "Eco-Socket" connected to a main ring live circuit.

(B) Lighting switch assemble with "Green Switch", which is connected to the main ring live circuit.

(C) Control wire, which connects the "Green Switch" (incorporated into the lighting switch assembly), to the relays within the "Eco-Socket" outlet assembly.

FIgure 4: (Circuit Diagram for the "Eco-Socket"

Claims

Claims: 1. A mains electrical supply outlet comprising: A socket, connectable, in use to an electricity consuming device, to supply mains electricity thereto, An electro-magnetic relay switch that enables control of operation of said socket from another fixed location (See Figure IA).
2. An additional switch/button incorporated into the socket casing/fascia that enables or disables the new relay switch as discussed in Claim 1 (See Figure 1A).
3. An electrical light switch assembly comprising: A manually operable light switch to control the supply of power to a lighting circuit (See Figure 2A), A manually operable power switch to enable operation of the afore-mentioned relay switch within the said mains electrical socket outlet, as per Claim 1.
4. A mains electrical supply outlet assembly according to Claim 1, further comprising a visual indication of the activation of the said relay switch See Figure 1A).
5. An electrical light switch assembly substantially, as described herein, along with reasonable alternatives, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings (See Figure 2A).
6. A mains electrical supply outlet assembly substantially, as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings (See Figure 1A).
7. The socket design with the new relay switch inside, one for every individual outlet as shown in the enclosed diagram (See Figure 4).
8. The socket casing with the new "green" button for activating the relay as described and shown in Figure 1A.
9. I-lard wired to a new "green" switch incorporated in the electrical light switch assembly, that activates I deactivates the relay switch, if selected by use of the "green" button (See Figure 2A).
10. Use of a relay switch incorporated into an existing mains electrical socket with the purpose of having a way to turn off any chosen socket from another location, out-with the said socket (See Figure 4).