GB2487597A

GB2487597A - Electrical device

Info

Publication number: GB2487597A
Application number: GB201101612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Pritchard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-31
Filing date: 2011-01-31
Publication date: 2012-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2031-01-31
Also published as: GB2487597B; GB201101612D0

Abstract

To provide more electrical outlets, an electrical device includes a socket, an extension cable 9, and an adapting cover 1 for an electrical outlet. The device may have a dual plug 7 to draw a greater current than can be drawn from a single outlet, and may include a 20A fuse 5. Projections 70 may push the switches on the outlets to on . The device may indicate the power drawn by the sockets, using LEDs 2 with a buzzer 3 to indicate overload.

Description

ELECTRICAL DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electrical device, more particularly an electrical device that is used for multiplying and/or replacing existing electrical sockets.

Background

Increasing numbers of electrical appliances are in people's homes or dwellings and business premises. Unfortunately most dwellings or premises are often not wired up for enough appliances.

In other words the wiring in most buildings is not sufficient and given that most wiring is not surface mounted, it is typically messy, difficult or expensive to upgrade or replace.

On many occasions therefore, and in particular at a work station, three or more appliances, such as a computer, visual display unit, speakers, printer, copier, facsimile machine, router, telephone may require electrical power from a one or two gang socket.

Under current European regulations anything exceeding 13 amps will be classed as a fixed load and would require an electrician to be called in to install and additional connection unit.

Prior Art

Although it is virtually unknown to purchase a socket in the consumer market that is more than two-gang there is typically sufficient voltage in an electrical system even domestically for each socket to supply more appliances than are typically capable of being directly attached.

Generally users requiring more than two sockets will attach one or two multi-gang extension leads, which multiply the sockets available. However this can be unsightly and/or dangerous.

Other means of multiplying available sockets that have been proposed include the following: International patent application WO 2009 136 866 (HO) discloses an elongate housing for enclosing electrical conducting elements running parallel therethrough comprising: at least an electrically conducting track for each of live, earth and neutral conduction of an AC power supply source, wherein each of said track is capable of slidably receiving and maintaining electrical contact with a conductor element for tapping off distribution of electricity therefrom; and wherein each track is disposed in the housing insulatively from each other.

United States patent application US 2009 025 3307 (AUGUR) discloses a device for reducing energy waste comprising: an electrical adapter sized and shaped to mate directly with a pre-existing electrical outlet, said adapter having a plurality of outlets disposed along a surface thereof, wherein said plurality of outlets controls includes at least one primary outlet, said primary outlet controlling at least one other of said plurality of outlets such that when power consumed by a device plugged into said primary outlet drops below a predetermined threshold, the power provided to said at least one other of said plurality of outlets is interrupted.

Granted United States patent US 7 789 686 (KIM) discloses a method of providing power to an oversized electrical plug, said method comprising: providing an electrical receptacle, comprising: a first electrical conductor; a second electrical conductor; and a receptacle having a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture, wherein the first aperture allows a first prong of a type A electrical plug in a first orientation to contact the first electrical conductor, wherein the second aperture allows a second prong of the electrical plug in the first orientation to contact the second electrical conductor, and wherein the third aperture allows the first prong of the electrical plug in a second orientation to contact the first electrical conductor when the second prong of the electrical plug in the second orientation is inserted into the second aperture; and inserting the prongs of an oversized electrical plug into two apertures, wherein said two apertures form a first socket, and wherein said oversized plug is large enough to at least, in some orientation, partially cover the first socket it is inserted into while simultaneously at least partially covering another socket on the electrical receptacle that is not made up of the first, second, or third apertures.

Granted United States patent US 6 315 593 (BENTLEY et al) discloses a multiple gang electrical connector assembly for detachable connection to a conventional wall outlet electrical receptacle comprising: a housing having a front end, a rear end, a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall and a back wall that form a chamber in said housing; a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced electrical plug apertures are formed in said front wall; at least two of said plurality of pairs of electrical plug apertures being aligned in a first horizontally oriented line; each of said pairs of electrical plug apertures having a metallic left blade prong terminal positioned behind said front wall in said housing; said metallic left blade prong terminals being electrically connected to each other by a first metallic conductor strip to form a first conductor bar; a first blade-shaped prong is connected to said first metallic strip and it extends rearwardly therefrom and out through a first slot in said rear wall of said housing; each of said pairs of electrical plug apertures having a metallic right blade prong terminal positioned behind said front wall in said housing; said metallic right blade prong terminals being electrically connected to each other by a second metallic strip to form a second conductor bar; a second blade-shaped prong is connected to said second metallic strip and it extends rearwardly therefrom out through a second slot in said rear wall of said housing; a horizontally oriented first elongated shaft having a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinally extending X-axis; said front end of said first shaft extends outwardly through a bore hole in one of said side walls of said housing and said rear end being rotatably supported by structure in said housing; said X-axis being vertically positioned a predetermined distance above said electrical plug apertures in said front wall of said housing; said shaft having locking means for gripping at least one of the male prongs of each male electrical plug that may be inserted into said respective pairs of laterally spaced electrical plug apertures formed in said front wall of said housing; and gripping means on said front end of said first elongated shaft for aiding in rotating said shaft between a locked position and an unlocked position.

United States patent application US 2 792 561 (COHEN) discloses a multiple electric outlet device attachable to a duplex receptacle for electrically connecting a plurality of electric plugs with said receptacle, said receptacle having a plurality of pairs of prong-receiving slots, said device comprising: an electrically insulative casing having a plurality of pairs of openings adapted to receive the prongs of said electric plugs, and a contact assembly in the casing including a plurality of rectangular contact plates formed with prong extending from one edge of the plates for engagement in said slots, said plates being arranged within the casing for contact by the prongs of inserted plugs, said plates extending transversely of the casing and being spaced longitudinally of the casing with the plates of each pair being spaced apart a distance such that the prongs of an inserted plug will be in direct contact with the respective plates of each pair of plates, each of said plates having a plurality of spring tongues struck out of the material thereof, along three peripheral side edges thereof, said tongues being adapted to be resiliently biased away from the adjacent portions of their associated plates by the prongs of inserted plugs.

None of the above provide a transferrable multi-use solution to the problem of a need for a means of safely extending and multiplying a electrical outlet.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an electrical device that includes a socket, an extension cable, and an adapting cover for at least two electrical outlets.

According to a second aspect of the invention the adapting cover is for an existing electrical outlet and is such that the device provides a means of covering or blanking the outlet for safety and aesthetic purposes. In addition the cover ideally provides a means of adapting the outlet, typically by covering all parts and electrical connections of the outlet and providing a fused extension or displacement socket.

Preferably the cover is disposed to ensure that the outlet is opened or turned on when the cover is in place or use. This may be by inclusion of studs on the cover that correspond to an outlet's power on buttons or switches, This may combine with power switching at the socket. In this way the socket is able to entirely replace the function of the existing outlet.

Ideally the device is designed to fit existing outlets with in-board rockers or outboard rocker switches.

Preferably this cover is designed to entirely cover the face of an existing electrical wall socket so that the socket is no longer accessible and/or visible. Ideally this refers to both sockets of a typical two gang outlet. The cable will typically be centrally located on the lowermost edge or face of the cover so as to provide the tidiest and most accessible location for extending the cable, given typical building regulation requirements.

The device ideally provides a dedicated 20 amp electrical supply and helps prevent electrical fires and blown fuses arising when multiple appliances of varying electrical ampages are powered from a single socket.

Given that the device covers and uses two gang outlets it gives a dedicated supply to a 20 amp appliance or to an extension lead with capacity for 20 amps. Frequently extension leads are used in sequence with a user not understanding that all these leads lead back to a single outlet which can have a varying fuse from 3 to 13 amp which may not be protected by any residual current device or may be on an inferior installation and face the risk of fire.

Ideally therefore the socket includes a 20 amp fuse. It may also include an indicator light emithng diode (LED) and warning buzzer, both arranged to provide warning of an overload of the outlet and/or socket or other information regarding the usage of the outlet or device. For example LEDs may be arranged to provide information of the level of usage of the outlet/device in an easily understood traffic light sequence.

When the level is near maximum an audible alert may be sounded. In addition or in the alternative the LEDs may be used to communicate the alert such as by repeated flashing.

Further information may be provided in further embodiments such as a fault indication display for instance a liquid crystal display (LCD).

In some embodiments the cable is detachable from the socket and additional embodiments of the socket may be attached to the cable, for instance a commando socket for commercial devices may be used as the socket or alternatively foreign electhcal fittings may be used.

In this way the socket provides a cover for the existing outlet, allows a user to relocate the outlet, with use of the extension cable meaning that the socket provides a flexible place to access the outlet.

Ideally the device is adaptable or adapted to be fit to a variety of different outlets, for instance a one or two gang outlet, of varying widths. Ideally therefore at least part of the device may be displaceable in order to account for a variety of outlet depths or shapes.

In order to maximise flexibility, safety and tidiness the cable may be extendable and/or provided on a reel, at the outlet or at the socket. The reel may be sprung or otherwise disposed in order that a button, switch or handle may be activated or depressed to wind in the cable when required, but is typically caught or maintained at a user-preferred length.

In preferred embodiments the socket is multiple gang so that in addition to an extension the socket provides Brief Descripion of FiQures Figures 1 shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the adapting cover; Figure 2 shows a rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the adapting cover; and Figure 3 shows a front isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the adapting cover.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The exploded view of the device shows the front case moulding 1, indicator light emitting diodes (LEDs) 2, warning buzzer 3, printed circuit board (PCB) 4, 20 amp fuse 5, two compression springs 6, pin connection block 7 with power on bias projections (70), rear case moulding 8 and cable 9.

The protrusions or projections 70 on the back of the pin block 7 make contact in use with the switches on the outlet (not shown), powering them on.

Further projections may relate to rocker switches on the outlet situated in different positions on the outlet. Means may be provided for specifying which projections are in use.

Compression springs 6 allow the pin connection block 7 to move within the adapting cover 10 so accommodating different depths of two gang outlet tops.

Cut out or recessed portions 100 are provided to the sides of the adapting cover so as to facilitate detachment from an outlet.

The LED screen or transparent cover 11 is shown in Figure 2 as is the loudspeaker for an audible alert 12. These are shown centrally located on the front plate 1 but may be situate anywhere on the adapting cover 10, such as a top face. In the alternative or in addition remote alerting may be included.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. An electrical device that includes a socket, an extension cable, and an adapting cover for at least two electrical outlets.
2. An electrical device according to claim 1 including a means of alerting users to electrical consumption levels.
3. An electrical device according to claims I or 2 including a 2Oamp fuse or circuit breaker.
4. An electrical device according to any preceding claim wherein the socket may be provided separately.
5. An electrical device that includes a socket, an extension cable, and an adapting cover for an electrical outlet including a means of alerting users to electrical consumption levels.
6. A means of extending, replacing or multiplying electrical outlets according to any preceding claim.