GB2493557A

GB2493557A - Plug with pull ring

Info

Publication number: GB2493557A
Application number: GB201113870A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Healy
Original assignee: ERGONO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES Ltd
Current assignee: ERGONO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES LTD.
Priority date: 2011-08-12
Filing date: 2011-08-12
Publication date: 2013-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-12
Also published as: GB2493584A; GB201113870D0; WO2013024347A1; GB2493557B; GB2493584B; GB201207293D0

Abstract

An electrical plug has a housing made in two parts a main body 70 and a base 60. The base has a pull ring 50 for removal of the plug from a socket. The ring may be spring-loaded, to bias it to a position where it provides a substantially flush external surface to the plug. The plug may include a child-proof security means.

Description

Plug Removal Aid The current invention relates to plug removal aids, and specifically to aids for the removal of electric plugs from sockets.

With an increasing aging population, there is an increasing need for ergonomic aids for physical pulling and removal actions, especially for plugs inserted into holes, orifices, adaptors or wall sockets. Currently there exists a number of accessory type of products that can be used in conjunction with regular electrical plugs to facilitate extraction from the socket e.g. adhesive handles or plastic strips with holes for the plug's prongs to fit through, as described in GB2475126A and the references therein. The disadvantages of these sorts of arrangements are that they are potentially sore to grip by the user, they require extra packaging and storage space, users need to actually put them in place and they can be aesthetically unappealing.

US5679014A refers to a thin United States type of safety power plug having a pulling lever to enable extraction, but these require a new type of plug with extra parts to be manufactured and are not immediately suitable for UK and Irish plugs.

Therefore, there is a need for a removal aid for plugs and the like that requires minimal alteration to current plug manufacturing processes, requires only few new parts and is ergonomic, especially but not exclusively for BS 1363 (British 13 A/230-240 V 50 Hz grounded and fused), equivalent to IS 401 & 411 (Ireland), MS 589 (Malaysia) and SS 145 (Singapore), SASO 2203 (Saudi Arabia), and other plugs used in existing and former Commonwealth countries, such as BS 546 (UK), 1A6A3 (India), and SABS 164 (South Africa).

Statements of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrical plug housing, comprising a main plug body (70) and base (60), said base contacting said main plug body to form an insulated housing for the electrical components of a plug, said main plug body comprising slots for electrical contact pins, said base having a finger pull ring (50) for removal of the plug from an electric socket.

The finger pull ring is preferably shaped to form an ergonomic contact with one or more of a user's fingers. The finger pull ring may, for example, be semi-circular, C-shaped or D-shaped.

Preferably, the finger pull ring pivots on an axis positioned in or on the base.

More preferably, the finger pull ring pivots on a spring-loaded axis.

The spring loaded axis can be housed in a tubular member that can comprise one or more holes for insertion of an adhesive.

Most preferably, the finger pull ring is biased to be in close contact with the surface of the base.

Preferably, the perimeter of the finger pull ring and the base member have equal shape.

Most preferably, the contact between the finger pull ring and the base member form a substantially flush external surface.

Preferably, the base has a second side that engages with a side of the main plug without pins.

Optionally the plug removal aid comprises a child proof security means, ensuring that only adults can use the plug removal aid.

The present invention further provides an electrical plug comprising a housing as described herein and electrical contact pins, and optionally, comprising a fuse compartment and/or grips for an electric cable.

The present invention further provides a base for an electrical plug housing as described herein.

A kit of parts comprising a finger pull ring and a base with a spring holding axial member.

Preferably, the kit of parts further comprises one or more springs for insertion into the spring holding axial member.

This kit of parts may further comprise adhesive for fixing the springs into place.

A process of assembling the plug removal aid of the current invention comprising fixing a first spring to a first nub top of a first nub; inserting a first nub end into a first nub receiving channel in a first axial base of a first L shaped member; fixing said first nub end into the first channel; fixing a second spring to

S

a second nub top of a second nub; inserting a second nub end into a second nub receiving channel in a second axial base of a second L shaped member; fixing said second nub end in the second nub receiving channel; inserting the opposite end of the first spring into a first spring receiving tubular member of a base; inserting the opposite end of the second spring into a second spring receiving tubular member of said base; snap fitting and gluing the two L shaped members together to form a C shaped finger ring pull member; followed by fixing the first and second spring in the said first and second spring receiving tubular members.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 is a side elevated view of Plug 1.

Figure 2 is a profile view of Plug 1.

Figure 3 is frontal view of Plug 1.

Figure 4 is a top down view of Plug 1.

Figure 5 is a transparent view of the spring mechanism of the Plug 1.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the finger pull ring.

Figure 7 is transparent view of a finger pull ring with an alternative spring mechanism.

The figures will now be described in detail.

Figures 1 to 4 show Plug 1 with top pin 10 and bottom pins 20 and 30, protruding through backside 40; protective sleeve for electrical cables 2; finger pull ring 50 is in the inactive configuration and contacts base 60. Main plug body 70 contains the screw slots (not shown) for pins 10, 20 and 30 and the fuse compartment, also not shown. Main plug body 70 has a smooth wall 80 and finger groove 90. Base 60 and main plug body are fixed together. Where finger groove 90 and finger pull ring 50 meet, there is lip 100 that allows grip of the finger pull ring 50 by a finger. The base 60 has a raised D shaped part 110 that fills the finger aperture 120 of the finger pull ring 50. Spring holding tube 130, with openings 130a and 130b, sits between the D shaped raised part 110 and rectangular raised part 115. Raised part 115 is about 1mm thicker than axial bases 220 and 230. Spring holding tube has a solid middle section 140 either side of which there are two holes 150 and 160 for glue injection. The finger pull ring 50 has axial abutments 200 and 210 and axial bases 220 and 230.

Figure 5 shows a transparent view of the spring holding tube 130. Axial bases 220 and 230 have hollowed channels 225 and 235 (see Figure 6) to receive nub ends 247 and 257 of nubs 240 and 250; nub ends 247 and 257 have diameters slightly less than channels 225 and 235 to allow insertion therein, and for gluing into position. Nubs 240 and 250 also have nub tops 245 and 255 that have diameters larger than the internal diameter of the channels 225 and 235, but their diameter is less than the openings 130a and 130b that lead into the separate channels 131 and 132 of spring holding tube 130. coiled springs 300 and 310 are glued into position in the channels at ends 141 and 142 of the solid middle section 140, by injecting glue through holes 150 and 160. The coiled springs 300 and 310 are fixed to nub tops 245 and 255 at nub faces 256 and 246. coiled springs 300 and 310 can provide positive pressure on the nubs 240 and 250.

Figure 6 shows the component parts of a finger pull ring 50 with two substantially L shaped members 400 and 410. L shaped halves 400 and 410 have the axial bases 220 and 230; the L shaped members 400 and 410 engage with each other to form the finger pull ring 50 by female member 420 and male member 430. The finger ring pull 50 has smooth sloping rim 600, sloping from the side 620 of the finger pull ring 50 facing the base 60 to the finger aperture 120. The smooth sloping rim 600 is substantially along the internal perimeter 610 of finger pull ring 50.

Figure 7 shows plug 1 and finger ring pull 50 of the current invention with a preferred nub 800 and 850. The base 60, main plug body 70, raised D shaped part 110, finger full ring 50 are all visible, as well as pins 10 and 20. The spring holding tube 130 sits between the D shaped raised part 110 and rectangular raised part 115. Axial bases 220 and 230 have hollowed channels 225 and 235 to receive nub tops 700 and 710 of new flubs 800 and 850. Nubs tops 700 and 710 have diameters narrower than the internal diameter or lumen of the coiled springs 300 and 310. Coiled springs 300 and 310 are glued into position at ends 141 and 142 of the solid middle section 140. The coiled springs 300 and 310 are glued to nub tops 700 and 710 where they emerge from nub ends 900 and 950, at the interface between the axial bases 220 and 230 and nubs 800 and 850, especially near or around or at openings l3Oa and 130b.

Also the holding tube 130 can be re-enforced with extra plastic or other suitable material to allow for repeated use of the finger ring pull 50.

Referring to the drawings a plug removal aid in accordance with the present invention as illustrated in Fig 1 electrical plug 1 comprises two main parts, main plug body 70 and base 60.

Holding the pins 10, 20 and 30, electric cable and their grips, the fuse and its compartment, a socket facing backside 40 and opposite facing side 45 that contacts the apposing face of base 60.

The main plug 70, the finger ring pull 50 and raised part 115 form a substantially flush surface. Also as D shaped member 110 is of similar thickness to the finger pull ring 50, a substantially flush surface of Plug 1 is formed.

The D shaped member 110 and member 115 could be hollow and/or indented, providing a stepped or indented surface of base 60.

The spring mechanism as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 7 applies pressure on the finger ring pull to be in the inactive configuration, as shown in Figure 1. This is manifest in two ways, the first according to Figure 5 and the second according to Figure 7.

In Figure 5 the inactive configuration is biased by coiled springs 300 and 310 being glued to nub planar faces 246 and 256 and ends 141 and 142. As the combined length of springs 300 and nub top 255 is slightly longer than the length of channel 131, there is slight compression of spring 300; the same applies to channel 132 having a shorter length than the combined lengths of nub top 245 and spring 310; thereby causing a slight compression of spring 310.

Springs 300 and 310 maintain their position by being glued to the channel ends 141 and 142, the glue is applied through holes 150 and 160. They also adhere to nub planar faces 246 and 256 by an epoxy resin or glue.

Figure 6 shows the assembly of finger ring pull 50, of Figure 5, wherein two L shaped members 400 and 410 can snap fit together by female member 420 and male member 430 engaging fully to form a full finger ring pull 50. Nubs 240 and 250 are shown with nub ends 247 and nub top 245 with planar face 246 of nub 240; nub 250 has nub top 255, with planar face 256 and nub end 257. Nubs ends 247 and 257 can be inserted into channels 225 and 235 of axial bases 220 and 230, after insertion of the spring coils 300 and 310 into channels 131 and 132. Nubs 240 and 250 could be exchanged with nubs 800 and 850 (no shown here).

Nub tops 245 and 255 fit into channels 131 and 132 of spring holding tube 130 through openings 130a and 130b, after insertion of spring coils 300 and 310 (not shown here). Similarly nub tops 700 and 710 of flubs 800 and 850 fit into channels 131 and 132 after insertion into lumens of spring coils 300 and 310 (not shown here).

In the preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, only nubs 800 and 850 are different to the previous embodiment of Figure 5. Nubs 800 and 850 are each 13mm in length; nub ends 900 and 950 have diameters of 2mm; nub tops 700 and 710 have diameters of 1.5mm; here coiled springs 300 and 310 are each 8mm in length and have an external diameter of 3mm and an internal lumen diameter of 2mm.

As can be seen about half of the length of each coiled spring 300 and 310 cover the entire length of nub tops 700 and 710 up to nub ends 900 and 950. In this embodiment nub ends 900 and 950 have a larger diameter than the lumen of the coiled springs 300 and 310. In assembly of the spring mechanism nub ends 900 and 950 are inserted into slightly wider channels 225 and 235 and glued into position; thereafter nub ends 900 and 950 are inserted into the lumen of coiled springs 300 and 310. Gluing of the connection between springs 300 and 310 to the nubs 800 and 850 and the axial bases 220 and 230 is carried out, mainly around where the nub tops 700 and 710 sit proud from the axial bases 220 and 230. The free ends of springs 300 and 310, opposite to the coiled spring ends glued to nubs 800 and 850, are inserted into holes 130a and 130b of spring holding tube 130, into channels 131 and 132, until the coiled spring ends abut the ends 141 and 142.

In summary, in addition to the springs 300 and

310 being glued to the ends of the barrel 130 at ends 141 and 142, these springs are glued to: (a) their point of contact with the axial bases 220 and 230 at openings 130a and 130b, and (b) to the nubs 800 and 850 around the area where the nub tops 700 and 710 immediately protrude from the axial bases 220 and 230.

In both the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 7 and the embodiment of Figure 5, assembly of the finger ring pull 50 occurs after the springs 300 and 310 have been glued to nubs 800 and 850 or nubs 225 and 235, said nubs having already had their tops glued into channels 225 and 235 in axial bases 220 and 230, whereafter the female member 420 and male member 430 are fitted together to form the finger ring pull 50 which, in turn, must occur before the springs 300 and 310 are glued to ends 141 and 142 by injecting glue through the holes 150 and 160.

An alternative embodiment is also envisaged wherein the gluing of members is obviated by using a torsion spring molded into the tubular member 130 and the axial bases 220 and 230.

Base 60 comprises the spring holding tube 130, springs 300 and 310 are inserted into channels 225 and 235 so that they contact the solid mid section 140 and glue is inserted through holes and 160 to fix them into position.

This spring mechanism thereby applies force on the finger ring pull 50 to be in the inactive configuration. The base 60 is then fixed to the main plug housing 70 by adhesive, snap fit or screwing means.

Plug 1 is then pushed into a socket, and for removal the user places a finger in the groove 90 and pushes the lip 100 away from base 60. The user's finger can then slide down the sloped rim 600 into hole 120 to form a grip. The plug can then be pulled away from the socket.

As can be seen this mechanism holds the advantage of permitting simplicity of construction with durability of performance, the lever arm incorporates a sculpted ergonomic pull ring as a finger grip to enable ease of use.

Furthermore the design of plugs can be simplified as standard UK and Irish plugs have indented sides and a protruding lip on the sides of the plug cover, which are not requried with this invention.

As the base with the finger ring pull can replace current plug covers, there may be no need for retro fitting.

The optional child proof security means provides further advantages in that, although the finger ring pull eases removal of the plug from a socket, this can only be carried out by an adult.

This can be achieved by a user of the plug pressing on either side of the axial bases 220 and 230 to release the finger pull ring 50 from the inactive configuration.

The current invention can be sold as part of a fully formed plug or can be sold separately as a base with the pull ring that can replace standard plug covers that cover the electrical cables and fuses fixed in the main plug structure.

Thus as can be seen, the current invention provides an effective ergonomic plug removal aid that can be adapted for application to a number of electric plug types. The current invention also obviates the need to use accessories like those described in GB2475126A. The ease of manufacture is also an advantage as there are relatively few components and assembly is simple, inexpensive and adaptable to kit of part products for Do-It-Yourself assembly.

Throughout the description and claims of this

specification, the words "comprise" and "contain"

and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or steps.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. An electrical plug housing comprising a main plug body (70) and base (60), said base contacting said main plug body (70) to form an insulated housing for the electrical components of a plug, said main plug body comprising slots for electrical contact pins, said base having a pull ring (50) for removal of the plug from an electric socket.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A plug housing according to claim 1 wherein the pull ring pivots on an axis positioned in or on the base.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A plug housing according to claim 2 wherein the pull ring pivots on a spring-loaded axis.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A plug housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the pull ring is biased to be in close contact with the surface of the base.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A plug housing according to claim 4 wherein the pull ring and the base form a substantially flush external surface.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. An electrical plug comprising a housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and electrical contact pins, and optionally, comprising a fuse compartment and/or grips for an electric cable.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A base for an electrical plug housing as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. An electrical plug housing substantially as described herein with reference to thedescription and drawings.</claim-text>