GB2505930A

GB2505930A - Electrical plug and socket, with new contact layout and modular connector

Info

Publication number: GB2505930A
Application number: GB201216498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Avtarjeet Singh Dhanjal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-14
Filing date: 2012-09-14
Publication date: 2014-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-14
Also published as: GB2505930B; GB201216498D0

Abstract

A mains plug has a contact layout similar to a conventional UK plug except that the earth pin is relocated to between the live and neutral pins. The plug has a smaller footprint and so three sockets can be mounted on a fascia of the same size as that of a single conventional socket. The sockets are spaced such that a conventional mains plug can be connected (see receptacles indicated in black). The plug has a movable earth pin (see Figs 18 and 19) so that it can be used in a conventional socket. The socket includes a modular connector (02, Fig 10) which allows the mains cable to be connected in a ring and tested before the socket is installed. This connector may clip over and pierce a mains cable, see Figs 11 and 12.

Description

Title of the Invention:

3X SYS -Electrical Socket, Plug & a Modular Connecter

Description

Background of the Invention

Electrical Sockets & Plugs It is common human trait that one rarely thinks of changing anything for the sake of the change for as long as the existing system is still working. It may happen only once in a lifetime when an existing system completely breaks down or stops to serve the purpose for which it was created. Most of the time, the need has outstripped its capacity by several folds. Electrical plugs and sockets fall in this category: that which has seen such change only once in the history of electricity.

With reference to Wikipedia, In 1941 Lord Reith, then the minister of Works and Planning', established committees to investigate problems likely to affect the post-war rebuilding of Britain. One of these was the Electrical Installations Committee' charged with the study of all aspects of electrical installations in buildings. The Committee was convened in 1942 and then released a complete reported by 1944.

In an appendix to the main report (July 1944), the Electrical Installations committee proposed that a completely new socket outlet and fused plug should be adopted as the "all-purpose" domestic standard. One of the principal objectives of the new standard was stated as "To ensure the safety of young children it is of considerable importance that the contacts of the socket-outlet should be protected by shutters or other like means, or by the inherent design of the socket outlet." This requirement for a new system of plugs and sockets led to the publication of "British Standard 1363:1947 Fused-Plugs and Shuttered Socket-Outlets".

Since the middle of 20th century, BS 1363:1947 was introduced. The new fused plug, with revised configurations and specifications, was introduced as a standard plug with a corresponding socket. It has not been subject to change nor was any effort made to revise and/or improve the connection arrangement at the back of this socket.

Changing needs of 21 Century The Electrical Installations Committee took into account what it felt was necessary in 1944. Now after more than sixty (60) years, the technology has advanced beyond which anybody could have ever imagined. During the last ten years, computer peripherals and other devices have increased manifold and are continuing.

An example of this is when I designed and built my new house in 1988. I thought I had provided enough electrical/outlets in each room. In my small office, I provided a double and a single wall socket. With the arrival of a personal computer and other peripherals, I had to add a trailing extension with ten (10) sockets to accomodate the devices in my small office.

The proliferation of electrical devices has brought a continuously growing demand for electrical sockets/outlets to connect these devices as every household is now littered with trailing extensions creating a fire risk.

One can conclude that the time has arrived for the provision of electrical sockets/outlets in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings to be re-assessed and addressed in relation to today's practical needs.

British safety standards as expressed in BS1363.4:1995 and BS 5733 are considered one of the safest in the world. But to meet the needs of the 2Pt century, one needs a leap of imagination, still respecting the cherished safety standards, but allowing the changes necessary to serve the growing needs of modern times.

It is believed that the alternative 3X Electrical Sockets and 3X Plugs disclosed herewith can pave the way forward and significantly address the needs of this century.

The proliferation of new electrical and electronic devices to be connected to the electrical source/s and some of these new electronic devices are incorporated into the wall sockets, with the present connection arrangement with plurality of eye-lets behind the accessories, does not allow the Electrical Ring/Circuit to be completed without connecting an accessory/socket and thus resulting in damaging the electronics built-into a fitting/accessory.

Installing electrical sockets/outlets both during the construction of a building or during renovations involve laying or extending the existing cables in the walls and terminating these cables in mounting boxes. These mounting boxes are normally inset into the walls' flush with the finished surface and then finished around with plaster; the process of which is referred to as First Fix' in the building industry.

During the Second Fix of construction work, the actual sockets/outlets and switches are connected to the cables and fixed on to the mounting boxes.

In an existing house/building, installing cables and mounting boxes involves messy building works and as a result, additional cables and mounting boxes are rarely added or changed unless the entire building is going through a complete renovation and/or re-wiring. Solving the problem of shortage of electrical sockets/outlets without laying more cables or installing additional mounting boxes can and is only achieved by introducing new sockets with bigger capacity utilizing the existing cables and mounting boxes. But at present there is no satisfactory alternative available except for convertor sockets or plug-in extensions that are corded and un-corded and plugged directly to sockets/outlets. All these alternatives are basically surface mounted extensions, carrying inherent risks of fire.

The Invention -3X SYS What is disclosed in this document is an electrical connection system called here as 3X SYS comprising: a. An Electrical Socket, (00) having a plurality of apertures hosted within its fascia plate and arranged into number of sets, each set connectable to an electrical plugs, thus multiplying the socket capacity, and while maintaining its body size and fits onto existing mounting boxes (04).

b. The Corresponding Plug (09) of three pin type, with its Live and Neutral pins/prongs (091 L, N) fixed to plug's main body but the Earth Pin is mounted on an articulated part of the body, aligned with other two pins to reduce its foot-print, thus allowing it to host multiple plugs on to a standard fascia plate; c. The invention also introduces a new detachable Modular Connector' (02)1 which works as an independent connector between two ends of main cables (03) during the First Fix' stage of construction, enables testing of Mains Circuit and later snap connects to the socket body (08) at the finishing stage of construction; Additionally the said 3X Socket serves/connects to 3X plugs, as well as to standard UK plug/s. similarly a 3X electrical Plug may engage with 3X Sockets as well as with standard sockets (OOx) by articulating its Earth Pin; The proposed 3X SYS, is a combination of an Electrical Socket and a corresponding Plug have the potential to become the New UK Standard fittings which are also capable of engaging with existing Plugs and Sockets and vice versa to bridge over the period of transition, until such 3X Plugs and Sockets become as standards.

Note: A Connector Block has already been expressed in our application GB 1106644.6 filed on April 20, 2011, thus several features in this application has been disclosed earlier.

3X SYS have been designed respective of safety standards enshrined in BS1 363:1995 and BS5733:201 0 document with the exception of a 3X System introduces an optimized layout of plug pins/prongs.

Take for example a standard (UK) single Socket mounted on a standard mounting box which at present provides a single switched/un-switched socket-outlet to serve a single standard plug. A leap of imagination is needed to increase its capacity to serve plurality of plugs using this limited space.

Examples of Prior Art

Sockets GB 2374737B Patton & Appleton This double socket provides a single standard socket facility plus provision for another type of socket such as a telephone, RJ4 or any such. The facility can have a provision for snap-in so it could be changed without opening the cover plate of the assembly.

GB 2441A Sargent & Baker GB 244320A Sargent et al These two documents disclose an alternative method of wiring a socket by providing a plug-in system at the walls of the mounting boxes, designed especially for trunk-wiring systems typically used in an office environment for providing additional electrical sockets/points.

Other Relevant Documents/Prior Art

US 6,939,179 Bi Kieffer-Williams US 6, 7,844 B2 Reiker US 2008/0020632 Al Gorman US 7, 02,313 B2 Gorman US 7, 767, 90 Meyer US 6,191,361 Bl Matty US 7, 72,977 B2 Gorman Et. Al.

All above examples of prior art deals with the method of connecting electrical accessories to the mains cables. However, none of these examples offer an alternative/enhanced layout arrangement of the existing socket.

All the prior art cited above for Electrical Sockets disclose variations of connection methods of these accessories or providing additional facilities such as lower voltage for phone charging added to standard sockets. None of the disclosed prior art suggest any solution to increase the capacity using the existing mounting boxes already installed in each house, office, factory and other buildings in UK and many other countries using a similar system.

Electrical Plugs Until now the only effort made has been to fold the standard UK plug to reduce its size for storage (see examples below). None however has created/designed a completely new solution to tackle the growing problem of shortage of connecting points/outlets in each house/office and other buildings.

ThinPlug by Yacin Zihni GB2381669 by Bhutani et al GB243646 by Allan John Gillis GB 2467644 by Min-Kyu Choi et al None of the disclosed prior art/documents offer a solution that will increase the plug-capacity and at the same time, has the potential to become a new standard plug and socket system for UK and other countries using similar arrangements.

In recent years, the only fitting that has been hailed as the most imaginative design is a folding (MU) plug invented by a Korean student of Product Design at the Royal College of Art in London. Without going in the merits or deficiencies of this celebrated MU plug and other solutions available in the market today, all these inventions were aimed to serve only one purpose: to reduce the Plug size for storage.

In actuality, the MU Plug along with other inventions did NOT address the problem of shortage of Plugin-Capacity, which is a much bigger problem faced today.

The 3X SYS disclosed here is a complete connection system, respecting UK safety standards additionally both fittings may serve/engage with present Standard Sockets and Plugs and vice-versa. a

Description in Brief -3X SYS

The 3X SYS disclosed here is a complete connection system, which includes a Socket, a plug and backend connector and respecting UK safety standards; additionally both fittings may serve/engage with present Standard Sockets and Plugs and vice-versa.

3X Socket The example of electrical wall socket and/or outlet disclosed herewith are for use in UK and in other countries using similar fittings, though the same principle may be applied to other three-pin plugs and sockets.

These electrical wall sockets and/or outlets disclosed herewith are configured to fit onto existing mounting boxes using plurality of screws or other fasteners.

These electrical wall sockets and/or outlets disclosed herewith offer an imaginative layout of apertures, expressing best-use of available space and materials.

The examples of electrical wall sockets and/or outlets disclosed herewith have plurality of apertures and these apertures are arranged in sets; each set comprising plurality of apertures to receive Live, Neutral and Earth pins/prongs of standard specifications. The apertures are arranged to receive corresponding 3X electrical plug/s as well as standards plug/s.

The invention discloses that the live signal may pass through a switch; the switch may have a LED light or such to indicate when it is switched on or not or it may have a LED light located separately on the Fascia Plate (01) to express when the socket is switched on or off.

The invention discloses that the live electrical signals may pass through a separate switch for each set of apertures and in turn for each independent plug.

The example of a UK electrical wall socket and/or outlet disclose that the apertures in the Fascia Plate (01) are capable of receiving electrical plugs, using Live Neutral and Earth pins/prongs of exactly the same specifications as the standard UK plugs.

The invention discloses that the apertures in the new configuration or layout is arranged to engage with standard UK plug/s as well as the new 3X Plugs and vice-versa.

This dual use of the apertures to engage with new 3X Plug/s as well as with the existing standard plug/s are achieved by keeping the same distance between the Live and Neutral pins/prong, but realigning only the Earth pins/prongs in line the other 2 pins/prongs.

3X Electrical Plug (09) 205 The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith is an alternative to the larger traditional UK standard plug (09x), and corresponds to the 3X Socket (00) disclosed earlier in this document. It may also engage/work with UK standard socket/s (OOx) as well.

The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith is NOT a traditional 210 plug (09x), not even the one that folds away for storage but a standard plug in its own right for the 2ft century.

The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith is an alternative plug that not only connectable to the 3X Socket (00) disclosed earlier, but also to standard UK sockets (OOx) by extending/articulating the Earth pins to a point when it 215 may be engaged with the present uk standard socket (OOx) with a facility provided to work during the switchover period from traditional UK sockets to 3X SYS -Sockets and Plugs.

The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith offers a more compact body expressing economy of volume, space and materials and is 220 achieved by using a 3X enhanced layout of pins/prongs (091), keeping the Live and Neutral Pins as they are in the standard plug and moving the Earth Pin in line with the other two, thus reducing its foot print by 1/3 of the present standard plug.

The example of 3X Electrical Plug disclosed herewith comprises Live and Neutral Pins/Prongs (091 L, 091 N) mounted on the main body (098) of the plug (09) 225 with the Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) mounted on a moveable/articulated part (094) attached to the body (098), which normally stays in line with the other two pins within the main body (098) and can be engaged to the new 3X Socket (00). The articulated part can also extend out of the plug main body and thus moving the Earth Pin/Prong to a position to make it engageable with standard UK socket/s (OOx).

230 A Modular Connector (02)-Introducing easy connectability of wall fittings The example of electrical wall socket and/or outlet disclosed herewith offers a solution to another problem figuratively referred herein as Electricians' Nightmare': During the construction of a house, office or other such buildings, Electricians normally lay/install the cables of the Ring Circuit and leave ends of these cables in 235 each mounting box, without any means to test the circuit before the installation of the accessories/sockets. If they find out any faulty cable or connection, it is often too late to amend adjustments as the walls where cables are installed have already been finished.

Secondly, with the increasing number accessories comprising built-in 240 electronic circuits, a wrong connection can easily blow an electronic device/fitting.

The inventions also introduces an independent Modular Connector, comprising a set of linear connectors (021), connected to 2 ends of the Electrical cables (03) and forming part of the Main Ring/Circuit. The set of connectors are enveloped in a suitable/safe nest/unit (02) referred above as Connector Unit. The 245 said Connector Unit is physically and electrically snap-attachable and detachable to the main body (08) of the socket (00) and can be used as independent connector to complete the circuit/ring for testing before the socket is finally installed.

The final fitting of an accessory/socket that can be snap-connected to an already installed connector while reduces potential errors and is a much simpler task 250 tg carry out.

This in turn reduces wastage of resources as at present electricians usually leave long tails of cable in each mounting box which are later on trimmed to the right size.

255 Description in Detail -3X SYS

3X Electrical Socket (00) Fascia Plate: The invention discloses herewith that the socket has a Fascia Plate (01), like all others, the most visible part, when it is mounted on to the wall and attached to the 260 mounting box (04) using a plurality of screws or other fasteners (012).

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses herewith that the Fascia Plate (01) hosts a plurality of apertures (012) arranged into sets, each set comprises a number of apertures arranged to receive/engage with corresponding plug/s (091).

265 In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses herewith that the Fascia Plate (01) of the socket may also have a suitable switch (013) for each set of apertures that in turn may serve each plug (09) when engaged with the socket (00).

As referred above the disclosed socket may comprise a separate switch (013) 270 for each plug (09) and this switch may be a trip switch, a push-button switch or any such configuration; it may have built-in timer or may be remotely controlled.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses herewith that the socket may have a suitable fuse (07) nested within the Fascia plate which may be replaced when a need to do so arises and is accessible from the 275 anterior Fascia Plate with the use of a tool such as a screwdriver.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses herewith that the socket may have suitable safety shutters nested behind the Fascia plate, blocking direct access to the Live and Neutral apertures.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses 280 herewith that the Fascia Plate (01) may have a plurality of apertures (011) for screws and other fasteners (012) for securing the fascia plate onto a mounting box.

These apertures are inherently arranged in a horizontal line at a fixed distance to suit the mounting box/es.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the Fascia Plate (01) 285 hosts a plurality of apertures (012) arranged into sets; these sets may be arranged/stacked/arrayed vertically or horizontally regardless of fastening apertures which are also located on the fascia plate.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the Fascia Plate (01) of a double socket may be configured in a similar fashion as to the single socket, but 290 with its capacity multiplied to engage additional plugs.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the Fascia Plate (01) may have additional set/s of apertures to receive/connect non-UK type plugs.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the Fascia Plate (01) may have additional facilities such as voltage step-down transformer/s and sockets for 295 suitable plugs such as a Universal Storage Bus (USB) or may host other connections with suitable sockets such as a Telephone, Broadband or TV aerials, among others where a suitable connection arrangement is provided with the socket body.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the above referred additional facilities may be nested with the overall body of the socket, either built-in or 300 nested in separate removable unit/s which may be snap-attached through an opening in the fascia plate using a suitable tool such as a small screwdriver.

Safety Shutters It is an essential safety requirement in the UK that children should not be able to push a metal piece in an open live aperture of a socket. This essential element 305 always rests below the fascia plate in every socket in this country as required by BS1363:2 1995.

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses herewith that the Fascia Plate (01) hosts a plurality of apertures (012), arranged into sets, each set comprises a number of apertures arranged to receive/engage with 310 corresponding plug/s (091) as well as a standard UK Plug (91x).

In the example of UK electrical wall sockets/outlets, the invention discloses herewith that the Fascia Plate (01) hosts a plurality of apertures (012) designed to receive Live and Neutral prongs and has shutters that block the direct entry of any sharp instrument, but allow corresponding pins/prongs (Live and Neutral) to be 315 inserted and connected to receive electrical signals. The shutters may only be opened by any of the following methods: a. The insertion of the Earth pin/s before the other two pins (Live and Neutral); b. The insertion of the Live and Neutral pins simultaneously; c. Or controlled by the corresponding switch; 320 d. Or any other such method.

Socket Body It is a primary purpose of the socket assembly after the fascia plate to work as an envelope to host/hold, protect, isolate and insulate all conducting parts of the 325 device. The body is normally attached to the back of the fascia plate.

The examples of electrical wall sockets and/or outlets disclosed herewith comprise an independent Modular Connector (02) comprising a set of connectors (021) enveloped within the Connector Unit (02); which may be an integral part of the body (08) or may be designed to be detached and snap-attached (electrically and 330 mechanically) at the time of installation of the socket.

Connection Arrangement/s The example of electrical wall sockets and/or outlets disclosed herewith introduces the concept of an independent Modular Connector (02) with plurality of variations and arrangements of the block; each variation of which has some common 335 features.

*Note -The concept and some features of the Connecter Block (02) has already been expressed in ourapplication No. 0B11066446 filed on April 20, 2011.

A set of linear connectors (021) made from suitable conducting material, nested within a body/housing which is made of non-conductive material connectable 340 to both ends to 2 ends of cable forming electrical ring/mains (03).

The Modular Connector (02) comprises a plurality of connectors (021) arranged within its body in a sequence of Live, Earth and Neutral (LEN) as these conductors are normally arranged within the outer sheathing of standard cables (03) often used for the Ring mains; thus making it convenient to create reliable 345 connections without any need to cross-over any of the wires (032).

A plurality of connectors (021) referred above, are arranged to receive and connect with plurality of conductors (032), using one or more of the following: 1. using screws (023) holding the bare ends of wires/conductors (033); 2. using a push-in system where bare ends (033) of the wires are held by a 350 spring action built-in plurality of connectors (021) 3. Using penetrating screws/pins (025) within each connector, penetrating screws connecting to un-striped/insulated wires by penetration through the insulation.

Variations of the Modular Connector (02) 355 One variation of the Modular Connector (02)is permanently fixed to the socket body, following a traditional wiring arrangement. Since this variation does not allow the mains circuit to be completed before the socket is installed, other variation are also expressed herewith.

Another variation of the Modular Connector (02)is NOT permanently fixed, but 360 a separate! independent unit (02) that is mechanically and electrically attachable and detachable to the main body of an accessory/socket as required.

The Modular Connector unit may independently be used as a connector between two cables (03) for completing the Ring/Mains before the socket is installed and connected.

365 In another variation, the Modular Connector (02) comprises two parts, to be used as a wrap-around unit where a continuous cable runs through the mounting box without the need to cut and be connected to the socket.

In another variation, the Modular Connector (02) a single wrap-around unit similar to 2 part unit referred above, where a continuous cable runs through the 370 mounting box without the need to cut and be connected to the socket.

Other Features The examples of electrical wall sockets and/or outlets disclosed herewith also comprises various other parts made from a conducting material nested within the socket body/housing (08) to serve as links (05) from the mains connectors (021) to 375 receptacle saddles (06) and are designed to receive pins/prongs (091) when inserted through the apertures (012) through the Fascia Plate (01)which in turn extends electrical signals.

The examples of electrical wall sockets and/or outlets (00) disclosed herewith may comprise a suitable fuse (07) on a Live line between the Connector (02L) and 380 the Switch/es (013).

The examples of electrical wall sockets and/or outlets (00) disclosed herewith may comprise one or more switches (013) on each Live line before it is connected to the saddle/s (06) and further to the Plug's prongs.

The examples of electrical wall sockets/outlets (00) disclosed herewith may 385 comprise all essential parts to create a reliable link from the Ring/Mains (03) to the Pins/Prongs (091) of the Plug/s (09) when engaged through the apertures (012) in the Fascia Plate (01) of each socket (00).

The examples of electrical wall sockets/outlets (00) disclosed herewith may comprise parts to create all essential electrical connections for additional facilities 390 referred above, such as voltage-step-down-transformer/s.

The examples of electrical wall sockets/outlets (00) disclosed herewith may comprise parts to create all essential connections for additional facilities referred above, such as telephone, Broadband and TV aerials, among others.

395 3X Electrical Plug (09) The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith is an alternative to the larger traditional plug (09x), corresponding to the 3X Socket (00) disclosed earlier in this document. It may also engage with UK standard socket!s (OOx).

The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith is NOT a traditional 400 plug (09x), not even the one that folds away for storage but a standard plug in its own right designed to meet needs of the 2Vt century.

The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith is an alternative plug that not only corresponds to the 3X Socket (00) disclosed earlier, but also connectable to standard UK sockets (OOx) by extending/articulating the Earth pins to 405 a point when it may be engaged with the present socket (OOx) a facility provided to work/bridge the gap during switchover period from traditional UK sockets to 3x SYS -Sockets and Plugs.

The example of 3X Electrical Plug (09) disclosed herewith offers a more compact body expressing economy of volume, space and materials and is 410 achieved by using a 3X enhanced layout of pins/prongs (091), keeping the Live and Neutral Pins as they are in the standard plug and moving the Earth Pin in line with the other two, thus reducing its foot print by 1/3 of the present standard plug, thus multiplying its connect-capacity The example of 3X Electrical Plug disclosed herewith comprises Live and 415 Neutral Pins/Prongs (091 L, 091 N) mounted on the main body (098) of the plug (09) with the Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) mounted on a moveable/articulated part (094) attached to the body (098), which normally stays in line with the other two pins within the main body (098) and can be engaged to the new 3X Socket (00). The articulated part can also extend out of the plug main body and the Earth Pin/Prong can be 420 moved to a position to make it engageable with standard UK socket/s (OOx).

Standard Features of 3X Plug: 425 The 3X Plug (09) disclosed herewith comprises plurality of pins/prongs (091 L, N & E) -Live, Neutral and Earth connectable to UK Standard Socket/s (OOx) as well as to new aX Socket/s (00); The 3X Plug (00) disclosed herewith comprises plurality of metal pins/prongs of exactly the same size and specifications as the Standard Plugs (09x); 430 The 3X Plug disclosed herewith comprises Live and Neutral Pins/Prongs (091 L &N) which are with the same distance apart as the standard plug (OOx). The Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) however has been moved in line with Live and Neutral (091 L & N) PinlProngs and still keeping its orientation at a right angle relative to the line of the other two prongs, thus protecting the polarity of Live and Neutral Pins/Prongs 435 (091 L & N). This new layout enhances the use of the space and materials, allowing 3 or more plugs (09) to engage with a Fascia Plate (01) of the same size as those of a standard single socket.

The ax Plug disclosed herewith comprises an Earth Pin/Prong (091 E), which is normally positioned at the centre of the other two Pins/Prong (091 L; 091 N), 440 keeping its right angle directionality relative to the line of the other two pins/prong (091 L; 091 N). The said Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) shares the baseline of the other two pins/prong (091 L; 091 N), but protruding out of the top line of the other two pins/prong (091 L; 091 N). This position of the Earth Pin/Prong protects the polarity and stops the possibility of any sharp objects to be inserted wrongly into the socket.

445 The 3X Plug disclosed herewith comprises an Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) and is mounted on an articulated part of the body, thus providing a possibility to extend/project the Earth Pin (091 E) to a position where it can be engaged with a traditional socket (OOx).

The ax Plug disclosed herewith comprises an Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) that is 450 mounted on an articulate-able part of the body using plurality of mechanical methods of articulation: a. Using plurality of tubes/sleeves extending out telescopically when required, by the force of a spring built within the tubes/sleeves and also acting as a live link for the Earth connection between the Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) and the Earth 455 Connector (092E).

b. Using mechanical gears (Fig 23, 24) the Earth Pin/Prong (091 E) mounted on a double pair of arms, to extend/articulate out of the body line with the force of a built-in spring.

*80th above mentioned methods of articulation have a built-in locking 460 system when the Earth Pin/Prong (091E) is in line with other two pins/prong (091L and 091N).

The 3X Plug (09) disclosed herewith may comprise a suitable fuse (096) as standard; The 3X Plug disclosed herewith may also comprise a switch and an LED 465 indicator light which is either built into the switch or located near the switch.

The 3X Plug (09) disclosed herewith may comprise insulated sleeves (0912) on Live and Neutral Pins/Prong (091 L &N) of standard length and specifications for the safety of the user/s.

470 Flexible Electrical Cord/Wire The main body (098) may also be attached to multi-core flexible cord/wire (07) capable of carrying electrical signals to an appliance that may be connected on the other end of the cord.

a. The flexible cable/wire (097) may be attached in one of the following 475 arrangements: b. Permanently fixed/moulded into the Plug body, c. Manually wired to the plug (09), d. a moulded end with a micro plug (0972) with plurality of prongs and a corresponding socket (0973) built into the Plug body, specially design 480 for the purpose.

Additional Functions The Socket and the plug main body may include a transformer. The transformer may be configured to lower the voltage.

The Socket and the plug main body may include a Universal Storage Bus 485 (USB) or other connector socket into which a USB or other connector can be plugged.

In one arrangement, the plug may have set of apertures to engage with electrical plugs with different pin configuration/s, to act as convenient adaptor.

In another arrangement, the Earth Fin may only be a dummy pin of non- 490 conductive material and is then configured only to open protective gates within a mains socket into which the plug can be engaged.

THE END

Explanation of Illustrations -3X SYS Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 01 UK Standard Single Wall Socket, to engage with only ONE PLUG.

Fig. 02 UK Standard Double Wall Socket, to engage with only TWO PLUG Fig. 03 Example face of 3X Socket to serving 3 corresponding plugs, with 3 switches and a fuse; the fuse is accessible from the front (anterior) of the fascia plate. It can also serve 1 British Standard Plugs.

Fig. 04 Another example face of 3X Socket to serving 3 corresponding plugs stacked in a vertical row.

Fig. 05 Another variation expressing arrangement for a double socket, 5 sets of apertures are stacked horizontally in two columns with an option of including voltage step-down transformer to serve low voltage USB connections or other plug formations.

Fig. 06 Another variation expressing arrangement for a double socket, 6 sets of apertures are stacked horizontally in two columns.

Fig 07 Back-end view of standard UK Single Socket, expressing traditional connection arrangement.

Fig.08 Back-end view of standard UK Double Socket, expressing traditional connection arrangement.

Fig.09 Shown herewith is the back of the new 3X Single Socket, expressing its connection arrangement of which 3 metal connectors (021 L, E & N) are arranged in a row in the sequence of Live, Earth and Neutral, following the arrangement of wires within a flat cable (03) normally used for Ring Mains Circuit.

A Connector Block (020) that may connect/receive 2 end of cable from both ends.

In this variation of the invention, the connecter Block is permanently fixed to the Socket body (08).

Fig 10 In this variation of the invention, the Connecter Block is NOT permanently fixed to the Socket Body (08) but is detachable and can be used as a connector between two ends of the Ring Mains Cable (03) to complete and test the circuit before the socket is installed and can be clipped to the connecter without any need to switch off the power supply.

Fig 11 In this variation of the invention, the Connecter Block is split-able into two parts, thus, can be clipped-on to a continuous cable (03), without culling into pieces and overall saving the wastage of the copper conductors.

Fig 12 In this variation of the Connector Block, the outer sheathing of the cable (03) is removed and the connector block clips on to 3 wires (032 L, E & N). Three (3) screws are then tightened to make the connections through the internal insulation of Live and Neutral wires.

Fig 13 Another arrangement of the invention expressed herewith shows the steps of assembly/installation of the socket, where a round push-button switch is used Step 1 -A Mounting Box (04) is installed; Step 2 -Connector (08A) is installed connecting two ends of the Mains cable (03); Step 3-The Socket Body (08) is attached to the Connector (08A) and 2 fasteners are used to secure the Body (08) to the Mounting Box (04); Step 4-Shutter assembly is lowered into its place; Step 5-Fascia Plate (01) is installed; Step 6-Finally Neck-fasteners/ washers (014) are installed and tightened by a clockwise movement that secures the Fascia Plate (01) to the Mounting Box (04) Fig 14 Elevation view of the assembled socket.

Note: where a trip switch of any of such configuration is used, the fastening screws will be used to fix the fascia plate.

Fig 15 Standard UK 3-Pin Plug 2 views Fig 16 3X Plug (09), expressing new arrangement of the pins/prongs (091 L, E & N) and its compact body that makes it possible to engage 3 plugs on the fascia plate (01) corresponding the size of a single UK socket (OOx).

Fig 17 Internal mechanics/working of the 3X Plug within its body Fig 18 Internal mechanics/working of the 3X Plug. (without the plug body).

Fig 19 Internal mechanics/working of the 3X Plug. Un-extended/Retracted view.

Fig 20 Isometric view of the 3X Plug (09) where the Earth Pin is extended out to reach the Earth aperture of a traditional standard UK Socket during the transitional period of switching over from traditional system to new 3X system.

Fig 21 In this variation of the invention shown herewith, the flex/cord (097) connection to the plug (09) is given the option to attach and detach to the plug body (098) as and when required.

Fig 22 Another view of the Fig 21.

Fig 23 Geared Articulation arrangement of the Earth Pin -Plug Closed Fig 24 Geared Articulation arrangement of the Earth Pin -Plug Extended.

Guide to Illustrations 00 3X Socket, OOx Standard UK Socket 01 Fascia Plate, 011 Fastening Holes, 0111 Rivets, Oll2fastening screws; Oll3aperturesfor switches.

012 Apertures in Fascia Plate 012L, 012E, 012N Apertures for Live, Earth and Neutral; 012(1) First set of apertures (Top/Left) 012(2) Middle set and 012(3) Bottom/Right set; 013(1) Switch 1,013(2) Switch 2, 013 (3) Switch 3; 0131 switch button, 0132 switch body; 0133 Switch fastener/washer; 0134 Switch legs/connections; 016(1) Safety Shutters 1, 16(2) Safety Shutters 2, 16(3) Safety Shutters 3 018 Walls on back of Fascia Plate 02 Block, with 021L, E & N Metal connectors; 022 apertures; 023 Screws 02A Clip-on Connector Block Top 02B Clip-on block Base 03 Mains cable 04 Mounting Box Links from Mains Connectors to switches/saddles; 051 L, E & N part 1 of Links, 052 second part of links from switch/s to Live saddles; 06 Host Saddles added with L, E & N (1) for set 1,2 & 3 07 Fuse, 071 Fuse cover, 072 Fuse carriers 08 Socket body, 09 Plugs, 09x Standard UK Plug 091 Pins/prongs added with L, E & N 092 Wire connectors/female receivers with L, N & E extensions; 0921 individual wires in the cord or the hard pins when cord is detachable; 0922 flexible cable/cord.

093 Switch/s; 0931 switch button, 0932 switch body; 0933 switch fastener/washer; 0934 Switch legs/connections; 094 Body part carrying Earth Pin Links from Pins to switch or connector/s with L, E & N extensions; 096 Fuse 0961 Fuse saddles, 0962 Fuse carrier, 0963 Fuse carrier lock 097 Unused 098 Plug Body, 098A -Connector Block; 0981, 0982, 0983 parts holding the wire, /cord; 099 Unused