GB2564687A

GB2564687A - An electrical connection socket outlet and plug

Info

Publication number: GB2564687A
Application number: GB1711645.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laporta Giovanni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-07-19
Filing date: 2017-07-19
Publication date: 2019-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-19
Also published as: GB201711645D0; GB2564687B; WO2019016552A1

Abstract

An electrical socket has a movable member, which is moved, eg magnetically, when a plug is connected and switches the power through it to the socket. A socket outlet may have four sockets 20 for plugs 100, and four supplementary sockets 120 for devices which are connected more permanently (see Fig 14). The socket may be flat and mounted on a wall, and the plugs may enter the sockets vertically and be covered by a cover (70, Fig 17E). Adapters may be provided to connect plugs 100 to a conventional UK socket (Fig 20E) or to connect a UK plug to the supplementary socket (Fig 1C). A plug may contain a wireless transmitter.

Description

An electrical connection socket outlet and plug

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical socket for receiving a plug. The invention also relates to a plug for connection with said socket. The invention also relates to a kit comprising at least one socket and at least one plug. The invention also relates to a plug aid for receiving a plug, such as a plug according to the invention, to enable it to be connected to a standard mains socket.

Background to the Invention

In the United Kingdom, electrical plugs and sockets generally conform to British Standard (BS) 1363, under which, amongst other things, the plug has three pins and the socket has shutters on the neutral and live socket holes. It can be difficult for people with manual impairment to insert British standard plugs in a socket because of friction created between the pins and the shutters. This makes it hard to push the plug into the socket and also to release the plug from the socket. Products have been devised, such as one called ‘Plug Mate’ that are received around a plug to form a hook that can be easily gripped to assist with pulling the plug out of a socket. However, such products do not overcome the problem of requiring significant force to push the plug into the socket in the first place.

Since such plugs are held relatively tightly to the socket, the cable running from a plug can create a trip hazard. Standard sockets and plugs also look ugly. Furthermore, even with the presence of shutters, current standard British sockets can be unsafe for children. For example, if the earth pin of a plug or plug cover is inserted, upside down, in the earth hole of a socket on an extension lead, the shutters of the live and neutral holes will open, allowing children to poke things in the holes, risking receiving an electric shock.

Another problem with standard plugs and sockets is that people have a tendency to overload sockets with multiple adaptors or multiple-way extension leads in order to try to create more sockets, however this can overload the socket and risk leading to a fire.

The present invention aims to overcome some or all of the problems with existing standard sockets and plugs.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical socket for receiving a corresponding plug, the socket having an unconnected configuration in which the socket is without a corresponding plug connected with the socket and a connected configuration in which a corresponding plug is connected with the socket, the socket comprising moveable means, the moveable means being moveable between a first position and a second position, the moveable means being in its first position when the socket is in the unconnected configuration, and the moveable means being in its second position when the socket is in the connected configuration, at least a portion of the moveable means being electrically conducting whereby when the moveable means is in its second position, electric current can be transmitted to the plug via the moveable means.

Connecting the plug to the socket causes the moveable means to move to its second position. When the moveable means is in its second position, contact pins of the plug will be electrically coupled to an electrical power source, via the moveable means.

Preferably at least part of the moveable means comprises a first element adapted to cooperate, via magnetic force, with a second element carried by a corresponding plug, such that the moveable means is caused to move from its first position to its second position when the socket converts to its connected configuration. The magnetic interaction between the first and second elements when the plug is connected with the socket causes the moveable element to move to its second position. The moveable means may be an assembly of parts, at least part of the moveable means being electrically conducting and at least part of it being non-electrically conducting.

Preferably the socket further comprises at least a first terminal for contacting a first contact pin of a corresponding plug to allow said first contact pin of the corresponding plug to electrically connect to a power supply, wherein the socket is configured such that when the socket is in the unconnected configuration the first terminal is electrically unconnected with the power supply and when the socket is in the connected configuration the first terminal is electrically connected with the power supply.

Preferably the socket further comprises a housing. The housing is preferably made of insulating material.

Preferably the socket housing has a rear face, the socket being adapted to receive the corresponding plug along a coupling axis, the coupling axis for the socket being substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing. The rear face of the socket is preferably adapted to be mounted on or in a surface, such as a wall or any other suitable mounting surface. The socket preferably has a front face opposing the rear face, the front face facing away from the surface that the socket is mounted on or in when the socket is installed. The or each socket is adapted to receive a corresponding plug along the coupling axis directly via connection of the plug with the socket (i.e. without any adaptor).

Preferably the socket further comprises biasing means for biasing the moveable means towards its first position. The biasing means preferably comprises at least one compression spring arranged to bias the moveable means to its first position. The biasing means preferably comprises at least one helical compression spring.

Preferably the first element is adapted to cooperate with the second element via magnetic attraction. As well as causing the first element to move from its first position to its second position, the magnetic interaction between the first and second elements when the plug approaches the socket for connection helps to locate the plug in the socket.

Preferably at least one of the first and second elements is magnetic.

Preferably at least one of the first and second elements is magnetic and the other of the first and second elements is magnetic or ferro-magnetic.

Preferably the socket has a recess for receiving at least part of the second element of a corresponding plug when the plug is connected with the socket. Preferably the socket housing has a rear face, wherein the recess of the socket is arranged such that the second element is insertable in the recess along an axis parallel with the rear face. Preferably the recess is shaped and sized to match the cross-sectional shape and size of the second element of a corresponding plug.

Preferably the socket further comprises at least a first pin receiving recess for receiving a first contact pin of a corresponding plug.

Preferably the socket comprises at least first and second pin receiving recesses for receiving first and second contact pins of a corresponding plug respectively. The first and second pin receiving recesses are for receiving live and neutral pins of the corresponding plug.

Preferably the socket housing has a rear face, and wherein the or each pin receiving recess of the socket is arranged such that the corresponding contact pin is insertable in the recess along an axis parallel with the rear face.

Preferably the moveable means comprises at least a first contacting element configured to electrically couple with a contact of an electric current source when the moveable means is in its second position. The electric current source may be an electrical power source such as AC mains power. The or each contacting element is preferably in rigid association with the first element of the socket so that as the first element moves, the or each contacting element moves also.

Preferably the moveable means has first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with first and second contacts of an electric current source respectively when the moveable means is in the second position. Suitably, one of the contacting elements electrically couples with a live contact and the other electrically couples with a neutral contact of the current source.

Preferably the moveable means has first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with first and second contacts of an electric current source respectively when the moveable means is in the second position, the first contacting element being adapted to couple with a live line and the second contacting element being adapted to couple with a neutral line of the current source respectively.

Preferably the socket further comprises at least a first terminal for contacting a first contact pin of a corresponding plug.

Preferably the socket further comprises at least a first pin receiving recess for receiving a first contact pin of a corresponding plug, the first terminal being located within the pin receiving recess and obstructing said recess to prevent insertion therein of any object beyond the first terminal. This prevents an electrical conductor from being inserted in the or any of the pin receiving recess(es) to contact the mains supply. The terminal obstructs the pin receiving recess when the socket is in both the connected and unconnected configurations. The or each terminal is unconnected electrically with the current source when the socket is in the unconnected configuration and is connected electrically with the current source when the socket is in the connected configuration.

Preferably at least a portion of the at least a first terminal is moveable, the socket further comprising a stop arranged between the at least a first terminal and the moveable means to prevent any portion of the at least a first terminal from moving beyond the stop.

Preferably the socket further comprises at least first and second terminals for contacting first and second contact pins of a corresponding plug respectively. The first and second terminals are for contacting live and neutral contact pins of the corresponding plug. The second terminal is also preferably located within a corresponding pin receiving recess in the socket and arranged to obstruct said recess to prevent insertion therein of any object beyond the second terminal. In some embodiments the socket may have a third terminal for contacting an earth contact pin of the corresponding plug.

Preferably the moveable means further comprises at least a first contacting element configured to electrically couple with the first terminal when the moveable means is in its second position. The moveable means preferably comprises at least a first contacting element configured to electrically couple with a contact of an electric current source and with the first terminal when the moveable means is in its second position. In this way the first contacting element forms a conducting bridge that conductively couples the contact of the electric current source and the terminal when the moveable means is in its second position. The moveable means is moved into and maintained in its second position under the magnetic attraction between the first element of the socket and the second element of the plug. Suitably the first contacting element will come into contact with the contact of the electric current source and the first terminal substantially simultaneously.

Preferably the moveable means further comprises first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with the first and second terminals respectively when the moveable means is in its second position. The moveable means preferably comprises at least first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with first and second contacts of an electric current source respectively and with the first and second terminals respectively when the moveable means is in its second position. In this way each contacting element forms a conducting bridge that conductively couples the corresponding contact of the electric current source and terminal when the moveable means is in its second position.

Preferably the or each terminal comprises a first contact plate for contacting the corresponding contacting element of the moveable means and a second contact plate for contacting the corresponding contact pin of a plug, the first and second contact plates being electrically coupled by biasing means for biasing the second contact plate away from the first contact plate. The biasing means preferably comprises an electrically conductive compression spring. The compression spring is preferably an electrically conductive helical compression spring.

Preferably the moveable means further comprises an insulating body portion. The insulating body portion is preferably in rigid association with the first element of the socket.

Preferably the moveable means comprises an insulating body portion, the insulating body portion spacing the first contacting element and first element of the moveable means apart from one another. In embodiments which have first and second contacting elements, the insulating body portion of the moveable means preferably spaces each of the first and second contacting elements and the first element of the moveable means apart from one another.

Preferably the socket further comprises at least an electrically conducting track for each of live, neutral and earth of a power supply source. The conducting track for each of live, earth and neutral is preferably formed of one or more substantially rigid conducting metallic strips. The first contacting element is preferably adapted to couple with the live track and the second contacting element is adapted to couple with the neutral track when the moveable means is in the second position. The power supply source is preferably an AC power supply source.

Preferably the socket housing has a rear face, the socket being adapted to receive the corresponding plug along a coupling axis, the coupling axis for the socket being substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing, and wherein the first element is moveable between its first position and second position along an axis substantially parallel with the coupling axis. In other embodiments the first element is moveable between its first position and second position along an axis substantially perpendicular to the coupling axis. A socket outlet may be provided which has one or more sockets wherein the first element is moveable along the coupling axis and one or more sockets wherein the first element is moveable perpendicular to the coupling axis, so as to provide a socket outlet with two types of socket in the same outlet.

Preferably the socket is configured such that the first element is electrically coupled to earth at least when the moveable means is in the second position. In preferred embodiments the first element is electrically coupled to earth (for example in contact with the neutral track of the socket) when the moveable means is in its first and second positions.

Preferably the housing comprises a recessed area for receiving the housing of one or more corresponding plugs, when the or each plug is connected with a corresponding socket. Preferably the recessed area has a base that is substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing, the base of the recessed area being substantially planar.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical connection socket outlet comprising at least one socket as described above. Preferably the at least one socket of the electrical connection socket outlet is configured for installation in a standard socket back box. In this way, a socket of the present invention can be installed in a standard socket back box.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a plug for connection with a socket as described above, wherein the plug comprises a second element adapted to cooperate via magnetic force with the first element of the socket when the plug is connected with the socket.

Preferably the second element is adapted to cooperate with the first element of the socket via magnetic attraction.

Preferably the second element is magnetic or ferro-magnetic.

Preferably at least part of the second element is shaped and sized to match the crosssectional shape and size of the recess of the socket for receiving the second element.

Preferably the plug further comprises at least a first contact pin for contacting a first terminal of the socket.

Preferably the plug further comprises a second contact pin for contacting a second terminal of the socket. One of the first and second contact pins is for contacting the live terminal of the socket and the other is for contacting the neutral terminal.

Preferably the plug further comprises a third contact pin for contacting a third terminal of the socket. The third contact pin is for contacting an earth terminal of the socket.

Preferably the plug further comprising a plug housing. Suitably the or each contact pin protrudes from the plug housing.

Preferably the plug housing has a rear face which is planar, the rear face being configured to be received flush against the planar base of the recessed area of the socket when the plug is connected with a socket.

Preferably the plug housing has first and second side faces, each being planar. The planar side faces of each plug allow at least two plugs to be received by a socket outlet having a at least two sockets, the plugs being arranged side by side and flush with one another when connected.

Preferably the or each contact pin of the plug is arranged such that the plug can only be connected with a corresponding socket in the correct orientation. In preferred embodiments the plug housing has a rear face and a front face, the or each contact pin being located closer to the rear face than the front face. The offset location of the or each pin closer to the rear face of the plug housing than the front face means that it is not possible to connect the plug to the socket with the front face of the plug facing rearwards as the front face will abut the base of the recessed area of the socket housing and the spacing between the base on the recessed area and the or each contact pin will be greater than the spacing between the base of the recessed area and the or each terminal, so that the or each contact pin is prevented from contacting its corresponding terminal on the socket. The socket and plug are therefore configured such that the plug cannot be connected with the socket the wrong way round.

Preferably the plug has a housing which is sized and shaped to fit inside a British standard plug.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a dedicated device for connection with a socket as described above, wherein the device comprises a plug as described above and a functioning part which performs at least one function. The functioning part may perform at least one function such as charging an electronic device, providing a sound alert when a doorbell rings, providing a night light etc. The dedicated device preferably has a housing. The functioning part of the dedicated device is preferably housed within the housing. The plug preferably extends directly from the housing. In this way the plug is integral with the dedicated device (i.e. there is no cable connecting the plug and the dedicated device). The dedicated device can be connected to a corresponding socket using its plug to power the functioning part of the dedicated device.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a plug aid for connection with a target socket, the plug aid comprising a housing, the plug aid having at least one pin adapted to be received by a target socket and a socket formed in the plug aid housing for removably receiving a plug housing within the plug aid housing. The socket formed in the plug aid housing is configured to require less force to connect I disconnect a plug than is required to connect I disconnect the plug aid from the target socket. In this way the plug aid can be connected to a target socket to allow easy connection I disconnection of a plug to the plug aid whilst the plug aid remains connected to the target socket.

Preferably the socket for removably receiving a plug housing is a socket as described above.

Preferably the plug aid housing has a plug receiving recess, the plug receiving recess being sized and shaped to fully receive the housing of a corresponding plug therein. When the corresponding plug is fully received within the plug aid housing, the plug is substantially hidden (i.e. the plug is not visible). The plug aid therefore looks like a standard plug, with or without a plug connected to the plug aid.

Preferably the moveable means comprises a moveable trigger disposed in the path of insertion of the corresponding plug into the socket, the moveable means further comprising an electrically conducting switch contact that moves on movement of the moveable trigger, the moveable trigger being engageable by the plug housing on insertion such that engagement with the plug housing causes the moveable trigger to move from a first position to a second position, wherein in the second position the switch contact closes a connection between the target socket and the plug so that electric current can be transmitted to the plug.

Preferably the plug aid is adapted to receive a plug as described above.

Preferably the plug aid housing is no larger than a normal plug housing for a plug conforming with BS 1363.

Preferably the plug aid includes a first element adapted to cooperate via magnetic attraction with a second element carried by a corresponding plug such that the plug housing can be retained within the plug aid housing. One of the first and second elements may be magnetic and the other ferromagnetic, or both may be magnetic and adapted for mutual attraction when the plug is connected with the plug aid. The magnetic interaction between the first and second elements retains the plug housing within the plug aid housing when the plug is connected. A small force will be needed to overcome the magnetic attraction when removing the plug from the plug aid, however the force required for disconnection will be less than the force required to disconnect the average British standard three pin plug from a socket.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising at least one plug aid as described above and at least one plug as described above, the plug being removably receivable within the plug aid housing. The plug housing is smaller than a standard plug housing such that the plug housing can be received within the plug aid housing, wherein the plug housing is substantially the size and shape of a normal plug housing for a plug conforming with BS 1363.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a device for connection with a socket, wherein the device comprises a housing and at least a first plug extending directly from the housing for coupling directly with a first socket. The at least a first plug of the device may be a plug as described above, in which case the device is a dedicated device as described above. The device with plug extending directly from the housing for coupling directly with the socket is a cable-less device. When the device is connected with the socket the device will be mounted close to the wall and is therefore neat and does not provide any trip hazard from cables, whilst providing power to the device without the need for batteries. Devices that may plug into a socket according to the invention may include speakers, nightlights, smoke sensors etc.

Preferably the device further comprises a second plug extending directly from the housing for coupling with a second socket.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising at least one electrical socket as described above in combination with at least one plug as described above. The kit may further comprise clamp means for clamping the or each plug to the socket.

The present invention may include a kit comprising any sets of apparatus disclosed herein. For example, a kit may be provided comprising at least two different types of apparatus as disclosed herein or a plurality of a single type of apparatus as described herein.

In the context of the present invention, the term “mounting” means connecting or joining, either directly or by means of an intermediate or auxiliary element.

12 17

It is to be understood that the mere use of the term “first” does not require that there be any “second,” and the mere use of the term “second” does not require that there be any “third,” etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A shows a front perspective view of a socket outlet and four basic plugs according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1B shows a basic plug;

Figure 1C shows an adaptor with an integral supplementary plug;

Figure 1D shows an exploded view of the socket outlet of Figure 1 A;

Figure 2A shows a rear perspective view of moveable means of a basic socket;

Figure 2B shows a rear perspective view of moveable means of a supplementary socket;

Figure 3A shows a front perspective view of moveable means of a basic socket;

Figure 3B shows a front perspective view of moveable means of a supplementary socket;

Figure 4A shows a rear view of the socket outlet with the rear housing portion removed, 20 including live, neutral and earth track, moveable means and terminals of the basic sockets and moveable means and terminals of the supplementary sockets and a basic plug connected in one of the sockets, with the other internal components not showing;

Figure 4B shows a front perspective view of the assembly of Figure 4A;

Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the track of the socket outlet;

Figure 6 shows a rear perspective view of the chassis of the socket outlet;

Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view of the front housing portion of the outlet;

Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of the rear housing portion of the outlet;

Figure 9 shows a rear perspective view of the rear housing portion of the outlet;

Figure 10A shows a rear cross-section view of the socket outlet and four plugs along A-A 30 in Figure 10B;

Figure 10B shows a side view of the socket outlet and four plugs;

Figure 10C shows a close-up view of a socket from Figure 10A;

Figures 11 to 11C show the socket and four basic plugs of Figure 10A-C, with one plug and socket in a connected configuration;

Figure 11A shows a rear cross-section view along A-A in Figure 11B;

Figure 11B shows a side view of the socket outlet and four plugs;

Figure 11C shows a close-up view of a socket from Figure 11 A;

Figure 12A shows a front view of the socket outlet and a supplementary plug;

Figure 12B shows a cross-sectional view of Figure 12A along line A-A;

Figure 12C shows a close-up view of the supplementary socket from Figure 12B;

Figures 13A to 12C show the socket outlet and supplementary plug of Figure 12 but with the plug connected to a socket;

Figure 13A shows a front view of the assembly;

Figure 13B shows a cross-sectional view of Figure 13A along line A-A;

Figure 13C shows a close-up view of the supplementary socket from Figure 13B;

Figure 14 shows a socket outlet and a set of different devices that can be plugged into the supplementary sockets of the outlet;

Figure 15 shows a locking bridge;

Figures 16A to 16D show a socket outlet with basic plug connected and with a cover plate and clamp in unsecured positions;

Figure 16A is a front view; Figure 16B is a cross-sectional view along line A-A; Figure 16C is a close-up of the clamp; Figure 16D is a front perspective view;

Figures 17A to 17E show a socket outlet with basic plug connected and with a cover plate and clamp in secured positions;

Figure 17A is a front view; Figure 17B is a cross-sectional view along line A-A; Figure 17C is a close-up of area C from Figure 17B; Figure 17D is a close-up view of area B from Figure 17B; Figure 17E is a front perspective view;

Figures 18A to 18D show a socket outlet with basic plug connected and with a cover plate in an unsecured position and clamp in a secured position;

Figure 18A is a front view; Figure 18B is a cross-sectional view along line A-A; Figure 18C is a close-up of area B from Figure 18B; Figure 18D is a front perspective view;

Figure 19 is a rear perspective view of three types of cover plate for the socket outlet;

Figures 20A to 20F show a plug aid that accepts a basic plug for connecting to a standard British three pin socket;

Figure 20A is an exploded view; Figure 20B is a cross-sectional view along B-B; Figure 20C is a front view; Figure 20D is a side view; Figure 20E is a cross-sectional view along A-A; Figure 20F is a close-up view of area C in Figure 20E;

Figures 21A to 21G show the plug aid of Figure 20 with the basic plug received therein; Figure 21A is an exploded view; Figure 21B is a cross-sectional view along B-B; Figure 21C is a front view; Figure 21D is a side view; Figure 21E is a cross-sectional view along A-A; Figure 21F is a close-up view of area D in Figure 21E; Figure 21G is a close-up view of area C in Figure 21E;

Figure 22 is a plug adaptor that is configured to receive a standard British three pin plug for connection into a basic socket of the present invention;

Figure 23 shows a perspective view of a further type of basic plug, similar to the plug of Figure 1A but containing wireless communication means.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of example only. Any common features between the assemblies of the different figures are referenced by common reference numerals.

A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1A including an electrical connection socket outlet 10 and a set of corresponding plugs 100. Socket outlet 10 has a housing 12 and four individual sockets 20, each for receiving a plug 100. The sockets 20 are arranged side by side. Figure 1 shows four plugs 100, one shown connected to a socket 20 and three shown disconnected, but aligned, ready for insertion. Figure 1 shows the front face 18 of the socket outlet 10, the rear face opposing the front face and being adapted to be mounted on or in a surface. The socket outlet 10 is adapted to be mounted on or in any suitable mounting surface, such as a wall. References herein to mounting to a wall include mounting to any other suitable surface.

Plugs 100 are basic plugs configured for insertion in basic sockets 20. Typically, each basic plug 100 would be connected to an electrical device (not shown in the figures) via a cable 101, for plugging into the socket outlet 10 in order to power the device. The socket outlet also has four supplementary sockets 120, one at each corner of the housing 12, which differ from the basic sockets 20 as will be described later. The supplementary sockets 120 are adapted to receive a supplementary plug 200, shown in Figure 1C, which differs from the basic plug 100. The particular supplementary plug 200 shown in Figure

1C is integrated with an adaptor that receives a standard British three pin plug, simply as an example of a device that can be plugged into the socket outlet 10 via a supplementary socket 120. Typically the supplementary sockets 120 will be used to connect various additional accessories to the socket outlet 10, such as nightlights, WIFI extenders etc, as will be described later, without taking up one of the basic sockets 20 of the socket outlet 10. The supplementary sockets 120 may therefore also be referred to as ‘connectivity ports’. A socket outlet according to the invention may of course have only basic socket(s) or supplementary socket(s), rather than both types of socket. A socket outlet according to the invention may have any number of sockets, of the basic and/or supplementary type.

The socket outlet housing 12 comprises a front housing portion 12a shown in Figure 7 and a rear housing portion 12b shown in Figures 8 and 9. The housing portions 12a, 12b are preferably made of electrically insulating material, such as moulded plastic. The front housing portion 12a has a large rear opening 17 that is shaped and sized to fit tightly around the perimeter of the rear housing portion 12b so that the parts of the sockets 20 can be housed between the front and rear housing portions 12a, 12b. The front housing portion 12a has first and second through holes 60 for receiving screws, one toward the left and one toward the right side of the housing. The screws then pass through corresponding first and second through holes 61 in the rear housing portion 12b (visible in Figure 10) and into the wall, to fix the housing portions together and to the wall. Suitable fixings other than screws may be used for fixing the housing portions together and to the wall.

A basic socket 20 and plug 100 for connection thereto will now be described. It will be noted that the four basic sockets 20 of the socket outlet 10 shown in the Figures are the same, therefore only one socket will be described. The socket 20 has an unconnected configuration, as shown in Figures 10A to 10C, in which the plug 100 is unconnected with the socket 20. The socket has a connected configuration, as shown in Figures 11A to 11C, in which a plug 100 is connected with the socket. The connected / unconnected configurations could also be referred to as engaged I unengaged configurations or inserted I uninserted configurations or plugged I unplugged configurations.

The socket 20 has a moveable means 40, which is shown in Figures 2A and 3A. The moveable means 40 is moveable between a first position, which it occupies when the socket is in the unconnected configuration and a second position, which it occupies when the socket is in the connected configuration. The moveable means includes a first element

22, which is adapted to cooperate with a second element 102 on the plug 100 (visible in Figure 1B) via a magnetic force. The first and second elements 22, 102 are mutually magnetically attracted to one another in use when brought together when connecting the plug 100 to the socket 20. In certain embodiments one of the first and second elements 22, 102 is magnetic and the other of the first and second elements is ferromagnetic. In other embodiments the first and second elements 22,102 may both be magnetic and have opposed magnetic polarities arranged such that they are directed towards each other when the plug 100 is being introduced to the socket 20. The or each magnetic element may be a permanent magnet. In alternative embodiments, the or each magnetic element may be an electromagnet.

Referring to Figures 2A and 3A, the remainder of the moveable means 40 is carried by the first element 22, therefore movement of the first element 22 under the magnetic force due to magnetic interaction with the second element 102 causes the whole moveable means 40 to move also. When the assembly is in the unconnected configuration, the moveable means 40 is in a first position, shown in Figure 10A. When the assembly is in the connected configuration, the moveable means 40 is in a second position, shown in Figure 11 A. The moveable means 40 further comprises one or more electrically conducting parts which move into a position which allows for current to be transmitted to the plug 100 via the conducting part(s) when the plug 100 is connected to the socket 20, as will be further described.

Referring to Figure 6, the socket outlet 10 has a frame-like chassis 50 that is received within the housing 12, just underneath the front housing portion 12a. The chassis 50 has raised areas on its rear side, as shown in Figure 6, for receiving components of the socket outlet therebetween. The chassis 50 provides a channel 51, which the first element 22 sits in, guiding the first element 22 for sliding movement along the longitudinal axis of the channel 51. The chassis 50 also has first and second screw holes 63 which align with the screw holes 60, 61 in the front and rear housing portions 12a, 12b for receiving screws therethrough.

The socket 20 is configured to receive a basic plug 100 as shown in Figure 1B. The plug 100 has a proximal end 103 which faces the socket as the plug is connected with the socket 20. The plug has a housing 106 and has first and second contact pins 104, 105 protruding from the housing 106 at the proximal end 103 for electrically coupling with the socket. The first contact pin 104 is a live pin and the second contact pin 105 is a neutral pin, and the pins are connected to live and neutral wires respectively within the cable 101. Also protruding from the housing 106 is the second element 102, which interacts magnetically with the first element of the socket 20 in use. The second element 102 is connected to the earth wire within the cable 101, and therefore earths the device (the device itself is not shown in the figures) attached to the plug 100 when the plug 100 is connected to the socket 20.

Referring to Figure 7, the front housing portion 12a has a hole 23 for receiving the proximal end of the second element 102 and first and second holes 13 for receiving the first and second contact pins 104, 105 respectively when the plug 100 is connected.

Referring to Figure 2A, the moveable means 40 further comprises a first contacting element 41 and a second contacting element 42, each of which is configured to electrically couple with a corresponding contact of an electric current source and with a corresponding terminal of the socket when the socket is in the connected configuration, each contacting element 41, 42 forming a conducting bridge that conductively couples the corresponding electric current source and the corresponding terminal so that current can be transmitted to the plug 100. The first contacting element 41 is for coupling the live line of the current source with the live pin 104 of the plug (via a corresponding terminal on the socket) and the second contacting element 42 is for coupling the neutral line of the current source with the neutral pin 105 of the plug (via a corresponding terminal on the socket). The first and second contacting elements 41, 42, are each rod shaped, and in this embodiment have circular cross-sections, but may have other shapes.

Referring to Figure 4A and 10C, the socket 20 further comprises a first terminal 24 (a live terminal) and a second terminal 25 (a neutral terminal) for contacting the first and second pins 104, 105 of the plug 100 respectively when the plug and socket are in the connected configuration. Each terminal 24, 25 has a proximal end for connecting with the plug 100 and a distal end facing away from proximal end. The first terminal 24 comprises a first contact plate 24a at its distal end for contacting the corresponding contacting element of the moveable means 40 and a second contact plate 24b for contacting the first pin 104 of the plug. Between the first and second contact plates 24a, 24b is an electrically conducting helical compression spring 24c, which biases the contact plates 24a, 24b apart from one another and electrically couples the contact plates 24a, 24b. Similarly, the second terminal comprises a first contact plate 25a, second contact plate 25b and spring 25c. Referring to Figure 6, the chassis 50 has first and second channels 52, 53 for receiving the first and second terminals 24, 25 respectively of each socket 20. Each channel 52, 53, has a distal end 52a, 53a and a proximal end 52b, 53b. The distal end 52a, 53a of each channel has a narrowed mouth and the corresponding terminal 24, 25 is constrained to fit between the narrowed mouth at the distal end of the channel and the sides of a corresponding pin receiving recess 13 in the outlet housing 12 (visible in Figure 7), with the corresponding spring 24c, 25c biasing the contact plates 24a, 25a and 24b, 25b apart from one another. The narrowed distal ends 52a, 53a of the channels 52, 53 act as stops for the first and second terminals 24, 25 respectively. The distal ends of the first and second terminals 24, 25 have a larger diameter than the narrowed distal ends 52a, 53 of the channels 52, 53 respectively. The stops 52a, 53a prevent the terminals 24, 25 from being pushed by the pins of the plug or any other tool that may be inserted in the pin receiving recesses 13 beyond the stops 52a, 53a. Therefore, when the moveable means 40 is in the first position, the terminals 24, 25 cannot be moved into contact with the contacting elements 41,42 of the moveable means due to stops 52a, 53a and the terminals 24, 25 will only contact the respective contacting elements 41, 42 when the moveable means has moved to the second position under the interaction of the magnetic forces between the first and second elements 22, 102. This is an important safety feature, equivalent to shutters that block objects from being inserted into the live and neutral pin recesses of a standard British three pin socket and that are only opened when the earth pin of a plug is inserted in its corresponding recess. In the present invention, the terminals 24, 25 themselves block access to the live and neutral power supply when the socket is in the unconnected configuration by blocking pin receiving recesses 13. Unlike the prior art shutters which open when a third pin (the earth pin) is received by the socket, in the present invention when the second element 102 is brought into close proximity with the first element 22, the first and second contacting elements 41,42 are bought into electrical connection with the first and second terminals 24, 25 respectively.

The spring 24c connecting the first contact plate 24a and second contact plate 24b of the first terminal 24 and spring 25c connecting the first contact plate 25a and second contact plate 25b of the second terminal 25, provide some resilience in the socket. For example, if a plug 100 connected to the socket 20 is knocked slightly, the pins 104, 105 of the plug will not disconnect from the corresponding terminals 24, 25 due to springs 24c, 25c and the device connected to the plug will therefore not lose power. The first and second contact plates 24a, 24b in the first terminal 24 are therefore spring loaded by means of spring 24c, and likewise for the second terminal 25. The first and/or second pins 104,105 of plug 100 may also be spring loaded.

Referring to Figure 2A, the moveable means 40 has a block shaped body portion 44 made of an insulating material. In this embodiment the first contacting element 41, second contacting element 42, and first element 22 are all rigidly coupled to the body portion 44. The first and second contacting elements 41,42 and first element 22 are all spaced apart from one another by the body portion 44 and are therefore insulated from one another. The insulating material extends as a sheath 45 around part of the first contacting element 41. Each of the first and second contacting elements has an enlarged distal end 41a, 42a and a proximal end 41b, 42b.

Referring to Figure 4A, the moveable means 40 is arranged so that the proximal end 41b, 42b of each contacting element of the moveable means contacts the first and second terminals 24, 25 of the socket respectively when the assembly is in its connected configuration. Referring to Figure 2A, the socket 20 further includes a helical compression spring 41 c, 42c received around each contacting element 41,42, between the body portion 44 of the moveable means 40 and the distal end 52a, 53a of each channel 52, 53 in the chassis 50 for receiving the terminals 24, 25. The compression springs 41c, 42c bias the moveable means 40 towards its first position.

Referring to Figure 5, the socket outlet 10 contains an arrangement of electrically conducting track for conducting current from inlet wires that are connected between the mains supply and the conducting track. The track is formed of a plurality of rigid, conducting elongate members, forming a grid-like arrangement. The socket outlet 10 of this embodiment has a single metal piece that forms an earth track 14. The earth track 14 has first and second screw holes 68 which align with screw holes 60, 61 in the front and rear housing portions 12a, 12b for receiving screws therethrough. The earth track 14 has an elongate portion extending horizontally 14a and two elongate portions 14b at each end of the horizontal portion, each extending vertically, forming an I-beam shape track. The socket outlet 10 also has a neutral track 16, which also has horizontal portion 16a and two upright portions 16b, but made up of initially separate elongate members, assembled together. The socket outlet 10 also has a live track 15, which is similarly shaped to the neutral track 16, made up of an initially separate horizontal portion 15a and two upright portions 15b, assembled together. The upright portions 15b, 16b of the live and neutral tracks are kinked such that they each have an upper portion extending along a first linear axis and a lower portion extending along a second linear axis. Whereas the earth track 14 is made up of a generally planar metal piece arranged with its plane parallel to the rear face of the socket outlet housing, the live and neutral tracks 15, 16 comprise larger diametered rod segments which are each shaped and arranged such that they do not contact one another, nor do they contact the earth track 14. All of the portions of the live and neutral tracks 15, 16 have a minimum thickness of 2 mm, which avoids socket overheating and therefore improves socket safety. The track may be easily extended to add more sockets. For example, the horizontal sections of track may be longer so as to provide a socket outlet with a larger number of sockets 20 arranged in a row side-by-side.

Referring to Figure 10C, the moveable means 40 is shown in its first position when the plug 100 is unconnected. Figure 11C shows the moveable means 40 in its second position when the plug 100 is connected to the socket 20. In the second position, the first element 22 has been drawn towards the second element 102 of the plug 100 under the magnetic force, which in turn moves the first contacting element 41 towards the plug such that the enlarged distal end 41a contacts the live track 15 and its proximal end 41b contacts the first terminal 24 (i.e. the live terminal). The second contacting element 42 also moves towards the plug such that the enlarged distal end 42a contacts the neutral track 16 and its proximal end 42b contacts the second terminal 25 (i.e. the neutral terminal). With the first and second pins 104,105 contacting the first and second terminals 24, 25 respectively when the plug 100 and socket 20 are in the connected configuration, electric current can be transmitted to the plug 100. Furthermore, the second element 102 contacts the first element 22, which in turn remains in contact with the earth track 14 when the moveable means 40 is in both its first and second positions, so that the plug 100 (and its associated device) is earthed. Referring to Figure 5, the earth track 14 has a planar tab 14d for each socket that extends downwards, corresponding to the position of the first element 22 (i.e. four planar tabs 14d in the embodiment of figure 5). The first element 22 remains in contact with its corresponding tab 14d when the moveable means 40 is in the first and second positions. Each tab 14d has an upside down U-shaped slot 14e cut into it forming a tongue portion 14f on each tab 14d. The distal end of each tongue portion 14f is able to bend slightly out of the plane of the earth track 14, to allow better contact with the first element

22. In embodiments in which the first element 22 is magnetic, the corresponding tongue portion 14f is attracted towards the first element via magnetic attraction.

Referring to Figure 7, the recess 23 of the socket 20 for receiving the proximal end of the second element 102 is sized and shaped to match the cross-sectional shape of the second element 102. In this way, the socket is difficult to tamper with as the recess 23 is small and therefore a larger element or an element that is shaped other than to fit in the recess 23 will not be able to be inserted in recess 23 and the moveable means 40 will only be moved into the second position by connection of a corresponding plug 100. In preferred embodiments the second element 102 will have a cross-sectional size transverse to the coupling axis of around 6 mm square.

Figure 9 shows the rear side of the rear housing portion 12b of the socket outlet 10, which is adapted for wires from the mains AC power supply to be fed in for connection with the socket outlet 10. The rear housing portion 12b has a rear face 19 with a projecting area 64 extending rearwards from it, which is intended to be recessed into the wall that the socket outlet 10 is to be mounted to. The projecting area 64 has three recesses 65, 66, 67, each for receiving a terminal block, the terminal blocks being shown exploded from the rear housing portion 12b. There is a lower recess 65, which receives the earth terminal block 65a, for connection to an earth wire of the mains supply. Referring to Figure 5, the earth track 14 has two tongues 14c which extend rearward from the plane of earth track. At the top of the lower recess 65 are two slots 65b, visible in Figure 8, each for receiving a tongue 14c of the earth track therethrough, so that the tongues 14c are located in the recess 65, contacting the earth terminal block 65a.

Above the lower recess 65 are two smaller recesses which are side by side. Viewed from the rear, the left recess 66 is for receiving a live terminal block 66a for contacting a live wire of the mains supply. Referring to Figure 5, the live track 15 has a tongue 15c which extends rearward from the live track, through slot 66b in the rear housing portion 12b (visible in Figure 8) and into the recess 66 for contacting the live terminal block 66a. Similarly the right recess 67 in Figure 9 is for receiving a neutral terminal block 67a for contacting a neutral wire of the mains supply. Referring to Figure 5, the neutral track 16 has a tongue 16c which extends rearward, through slot 67b in the rear housing portion 12b (visible in Figure 10) and into the recess 67 for contacting the neutral terminal block 67a.

The projecting area 64 has three feed through holes at its top, each of which communicates with one of the recesses 65, 66, 67, for feeding a wire into each recess for connection with the corresponding terminal blocks 65a, 66a, 67a.

It will be noted that the socket recesses 13, 23 and the pins 104, 105 and second element 102 of the plug 100 are arranged such that the socket 20 receives the plug 100 along a coupling axis which is substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket outlet housing

12. This is in contrast to standard electrical sockets, which receive plugs along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the socket rear face.

Referring to Figure 1 A, the housing 12 of the socket outlet 10 has a recessed area 28 for receiving the plugs 100 when they are connected with the sockets 20. The recessed area 28 has a base 29 that is substantially parallel with the rear face 19 of the socket outlet housing, the base 29 of the recessed area 28 being substantially planar. Referring to Figure 1B, the plug housing 106 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape transverse to its coupling axis A, such that the plug has front 106a, rear 106b, left 106c and right 106c planar faces. Referring to Figure 1 A, the rear face 106b will be received flush against the planar base 29 of the recessed area 28 when connected. The planar left and right faces 106c of the plug housing 106 are configured so that the plugs 100 can be received side by side, flush against one another, with the end plugs on the left and right sides flush against planar side 27 on the left and right sides of the recessed area 28 respectively. The front faces 106a of the plugs 100 will be flush with the front face 18 of the socket outlet 10 when connected, therefore creating a clean aesthetic look when the plugs are connected.

Referring to Figure 1B, the contact pins 104, 105 and the second element 102 of the plug 100 are located closer to the rear face 106b of the plug housing than the front face 106a. This offset of the contact pins 104, 105 and second element 102 means that it is not possible to connect the plug 100 to the socket 20 with the front face of the plug facing rearwards as when the front face 106a abuts the base 29 of the recessed area 28, the contact pins 104, 105 and second element 102 will be spaced too far frontwards from the corresponding recesses 13, 23 in the socket outlet housing to be received therein. This provides a useful safety feature preventing the plugs 100 from being inserted in the sockets 20 the wrong way round.

A supplementary socket 120 and plug 200 for connection thereto will now be described. It will be noted that the four supplementary sockets 120 of the socket outlet 10 shown in Figure 1A are the same, therefore only one socket will be described. The socket 120 operates in a similar way to socket 20 by means of a first element within the socket that moves under a magnetic force when the plug 200 is brought into connection with the socket 120, the movement of the first element causing an electrical connection to be made within the socket 120 which allows electric current to be transmitted to the plug 200. There are some differences between the basic socket-plug assembly 20,100 and the supplementary socket-plug assembly 120, 200, as will be explained.

The supplementary socket 120 has an unconnected configuration, as shown in Figures 12A to 12C, in which the plug 200 is unconnected with the socket 120. The socket has a connected configuration, as shown in Figures 13A to 13C, in which a plug 200 is connected with the socket.

The socket 120 is configured to receive a supplementary plug 200 as shown in Figure 1C. The plug 200 has a proximal end 203 which faces the socket as the plug is connected with the socket 120. Like plug 100, plug 200 has a housing 206 and first and second contact pins 204, 205, protruding from the housing 206 at the proximal end 203 for electrically coupling with the socket 120. However plug 200 additionally has a third contact pin 207 protruding from the proximal end 203 of the housing 206. The first contact pin 204 is a live pin and the second contact pin 205 is a neutral pin, and the pins are connected to live and neutral wires respectively within the device to which the plug 200 is connected. The third contact pin 207 is arranged between the first and second contact pins 204, 205, and is an earth contact pin connected to an earth wire in the device to which the plug 200 is connected. Like plug 100, plug 200 has a second element 202 protruding from housing 206, which interacts magnetically with a first element 122 of the socket 120 in use as will be described, however plug 200 additionally has a separate earth contact pin 207 in addition to the second element 202.

The socket 120 has a moveable means 140, which is shown in Figures 2B and 3B. The moveable means 140 is moveable between a first position, which it occupies when the socket is in the unconnected configuration and a second position, which it occupies when the socket is in the connected configuration. The moveable means includes a first element 122, which is adapted to cooperate with the second element 202 on the plug 200 via a magnetic force. The first and second elements 122, 202 are mutually magnetically attracted to one another in use when brought together when connecting the plug 200 to the socket 120. In certain embodiments one of the first and second elements 122, 202 is magnetic and the other of the first and second elements is ferromagnetic (such as being made of steel). In other embodiments the first and second elements 122, 202 may both be magnetic and have opposed magnetic polarities arranged such that they are directed towards each other when the plug 200 is being introduced to the socket 120. The or each magnetic element may be a permanent magnet. In alternative embodiments, the or each magnetic element may be an electromagnet. The first and second elements are adapted such that the first element 122 is attracted to move towards the second element 202 under an attractive magnetic force when the plug 200 is brought into connection with the socket 120.

Referring to Figure 2B, the moveable means 140 further comprises a first contacting element 141 and a second contacting element 142, each of which is configured to electrically couple with a corresponding contact of an electric current source and with a corresponding terminal of the socket when the socket is in the connected configuration, each contacting element forming a conducting bridge that conductively couples the corresponding electric current source and the corresponding terminal so that current can be transmitted to the plug 200. The first contacting element 141 is for coupling the live line of the current source with the live pin 204 of the plug (via a corresponding terminal on the socket 120) and the second contacting element 142 is for coupling the neutral line of the current source with the neutral pin 105 of the plug (via a corresponding terminal on the socket 120). The moveable means 140 further comprises an insulating body portion 144. The body portion 144 is arranged to encircle the first element 122 and the first and second contacting elements 141, 142 extend outwards from each side of the body potion 144. In this way the body portion 144 spaces the first element 122 and first and second contacting elements 141,142 apart from each other.

Referring to Figure 4B, the socket 120 further comprises first, second and third terminals 124, 125, 126 for contacting the first, second and third contact pins 104, 105, 107 of the plug 200 respectively when the plug 200 and socket 120 are in the connected configuration. Referring to Figure 5, the third terminal 126 is electrically coupled to the end of the vertical portion 14b of the earth track that extends towards the socket 120. Referring to Figure 4B, the moveable means 140 is mounted to the end of the vertical portion 14b of the earth track that extends towards socket 120. The first and second terminals 124, 125 are not electrically coupled directly to any part of the track that extends towards the socket 120, but instead are spaced away from the corresponding ends of the track. Referring to Figure 1 A, the housing 12 has an opening 123 for receiving the proximal end of the second element 202 and first, second and third openings 113 for receiving the first, second and third contact pins 104,105, 107 respectively when the plug 200 is connected. The second element 202 on the plug 200 is a rectangular planar element and the opening 123 for receiving it in the socket 130 is shaped to match. Similarly, the openings 113 are shaped to receive contact pins 104, 105, 107.

Referring to Figure 12B and 13B, when the second element 202 of the plug 200 is inserted in opening 123 in the socket 120, the first element 122 is caused to move towards the second element 202 due to magnetic attraction between the second element 202 and the first element 122. The first and second contacting elements 141, 142 are caused to move with the first element 122. The plug 200 and socket 120 is arranged so that the moveable means 140 moves orthogonally to the coupling axis (i.e. orthogonally to the plane of the rear face of the socket outlet housing). The first contacting element 141 has a chamfered proximal end 141 b (facing towards the first terminal 124) and a chamfered distal end 141 a (facing towards the vertical neutral track member 15b). The distal end of the first terminal 124b is chamfered to match the corresponding proximal chamfered edge of the first contacting element 141. The proximal end of the vertical neutral track member 15b is also chamfered to match the distal chamfered edge of the first contacting element 141. Therefore, when the first contacting means 141 moves from its first position to its second position, it forms a conducting bridge that bridges the gap between the live track member 15b and the first terminal 124. The second contacting member 142, terminal 125 and neutral track member 16b are similarly shaped so that when the second contacting means 142 moves from its first position to its second position, it bridges the gap between the neutral track member 16b and the second terminal 125.

Figure 12C shows the moveable means 140 in its first position and Figure 13C shows the moveable means 140 in its second position when the plug is connected to the socket. In the second position, the first element 122 has been drawn towards the second element 202 of the plug 200 under the magnetic force, which in turn moves the first and second contacting elements 141, 142 towards the plug 200 such that they complete the circuit between the first and second terminals 124, 125 and the live and neutral tracks 15, 16 respectively. With contact pins 204, 205, 207 contacting the terminals 124, 125, 126 respectively when the plug 200 and socket 120 are in the connected configuration, electric current can be transmitted to the plug 200. The moveable means 140 is biased towards its first position by a helical compression spring 140a which is positioned between the rear housing portion 12b of the socket outlet and the moveable means 140, as visible in Figure 8 adjacent the rear housing portion 12b.

The socket outlet 10 is configured to include four sockets 20 within a housing 12 that has a width and height that substantially matches that of a standard two gang socket box. Therefore it can be used with an existing standard back box. For example, a standard pattress box for a two gang socket will have a width of 146 mm and a height of 86 mm for receiving two standard British three pin sockets. The sockets 20 of the present invention are more compact and therefore four sockets 20 can be accommodated in a socket outlet that has a width and height that substantially matches that of a standard two gang socket box (i.e. a 146 x 86 mm housing). The present invention also has a compact depth when a plug 100 is connected to a socket 20, due to the coupling of the plug 100 to the socket 20 via a coupling axis that is substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing. Therefore the socket outlet 10 of the present invention allows for appliances that are arranged directly adjacent a wall with the socket outlet between the wall and the appliance to be arranged more closely to the wall than for an existing British standard three pin socket.

Figure 14 shows various types of dedicated devices that can be plugged into the supplementary sockets 120. All of the devices plug directly into one or two sockets 120, the devices having one or two plugs 200 accordingly. The devices are therefore cableless.

An example of a device that plugs into a single socket 120 is adaptor 310 that receives a standard British three pin plug to provide a socket for plugging a standard British three pin plug into in the socket outlet of the invention.

Examples of devices that plug into two side-by-side, spaced apart sockets 120 are devices 311 to 321. These devices each have two plugs 200 which extend parallel to one another from the device housing, spaced apart by a distance to match the spacing between the two side-by-side, spaced apart sockets 120 on the socket outlet 10. The devices that have two plugs 200 for plugging into first and second spaced apart side-by-side sockets 120 on the socket outlet provide for particularly stable mounting of the integral device.

The example devices shown in Figure 14 include an iPhone™ wall dock 311 having two lightning connectors for charging iPhones™ and allowing the smartphones to be mounted on the dock while charging (other phone charging connectors could be provided on the dock to provide a dock for charging one or more smartphones or other portable electronic devices).

Other connector/adaptor devices include a USB power strip 314 having multiple USB ports and RJ45 power strip 313 which has multiple RJ45 connectors.

Various plug-in doorbell chimes 312, 316, 317 can be provided having different sized speakers etc to provide a doorbell alert in a particular room.

A power consumption monitor 315 may be plugged into socket outlet 10 to monitor power usage.

Other devices that have two plugs 200 for plugging into first and second spaced apart sideby-side sockets 120 include a smoke sensor 316, air freshener 318, night light 319, speaker 320 and Wi-Fi extender 321.

Another type of device shown in Figure 14 that may be plugged directly into a socket 120 is a connector 325 adapted for electrically coupling a connectable socket outlet 110 to the first socket outlet 10 such that the connectable socket outlet 110 is positioned flush against the wall once connected. The connector 325 has two plugs 200 arranged side by side extending from a single housing so that one can connect to a socket 120 on socket outlet 10 and the adjacent plug can connect to a socket 120 on a connectable socket outlet 110. Once the connectable socket outlet 110 is coupled to the first socket outlet 10, this provides an increased number of sockets 20,120. The connectable socket outlet 110 is very similar to wall mounted socket outlet 10 except that the connectable socket outlet 110 does not have any means at its rear for connection to wires from the mains supply as the connectable socket outlet 110 connects to the mains supply via the connector 325. The sockets of the connectable socket outlet 110 are arranged in a very similar way to those of the wall mounted socket outlet 10, the connectable socket outlet 110 having a row of basic sockets 20 and four supplementary sockets 120, one at each corner of the housing. Instead of four basic sockets 20, the connectable socket outlet 110 has eight basic sockets

20. The connectable socket outlet 110 may of course have different types/numbers of sockets.

Devices may be provided that do not include plugs 200 for electrical connection to sockets 120, but instead include one or more blanking plugs 400 that are configured for receipt in the opening 123 of a socket 120 for receiving a first element 122 of a plug 200. For example, a socket cover 330 is shown which has two blanking plugs 400 which extend parallel to one another from the device housing, spaced apart by a distance to match the spacing between the two side-by-side, spaced apart sockets 120 on the socket outlet 10. Each blanking plug 400 comprises a planar element 401 extending from the socket cover 330, the planar element 401 being shaped and sized to substantially match the second element 202 of a plug 200 so that the planar element 401 can be received in a socket 120. The socket cover 330 with two blanking plugs can be used to cover two adjacent sockets 120 with parallel coupling axes. A second socket cover 330 could be used to cover the other two sockets 120 of the socket outlet 10. The socket covers may be provided to prevent children from pushing objects into the sockets 120.

A further device that may be provided and which has blanking plugs 400 is a locking bridge 335 which is a socket cover like socket cover 330, except that locking bridge 335 can be releasably locked in place on the socket outlet 10. An enlarged drawing of the locking bridge 335 is shown in Figure 15. The locking bridge 335 has a bridging body portion 336 that spaces apart the two blanking plugs 400. The locking bridge 335 has a catch arm 337 which extends rearwards and a lock 338 at the front which receives a key (not shown), which when received in the lock 324 and rotated, causes the catch arm 337 to rotate between an unlocked position as shown in Figure 15 and a locked position in which the distal end of the catch arm 337 extends substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the bridging body portion 336. The blanking plugs 400 can be inserted in two side-byside, spaced apart sockets 120 and then the catch arm 337 can be rotated to the locked position. This moves the catch arm 337 into a position between the wall and the socket outlet 10. The catch arm 323 has a notch 339 in it which is received over a protruding knob 340 on the rear of the socket outlet 10 (visible in Figure 7). The catch arm 337 cannot be rotated back to its unlocked position unless rotated by the key and once the catch arm 337 is received around knob 340, the locking bridge 335 cannot be withdrawn from the socket outlet 10 along the coupling axis. The locking bridge 335 therefore provides means for blocking two of the supplementary sockets 120 that face in the same direction. A second locking bridge 335 may be provided to lockably block the other two opposing sockets 120 of the socket outlet 10.

Referring to Figure 16D, a cover plate 70 may be provided for holding plugs 100 in the connected positions, thus making it difficult to accidentally remove a plug from connection with the socket 20. The cover plate 70 comprises a panel 71 that is configured to be received over the front face 18 of the socket outlet 10 in use. A bracket 72 extends rearward from the top end of the panel 71, substantially orthogonally to the plane of the panel 71. Extending downwardly from the bracket 72 are first and second blanking plugs 400 (one is visible in Figure 16D) for receipt within the two sockets 120 facing upwards on the socket outlet 10. Figure 19 shows a rear view of cover plate 70, showing a pair of lugs 73 extending from the rear face 74 of the panel 71, each of which is receivable in a corresponding bore on the housing 12 of the socket outlet 10 to aid in securing the cover plate 70 to the socket outlet and to earth the cover plate 70. Figures 17A to 17E show the cover plate 70 secured to the socket outlet 10. The panel 71 of the cover plate 70 forms a tight fit over the socket outlet 10 such that once the cover plate 70 is secured to the socket outlet 10, it is difficult to remove the plugs 100 from the sockets 30. The panel 71 is preferably made of metal, such as steel. Additional fixing means may be provided for securing the cover plate 70 to the socket outlet. For example, one or more magnets on the socket outlet 10 may hold the cover plate 70 against the socket outlet 10 via magnetic force.

Other types of cover plate are shown in Figure 19 which may be provided for different purposes. Cover plate 75 comprises a panel with a pair of lugs 75b on its rear face 75a similar to lugs 74 of cover plate 70. Cover plate 75 simply fits over the front of the socket outlet 10 to provide the socket outlet with a clean look. Cover plate 76 comprises a panel 76a having flanged walls 76b extending rearward from each side except the lower side (to allow space for plugs 100 if connected to the socket outlet 10). The flanged walls 76b fit around the socket outlet 10 to secure the cover plate 76 to the socket outlet 10 via a friction fit and the cover plate 76 therefore provides a clean look for the socket outlet 10.

Referring to Figures 16A to 18D, a clamp 80 may be provided for holding plugs 100 in the connected positions, thus making it difficult to accidentally remove a plug from connection with the socket 20. One or more clamps 80 may be used in combination with a cover plate 70, or the clamp(s) 80 and cover plate 70 may be used independently of one another. Referring to Figure 16D, the clamp is a bracket shaped element having a first panel 81 and a second panel 82 that extends substantially orthogonally to the first panel 81. The first panel 81 has a hole 83 therein that the plug cable 101 passes through so that first panel 81 can be received around the cable 101. Typically a device will be provided with a plug 100 already connected to the device and with a clamp 80 received around the cable 101. When it is desired to use the clamp 80 to hold a plug 100 in position in a socket 20, the clamp 80 is pushed towards the socket 20 so that the second panel 82 becomes wedged between the plug housing 106 and the base 29 of the recessed area 28 in the socket outlet 10. This holds the plug 100 in place in the socket 20 via a friction fit. In order to withdraw the plug 100 from the socket 20 the plug 100 can simply be pulled from the socket 20, but with more force than would be required if the clamp 80 were not in place.

Referring to Figures 20A to 21G, a plug aid 500 may be provided that accepts a plug 100 as described above for connecting to a standard socket, such as a British three pin socket. In the embodiment shown in Figures 20A to 21G the plug aid 500 is for connection to a British three pin socket and has a housing 501 with three pins 502 extending from it for plugging into a standard British three pin socket. The socket formed in the plug aid housing is configured to require less force to connect I disconnect a plug than is required to connect I disconnect the plug aid from a standard socket. Therefore the plug aid can be connected to a three pin socket to allow easy connection I disconnection of a plug to the plug aid whilst the plug aid remains connected to the standard socket.

The housing has a front body portion 501a and a rear body portion 501b. The front body portion is made of an insulating material and is shaped/moulded to have outer casing walls 503a and inner casing walls 503b that form a recess 504 therein. The recess 504 has an opening 505 in the plug aid housing 501 and is shaped and sized to match the outer shape of the plug housing 106 for receipt therein (i.e. the recess being a cuboid shape in this embodiment).

As described above, the plug 100 has, extending from the proximal end of its housing 106, a live contact pin 104, a neutral contact pin 105 and a second element 102 which is conducting and acts as an earth contact pin. The inner casing walls 503b of the plug aid have slots therein allowing the contact pins and second element of the plug to contact pads on the plug aid. Referring to Figure 21F, the plug aid has a neutral contact pad 512 for contacting the neutral contact pin 105 and a neutral contact strip 511 that connects with the neutral pin 502a of the plug aid. The plug aid also has a live contact pad 514 for contacting the live contact pin 104 of the plug and live contact strip elements 513 and 517 that connect between with the live pin 502b of the plug aid and the live contact pin 105 of the plug. There is also an earth contact strip 516 that connects with the earth pin 502c of the plug aid. The earth contact strip 516 is adapted to cooperate via magnetic attraction with the second element 102 of the plug such that the plug housing can be retained within the plug aid housing when the plug is connected.

Referring to Figure 21G, the plug aid further comprises a moveable trigger 506 located in the path of insertion of the plug 100 into recess 504. A cover 519 is provided for location around the trigger 506. The trigger 506 is mounted to a spring biased switch contact 508. Referring to Figure 20F, the switch contact 508 is a resilient metal member that is disposed over a live contact strip 509 which has a gap 510 in the strip preventing current from flowing along the live contact trip. When the trigger 508 is depressed, on insertion of a plug 100 in the recess 504, this pushes the switch contact 508 against the live strip 509, bypassing the gap 510 and closing the circuit, thus allowing current to be transmitted to the plug. The switch contact 508 is biased in its non-depressed position, therefore it returns to the nondepressed position when the plug is removed. Referring to Figure 22E, when the plug 100 is fully inserted the live and neutral contact pins 105, 104 of the plug 100 make contact with the corresponding live and neutral contact pads 512, 514 and the second element 102 makes contact with the earth strip 516.

Plugs 100 as previously described herein have a second element 102 which may be magnetic, however it will be understood that for use with the plug aid 500, the second element 102 need not be magnetic.

An adaptor may be provided to allow a standard British three pin plug to be used with a socket outlet 10 of the present invention. Figure 22 shows an adaptor 530 that is configured to receive a standard British three pin plug 531, the adaptor having a connector part 532 extending from the adaptor housing the connector part 532 essentially comprising a plug 100, but connected to the adaptor 530 rather than some other device. Similar adaptors can of course be provided for receiving plugs of types other than British standard three pin plugs.

Referring to Figure 23, a plug 100’ is shown which is like plug 100 however it has a longer housing 106’. The longer housing 106’ of plug 100’ houses wireless communication means for communicating wirelessly with other devices. The plug 100’ is therefore 5 adapted for controlling and/or monitoring the device that the plug 100’ is attached to. For example, the plug 100’ may interact with a remote device with a mobile app which can monitor whether the plug 100’ is connected with a socket or unconnected with a socket.

Claims

1. An electrical socket for receiving a corresponding plug, the socket having an unconnected configuration in which the socket is without a corresponding plug connected with the socket and a connected configuration in which a corresponding plug is connected with the socket, the socket comprising moveable means, the moveable means being moveable between a first position and a second position, the moveable means being in its first position when the socket is in the unconnected configuration, and the moveable means being in its second position when the socket is in the connected configuration, at least a portion of the moveable means being electrically conducting whereby when the moveable means is in its second position, electric current can be transmitted to the plug via the moveable means.

2. An electrical socket according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the moveable means comprises a first element adapted to cooperate, via magnetic force, with a second element carried by a corresponding plug, such that the moveable means is caused to move from its first position to its second position when the socket converts to its connected configuration.

3. An electrical socket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the socket further comprises at least a first terminal for contacting a first contact pin of a corresponding plug to allow said first contact pin of the corresponding plug to electrically connect to a power supply, wherein the socket is configured such that when the socket is in the unconnected configuration the first terminal is electrically unconnected with the power supply and when the socket is in the connected configuration the first terminal is electrically connected with the power supply.

4. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket further comprises a housing.

5. An electrical socket according to claim 4, wherein the socket housing has a rear face, the socket being adapted to receive the corresponding plug along a coupling axis, the coupling axis for the socket being substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing.

6. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket further comprises biasing means for biasing the moveable means towards its first position.

7. An electrical socket according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first element is adapted to cooperate with the second element via magnetic attraction.

8. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is magnetic.

9. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is magnetic and the other of the first and second elements is magnetic or ferro-magnetic.

10. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket has a recess for receiving at least part of the second element of a corresponding plug when the plug is connected with the socket.

11. An electrical socket according to claim 10, wherein the socket housing has a rear face, wherein the recess of the socket is arranged such that the second element is insertable in the recess along an axis parallel with the rear face.

12. An electrical socket according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the recess is shaped and sized to match the cross-sectional shape and size of the second element of a corresponding plug.

13. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket further comprises at least a first pin receiving recess for receiving a first contact pin of a corresponding plug.

14. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket comprises at least first and second pin receiving recesses for receiving first and second contact pins of a corresponding plug respectively.

15. An electrical socket according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the socket housing has a rear face, and wherein the or each pin receiving recess of the socket is arranged such that the corresponding contact pin is insertable in the recess along an axis parallel with the rear face.

16. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the moveable means comprises at least a first contacting element configured to electrically couple with a contact of an electric current source when the moveable means is in its second position.

17. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the moveable means has first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with first and second contacts of an electric current source respectively when the moveable means is in the second position.

18. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the moveable means has first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with first and second contacts of an electric current source respectively when the moveable means is in the second position, the first contacting element being adapted to couple with a live line and the second contacting element being adapted to couple with a neutral line of the current source respectively.

19. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket further comprises at least a first terminal for contacting a first contact pin of a corresponding plug.

20. An electrical socket according to claim 19, wherein the socket further comprises at least a first pin receiving recess for receiving a first contact pin of a corresponding plug, the first terminal being located within the pin receiving recess and obstructing said recess to prevent insertion therein of any object beyond the first terminal.

21. An electrical socket according to claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the at least a first terminal is moveable, the socket further comprising a stop arranged between the at least a first terminal and the moveable means to prevent any portion of the at least a first terminal from moving beyond the stop.

22. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket further comprises at least first and second terminals for contacting first and second contact pins of a corresponding plug respectively.

23. An electrical socket according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the moveable means further comprises at least a first contacting element configured to electrically couple with the first terminal when the moveable means is in its second position.

24. An electrical socket according to claim 22, wherein the moveable means further comprises first and second contacting elements configured to electrically couple with the first and second terminals respectively when the moveable means is in its second position.

25. An electrical socket according to any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the or each terminal comprises a first contact plate for contacting the corresponding contacting element of the moveable means and a second contact plate for contacting the corresponding contact pin of a plug, the first and second contact plates being electrically coupled by biasing means for biasing the second contact plate away from the first contact plate.

26. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the moveable means further comprises an insulating body portion.

27. An electrical socket according to any of claims 16 to 26, wherein the moveable means comprises an insulating body portion, the insulating body portion spacing the first contacting element and first element of the moveable means apart from one another.

28. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket further comprises at least an electrically conducting track for each of live, neutral and earth of a power supply source.

29. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket housing has a rear face, the socket being adapted to receive the corresponding plug along a coupling axis, the coupling axis for the socket being substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing, and wherein the first element is moveable between its first position and second position along an axis substantially parallel with the coupling axis.

30. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket housing has a rear face, the socket being adapted to receive the corresponding plug along a coupling axis, the coupling axis for the socket being substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing, and wherein the first element is moveable between its first position and second position along an axis substantially perpendicular to the coupling axis.

31. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the socket is configured such that the first element is electrically coupled to earth at least when the moveable means is in the second position.

32. An electrical socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a recessed area for receiving the housing of one or more corresponding plugs, when the or each plug is connected with a corresponding socket.

33. An electrical socket according to claim 32, wherein the recessed area has a base that is substantially parallel with the rear face of the socket housing, the base of the recessed area being substantially planar.

34. An electrical connection socket outlet comprising at least one socket according to any of claims 1 to 33.

35. An electrical connection socket outlet according to claim 34, wherein the at least one socket is configured for installation in a standard socket back box.

36. A plug for connection with a socket according to any of claims 1 to 33, wherein the plug comprises a second element adapted to cooperate via magnetic force with the first element of the socket when the plug is connected with the socket.

37. A plug according to claim 36, wherein the second element is adapted to cooperate with the first element via magnetic attraction.

38. A plug according to claim 37, wherein the second element is magnetic or ferromagnetic.

39. A plug according to any of claims 36 to 38, wherein at least part of the second element is shaped and sized to match the cross-sectional shape and size of the recess of the socket for receiving the second element.

40. A plug according to any of claims 36 to 39, wherein the plug further comprises at least a first contact pin for contacting a first terminal of the socket.

41. A plug according to claim 40, wherein the plug further comprises a second contact pin for contacting a second terminal of the socket.

42. A plug according to claim 41, wherein the plug further comprises a third contact pin for contacting a third terminal of the socket.

43. A plug according to any of claims 36 to 42, the plug further comprising a plug housing.

44. A plug according to claim 43, wherein the plug housing has a rear face which is planar, the rear face being configured to be received flush against the planar base of the recessed area of the socket when the plug is connected with a socket.

45. A plug according to claim 43 or 44 wherein the plug housing has first and second side faces, each being planar.

46. A plug according to any of claims 43 to 45, wherein the or each contact pin is arranged such that the plug can only be connected with a corresponding socket in the correct orientation.

47. A plug according to any of claims 36 to 46, wherein the plug has a housing which is sized and shaped to fit inside a British standard plug.

48. A dedicated device for connection with a socket according to any of claims 1 to 33, wherein the device comprises a plug according to any of claims 37 to 47 and a functioning part which performs at least one function.

49. A plug aid for connection with a target socket, the plug aid comprising a housing, the plug aid having at least one pin adapted to be received by a target socket and a socket formed in the plug aid housing for removably receiving a plug housing within the plug aid housing.

50. A plug aid according to claim 49, wherein the socket for removably receiving a plug housing is a socket according to any of claims 1 to 33.

51. A plug aid according to claim 49 or 50, wherein the plug aid housing has a plug receiving recess, the plug receiving recess being sized and shaped to fully receive the housing of a corresponding plug therein.

52. A plug aid according to any of claim 50 or 51, wherein the moveable means comprises a moveable trigger disposed in the path of insertion of the corresponding plug into the socket, the moveable means further comprising an electrically conducting switch contact that moves on movement of the moveable trigger, the moveable trigger being engageable by the plug housing on insertion such that engagement with the plug housing causes the moveable trigger to move from a first position to a second position, wherein in the second position the switch contact closes a connection between the target socket and the plug so that electric current can be transmitted to the plug.

53. A plug aid according to any of claims 49 to 52 wherein the plug aid is adapted to receive a plug according to any of claims 36 to 47.

54. A plug aid according to any of claims 49 to 53, wherein the plug aid housing is no larger than a normal plug housing for a plug conforming with BS 1363.

55. A plug aid according to any of claims 49 to 54, wherein the plug aid includes a first element adapted to cooperate via magnetic attraction with a second element carried by a corresponding plug such that the plug housing can be retained within the plug aid housing.

56. A device for connection with a socket, wherein the device comprises a housing and at least a first plug extending directly from the housing for coupling directly with a first socket.

57. A device according to claim 56, wherein the device further comprises a second plug extending directly from the housing for coupling with a second socket.

58. A device for connection with a socket according to any of claims 1 to 33, wherein the device comprises a housing and at least a first plug according to any of claims 36 to 47 extending directly from the housing for coupling directly with the socket.

59. A kit comprising at least one electrical socket according to any of claims 1 to 33 in combination with at least one plug according to any of claims 36 to 47.

60. A kit according to claim 59, wherein the kit further comprises clamp means for clamping the or each plug to the socket.

61. A socket as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.

62. A socket outlet as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.

63. A plug as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.

64. A dedicated device as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.

65. A plug aid as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.

66. A kit as hereinbefore described with reference to any suitable combination of the accompanying drawings.