JP2002042997A - Universal adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a universal adaptor not bulky and manufacturable at a low cost without requiring a large quantity of metal. SOLUTION: This universal adaptor 10 comprises a body 12 and a pair of conductive pins 20. The body comprises at least a first end part 14 and a second end part 12. The first end part has output plug holes, and at least two of the output socket holes are electrically connected to the pins 20. The pins can be selectively extended from one of four pairs of openings 24 and 26 provided on the second end part of the body so as to be engaged with a wall plug, and at least two pairs of the openings are inclined with an angle, whereby the adaptor can be engaged with a plurality of types of wall plug.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to universal adapters and, more particularly, to adapters with variously constructed wall sockets that can be used in various countries around the world.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, there are various portable electric devices that a user can use while traveling in another country. Such devices include portable computers, mobile phones and facsimile machines. To accommodate the differences in power supply voltages in each city, many of these devices are equipped with built-in voltage converters, allowing the user to step up or down the city power supply voltage as needed.

Another problem associated with using such equipment in various countries is that the shape and arrangement of the hole in the wall socket varies from country to country. Currently, there are four types of wall socket arrangements in the world. In the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., the wall socket is of the BS type and has three rectangular holes. In the United States, Canada, Japan and Taiwan, etc., the wall socket is UL-type and has two flat holes. In other European countries, the wall socket is V
It is of the DE type and has two round holes. In Australia and New Zealand, the wall socket is SA
It is A-shaped and has two inclined flat holes.

[0004] In view of the foregoing, various electrical adapters have been devised that allow many electrical appliances to be used worldwide. However, many adapters are somewhat bulky, at least as compared to conventional electrical plugs and sockets. Furthermore, the manufacture of such adapter components requires a relatively large amount of metal, which increases manufacturing costs.

[0005] US Patent 5,159,
No. 545 describes a universal adapter that includes a casing and three plugs and that can selectively advance the plug to engage a hole in a wall socket. Each of these three plugs is made up of differently shaped pins, allowing the adapter to be plugged into different wall sockets in different countries. However, various plugs are utilized to plug into wall sockets having various shapes and arrangements of holes. In addition, such an adapter has the same problem as described above, that is, it is bulky and requires a lot of metal for manufacturing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a universal adapter which reduces the aforementioned problems, or at least to provide a publicly useful alternative.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a universal adapter having a body and a pair of conductive pin members, the body having at least a first end and a second end. At least two holes are provided in the first end, the holes adapted to engage a plug of the electrical device, each hole being one of the electrically conductive pin members.
An electrically conductive pin member can be selectively extended through one of a plurality of pairs of openings provided at the second end to engage the wall socket, and
The pair of apertures are angled with respect to each other so that the adapter can engage with multiple types of wall sockets, and the adapter can be made of a third electrically insulating material.
A third pin member extending through an opening in the second end of the body to engage a ground pin hole in the wall socket.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a universal adapter having a main body and a pair of conductive pin members, the main body having at least a first end and a second end, At least two holes are provided at the end, wherein the holes are adapted to engage a plug of an electrical device, each hole being electrically connected to one of the electrically conductive pin members, The sex pin member engages the wall socket,
The second end may selectively extend through one of a plurality of pairs of openings provided in the second end, wherein at least two pairs of the openings are of different dimensions, whereby the adapter may be provided with a plurality of types of wall sockets. And the adapter further comprises a third pin member made of an electrically insulating material, the third pin member being engaged with a second pin of the body to engage the ground pin hole of the wall socket. It can extend through an end opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a universal adapter having a main body and a pair of conductive pin members, wherein the main body has at least a first end and a second end, At least two holes are provided at the end, wherein the holes are adapted to engage a plug of an electrical device, the holes are electrically connected to a pin member, and the pin member engages a wall socket. As such, each of the pin members may extend selectively through one of a plurality of pairs of apertures provided at the second end, wherein each pin member extends through one of the pairs of apertures. An adapter member can be engaged, whereby the adapter can engage a plurality of wall sockets.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a universal adapter having a main body and a pair of conductive pin members, wherein the main body has at least a first end and a second end, At least two holes are provided at the end, the holes being adapted to engage a plug of the electrical device, the holes being electrically connected to the pin member, wherein the pin member comprises:
A second end may be selectively extended through one of a plurality of pairs of openings provided in the second end to engage the wall socket, the second end being at least a first surface substantially orthogonal to each other. And at least one pair of openings are provided in each of the first and second surfaces.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

1 to 3 show a first universal adapter according to the invention, designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The adapter 10 includes a main body 12 including a first main body 14, a second main body 16, and a third main body 18.
Having. Extending from the first body 14 are a pair of pins 20 made of a conductive material, for example, copper. Pins 20 can be inserted therein to obtain electricity from the wall socket.

On the main surface 28 of the first main body 14, three pairs of openings 22, 24 and 26 are provided. An opening 24 ′ is similarly provided above the main surface 28 of the first body portion 14 and is intended for use with the opening 24. When the first body part 14 and the second body part 16 are engaged with each other, the first body part 14 and the second body part 16 are combined to form a pair of circular openings 30 in the sub surface 32.

It can be seen that opening 22 is at right angles to opening 24. The opening 26 is inclined at an acute angle to the opening 24 and at an obtuse angle to the opening 22. It can be seen that the openings 22 and 26 have substantially the same shape and dimensions, but the openings 24 and 24 'have larger dimensions. Further, openings 22, 24, 24 'and 2
The hole 30 is circular while the 6 is square.

In FIG. 1, a pair of conductive pins 20
From the inside of the main body 12 of the adapter 10, the first main body 1
It can be seen that it escapes from the main surface 28 of 4 and extends through the opening 22. This arrangement allows the adapter 10 to be plugged into UL-type wall sockets used in the United States, Canada, Japan and Taiwan. In order to enable the adapter 10 to engage various types of wall sockets, the pins 20 are also moved from within the body portion 12 of the adapter 10 to the first body portion 14 in a manner described below.
, And can selectively extend through each of the pair of openings 24, 26 and 30.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the third body portion 18 of the body portion 12 of the adapter 10 has a major surface 34 in which a number of socket holes 36 and 36 'are provided. For example, various types of plugs (2 pin type or 3 pin type, flat pin type or round pin type) of an electric device (not shown) may be in electrical connection with the pin 20. It can be seen that the pins can be inserted. Note that socket hole 36 'is always used regardless of the type of plug used and is the only socket hole in electrical connection with pin 20. With this arrangement, the adapter 10 is inserted into the wall socket, and the plug of the electric device is inserted into the appropriate socket hole 3 of the adapter 10.
6, 36 ', power for operating the electric equipment can be obtained from a general power supply.

The first main body 14 has a pair of engaging claws 38 on the side wall 40 (only one of them is shown in FIG. 3).
have. Each of the claws 38 connects the first body 14 to the second
In order to releasably engage with the main body 16, a concave portion 42 of the side wall 44 of the second main body 16 (in FIG.
Only one is shown). The engagement between the pawl 38 and the recess 42 can be manually released so that the position of the pin 20 can be changed as needed.

The third main body 18 is similarly connected to the second main body 16.
Has a pair of engaging claws 46 that can be engaged with the corresponding engaging surfaces 48 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Nail 46 and surface 48
Once engaged, it cannot be accessed from the outside, so once assembled, the engagement between the second body 16 and the third body 18 cannot be manually released.

FIGS. 4-6 show the internal electrical connections between the conductive pins 20 and the clips 50 in the socket holes 36 '. It can be seen that each pin 20 is connected to one end of each wire 52 via a connection block 54. The connection block 54 is made of an electrically insulating material, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The other end of the electric wire 52 is fixed to a conductive small contact piece 56 that is in electrical contact with the conductive contact piece 58 of the clip 50. With this arrangement, the pin 20 and the clip 5
0 is in an electrically connected state with each other.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a method of connecting an electric wire 52 to a pin 20 in a connection block 54.
The connection block 54 comprises a chamber 60 with two inlets.
It can be seen that One end of the pin 20 is inserted into the chamber 60 via one of the inlets, and one end of the electric wire 52 is inserted into the chamber 60 via the other of the inlet. To make electrical contact, the pin 20 contacts an exposed copper wire of the wire 52 in the chamber.

An adapter pin made of an electrically insulating material is provided so that the pin 20 can engage various types of wall sockets. FIGS. 8A to 9B show a first type of the adapter pin 62. Adapter pin 62
Includes a circular base 64, an elongated substantially cylindrical pin body 66 and a hemispherical head 68. Base 6
A central slot 70 is provided through the length of the pin body 66 from 4 to elongated. The slots 70 of the adapter pins 62 are sized and shaped to receive the conductive pins 20, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9B. FIG. 9B
When the pin 20 engages the adapter pin 62 as shown in FIG. 5, the base 64 of the adapter pin 62 is located on the connection block 54 and the two elongate surfaces 72 of the pin 20.
Is exposed to the outside. This ensures that when the pin 20 is inserted into the wall socket of the circular hole, it will be in electrical contact with the wall socket.

Wall sockets in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., are provided with three rectangular holes, the dimensions of which are larger than the dimensions of the pins 20 of the adapter herein. In particular, the wall socket in this area includes a ground pin hole for inserting a ground pin. Such wall sockets have a built-in safety mechanism so that plugs without ground pins cannot be inserted. To successfully cope with this situation, FIG. 10A and FIG.
As shown in B, an adapter ground pin 74 is provided. The adapter ground pin 74 is made of an electrically insulating material and includes a substantially rectangular prism-shaped elongated pin body 76 and a rectangular block 78. The adapter ground pin 74 has a size and shape suitable for insertion into the ground pin hole of the BS type wall socket.

Another type of adapter pin is shown in FIGS. 11A-12B and is designated by reference numeral 80. Such an adapter pin 80 has a base 82 and an elongated pin body 84. A recess 86 is provided on one side of the elongate surface of the pin body 84 and extends in the form of a slot 88 through the base 82 of the adapter 80. Therefore, the conductive pin 20 is
The slot 88 can be accommodated through the slot 88 from under the base 82 in the concave portion 86. Pin 20 to adapter pin 8
A projection 90 is provided in the recess 86 for better locking to zero so as to engage an opening 92 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 7A) of the corresponding size and shape of the pin 20. It has become. When the pin 20 engages the adapter pin 80, the pin 20 and the elongate pin body 84 of the adapter pin 80 combine to provide a substantially rectangular shape with the major elongate surface of the pin 20 exposed to the outside. Form a prism. That is, the mated pin 20 and the adapter pin 80 can be inserted into a wall socket having a rectangular hole to establish electrical contact.

The adapter pins 62, 80 and the adapter ground pin 74 can be housed within the body 12 of the adapter 10 when not in use. In particular, as shown in FIG. 13, the adapter ground pin 74 can be housed in a cavity in the lower part of the first body part 14. As shown in FIG. 14, the adapter pin 62 can be accommodated in the elongated circular hole 94 of the second main body 16. For the adapter pin 80,
It can be accommodated in the elongated rectangular hole 96 of the second main body 16. Hole 9
Since the dimension of 4 is smaller than the base 64 of each of the adapter pins 62, the base 64 remains outside the hole 94 when the adapter pin 62 is received in the hole 94. Similarly,
Since the size of the hole 96 is smaller than the base 82 of the adapter pin 80, the base 82 remains outside the hole 96 when the adapter pin 80 is received in the hole 96. That is,
These pins 62, 74 and 80 can be taken out and used as needed.

FIGS. 15A to 15C show the arrangement of the pins 20 and the electric wires 52 when the universal adapter 10 is inserted into a UL type wall socket used in the United States, Canada, Japan and Taiwan. In this configuration,
Pin 20 does not engage with either adapter pin 62 or 80 and extends through opening 22 in first body portion 14 of adapter 10.

FIGS. 16A to 16C show the arrangement of the pins 20 and the electric wires 52 when the universal adapter 10 is inserted into a VDE-type wall socket used in European countries (excluding the United Kingdom). In this configuration, the conductive pin 20 engages an adapter pin 62 that is electrically insulated in the manner described above, and is a substantially cylindrical suitable for insertion into a circular hole in a VDE-type wall socket. It has an external shape. The adapter pin 62 and the pin 20 extend from the inside of the adapter 10 through the opening 30 in the sub surface 32 of the first main body 14.

FIGS. 17A to 17C illustrate the pin 20 when the universal adapter 10 is plugged into a SAA type wall socket with two inclined flat holes, as used in Australia and New Zealand. And the arrangement of the electric wires 52. In this arrangement, the pin 20 does not engage with either of the adapter pins 62 or 80 and extends through the opening 26 in the first body 14 of the adapter 10.

FIGS. 18A to 18C show the case where the universal adapter 10 is plugged into a BS type wall socket used in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and the like.
4 shows an arrangement of the pins 20 and the electric wires 52. Such a wall socket has three rectangular holes, the central one of which is for receiving a ground pin. In this configuration, an electrically insulating adapter ground pin 74 extends through the opening 24 ′ of the first body 14 of the adapter 10. Pin 20 engages an electrically insulated adapter pin 80 that has the shape of a larger rectangular prism. The adapter pin 80 engaging with the pin 20 is
It extends through an opening 24 in the first body 14 of the adapter 10.

The present invention provides a compact universal adapter 10 that can be easily adjusted for use in connection with various types of wall sockets around the world, with various universal plugs 36, 36 'inserted into its socket holes 36, 36'. It can be seen that electricity can be supplied to the electrical equipment. Adapter 10 is not significantly larger than conventional electrical plugs and is relatively lightweight because the number of metal components is minimized. In addition, the use of metal components has been reduced as much as possible,
Manufacturing costs are lower than prior art adapters.

A second universal adapter 10X according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 19A to 19B. First
Has the same overall configuration as that of the adapter 10 and has an equivalent part represented by the same reference numeral with the letter X attached.
The only major difference is that the conductive pin 20X and the clip (not shown, but equivalent to the clip 50 described above)
There is an internal electrical connection between.

It can be seen that each pin 20X has a slightly enlarged cylindrical butt end 54X formed integrally and electrically conductive. The aforementioned electric wire 52
It is replaced by a pair of strip-shaped copper conductors 57, each of which includes a small contact piece 56X as an integral part thereof. As shown, the conductors 57 are arranged in parallel and arranged vertically on the inner main surface of the second main body 16X, each of which has a 3 for positioning by a corresponding projection on the surface.
One hole is formed. Each conductor 57 having four elastically deformable contact tabs 57A-57D is provided integrally along the longitudinal direction, and the tabs are folded over the main body of the conductor 57, and the first main body portion 14X Opening 22
X, 24X, 26X and 30X.

As described above, the two main portions 14X and 16X and the openings 22X and 2X
Pin 20 previously inserted through 4X or 26X
When the Xs are engaged with each other, the pin ends 54X easily come into elastic contact with the corresponding tabs 57A, 57B or 57C. This provides an electrical connection via a strip 56X to each clip of pin 20X (equivalent to clip 50 described above).

The remaining tabs 57D have corresponding openings 30X
And is provided to contact a pin 20X whose shape is changed by the adapter pin 62 in the manner described above.

The foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the invention, and it will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a universal adapter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1, with conductive pins removed for ease of understanding.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a first main body and a second main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a second main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1, showing connection to an output socket clip.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the intermediate body of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1, showing the connection of an output socket clip to a conductive pin via a small connecting piece;

FIG. 7A shows a connection between a connection piece and a conductive pin shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7B further illustrates the connection between the connection piece and the conductive pin shown in FIG. 6;

8A is a plan view of a first type of adapter pin used in the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 8B is a side view of the first type of adapter pin shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of the first type of adapter pin taken along line AA of FIG. 8B.

9A is a side view of the first type of adapter pin shown in FIG. 8A connected to an electrical wire.

FIG. 9B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a side view of a ground pin used in the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10B is a plan view of the ground pin shown in FIG. 10A.

11A is a longitudinal sectional view of a second type of adapter pin used in the universal adapter shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 11B is a plan view of the second type of adapter pin shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is a plan view of the second type of adapter pin shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing engagement between conductive legs of a second type of adapter pin shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12B is a plan view showing engagement between conductive legs of the second type adapter pin shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 13 shows a first example of the universal adapter shown in FIG.
Fig. 3 shows the accommodation of a ground pin in a main body.

FIG. 14 shows a second example of the universal adapter shown in FIG.
4 shows the accommodation of an adapter pin in a main body.

FIG. 15A shows a case where the conductive legs have the first configuration.
FIG. 7 is a rear view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 15B shows a case where the conductive legs have the first configuration.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 15C is a plan sectional view of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 15B.

FIG. 16A shows a case where the conductive legs have the second configuration.
FIG. 6 is a rear view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 16B shows a case where the conductive legs have the second configuration.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 16C is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 16B.

FIG. 17A shows a case where the conductive legs have a third configuration;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 17B shows a case where the conductive legs have the third configuration.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 17C is a plan sectional view of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 17B.

FIG. 18A shows a case where the conductive legs have a fourth configuration.
FIG. 6 is a rear view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 18B shows a case where the conductive legs have a fourth configuration.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a first main body of the universal adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 18C is a bottom sectional view of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 18B.

FIG. 19A is an exploded view of a slightly different universal adapter according to the present invention.

FIG. 19B is a similar exploded view of the universal adapter shown in FIG. 19A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Adapter 12 Main body part 14 1st main body part 16 2nd main body part 18 3rd main body part 20 pin 24 opening 24 'opening 26 opening 28 main surface 30 hole / opening 34 main surface 36 socket hole 36' socket hole 38 engaging claw 42 concave portion 44 side wall 46 engaging claw 48 engaging surface 50 clip 52 electric wire 54 connection block 56 small contact piece 58 contact piece 60 chamber 62 adapter pin 64 circular base 66 pin body 68 hemispherical head 70 center slot 72 pin 20 surface 74 Adapter ground pin 76 Pin body 78 Rectangular block 80 Other adapter pin 82 Base 84 Pin body 86 Recess 90 Projection 92 Opening 94 Hole 96 Rectangular hole 10X Second universal adapter 54X Cylindrical butt end 57 Conductor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5E087 EE02 EE10 FF02 FF06 HH01 HH07 MM09 PP02 QQ03 RR28 RR49

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A universal adapter comprising a body and a pair of conductive pin members, the body having at least a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has at least two holes. Wherein the holes are adapted to engage a plug of an electrical device, each of the holes being electrically connected to one of the electrically conductive pin members, wherein the conductive pin A member may selectively extend through one of a plurality of pairs of openings provided in the second end to engage the wall socket, the at least two pairs of openings being angled with respect to each other. Slanted, whereby the adapter can engage a plurality of types of wall sockets, the adapter further comprising a third pin member made of an electrically insulating material; The member is a ground pin hole of the wall socket. A universal adapter extending through an opening in the second end of the body to engage the main body. 2. The universal adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of openings is orthogonal to another said pair of openings. 3. The universal adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of openings is inclined at an acute angle with respect to another said pair of openings. 4. The universal adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of apertures is oblique at an obtuse angle to another of said pair of apertures. 5. The universal adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least three pairs of openings are provided in the second end. 6. The universal adapter according to claim 5, wherein the at least three pairs of openings provided at the second end are inclined at an angle to each other. 7. The universal adapter according to claim 1, wherein the ground pin member can be completely accommodated inside the main body. 8. The universal adapter according to claim 1, wherein the main body has two main body members that can be releasably engaged. 9. A universal adapter comprising a main body and a pair of conductive pin members, wherein the main body has at least a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end has at least two holes. Wherein the holes are adapted to engage with a plug of an electrical device, each of the holes being electrically connected to one of the electrically conductive pin members, Can selectively extend through one of a plurality of pairs of openings provided in said second end to engage a wall socket, said at least two pairs of openings being of different dimensions; Thereby, the adapter can engage a plurality of types of wall sockets, the adapter further comprising a third pin member made of an electrically insulating material, wherein the third pin member is a wall socket. The book so that it engages with the ground pin hole of A universal adapter capable of extending through an opening in said second end of the body. 10. The universal adapter according to claim 9, wherein said opening is substantially rectangular. 11. The universal adapter according to claim 9, wherein the second end has at least three pairs of openings. 12. The universal adapter according to claim 9, wherein the ground pin member can be completely accommodated inside the main body. 13. The body according to claim 2, wherein said body is releasably engageable.
The universal adapter according to claim 9, comprising one main body member. 14. A universal adapter comprising a body and a pair of conductive pin members, the body having at least a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has at least two holes. Wherein the hole is adapted to engage a plug of an electrical device, the hole is electrically connected to the pin member, and the pin member is engaged with a wall socket. Selectively extending through one of a plurality of pairs of openings provided in the second end;
When the pin members extend through one of the mating openings, each of the pin members can engage an adapter member, thereby enabling the adapter to engage a plurality of wall sockets. A universal adapter. 15. The universal adapter according to claim 14, wherein the pin member is engageable with two types of adapter members. 16. The universal adapter according to claim 14, wherein said adapter member has a base member and an elongated member, said elongated member being substantially cylindrical. 17. The universal adapter according to claim 16, wherein the adapter member has a slot for inserting the pin member. 18. The universal adapter according to claim 14, wherein the adapter member has a base member and an elongated member, the elongated member having a substantially rectangular prism shape. 19. The universal adapter according to claim 18, wherein the adapter member has a recess on one of its elongate surfaces for receiving the pin member. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the body is releasably engageable.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the main body has two main members.
Universal adapter according to 1. 21. The universal adapter according to claim 20, wherein the adapter member can be completely accommodated inside the main body. 22. The universal adapter according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said body members has a plurality of recesses each for accommodating at least one of said adapter members. 23. A universal adapter comprising a body and a pair of conductive pin members, the body having at least a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has at least two holes. The hole is adapted to engage with a plug of an electrical device, the hole is electrically connected to the pin member, and the pin member is engaged with a wall socket. The second end may extend selectively through one of a plurality of pairs of apertures provided in the second end, the second end being at least a first one substantially orthogonal to each other.
A surface and a second surface, at least one pair of openings,
A universal adapter provided on each of the first and second surfaces. 24. The universal adapter according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of pairs of openings are provided on the second surface. 25. The pair of openings provided in the first surface are substantially circular.
Universal adapter according to 1. 26. The universal adapter according to claim 24, wherein at least three pairs of openings are provided in the second surface. 27. The universal adapter according to claim 23, wherein an opening is provided in the second surface, and a ground pin member extends through the opening. 28. The universal adapter according to claim 27, wherein said ground pin member is made of an electrically insulating material. 29. The universal adapter according to claim 27, wherein the ground pin member is completely housed inside the main body. 30. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the body is releasably engageable.
24. The universal adapter according to claim 23, comprising two body members. 31. The device according to claim 31, wherein the body is releasably engageable.
The main body members are engaged with each other so that an electrical connection is made between the main body members and the main body members are easily brought into contact with a corresponding member or the one pin member. 24. The universal adapter according to any one of claims 1, 9, 14, and 23, wherein each hole of the first end is associated with an inner conductor. 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the conductor has components located on one internal surface of the body member and respectively aligned with the openings of the other body member. Universal adapter. 33. The universal adapter according to claim 32, wherein the conductor component is elastically deformable.