WO1996015567A1 - Plug, for use in electrical sockets, with an anti-shock device - Google Patents

Abstract

Plug, for use in electrical sockets, with an anti-shock device consisting of a box (7) in non-conductive material, similar to those existing on the market, with insulation sleeves (1) covering metal pins (2), which are projected when these are introduced into the slots of an electrical socket (6), thus preventing the user's coming into contact with electrical discharges upon accidentally touching them.

Description

Descriptive report of the Appliance Model Patent for a "PLUG, FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL SOCKETS, WITH AN ANTI-SHOCK DEVICE" This patent aims to protect a new design for 5.electrical plugs for use with general-purpose sockets regardless of shape or voltage.

The plugs currently in use are constructed in such a way that they offer little protection to their users, who are only too often the subject to electric 10.shocks of varying degrees of severity. Children between the ages of ten months and three years of age are the most frequent victims of this type of accident, followed by workers in industry and in civil construction who often suffer severe consequences owing to the high 15.voltages involved.

The cause of these accidents is exposure of the metal pins and the ease with which these can be touched at the moment in which they are being inserted into, or removed from, the current. In the case of 20.children, their natural curiosity makes them fall victim, as it leads them to touch everything within their reach. To solve the problems identified and considerably raise the degree of safety for the users, a "PLUG, FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL SOCKETS, WITH AN ANTI-SHOCK DEVICE" has been created, whose features make it much 5.superior to, and distinctly different from, models currently on the market.

The device consists of insulation sleeves on the metal pins, manufactured in plastic or other non- conductive material, which are projected from the box, as

10.the metal pins are being introduced into electrical sockets. These insulating sleeves are constantly kept constantly flush against the surface of the plug by means of two metallic springs located at their bases. In this manner the metallic pins are constantly covered by the

15.insulating sleeves, thus avoiding the risk of their transmitting electric shocks, even when they are touched.

The principle of the device can be applied to any model of electrical plug, regardless of the number of metallic pins, the shape, or the voltage of the current,

20.there being no need for any alterations to the existing electrical sockets.

Thus, the device is simple to use, cheap to manufacture, very useful, practical and functional, and provides advantages of safety and convenience for the

25.user. With a view to better elucidating the device diagrams are attached to this, though these are intended to serve a purely demonstrative purpose, and should not impose any form of limitation upon the scope of the 5. patent protection. What is desired is to safeguard the working principle of the anti-shock device.

(Observation: the diagrams are not to scale nor in proportion) .

Figure 1: shows an inside view, with the pins 10.connected to a socket.

Figure 2: The insulating sleeve.

Figure 3: Metal pins (either flat or cylindrical) .

Figure 4: Detail of the insulating sleeve, in 15. the at- rest position.

List of the principal components:

1 - Insulating sleeve.

2 - Metal pin

3 - Metal springs.

20. 4 - Ridge to support and position the pins.

5 - Screws to attach the pins to electrical wire.

6 - Slots in the electrical plug.

7 - Box (or body) to enclose the device.

8 - Screw to close the box.

25. The device which is the subject of this patent application consists of a box (7) made of non-conductive material similar to the boxes with male pins used in conventional plugs.

This box (7) provides the support required for other components of the device and forms the body of the 5-device. The metal pins are covered with insulating sleeves (1) which are projected from the interior of the box (7) at the time when they are introduced into the slots of an electrical socket (6) . The insulating sleeves (1) are pressed into the box (7) by means of resilient

10.metal springs (3) in such a way that they remain constantly in contact with the surface (or shield) of the electrical socket. The metal pins (2) and electrical wires are attached to the box (7) by means of screws (5) . To provide firmness to the metal pins (2) grooves with

15.ridges (4) have been made in the structure of the box (7) itself.

The closing of the box (7) is achieved by means of a lid with a screw (8) .

The device described, besides the advantages

20.it presents, conforms to all the criteria of novelty, and thus is worthy of the privilege bearing an Appliance Model Patent, since it brings together new elements and known elements, which are thus presented in a new form which possesses features not found in earlier plugs, and

25.thus constitutes a new product which is much superior to those currently on the market.

PETITIOK Appliance Model Patent for: "PLUG, FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL SOCKETS, WITH AN ANTI-SHOCK DEVICE" Characterized by a box (7) in non-conducting 5. material, forming the body of the plug, similar to plugs already existing on the market, equipped with metal pins (2) for insertion into the slots of an electrical socket (6) and insulating sleeves (1) which totally cover the pins (2) and serving as an anti-shock device, which ICproject from the body of the box (7) when the pins (2) are inserted into the slots of and electrical socket (6) . The insulating sleeves (1) are equipped with metal springs (3) which project them out of the box (7), thus keeping them constantly flush with the surface or shield 15.of the electrical socket in such a way that the metal pins are never in exposed, consequently avoiding any type of accidental contact, and thus any risk of electrical shocks.