WO1997002632A1

WO1997002632A1 - An electrical power supply device

Info

Publication number: WO1997002632A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001557
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Hazzard
Original assignee: Bridisco Limited
Priority date: 1995-07-01
Filing date: 1996-06-27
Publication date: 1997-01-23
Also published as: GB2303000B; GB9513436D0; GB2303000A; AU6237196A

Abstract

An electrical power supply device comprising an upright rigid or semi-rigid stand (10), an electrical plug socket (11) attached to the upper end of the stand (10) and a clip or clamp (12) attached to the lower end thereof whereby the device may be attached to a work top. A supply cable (13) conducts electrical power to the socket (11) and in use when an electrical appliance is plugged into the socket (11) the supply cable of the appliance is retained, to a large extent, well above the work top and any work piece thereon.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY DEVICE

THIS INVENTION concerns an electrical power supply device to enable connection of an electrical appliance to a power supply above a surface or work top in such a manner as to minimise the amount of loose electrical cable residing on or trailing across the surface or work top.

One example of the application of such a device is a collapsible folding workbench on which work pieces are to be drilled or cut using hand-held power tools and where, for safety, it is of considerable advantage to avoid having loose cable trailing across the workbench and perhaps being contacted by a drill bit or cutting edge.

Another example is an ironing board whereon a trailing cable can become scorched if it comes into contact with the soleplate of the iron and can become entangled with or cause creasing of items to be ironed.

Conventionally, to avoid the danger of cutting across an electrical cable, the users of power tools often resort to placing the supply cable over the shoulder so that it rises upwardly from the tool and cannot trail across the work surface. However, this practice is largely unsatisfactory since the cable can slip down onto the work surface unexpectedly when a cutting blade is moving across the bench. According to the present invention there is provided an electrical power supply device comprising an upright member having upper and lower ends respectively, a plug socket attached to the member at or adjacent the upper end thereof and means at or adjacent the lower end thereof for attachment to a surface or the edge of a work top, and a power supply cable connected to the plug socket.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawing which illustrates an electrical power supply device made in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing the device essentially comprises an upright rigid stand 10, preferably tubular and conveniently of plastics material and having a height of approximately 500mm.

Fixed to the top of the member 10 is a standard British three-pin plug socket of the type often found at one end of a so- called "flying lead". At the bottom end of the stand 10 is a fitting 12 such as the type of clip often found used with folding workbenches and which is designed to fit removably within one or more apertures in the work surface. Alternatively, the clip 12 may be replaced by a screwed or sprung clamp which can be attached simply to the horizontal edge of a work surface or bench.

An electrical supply cable 13 is connected internally to the terminals of the socket 11 and extends downwardly through the stand 10 to emerge through an aperture 14 adjacent the lower end of the stand, and the free end of the cable 13 is connected to a standard three-pin plug.

In use, therefore, it can be seen that the device can be attached to a workbench, the cable 13 being connected to the power supply and thus trailing beneath the work surface and supplying power to the elevated socket 1 1 . If required , the stand 10 may be telescopically extendible as shown schematically thus to enable the user to select the height of the socket 11 above the workbench.

An appliance plugged into the socket 1 1 may then be used with increased safety since the supply cable extending from the socket to the appliance is retained, to a large extent, well above the work piece and away from any cutting tools. The socket 11 is shown "inverted" so that the lead from a plug to its appliance is directed upwardly from the top of the device.

This device has particular advantage when used in conjunction with coiled cable the effective length of which extends and retracts as the appliance is moved so that no part of the cable should lie across the work surface.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only. For example, any form of attachment at the lower end of the stand 10 may be used according to the type of work surface present. Furthermore, the cable 13 may be tied or stapled to the outer surface of stand 10 where the latter is a solid member rather than tubular.

The upper end of the stand 10 may carry two or more electrical plug sockets and may incorporate a powerbreaker. The stand 10 may comprise two or more articulated sections thus to enable it to be manoeuvred into different positions in relation to the work surface as required.

Claims

1. An electrical power supply device comprising an upright member having upper and lower ends respectively, a plug socket attached to the member at or adjacent the upper end thereof and means at or adjacent the lower end thereof for attachment to a surface or the edge of a work top, and a power supply cable connected to the plug socket.

2. An electrical power supply device according to Claim 1 , wherein the upright member is tubular and accommodates therewithin the power supply cable connected to the plug socket.

3. An electrical power supply device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the upright member is telescopically extendible.

4. An electrical power supply device according to any of one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the attachment means at or adjacent the lower end of the upright member is a clip adapted to fit removably within an aperture in a work surface.

5. An electrical power supply device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the attachment means at or adjacent the lower end of the upright member is a screwed or sprung clamp adapted for attachment to the horizontal edge of a work surface or bench.

6. An electrical power supply device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, including an aperture in the wall of the upright member at or adjacent the lower end thereof through which the power supply cable emerges to extend away from the device.

7. An electrical power supply device according to Claim 1 , wherein the power supply cable is tied or stapled to the outer surface of the upright member.

8. An electrical power supply device according to any preceding Claim, including two or more electrical plug sockets attached to the upright member at or in the region of its upper end.

9. An electrical power supply device according to Claim 1 , wherein the plug socket incorporates a power breaker.

10. An electrical power supply device according to any preceding claim, wherein the upright member comprises two or more articulated sections wherein the upper end thereof may be manoeuvred to different positions in relation to the work surface to which it is to be attached.

11. An electrical power supply device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.