WO2003010859A1

WO2003010859A1 - A domestic electrical distribution device

Info

Publication number: WO2003010859A1
Application number: PCT/IB2002/002856
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Selwyn Shapiro
Original assignee: Ririe, Ralph, Trevor
Priority date: 2001-07-24
Filing date: 2002-07-22
Publication date: 2003-02-06
Also published as: ZA200301830B

Abstract

This invention relates to a domestic electrical distribution device (10) which includes a plurality ofelectrical socket sets (22), each socket set (22) being arranged for receiving a complementary electrical plug, a connection arrangement (34) for electrically connecting the socket sets (22) toan electrical power supply, and a housing (12) in which the socket sets (22) are lcoated. The housing (12) includes two opposed socket walls (20), the socket walls having suitably positioned access openings (42) therethrough for permitting access for connection by the plugs to the socketsets (22), such that at least one socket set (22) is accessible by a complementary plug through one of the socket walls (20), and a plurality of socket sets (22) are accessible by complementary plugsthrough the other socket wall (20). Preferably, the device has different types of socket sets (22), so that the distribution device (10) is connectable to different types of electrical plugs.

Description

A DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION DEVICE

This invention relates to a domestic electrical distribution device.

According to the invention, there is provided a domestic electrical distribution device which includes:

a plurality of electrical socket sets, each socket set being arranged for receiving

a complementary electrical plug;

a connection arrangement for electrically connecting the socket sets to an

electrical power supply; and

a housing in which the socket sets are located, the housing including two

opposed socκet walls, the socket walls having suitably positioned access openings

therethrough for permitting access for connection by the plugs to the socket sets,

such that at least one socket set is accessible by a complementary plug through one

of the socket walls, and a plurality of socket sets are accessible by complementary

plugs through the other socket wall.

Typically, each socket set comprises a plurality of socket defining elements;, each socket defining element being for receiving a pin of a complementary electrical (olug, the access openings being arranged in sets of openings, such that each

socket se|t has a bet of access openings associated therewith, the access openings of each set of access openings being in register with the socket defining elements of the

associated socket set.

The distribution device may have different types of socket sets, so that

the distribution device is connectable to different types of electrical plugs. A plurality

of socket sets may be accessible through both of the socket walls.

The housing may be elongated, the sets of access openings in each of the socket wølls beiηg spaced in series along the length of the associated socket wall.

Both socket walls may have the same arrangement of access opening

sets, each access opening set being positioned in register with a corresponding access

opening set on the opposite socket wall, so that each pair of registering access

opening sets are for receiving the same type of electrical plug.

The access openings of each set of access openings may be out of

register with the access openings of the corresponding access opening set on the

opposite pocket wall. Preferably, the connection arrangement includes an electrical supply cable.

Conveniently, the housing may have a base for supporting the housing

on a support surface, the socket walls extending transversely from the base and

substantially parallel to each other.

At least some of the access openings may be provided with associated

shutter mpmbersj.

The distribution device may include a protection unit connected in series

between the connection arrangement and the socket sets. In one embodiment of the

invention,! the protection unit is a thermal cutout device.

At least one of the electrical socket sets may be for receiving a removable

plug-in module, such as a surge protection plug-in module.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference

to the accpmpaπ^ing diagt cu nmatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a domestic electrical

distribution device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the distribution device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the distribution device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, taken from an opposite side of the

distributiqn device; and

Figμre 5 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a further embodiment of a

domestic |electric|al distribution device in accordance with the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 10

generally indicates a domestic electrical distribution device in accordance with the

invention. The device 1 0 includes an elongated housing 1 2 which comprises two

longitudinal halves 1 4. The halves 14 are mouldings of a thermo-plastics material, the

halves 1 4 being connected together by means of snap-fit engagement of

complementary sockets (not shown) with spigots (not shown) provided on the halves

14, so that the housing 1 2 has a hollow interior.

The [housing 1 2 defines a base 1 8 and two opposed longitudinal socket walls 20 vVhich are parallels each other and extend transversely to the base 1 8. A

plurality of electrical connector sets, or socket sets 22, are housed in the hollow

interior of the housing 12, each socket set 22 comprising a number of socket defining

elements 40. Each socket defining element 40 is in the form of an elongated hollow copper tube which is shaped to receive a complementary pin (not shown) of an

electrical plug (not shown), in conventional fashion. In this example, the lengthwise

direction of all the socket defining elements 40 are parallel to the base 1 8 and normal to the socket wajlls 20. The device 10 is provided with a number of different types of socket (sets 22, which includes 3-pin socket sets 24, Euro-type socket sets 26, and

DlN-type socket sets 28.

Each socket defining element 40 has an associated registering access

opening 42 through one of the socket walls 20, to provide access by a complementary

pin of a suitable electrical plug to the socket defining element 40. The access

openings 42 are arranged in sets 44, such that each socket set 22 has a set 44 of

access openings 42 in register with it, to permit access for connection by a complementary electrical plug. Some of the access openings 42 are provided with

shutter membersj 46 for automatically closing the access openings 42 when no

electrical plugs are passed through the associated access opening sets 44.

As can best be seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, both socket

walls 20 have an arrangement of access opening sets 44 for permitting access to different types of socket sets 22. Each socket wall 20 thus provides access opening

sets 44 for three 3-pin connector sets 24, a Euro-type connector set 26 and a DlN- type connector set 28. The socket sets 22 and the associated access opening sets

44 are arranged similarly on both socket walls 20, so that each set 44 of access

openings ^-2 has an access opening set 44 in register therewith on the opposite socket

wall 20, eiach pair of registering access opening sets 44 being for plugs of the same

type. However, the socket defining elements 40 of each pair of registering

socket sets 22 are out of register with one another. This can best be seen in Figures

3 and 4 of the drawings, where access openings 42 on the obscured socket wall 20 are shown in broken lines. The socket defining elements 40 of each pair of registering

socket sets 22 are thus located in spaces defined between the socket defining elements 40 of the associated socket set 22. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, one

socket se 24 of each pair of 3-pin socket sets 24 is rotated through an angle of 60 °

relative to, the associated registering socket set 24, when the device 1 0 is viewed in

side view; normal to the socket wall 20, wnile the socket sets 22 of each pair of DlN-

type socket sets 28 and Euro-type socket sets 26 are at an angle of 90 ° to each

other.

The device 10 includes a number of conducting strips (not shown) which electrically connect the socket defining elements 40 to a connection arrangement in

the form of an electrical supply cable 34. Although not shown in the drawings, the

supply cable 34 is provided with an electrical plug for connection to a conventional

electrical ^ucket ('not shown), to connect the socket sets 22 to a mains power supply,

via the conducting strips and the supply cable 34. The socket defining elements 40

and the cqnductirig strips are integrally formed. Furthermore, one of the socket walls 20 provides a socket for receiving a plug-in module 48 which, in this case, provides

surge protection to the device 10. The device 10 further includes a protection unit in the form of a thermal cutout 50] which is connected in series between the socket sets 22 and the cable 34,

automaticjally to disconnect the socket sets 22 from the power supply in the event of overheating.

The base 1 8 has securing formations in the form of flanges 30 which

extend transversely to the walls 20. The flanges 30 have securing openings 32 for

accepting) tasteners, such as screws (not shown), to secure the housing 1 2 to a

support surface (not shown), such that the socket walls 20 rise perpendicularly from the support surface. The flanges 30 and securing openings 32 permit fastening of the

device 10| to a downwardly facing surface, such as the underside of a desk.

In figure 5, reference numeral 60 generally indicates a further

embodiment of a domestic electrical distribution device in accordance with the

invention,) with like reference numerals indicating like parts in Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 5. The device 60 of Figure 1 is substantially similar to the device 10 of Figures 1 to

4, except that the device 60 has no socket for receiving a plug-in module 48, and that the device 60 has two Euro-type connector sets 26 on each wall, instead of one.

It is an advantage of the distribution device described with reference to

the drawings that it provides for connection of a greater number of electrical plugs to

a power jsupply jthan similar conventional distribution devices, without its being substantially larger than conventional devices, as it provides access to connector sets

from both sides of the device. Space inside the housing 1 2 is used optimally, as the

socket defining elements 40 of each connector set 22 occupy the spaces between the socket defining elements 40 of the registering connector set 22. Furthermore, when

the housing 12 is secured on a level support surface, easy access to both sides of the

device is promoted. Thus, for instance, when the device 10 secured to the underside

of a desk, _[twice as many plugs can be connected to the device than would have been

the case yvith conventional distribution devices, where access to connector sets is

possible from only one side of the device.

Claims

Claims:

1 . A domestic electrical distribution device which includes:

a complementary electrical plug; a connection arrangement for electrically connecting the socket sets to an

electrical (power jsupply; and

a hjousing¹ in which¹ the socket sets are located, the housing including two

opposed socket walls, the socket walls having suitably positioned access openings therethrough for permitting access for connection by the plugs to the socket sets,

such that¹ at least one socket set is accessible by a complementary plug through one

plugs through the other socket wall.

2. A distribution device as claimed in claim 1 , in which each socket set

comprises a plurality of socket defining elements, each socket defining element being

for receiv|ing a p]in of a complementary electrical plug, the access openings being

arranged in sets of openings, such that each socket set has a set of access openings

associated therewith, the access openings of each set of access openings being in

register W_j ^'ith the socket defining elements of the associated socket set.

3. A distribution device as claimed in claim 2, which has different types of socket sets, so that the distribution device is connectable to different types of

electrical plugs.

4. A distribution|device as claimed in claim 2, in which a plurality of socket

sets are a'ccessible through both of the socket walls.

5. A distribution device as claimed in claim 4, in which the housing is

elongated, the sets of access openings in each of the socket walls being spaced in

series along the length of the associated socket wall.

6. A distribution device as claimed in claim 5, in which both socket walls have the ^ame arrangement of access opening sets, each access opening set being

positioned, in register with a corresponding access opening set on the opposite socket

wall, so that each pair of registering access opening sets are for receiving the same

type of electrical plug.

7. A distribution device as claimed in claim 6, in which the access openings of each set of access openings are out of register with the access openings of the

corresponding access opening set on the opposite socket wall.

8. A distribution device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in

which the] connection arrangement includes an electrical supply cable.

9. A distribution' device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in

which the housing has a base for supporting the housing on a support surface, the

socket walls extending transversely from the base and substantially parallel to each

other.

1 0. A distribution device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in

which at least some of the access openings are provided with associated shutter members.,

1 1 . A distribution device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which

includes a protection unit connected in series between the connection arrangement

and the socket sets.

1 2. A distribution device as claimed in claim 1 1 , in which the protection unit

is a thermal cutout device.

1 3. A distribution device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in

which at l|east oηe of the electrical socket sets are for receiving a removable plug-in

module.