WO2020065629A1

WO2020065629A1 - Interchangeable front pannels for patresses

Info

Publication number: WO2020065629A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/058271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil Rosen
Original assignee: Neil Rosen
Priority date: 2018-09-30
Filing date: 2019-09-29
Publication date: 2020-04-02
Also published as: GB2580448A; GB2577760A; GB201908747D0; GB201900686D0

Abstract

A front panel 14 for a wall- socket or wall- switch patress 12 is one of a set of interchangeable panels, that connect through the patress by non-terminal connection means 20, possibly a plurality of separate ones, e.g. for different voltages, to allow the panel to be replaced without needing to reconnect wiring. It may comprise retractable wander lead means 16 with a replaceable take-up spool means 163, its long dimension parallel to the panel front, with a plurality of connection means 16 for respective external devices 18, radiation-operable protection transducer means, e.g microphone 404, CCTV 405, illuminator 406 and/or movement- sensor 408, and/or Power Line Communication 408. The patress preferably comprises a cage member 26 to separate-off terminal connection means 28. Extension- lead means 70 comprise a plurality of patress-like housings 12 with interchangeable front panels 14. A room, building or ship 22 comprises multiple wall-connectors 10, each comprising a patress 12, with respectively different front panels 14.

Description

TITLE: INTERCHANGEABLE FRONT PANNELS FOR PATRESSES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wall sockets, like connectors and switches.

BACKGROUND

A problem with present wall sockets is that there are so many configurations of plugs to plug into them, e.g. for mains power supply or for charging a handheld device, that one wall socket connector cannot be con figured to receive all or even most of the plug configurations for which it could usefully be required. A further problem is that many devices that need to be charged rely upon a plug-in power supply cable, separate from both the wall socket and the device, and there are so many such devices that particular and/or different cables and/or plugs are required for charging each, and often these go missing so that there is never one to be found when it is actually needed.

THE INVENTION

The inventor notes that the usual wall socket comprises a patress (also called pattress or pattress box) or other housing having a front panel that comprises the actual socket, the housing being mounted, usually fixedly, to a wall. In relation to the invention, it may be mounted to some other support, e.g. a ceiling or a power-supply box or pillar.

Another problem, perceived by the inventor, is that wall socket front panels often do not match the surrounding decor.

An aspect of the invention is to allow a front or front panel of a wall socket or other supportable connector to be replaced without needing to reconnect wiring. This allows the user, typically a domestic user, to purchase (e.g. as exchangeable, interchangeable or replaceable modules) fronts with different (e.g. socket) configurations and/or appearances and exchange one front for another, without needing to be a qualified electrician.

According to another aspect of the invention, a front panel for a supportable connector has (usually at its front) a socket or other removable-connection means (i.e. means to facilitate removable connection thereto), for relatively frequent connection (e.g. insertion) and removal of a corresponding plug or other cooperating-connection means, (the socket usually being at the front of the front panel so that, for insertion of the plug, pressure can be exerted in a direction towards the support,) and a non-terminal connection, usually at the rear (or at least behind the front) of the front panel.

The expression "terminal connection" herein means a connection which has to be made by fastening a wire to a terminal, e.g. by screw or other pressure means to hold a wire to a terminal, and "non-terminal connection" is to be understood accordingly, and includes means to make a non-terminal connection, i.e. a connection without a wire fastened to a terminal, whether or not it additionally includes a terminal connection.

The non-terminal connection of the front panel is adapted to cooperate with a cooperating non-terminal connection mounted to a patress or other housing, to allow less frequent connection and disconnection therebetween (than the above-mentioned relatively frequent connection) when it is desired to exchange the front panel, this less frequent connection being a more ready mode of connection/disconnection than terminal connection, e.g. easier and safer for a householder or other person not qualified or experienced as an electrician.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a patress or other housing for a wall socket or other supportable connector, which housing has mounted to it a non-terminal connection suitable or adapted to cooperate with a cooperating non terminal connection of a front panel for the housing. Usually, e.g. for power supply, the non-terminal connection of the housing will itself additionally comprise a terminal connection for permanently (or long-term) connection to power supply wiring, thereby to supply power to this non-terminal connection.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a transmission connector comprising the aforesaid housing and front panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of the aforesaid front panels, preferably that differ, e.g. in connection configuration and/or exhibited information content, e.g decor, e.g. colour, colours and/or pattern. It is also possible that a user may wish to have different properties e.g. colours, patterns (or tactile surfaces, e.g. for blind people) of the front panel to denote different types of connection, e.g. for mains power, handheld device charging power, signal and so on. Also, a front panel may have a plurality of different connections and have corresponding background colours and/or patterns and/or tactile surfaces to denote each type of connection, e.g one quarter being blue for USB, one quarter being green (or striped, e.g. to help colour-blind people) for mobile phone jacks, one quarter being red (or a further pattern) for an inductive power supply, and so on. The front panel may have descriptive matter and/or a logo, e.g. indicative of a hotel or other organisation that uses the interchangeable front panels, and/or advertising material. It is also possible for the front panel to be customised individually, e.g. for a company, or bear a licensed cartoon character or scene, e.g. for a child's room (although care must be taken that this does not attract a child to tampering with, or being put in danger by, the connector.) Such variations may be embedded in the front surface of the front panel, especially if produced by 3-D printing, which can for example reduce deteriorating appearance with use and malicious attempts to remove identification. For e.g. data transmission, the front (not always external) connection on the front panel may be a radio or other wireless module).

The term "connector", for the purposes of the invention, includes any devices which are adapted for detachably supplying and/or receiving power, signals and/or information, in either direction along a channel (and/or to and/or from a channel). The channel may be partly or wholly embedded in, or e.g. surface mounted to, the wall or other support supporting the connector device.

The patress of the prior art is a box that mounts to (e.g. to be embedded inside or partially inside, or on the surface of) a wall and receives detachably a front panel that presents terminal means for connection thereto of power supply wiring inside the patress and electrically connected to the terminal means presents externally a power supply outlet, e.g. a socket, to receive a power- receiving connector, e.g. a plug, of an external device.

An aspect of the invention is to allow the front to be replaced without needing to reconnect the wiring. This may be, for example, in order to change the outlet configuration and/or to change the colour of the front of the wall outlet to match changed decor of the wall.

For this purpose, according to an aspect of the invention, the front has a power -receiving non-terminal connector means suitable to connect with a suitable cooperating power supply outlet mounted to the patress, usually wholly within the patress.

The "aspects of the invention" mentioned herein extend to include supplying and/or receiving power, signals and/or information, in either direction.

For the purposes of the present specification, the terms "connection" and "connector" include those adapted for electro-magnetic power transfer. Also, as used herein, the term "connector" does not refer to terminals for the connection thereto of wiring but a non-terminal connector, which includes for example a push-fit or bayonet-fit takeoff or an electromagnetic, inductive or other wireless takeoff.

According to another aspect of the invention, a front panel for a transmission connector has readily detachable attachment means to attach it to a housing of the transmission connector. For example, in order to engage the housing the front panel has hook means at one edge and screw means at the opposite edge. Alternatively, in order to engage the housing, the front panel could have just one large-headed screw at its centre. (The terms "screw" and "bolt" are used herein interchangeably, to mean the same thing.)

So for example a front for a patress has an externally presented power supply outlet, electrically connecting thereto an internal power-receiving connector means to connect with a suitable power supply connector mounted to the patress, and attachment means for detachably attaching it to the patress.

According to another aspect of the invention, a patress comprises attachment means for detachably attaching thereto a front and a power supply connector suitable to be connected to a suitable power-receiving connector means of the front.

The power (or other transmission) connection between the patress and the front panel may be provided directly by the act of attaching the front to the patress, or there may be interposed a switch or coded device, e.g. a key-operated device to enable the connection.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of patress and an interchangeable front for it. Preferably there is additionally provided a set of interchangeable such fronts. These may have a variety of outlets, respectively or in each of one or more of such fronts. The reason for a wall socket is to provide power to interchangeable appliances without having to reconnect the wiring for each different type of connection, which would soon cause the wiring to deteriorate (due to repeated connecting and disconnecting the wiring to and from terminal means) and become unsafe, and also to allow isolation of the appliances when not in use, e.g. by unplugging, which is safer than merely switching off.

As explained below, embodiments of the invention allow the user to interchange front panel modules of a wall socket whenever they wish, without the need for an electrician, whether they change models of phone and therefore need a different connection, or for example whether they change the decor of the room and want to change the wall socket accordingly, and ensure they do not lose cables and there is always the correct cable whenever they need it.

The front panel is adapted so that when fitted to the patress it will extend substantially to an edge or at least one edge of the front of the patress. The patress being rectangular (usually a substantially square shape or a substantially rectangular shape comprising two, three or more such square shapes) at the front, the front panel extends substantially to three wall edges of its rectangular front shape. The front panel at least substantially covers the patress (or at least one gang of a multi-gang patress). Preferably, the front panel completely covers the front of the patress. The front panel preferably overhangs at least one edge of the front of the patress, preferably all adjacent edges, preferably all edges. The front panel may be sized to fit modularly to the patress, so that for example two square front panels together substantially cover the whole of the front of an oblong-front patress. The size of the front of the patress may be in accordance with a standard, e.g. a European or national standard, e.g. as set in a BSI (UK) or NIST (USA) or CEN (EU) standard; and the front panel may then be substantially in accordance with the dimensions of the patress, e.g. having dimensions precisely the same as a standard patress, or slightly smaller to fit (e.g. snugly) within the walls of a standard patress, or slightly larger so as to hide from view edges of a standard patress and any adjacent fixing compound for fixing the patress into a wall or other support, preferably so as to project not more than a distance chosen from the group of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm, according to requirements, beyond the edge of the supporting patress. There may be a margin around the front panel or the housing to house various parts and possibly secure them together.

The back power port (or connection means) or signal port of the front panel is adapted to transmit (or connect) power or signal to or from a cooperating port of (i.e. mounted directly or indirectly to or formed as part of) the patress by use of a non-terminal connection therebetween. This may be an electrically conducting connection; or again it may be without an electrically conducting connection therebetween. For example, the connection (whether for power or signal or both) may be: an induction, capacitive or other wireless connection e.g. for electric power; and/or again be a waveguide or (e.g. fibre) optical connection, e.g. for signal (and/or power) transmission, e.g. for a broadband or TV aerial connection or network port; and/or again, for example, suitable for any devices that transfer data over a power network, for example, for satellite broadcasting (e.g. Sky TV™), High- Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI™ ) , Apple Lightning™ and so on.

The back power and/or signal port of the front panel is adapted to transmit power and/or signal to and/or from a cooperating port of the patress by use of a non-terminal connection therebetween, e.g. by use of a plug-type connection therebetween, which for example may be a plug and socket or may be cooperating members each in the nature of a combined plug and socket, e.g. each of the plug and socket being fixed respectively to one of the patress and the front panel, e.g. so that removing the front panel will automatically break the connection between these cooperating ports, e.g. so that when the front panel is removed from the patress there will be no exposed live member which could give an electric shock, or again may be a connecting lead having a non terminal connection at at least one end.

An object of embodiments of the invention is to enable the front panel to be interchanged readily, at will, e.g. without the use of a qualified electrician, e.g. to match the front of the front panel to the decor of the surrounding support area (e.g. a wall) for the patress, or again to provide one or more different sorts and/or configurations of connectors at the front of the front panel. Such a panel may have only a single front connector or may have multiple connectors, e.g. a power socket and a USB socket. Another front panel may include a connector, e.g. a socket, e.g. a USB socket, on the wander end of a wander lead (e.g. to be used as a charging cable, e.g. for charging a mobile phone or other handheld device), the other end of which is captive to the front panel. Preferably, the wander lead is retractable (e.g. to be retracted into the front panel), e.g. on spring means, e.g. manually, e.g. by actuating a release means, e.g. by pressing an actuating member, e.g. a member set into the surface of the front panel, or again e.g. by pulling a ring on a cord to operate a release means, e.g. if the front panel is temporarily inaccessible, e.g. if the patress is located behind a bed, e.g. if speedy release is required. Preferably, the wander lead is auto-retractable, e.g. if the lead is pulled out a little more it will then retract, e.g. due to this action serving to release a detent or ratchet. Another front panel may provide an induction or capacitive outlet for a process of energising or charging a device, e.g. a handheld device, e.g. a mobile phone, which device may be held in position on the front panel by magnetic means for the duration of the process, e.g. with a magnet in the front panel or in the device or one in each.

The patress and front panel combination may include quick release fixing means designed to allow quick release of the front panel from the patress; for example, hook means located at one edge of the combination and clip or screw means at the opposite edge. For safety, e.g. to make it difficult for children to open the front panel from the patress, the clip or screw means may require a special tool to open it, or again at said opposite edge there may be used an (e.g. simple) lock requiring a key (or screw bolt), e.g. coded. The employment of any kind of lock means could be particularly useful if an accommodation centre, e.g. a hotel or cruise ship, has a stock of these front panels providing different outlets (front ports), so that a visitor/passenger staying there can choose one that suits his/her equipment and this can readily be fitted in place by e.g. hotel/ship staff and cannot easily be removed by the visitor without authorisation. The provision of suitable lock means can be tailored individually to the centre, so that for example a key that will work in one hotel will not work in another. Again, the lock could be such that the key could be an insertable card or a swipe card.

The combination may include a cage that fastens to a standard patress (e.g. inside it) and can in turn cooperate interchangeably with one or more of the front panels. In order to utilise an existing standard patress, the cage may be designed to be mounted countersunk partially or wholly into the patress (depending upon how much of a requirement there may be that the combination should not project noticeably from the patress or the supporting surface, e.g. wall). The patress port may be mounted to the cage and sold in combination with the cage as a single component. The patress port will require to be in constant connection (i.e. regardless of interchangings of the front panel) with a power or signal channel coming into the patress; so that for a power supply this would usually be a terminal connection, effectively the power supply channel incoming to the patress having to be electrically hardwired to terminal means of the patress port. However, there may be incorporated an (e.g. mechanical) isolator such that the power is not actually connected to a 'touchable' terminal until the terminal is rendered untouchable by being covered by the front panel.

Accordingly, another aspect of the invention provides, for a transmission connector that comprises a housing and a front panel for the housing, a cage, frame or other internal support that fits at least partially into the housing and comprises connection means comprising a channel-connector suitable or adapted to connect to a channel that enters the housing and in turn to provide a non terminal connection to connect to the front panel and mounting means to mount the front panel to the support. So, it can act as a mounting member, e.g. adapted to be mounted to the patress between the front panel and the rear part of the patress. Alternatively, the front panel may be mounted directly to the patress; the support then supports the channel-connector. The support also acts as a cage in the sense that it shields/separates the front panel, e.g. electrically, from the remainder or back or electrically live or terminal-connector region of the patress. It supports the non-terminal connector that the front panel cooperates with.

Examples of embodiments of the invention may use any kind of internal couplings (i.e. connectors internal of the patress) comprising a non-wired connector: e.g. plug, plug-in (e.g. short cable with plug/socket on each end), bayonet (like old lamp- bulbs), electromagnetic, capacitive, inductive and other wireless couplings.

The combination of patress plus front panel can be used for example as a fitting for walls (or other supports, e.g. ceilings (e.g. for lamps) or wall boxes for electric vehicle battery recharging). Possible applications are as a socket, switch means (which may be combined in the front panel and may be operable by means of an insertable card or swipe card), data take-off, and/or aerial pick up. In relation to electric vehicle battery recharging, there can be incorporated a key-operated isolator, which can be used to isolate the supply and thus prevent a third party from recharging unless in possession of a key, which can be tailor-made or tailor- coded for each individual person or vehicle. For vehicle-charging and other purposes, another example of a suitable support is a pillar to which is mounted the patress or other housing of the connector. Again, the same arrangement may be used in a vehicle, e.g. a car, to enable, for example, different output configurations, or leads (e.g. retractable) to be provided in place of the standard cigarette-lighter connector. In this case, the housing can be provided by the vehicle manufacturer, with a (usually internal) non terminal outlet, and the user can mount to the housing any chosen and/or replaceable front panel comprising a non-terminal connection means for effecting a first non-terminal connection to an external device and a second non-terminal connection to the non-terminal outlet of the housing. Other possible features will be apparent from the ensuing description.

In other examples of embodiments of the invention: the combination of patress plus front panel, possibly with the cage and/or the key can be sold as a set or kit of parts; or a set of front panels, e.g. having different front couplings, can be sold together; the cages and front panels can be produced by 3-D printing, especially applicable to the front panels, so that these can be produced in small quantities to customer requirements, e.g. custom-made to match submitted samples of wallpaper or paint. Furthermore, 3-D printing can be done in two or more colours of the material being laid down by the printing process, which will enable individual colours, decoration, information, logos or other aspects of appearance to be incorporated structurally in the (e.g. plastics) material of the front panel being printed, allowing for durability, standard shapes and sizes, and non-standard fittings to fit onto (and overlap beyond) standard shapes and sizes. Such a process can make the appearance very durable against wear and tear, and also vandalism or attempts to make changes without authorisation.

All references to a front panel include reference to a panel which may require other panels, preferably of like size and shape, so as together substantially to cover the housing. Thus, for example, the cage may be dual-gang so as to receive two front panels of like size, shape and ornamentation but carrying different connector (e.g. socket) configurations (and perhaps correspondingly different ornamentations or indicative colourings).

An aspect of the invention provides a wall socket or like connector comprising a patress and a detachable front panel for the patress, the front panel comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, non-terminal second connection means.

Another aspect of the invention provides a wall socket or like connector comprising a patress and a detachable front panel for the patress, the front panel comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, non-terminal second connection means adapted for non-terminal connection to a channel mounted to a support to which the connector is adapted to be mounted or to non-terminal third connection means mounted to the patress.

Another aspect of the invention provides a wall socket or like connector adapted to be mounted to a support and comprising a patress and a detachable front panel for the patress, the front panel comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, second connection means adapted for non terminal connection to a channel mounted to the support. The patress in the embodiments described below of this case acts purely as a support for the front panel with its connection means but does not itself directly support any connection means. Another aspect of the invention provides a wall socket or like connector comprising a patress and a detachable front panel for the patress, the front panel comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, second connection means adapted for non-terminal connection to non-terminal third connection means mounted to the patress.

Such a connector may have any one or more of the features:

• comprising a member adapted to be mounted to the patress and to mount said third connection means.

• in which said member mounts terminal fourth connection means connected to said non-terminal third connection means.

• comprising quick release means to attach said front panel to the patress.

An aspect of the invention provides a front panel for a connector comprising a patress, the front panel being a detachable front panel for the patress and comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, second connection means adapted for non-terminal connection.

Another aspect of the invention provides a front panel for a connector adapted to be mounted to a support and comprising a patress, the front panel being a detachable front panel for the patress and comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, second connection means adapted for non-terminal connection to a channel mounted to the support.

Another aspect of the invention provides a front panel for a connector comprising a patress, the front panel being a detachable front panel for the patress and comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, second connection means adapted for non-terminal connection to non terminal third connection means mounted to the patress.

Such a front panel may have any one or more of the features:

• comprising quick release means to attach said panel to the patress.

• in which said first connection means comprise a wander lead retractable into the panel.

• which is generally planar and in which said first connection means comprise a drum rotary about an axis for retraction of said lead onto the drum, which axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel.

• which has guide means for guiding the lead through substantially 90° as it is extended.

• comprising a back member carrying said first and second connection means and a front cover or faceplate for the back member.

An aspect of the invention provides a front panel for a connector comprising a patress, the front panel being a detachable front panel for the patress and comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device which first connection means comprise a wander lead retractable into the panel which is generally planar and comprise a drum rotary about an axis for retraction of said lead onto the drum, which axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel.

Such a front panel may have the feature: which has guide means for guiding the lead through substantially 90° as it is extended.

An aspect of the invention provides a member adapted to be mounted to a patress of a wall socket or like connector comprising the patress and a detachable front panel for the patress, the front panel comprising first connection means adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device and, connected to said first connection means, second connection means adapted for non-terminal connection to non-terminal third connection means mounted to the patress, said member mounting or comprising said third connection means. Such a member may have the feature: which mounts or comprises terminal fourth connection means connected to said non-terminal third connection means.

Embodiments of the invention as claimed may include any one or more of the following features:

• A wall socket or like connector, patress or like housing, detachable front panel, with non-terminal first connection means for disconnectably connecting thereto an external device and non-terminal second connection means that connect to said first connection means to enable a non-terminal second connection thereto.

• Said non-terminal second connection means are arranged to enable said second connection rearwardly of the front panel.

• Comprising quick release attachment means to attach said panel to the patress or like housing.

• Comprising security means to control release of the panel from the patress or like housing.

• Which has a front face and in which said first connection means comprise a drum rotary about an axis for retraction of said lead onto the drum, which axis is substantially perpendicular to the front face.

• Adapted for said first connection means to comprise a wander lead retractable into the panel onto a drum and having insertion means to enable such a drum to be inserted by the user effectively for use as said first connection means. • Comprising a back portion that carries said first and second connection means and a front cover or faceplate for the back portion.

In which said front cover or faceplate is detachable from said back portion.

In which said second connection means comprises a wireless connection means.

In which said second connection means comprises an electrical-contact connection means.

Comprising a plurality of arrangements each of which comprises a said first connection means and a said second connection means.

Comprising aperture means to allow penetration therethrough of a non-terminal connection means of an external device to non-terminal (third) connection means underlying the panel at the aperture means in order to effect a non-terminal connection between these two connection means.

In which the aperture means are constructed to provide a cover over said non-terminal (third) connection means.

Which omits some electrical gear that could be common to panels of different con figurations and can be mounted directly or indirectly to an associated patress.

A wall socket or like connector comprising a patress or like housing and a detachable front panel for the housing.

Adapted to be mounted to a wall or other support to which a channel is also mounted and to cooperate with the channel, said second connection means being adapted for non-terminal connection to said channel when said front panel is attached to the patress or like housing.

Comprising non-terminal third connection means mounted to the housing, said second connection means being adapted for non-terminal connection to said third connection means when said front panel is attached to the housing.

Comprising a member adapted to be mounted to the housing, which member has mounted thereto said third connection means and attachment means to mount it to the housing.

Comprising terminal fourth connection means connected to said non-terminal third connection means and mounted to said member to enable a wire connection to said terminal third means.

In which said member prevents access to said wire connection when said member is mounted to the patress or like housing.

In which some electrical gear that is common in that there could be a plurality of the same, each being part of each of a plurality of said panels of different configurations, is instead mounted directly or indirectly to the patress.

A member adapted to be mounted to the housing of any such connector, said member having mounted thereto non-terminal third connection means adapted for non-terminal connection thereto of said second connection means.

A member adapted to be mounted to the housing of any such connector, said member having mounted thereto a non-terminal first connection means adapted to be covered by said front panel and adapted for disconnectably connecting thereto a non terminal connection means of an external device by penetration through the panel mounted to said housing.

In practical terms, initial embodiments should preferably have the following:

Firstly, a cage which fixes into a patress, countersunk so that a front panel to the cage will be approximately flush to a wall into which the patress is set. The cage has to have mounted to it a connector with terminals to which can be connected an incoming three-wire mains power supply cable, coming through the wall into the patress. The connector in turn has to be electrically connected to one part (e.g. a socket) of an electrical coupling mounted to the cage, which will electrically engage a cooperating part (e.g. a plug) of the coupling carried by a front panel for the cage/patress. The said one part may conveniently be formed as part of the connector.

Secondly, a front panel for the cage/patress, with fixing means to fix it to the cage/patress. Fixing means may be of a quick- release type, e.g. hooks at one edge and a screw at the opposite edge. Mounted to the back of the front panel will be the said cooperating part, the arrangement being such that fixing the front panel to the cage/patress will cause the said cooperating part to engage electrically with the said one part (e.g. the plug will engage with the socket). The front panel will have at its front at least one power takeoff electrically connected to the said cooperating part (to take its power supply from this).

In cases where a converter (e.g. transformer) for voltage or polarity (e.g. change from AC to DC) is required, the converter should preferably be mounted to the front panel. (Such a converter could be mounted to the cage, but this might require different forms (standards or designs or voltages) of the said one part, and all of these one parts would have to be available, at the same time, to respective corresponding said cooperating parts of one or another front panel.)

It is required to have available several different and interchangeable front panels. Each of them should have a USB socket near one corner. Each of them should have a different power takeoff. One of them will have as a power takeoff a mains socket, e.g. a three square-pin socket for UK use, or a socket according to some other standard for other uses. Another of them will have as a power takeoff a wireless charging pad for charging a handheld device wirelessly, together with a magnet to hold the device to the front panel during charging. Others will have as a power takeoff a wander lead (preferably retractable) having at its wander end a connector (e.g. a concentric plug) for supplying power to a rechargeable device. This connector may be of any one (or or more) standard sizes or types, e.g. plugs, e.g. concentric-type plugs. Each front panel can have one, or more than one, such wander lead, each with a different one of these connectors. Again, one such wander lead can have as a power takeoff a wireless charging pad/holder at its wander end.

While the wander lead could be non-retractable and the front could have a support on which could be wound the wander lead when not in use, is preferable for the wander lead to be retractable.

The retraction mechanism may be custom-designed, or it may be of any standard type. It is preferably automatically retractable, e.g. having a detent so that it stays extended until the detent is operated, e.g. by a button on the front panel or by briefly pulling the wander lead slightly further out and then releasing it.

The concept is to have a series of interchangeable such front panels; and initially there should be provided a few of the most popular standard fittings and possibly different colours and/or patterns embedded into the plastics front panel by 3-D printing using at least one contrasting colour of plastics material.

The front panel may incorporate a switch, a fuse and/or a (usually miniature) circuit breaker that can be reset.

The concept is shown in the attached Figures 1 to 5. These show examples of the mechanical shells, and omit the electrical parts and any retraction mechanism, since these can be taken from existing techniques or custom-made. Although not shown in these Figures, the cage may be designed so that it can countersink into the patress, as mentioned above.

The inventor is concerned with the convenience and safety of the user; also, by incorporating many special features into embodiments, to enable the user to be able to tidy up and greatly reduce the amount of loose (and in his view, unnecessary) wiring which might otherwise be needed for the special features. The provision of interchangeable front panels for a patress of a wall connector or wall-switch allows a user to select those features which they particularly want, e.g. for this purpose.

An aspect of the invention provides a system comprising a wall socket or like connector comprising at least one patress and a plurality of different interchangeable front panels for the patress. (This may be in the form of a kit of interchangeable parts, e.g. such parts being said front panels.) Preferably, this is a modular system in which the front panels are modules which have a standard size to fit to the patress which is sized so that it can be fronted by 1, 2, 3 or more of the modules. The different front panels may simply be coloured and/or patterned differently (to suit different decors, and to be replaceable or exchanged e.g. to suit a change of decor) and/or comprise different configurations of plug-in sockets or other disconnectable connections for an external device. The disconnectable connections may be for supplying respectively different e.g. voltages, e.g. mains voltage and USB voltage and/or an information connection to an external device. A single front panel may comprise a plurality of different such disconnectable connections.

Another aspect of the invention provides a room, building, ship or other structure comprising a plurality of wall sockets or like connectors each comprising a patress and a replaceable front panel for the patress, the front panels being different from one another.

Preferably, e.g. for the safety and convenience of a person wanting to fit or exchange a front panel on a patress and not being a skilled electrician, each said front panel comprises non-terminal connecting means to enable it to be connected through the patress to a power source.

All of these possibilities have been exemplified in the prior specifications.

Sometimes, e.g. for safety, e.g. to the relevant equipment, and/or for reducing the likelihood of fire, it is desirable to limit the time, or the maximum time, that power can be supplied through one or more (e.g. selected) disconnectable connections of a front panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, a front panel for a patress comprises a disconnectable connection for an external device and time-limiting means to limit how long power can be supplied to the disconnectable connection. Such means may be made responsive to the state of charge of the external device to switch off the power, e.g. being responsive to the power demand reducing below a predetermined or settable threshold. Again, such means can be preset to provide a limited time period for supplying the power, e.g. the front panel comprising means to select the length of the time period, and perhaps means to indicate how far this has progressed, and/or indeed means to indicate the progress toward said threshold. Preferably, for simplicity, the front panel has a plurality of buttons for selecting different said time periods, preferably respective different time periods, i.e. one time period to each button, e.g. 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, which makes it very easy to select. Each button may be flush or substantially flush with the surface; and may be a touch-sensitive area rather than a physically moving button. The front panel may comprise indicating means to indicate which button has been selected and/or progress through the selected period. The button selected by pressing it may provide an indication that this one has been selected; e.g. it may then light up. Said indicating means may comprise a lightable ring around, or an area on, each button, which lights up or goes dark progressively around the ring to indicate progress through the selected period, and incidentally also indicates which button has been selected. The time-limiting means may be connected or otherwise arranged to control, either simultaneously or selectively, more than one disconnectable connection on a single front panel.

The time-limiting means (and/or an on-off control) may be arranged to be remotely controlled, e.g. via Wi-Fi and/or a mobile or other app.

These features are particularly applicable to use of such a disconnectable connection for charging an external device, e.g. a handheld device, e.g. when such a disconnectable connection is a USB socket.

Additionally to the disclosure in the aforesaid prior specifications of a retractable cable/wander lead as a said disconnectable connection means of a front panel, this may comprise a multiport USB hub at its free end. As said disconnectable connection means, a front panel may comprise two or more spools for respective retractable cables and/or a retractable cable may have two or more connection means on respective cable portions at its free end. Thus, the front panel may comprise, at the free end of one or more retractable cables, a plurality of disconnectable connection means for respective external devices, such means comprising any one or more of the group comprising: a multiport USB hub; two or more retractable cables; two or more such connection means on respective cable portions at the free end of a retractable cable. Ethernet over Power or other PLC (Power Line Communication) adapters may be built into the front panel. The front panels may also comprise MESH networking nodes, such as for the PLC. Such a front panel may also comprise a multiple communication channel device, e.g. FIDMI, e.g. for PLC. In a particular application, incoming TV signals, e.g. via cable or satellite, are fed to a first-incoming box, fixed in position, e.g. near the fusebox in a building, e.g. home, which is connected to the power wiring to provide PLC of the incoming TV signals to one or more TV sets around the building, which may be in use simultaneously or may be a single TV set that can be moved around to any PLC-connected front panel. Similarly, the PLC can provide a multi-position, e.g. multi-room, audio system of speakers built into front panels, e.g. a SONOS Inc system. Controls for built-in devices, e.g. a loudspeaker, and/or external devices, e.g. such as TV or powered speaker, can then be provided by e.g. a wireless signal, and/or from a mobile phone.

It is further possible to include in the front panel a protection transducer means arranged to receive and/or transmit radiation (e.g. light (UV, visible or infrared) or (audible or inaudible frequency) sound), e.g. a microphone and/or speaker to enable, e.g. proactive control, voice-activated control, 'listening-in' (e.g. for remotely minding people, e.g. elderly relatives, babies and/or pets) which may be programmed to filter incoming sounds to provide a (usually remote) alarm in response to predetermined sounds, e.g. simply above a threshold volume or (e.g. by incorporating more sophisticated filtering or even an AI element) having other parameters, and/or 'drop-in', e.g. to allow a person in one room, or one building, from time to time to ask another person in another room or building (e.g. in the case of a staff and residents in sheltered accommodation) whether everything is OK. The 'listening- in' function may be enhanced or replaced by CCTV with a built-in camera in a front panel. The front panel may comprise a light, e.g. behind a transparent portion, face or face portion, of the front panel; this may operate under remote control, e.g. via the PLC, or under the control of a light-sensor in the front panel, e.g. to switch the light on (e.g. to illuminate the room, or region or space in front of the front panel,, e.g. for safety) upon 'detecting' darkness, or again upon detecting the presence or movement of a person (e.g. coming into a room). It may also, after detecting darkness, switch the light in timed or random on-off cycles as a burglar deterrent. The light can also serve as a 'comfort' night-light, e.g. for a baby or a person of nervous disposition. The front panel may include a security device, e.g. linked to, e.g. connected via the PLC to, a (usually remote) alarm. Such a device may include a movement-sensor and/or means to sense if a window is broken (or opened, e.g. at an unacceptable time, which can be programmed into the device, e.g. night-time); such a window-opening sensor can be activated by a beam of e.g. invisible light, or inaudible sound, from a source included in the front panel, provided there is a clear path from the source to the window, and sufficient light or sound signal can return to the sensor, which would be activated upon a change in the intensity of the returned signal; possibly, the sensor could have a sound-frequency facility to detect an, e.g. Doppler, frequency change to indicate movement (or breaking) of a window. The term "protection transducer means" excludes the usual low intensity signal light (e.g. a neon bulb) of the kind which is usually used to indicate whether a device, for example a switch, is on.

All of these can be remotely controlled, e.g. by a mobile or other app, e.g. with a cooperating wireless (or audio) or PLC control signal receiver in the front panel. Likewise, any alarms or communications can be remotely given or received in any such manner.

It is to be noted that only a selection of the aforementioned features would be included in any one front panel; which is one reason why different front panels having different such features are available for choice by each user.

All of the foregoing described with reference to a wall connector may be applied similarly (subject to the "Limitation" given next) to a wall-switch comprising a patress and a front panel for the patress, the front panel comprising a switch (which term is to be understood in its widest sense). A wall-switch, e.g. a light-switch, differs from a switched wall socket (or like) connector in that the wall-switch interposes a switch into a wall circuit (i.e. a circuit in a wall), so bridging a break in the wall circuit in order to switch the wall circuit (e.g. to make or break the circuit at that point), whereas a switch of a switched wall connector (having connection means for disconnectably connecting thereto an external device) interposes between a wall circuit (e.g. a power supply in a wall) and the disconnectable connection means (e.g. a socket, plug and/or induction means) of the connector, and in turn an external device when this is disconnectably connected to the connection means. A wall-switch has two sides (electrically), of which each connects to a respective electrical side of the wall circuit break, so that said switch can make or break electrical connection between these sides of the break.

Limitation. In relation to a wall-switch, references in the foregoing, including the said specifications, relating to the supply of power to disconnectable external devices will normally be limited to the use of low- voltage supplies (e.g. less than 50 V, 30 V, 25 V, 12 V, or suitable for charging handheld devices or laptop computers, or for transmission through a USB connection all of which are substantially lower voltage than mains voltage of 110 V or 240 V, e.g. being suitable for use with a wall light-switch) that can be incorporated in (e.g. the front panel of) a wall-switch, e.g. a light-switch, e.g. with a USB disconnectable connection and/or a retractable cable connection. Thus, although the item may have a power supply function it will usually be primarily a wall-switch.

Similarly to what is disclosed in the prior specifications, it is preferable, e.g. for the safety and convenience of a person wanting to fit or exchange a front panel on such a wall-switch and not being a skilled electrician, that the front panel comprises non-terminal connecting means to connect the two sides of the said switch to the respective sides of the break in the wall circuit.

According to another aspect of the invention, a front panel for a patress of a wall-switch comprises a switch and non-terminal connecting means suitable to connect two sides of the said switch through the patress to respective sides of a break in a wall circuit.

Various aspects of the invention and features of embodiments of the invention may be as listed in the accompanying claims.

Respective aspects of the invention are as claimed in each of the accompanying claims 1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20. Features of embodiments of the invention are as listed in any one or more of the accompanying claims 2 to 13 and 21 to 23.

Further aspects of the invention provide a front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that it has any one or more of the following sets of characteristics:

• said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means, the panel has a front face, the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means, and the spool means comprises a spool that has a long dimension and a short dimension and is arranged with said long dimension substantially parallel to said face;

• said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means, the panel has a front face, the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means, and the spool means comprises a spool that has a rotary axis and is arranged with said axis substantially perpendicular to said face;

• said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means, that comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means and the spool means comprises insertion means to enable a replaceable retraction spool to be inserted by a user (rather than by the manufacturer);

• said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means that comprises a plurality of said first connection means for disconnectable connection to respective external devices;

• the panel comprises protection transducer means arranged to receive and/or transmit radiation to protect a region [of space] in front of the panel;

• the panel comprises two poles interconnected by switch means, the poles having respective connection means for disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to respective sides of a break in a wall circuit or other circuit behind the housing;

• the panel comprises a plurality of separate arrangements each comprising a said first connection means and a said second connection means;

• the panel is in combination with a said housing which comprises a cage or other separation means to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting the front panel to the housing;

• the panel is in combination with extension lead means having a wall-connecting end provided with a plug or other connector to connect it to a wall socket or the like, and having a free portion to which the housing is mounted;

• the extension lead means comprises a plurality of such housings.

An aspect of the invention provides extension lead means comprising a plurality of patress-like housings each comprising a cage or other separation means to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting a front panel to the housing and non terminal connection means to connect the housing to such front panel.

PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1-5 are diagrams and photographs of various embodiments of the invention, showing the shells, but not the connections or mechanisms, examples of which will be apparent to one skilled in the art; further details will be given below;

Figure 6 illustrates an overview of three different types of embodiment of the invention; and is a group of schematic diagrams of which Figures 6.1 to 6.3 are vertical cross-sections of respective embodiments, the "front" referred to herein being at the left of the diagrams, and Figure 6.4 is a front perspective view of the Figure 6.3 embodiment;

Figure 7 is a group of pictures of an embodiment of the invention in which the front panel has a UK standard three square-pin socket connection and a USB socket connection; Figure 7.1 is a perspective review of the front panel; Figure 7.2 is a front view of the front panel; Figure 7.3 is a perspective view of the front of the front panel; and Figure 7.4 is a front view of the back portion of the front panel with the front cover removed; Figures 7.11 and 7.41 are enlarged views of Figures 7.1 and 7.4 respectively;

Figure 8 is a group of pictures of an embodiment of the invention in which the front panel has a retractable wander lead connection and a USB socket connection; Figure 8.1 is a left perspective view of the front panel; Figure 8.2 is a right perspective view of the front panel; Figure 8.3 (similarly to Figure 7.4) is a front view of the back portion of the front panel with the front cover removed; Figure 8.4 is a view similar to Figure 8.1 but with the wander lead 161 extended (pulled out) through its hole 1611 in faceplate 15; Figure 8.31 is an enlarged view of Figure 8.3;

Figure 9 is a group of pictures of an embodiment of the invention in which the front panel has a wireless connection so that it can act as a wireless charging unit; Figure 9.1 (similarly to Figures 7.4 and 8.3) is a front view of the back portion of the front panel with the front cover removed; Figure 9.11 is an enlarged view of Figure 9.1; Figure 9.2 (similarly to Figure 8.2) is a right perspective view of the front panel; Figure 9.3 is a perspective right-hand side view of the front panel;

Figure 10 is a group of pictures of an embodiment of the invention with a two-gang patress connector, as detailed below;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional cut-away perspective view of the Figure 9 embodiment, the section being taken through coil 169 and clip 146, showing how close the transmitter coil 169 can be brought to an external device 18 (not shown), e.g. a mobile phone, held under clip 146;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional cut-away perspective view of the Figure 7 embodiment, the section being taken through plug 182 (see Figure 6.2) of some external device 18 (not shown in Figure 12), other parts of Figure 12 corresponding to those shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a slightly perspective back view of the front panel 14 of each of the embodiments of Figures 7 to 10, having a neat backplate 1407 to enclose the inner parts of the front panel 14 to inhibit interference with the same, and to further this purpose possibly having coded screws 1408 requiring a coded tool (not shown) to unscrew them to release backplate 1407 from the remainder of front panel 14;

Figure 14 is a view like Figure 13, showing variant embodiments;

Figure 15 is a vertical cross-section through the front panel 14 of Figure 14 and the associated member 26; and

Figure 16 is a vertical cross-section like Figure 15 of a front panel 14 intended for use with only connection means 182 and 245.

Figures 17 to 26 are schematic diagrams of embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 17 shows a cross-section of a wall connector and a selection of different front panels; showing many features that may be applied to a wall-switch embodiment;

Figure 18 shows a selection of different modular configurations of a patress;

Figure 19 is a view of a room with a plurality of wall connectors;

Figures 20 to 23 are front views of wall connectors;

Figure 24 is an external view of a house;

Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view of a wall-switch;

Figure 26 is a photo of an embodiment with three wall connectors having the timing buttons referred to in the particular description;

Figures 27 and 28 are schematic part-side elevations of a front panel showing different spool embodiments; and

Figure 29 is a schematic perspective view of an extension cable comprising a plurality of housings like any of the other herein- mentioned patresses except that they are mounted on a common support at the free end of the cable.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 16, identical references in the same Figure or different Figures refer to the same item or items that are identical or similar or have similar functions, and references with the same first two digits refer to items that are identical or similar or have similar or related functions. The same applies separately to Figures 17 to 26, to Figures 27 and 28 and to Figure 29.

Overview. Referring to Figure 6, Figure 6.1 illustrates a simple embodiment in which a front panel 14 (for a patress 12), having non-terminal (first) connection means 16 (e.g. socket 16) for connection thereto of an external device 18 (and possibly a plurality of such first connection means 16 for different devices 18), has a particular new feature in that it uses non-terminal (second) connection means 20 (e.g. a plug 20) to effect a non-terminal connection from front panel 14 to a power supply from a channel 22 embedded in a wall 11 (a part of which is shown schematically in cross-section in the Figure). This non-terminal connection is part of the total chain of connection from means 16 to channel 22 and is effected through non-terminal (third) connection means 24 (e.g. a socket 24) connecting to terminal (fourth) connection means 28 (having terminals 30, e.g. screw terminals 30), both of which means 24 and 28 are mounted directly to patress 12. Figure 6.2 illustrates a more sophisticated embodiment, having two improvements compared with the Figure 6.1 embodiment. Firstly, the front panel 14 has an internal structure between a faceplate or cover 141 and a back portion 142 (covered by faceplate 141) which carries said first and second connection means 16, 20. Secondly, the third and fourth connection means 24 and 28 are carried by a member 26 which is mounted inside the patress 12, and may be called a cage member 26 since it separates or isolates possible live wires or terminals (in the rear region of patress 12) from an unqualified person seeking only to replace the front panel 14. Figure 6.2 also shows use of attachment means 143 (to attach back portion 142 to faceplate 141) that are not accessible from in front of front panel 14, a safety feature which prevents disassembly of front panel 14 when it is attached in place covering patress 12. (In manufacture of front panels 14, the faceplate 141 can be selected from among many having different colours, patterns, texts and so on for attaching to a common back portion 142. For the purpose of, for example, electrical safety and/or to prevent a buyer from substituting his own faceplate 141, parts 141 and 142 may be attached together permanently, e.g. by epoxy resin.) Figures 6.3 and 6.4 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which there are no live wires or terminals since the (second) non-terminal connection means 201 comprise wireless, e.g. inductive, connection means 201 which co-operate directly with channel 22.

In use, a patress 12 is set into a wall 11, and an electrician connects supply 22 to terminal means 30. With the Figure 6.1 embodiment, an unqualified person can then simply attach front panel 14 to patress 12. The action of inserting panel 14 into place (i.e. mounting it to patress 12) also completes the second non-terminal connection by engaging (e.g. plug) connection means 20 with (e.g. socket) connection means 24. With the Figure 6.2 embodiment, the electrician connects supply 22 to terminal means 30 (part of terminal connection means 28 carried by separating cage member 26) and then mounts cage member 26 in position in patress 12. With the Figure 6.3 embodiment, patress 12 bridges over supply channel 22; there are no terminal connection means, and the unqualified person can simply insert and attach front panel 14 to patress 12, the insertion serving correctly to position non terminal inductive or other wireless connection means 201 to engage electromagnetically with supply 22. In each case, it is a simple job for unqualified person to detach and withdraw front panel 14 from patress 12 in order to exchange or replace front panel 14.

Further, in the embodiments of Figure 6, the detachable front panel 14 for the patress or like housing 12 of the wall socket or like connector 10 has non-terminal first connection means 16 (e.g. a socket) for disconnectably connecting thereto (i.e. by a non terminal first connection) an external device 18 and non-terminal second connection means 20, 201 (e.g. a plug 20 or inductive pickup 201) that connect to said first connection means 16 to enable a non-terminal second connection to means 16 (e.g. between power supply channel 22 and non-terminal connection means 20, 201, i.e. directly or indirectly). The external device 18 may be, for example, a device that needs power, e.g. needing continuous power to operate, e.g. a vacuum cleaner or other household appliance 18, a device to be charged, e.g. a mobile telephone or other normally handheld device 18, or a computer or other user of e.g. a USB socket 16, both of which handheld device and computer are examples of devices which may also need to interchange (by upload and/or download) information via the USB socket 16, possibly in addition to receiving power therefrom, although possibly not at the same time.

Said non-terminal second connection means 20 are arranged to enable said second connection rearwardly of the front panel 14. (Depending how one looks at the arrangement, this "rearwardly" may be, within the front panel 14, i.e. rearwardly of the front face 15 of the panel 14, or may be towards the back of the front panel 14, or may be at least partly behind the front panel 14, for example in the case that said second connection means 20 comprise an inductive connection means 201, as mentioned above, in which case this second connection is the electromagnetic field that extends behind the front panel 14.)

As mentioned above, in connection with Figure 6.2, the panel 14 comprises back portion 142 that carries said first and second connection means 16 and 20 and front cover or faceplate 141 for the back portion 142. Said front cover or faceplate 141 is possibly (but not always) detachable from said back portion 142. This front cover or faceplate 141 can be then detached and replaced in the panel 14, possibly only when the panel 14 is detached from the patress or like housing 12. It may have the different designs, coloured indications for configurations of connection means or other matter, as discussed herein for the front panel 14. With further reference to Figures 6.3 and 6.4, the wireless connection enables said second non-terminal connection to be to a channel (e.g. 22) mounted to a support (e.g. wall 11) to which the connector 10 is mounted. The patress or like housing 12 in this case can act purely as a support for the front panel 14 with its connection means 16, 20 but does not itself directly support any connection means (in the sense of the latter being directly mounted to it). Again, such wireless connection means 20 may, for example, enable a non-terminal connection to non-terminal third connection means 24, e.g. mounted to the patress or like housing 12 (e.g. as in Figure 6.1) or to a supporting and separating member 26 (e.g. as in Figure 6.2). Alternatively, said second connection means 20 comprises an electrical-contact connection means 20, e.g. a plug. This may, for example, enable said second non-terminal connection to be a connection to electrical-contact, non-terminal third connection means 24 mounted to the patress or like housing 12.

Figure 6.3 also shows that the panel 14 comprises attachment means 17, which may be quick release attachment means 17, to attach said panel 14 to the patress or like housing 12; and may comprise security means 171 to control release of the panel 14 from the patress or like housing 12, e.g. to deter tampering, e.g. comprising a coded device 171, e.g a lock 171 (e.g. requiring a key 172 or a specially shaped tool 172), to enable the release. In each case, the faceplate or cover 141 usually does not itself carry any electrical parts but simply has holes/gaps 145 to receive and guide (to engage in a socket of means 16) pins (e.g. such as 1821, Figure 12, but not shown separately in Figure 6.3) of a plug 182 on a lead 183 from external device 18. Alternatively, faceplate or cover 141 may not have any holes for one first connection means 16 if this should be a wireless (e.g. inductive) connector 16, as described below in connection with Figure 9. In the latter case, faceplate 141 may carry a magnet (not shown) to retain device 18 in position during charging and may be formed with external ledges or other guide means (not shown) on its front face 15. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 9, cover 141 may have a clip 146 to retain device 18 in position during wireless charging.

Figure 1 shows the empty shells of embodiments of the invention. Figures 1.1 (a perspective front view) and 1.2 (a corresponding perspective back view) show three differently coloured modules of front panel shells 1403 (red, configured for a USB socket and a UK standard three square-pin socket), 1404 (blue, configured for a USB socket and a retractable lead carrying a jack at its free end), 1405 (green, configured for a USB socket and a wireless connection means). Figures 1.3 and 1.4 are perspective front and back views respectively of an empty two-gang cage 26 to receive two of the modules 14 shown in Figures 1.1 and 1.2. Figure 1.5 is a perspective front view of a two-gang patress 12 set in a wall 11. Figure 1.6 is a similar view showing a cage 26 fixed to the patress box 12 and projecting outside the front of wall 11. Figure 1.7 shows two of the front panels 1403, 1404 mounted to sit inside cage 26.

Figure 2 is a photographic perspective front view showing shells 1403, 1405 in cage 26 and a shell 1404 beside them for comparison. Figure 3 is a corresponding photographic top front view, illuminated from the back, showing shells 1403 and 1405 in position in cage 26. Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3, showing shells 1404, 1405 in position in cage 26. Figure 5 is a corresponding view to Figure 3, showing shell 1403 just before it is inserted into cage 26.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate some practical forms of the embodiment of Figure 6.2.

The Figure 7 embodiment comprises a front panel 14 with a standard UK three square-pin socket 167 (seen in Figure 15 but in Figure 7.3 most of it not actually visible though lying immediately behind its entry-hole apertures 1671 in faceplate 141 of panel 1401) and a USB socket 168. Reference is also made herein to aperture means 1671 which comprises the apertures 1671 defined in the surrounding part 1674 (see Figure 16) of faceplate 141 which part 1674 acts as a cover 1674 to the underlying socket 167. Figure 7.1 is a perspective rear view of front panel 14, Figure 7.2 is a front view of the same, Figure 7.3 is a slightly perspective front view of the same, and Figure 7.4 is a corresponding front view of the same with the faceplate 141 removed, showing the front plate rear portion 142 seen from the front. It may be noted that the non-terminal (second) connection means 20 is formed as a female plug so that its pins 202 are set within respective hollows 203. Correspondingly, its cooperating non -terminal (third) connection means 24 is formed (as best seen in Figures 10.3 and 10.33) as a male socket so that its hollow contacts 241 which receive the pins 202 (by means of electrical contact) are set within respective projections 242. The front panel module 14 is approximately standard 80 mm x 80 mm and the patress 12 is approximately standard 35 mm deep. It may additionally have (not shown) an on-off button and/or a fuse or other safety disconnector. A PCB (printed circuit board) 1681 for the USB socket 168 is positioned as shown. A spring-loaded cover 1673 for the plug socket 167 is movable in the direction of arrow 1672, Figure 7.4. It is to be noted that mains cable 22 is wired to terminal means 30 at the back of cage 26 so that the design enables cage 26 to isolate this mains wiring from a user. Also, connector 24 can be snap-fitted into cage 26 (see Figures 10.33 and 10.35).

Referring to Figure 8, in front panel 14 said first connection means 16 comprise a wander lead 161 (having a jack 162 at its wander end to plug into a suitable device 18) retractable into the panel 14. The panel 14 has a front face 15 (see also Figure 6.1) and is generally planar (as seen in Figures 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4) parallel to the front face 15; and said first connection means 16 also comprise (as seen in Figure 8.31) a drum or reel 163 rotary about an axis 164 for retraction of said lead 161 onto the drum 163, which axis 164 is substantially perpendicular to the plane (or front face) 15 of said front panel 14. Inside drum 163 the inner end (not seen) of lead 161 connects to stationary lead 165 through a miniature slip ring mechanism (not seen), which allows the lead 165 to unspool easily without twisting or forcing it. The axis 164 may in fact be defined by an axle (not shown), fixed in back portion 142, onto which axle the drum 163 is slotted. The drum 163 features a wound steel spring and ratchet mechanism (not shown) that allows the lead 161 to remain in an extended position but to retract easily, e.g. upon a slight further pull outwards. The panel 14 has guide means 166 (only partially seen in Figure 8.31) for guiding the wander lead 161 through an angle of substantially 90° (but in any case greater than 45°) as it is extended in the direction of arrow 166, Figure 8.4, (and retracted). This ensures that the drum 163, having an axial length less (a short dimension) than its diameter (a long dimension), is oriented to allow minimalisation of the thickness 144 of front panel 14. In different embodiments, lead 161 may provide a micro-USB, 'USB A' or 'Lightning' connector. The lead 161 is about 1 m in length.

Referring to Figure 9, the back portion 142 comprises, as its non-terminal (first) connection means 16, a wireless power- transmitting coil 169. The external device 18, to be powered by this, is e.g. a handheld device, e.g. a mobile telephone 18. For charging, the device is placed in, and held in, a clip 146, which may be a moulded part of front panel cover 141. Preferably, clip 146 is flexible, as indicated by the two positions shown of clip 146 in Figure 9.3 and the movement arrow 147. The clip 146 is flexible and designed to hold e.g. a mobile phone 18 in a vertical position, e.g. being a snapfit through the front of the case of such a phone 18. The transmitting coil 169 is screwed/affixed to the rear of its faceplate 141, by means of bolts (not shown) through screw holes 1691 in its three lugs 1692, so as to fix its position precisely and bring it as close as possible to the receiving device, since it has a transmission range of only about 10 mm. this affixing is performed before its back portion 142 is attached to its faceplate 141 by means of screws through screw holes 1421 through its lugs 1422.

In Figure 10, being a group of pictures of an embodiment of the invention with a two-gang patress connector 12: Figure 10.11 is an enlargement of Figure 10.1, which is a back view of the patress 12 before it is installed in a wall or other support 11, and shows press-outs 121; Figure 10.12 is a view like Figure 10.11 but with some (one or more as required) of the press-outs 121, Figure 10.11 , removed by pressing them out to provide holes (121) through which a cable or other wiring 22 (Figure 6.2) can enter patress 12 and to allow easy access for wiring by an electrician; Figure 10.21 is an enlarged view of Figure 10.2, which is a perspective left-front view of the patress 12 with the right-hand cage 2602 in place in the patress 12 (and possibly attached thereto) and the left-hand cage 2601 about to be put in place, by movement in the direction of the arrow 261 (shown in Figure 10.2); cages 2601 and 2602 are attached by screws or bolts (not shown) through screw-holes 2603 to patress 12; Figure 10.3 is a perspective right-hand front view of the patress 12 with both cages 2601 and 2602 in place and the left-hand front panel 1401 about to be moved into place in the direction of the arrow 148; front panel 1401 will be attached preferably directly to patress 12 by means of a screw or bolt through screw hole 1406 in panel 1401 engaging threaded hole 1206 in patress 12, and likewise at the opposite side of each front panel 14; alternatively, there may be circumstances in which it is preferred to attach front panel 14 to cage 26 rather than directly to patress 12; Figure 10.32 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 10.3 but shows a variation thereof, in that two front panels 1401, 1402 are now in place attached to the patress 12 (which is visible in Figure 10.3 but not in Figure 10.32); Figure 10.33 is a left-hand front perspective drawing, like Figure 10.3, but, for further clarification, showing the front panels 1401, 1402 without their faceplates 141, and showing right-hand front panel 1402 in position in patress 12 and left-hand front panel 1401 about to be moved into position in the direction of arrow 148 (Figure 10.3); Figure 10.34 is a right-hand front perspective drawing, like Figure 10.33 but showing both front panels 1401, 1402 (without their faceplates 141) in position in patress 12; and Figure 10.35 is a right-hand side perspective view of a cage 26 and corresponding front panel 14 showing how the socket projections of non-terminal third connection means 24 enter the plug-pin recesses of non-terminal second connection means 20 by movement together in the direction of arrow 148. Clips 122 serve to hold patress 12 into wall 11. As patress 12 is pushed into the wall 11, clips 122 push past detents (not shown) in wall 11 and then snap back into position in order to grip the wall 11 and locate the patress 12 mounted thereto.

Although the patress 12 (like the other parts shown, apart from electrics) has been illustrated as a custom-made plastics part, it is readily possible so to design the cage 26 and front panel 14 that they attach to a standard (e.g. metal) patress 12, e.g. for retrofitting to a patress 12 already fixed in place in a wall 11.

The following possible embodiments are illustrated in Figures 14 and 15.

One possibility is to mount frequently-used gear 27 on the cage member 26. For example, for USB and other low- voltage sockets 16, the usual (e.g. 5 V) transformer, and possibly the usual PCB, can be mounted together as gear 27 on cage member 26. Front panel 14 then needs only a suitable non-terminal connection to the transformer (and possibly PCB), i.e. only to low-voltage. In more detail, e.g. as especially appropriate for low voltage outputs (e.g. via USB connection means 168, retractable lead connection means 161 or wireless connection means 169) which require a transformer and/or other gear 27, the gear 27 may be mounted to cage member 26, rather than to front panel 14. This has the advantage that the same gear 27 can be appropriate to all of these outputs on respective front panels 14 (or different output configurations on the same front panel 14) without having to be mounted repeatedly, one (or more) to each front panel 14, which can allow the front panels 14 to be made much more cheaply. Any variations (e.g. of configuration, of elements of gear and/or of connections) between the respective outputs can be built into the respective front panels 14. Thus the panel 14 omits some electrical gear 27, e.g. a transformer, that is common in that there could be a plurality of the same, each being part of each of a plurality of said panels 14 of different configurations, which gear 27 is instead mounted indirectly (e.g. on cage member 26) or directly to the associated patress 12. There may then need to be one non terminal connection (of the kind seen in the upper part of Figure 15) from the e.g. transformer 27 of the patress (and/or cage) to one said second non-terminal connection means 20 of the front panel, e.g. for low-voltage, and another separate said second non terminal connection (of the kind seen in Figure 6.2) from the mains at the patress (and/or cage) to another said second non terminal connection means 20 of the front panel, e.g. for mains voltage. This is an example of a case in which a single front panel 14 of a connector 10 comprises two separate arrangements, each comprising a said first connection means 16 (161, 163) and a said second connection means 20.

For further safety, in another possibility, mains voltage gear (e.g. including terminals 30) may be kept to the rear of cage member 26 and also be closed off from access from the front by a shutter (not shown) within non-terminal (third) connection means 245, Figure 15, described below (or, though not shown, within other (third) non-terminal connection means which, like means 24, engage in a non-terminal (but contact) connection with suitable non-terminal connection means 20 mounted to front panel 14) which shutter works in the same way as described of the shutter 1673 in the Figure 7.41 embodiment. In such cases, if mains output is required, inserting the front panel 14 in the direction of arrow 1410 can cause the shutter to open.

Another possibility, in relation to the retractable-lead embodiment, is to allow the unqualified user to fit their own low-voltage wander lead 161 (with whatever jack 162 is required) to drum 163, although in order to avoid the unqualified user from having to make electrical-terminal connections, such leads may be sold each on its own drum 163, which drum 163 is simply replaceable on its abovemen tioned axle, the action of replacing serving to effect a non -terminal connection from the central rotating end of the lead 161 wound on the drum 163 through its central rotary contacts to the abovemen tioned stationary slip rings which connect to the fixed power supply lead 165, which for this purpose may cooperate with the drum from the back rather than the front. (Alternatively, the slip rings may rotate and the contacts be stationary.) This also has the advantage of allowing an unqualified user readily to be able to exchange a lead if it deteriorates in quality due to cable wear and/or damage or becomes obsolete. In more detail, the lead 161 and its drum 163 upon which it is wound are sold as a separate unit, which is to be located as indicated in dashed lines 163 in Figure 15. First, the jack 162 and lead 161 are fed through the hole 1611 from the back of a suitable unmounted front panel 14 (i.e. one not yet mounted to a patress 12 or cage member 26). Then, the drum 163 is slotted into recess 1409 by moving it in the direction of arrow 1631, which action clips it (by clip means not shown) into the position indicated in dashed lines and also connects its electric contacts and slip ring (not shown) as appropriate to connection means 20 and engages any necessary detent and/or ratchet mechanism and/or axle (not shown). Front panel 14 is then mounted, as described above, to patress 12 or cage 26. It is envisaged that a user can, if desired, wind his own lead 161 (as a cheaper replacement than buying a complete new drum 163, or in the case that the lead is of a kind that is unavailable, e.g. not provided by the manufacturer of front panels 14 so that the user has to obtain it elsewhere) onto an empty drum 163 which e.g. can be purchased separately, after plugging the lead's captive end (presumed to have a suitable, e.g. USB, plug), i.e. its end opposite to its end bearing its jack 162, into a co-operating socket (not shown) in the empty drum 163. Thus, the panel 14 is adapted for said first connection means 16 to comprise a wander lead 161 retractable into the panel 14 onto a drum 163 and having insertion means (not shown in this Figure but shown schematically as means 642 in Figure 27) to enable such a drum 163 to be effectively inserted by the user. Such insertion means mounted to cage member 26 may include any of the said clip means, slip rings and their contacts and possibly even the ratchet and/or detent mechanisms and enables the user to insert the drum 163 in panel 14 effectively for use as said non terminal (first) connection means, i.e. so as to complete the retractable wander lead non-terminal (first) connection means 16 which comprises the drum 163.

In another possibility, backplate 1407, Figure 14, has an opening extending as a recess 1408 all the way forward to faceplate 141 in front panel 14, as seen in Figure 15. A socket 245, with its hollow pin receptors 2451, for a standard UK three-square-pin plug 182, is mounted to cage member 26 and, when front panel 14 is moved in the direction of arrow 1410 to engage fully with cage member 26, recess 1408 engulfs socket 245 until faceplate 141 touches socket 245. When plug 182 (or at least the pins 1821 thereof) is then inserted through its corresponding entry-hole apertures 1671 in faceplate 141 of panel 1401, it engages into socket 245. For this connection, front panel 14 does not actually carry any connection means (16 or 20) and, if this were the only connection configuration on front panel 14 probably the only purpose of exchanging the front panel 14 would be to exchange its faceplate 141, e.g. if faceplate 141 had been damaged or if it were desired to substitute a different design on the front of faceplate 141. Socket 245 has a spring-loaded shutter (not shown; similar to what is used in UK standard 13 amp square-pin wall plugs) that is pushed aside when pins 1821 are pushed into their cooperating hollow pin receptors 2451. This feature ensures that, for example, no high (mains) voltage is accessible in the region of patress 12 to the front (left, as seen in Figure 15) of cage 26. This 'possibility' can be particularly useful where there is only one generally used standard configuration of (e.g. mains) plug and socket in a country or other area and/or where this possibility is to be used in one gang of a multi-gang connector 10, being one of a plurality of arrangements (comprising respective connection means 16 and/or 24) in the connector 10 or even in a single gang.

In an alternative aspect of the invention, the front panel does not need to comprise any connection means but simply allows the non-terminal third connection means to be mounted to the cage or patress and then be covered by the front panel. This is exemplified by the last possibility just mentioned, i.e. relating to the connection means 245, seen lowest in Figure 15. Another aspect of the invention provides a wall socket or like connector, patress or like housing, detachable front panel, comprising aperture means to allow penetration therethrough of non-terminal connection means of an external device to non terminal connection means underlying the panel at the aperture means in order to effect a non-terminal connection between these two connection means.

As an example, e.g. as seen in Figure 15, there may be provided a front panel 14 for a patress box 12 having a non-terminal (third) connection means 245 (e.g. mounted on cage 26 like the third connection means 245 in the other embodiments) for non-terminal connection directly thereto of a connector 182 of an external device 18, the panel 14 including a cover portion 1674 for the connection means 245, the cover portion 1674 comprising aperture means 1671 for penetration of the connector (e.g. pins 1821 of connector 182) therethrough to the said (first) connection means 245. This front panel 14 may have, additionally, first and second non-terminal connection means 16, 20 to provide an arrangement affording another "second non-terminal connection" as described above, e.g. for another external device 18. This is exemplified by member 26 being adapted to be mounted to the housing 12 of a connector 10, by virtue of said member 26 having mounted thereto, frontwardly, a non-terminal first connection means 245 suitably constructed and arranged to be covered by said front panel 14 and for having disconnectably connected to connection means 245 a non-terminal connection means 182 of an external device 18 by penetration through the panel 14 mounted to said housing 12 and member 26 having mounted thereto, backwardly, (fourth) connection means 28 connected to connection means 245.

It will be seen that there is provided a wall socket or like connector, patress or like housing, detachable front panel 14, with non terminal first connection means 16 for disconnectably connecting thereto an external device 18, by means of a non-terminal connection, and non-terminal second connection means 20 that connect to said first connection means 16 to enable a non-terminal second connection to means 16. Said non-terminal second connection means 20 are arranged to enable said second connection rearwardly of the front panel. This may be within the front panel, i.e. rearwardly of the front face 15 of the panel 14, or may be at the back of the front panel 14, or may be at least partly behind the front panel 14, for example in the case that said second connection means 20 comprise an inductive pickup 201, Figure 6.3. The panel 14 comprises quick release attachment means 17 to attach said panel 14 to the patress or like housing 12 and comprises security means 171 to control release of the panel 14 from the patress or like housing 12, e.g. to deter tampering, e.g. comprising a coded device 171, e.g a lock 171 (e.g. requiring a key 172 or a specially shaped tool 172), to enable the release. Said first connection means 16 may comprise a wander lead 161, Figure 8.4, retractable into the panel 14. Said panel 14 has a front face 15 and in panel 14 said first connection means 16 comprise a drum 163, Figure 8.31, rotary about an axis 164 for retraction of said lead 161 onto the drum 163, which axis 164 is substantially perpendicular to the front face 15. In this case, the panel 14 has guide means 166 for guiding the lead 161 through substantially 90° as it is extended. The panel 14 may comprise a back portion 142 that carries said first and second connection means 16, 20, Figure 6.2, and a front cover or faceplate 141 for the back portion 142. Said front cover or faceplate 141 is detachable from said back portion 142. This front cover or faceplate 141 can be detached and replaced in the panel 14, possibly only when the panel 14 is detached from the patress or like housing 12, e.g. when using fixing means 143 only accessible from the rear of front panel 14. The panel 14 may have the different designs, coloured indications for configurations of connection means or other matter, as discussed herein for the front panel 14. Said second connection means 20 may comprise a wireless connection means 201, Figure 6.3. This then enables said second non-terminal connection to be directly to a channel 22 mounted to a support 11 to which the connector 10 is mounted. The patress or like housing 12 in this connection means arrangement can act purely as a support 12 for the front panel 14 with its connection means 16, 201 without itself directly supporting (in the sense of there being directly mounted to it) any connection means. Again, the wireless connection means 201 may enable a non-terminal connection to non terminal third connection means 24 mounted directly (Figure 6.1) or indirectly (Figure 6.2) to the patress or like housing 12. Said second connection means 20 comprises an electrical-contact connection means 202, 203, Figure 7.11. This may enable said second non-terminal connection to be to electrical-contact, non-terminal third connection means 241, 242, Figure 10.3 mounted to the patress or like housing 12.

The panel 14, as shown in many examples in Figures 7 to 15, may comprise a plurality of arrangements each of which comprises a said first connection means 16 and a said second connection means 20.

The panel 14 of the arrangements of Figures 15 and 16 comprises a cover portion 1674 providing aperture means 1671 (see Figure 16) to allow penetration therethrough of a non-terminal (first) connection means 182 (to the extent of its pins 1821) of an external device 18 (e.g. see Figure 6.2) to non-terminal (third) connection means 245 underlying the panel 14 at the aperture means 1671 in order to effect a (director) non-terminal connection between these two connection means 182 and 245. The cover portion 1674 is constructed to provide a covering over (i.e. to the front of) said non-terminal (third) connection means 245.

It will also be seen that, while there is provided a wall socket or like connector 10 comprising a patress or like housing 12 and a detachable front panel 14 for the housing 12 as described above, the connector 10 can be adapted (e.g. by its possession of mounting means 122 and holes (121) for penetration thereinto of power supply wiring 22) to be mounted to a wall or other support 11 to which a channel 22 is also mounted to cooperate with the connector 10, said second connection means 20 being adapted for non-terminal connection to said channel 22 when said front panel 14 is attached to the patress or like housing 12. Said channel 22 may be a cable, possibly with a spur 22 that cooperates with the connector 10. The connector 10 comprises non-terminal third connection means 24 mounted to the housing 12, said second connection means 20 being adapted (by having female connector means 203, Figure 7.11, to engage male connector means 242, Figure 10.3) to effect non-terminal connection to said third connection means 24 by the movement in the direction of arrow 148, Figure 10.3, when said front panel is attached to the housing. The connector 10 comprises a member 26 adapted to be mounted to the housing 12, member 10 being so adapted because it has mounted thereto said non-terminal third connection means 24 (to the front of said member 12) and attaching means in the form of lugs 2603 comprising screw holes 2604, Figure 1.4. Terminal fourth connection means 28 electrically connected to said non terminal third connection means 24 , both being mounted to said member 26, enable a wire connection of wires 22 via terminals 30 of said terminal fourth means 28 (to the rear of said member 26) to said non-terminal third connection means 24. Said member 26 prevents access (from the front) to said wire connection when said member 26 is mounted to the patress or like housing 12. (This is for safety for example, so that a person not having an electrician qualification, seeking to detach, e.g. to exchange, the front panel 14, will not accidentally access or touch a live wire of said wire connection.) Said member 26 is adapted (in order to be used in this context) to be mounted to the housing 12 of connector 10 by said member 26 having mounted thereto, frontwardly, non-terminal third connection means 24, the latter being adapted for connection thereto of said non-terminal second connection means 20 by the action of said front panel 14 being attached to the housing 12 and by having, mounted rearwardly to member 26, (possibly terminal) fourth connection means 28 adapted to connect to a channel 22. The terminal fourth connection means 28 to the rear of said member 26 electrically connected to said non -terminal third connection means 24 to the front of said member 26 and also mounted to said member 26 enable a wire connection from wires 22 via terminals 30 of said terminal fourth connection means 28 to said terminal third connection means 24.

It will further be seen that, while there is provided a wall socket or like connector 10 which is mounted to a support 11, e.g. a wall 11, and comprises a patress 12 and a detachable front panel 14 for the patress 12, the front panel 14 comprises a first connection means 16 adapted for disconnectable connection thereto of an external device 18, e.g. for the purpose of powering or charging the device 18, and, connected electrically, internally of panel 14, to said first connection means 16, second connection means 20 adapted to provide a non-terminal connection to a channel 22 mounted to the support 11. This non-terminal connection can be effected by an inductive pickup 201 which picks up power from channel 22. Thus, the patress 12 in this case acts purely as a support for the front panel 14, which itself carries its connection means 16 and 20, but the patress 12 does not otherwise carry or support any connection means.

It will also be seen that, alternatively (and more commonly), the second connection means 20 is not an inductive pickup 20 but is an electrical-contact means 20, e.g. a plug 20, adapted for non-terminal connection to non-terminal third connection means 24, e.g. a socket 24, mounted to the patress 12. Preferably, for this purpose, the connector 10 comprises a cage member 26 at the back of the patress from access by an inexperienced person seeking to replace the front panel 14) mounted to the patress 12 and serving to mount thereon (i.e. on cage 26) said third connection means 24. Said member 26 mounts terminal fourth connection means 28, e.g. having screw terminals 30, connected (e.g. by an electrical connection within the member 26) to its said non-terminal third connection means 24. A wired connection can then be made from channel 22 (e.g. via a spur thereof) to terminal means 28. (The member 26 is herein sometimes called a cage member 26 or a cage 26, because it can separate or isolate exposed live wires, e.g. coming from channel 22, from being accessible to an unqualified person operating in front of the cage.)

Referring to Figures 17 to 26, a system 20, Figure 17 comprising a wall socket or like connector 10 comprises at least one patress 12 and a plurality of different interchangeable front panels 14 for the patress 12. This is a modular system 20 in which the front panels 14 are modules 14 which have a standard size to fit to the patress 12 which is sized so that it can be fronted by 1, 2, 3 or more of the modules 14 (as seen by patress 121, 122, 123 or 124 in Figure 18). The different front panels 14 may simply be coloured and/or patterned differently (to suit different decors, and to be replaceable or exchanged e.g. to suit a change of decor) and/or comprise different configurations of plug-in sockets 16 or other disconnectable connections 16 for an external device 18. The disconnectable connections 16 may be for supplying respectively different e.g. voltages, e.g. mains voltage and USB voltage and/or an information connection to an external device 18. A single front panel 14 may comprise a plurality of different such disconnectable connections 16, 161, 162, see Figure 17.

In one embodiment, a room, building, ship or other structure 22, Figure 19, comprises a plurality of wall sockets or like connectors 10 each comprising a patress 12 and a replaceable front panel 14 for the patress 12, the front panels 14 being different from one another.

Each said front panel 14 comprises non-terminal connecting means 24 to enable it to be connected through the patress 14 to a power source 26 in the wall 28.

Sometimes, e.g. for safety, e.g. to the relevant equipment, and/or for reducing the likelihood of fire, it is desirable to limit the time, or the maximum time, that power can be supplied through one or more (e.g. selected) disconnectable connections 16 of a front panel 14. In an embodiment, a front panel 14 for a patress 12 comprises a disconnectable connection 24 for an external device 18 and time- limiting means 30, Figure 20, to limit how long power can be supplied to the disconnectable connection 24. Such means 30 may be made responsive to the state of charge of the external device 18 (disconnectably connected to disconnectable connection 16) to switch off the power, e.g. being responsive to the power demand reducing below a predetermined or settable threshold. In another embodiment, such means 30 can be preset to provide a limited time period for supplying the power, the front panel 14 comprising means 32 to select the length of the time period, and means 34 to indicate how far this has progressed. In the previous embodiment, means 34 serve to indicate the progress toward said threshold. For simplicity of operation, the front panel 14 has a plurality of buttons 32 for selecting different said time periods, preferably respective different time periods, i.e. one time period to each button, e.g. 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, which makes it very easy to select. Each button 32 is be flush or substantially flush with the surface; and may be a touch-sensitive area 32 rather than a physically moving button 32. The front panel 14 may comprise indicating means 34 to indicate which button 32 has been selected and/or the progress that has been made through the selected period. The button 32 selected by pressing it may provide an indication that this one has been selected; e.g. it may then light up. Said indicating means 34 may comprise a lightable ring 34 around, or an area on, each button 32, which lights up or goes dark progressively around the ring to indicate progress through the selected period, and incidentally also indicates which button 32 has been selected.

The time-limiting means 30 may be (not shown) connected or otherwise arranged to control, either simultaneously or selectively, more than one disconnectable connection 16 on a single front panel 14.

The time-limiting means 30 (and possibly an on-off control 301) may be arranged to be remotely controlled, e.g. via Wi-Fi and/or a mobile or other app via a signal receiver 302.

These features are particularly applicable to use of such a disconnectable connection for charging an external device 18, e.g. a handheld device 18, e.g. when such a disconnectable connection 16 is a USB connector 16.

Additionally to other description of a retractable cable/wander lead 163 as a said disconnectable connection means 16 of a front panel 14, this may comprise a multiport USB hub 164, Figure 21, at its free end. As said disconnectable connection means 16, a front panel 14 may comprise two or more spools 36 for respective retractable cables 1631, 1632, Figure 22. Again, Figure 23, a retractable cable 163 may have two or more connection means 1643, 1644 on respective cable portions 1633, 1634 at its free end. Thus, the front panel 14 comprises, at the free end of one or more retractable cables 16, a plurality of disconnectable connection means 164, 1643, 1644 for respective external devices 18, such means comprising any one or more of the group comprising: a multiport USB hub 164; two or more retractable cables 1631, 1632; two or more such connection means 1643, 1644 on respective cable portions 1633, 1634 at the free end of a retractable cable 163. Ethernet over Power or other PLC (Power Line Communication) adapters 38 may be built into the front panel 14. The front panels may also comprise MESH networking nodes 38, such as for PLC. Such a front panel 14 may also comprise a multiple communication channel device 38, e.g. HDMI, e.g. for PLC. In a particular application, incoming TV signals, e.g. via cable or satellite, are fed to a first-incoming box 40, Figure 24, fixed in position, e.g. near the fusebox in a building 42, e.g. home 42, which is connected to the power wiring 26 to provide PLC of the incoming TV signals to one or more TV sets 401 around the building, which may be in use simultaneously or may be a single TV set 401 that can be moved around to any PLC-connected front panel 14. Similarly, the PLC can provide a multi position, e.g. multi-room, audio system of speakers 402, Figure 17, built into front panels 14, e.g. a SONOS Inc system. Controls for built-in devices, e.g. a loudspeaker 403, and/or external devices 18, e.g. such as TV or powered speaker 18, can then be provided by e.g. a wireless signal, and/or from a mobile phone.

It is further possible to include in the front panel 14 protection transducer means as for the purposes described above, e.g. a microphone 404 and/or speaker 402 to enable, e.g. proactive control, voice- activated control, 'listening-in' (e.g. for remotely minding people, e.g. elderly relatives, babies and/or pets) which may be programmed to filter incoming sounds to provide a (usually remote) alarm in response to predetermined sounds, e.g. simply above a threshold volume or (e.g. by incorporating more sophisticated filtering or even an AI element) having other parameters, and/or 'drop-in', e.g. to allow a person in one room 421, or one building 42, from time to time to ask another person in another room 422 or building (not shown) whether everything is OK. The 'listening-in' function may be enhanced or replaced by CCTV with a built-in camera 405 in a front panel 14. The front panel 14 may comprise a light 406, e.g. behind a transparent portion, face or face portion, of the front panel 14; this may operate under remote control, e.g. via the PLC, or under the control of a light-sensor in the front panel 407, e.g. to switch the light on upon 'detecting' darkness. It may also then switch the light in timed or random on-off cycles as a burglar deterrent. The light can also serve as a 'comfort' night-light, e.g. for a baby or a person of nervous disposition. The front panel 14 may include a security device 408, e.g. linked to, e.g. connected via the PLC to, a (usually remote) alarm. Such a device may include a movement- sensor 408 and/or means 408 to sense if a window 423 is broken (or opened, e.g. at an unacceptable time, which can be programmed into the device, e.g. night-time); such a window-opening sensor 408 can be activated by a beam of e.g. invisible light, or inaudible sound, from a source included in the front panel 408, provided there is a clear path from the source 408 to the window 23, and sufficient light or sound signal can return to the sensor 408, which would be activated upon a change in the intensity of the returned signal; possibly, the sensor 408 could have a sound-frequency facility to detect an, e.g. Doppler, frequency change to indicate movement (or breaking) of a window 23.

All of these can be remotely controlled, e.g. by a mobile or other app, e.g. with a cooperating wireless (or audio) or PLC control signal receiver 302 in the front panel. Likewise, any alarms or communications can be remotely given or received in any such manner.

All of the foregoing described with reference to a wall connector 10 may be applied similarly (subject to the "Limitation" given next) to a wall-switch 100, Figure 25, comprising a patress 12 and a front panel 14 for the patress 12, the front panel 14 comprising a switch 50 (which term is to be understood in its widest sense). A wall-switch 100, e.g. a light-switch 100, differs from a switched wall socket (or like) connector 10 in that the wall-switch 100 interposes a switch 50 into a wall circuit 52 (i.e. a circuit in a wall), so bridging a break 520 in the wall circuit 52 in order to switch the wall circuit 52 (e.g. to make or break the circuit at that point), whereas a switch 141, Figure 17, of a switched wall connector 10 (having connection means 16 for disconnectably connecting thereto an external device 18) interposes between a wall circuit 26 (e.g. a power supply 26 in a wall 28) and the disconnectable first connection means 16 (e.g. a socket, plug and/or induction means) of the connector 10, and in turn an external device 18 when this is disconnectably connected to the connection means 16. A wall-switch 100 has two electrical sides or poles 54, of which each connects to a respective electrical side 521, 521 of the wall circuit break 520, so that said switch 50 can make or break electrical connection between these sides 521 of the break 520.

Limitation. In relation to a wall-switch, references in the foregoing, relating to the supply of power to disconnectable external devices 18 will normally be limited to the use of low- voltage power supplies 26 (e.g. less than 50 V, 30 V, 25 V, 12 V, or suitable for charging handheld devices 18 or laptop computers 18, or for transmission through a USB connection 162 etc all of which are substantially lower voltage than mains voltage of 110 V or 240 V, e.g. being suitable for use with a wall light-switch 100) that can be incorporated in (e.g. the front panel 14 of) a wall-switch 100, e.g. a light-switch 100, e.g. with a USB disconnectable connection 16 and/or a retractable cable connection 163. Thus, although the item 100 may have a power supply function it will usually be primarily a wall-switch 100.

Similarly to what is described elsewhere herein, it is preferable, e.g. for the safety and convenience of a person wanting to fit or exchange a front panel on such a wall-switch and not being a skilled electrician, that the front panel comprises non-terminal connecting means 56, 56 to connect the two sides 54, 54 of the said switch 50 to the respective sides 521, 521 of the break 520 in the wall circuit 52.

The front panel 14, Figure 25, for a patress 12 of a wall-switch 100 comprises a switch 50 and non-terminal connecting means 56, 56 suitable to connect two sides 54, 54 of the said switch 50 through the patress 12 to respective sides 521, 521 of a break 520 in a wall circuit 52 or other circuit (electrically) behind the housing 12.

A cage or other isolating or support member 125, Figures 17 and 25, is adapted to be fixed to the patress 12 of a wall connector 10 or wall-switch 100, and said member 125 carries terminal means 127 for connection thereto of wiring 261, Figure 17, 5211, Figure 25, entering the patress 12 and non-terminal connection means 241, Figure 17, 242, Figure 25, adapted to cooperate with non-terminal connection means 24, Figure 17, 56, Figure 25, carried by front panel 14.

Clearly, many features of the wall connectors can be incorporated in a wall-switch 100, with or without the wall-switch 100 comprising a wall connector feature, i.e. a feature of being able to connect a power supply 26 through the front panel 14 to an external device 18.

Referring to Figure 27, said first connection means 60 comprises retractable wander lead means 61. The front panel 62 has a front face 63 and the retractable wander lead means 61 comprises rotary spool means 64 for retraction of the wander lead 611 onto a spool 641 of the spool means 64. The spool 641 has a rotary axis 68, a long dimension 65 and a short dimension 66 and is arranged with said long dimension 65 substantially parallel to said face 63. (The term "spool" is used to include any kind of spool, drum or other rotary device to take up by winding thereon a retractable lead.) Spool 641 is arranged with its rotary axis 68 substantially perpendicular to said face 63. Wander lead means 61 also has a guide 67 to change the direction of wander lead 611 from coming off spool 641 substantially parallel to front face 63 so as to be substantially perpendicular to face 63 as it reaches an exit hole 631 in face 63.

Referring to Figure 28, the spool 641 has a long dimension 651 and a rotary axis 681, both parallel to front face 63. Spool 641 is threadedly carried in supports 642 so that, when it is rotated about its axis 681 by wander lead 611 being pulled out by the user through front face 63 or being retracted by spring means (not shown) carried by one or both of supports 642, spool 641 moves in one or other direction of arrow 643 , whereby the wander lead 611 winds or unwinds in a helical fashion along spool 641.

Referring to Figure 29, an extension lead means 70 has a wall-connecting end 701 provided with a plug or other connector 702 to connect means 70 to a (for example, standard 3-pin) wall socket (not shown) or the like, and has a free (wander) end portion 703 to which are mounted one or more patress-like housings 71, to each of which is mounted a front panel 72 of one or another kind or configuration described above (having a non-terminal said second connection means, as 20, Figure 6.1, to make an electrical non terminal connection with a non-terminal said third connection means, as 24, Figure 6.1, in the housing 71, neither of which connection means 20, 24 is shown in Figure 29, for simplicity). Each of the housings 71 comprises a cage or other separation means (not visible in Figure 29) to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person who is not an electrician fitting the front panel 72 to the housing 71, as with the cages described above. This extension lead means 70 carries a plurality of housings 71 mounting panels 72 of respectively different configurations, as shown (by way of example) in Figure 29. This extension lead means 70 together with its variety of housings 71 with its panels 72 of different configurations, e.g. of the aforesaid first connecting means 73, may be sold as a set, assembled or as a kit, so that a user who contemplates replacing (usually many, in a home, building etc) standard patress wall connectors by arrangements embodying the invention can try out the system first before going to the expense of such replacing. Such trials can be of using the different connecting means 73 and/or of exchanging the differently (variously) configured front panels 72. Again, the variously configured front panels 72 may be sold as a set, even without the extension lead means 70. Again, the extension lead means 70 with housings 71 mounted to it may be sold separately from a set of panels 72. Thus, the extension lead means 70 can serve as a trialling tool.

It will be seen that there have been provided:

• A front panel 14, 72 for a patress or like housing 12, 71, the panel having socket or other first connection means 16, 73 for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device 18 and plug or other second connection means 20 for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing 12, 71 to a power source 22, characterised in that the panel 14, 72 is one of a set of such panels 14, 72 which are interchangeable and have respectively different configurations.

• In one said configuration said first connection means 16, 73 comprises retractable wander lead means 16, 61.

• The panel 14, 72 has a front face 15, 63 and the retractable wander lead means 16, 61 comprises rotary spool means 163, 64 for retraction of a wander lead 161, 611 onto the spool means 163, 64 and the spool means 163, 64 comprises a spool 163,

641 that has a long dimension 65 and a short dimension 66 and is arranged with said long dimension 65 substantially parallel to said face 15, 63.

• The panel 14, 72 has a front face 15, 63 and the retractable wander lead means 16, 61 comprises rotary spool means 163, 64 for retraction of a wander lead 161, 611 onto the spool means 163, 64, and the spool means 163, 64 comprises a spool 163,

641 that has a rotary axis 164, 68 and is arranged with said axis 164, 68 substantially perpendicular to said face 15, 63.

• The retractable wander lead means 16, 61 comprises rotary spool means 163, 64 for retraction of a wander lead 161, 611 onto the spool means 163, 64 and the spool means 163 (Figure 15), 64 comprise insertion means 1409, 642 to enable a replaceable refraction spool 163, 641 to be inserted by a user.

• The retractable wander lead means 16, 61 comprises a plurality of said first connection means 1633, 1634, 73 for disconnectable connection to respective external devices 18.

• In one said configuration said panel 14 comprises protection transducer means 402-408 arranged to receive and/or transmit radiation to protect a region (of space) in front of the panel 14 for safety and/or security.

• The panel comprises two poles 54 interconnected by switch means 50, the poles 54 having respective connection means 56 for disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing 12 to respective sides 521, 521 of a break 520 in a wall circuit 52 or other circuit (electrically) behind the housing 12.

• The panel 14 comprises a plurality of separate arrangements each comprising a said first connection means 16 (161, 163) and a said second connection means 20.

• The panel 14 is in combination with a said housing 12.

• The panel 14 is in combination with a said housing 12 comprising a cage or other separation means 26 to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting the front panel 14 to the housing 12.

• The panel combination 12, 14 is part of a combination with extension lead means 70 having a wall-connecting end 701 provided with a plug 702 or other connector to connect it to a (standard) wall socket 704 or the like, e.g. in or on a wall 11, and having a free portion 703 to which the housing 71 is mounted.

• The extension lead means 70 comprises a plurality of such housings 71. These may receive panels 72 with respectively different configurations.

• Extension lead means 70 comprising a plurality of patress-like housings 71 each comprising a cage or other separation means 26 to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting a front panel 72 to the housing 71 and non-terminal connection means, as 24, Figure 6.1, to connect the housing 71 (electrically) to such front panel 72.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments herein described will be apparent to people skilled in the art. For example, features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged in order to form further embodiments. Again, where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implicit the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent. The invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive embodiments formed by said variations, further embodiments and cases.

Claims

1. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that the panel is one of a set of such panels which are interchangeable and have respectively different configurations.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in one said configuration said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the panel has a front face and the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means and the spool means comprises a spool that has a long dimension and a short dimension and is arranged with said long dimension substantially parallel to said face.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the panel has a front face and the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means, and the spool means comprises a spool that has a rotary axis and is arranged with said axis substantially perpendicular to said face.

5. A panel as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means and the spool means comprise insertion means to enable a replaceable retraction spool to be inserted by a user.

6. A panel as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the retractable wander lead means comprises a plurality of said first connection means for disconnectable connection to respective external devices.

7. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that in one said configuration said panel comprises protection transducer means arranged to receive and/or transmit radiation to protect a region in front of the panel.

8. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the panel comprises two poles interconnected by switch means, the poles having respective connection means for disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to respective sides of a break in a wall circuit or other circuit behind the housing.

9. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the panel comprises a plurality of separate arrangements each comprising a said first connection means and a said second connection means.

10. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the panel is in combination with a said housing.

11. A panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the panel is in combination with a said housing comprising a cage or other separation means to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting the front panel to the housing.

12. A panel combination as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the panel combination is part of a combination with extension lead means having a wall-connecting end provided with a plug or other connector to connect it to a wall socket or the like, and having a free portion to which the housing is mounted.

13. A panel combination as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the extension lead means comprises a plurality of such housings.

14. Extension lead means comprising a plurality of patress-like housings each comprising a cage or other separation means to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting a front panel to the housing.

15. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means, the panel has a front face, the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means, and the spool means comprises a spool that has a long dimension and a short dimension and is arranged with said long dimension substantially parallel to said face.

16. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means, the panel has a front face, the retractable wander lead means comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means, and the spool means comprises a spool that has a rotary axis and is arranged with said axis substantially perpendicular to said face.

17. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means, that comprises rotary spool means for retraction of a wander lead onto the spool means and the spool means comprises insertion means to enable a replaceable retraction spool to be inserted by a user.

18. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that said first connection means comprises retractable wander lead means that comprises a plurality of said first connection means for disconnectable connection to respective external devices.

19. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that the panel comprises protection transducer means arranged to receive and/or transmit radiation to protect a region in front of the panel.

20. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that the panel comprises two poles interconnected by switch means, the poles having respective connection means for disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to respective sides of a break in a wall circuit or other circuit behind the housing.

21. A front panel for a patress or like housing, the panel having socket or other first connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection with an external device and plug or other second connection means for effecting disconnectable non-terminal connection through the housing to a power source, characterised in that the panel comprises a plurality of separate arrangements each comprising a said first connection means and a said second connection means.

22. A front panel as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20, characterised in that the panel is in combination with a said housing which comprises a cage or other separation means to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting the front panel to the housing.

23. A combination as claimed in claim 21, characterised in that the panel is in combination with extension lead means having a wall-connecting end provided with a plug or other connector to connect it to a wall socket or the like, and having a free portion to which the housing is mounted.

24. A combination as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the extension lead means comprises a plurality of such housings.

25. Extension lead means, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of patress-like housings each comprising a cage or other separation means to isolate exposed live parts from being touched by a person fitting a front panel to the housing and non-terminal connection means to connect the housing to such front panel.