ZA201001659B

ZA201001659B - Collapsible electrical plug

Info

Publication number: ZA201001659B
Application number: ZA2010/01659A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: David Roy Kessel
Original assignee: David Roy Kessel
Priority date: 2010-03-08
Filing date: 2010-03-08
Publication date: 2010-11-24

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION :

THIS invention relates to a collapsible electrical plug.

Advancements in computer technology have resulted in computer equipment, especially laptops and mini notebooks, decreasing in size and weight. However, electrical plugs used for power connection of these types of computer equipment have remained bulky, especially in countries such as South Africa where three pin or three blade electrical plugs are used. This is problematic, as these plugs are usually stored with the laptops and mini notebooks in slim and aesthetically pleasing computer bags.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative electrical plug.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible electrical plug comprising a live-neutral housing from which extends a live contact terminal and a neutral contact terminal, the housing receiving on one end a power output and internally configured to electrically connect in use the live wire and the neutral wire of the power output respectively to the live contact terminal and the neutral contact terminal of the housing; and an earth housing from which extends an earth contact terminal, the earth housing movably connected to and axially displaceable about the live- neutral housing between a collapsed configuration in which the live contact terminal, neutral contact terminal and earth contact terminal are aligned and an operative configuration in which the earth contact terminal is equidistant from the live contact terminal and the neutral contact terminal.

The live-neutral housing and earth housing may be internally configured to electrically connect the earth contact terminal with the earth wire of the power output. Preferably, the live-neutral housing comprises an electrical plug connector which receives the earth wire of the power output and which is connected to a conductive extension bar of the earth housing electrically connecting the earth wire with the earth contact terminal of the earth housing.

The electrical plug connector may define a slot to receive an exposed end of the earth wire of the power output.

Typically, the conductive electrical plug connector is configured to movably connect the live-neutral contact terminal with the earth terminal. Preferably, the electrical plug connector extends from the upper end of the live-neutral housing and passes through an aperture on one end of the earth housing, the electrical plug connector allowing the earth housing to be axially displaced between the collapsed and operative configurations.

The live-neutral housing further may compnse a live-neutral connector defining three receiving arrangements, two outer receiving arrangements each configured to receive a holding arrangement respectively defined in the upper ends of the live and neutral contact terminals, with a middle receiving arrangement configured to receive a holding arrangement defined in a lower end of the electrical plug connector.

Typically, the power output may then be an electrical cable premoulded onto the live-neutral housing.

Typically, the live and neutral contact terminals may each have on one end a connector or contact arrangement to electrically connect to an exposed live or neutral wire. Additionally, each of the live and neutral contact terminals has an insulating sleeve fitted over an end thereof.

The live and neutral contact terminals may each have on one end a connector or contact arrangement to electrically connect to an exposed live or neutral wire.

Additionally, each of the live and neutral contact terminals may have an insulating sleeve fitted over a portion of the terminal abutting the live-neutral housing.

The earth contact terminal may, but need not, have an insulating sleeve around the portion abutting the earth housing.

Alternatively, the earth housing may be electrically insulated from the live-neutral housing, and thus not electrically connected to the power output, thereby for the earth contact terminal to operate as a dummy contact terminal. In this configuration, the live-neutral housing may comprise a connector socket to receive a two terminal, e.g., pin or blade, electrical plug.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a collapsible electrical plug having a live and neutral contact terminal forming part of a live-neutral housing and earth contact terminal forming part of an earth housing, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, in a collapsed configuration;

Figures 2 and 3 show the collapsible electrical plug of Figure 1 in two operative configurations;

Figure 4 shows various parts of the collapsible electrical plug of Figures 1 to 3, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows a side view of an electrical plug connector used in the collapsible electrical plug of Figures 1 to 4;

Figures 6 and 7 show the configuration of electrical wires with the electrical plug connector of Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows the parts of Figure 4 in an assembled state;

Figure 9 shows the assembling of the live-neutral housing and the earth housing of the collapsible plug and parts of Figures 1 to 8;

Figure 10 shows a collapsible electrical plug in the form of an adaptor, in accordance with another example embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 11 shows a front view of the collapsible electrical plug adaptor, indicating the female sockets.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to Figure 1, a collapsible electrical plug 10 is shown comprising a live- neutral housing 12 movably connected to an earth housing 14.

A live contact terminal 16 and a neutral contact terminal 18 extend from an underside of the live-neutral housing 12. In the embodiments shown in the figures and described below, the contact terminals 16 and 18 are shown as pins, but may alternatively be blades, as is common in electrical plugs used in some countries. The live-neutral housing 12 is configured to receive on one end thereof a power output shown as a premoulded electrical cable 20. Also, the live- neutral housing 12 is internally configured, as will be described in more detail below, to electrically connect in use the live wire and the neutral wire of the electrical cable 20 respectively to the live contact terminal 16 and the neutral contact terminal 18 of the live-neutral housing 12.

From an underside of the earth housing 14 extends an earth contact terminal 22, which may, but need not, be connected to an earth or ground wire of the electrical cable 20. Later in the document, embodiments will be described where the earth contact terminal 22 either operates as an earth or operates as a dummy earth terminal.

The earth housing 14 is movably connected to and axially displaceable about the live-neutral housing 12 between a collapsed configuration in which the live contact terminal, neutral contact terminal and earth contact terminal are aligned (shown in Figure 1), and an operative configuration in which the collapsible electrical plug 10 is to be inserted in an electrical socket or outlet (shown in

Figures 2 and 3). In the collapsed configuration the collapsible electrical plug 10 is compact and allows for easy storage of the plug 10 with an associated piece of electronic or computer equipment. In the operative configuration, the earth contact terminal 22 is moved to a position where it is equidistant from the live contact terminal 16 and the neutral contact terminal 18, which is the standard configuration of contact terminals of all three terminal plugs. The operative configuration of the plug 10 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The earth housing 14,

2i2010/0 16549 which is in this example embodiment secured to a middie portion of the live- neutral housing 12, is displaced to be normal with the live-neutral housing 12. In

Figure 2, the earth housing 14 has been rotated or swiveled by 90° in a clockwise direction to the operative configuration, while in Figure 3 the earth housing 14 has been rotated or swiveled by 90° in an anti-clockwise direction, again leaving the plug in an operative configuration.

With reference to Figure 4, parts of the live-neutral housing 12 as well as the earth housing 14 are now described in detail. Each of the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 has a respective insulating sleeve 24 and 26 that fits over an upper portion of each of the terminals 16 and 18. In its assembled state, the insulating sleeves 24 and 26 will partially extend into and effectively abut the live- neutral housing 12. These sleeves may be compulsory for electrical plugs in certain countries, in line with the national standards for electrical equipment. The insulating sleeves 24 and 26 cover portions of the terminals adjacent the live- neutral housing 12 thereby to protect a user from accidental electrical contact with the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 when the user removes the plug 10 from an electrical socket.

The upper end of each of the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 terminates in a connector or contact arrangement 28 and 30 which 1s configured to receive respective exposed live and neutral wires. The contact arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 8 is a crimping arrangement allowing crimping of the exposed wire onto the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18. However, it will be appreciated that other contact arrangements may be provided to connect the exposed live and neutral wires to the terminals 16 and 18.

Each terminal 16 and 18 defines in its upper end, below the contact arrangements 28 and 30, a holding formation shown as a neck 32 and 34 which neck is received respectively in receiving arrangements shown as slots 38 and 40 of a non-conductive live-neutral connector 36. This non-conductive live-neutral connector 36 is in the form of an elongate bridge and defines a third receiving arrangement as a slot 42 between the slots 38 and 40, which is connected to a conductive electrical plug connector 44. The conductive electrical plug connector

44 connects the live-neutral housing 12 to the earth housing 14, and provides an electrical connection with the earth contact terminal 22.

The electrical plug connector 44 is best shown in Figures 5 to 7. The connector 44 has a holding arrangement in a lower end thereof, shown as a neck portion 46, which neck portion 46 is received by the third slot 42 of the non-conductive live-neutral connector 36. The electrical plug connector 44 further defines a slot 48 in one side thereof to receive an exposed end 50 of an earth wire 52 of the electrical cable 20 (see Figures 6 and 7). The connector 44 also defines a cutout 54 which allows the live or neutral wire 56, depending on the configuration of the collapsible electrical plug 10, to extend partially through the connector 44 in order to save space in the live-neutral housing 12. The end 58 of this wire 56 is secured to either the live or neutral contact terminal 16 or 18, depending on the configuration of the collapsible electrical plug 10.

At the end distal to the neck portion 46, the electrical plug connector 44 terminates in a seat 59 and threaded section 60 which is associated with a safety nut 62, shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9. The seat 59, threaded section 60 and nut 62 are used to connect the live-neutral housing 12 to the earth housing 14.

However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable connection arrangement could be employed in order to secure the two housings 12 and 14 together.

Returning to Figure 4, the earth contact terminal 22 also has an insulating sleeve 64 which is to be fitted over Its upper end. As mentioned above, this sleeve 64 may be required in terms of electricity standards and is used to protect a user that removes the plug 10 from an electrical socket outlet.

A conductive extension bar 66 which forms part of and is encased in the earth housing 14, defines two apertures 68 and 70 on its outer ends. One aperture 68 is moved over the threaded section 60 of the electrical plug connector, rests on the seat 59 and is secured to the threaded section 60 by the safety nut 62. The other aperture 70 fits over the upper end of the earth contact terminal 22. As the earth contact terminal 22, the extension bar 66 and the electrical plug connector 44 are all manufactured from an electrical conductive material, the earth terminal

22 is electrically connected to the earth wire 52 (referring to Figures 6 and 7) of the power output.

Figure 8 shows the manner in which the parts of the collapsible electrical plug 10 are assembled within the two housings 12 and 14 and further shows how the electrical connection via the extension bridge 66 is made. From this Figure it is easy to see that the non-conductive live-neutral connector mechanically connects the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 and the conductive electrical plug connector 44 together. As mentioned above, the conductive extension bar 66 connects the earth contact terminal 22 and the conductive electrical plug connector 44, thereby providing both a mechanical and an electrical connection.

With reference to both Figures 7 and 8, the internal wiring of the collapsible plug is described. Figure 7 shows how the neutral wire 56 extends through the cutout 54 of the electrical plug connector 44 in order to reach the contact arrangement 30 of the neutral contact terminal 18. The earth wire 52 terminates in an exposed end 50 which is received in the slot 48 which is also a crimping arrangement. Although not shown in Figures 7 and 8, the live wire will be located between the neutral and earth wires 52 and 56 of Figure 7, thereby to terminate and be connected to the contact arrangement 18 of the live contact terminal 16.

Figure 9 shows the encasement of the parts described above in the live-neutral housing 12 and the earth housing 14 respectively. Apart from the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 extending from the lower end of the live-neutral housing 12, only the seat 59 and threaded section 60 of the electrical plug connector 44 extends beyond the upper end of the live-neutral housing 12. In an assembled form, the seat 59 and threaded section 60 passes through an aperture 74 defined in the earth housing 14. The extension bar 66 of the earth housing 14 rests on the seat 59 which allows for the rotation of the earth terminal 14 around the pivot point provided by the electrical plug connector 44. The safety nut 62 is secured to the threaded section 60, thereby keeping everything in place.

The earth housing 14 further defines a holding arrangement 72 on its operative upper part. The holding arrangement is used as a gripping means to hold the

-0- plug 10 and specifically to allow for easy removal of the plug 10 from an electrical socket. Although the holding arrangement 72 is shown in the figures as a circular formation, it will be appreciated that other arrangements or formations, e.g., a T- shaped grip, could also be used.

Although not shown in the drawings, the plug 10 may comprise a stop, either located on the live-neutral housing 12 or on the earth housing 14, to ensure that the earth housing is only axially displaceable about the live-neutral housing 12 in one direction. Such a stop is to be used on collapsible electrical plugs 10 where the polarity of the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 is to be maintained.

Additionally, the plug 10 may comprise an internal fuse between the live wire of the power output and the live contact terminal, thereby to provide the collapsible electrical plug with additional safety features.

Turning now to Figures 10 and 11, in which the same reference numerals have been used for similar parts, a further embodiment of the collapsible electrical plug is shown where the plug 10 is used as an adaptor for a standard two contact terminal plug, e.g., a two-pin plug. As is shown, the live-neutral housing 10 has on one side of it a socket arrangement 76 to receive the standard two-pin plug.

In this arrangement, the socket arrangement 76 acts as the power output of the plug 10. The socket arrangement has two female sockets 78 to receive the two- pin plug. As described in accordance with previous embodiments, the earth housing 14 is axially displaceable about the live-neutral housing 12 of the plug 10.

In this embodiment, the earth contact terminal 22 is to operate as a dummy contact terminal. As there is no earth wire to connect to the earth contact terminal 22, the earth contact terminal 22 will be electrically isolated from the electrically conductive parts. Hence, the parts of the earth housing 14 described above need not be manufactured from electrically conductive material. In fact, in this embodiment the extension bar 66 will anly provide mechanical support to the different parts.

it will further be appreciated that the internal connections between the contact arrangements 28 and 30 of the live and neutral contact terminals 16 and 18 may be adapted as is needed to ensure electrical connection with the socket arrangement 76.

The present invention provides a compact stackable electrical plug that may be used with electrical equipment, such as laptops and mini-notebooks, or other portable equipment where there is a need for compact storage of the equipment and plug. As the power output or electrical cable 20 is secured, and mostly pre- moulded, to the live-neutral housing 12, it allows for a simple configuration of internal parts of the housings which easily allow for displacement between the live-neutral and earth housing 12 and 14, while still providing the necessary electrical contact between the wires of the cable and the contact terminals. It will specifically be appreciated that the use of conductive parts, i.e. the electrical plug connector 44 and extension bar 66 between the live-neutral housing 12, where the cable 20 enters, and the earth terminal 18, simplifies the configuration. This is in contrast to other configurations where the live and neutral wires have to pass through a pivot point from the earth housing 14 to the live-neutral housing 12.

Claims

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1. A collapsible electrical plug comprising: a live-neutral housing from which extends a live contact terminal and a neutral contact terminal, the housing receiving on one end a power output and internally configured to electrically connect in use the live wire and the neutral wire of the power output respectively to the live contact terminal and the neutral contact terminal of the live-neutral housing; and an earth housing from which extends an earth contact terminal, the earth housing movably connected to and axially displaceable about the live- neutral housing between a collapsed configuration in which the live contact terminal, neutral contact terminal and earth contact terminal are aligned and an operative configuration in which the earth contact terminal is equidistant from the live contact terminal and the neutral contact terminal.

2. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein the live-neutral housing and earth housing are internally configured to electrically connect the earth contact terminal with the earth wire of the power output.

3. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in claim 2 wherein the live-neutral housing comprises an electrical plug connector which receives an earth wire of the power output and which is connected to a conductive extension bar of the earth housing electrically connecting the earth wire with the earth contact terminal of the earth housing.

4. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electrical plug connector defines a slot to receive an exposed end of the earth wire of the power output.

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5. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in any one of claims 3 and 4 wherein the conductive electrical plug connector is configured to movably connect the live-neutral contact terminal with the earth terminal.

6. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in claim 5 wherein the electrical plug connector extends from the upper end of the live-neutral housing and passes through an aperture on one end of the earth housing, the electrical plug connector allowing the earth housing to be axially displaced between the collapsed and operative configurations.

7. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the live-neutral housing further may comprise a live-neutral connector defining three receiving arrangements, two outer receiving arrangements each configured to receive a holding arrangement respectively defined in the upper ends of the live and neutral contact terminals, with a middle receiving arrangement configured to receive a holding arrangement defined in a lower end of the electrical plug connector.

8. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the power output is an electrical cable premoulded onto the live-neutral housing.

9. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the live and neutral contact terminals each have on one end a connector or contact arrangement to electrically connect to an exposed live or neutral wire.

10. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein each of the live and neutral contact terminals has an insulating sleeve fitted over a portion abutting the live-neutral housing.

11. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the earth contact terminal has an insulating sleeve around a portion abutting the earth contact terminal.

12. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein the earth housing is electrically insulated from the live-neutral housing and not electrically connected to the power output, thereby for the earth contact terminal to operate as a dummy contact terminal.

13. A collapsible electrical plug as claimed in claim 1 or 12 wherein the live- neutral housing comprises a connector socket as the power output to receive a two terminal electrical plug.

14. A collapsible electrical plug substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the illustrated embodiments. DATED THIS 8™ DAY OF MARCH 2010 R & FISHER APPLICANT'S PATENT ATTORNEYS