GB1567175A

GB1567175A - Plug and socket assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB1567175A
Application number: GB3030676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WINKLESS C; WINKLESS P
Current assignee: WINKLESS C; WINKLESS P
Priority date: 1977-10-21
Filing date: 1977-10-21
Publication date: 1980-05-14

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO PLUG AND SOCKET ASSEMBLIES (71) We, CHARLES STEPHEN WINKLESS and PAUL WARD WINKLESS, both British Subjects of Albion Works, Bryant Street, Winson Green, Birmingham, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to electrical plug and wall socket assemblies, of the type, hereinafter referred to "as the type described", in which the socket is provided with a manually operable switch to control the supply of electric current to the socket.

It is sometimes desired to render the switch of a plug and socket assembly of the type described temporarily inoperable. For example if the plug and socket assembly is to provide an electrical current to a refrigerator, it is sometimes desired to make it impossible to switch off the electric current supplied to the refrigerator as a result of inadvertent or forgetful operation of the switch.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a new improved plug and socket assembly of the type described.

According to the present invention we provide a plug and socket assembly of the type described wherein when the plug is engaged with the socket said plug engages and returns in the assembly means which prevent operation of said manually operable switch.

Said means may be such that the plug may only be engaged with the socket when the switch is in the position to switch on the current and said means may prevent the switch being moved in the direction to switch off the electric current.

Alternatively, said means may be such that the plug may only be engaged with the socket when the switch is in the position to switch off the electric current and said means may prevent the switch being moved in the direction to switch on the electric current.

Said means may comprise an abutment element positioned to be engaged by a manually operable switch member of the socket to prevent operation thereof.

Alternatively, said means may comprise a housing to cover a manually operable switch member of the socket when the plug is engaged in the socket.

Further alternatively said means may be provided as an extension from a plate member provided with apertures to receive the pins of the plug or with a single aperture to receive one of the pins of the plug and adapted to be mounted on the plug and to be interposed between the plug and the socket when the plug is engaged with the socket and the plate member being made of a suitable insulating material.

Alternatively said means is provided on a cover member adapted to enclose at least part of the plug casing.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention, and FIGURE 6 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, In all of the embodiments the plug and socket assembly comprises a conventional 13 amp. assembly with square pins. The socket comprises a moulded front plate provided with a switch behind the front plate and with a socket assembly adapted to receive the pins of the plug. The front plate is thus provided with three rectangular apertures to permit passage of the pins of the plug and with an aperture through which a manually engageable switch operating member extends.

The plug is likewise of conventional construction comprising a moulded housing from which three rectangular pins extend and provided with the usual flex -- clamp- ing means, fuse and flex-connecting means.

In a first embodiment the plug is provided with a plate member 10 having the same general shape as the surface of the plug from which the pins project and made in a suitable rigid insulating material. The plate member 20 is provided with three rectangular apertures 11 to receive the pins of the plug so that the plate member is mounted on the plug as a result of engagement of the pins-within the apertures. The plate member 10 is provided with an extension 12 which extends- laterally outwardly when the plug is engaged with the socket to provide an abutment edge 13 which engages with the switch.

Depending upon whether it is desired to maintain the switch in its "off" or its "on" position, the extension part is shaped so as to lie in engagement with the switch when it is in the desired one of the said positions and to prevent movement of the switch from said one position to its other posi tion.

In a variation of the present example, the plate member comprises a rectangular strip 20 provided with a single aperture 21 for receiving one of the pins, for example, the earth pin, of the plug. In this version, the one end of the rectangular strip provides a portion 22, corresponding to the extension 12 of the first embodiment, so that when the plug is engaged in the socket, the plate is supported from one of the pins and the portion 22 provides an abutment edge 23 which engages the switch to hold it in the "on" or "off" position as required.

All of the above embodiments may be modified by providing the extension with a trough shaped housing which, when the plug is engaged in the socket, covers the switch operating member so as to prevent access to this member. Thus the trough shaped housing may be part of the plate member, either the type provided with three apertures or the type provided with a single aperture. Figures 3 and 4 show a plate member similar to plate member 10 at 40 having apertures 41, and an extension part 42 formed with a trough shape part 44.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and comprises a hollow cover 60 of flexible plastics material having an internal cavity 61 adapted to receive a plug 62 having an extension 63 which covers a switch 64 associated with a socket 65.

In Figure 6, the plug 62 is shown partially engaged in the socket 65 to show how the cover 60 can be released from entrappment by the plug 62.

Preferably the cover 60 has an external shape so as to make it difficult for children to remove the cover from the plug and to remind others that the plug should not be interfered with.

In all embodiments the part for engagement or covering the switch may be located as necessary for different switch and socket configurations including left and right hand applications.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A plug and socket assembly of the type described wherein when the plug is engaged with the socket said plug engages and retains in the assembly means which prevent operation of said manually operable switch.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means is such that the plug can only be engaged with the socket when the switch is in the position to switch on the current and said means prevents the switch being nioved in the direction to switch off the electric current.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein safd - means is such that the plug can only be engaged with the socket when the switch is in the position to switch off the electric current and said means prevents the switch being moved in the direction to switch on the electric current.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means comprises an abutment element positioned to be engaged by a manually operable switch member of the socket to prevent operation thereof.

5. An assembly according to any one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein said means comprises a housing to cover a manually operable switch member of the socket when the plug is engaged in the socket.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said means is provided as an extension from a plate member provided with apertures to receive the pins of the plug or with a single aperture to receive one of the pins of the plug and adap ted to be mounted on the plug and to be interposed between the plug and the socket when the plug is engaged with the socket and the plate member being made of a suitable insulating material.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. socket comprises a moulded front plate provided with a switch behind the front plate and with a socket assembly adapted to receive the pins of the plug. The front plate is thus provided with three rectangular apertures to permit passage of the pins of the plug and with an aperture through which a manually engageable switch operating member extends. The plug is likewise of conventional construction comprising a moulded housing from which three rectangular pins extend and provided with the usual flex -- clamp- ing means, fuse and flex-connecting means. In a first embodiment the plug is provided with a plate member 10 having the same general shape as the surface of the plug from which the pins project and made in a suitable rigid insulating material. The plate member 20 is provided with three rectangular apertures 11 to receive the pins of the plug so that the plate member is mounted on the plug as a result of engagement of the pins-within the apertures. The plate member 10 is provided with an extension 12 which extends- laterally outwardly when the plug is engaged with the socket to provide an abutment edge 13 which engages with the switch. Depending upon whether it is desired to maintain the switch in its "off" or its "on" position, the extension part is shaped so as to lie in engagement with the switch when it is in the desired one of the said positions and to prevent movement of the switch from said one position to its other posi tion. In a variation of the present example, the plate member comprises a rectangular strip 20 provided with a single aperture 21 for receiving one of the pins, for example, the earth pin, of the plug. In this version, the one end of the rectangular strip provides a portion 22, corresponding to the extension 12 of the first embodiment, so that when the plug is engaged in the socket, the plate is supported from one of the pins and the portion 22 provides an abutment edge 23 which engages the switch to hold it in the "on" or "off" position as required. All of the above embodiments may be modified by providing the extension with a trough shaped housing which, when the plug is engaged in the socket, covers the switch operating member so as to prevent access to this member. Thus the trough shaped housing may be part of the plate member, either the type provided with three apertures or the type provided with a single aperture. Figures 3 and 4 show a plate member similar to plate member 10 at 40 having apertures 41, and an extension part 42 formed with a trough shape part 44. A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and comprises a hollow cover 60 of flexible plastics material having an internal cavity 61 adapted to receive a plug 62 having an extension 63 which covers a switch 64 associated with a socket 65. In Figure 6, the plug 62 is shown partially engaged in the socket 65 to show how the cover 60 can be released from entrappment by the plug 62. Preferably the cover 60 has an external shape so as to make it difficult for children to remove the cover from the plug and to remind others that the plug should not be interfered with. In all embodiments the part for engagement or covering the switch may be located as necessary for different switch and socket configurations including left and right hand applications. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A plug and socket assembly of the type described wherein when the plug is engaged with the socket said plug engages and retains in the assembly means which prevent operation of said manually operable switch.

7. An assembly according to claim 4 or

claim 5 wherein said means is provided on a cover member adapted to enclose at least part of the plug casing.

8. An assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1, or Figure 2, or Figures 3 and 4, or Figures 5 and 6 of the accom panying drawings.