AU2015203122B2 - Improvements in power sockets - Google Patents

Abstract

An An elecidnal socketcoutietswitch assembiyti0) hasara mi od(12s two push buttoneetricalswitches each of which include arespective push button (14 16).twoelectrical sockets (18,20),and aface plate (22).The assemby(10) is used to provingACmainspowertoanelectricaldevice.Thefaceplate(22) may beformedinonepecefromatrarsparentmateriaLEachelectricalsocket (18, 20) hasfirst pin apertures (38)formed through thefae plate(22)and corresponding secondpapertues (40) formed Throughthemainbody021. The first and second pinapertres(3840 areadaptedforallowingpinsofa power plug frorrm theeiectiadeviceto pas therethroughandconnecttometal pincontatsforthe electricalsocket(8,20).Analignmentboss(42)protrudes forvardly from around each of the second pin apertures (40)andpassesclosely through correspondingoneofthefirst apertures (8) ofthatsocketinthe assembly (10). The alignment boss,(42) hasafonardmostn (44) which may be generally coplanar with an outwardly facing surface(2)oftheface plate (22This presents opening (46)forreceivingtherethrougharespectivepin of thepower plug whichpincanbeovedbetweenthe forwardmstend(44) and arespeotive metalpin contactfor the electrical socket X4 Ar> Z24 --- ---- .... 4-f4 1>07 -34-4 34 1t / ~t / T( ~Wj 3 6 V. I /:?

Description

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Revse2198 AUSTRAIA Patents A4.1990 ORIGINALL COMPLETESPECIFCATION

APPLICANT S Koex Py Limited (ACN 121670 193)

INVENTOR: idNPaul

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE PeterMaxwel and Associates Level 60 PStreet SYDNEY NSW 2000

INVENT.N`TIE: IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER SOCKETS

DETAILS OFASSOCIATED Nil APPLICATION NO:

Thefollowingstatementisafull description ofhsinventionincudingthe bestmethod of performing it known to usm

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FiELD OF INVENTION The present inventionrelatsto electcal socket oulet switchasse es for use inprovidingpowertoeedricaldevices BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention is an improvement of the electrcasocket outlet switch assembly described inAustralanPatent AppicaonNo. 201323435by the sameappicantandinvehtor and the contents of the complete specification of that application are incorporated herein by reference The eletesocketoutlet switch assemblydescribed inthe aforementioedpatent application hasanoutwardlyfacing surface (to theuser) that; but for the push buttons and a button retaing memberimmediately surrounding both buttons is nrelytransparent so as to increase the aesthetc value of the assemb A compositefaceplatewhich providestheoutwardly facing surface of the assemblyand through which the opaque push batons and

their retairng member pass, is composed of a main face plate, which is transparent but does not coverthepair of electdicasckets, andtwo socket face

plateswhcharealsotransparent and cover arespectiveelectricalsocketof the

pair. Therefore, although theterconnection of the transparent main faceplate and the two transparen socket face platesin the assembly described in the aforementionedpatent application resultsin a composite face platewhichis entirelytransparent, the borders across which those face plates are interconnectedto form the composite face plate are clearly visible and detract from the aestheticvalueoftheassembly.Thereis alsotheisk thtwith

prolonged use involving repeatedfrictionainsertion and removalofthepinsof

power plugsthrough) the apertures in thesocketfaceplateshesocketface plates may separate from the main face plateand fall off the main body of the assembly thereby exposing theloosely fitted opaque socket spacerbehindeach socketface plateoarworsetill exposing the three metalpi contacts therebehnd, incIuding the lv contactswhcarelocatedntheconnector housing. it would, therefore bedesirable to havean ecricalsocketoutletswitch assembly ofthekddescribedin AustralianPatent Appication No 201323433, but which has a faceplate whichis formedin one piece and from transparent materiaand soisnotacmposite oftransparent parts, therebyfurther improving the aesthetic value otheassembly and enhancingitsstrengthandsafety

FurthermoreinAustrasPatent Application No 2013234353 the opaquesocketspacerbehindeach socket faceplate is manufactured asa separate pieceand installedin frotof the three metal pin contactseither before, or at the same time as the socketfacepae is installed Thismaysometimes leadto slightmisalignment of the inner surfasofthe three pin aperturesofa socket faceplatewiththeinner surfaces of the threepin apertures of the

correspond sock spacerin the assembly that may impede thesmooth insertionandremoval of the powerplugpins throughthoseapertures.Anysuch misalignmentvwill be very difficult to correct after installations itwilatleast require disassembly of the composite face plate and re-assembly ofpartswith correctly aligned inner surfaces. It would therefore, be desirable to have anelectricalsocket outletswitch assemly ofthekind described in Australian Patent Application No2013234353, butwhich has an alignment boss protruding forwardlyroaroundeachofthe three pin apertures of each socket spaceor whenthereisnosocketspacer froaround eachofthe three pinapertures formedthroughthe mainbody, such that the aligmenbsses can pass closely through enarged,)utcorresponding three pin aperturesin the face plateIn this way theforwardmostendsofthe

1I06 aWimetbossesm begeneryooplanar with the outwardly facing surface of theface plateandeachsuchendwillpresentan openingtoeceivetherethrough a respective pin of a three pin power plug whichcan be moved between the forwardmostend and the metal pin contact in theconnector housing without any abnormal impedimentThe alignment bosses can also maket easiertopropey align andconnect togethertheface plate withthemainbodyoftheeectrical socket outletswitchassembly. SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingtoone aspectof the presentinventionthere is provided an electrical socketoutletswitch assembly foruse in providing power to an electrical device the assemblycomprising a main body at leastone push buttoneectrical switch,at least one electrical socketanda faceplatewherein the face plate is formed none piece from transparent materialand has an inwardlyfacing surface whcis adapted to over all of anoutwardly facing sideof the main body butnot the oaeach push button electrical switchorpinapertures of the or each electric socket,

Ina preferred form, the inwardly facingurface has anopaque substance

of a seleedcolourapplied thereon so as to preventlightpassingthouhthe transparent materito theoutwardly facingsideofthemain body,whereby the

selectedcolour isvisibleto a userthrough the transparentmaterial The selectedolour may bewhite. It ispreferedthat the main body has an inwardly facing side formounting to a wall, and connectedtothe inwardlyfacingside is ahousingcontaininan eectriaconnectioncircuit between a source ofelectopower andmetalpin contacsfortheoreachelecricalsocket,themetalpincontactsbeingadapted forconnectingto pins ofa powerplug front theeerical devicewhen thepins are passed through the eledrical socket andreach themetal pincontads itispreferredthat the or each pushbutioniecna switchincludea pUsh buttonwhich passes through the main and operabconnectedto theelectilcal connection cicutforcontrollingthesupplyofpowertothemetalpin contacts it is also preferred that the or each electricalsocket has firstpinapertures formed throughthefaceplateand corresponding secondpin apertures formed through the mainbodyhe firstandsecondpinaperturesbengadapted for alowinthe pins of the power plug from the etricaldevice to pass therethrough and connect tothe metal pih contacts fortheelectricasocketthe firsthand secondpin apertures having substantiallythesamesizes in anotherprferred form, theassembly furthercomprisesan alignment boss whichoprotrudes forwardlyfrm around eachof thesecond pin apertures and passes closely through a corresponding one ofthe firstpin apertures, the alignment boss having aforwardmost end which is generally coplanarwith or sighty protruding fromheoutwardly facing surceofthefaceplatesoasto present an opening for receivingtherethrough arespectivepinofthepowerpug, which pin can be movedbetwen the forwardrmost end and a respectivemetal phn contact for the electrical socket According to anotheraspect of the present invention there ispovided an electricalsocket outlet switch assembly for use in providingpowertoanelecical device, he assembly compsingaman body,at leastone pushbuttoneletrica swchlateast one electricalsocketa face platewhich has an outwardly facing surface and an inwrdly facingqsurfacewhichisadaptedtocover aiofan outwardlyacing e ofthemrainbodybutnottheor each pushbutton electrical 26 switchor pin aperturs of the oreachelectial socket, wherein the reach eiectrcal socket has first pin aperturesformedthrough theface plate and corresponding second pin apertures formed throughthe mainbody the firsthand

.1s6-nf secondpapertureshingsubstantAydifferent sizes and beingadaptedfor allowing pins ofa power plug from the electricaldevice to pass therethrough and connect to metal pin contacts for the electrical socket the metal pin contacts beingcontainedina housing whichalso contains n electalconnectioncircuit between a source of electricalpower and the metal pin contacts, andwherein an algnment boss protrudesforwardlyfom around each ofthesecondpinapertures and passes sey through acorrespondinone ofthe firtpinaperturesthe alionment bosslheving afcorwardmost end which is0generallycopanarwitor slightlyprotruding fromthe outwardlyfacing surface ofthe faceplate so as to present an opening for receingtherethrough a respective pin of the power pug, whichpin can be moved between the forwardmost end and a respectivemetal pin contat for the electrical socket, in a preferred form the face plate is formedin one piece from a transparentmaterial. Preferabtlyhe main body includes a socket spacerin ontofea"hofthe metal pin contactseandthesecond pinaperturesare formedthroughthesocket spacer, Another preferred form theiwardlyfacingsurfaceofthe face platehas anopaque substance of'a selectedcolourapplied thereon SUMMARY OFHE DRA iNGS g. is aperspectiveiew of thefrontofanrelectricalocketoutletswitch assembly according toa preferredebodimentoftheinvention. Fig 2 is a perspective Viewof the rearof theelectricalsocktuswitch assembly of Fig,.V Fig.is a perspective exploded viewof the frontof theelectrical socket outlet switch assemblyof Fig, showing the face pateseparated from themain bodyand showingthelc action of the push button electricalswItches and the locatiornof the eectricalsocketsdisposedonthemainbody Fig 4 is a perspectiveviewofthe main body shownin Fig 3showin the outwardly facinside of themanbody thetwo buttos of the pushbutton electrical switcheswich pass through the mainbodandthesecondpin anertues of the eletCal sockets whichareformed throughthe mainbody.

DETAILEDDESCRPTiON OF THE INVENTION The electrical socket outletsach assembly 10 shownin Figs 1 to 4 has a

an body 12, two push buttoneectrical switches, ad ofwhich inAde a respective push button 14 1 two ctrical sockets18 20, ardaae plate 2. The assembly 10 is used for providingpower to an electridevicesuch as a

kitchen appliance or portableightingwhichissupplied with AC mains power The face plate 22 is, ideally, formed in one piece from transparent materaL An opaque button retainingmember 24 is attachedtothefacelate 22 and servestoimmediatelsurroundboth push buttons 14, 16 in the assembly 10,

Theone piece face plate 22 may be formed by any suitable meanssch as by injection noulding, and the transparent materalmaybeanacrylic(eig podymethynethacrylate, polycarbonate orany suitablematerial

The faceplate22hasanoutwardlyfacingsurface26 and aninwardly facing surface'which is adapted to cover all ofan outwardly facigside28ofthe maibody12but not theor each push buttonctricalswitch or pin aerures of theory achelectricalsocket Plastic springclips projectrearwardyfromthe nwardly facing surfaceof the face plate22 and are adapted to engage with ramped fixing aperures 29 formed through themainbody 12 toprovidesuch cover.

The inwardlyfacingsurfacehasan opaque substancesuchasanacrylic paint or resinor other thin filmfming substance, of a sectedcolour suchas white appliedthereon. This isso as toprevent light passing through the transparentmatedi to theoutwrdyfacingside ofthemain body 12, whereby the selected colouris visibleto auserthrough thetransparentmaterial The main body 12 has an inwardly facing side30, as shownIreFign 2, for mounting to a wa, suchas ith the useofthreadedfastenerspassing through mountngapertures$2.Connectedto the inwardlyfacingside30 isa housin33 containinganelectca! connectioncircui(part of the externainsulated wiring 34 ofawhich isshowndbetweenasourceofeetricaipower(such as ACmains power supplied through metal terminals 36)and metal pcontactsalso contained in thehousingfor eachof the electrical soketsiS120 The metal pin contacts for eacheetricalsocketare adaptedfor connectingtopinsofa power plug from the electricadevicewhen the pinsare passedthroughtheelectrical socket and reachthe metpincontacts The two push buttonelectcalswitches,the pushbnttons 14,16 of which pass through the mainbody and through the face plate 22,areoperably connectedto theelectricaconnection circuit for controlUing the supply of power to the metalpinconacts Eachelectricalsocket18 20 has first pin apertures 38formedthrough the face plate22and corresponding second pin apertures40 formed through the main body 12, the first andseconpinapertures3.40 beingadapted for alowingthe pinsof thepowerplug front the elecial device to pass therethrough andconnectto the metal pincoacts for the electdcal socket idealy.the first and second pin apertures38, 40 have, intheembodiment shown in Fis. i to 4,substantialydifferentsizessathoughinanother embodiment of the presentnvention, thefirst and secondpin apereshave substantiallythesamesizes.

As spelmcally shown in Figs. 3 and 4 anignmentboss42protrudes

forwardvfrom aroundeach ofthesecond pnapertur40ofeachelectia soket 1820,and passesclosely o aorespondingoneofthefirstpin apeures 38 ofthat ssket in the asseb y 10 The alignment boss 42 has a 5 forwardmstendc44whichasshown inFig1isgeneralycopanarwithormay be sghtlyprotrudingfronmtheoutwardlyfacingsurface 26of he faceplate22. This presents an opening 46 for rece grtherethrougharespectivepinof the power plug wichpincanbermovedbetweentheorwardmostend 44 and a respective metapin contact for the eetrical socet The main body in the specificembodimentshownFigs 3 and 4, includstwosocketspacers48,with each socketspacerbeing infront of respective metalpin contacs for each of theelectcalsocketsandthesecond pin apertures40 areformedthrough each socketspacer 48 and the alignment bosses 4(protrude forwardly from each socketspacer in another embodiment of the present inventionthe mainbdydoes not include socketspacersinfrontofeachofthemetalpin contactsand instead the secondpin apertures40are formed through portionsofthemainbody which are contiguouswithailother portionsof the main budythe main body having been formed inonepieceandthealignmentbossesprotrudeforwardiyfromthe .20 contguous portionsof the main body it wiLbe apparent to persons of skiing the artthatvaous modifications may be made in detailsofthe description of the electrical socketoutltswitch assenblydescribed above without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

1MAN5/15

Claims (6)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An electrical socket outlet assembly for use in providing power to an electrical device, the assembly comprising a main body and a face plate that

are adapted to be connected, wherein the face plate is formed in one piece and has first pin apertures and an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing

surface, wherein the main body comprises at least one electrical socket having second pin apertures and an alignment boss that extends forwardly from

around each of the second pin apertures, and wherein the inwardly facing

surface of the face plate is adapted to cover all of an outwardly facing side of the main body but not, at least, the alignment boss and the first pin apertures of the or each electrical socket which remain uncovered by the face plate through

the second pin apertures of the face plate, the alignment boss having a forwardmost end which is generally coplanar with the outwardly facing surface

of the face plate and wherein the alignment boss acts as a guide for moving the face plate into the correct position on the main body during connection and

wherein the second pin apertures present openings for receiving therethrough a respective pin of the power plug, which pin can be moved between the

forwardmost end and rearmost end where the pin comes into contact with a

respective metal pin contact of the electrical socket.

2. The electrical socket assembly of claim 1 wherein the face plate and

main body are adapted to be connected by the use of one or more clips on one

part and one or more corresponding ramping fixing apertures on the other part.

3. The electrical socket outlet assembly of any of claims 1 to 2 wherein the

main body has an inwardly facing side for mounting to a wall, and connected to the inwardly facing side is a housing containing an electrical connection circuit between a source of electrical power and the metal pin contacts.

4. The electrical socket outlet assembly of claim 3 wherein the main body

further comprises one or more electrical switches and the face plate has one or

more additional apertures to allow the one or more electrical switches to pass

through or at least remain uncovered by the face plate and wherein the one or more electrical switches are operably connected to the electrical connection

circuit for controlling the supply of power to the metal pin contacts.

5. The electrical socket outlet switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body and electrical socket including the alignment boss containing the second

pin apertures is formed in one piece.

6. The electrical socket outlet switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the main

body is an assembly including a body and separately connected socket spacer

having an electrical socket and wherein the alignment boss is formed on the

socket spacer and the second pin apertures are formed through the alignment boss and socket spacer.

Dated this 8 th day of February 2021

Kolex Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant MAXWELLS PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS PTY LTD