NO20240542A1 - Electric contact - Google Patents

Description

[0001] Title:Electric Contact

[0003] Field of the invention

[0005] The present invention is related to the field of electric socket. More particularly, the electric socket aimed for enhancing safety of installed equipment and improving efficiency during installation.

[0007] Background and state of the art

[0009] There are several electric sockets on the market. The safety of power usage has always been a focus for improvement in the electrical field. Safety protections generally address both the safety of normal use and the prevention of abnormal use, in addition to safe and efficient installation. The main safety concern is protection against electric shock.

[0011] Most conventional electric sockets do not have safety features, so curious children may accidentally insert pins or conductive materials into the sockets and suffer electric shocks.

[0013] Further the sockets used in homes can pose safety hazards, especially for children who are not aware of the dangers. Parents, busy with housework, cannot always supervise their children, which increases the risk of electric shock.

[0015] Typically, the available electric sockets include a front closure mechanism designed to secure the electrical components. Upon insertion of pins, these closures slide open. However, certain pins, particularly on chargers and smaller electrical devices, consist of only halfway conductive material. In some instances, there may be a gap or edge in the middle, which can catch the pins during removal. This can potentially damage either the childproof mechanism or the plugged-in apparatus.

[0017] The present invention offers an electric socket designed to enhance the safety of installed equipment while also streamlining installation efficiency. Additionally, the electric socket incorporates a novel mechanism featuring radiuses on the backsides of the sliders, aimed at preventing the pins from becoming caught within the sliders when being pulled out.

[0018] Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the problems in the prior arts.

[0020] Summary of the invention

[0022] One aspect of the present invention provides an electric socket designed to prevent children from electric shock. The electric socket provides compact element located between the electric contact and the electrical base, which also isolates the groundings.

[0024] In one aspect of the present invention, the electric socket comprises a faceplate, a tamper-proof assembly, a metal bracket, a plurality of rivets, an electric base assembly, and a grounding bridge. The faceplate includes one or more outlets for connecting two plug connectors. The tamper-proof assembly consists of a body, a pair of sliders, and multiple springs. Each slider is a molded body with extended legs at one end for assembling the springs. To ensure the springs remain in place during installation, there are small knobs incorporated to hold the springs securely in position. Additionally, the body also features channels to accommodate the sliders and the springs, allowing movement in both forward and backward directions to open a gate for connecting the plug connector.

[0026] In one aspect of the present invention, the grounding bridge is a metal bridge with an extension part in the middle that serves as a grounding contact. The extension part makes contact with the earthing strap to achieve grounding.

[0028] In one aspect of the present invention, the electric base assembly comprises a housing having a top part and a bottom part, the top part and the bottom part are snap fitted together and holds a grounding pin, a plurality of pivot movable arms and a plurality of connector bridges. Further, the pivot movable arms are provided to insert wires/cables into the electric base assembly through holes, allow the wires to assemble within the connector bridge, and also enables a user to fix the wires into the connector bridges by rotating the pivot movable arms in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. During this process, the wires move into the connectors that effectively cut the insulation on the wires and make conductive, and also secure connection between the wires and the bridges.

[0029] In one aspect of the present invention, the electric base assembly comprises a housing consisting of a top part and a bottom part. These parts are snap-fitted together and hold a grounding pin, a plurality of pivot movable arms, and a plurality of connector bridges. The pivot movable arms are designed to insert wires into the electric base assembly through holes, allowing the wires to assemble within the connector bridges. Additionally, enable users to secure the wires into the connector bridges by rotating the pivot movable arms clockwise or anti-clockwise.

[0031] In one aspect of the present invention, the tamper-proof assembly incorporates a movable shutter/gate that allows the plug connectors to access electrical contacts of the electric base assembly.

[0033] In one aspect of the present invention, the metal bracket is a retaining plate that holds the faceplate, the tamper-proof assembly, the grounding bridge and the electric base assembly.

[0035] In one aspect of the present invention, the metal bracket serves as a retaining plate responsible for holding together the faceplate, the tamper-proof assembly, the grounding bridge, and the electric base assembly together using a plurality of rivets.

[0036] In one aspect of the present invention, the metal bracket facilitates the mounting of the electric socket on a wall. This is achieved because the metal bracket features multiple holes and slots that enable the electric socket to be securely fastened in place.

[0038] In one aspect of the present invention, the position of the pivot movable arms can be adjusted based on the intended function of the electric base assembly.

[0040] In one aspect of the present invention, the electric base assembly allows for the insertion of wires into the pivot movable arms. These pivot movable arms are then rotated clockwise to secure the wires into the connector bridges, effectively removing insulation material from the wire and establishing conductive connections without the need to remove the insulation from the wires in advance. In one aspect of the present invention, the wires are positioned to pass through the metal cutter, which forms a component of a metal arm. As the pivot movable arm is pushed downward, the wire placed into the pivot hole meets the metal cutter. This creates a cutting-like function without actually cutting the wire, ensuring a secure, safe, and robust conductive connection to the bridge. Moreover, the design incorporates a fishhook-like feature that enhances the wire's resistance to being easily pulled out once inserted into the cutter.

[0042] An advantage of the present invention is the adjustable position of the pivot movable arms, which can be tailored to suit the function of the electric base assembly, whether it's for open or hidden modes.

[0044] Another advantage of the present invention is that the wires can be adjusted and fitted according to their position against the wall: this aids in reducing the space required for the already tight pack of wires in wall-mounted installations, enhancing the overall efficiency and compactness of the electrical setup.

[0046] Further details and specification of the invention are described in the detailed description and accompanying figures, providing comprehensive insights into the operation and functionalities of the present invention.

[0047] Brief description of the drawing

[0049] The foregoing aspects and many of the advantages of the present invention will be more appreciated and better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0050] Fig.1a is a front view of an electric socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Fig.1b is an exploded view of an electric socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Fig.2a is a perspective view of a tamper-proof assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Fig. 2b is an exploded view of the tamper-proof assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Fig. 3 illustrates an electric base assembly of the electric socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Fig 4 illustrates an exploded view the electric base assembly of the electric socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Fig.5a illustrates a side vide of the electric base assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Fig.5b illustrates a front side view of the electric base assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Fig.6 illustrates a top view of the electric base assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Fig.7 illustrates the electric base assembly including electric wires inserted into pivot movable arms in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0070] Fig.8 illustrates the electric base assembly, where the wires are inserted in the pivot movable arms and rotated in the clock-wise to fix the wires in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] Fig.9 illustrates the electric base assembly including metal cutter / metal knifes in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0073] Fig.10 illustrates a connector bridge inside the electric socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0075] Fig.11 illustrates in-wall mounting solution in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig.12 illustrates a side view of the tamper-proof assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] Fig.13 illustrates inside view of the electric socket, when the pins from an electrical plug are inserted evenly into the power plug connector holes in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0079] Fig.14 illustrates inside view of the electric socket, when the pins from an electrical plug are not inserted evenly into the power plug connector holes in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0081] Fig.15 illustrates different mounting versions of the electric socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] Detailed description of the invention

[0084] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0086] Embodiments of the present invention will be described herein with reference to the figures. Referring to Fig.1a and Fig.1b, in one embodiment, the present invention provides an electric socket 10 comprises of a faceplate 20, a tamper-proof assembly 30, a metal bracket 40, plurality of rivets 50, an electric base assembly 60 and a grounding bridge 70.

[0088] The faceplate 20, as shown in Fig.1a and Fig.1b, is made of materials such as, but not limited to, plastic or any other non-conductive material. The faceplate 20 covers the mounting and electrical components of the electric socket 10. The faceplate 20 is designed to screw, clip, or push (snap-fit) into place. Additionally, the faceplate 20 incorporates knobs that guide the plug into the correct position. The faceplate 20 includes one or more outlets 22, which enables connection for two plug connectors.

[0089] The tamper-proof assembly 30 is provided as an entry restriction mechanism covering both socket terminal apertures. The tamper-proof assembly 30 incorporates a movable shutter that allows the plug blades to access the electrical contacts of the electric base assembly 60.

[0091] The metal bracket 40 is a retaining plate that holds the faceplate 20, the tamper-proof assembly 30, the grounding bridge 70 and the electric base assembly 60 together using a plurality of rivets 50. Additionally, the metal bracket 40 facilitates mounting the electric socket 10 on a wall, as the metal bracket 40 has multiple holes and slots that enables the electric socket 10 to be securely fastened in place.

[0093] The grounding bridge 70 is a metal bridge with an extension part 72 (as shown in Fig.10) in the middle that serves as the grounding contact. This extension 72 makes contact with the earthing strap to achieve grounding.

[0094] Referring to Fig.2a and Fig. 2b, a tamper-proof assembly 30 for the electric socket 10 is provided. In one embodiment, the tamper-proof assembly 30 comprises a body 32, a pair of sliders 34, and a plurality of springs 36. Each slider 34 is a molded body with extended legs 35 at one end to assemble the springs 36. The body 32 further includes channels 37 to accommodate the sliders 34 and their springs 36, allowing them to move forward and backward.

[0096] Fig.3 illustrates the electric base assembly 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric base assembly 60 comprises a housing 62, a grounding pin 64 and a plurality of pivot movable arms 66.

[0098] According to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig 4 illustrates exploded view of the electric base assembly 60 used in the electric socket 10. The electric base assembly 60 comprises a housing 62 incorporates a top part 61 and bottom part 63. The top part 61 and bottom part 63 are snap fitted together and hold grounding pin 64, a plurality of pivot movable arms 66 and a side connector bridge 68.

[0100] The grounding pin 64 provides reliable intersystem bonding between power and communication grounding system. The grounding pin 64 is attached to a metal part 65. Additionally, the pivot movable arms 66 are attached to the metal part 65 though a little round knob which fits in a round hole of the metal part 65. The flat arm of the metal part 65 is fastened through a tab which is fixed to hold it in place and to avoid that the metal arm bends back when big forces are applied.

[0102] In one embodiment, the pivot movable arms 66 are provided to introduce wires into the electric base assembly 60 through the provided holes 67 (shown in Fig. 3a). The pivot movable arms 66 further includes raised dimples that allows them to assemble within the side connector bridges 68. Once the wires are introduced through the pivot holes 67, the user can fix the wire into the side connector bridges 68 by rotating them clockwise or anti-clockwise.

[0104] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pivot movable arms 66 can be mounted in two different ways. In one exemplary embodiment, the electric socket 10 can be used on a wall, where the pivot movable arms 66 can be secured to the wall.

[0105] In another exemplary embodiment, for installations with hidden electrical wiring where the wires come out from the wall box, the pivot movable arms 66 can move up and down.

[0107] Therefore, the position of the pivot movable arms 66 can be adjusted depending on the function of the electric base assembly 60 (for open or hidden modes). When using the electric socket 10 in the hidden position, the user picks up the wires from a box behind the electric base assembly 60, places them in the down position, and inserts them into the holes 67 of the pivot movable arms 66. As it can be seen, when the user pushes the upper part of the pivot movable arm 66, it embraces and presses the wires to prevent movement. The pivot movable arm 66 is geometrically rounded at the front end, so when it is pushed and slides through the pivot channel for closing downwards, it reaches a point where the knobs fit into the snaps. This indicates that the pivot movable arm 66 has come into the correct position.

[0109] Fig.5a illustrates a side vide of the electric base assembly 60 comprises of a housing 62, a grounding pin 64 and a plurality of pivot movable arms 66. Additionally, the pivot movable arm 66 comprises a plurality of holes 67 to insert the wires.

[0111] Fig.5b illustrates a front side vide of the electric base assembly 60 comprises of a housing 62, a grounding pin 64 and a plurality of pivot movable arms 66. Additionally, the pivot movable arm 66 comprises a plurality of holes 67 to insert the wires.

[0113] Fig.6 illustrates a top view of the electric base assembly 60 comprises a grounding pin 64, a plurality of pivot movable arms 66 and a plurality of power plug connector holes 91 in which a plug connector is inserted.

[0115] Fig.7 illustrates the electric base assembly 60 including wires 92 in the pivot movable arms 66.

[0117] Fig.8 illustrates the electric base assembly 60 in which the wires 92 are inserted in the pivot movable arms 66. Once the wires 92 are introduced through the pivot holes 67, the pivot movable arms 66 is rotated in the clock-wise to fix the wire 92 into the side connector bridges 68. Additionally, as shown in Fig.9, the wires 92 are cut to fix through the metal Cutter / metal knifes 93.

[0118] Now refereeing to Fig.10, which illustrates the connector bridge 68 inside the socket 10 having both the sides are equal.

[0120] The metal cutters or metal knives 93 have two sections, upper section 94a and lower section 94b. Additionally, there is space hole 95 between the cutters, allowing the upper wire to exit the upper connection position when the pivot arm is pressed downwards or upwards. This movement ensures that the upper or lower cutters are prepared to receive the next wire. Without this feature, the cutters would remain too open before the next wire enters into the connectors, potentially compromising the effectiveness of the connection. Further, the space hole 95 is designed to prevent the wires 92 from being damaged when they are pushed against the pivot movable arms 66. Further, there is round hole 96, which receives the shaft of the pivot movable arms 66.

[0122] Further, gaps 96a allows the upper cutters 94a and the lower cutters 94b to work independently on the two wire/cables, forced into the position by the pivot movable arms 66. This design ensures that the pressure against the metal cutters or metal knives 93 remains individual to each wire 92.

[0124] The metal cutters or metal knives 93, which form part of the metal arm 97, receive the wires 92. The bend 100 is an important feature that prevents the metal cutters or metal knives 93 from bending downwards and being deformed when inserting the wires 92.

[0126] Additionally, there is a vertical channel 98 that splits both metal arms 97. When the pivot movable arms 66 are pushed down, the metal cutters or metal knives 93 move outward, providing enough space for the wires 92 to pass through.

[0128] When the pivot movable arm 66 is pushed downwards, the wire 92, which has been placed into the pivot hole 67, will meet the metal cutters or metal knives 93. This creates a cutting-like function without actually cutting the wire. The force required to push one wire is less than that needed to push two wires. Therefore, the space between the metal cutters or metal knives 93 and the pivot movable arm 66 is not completely closed, preventing excessive pressure on the wires when the pivot movable arm 66 is sliding downwards into the closed position.

[0129] The thickness and length of the track, which is in the middle of the upper 94a and lower sections 94b of the metal knives 93, are designed to provide additional strength to the metal arm. This ensures it can support the correct amount of pressure.

[0131] Furthermore, a backward bend 99 protrudes inward of the cutters 93, making it difficult to pull out the wires. This feature significantly enhances the safety of the electric socket 10 by creating a fishhook-like effect, increasing resistance to wire removal.

[0133] Fig.11 illustrates the connector bridge 68 inside the socket 10. The pivot movable arms 66 are shown for the in-wall mounting solution. Once the wires 92 are introduced through the pivot holes 67, the user can fix the wires into the Connector Bridge 68 by rotating the pivot movable arm 66 clock-wise or anti clock-wise.

[0135] Fig.12 illustrate the grounding bridge 70 in the tamper-proof assembly 30. The grounding bridge 70 makes contact with the earthing strap to achieve grounding.

[0136] Fig.13 illustrates an internal view of the electric socket 10. As shown in Fig.13, when the pins from an electrical plug are inserted evenly into the power plug connector holes 91, the sliders 34, along with their springs 36, will move, thereby opening the gate/shutter.

[0138] Fig.14 illustrates an internal view of the electric socket 10. As shown in Fig.14, when the pins from an electrical plug are not inserted evenly into the power plug connector holes 91 at the same time, the sliders 34 will tilt and become blocked, preventing the gate/shutter from opening.

[0140] Fig.15 illustrates different versions of the electric sockets such as for out-wall version (A) and in-wall version (B or C) according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0141] The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims (17)

1. Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electric socket (10), comprising:

a faceplate (20);

a tamper-proof assembly (30);

a metal bracket (40);

a plurality of rivets (50);

an electric base assembly (60); and

a grounding bridge (70),

characterized by,

the tamper-proof assembly (30) that includes a body (32), a pair of sliders (34), and a plurality of springs (36), where each slider (34) is a molded body with extended legs (35) at one end to assemble the springs (36), the body (32) further includes channels (37) to accommodate the sliders (34) and the springs (36), allowing to move forward and backward direction to open a gate for connecting the plug connector,

the grounding bridge (70) that is a metal bridge with an extension part (72) in the middle serves as a grounding contact,

the electric base assembly (60) that comprises of a housing (62) having a top part (61) and a bottom part (63), the top part (61) and bottom part (63) are snap fitted together and holds grounding pin (64), a plurality of pivot movable arms (66) and a connector bridge (68),

wherein, the pivot movable arms (66) are provided to insert wires in to the electric base assembly (60) through holes (67), allow the wires to assemble within the connector bridge (68), and enables a user to fix the wires into the connector bridge (68) by rotating the pivot movable arms (66) in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

2. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the faceplate (20) includes one or more outlets (22) providing connection for plug connectors.

3. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the tamper-proof assembly (30) incorporates a movable shutter/gate that allows the plug connectors to access electrical contacts of the electric base assembly (60).

4. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the metal bracket (40) is a retaining plate that holds the faceplate (20), the tamper-proof assembly (30), the grounding bridge (70) and the electric base assembly (60) together using a plurality of rivets (50).

5. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the metal bracket (40) facilitates mounting the electric socket (10) on a wall, as the metal bracket (40) has multiple holes and slots that enable the electric socket (10) to be securely fastened in place.

6. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the grounding bridge (70) makes contact with the earthing strap to achieve grounding.

7. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the position of the pivot movable arms (66) can be adjusted depending on intended function of the electric base assembly (60).

8. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the electric base assembly 60 in which the wires are inserted in the pivot movable arms (66), the pivot movable arms (66) are rotated in the clockwise to fix the wire into the connector bridges 68.

9. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, wherein the wires are fixed by passing through metal cutters (93), which forms part of a metal part (65) that accommodates the wires (92).

10. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, when the pivot movable arms (66) are pushed downwards, the wire placed into the pivot hole (67) encounters the metal cutters (93), resulting in a cutting-like action without physically severing the wire.

11. The electric socket (10) of claim 1, where the wires can be adjusted and fitted according to position of the electric socket (10) against the wall, eliminating the need for long wires in wall-mounted installations.

12. An electric socket (10), comprising:

a faceplate (20);

a tamper-proof assembly (30);

a metal bracket (40);

a plurality of rivets (50);

an electric base assembly (60); and

a grounding bridge (70),

characterized by,

the tamper-proof assembly (30) that includes a body (32), a pair of sliders (34), and a plurality of springs (36), where each slider (34) is a molded body with extended legs (35) at one end to assemble the springs (36), the body (32) further includes channels (37) to accommodate the sliders (34) and the springs (36), allowing to move forward and backward direction to open a gate for connecting the plug connector,

the electric base assembly (60) that comprises of a housing (62) having a top part (61) and a bottom part (63), the top part (61) and bottom part (63) are snap fitted together and holds grounding pin (64), a plurality of pivot movable arms (66) and a connector bridge (68),

wherein, the pivot movable arms (66) are provided to insert wires in to the electric base assembly (60) through holes (67), allow the wires to assemble within the connector bridge (68), and enables a user to fix the wires into the connector bridge (68) by rotating the pivot movable arms (66) in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

13. The electric socket (10) of claim 12, wherein the faceplate (20) includes one or more outlets (22) providing connection for two plug connectors.

14. The electric socket (10) of claim 12, wherein the metal bracket (40) is a retaining plate that holds the faceplate (20), the tamper-proof assembly (30), the grounding bridge (70) and the electric base assembly (60) together using a plurality of rivets (50).

15. The electric socket (10) of claim 12, wherein the metal bracket (40) facilitates mounting the electric socket (10) on a wall, as the metal bracket (40) has multiple holes and slots that enable the electric socket (10) to be securely fastened in place.

16. The electric socket (10) of claim 12, wherein the grounding bridge (70) makes contact with the earthing strap to achieve grounding.

17. The electric socket (10) of claim 12, wherein the position of the pivot movable arms (66) can be adjusted depending on intended function of the electric base assembly (60).