AU701876B2

AU701876B2 - Electrical plug attachment

Info

Publication number: AU701876B2
Application number: AU39034/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Simon
Original assignee: HPM Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HPM Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-02-28
Filing date: 1995-11-23
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-23
Also published as: AU3903495A

Description

P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1 990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 4* h 4444 *0*6 *0 .4 S 0 5 0 004 4 0* *4 00$44 ''Otis 44 04 Invention Title: ELECTRICAL PLUG ATTACHMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:.

GH&CO REF: P04210-TM/RW:SD t

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2 This invention relates to a device which is to be used as an attachment for an electrical plug. The device has been developed to assist persons who suffer from arthritis and other diseases that reduce their ability to grip and pull objects that sometimes are located in difficult-to-reach places.

Largely for aesthetic reasons, electrical plugs have been made progressively smaller during the past years and, whilst this has resulted in streamlined, elegant shapes, they can be difficult to grip when it is desired that they be removed from a power outlet socket. This problem is *:of exacerbated by the need to ensure that firm engagement is .eQQ maintained between the plug pins and contact sockets of power outlets. Furthermore, side-entry plugs, which are 15 used more frequently with time, may be manufactured with relatively thin bodies, this creating a small gripping area.

Whilst the manufacture of the modern-style plugs meets the needs of many, the plugs do present a particular problem for aged persons and those who, as abovementioned, suffer from disabilities such as arthritis or muscular disorders. The present invention is directed to a device "which may be employed as an attachment to a plug, to i facilitate its removal from an outlet socket or such other electrical fitting to which a plug may be fitted.

Broadly defined, the present invention provides an electrical plug attachment which comprises two moulding components. A first of the components is shaped and dimensioned to locate about the body of a plug, and the second component is formed as a handle which in use is connected in interlocking relationship with the first mnoulding component. The second moulding component functions to hold the first component captive to the plug body and it is shaped such that it may be gripped and used to pull the plug from a fitting to which the plug is in use connected.

For safety reasons the two moulding components of the plug attachment preferably are moulded from a plastics material, and the complete attachment is formed such that 0 it may be fitted to a plug body without using tools or any -3fastening devices. Thus, the two moulding components of the attachment are formed such that they may be secured to the plug and be interlocked in a manner that prevents them from being separated from the plug body.

The plug attachment may be configured in a manner such that it may be connected with a plug having a rearentry cord, but the attachment preferably is configured for use in conjunction with a side-entry plug.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of an attachment which is suitable for mounting to a side-entry c-plug. The description is provided with reference to the op..

accompanying drawings in which: ""Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the attachment 15 in an assembled condition, ,two Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the S. two components of the plug attachment, and Figure 3 shows a side view of the plug attachment i mounted to an electrical plug.

20 As illustrated, the plug attachment comprises two *e moulding components 10 and 11 which are arranged to be fitted to a plug body 12 as shown in Figure 3.

The first moulding component 1Q includes a generally cylindrical wall 13 which is dimensi&ned to locate around 25 the circumference of the plug body 12 and at the same time to locate within the peripheral dimension of an enlarged end wall 14 of the plug body. Thus, when the second moulding component 11 is removed from thf first component the plug body 12 may be nested within the wall 13 of the first moulding component.

The first moulding component further includes a channel-shaped portion 15 which extends through the wall 13 and which is arranged to accommodate a cord 16 which enters the side of the plug body 12. The portion has two outwardly projected limbs 17 which are

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-4arranged to engage with the second moulding portion 11 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The first moulding component 10 also includes an integrally moulded recess 18 which is diametrically disposed with reference to the channel-shaped portion The recess 18 is shaped and arranged to receive a finger portion 22 of the second moulding component, as will be hereinafter described, when the two moulding components and 11 are assembled.

The second moulding component 11 is formed generally as an inverted U-shaped member having a handle portion 19 which is shaped and sized such that it might be gripped by a person who wishes to remove the plug body 12 from a power outlet socket by pulling the plug in the direction .5 of contact pins 20 that project from the plug body, I The second moulding component also includes, as integrated portions, a saddle 21 which is arranged to overlay the cord 16 and the finger portion 22 which is *arranged to project into the recess 18 in the first moulding component.

The saddle portion 21 of the second moulding I. component incorporates a channel 23 which is bordered by oppositely disposed grooves 24. The grooves 24 are dimensioned to receive the limbs 17, and the arrangement 25 is such that the second moulding component may be joined to the first by sliding the limbs 17 into the grooves 24 and then projecting the finger 22 into the recess 18.

A l. The finger 22 has a cental slit 25 so that the two parts of the finger that are separated by the slit may be pushed toward one another. Also, the finger is provided with two notches 26 which are shaped to engage with correspondingly shaped ridges 27 that border the recess 18. Thus, :hen the limbs 17 are located within the grooves 24, the finger 22 may be projected into the recess 18 and be held captive within the recess by interengagement of the notches 26 and ridges 27.

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Claims

1. An electrical plug attachment which comprises two moulding components, a first of the moulding components being shaped and dimensioned to locate about the body of a plug and the second moulding component being formed as a handle which in use is connected in interlocking relationship with the first moulding component, the second moulding component being arranged to hold the first moulding component captive to the plug body when the second moulding component is connected to the first moulding component and the second moulding component being shaped such that it may be gripped and used to pull the plug from a fitting to which the plug is in use connected.

2. The attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the .two moulding components are formed such that, when 1 connected, engaging portions of the two moulding components interlock in a manner which prevents inadvertent disconnection of the two moulding components. 20

3. The attachment as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first moulding component includes a cord engaging portion which is shaped to locate around an electrical cord to ,which the plug is in use connected and wherein the second moulding component includes a mating portion which is arranged to connect in sliding engagement with the cord engaging portion.

4. The attachment as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first moulding component includes an integral recess which is arranged to receive an interengaging finger portion of the second moulding component after the mating portion of the second moulding component is connected in sliding engagement with the cord engaging portion of the first moulding component. An electrical plug attachment substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference thereto. DATED this 17th day of December 1998 H.P.M. INDUSTRIES PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK CO s i 14 f I ABSTRACT A handle which is arranged to be attached to an electrical plug and which may be employed to assist persons who have disabilities that prevent them from gripping a plug body in the usual way. The handle attachment includes two moulding components, one of which i is arranged to locate about the plug body and the other s of which is shaped such that it may be used as a handle. i The two moulding components are formed with portions that 10 interengage in such a way as to prevent them from being inadvertently removed from the plug body to which they are fitted. i j *rri