GB2210213A - Electrical outlet - Google Patents

Abstract

In an electrical accessory providing an outlet for lighting purposes, a construction having application to one or more types of available systems, especially providing for different outlet configurations be it of simple apertured type for drop cord to lampholder, or a socket outlet for mating plug. The accessory comprising a base part 10 for mains electrical connection provisions in connection housing 18, an outlet part 30 by way of which local electrical connection is provided, the outlet part interlocating (36, 38; 34, 12) with the base part at spaced positions but otherwise generally extending over the base part and spaced therefrom, and a third part 40 to fit over and edge-engage the outlet part 30 and generally extend to and locatingly engage with the base part 10. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Electrical Accessories DESCRIPTION This invention relates to electrical accessories usable in mains electrical distribution systems including outlets for lighting purposes.

A traditional approach to outlets for mains electrical supplies for lighting purposes has been the well-known ceiling rose where electrical connections from mains cable and to an outlet electric cord are within a housing having a base securable to a flat surface or a standard box, specifically at a ceiling, the base usually carrying those connections fixed relative thereto, and a cover removably securable to the base and having a central aperture through which the outlet electric cord passes, usually to a lampholder.

We are manufacturers of such ceilings roses and are currently developing products with various features constituting improvements. Thus, regarding the base, we propose an integral or attachable housing for electrical connection blocks, preferably including an earth connection block further preferably between live and neutral connector blocks, which housing recessed to receive and retain wire clamp screws and connection blocks inserted without prior association, i.e for subsequent screwing into the blocks, at wiring-up, retention being completed by closing off said recessing by the base itself or a specific closure plate, thereby facilitating automation with no subassembly requirements.Also, regarding the base it is preferred that the connection block housing be generally arcuate near to the periphery of a circular base and extend over less than 180 degrees between securement holes on a diameter. Another feature concerning the base is a cut-out for slotting from its edge, most conveniently opposite a said near-peripheral arcuate disposition and location of connection blocks, which cut-out or slotting adjoins cable entry provisions effectively as extension of the slotting at least after removal of any break-outs provided, and a peripheral closure member for such cut-out or slotting that is readily removable and replaceable thereat, preferably as a portion of a cover part of the ceiling rose. Such cover part can advantageously be hinged to the base part, either at said cut-out or slotting or at a said housing for connection blocks.Such features can facilitate neat and easy wiring-up using substantially equal lengths of unsheathed mains wires and afford access to connection blocks with the cover still connected to the base by its hinging.

Another approach to outlets for mains electrical supplies for lighting purposes has been by way of a plug and socket arrangement within a housing with the socket incorporated into or at least secured relative to a base securable to a flat surface or a standard box and the plug connected to an outlet cord and associatable with the socket within a cover centrally apertured for the cord to pass through. We are also established manufacturers of a well-known accessory of that type.

A more recent approach to outlets for mains electrical supplies for lighting purposes is also of two-part plug and socket type but wherein a socket part lends itself to securement in various convenient ways to present a face having entries to the socket contacts, and is readily wirable to mains cabling; and wherein a plug part is readily wirable to a light feed such as to the aforesaid cord; the plug and socket parts simply interfitting one to the other to bring about electrical connection but permitting ready detachment of the plug part. We are also manufacturers and patent-holders for one such system in which there is an insert-and-slide action for the interfitting of the one and other parts to secure both electrical connection and mechanical load-bearing connection.

That system has proved to be robust and of great versatility of application, especially by virtue of having basic plug and socket units that are themselves cased in a manner facilitating association of various plates and housings to make up many useful outlet accessories for ceiling, wall, etc use, also association of the basic socket units with electric track etc systems, association of the plug units directly with various light units, and other uses of plug and socket units as a neat, secure, safe and easily used electrical connection system. This system could readily be adopted as a standard lighting connection system and still be applicable to other special and general purpose.

An object of this invention is to provide electrical connection accessories having application to one or more of the above systems in a novel and advantageous manner.

According to one aspect of this invention, an electrical accessory comprises a base part with mains electrical connection provisions fixed thereto, an outlet part by way of which local electrical connection is provided, the outlet part interlocating with the base part at spaced positions but otherwise generally extending over the base part and spaced therefrom above said electrical connection provisions of the base part, and a third part to fit over and edge-engage the outlet part and generally extend to and locatingly engage with the base part.

One suitable and preferred base part has features as above mentioned including an arcuate connector block housing extending adjacent a substantial part less than half of its periphery, and a cut-out or slotting into its periphery substantially opposite the arcuate housing and associated with mains cable entry provisions. A suitable interlocating outlet part may then extend over the base part but spaced therefrom and have two interlocation formations one to cooperate with a formation of the arcuate housing of the base and the other to cooperate with the cable slot of the base.

Hinging, can conveniently be at the former of such interlocation formations and may be of snap-fitting type say as a tongue of the outlet part and a hinge pin of the base part. The other interlocation formations may also be of snap-fitting sort, say at positions flanking said cut-out or slotting, and conveniently similarly by tongues adjacent a closure of the outlet part of depending wall type and pin formations in the base part.

A suitable third part may then be a ring of shallow cylindrical shell form having both of base-part-engaging formations and outlet-part-engaging formations, the former say at one of its ends, for example as a thread, ledge or slot for cooperating base part edge formations, conveniently as feet of the third part going into slots of the base part; and the latter at the other of its ends, say including an inwardly extending lip for the outer edge of the outlet part which edge may be stepped to take the lip, preferably also latching provision between the third part and the outlet part, say by way of notching of the former to engage a latch tongue of the latter.

It is to be understood that the last mentioned latching may be such as to require a tool for its release, say a screw driver blade and by way of access to said latch tongue to disengage it from said notching.

The outlet part may, of course, be of a simple centrally apertured type, in which case embodiments hereof would resemble ceiling roses. Alternatively, the outlet part could incorporate a socket readily wired up to the connector provision of the base part, in which case embodiments hereof would resemble a socket plate connector, and might further be associated with an apertured cover part to enclose a plug part; Indeed, any desired outlet part could be associated with a base part hereof, including alternative systems to the plug-and-socket systems specifically mentioned above.

Specific implementation of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a base part; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of an outlet part; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a ring type third part; Figure 4 is a section through assembled base, outlet and third parts.

Figures 5A, B, C are fragmentary plan and sectional views for preferred hinging between the base and outlet parts; Figures 6A, B are fragmentary plan and.side views for preferred edge slottings of the base part; Figures 7A, B, C are fragmentary sectional and plan views for preferred latching between outlet and third parts; Figures 8A, B are fragmentary plan and sectional views of another base part variant; and Figures 9A, B are fragmentary plan and sectional views of a matching outlet part.

In Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a base part 10 is shown of generally circular shape apart from a cut-out 12 from its edge going to break-out formations 12A, B, C for mains cables. It is convenient also to provide alternative knock-out entries for mains cables substantially centrally, see 14A, B, C shown between mounting screw hole provisions at 16A, B, and say at least to facilitate installation of a unit hereof as replacement for an existing standard unit.

The base part 10 is also shown with an arcuate connector block housing 18 that is actually an intergral formation of the base plate 10, though it might be a separate moulding secured to the top of the base plate 10 only after emplacement therein of connector blocks for which clamp screws will be accessible through holes 22L, N, E, S in the top of an upstand 20 of the housing 18. As an integral formation, the housing 18 will require its recessed bottom to be closed off by a plate see at 19 in Figure 4 and dashed in Figure 1.

The holes 22 are shown in groups for corresponding connector blocks indicated dashed in Figure 1 at 24L, N, E, S to which wire entries are indicated at 26L, N, E, S through the inner wall of the housing 18. Heads of wire clamp screws may be a retaining and guided fit below the holes 22, conceivably in them if as flexible tubular extensions from the housing 18 in place of its upstand 20. There will usually be divider walls in the housing 18 between cavities for the connector blocks 24 which will also be a retaining fit therein. Then, the base plate 10 lends itself to automated assembly from apertures in its bottom face, screws first, then connector blocks, and the cover plate 19 subsequently secured onto the base plate 10 in position, say by ultrasonic welding.

A separately formed housing part 18 would, of course, be similarly covered by the base plate as such.

Drop-cord wire strain lugs are indicated at 18A, B extending from ends of the housing 18.

Provision of a specific earth wire block 24E within the housing 18 is particularly advantageous in facilitating wiring-up of mains cables, by reducing wire-cutting and crossing over of wires when disposed between live and neutral connector blocks 24L and 24N, particularly for cables entrant at 12A, B, C though also for their entry at 14A, B, C.

An outlet part 30 is shown also as of general circular shape and as incorporating, at 32, a socket of the type specifically discussed above. As for the base part 10, the outlet part is mainly of flat plate-like form, but it has portions 34 and 36 extending away at substantially diametrically opposite positions, the former (34) to fit into the cut out 12 of the base part 10 and the latter (36) as a lug to fit into a slot 38 in the housing 18 of the base part 10. Indents 36A on the lug 36 and pips 38A on sides of the slot 38 can serve for snap fitting into a hinging association.

Then, the outlet part 30 will be generally spaced from the base part 10 but interlocated therewith via its extensions 34 and 36, actually in hinged relation.

Hinging could, of course, alternatively be provided between sides of the portion 34 and edges of the cut-out 12.

A third part 40 is shown as a ring-like member of shallow cylindrical form and having at one end 42 thereof teeth 42A, B, C extending inwardly. The teeth 42A, B, C are to enter open slottings 44A, B, C in sides of the base unit 10 and go under blind extensions 46A, B, C of those slottings 44A, B, C. As shown, the third part 40 tapers and its widest end 42 carries the teeth 42A, B, C and bverfits the edge of the base unit 10. At its other end 48, the third part has notchings 48A, B, C whereby a tongue 50 of the outlet part 30 is deflected by inturned rim 52 of the third part 40 and will latch thereunder (into one of notchings 48) when the third part 40 is twisted into position on the base part 10 with its teeth 42A, B, C under the slotting extensions 46A, B, C.

It will be noted that the outlet part 30 has an upper edge rim 54, which can serve for fitting, say snapping-on, of a cover part (see dashed at 56) over a plug unit engaged in the socket 32. Alternative plug and socket systems can equally well be used, also the cover part 56 could be other than snap-fitting, say by mating screw threads.

It will be appreciated that the outlet part 30 could be different, for example, simply as a cover for a ceiling rose, then with a central aperture for cord exit.

A preferred hinging arrangement between the base part 10 and the outlet part 30 is indicated in Figures 5A, B, C where a hinge pin 60 in the slot 38 tapers between rounded ends and is set at an angle suited to snap-fitting on of a restricted entry ended slot 62 of the lug 36'. A simple circular section hinge pin can be used and aids moulding.

A preferred arrangement of the slottings 44, 46 is indicated in Figures 6A and 6B, where an inner strengthening formation 64 extends along spaced lower and upper ledge formations 44' and 46'.

A preferred arrangement of notchings 48 and tongue 50 is indicated in Figures 7A and 7B where the notching 48' takes the tongue 50' to be deflected at fitting of the part 30 to the base part.

The tongue 50' will require depression by a tool, such as a screwdriver blade, in order to be released from notching 48'. A braced stop 80 is shown in Figure 7C to prevent undue deflection of the tongue 50'.

Another base part variant is shown in Figures 8A, B showing apertures 102A, B flanking the knock outs 12A-C adjacent the slotting 12. The apertures 102A, B are crossed by a pin formation 104A, B. The base part is also shown with a thread formation 106 to take the third part (not shown).

The corresponding outlet part of Figures 9A, B is shown with a depending wall formation 134 to close off at the slotting 12 of the base part, and also with depending tongues 108A, B having end slottings llOA, B to snap-fit onto the pin formations 104A, B of the base part. The tongue formations 108A, B are similar to the hinge tongue formation 136, though somewhat longer.

Regarding a screw-on third part locating on the threading 106, its interaction with the latching tongue 150 can be by way of a ratcheting system of depressions in the inner rim of the third part, i.e. with one-way action permitting screwing-on but requiring release by a tool for screwing-off.

Claims (21)

1. An electrical accessory comprising a base part with mains electrical connection provisions fixed thereto, an outlet part by way of which local electrical connection is provided, the outlet part interlocating with the base part at spaced positions but otherwise generally extending over the base part and spaced therefrom above said electrical connection provisions of the base part, and a third part to fit over and edge-engage the outlet part and generally extend to and locatingly engage with the base part.

2. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 1 in which the base part has an arcuate connector block housing extending adjacent a substantial part less than half of its periphery, and a cut-out or slotting into its periphery substantially opposite the arcuate housing and associated with mains cable entry provisions and in which the outlet part has interlocation formations of which one cooperates with a formation of the arcuate housing of the base.

3. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 2 in which the other of the formations cooperates with the cable slot of the base.

4. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 3 in which formations of the outlet plate are by portions extending away from a flat plate like part thereof at substantially diametrically opposite positions, with one fitting into the cut-out in the base part and the other as a lug fitting into a oslot in the housing of the base part.

5. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 4 in which indents on the lug and pips on the sides of the slot serve at least for snap fitting of outlet and base.

6. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 2 in which the other of the formations cooperate with the base at positions flanking said cut-out or slotting.

7. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 6 in which the base has apertures flanking knock-outs adjacent the slotting which apertures are crossed by pin formations and the corresponding outlet part has depending tongues having end slottingsto snap-fit onto the pin formations.

8. An electrical accessory as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 in which the outlet part is hingingly connected to the base part.

9. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 8 in which hinging is at the former of such inter location formations.

10. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which the hinging is of snap-fitting type as a tongue cooperable with a hinge pin of one and the other of the outlet part and the base part.

11. An electrical accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10 in which the other interlocation formations are of snap-fitting sort.

12. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 11 in which snap-fitting of the formations is by tongues adjacent a closure of the outlet part of depending wall type and pin formations in the base part.

13. An electrical accessory as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the third part is a ring of shallow cylindrical shell form having both of base-part-engaging formations and outlet-part-engaging formations.

14. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 13 in which the base-part-engaging formations are at one of its ends for cooperating base part edge formations.

15. An electrical accessory as claimed in claims 13 or 14 in which cooperation of the third part with the base is by way of feet of the third part going into slots of the base part.

16. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 15 in which cooperation of feet into slots is in the manner of a bayonet/twist action.

17. An electrical accessory as claimed in any of claims 13,14,15 or 16 in which the outlet-part-engaging formations are at the other end of the third part, including an inwardly extending for the outer edge of the outlet part.

18. An electrical accessory as claimed in claim 17 further comprising latching provision between the third part and the outlet part by way of notching and a latch tongue.

19. An electrical accessory as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the outlet part is of centrally apertured type or incorporates a socket.

20. An electrical accessory as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising an apertured cover part fitting over the outlet part and having cooperating interengaging formalations therewith or the third part.

21. An electrical accessory constructed and adapted substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of Figures 1 to 7 or as modified with reference to Figures 8 and 9.