GB2380072A

GB2380072A - Handle for electrical plug

Info

Publication number: GB2380072A
Application number: GB0228160A
Authority: GB
Inventors: R H Cornelius; R E J Cornelius
Original assignee: CORVETTE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES L
Current assignee: CORVETTE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES L
Priority date: 2002-12-03
Filing date: 2002-12-03
Publication date: 2003-03-26
Also published as: GB2396260A; GB0228160D0; GB2396260B; GB0324555D0

Abstract

A device for fitting to an electrical plug (P) to enable the plug to be pulled more easily from its socket, the device comprising a carrier frame (10) into which the plug fits, the carrier frame (10) having clamping means (e.g. screw S1) for clamping against the periphery of the plug, and the device having a handle or grip (14) extending, at least partly across the carrier frame. A smaller, inner frame 20 may be clamped between the carrier frame 10 and the plug P. The frame may have a slot for receiving the cable of the plug and each side of the frame may be recessed to fit comfortably beside a switch of a socket outlet.

Description

Pull Device for Electrical Plug The present invention relates to a device for fitting to the plug of an electrical appliance, to enable the plug to be removed more easily (especially by the elderly or infirm) from an electrical socket.

It is known to form an electrical plug with an integral handle around which a user can loop his or her fingers, for pulling the plug from its electrical socket. This makes the plug easier to pull out of the socket, than if the body of the plug had to be gripped directly: the arrangement provides a convenient aid especially for the elderly or infirm.

Nowadays, the plug is often moulded onto the end of the electrical lead of the appliance and it is undesirable to cut the lead, in order to remove the moulded-on plug and replace it with a plug having an integral handle. Moreover, removal of the moulded-on plug invariably invalidates the manufacturer's guarantee of the appliance.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for fitting to an electrical plug, the device having a carrier frame into which the plug fits, the carrier frame having clamping means for clamping against the periphery of the plug to hold the device to the plug, and the device having a handle or grip extending at least partly across the carrier frame, to enable the plug to be pulled from its socket.

The device may be fitted to the plug without affecting its attachment to the electrical lead of the appliance.

Preferably the frame includes an inwardly-directed lip or flange on its upper rim, against which the top of the plug seats.

Preferably the lower rim of the frame is formed with a slot, through which the electrical lead from the plug extends.

Preferably the clamping means comprises a number of clamping screws threaded through the carrier frame, and extending radially inwardly. Preferably one clamping screw is positioned to bear against the head end of the plug, diametrically opposite where the electrical lead extends from it: preferably the two further clamping screws are positioned

to bear against the tail end of the plug, either side of its electrical lead.

Preferably the handle extends diametrically across the carrier frame. Preferably the handle has opposite ends connected to the top rim of the carrier frame, at diametrically opposed locations thereof.

Preferably the opposite sides of the carrier frame are formed with recesses, flats or cut-outs to avoid the carrier frame interfering with the switch of any socket into which its plug is engaged.

A single-size device will preferably fit a wide variety of plugs of different shapes and sizes. However, the device is preferably provided with an adaptor in the form of an inner carrier frame to be received within the main carrier frame, the plug then being fitted into the inner frame. The device will then fit a variety of smaller plugs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 ; and FIGURE 3 is an end view of the device shown, with its adaptor ring removed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a device for attaching to the mains plug of an electrical appliance, to make it easier for those who are elderly or infirm to remove the plug from a mains socket. The device which is shown comprises an outer carrier frame 10, which in the example shown is in the form of a circular ring having an annular flange 12 around its top rim. A handle 14 extends across the top of the frame 10, the downwardly and inwardly turned ends of the handle being connected to the top of the flange 12 at diametrically opposite locations of the carrier frame 10. Also in the example shown, a smaller carrier frame or ring 20 fits into the outer carrier frame 10, the frame 20 having an annular flange 22 around its

top, which fits against the underside of the annular flange 12 of the outer frame.

The electrical plug P is received within the smaller or inner frame 20, with the top of the plug seated against the underside of the annular flange 12 of the inner frame and its pins projecting from the bottom of the two frames 10, 20. The frames thus encircle the periphery of the plug P. The electrical lead L of the plug P extends outwardly through slots 16,26 which are formed in the carrier frames 10, 20 and are open to the bottom rims of these frames: the slots 16,26 lie below one end of the handle 14.

Clamping screws 81, S2, S3 are threaded through the outer frame 10 and pass through respective holes in the inner frame 20. Screw Sl lies below the end of the handle 14, opposite the slots 16,26 for the electrical lead L, whilst screws S2, S3 lie to either side of the slots 16,26. The clamping screws Si, S2, S3 are tightened against the plug P, Sl against the head end of the plug and S2, S3 against the tail end of the plug, either side of lead L, in order that the plug P is held firmly within the device.

The plug P can accordingly be engaged into a mains socket, and subsequently removed from the mains socket, by gripping the handle 14 of the device.

It will be noted that the outer carrier frame 10 is formed with cut-aways 11, at locations either side of the end of the handle remote from the slot 16, so that the device does not interfere with the switch of any of the mains socket into which the plug P is engaged.

The inner frame 20 may be removed altogether to enable the device to receive a plug of a larger size. The top of the plug then seats directly against the underside of the flange 12 of the outer frame, the screws 81, S2, S3 being used to clamp the device to the plug, in the same manner as described above.

The inner and outer carrier frames are preferably moulded from plastic material, preferably with the handle 14 formed as one-piece with the outer carrier frame 10.

Claims

Claims 1) A device for fitting to an electrical plug, the device having a carrier frame into which the plug fits, the carrier frame having clamping means for clamping against the periphery of the plug to hold the device to the plug, and the device having a handle or grip extending at least partly across the carrier frame, to enable the plug to be pulled from its socket.
2) A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said carrier frame includes an inwardly-directed lip or flange on its upper rim, against which the top of the plug seats.
3) A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the lower rim of said carrier frame is formed with a slot through which, in use, the electrical lead of the plug extends.
4) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping screws threaded through said carrier frame and extending radially inwardly thereof.
5) A device as claimed in claim 4, in which a said clamping screw is positioned to bear against the head end of the plug, diametrically opposite where the electrical lead of the plug extends from it.
6) A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which two said clamping screws are positioned to bear against the tail end of the plug, either side of its electrical lead.
7) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said handle extends diametrically across said carrier frame.

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8) A device as claimed in claim 7, in which said handle has opposite ends connected to the top rim of said carrier frame, at diametrically opposed locations thereof.
9) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which opposite sides of said carrier frame are formed with recesses, flats or cut-outs to avoid the carrier frame interfering with the switch of any socket into which its plug is engaged.
10) A device as claimed in any preceding claim, provided with an adaptor which comprises an inner carrier frame to be received within the aforementioned carrier frame and arranged to receive a plug.
11) A device for fitting to an electrical plug, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.