EP0030128A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical sockets
Assignee: PARK ROYAL PORCELAIN Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-11-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A safety electrical socket with circumferential separation of supply and plug contacts brought into engagement only by insertion of a plug, there being a restraint on the sleeve such that the torque required on the plug to initiate rotation of the sleeve away from the safe position is greater than that required to initiate return of the sleeve to the safe position from the live position.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Scott-Coomber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R33/00; H01R33/945; H01R33/96; H01R33/962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An electrical socket in which a plug-receiving sleeve within a socket body is rotated by a fully inserted plug through an arc of movement between a safe position at which supply contacts in the holder are inaccessible and are circumferentially separated from plug contacts associated with the sleeve, and a live position at which electrical connection of the supply contacts with the plug contacts is made, there being a restraint on the sleeve such that the torque required on the plug to initiate rotation of the sleeve away from the safe position is greater than that required to continue such rotation and also greater than the torque required to initiate return of the sleeve to the safe position from the live position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An electrical socket in which a plug-receiving sleeve within a socket body is rotated by a fully inserted plug through an arc of movement between a safe position at which supply contacts in the holder are inaccessible and are circumferentially separated from plug contacts associated with the sleeve, and a live position at which electrical connection of the supply contacts with the plug contacts is made, there being a restraint on the sleeve such that the torque required on the plug to initiate rotation of the sleeve away from the safe position is greater than that required to continue such rotation and also greater than the torque required to initiate return of the sleeve to the safe position from the live position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A socket according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is internally screwed and there is an extension of one of the plug contacts to the axis of the socket for engagement with a centre contact of an inserted, correspondingly screwed plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A socket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve is closed by an insulating shutter with which the plug contacts are associated to move with the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A socket according to claim 3, wherein the supply contacts lie below the shutter, spaced from the axis of the holder for engagement with plug contacts which extend below the shutter from plug-engagement positions above it.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A socket according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the restraint is a spring-loaded catch operative between the sleeve and socket body to restrain rotation of the sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A socket according to claim 5, wherein the spring-loaded catch is in the form of a spring circlip fitted within the sleeve and provided with a detent which projects from the sleeve to enter a recess in the socket body corresponding to the safe position, the circlip flexing inward on movement of the sleeve away from that position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A socket according to claim 6, wherein the circlip lies within the sleeve, expanded against it, and a portion of the circlip that extends from the detent in the direction of rotation away from the safe position is substantially shorter than a portion that extends in the opposite direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A socket according to claim 6 or 7, wherein there is a further recess in the body corresponding to the live position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A socket according to claim 5, wherein the spring-loaded catch is in the form of a leaf spring secured at one end to the sleeve or to the socket body and with a detent at the free end, the detent projecting into a recess formed in the body or sleeve as the case may be at a position corresponding to the safe position of the holder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A socket according to claim 9, wherein a further recess is formed in the body or sleeve as the case may be at a position corresponding to the live position of the holder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A socket according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the leaf spring is disposed within the sleeve and extends away from the position at which it is secured, in the direction of movement of the sleeve away from the safe position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A socket according to claim 5, wherein the spring-loaded catch is in the form of a circlip or other spring member disposed externally of the sleeve in engagement with the body and having at a position away from the position of said engagement an inwardly directed detent which engages a recess in the sleeve at the safe position but rides out of the recess onto the surface of the sleeve on movement of the sleeve away from the safe position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A socket according to claim 12, wherein said spring member is fixed against rotation relative to the body rather than simply being in frictional engagement with it.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A socket according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the detent engages a further, smaller recess in the sleeve at the live position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A socket according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein a projection on the body, lying between the position of engagement with the body and the position of the detent, engages the spring member as it rides out of the recess corresponding to the safe position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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