GB2578345A

GB2578345A - An electrical plug device

Info

Publication number: GB2578345A
Application number: GB1908871.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Holman Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-10-17
Filing date: 2019-06-20
Publication date: 2020-05-06
Also published as: GB201908871D0; GB2578291A; GB201816872D0

Abstract

Electrical plug device including a body 12 and a displaceable paddle 8 connected to at least one finger 11, wherein the paddle 8 pivots to displace the fingers 11 between a first position where they are retracted into the body 12 (figure 1a) and a second position where they extend from the body 12 towards pins 2 (figure 1b). Moving the fingers 11 to the second position helps to disconnect the plug. There may be a spring (71, figure 5b) bias to return the paddle 8 to the first position. The paddle 8 may extend across the width of the body 12 or may be wider than the body 12 of the plug. The paddle 8 may be scooped upwards and angled away from the body 12. The paddle 8 may be coated in a phosphorescent material to help identify the paddle 8 in low light or darkness.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL PLUG DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical plug device, in particular a device for a standard electrical plug; more particularly but not exclusively a device for helping a user to unplug the plug.

Background

Increasing lifespans in many societies leads to mobility problems in an increasing segment of those societies.

Many users depend on electrical appliances in whichever segment and as a result the elderly or infirm may struggle with maintaining an independent life.

In particular such users may have difficulty connecting or disconnecting electrical appliances, more particularly plugs in or into wall sockets or the like.

In particular mobility in fingers may be an issue for some users, whereby their fingers may not be able to grip or bend.

Prior Art

US 7 052 309 (CHEN) discloses an electric plug includes two locating blocks aligned at two sides of the housing thereof to pivotally hold a substantially C-shaped pull ring. The pull ring has two pivot holes aligned at the ends thereof and respectively pivotally connected to the locating blocks by a respective pivot bolt that has a head stopped outside the respective pivot hole. The heads of the pivot bolts each have a diameter greater than that of the pivot holes so as to prevent disconnection of the pull ring from the housing.

US 2003 186 593 (YU) discloses an electrical plug comprising: a plug body having a 35 prong side, a generally flat side and a side surface, said prong side and the generally flat side being in parallel to each other whereas said side surface being disposed for connecting the two sides; said side surface further having two channels recessed in a direction generally perpendicular to the two sides; and a pull ring having two T-shaped tongues each having a head, and a connecting piece joining the two T-shaped tongues, said connecting piece making angles equal to or greater than 90 5 degrees with the two T-shaped tongues, said two T-shaped tongues being further configured to slide freely inside the two channels on said side surface between a storage position where the head of the each T-shaped tongue being stopped in its sliding motion toward the generally flat side by a stop near the generally flat side and an operating position where the slide motion toward the prong side being stopped by 10 the pull ring and where the head of each T-shaped tongue extruding outside of the two channels near the prong side.

US 2003 008 539 (BERTKE) provides a device and method for separating electrical connector assemblies which comprise a male plug, and a female connector, or a receptacle. The separation of an electrical connector assembly is accomplished by at least one lever disposed in the body of at least one of the connectors. The lever is attached to the body of the connector such that when the lever is "up" the lower portion of the lever is flush with the mating surface so as not to not interfere with the coupling of the connector. Actuation of the lever, i.e., moving the lever to its down position, causes a displacement of at least one the connectors comprising the electrical connector assembly. This may be adapted to a range of electrical connectors including, but not limited to: standard household plug and sockets, parallel connectors, serial connectors, and inline connectors.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for manually ejecting a plug from a socket comprising: a body for housing a displaceable paddle, the paddle is connected to at least one finger, wherein the paddle and the at least one finger pivot between a first position and a second position, in the first position the paddle extends from the body and the at least one finger is retracted into the body; and when the paddle is displaced to the second position the paddle pivots the at least one finger so that the at least one finger is projected from the face of the body towards pins of the plug.

In some embodiments the body comprises an electrical plug device with at least one 5 conductive pin extending from the body that connects with a socket in use. A displaceable paddle is connected to one or more fingers wherein in a first position, the paddle extends above the body and one or more fingers are retracted into the body; and in a second position the one or more fingers are extended from the body towards the at least one pin; and the paddle is arranged to pivot and is connected to 10 the or each finger.

In this way a user is enabled to remove the plug easily with the assistance of the paddle which pivots one or more fingers such that the finger(s) push(es) against a surface upon which the socket is located to ease the plug from the socket.

The mechanism of the paddle assists with removal of the plug and also improves safety by distancing a user's fingers from conductive parts of the plug and socket. This may be particularly beneficial for a user with reduced or limited dexterity or strength, for example due to an injury, disability or illness.

The plug may be in the form of any electrical plug and therefore may be provided in various different forms, such as a traditional UK 3 tine earth safety plug, a USB plug, a charging plug, a connector plug or an audio jack.

In some embodiments the plug device comprises a cover for arranging over, on or about the body of a standard plug. Therefore, either part of the body of a standard plug may be exchanged for the cover of the present invention, or the cover may be adapted to fit over, onto or about the body of a standard plug with no adoption required.

In some embodiments the invention includes a cover for fitting over, against or about, a standard plug and herein described as the 'cover in cover-embodiments'. An inner surface of the cover may be arranged with a mechanism for gripping the standard plug body. In some embodiments this may be an adhesive mechanism so as to securely provide a means for semi-permanently connecting the device in use to existing plugs.

In other embodiments the mechanism for gripping the standard plug body may comprise a temporary mechanism, for example an interference, tolerance or resiliently deformable fit mechanism. For example in some embodiments it may be envisaged that the cover device is slid over the plug in use, so as to allow displacement in an orthogonal direction without dislodging the cover from the plug. Such mechanism may advantageously enable the user to temporarily operate the device on any plug in a socket.

It may be envisaged that the paddle extends across part, all, or more than the width of the body or cover.

Preferably the paddle extends at least the width of the cover or body of the plug so as to provide an easily accessible surface for a user to contact and use to eject the 15 plug.

Typically the paddle is pushed upwards as the plug is pushed into a socket, in this way the plug can easily be position in the socket with a flat palm or similar.

In some embodiments the paddle portion that a user contacts during use may be significantly wider than the body of the plug. In this way the plug is more easily identified and manoeuvred.

Additionally the distance which the paddle extends from the body or cover may be 25 adjusted for particular plugs and/or to vary the ease of use by a user, wherein a larger paddle will provide greater leverage and thus increase the ease of opening.

Preferably the paddle may extend upwards from the body in the first position so that it is pushed downwards to eject the plug.

In some embodiments the paddle and fingers comprise a single part, for example a lever, wherein the lever pivots around a pivot so as to move between the first and second positions.

In some embodiments such a pivot may comprise two pivots to either side of the body or cover where appropriate.

The paddle is arranged in use so that it is spaced apart from a surface such as a wall when the plug is inserted in the socket, so as to ensure that the paddle can be easily reached by a user.

It may be envisaged that the angle variation of the paddle/lever may be an acute angle.

In this way the user may advantageously easily slip their hand and fingers between the wall and paddle so as to easily disconnect the plug from a socket, by simply moving the paddle, for example pulling the paddle down and towards a user at the front of the device, thereby pivoting the fingers out from the face of the device adjacent the socket.

The paddle may be shaped and dimensioned to receive a user's fingers, for example the paddle may comprise a scooped rear face, so as to enable the user to easier able fingers to be placed behind the paddle, and the paddle pulled about the pivot.

In some embodiments it may be possible to exchange the paddle, or paddle and 20 fingers (lever), in order to provide the most comfortable and easy to use paddle for a particular user.

In some embodiments the paddle or lever may pivot around the sides of the plug body or cover so as to rotate the finger or fingers outwards at the front of the plug (face of the plug from which the at least one conductive pin extends). The fingers may be arranged to engage progressively with the socket, or a surface about the socket, such as a cover plate or wall. For example the fingers may be curved or arcuate at the end so that the lever end engages progressively and pushes the plug away as the lever pivots.

In preferred embodiments the device, or at least part of the device may be formed from different colours materials or different types of materials in order to highlight the paddle so that a user can easily identify the part to be moved in order to eject the plug from the socket.

In yet a further embodiment part of, or all of, the device may be formed from a material that glows in low light or darkness such as phosphorescent material. For example the paddle may glow in the dark so a user can readily identify the paddle in low light or darkness, or if the user has poor visibility.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure la shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention in the first position; Figure lb shows a reverse isometric view of the first embodiment shown in Figure 15 la, in a second position; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the first embodiment shown in Figure la in the second position; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figures 5 show a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 6A discloses a third embodiment of a plug device; Figure 6B discloses the third embodiment in perspective view; Figure 7A discloses a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the plug device; and Figure 7B shows a top view of the fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference generally to the embodiments shown in the Figures there is shown an embodiment of the device 99 generally comprising an electrical plug device formed by a body 12 with three conductive pins 2 extending from the body, with a displaceable paddle 8 and two fingers 10; wherein the paddle extends above the plug and the fingers 10 are retracted into the body in a first position, the fingers are extending from the body towards the pins in a second position; and wherein the paddle is arranged to pivot and connected to the finger or fingers.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a bipartite body comprising a plate body section 3 for providing the pins 2 which provide electrical connection to the cable end 21 with a socket (not shown), and a cover body section 12 for providing the paddle 8. The two sections are screwed together with a screw, so as to allow unscrewing to change the fuse 22.

In other embodiments the body may comprise a covering body which is arranged to cover the body of a plug which plug comprise three pins extending outwards; and a paddle arranged to pivot within the body.

The paddle 8 comprises an upward extending portion with a flat rear face which is arranged to travel across all of the body rear face along the top edge of the body; and a scooped front face, which scoops down to base 6 which extends along the top of the body.

The paddle 8 further comprises or extends into a lever 10 which comprises two levers configured to pass into the body through elongate slots 9 adjacent the sides of the body which extend just below a halfway point of the body.

The lever pivots on internal pivots 7 to either side of the body. The lever ends then provide extending fingers 11 when the paddle is pulled down the rear face of the body. The fingers 11 extend through the slots 9 that run approximately the length of the rear face of the body.

The pivot or pivots 7 are located halfway down the body sides. In this way the lever pivots centrally so as to mean an even small rotatory movement causes the fingers 11 to extend progressively.

The finger ends comprise curved ends, with rounded arcuate ends that push the plug away from the socket progressively.

The body may comprise a clip over cover over the body of a standard known plug, wherein the cover and plug may be permanently adhered together.

In the pictured embodiment the body of the device is in two sections comprises a displaceable pin carrier section 3, which section is displaceable from the paddle section 12 so as to enable the user to change the plug fuse or otherwise access wiring.

The paddle section 12 comprises a collar 5 extending along the cable exiting the pin carrier section, which collar is partial and limits tipping of the top of the paddle section from the carrier section in use as well as strain on the cable 1 during tipping of the body.

The device, apart from internal wiring parts and the pins is formed wholly from rigid thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or similar.

With reference to Figures 5 a second embodiment of the device is shown with a light 25 duty spring 71 either side of the body 12, that has a barely noticeable effect when the user uses the natural weight of their hand to draw down the lever into the second position.

The lever is then envisaged to be held in place by a resilient catch (not shown) until gentle force releases the lever from the catch, and the spring acts to return the lever to the first position. In the pictured embodiment the first position may have a catch 72 also, to maintain the lever in the first position. This may advantageously enable easier usage for the infirm.

Figures 6A and 6B show a third embodiment of the device having a wide paddle to make it easier to pull or push for a user. The fingers 11 are arranged in slots 9 that extend part way along the length of the plug body 12.

Figures 7A and 7B show a fourth embodiment of the invention which includes sockets 14 provided on the body of the plug device. This permits connection of multiple device through one plug.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 10 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.A device for manually ejecting a plug from a socket comprising: a body for housing a displaceable paddle, the is paddle connected to at least one finger, wherein the paddle and at least one finger pivot between a first position and second position; in the first position the paddle extends from the body and the at least one finger is retracted into the body; and when the paddle is displaced to the second position the paddle pivots the at least one finger so that the at least one finger is projected from the face of the body towards the pins of a plug.
An electrical plug device according to claim 1 wherein the body is adapted for fitting to an independently available plug.
An electrical plug device according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a pin carrier section and a cover body section, wherein the two sections are screwed together with a screw.
An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim wherein the paddle extends across the width of the body.
A device according to any preceding claim wherein the paddle is wider than the body of the plug.
An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim wherein the paddle is scooped upwards and angled away from the body.
An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim wherein an angle defined between an extended and retracted paddle is an acute angle.
An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim having two fingers extending through the body.
An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim where the paddle pivots on the body central to the body sides.
10. An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim wherein the fingers have semi-circular finger ends.
11. An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim including a spring to bias the paddle to a position.
12. An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim wherein the paddle or part of the paddle is formed from a different material or is of a different colour in order to be distinguishable from the plug body.
13. An electrical plug device according to any preceding claim wherein the paddle or part of the paddle is formed from, or coated in, a phosphorescent material.