DESC:AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET ASSEMBLY WITH A SHUTTER FOR AUTOMATIC SWITCHING OPERATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to an electrical socket assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the electrical socket assembly with a shutter for an automatic switching operation.

BACKGROUND
An electrical socket is an assembly to couple an electrical equipment to an electric supply. The socket has a set of plug openings in which the plug pins of the electrical equipment may be inserted. According to the existing solution, a switch is provided along with electrical socket to allow a user to send power to the electrical equipment coupled to the socket.

There are various limitations with the current way to power the electrical equipment. For instance, a user may operate the electrical socket to power up the electrical equipment via a switch. Accordingly, the user has to purchase additionally the switch in order to operate the electrical equipment. In some cases, the user may needs to purchase at least three module plates to fit the switch and the electrical socket together. Thus, such an arrangement increases an overall cost of installing the electrical sockets.

Another limitation of current electrical socket is the hazard they possess against inadvertent fiddling. For instance, the plug openings of high rated capacity electrical socket are large enough for children finger making them prone to getting shocked. In some other scenarios, a user operates the electrical socket by inserting wires directly without using the electric plug, which is dangerous and not recommended as it may be lead to electric shock or fire, thereby causing a concern to a safety of the user.

Thus, there is a need to provide a solution to over come the various issues as discussed above.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to an electrical socket assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the electrical socket assembly with a shutter for an automatic switching operation.

In an embodiment, an electrical socket assembly is disclosed that is adapted to receive an electric plug having at least one pin. The electrical socket assembly includes a front plate having a plurality of plug openings, such that each of the plug opening is adapted to receive a pin of the electric plug. The electrical socket assembly further includes a back plate coupled to the front plate to form a housing. The electrical socket assembly further includes a power supply contact, a connector, and a shutter installed in the housing. The power supply contact is adapted to connect to an electrical terminal while the connector is adapted to selectively make contact with the power supply contact to toggle between an ON and OFF state for switching operation. According to the present disclosure the shutter is selectively engageable with the connector such that the shutter is adapted to displace inside the housing in response to the insertion of the pin in the plug opening, to establish a contact of the connector with the power supply contact.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an electrical socket assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a back plate of the electrical socket assembly showing the placement of various plug pin acceptors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a shutter mechanism of a shutter, a connector, and a power supply contact point, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.;
Figure 4 illustrates a mounting of shutter of a separation plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a mounting of the separation plate on the back plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates the shutter, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates a front view of the back plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 8 illustrates the working of electrical socket assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which invention belongs. The system and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict, or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more elements is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit “2” are shown at least in Figure 2. Further, the reference numerals have been kept same for the components with the same name.

Figure 1 illustrates an electrical socket assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 1 illustrates a front view of an electrical socket assembly 100. Further, figure 2 illustrates a back plate of the electrical socket assembly showing the placement of various plug pin acceptors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electric socket assembly 100 may be used to supply electric current to an electrical equipment, such as a table fan, a refrigerator, mobile phone, and the like. The electric socket assembly 100 may be adapted to connect with an electrical terminal of an electrical plug. As an example, the electrical terminal of the electrical plug may be adapted to insert into the electrical socket assembly 100 to establish electric contact with the electric socket assembly 100.

The electric plug assembly 100 may include, but is not limited to, a front plate 101, a back plate 105, a one or more plug opening 103, a main power supply contact 203, a connector 107, and a shutter 111. A detailed explanation of the aforesaid components will be explained in detail in the forthcoming paragraphs.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in the figure 1, the front plate 101 have a plurality of plug openings 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, collectively referred to as 103 hereinafter. Further, each of the plug openings 103 are adapted to receive a pin of the electric plug. As an example the figure 1 shows three plug openings 103 including an earth plug opening 103-1, a neutral plug opening 103-3, live plug opening pin 103-2. In an example, the placement of the neutral plug opening 103-3, the live plug opening pin 103-2 may be alternately placed. According to a further embodiment, the back plate 105 is coupled to the front plate 101 to form a housing 113.

According to a yet further embodiment, the shutter 111 is installed in the housing 113. The shutter 111 is adapted to displace inside the housing 113 in response to the insertion of the pin in the plug opening 103 to provide automatic switching operation to toggle between ON and OFF state. According to an embodiment, in the OFF state when the pin is not inserted, the neutral plug opening 103-3 and the live plug opening pin 103-2 are completely closed by the shutter 111 and the earth plug opening 103-1 is partially open. Further, in the ON state when the pin is inserted, the shutter 111 slides up to open the neutral plug opening 103-3, the live plug opening pin 103-2, and the earth plug opening 103-1. A detailed working of the shutter operation will be explained in the forthcoming paragraphs.

Now referring to the Figure 2, the main power supply contact 203 and the connector 107 are installed in the housing 113. Specifically, Figure 3 shutter mechanism of a shutter, a connector, and a power supply contact point, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figures 2 and 3, the electrical socket assembly 100 includes a live plug pin acceptor 109-1, a neutral plug pin acceptor 109-2, and an earth plug pin acceptor 109-3 installed in the back plate 105 of the housing 113. Accordingly, the back plate 105 includes a mounting profile (not shown) to secure the earth plug pin acceptor 109-3, the neutral plug pin acceptor 109-2, and the live plug pin acceptor 109-1 thereto.

According to an embodiment, the earth plug pin acceptor 109-3 is colinear to the earth plug opening 103-1 shown in Figure 1. Further, the earth plug pin acceptor 109-3 may be coupled with an earth wire holder 301 and the earth plug pin acceptor 109-3 may be electrically coupled to a ground terminal and is adapted to receive an earth pin of the plug. Similarly, the neutral plug pin acceptor 109-2 is colinear to the neutral plug opening 103-3 shown in Figure 1 and the neutral plug pin acceptor 109-2 may be coupled with a neutral wire holder 303. Further, the neutral plug pin acceptor 109-2 may be electrically coupled to a neutral terminal and is adapted to receive a neutral plug pin of the plug. The live plug pin acceptor 109-1 may also be colinear to the live plug opening 103-2 shown in Figure 1. The live plug pin acceptor 109-1 may be electrically coupled to the connector 107 and is adapted to receive a live plug pin of the plug. In an example, the main power supply contact 203 may be coupled with a live wire holder 305 and main power supply contact 203 may selectively connect to the connector 107 to establish an electric path therebetween.

According to the present disclosure, the selective connection between the connector 107 and the main power supply contact 203 is enabled by the selective engagement of the shutter 111. Details of the shutter 111 is now explained with respect to Figures 4 and 5.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrates a detailed construction of the shutter 111, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 4 illustrates a mounting of shutter of a separation plate. Figure 5 illustrates a mounting of the separation plate on the back plate., and Figure 6 shows the shutter. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electrical socket assembly 100 further includes a separation plate 401. Specifically, the separation plate 401 is installed in the housing 113 and adapted to mount the shutter 111 thereon, such that the shutter 111 displaces relative to the separation plate 401.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the separation plate 401 includes a plurality of channels 405 and a spring 501. In an example, the plurality of channels 405 adapted to receive a pair of rails 407 of the shutter 111. Further, the spring 501 is housed in the shutter 111 as shown in the figure 5. As an example, the connector 107 includes the spring 501 to rotate the connector 107 about an axis 503. In an implementation, the spring 501 is adapted to displace the shutter 111 to disconnect the connector 107 from the main power supply contact 203 during the switching operation.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the shutter 111 includes, but not limited to, a slot 409, a mating profile 411 around the slots 409, and a pair of inclined surfaces 413. As an example, the slot 409 partially covers the earth plug opening 103-1 in the OFF state. As shown in Figure 4, the mating profile 411 extends into the slot 409. The slot 409 is adapted to make contact with the pin and displaces the shutter 111 in a direction orthogonal to the direction of motion of the pin so as to transition from the OFF state to ON state during the switching operation. Further, the slot 409 is sized to receive the earth plug pin of the plug.

In one example, the pair of inclined surfaces 413 includes a first inclined surfaces 413-1 and a second inclined surfaces 413-2. Accordingly, the first inclined surfaces 413-1 is inside the slot 409. Further, the second inclined surfaces 413-2 is extended to an opening 415. The second inclined surface 413-2 is longer than the first inclined surface 413-1. In an implementation the pair of inclined surfaces 413 is adapted to cover the live plug opening 103-2 and the neutral plug opening 103-3 in the OFF state and to uncover the live plug opening 103-2 and the neutral plug opening 103-3 in the ON state with the help of the spring 501.

Referring specifically to Figure 6, the shutter 111 may include a release trigger 601 and a contact trigger 603. In an implementation, the contact trigger 603 may be adapted to move the connector 107 to connect to the main power supply contact 203 with the help of the spring 501. On the other hand, the release trigger 601 may be adapted to move the connector 107 to disconnect from the main power supply contact 203.

Details of the Figure 7 illustrates a front view of the back plate, according to an embodiment if the present disclosure. The connector 107 is electrically coupled to the live plug pin acceptor 109-1 at a joint 701. The connector 107 may also be coupled to a coil spring 702, such that the coil spring 701 may enable the pivoting of the connector 107 when engaged with the shutter 111. In addition, the coil spring 702 is coupled to the connector 107 and may facilitate the movement of the connector 107 to its original position when the shutter 111 disengages from the connector 107. As shown in Figure 7, the coil spring 702 may be housed in a predefined cavity on the back plate 105, such that the coil spring 702 does not buckle or get dislodged from when the cavity when the connector 107 pivots about the coil spring 702.

The operation of the electrical socket assembly 100 is now described with respect Figures 1 and 6 in conjunction with Figure 8 that illustrates a working of electronic socket assembly 100. Initially, the electronic socket assembly 100 is in OFF condition and the connector 107 is disconnected from the power supply contact 203. To toggle the electrical socket assembly 100 to ON condition, the electric plug may be inserted in the electrical socket assembly 100, such that the earth plug pin is inserted to the earth plug opening 103-1. As the earth plug pin enters the plug opening 103-1, the earth plug pin makes contact with the first inclined surface 413-1 and then pushes the shutter 111. Pushing the earth plug pin against the first inclined surface 413-1 pushes the shutter 111 upward thereby uncovering the slot 409. The movement of the shutter 111 causes the contact trigger 603 to push against the connector 107. Further upward movement of the shutter 111 causes the contact trigger 603 pivots the connector 107 towards the power supply contact 203. Due to this, the contact 107 pivot upwards thereby making an electrical contact with the main power supply contact 203 to complete the circuit. This results in the flow of current in the electrical equipment. Simultaneously, the live plug pins and the earth plug pins may also slide against the second inclined surfaces 413-2 to assume the ON state as shown in the figure 8(a). In this state, the shutter 111 compresses the spring 501 thereby energizing the spring 501. The spring remains energized as long as the plug pins remain inside the slot 409.

Now to toggle the electrical socket assembly 100 to the OFF state, the electric plug may be pulled out from the electrical socket assembly 100. During a pull-out operation of the electric plug, the plug pins is pulled from their respective slots the shutter 111. The removal of the plug pins enables the energized spring 501 to displaces the shutter 111 downwards, the downward movement causes the release trigger 601 to engage the connector 107 and pivot the connector 107 downward. As a result, the contact 107 pivots to disconnect from the main power supply contact 203 to break the electric connection. This results in the stop of current flow in the electrical equipment. This state is referred as OFF state as shown in the figure 8(b).

According to the present disclosure, the electrical socket enables the insertion of the electric plug only and prevents the user to insert uncovered wire directly into the socket thereby making the electric socket safer over currently known electric sockets. Moreover, the shutter 111 does away a need for a separate switch as a conventional socket, hence eliminate the cost of an additional switch to establish electrical contact in with electric socket. Moreover, the electrical socket uses less space and reduces cost to the user of purchasing the total product.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. An electrical socket assembly (100) adapted to receive an electric plug having at least one pin, the electrical socket assembly (100) comprising:
a front plate (101) having a plurality of plug openings (103), each plug opening adapted to receive a pin of the electric plug;
a back plate (105) coupled to the front plate (101) to form a housing (113);
a main power supply contact (203) installed in the housing (113) and adapted to connect to an electrical terminal;
a connector (107) installed in the housing (113) and adapted to selectively make contact with the main power supply contact (203) to toggle between an ON and OFF state; and
a shutter (111) installed in the housing (113) and selectively engageable with the connector (107), the shutter (111) adapted to displace inside the housing (113) in response to the insertion of the pin in the plug opening (103), to establish a contact of the connector (107) with the main power supply contact (203).

2. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 1, comprising a separation plate (401) installed in the housing (113) and adapted to mount the shutter (111) thereon, wherein the shutter (111) displaces relative to the separation plate (401).

3. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the separation plate (401) comprising:
a plurality of channels (405) adapted to receive a pair of rails (407) of the shutter (111); and
a spring (501) housed in the shutter (111) and adapted to displace the shutter (111) to disconnect the connector (107) from the main power supply contact (203).

4. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the plurality of plug openings (103) includes an earth plug opening (103-1), a live plug opening (103-2), and a neutral plug opening (103-3).

5. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 4, comprising:
an earth plug pin acceptor (109-3) installed in the housing (113) and colinear to the earth plug opening (103-1), wherein the earth plug pin acceptor (109-3) is electrically coupled to a ground terminal and is adapted to receive the earth pin;
a live plug pin acceptor (109-1) installed in the housing (113) and colinear to the live plug opening (103-2), wherein the live plug pin acceptor (109-1) is electrically coupled to the connector (107) and is adapted to receive the live plug pin; and
a neutral plug pin acceptor (109-2) installed on the housing (113) and colinear to the neutral plug opening (103-2), wherein the neutral plug pin acceptor (109-2) is electrically coupled to a neutral terminal and is adapted to receive the neutral plug pin.

6. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 4, wherein the shutter (111) comprising:
a slot (409) partially covering the earth plug opening (103-1) in the OFF state;
a mating profile (411) extending into the slot (409) adapted to make contact with the pin and displace the shutter (111) in a direction orthogonal to the direction of motion of the pin to transition from the OFF state to ON state; and
a pair of inclined surfaces 413 adapted to cover the live plug opening (103-2) and the neutral plug opening (103-2) in the OFF state and to uncover the live plug opening (103-2) and the neutral plug opening (103-3) in the ON state.

7. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 6, wherein the slot (409) is sized to receive the earth plug pin.

8. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 4, wherein the shutter (111) comprising:
a contact trigger (603) adapted to move the connector (107) to connect to the main power supply contact; and
a release trigger (601) adapted to move the connector (107) to disconnect from the main power supply contact (203).

9. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the connector (107) includes a spring (501) to rotate the connector (107) about an axis (503).

10. The electrical socket assembly (100) as claimed in the claim 5, wherein the back plate (105) includes mounting profiles to secure the earth plug pin acceptor (109-3), the neutral plug pin acceptor (109-2), and the live plug pin acceptor (109-1) thereto.