DESC:AN IMROVED FLEXIBLE CORD SOCKET DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an improved flexible cord socket device that offers better stability on a surface when accommodating power plugs of associated appliances.

BACKGROUND

Owing to the increase in the number of electrical appliances being used in our routine lives, it is quite common nowadays to plug an extension power socket board or panel into a mains supply power socket to accommodate multiple appliances through the single mains supply power socket. In fact, considering that it is not practical to have one mains supply power socket for each appliance, such boards or panels have become quite a necessity in today’s times. The usually long cords of these boards allow for ease in positioning and handling of these boards.

However, when multiple plugs of appliances are inserted into the extension power socket board, the board usually loses its stability in positioning. This is because the existing boards are generally not built by considering weight and alignment of the power plugs. This instability may further lead to falling or tumbling of the boards, leading to damage to the inserted plugs and the nearby objects. Moreover, such incidents may also disrupt the mains supply to the appliances causing inconvenience to a consumer.

Further, such extension power socket boards usually include a long length of a cord that is adapted to be extended out of or retracted into a housing. Winding of the cord could usually pose a problem, for example, in terms of undesired tangling and inconvenience in winding and unwinding of the cord.

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.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a flexible cord socket device is disclosed. The flexible cord socket device includes a housing having a base portion adapted to be positioned on a supporting surface, and a cover portion adapted to be disposed on the base portion. The cover portion includes a top rim forming a first slot. A diameter of the cover portion increases from the top rim towards a bottom of the cover portion. The socket device includes a receiving plate disposed in the first slot of the cover portion such that the top rim is adjacent to a periphery of the receiving plate. The receiving plate includes a plurality of power sockets adapted to receive at least one power plug of an appliance. The construction of the housing is such that the receiving plate is at a predefined angle from the supporting surface when the flexible cord socket device is resting on the supporting surface.

To further clarify the 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 a perspective view of a flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates various views of the flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3A illustrates a side schematic view of the flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3B illustrates another side schematic view of the flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a top perspective view of a base portion of a housing of the flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a cover portion of the housing depicting constituent components of the flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates a top perspective view of a portion of the flexible cord socket device depicting mounting of the receiving plate on the base portion of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates a cut-away view of the flexible cord socket device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 8 illustrates a schematic side cross-sectional view of the flexible cord socket device, 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 been necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. 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 this invention belongs. The system, methods, 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 element 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.

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.

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

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a flexible cord socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of readability, the flexible cord socket device 100 may hereinafter be interchangeably referred to as the socket device 100. Figure 2 illustrates various views of the socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Particularly, Figure 2 illustrates a top view 202, a bottom view 204, a front view 206, a back view 208, a first side view 210, and a second side view 212 of the socket device 100.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the socket device 100 may include, but is not limited to, a housing 102 and a receiving plate 104 disposed in the housing 102. The housing 102 may include, but is not limited to, a base portion 106 adapted to be positioned on a supporting surface, and a cover portion 108 adapted to be disposed on the base portion 106. The cover portion 108 may include a top rim 110 forming a first slot 112. A diameter of the cover portion 108 may be adapted to increase from the top rim 110 towards a bottom of the cover portion 108. Therefore, the diameter of the cover portion 108 is maximum at the top and minimum at the bottom.

Further, the receiving plate 104 may be disposed in the first slot 112 of the cover portion 108. The receiving plate 104 may be disposed such that the top rim 110 is adjacent to a periphery of the receiving plate 104. The receiving plate 104 may include a plurality of power sockets adapted to receive at least one power plug of an appliance. Therefore, each power socket may be adapted to receive a power plug of an appliance. For example, the appliance may be a television, a smartphone, a laptop, a desktop, a refrigerator, and a chimney.

In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving plate 104 is shown to include a three-pin plug socket 114, a pair of two-pin plug sockets 116, and a USB receiver slot 118 positioned at different heights. The two-pin plug sockets 116 may individually be referred to as 116-1 and 116-2.

As would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the number of power sockets 114, 116, 118 to be disposed in the receiving plate 104 may vary, for example, depending on constructional and operational requirements of the socket device 100. Therefore, in other embodiments, the socket device 100 may include less or a greater number of power sockets 114, 116, 118, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the socket device 100 may include an actuating switch 120 disposed on the receiving plate 104. The actuating switch 120 may be adapted to be operated to control power supply to the power sockets 114, 116, 118. Therefore, in an activated operational state of the actuating switch 120, the mains supply to the power sockets 114, 116, 118 is enabled. In an inactivated operational state, the mains supply to the power sockets 114, 116, 118 is disabled.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating switch 120 is a push-type switch. In other embodiments, the actuating switch 120 may include, but is not limited to, a sliding switch, a rotary switch, a toggle-type switch, and a rocker-type switch, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, while in the illustrated embodiment, the socket device 100 includes one actuating switch 120 for all the power sockets 114, 116, 118. In another embodiment, the socket device 100 may include an actuating switch 120 for each power socket 114, 116, 118, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the socket device 100 may include an indicator 124 adapted to indicate the operational state of the actuating switch 120 and in turn of the power sockets 114, 116, 118. In an embodiment, the indicator 124 may be a Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator. In an embodiment, an illuminated state of the indicator 124 may indicate that the actuating switch 120 is activated and the power sockets 114, 116, 118 are therefore receiving the mains supply. On the other hand, a non-illuminated state of the indicator 124 may indicate that the actuating switch 120 is inactivated and the power sockets 114, 116, 118 are therefore not receiving the mains supply.

Figure 3A illustrates a side schematic view of the socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3B illustrates another side schematic view of the socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3A, and Figure 3B, the construction of the housing 102 may be such that the receiving plate 104 is at a predefined angle from the supporting surface, when the socket device 100 is resting on the supporting surface. In an embodiment, the construction of the housing 102 is such that the receiving plate 104 may be disposed at about an angle of 12 degrees with the supporting surface. Accordingly, the power sockets 114, 116, 118 are in turn formed at different heights of the receiving plate 104.

As would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, in other embodiments, this angle may be less or more than 12 degrees, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such selection of the angle allows the socket device 100 to rest on the supporting surface in a stable manner, particularly, when multiple power plugs are inserted in the power sockets 114, 116, 118.

The angular positioning of the receiving plate 104 and the increasing diameter profile towards the bottom of the cover portion 108 are such that the socket device 100 is stabilized in a predefined position on the supporting surface when receiving the power plugs.

In an embodiment, the socket device 100 may include a cord (not shown) adapted to connect the power sockets 114, 116, 118 of the receiving plate 104 with the mains supply. In an embodiment, the cord may be plugged into the mains supply through a plug. Therefore, the plug may be adapted to be inserted into a mains supply power socket for supplying the mains supply to the power sockets 114, 116, 118.

The cord may be adapted to be wound in within the housing 102, when not in use. In operation, the connection cord may be pulled out of the housing 102 for connecting with a mains supply power socket. In an embodiment, the socket device 100 may include a second slot 302 formed in the base portion 106 of the housing 102. The second slot 302 may be adapted to accommodate entry of the cord into the housing 102. In an embodiment, the second slot 302 is formed to have a downward angular profile, allowing for a smooth entry and exit of the cord therefrom. The second slot 302 is formed such that a less amount of force is required to wind or unwind the cord.

In an embodiment, the socket device 100 may include a particular structure within the housing 102 to ensure convenient positioning of the cord. In an embodiment, the structure may be partially formed in the base portion 106 of the housing 102.

Figure 4 illustrates a top perspective view of the base portion 106 of the housing 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The socket device 100 may include a central supporting portion 402 formed on a bottom surface 404 of the base portion 106. The central supporting portion 402 may be extending towards interior of the housing 102. The socket device 100 may also include a plurality of ribs 406 formed around the central supporting portion 402. The ribs 406 may be positioned in an order of increasing height around the central supporting portion 402.

In an embodiment, the socket device 100 may include a cord winding ring in the cover portion 108 of the housing 102. Figure 5 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the cover portion 108 of the housing 102 depicting few other constituent components of the socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cord winding ring 502 may be disposed in the cover portion 108. In an embodiment, the cord may be adapted to be positioned between the receiving plate 104 and the cord winding ring 502.

In an embodiment, the cord winding ring 502 may be adapted to be rotated for either extending the cord out of the housing 102 or retracting the cord into the housing 102.

Further, the cord winding ring 502 may be adapted to be supported on the ribs 406 when the cover portion 108 is disposed on the base portion 106. Figure 6 illustrates a top perspective view of a portion of the socket device 100 depicting mounting of the receiving plate 104 and the cord winding ring 502 on the base portion 106, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the cord winding ring 502 is mounted on the ribs 406 such that a position of the second slot 302 is higher in the housing 102.

In an embodiment, the cord winding ring 502 may be adapted to be coupled with the receiving plate 104. As a result, a rotation of the receiving plate 104 translates to a rotation of the cord winding ring 502 for the extension and retraction of the cord.

In an embodiment, the receiving plate 104 may include at least one third slot 122 adapted to be held by a user for rotating the receiving plate 104. In an embodiment, the receiving plate 104 may be adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction for extending the cord out of the housing 102. In another embodiment, the receiving plate 104 may be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction for retracting the cord into the housing 102.

The abovementioned construction and operation of the receiving plate 104, the cord winding ring 502, the central supporting portion 402, the ribs 406, and the second slot 302, the cord can be wound smoothly along the direction of bending during extension or retraction, for example, owing to gravity.

In the illustrated embodiments, the receiving plate 104 is shown to include a pair of third slots 122 on the receiving plate 104. However, in other embodiments, the receiving plate 104 may include less or a greater number of the third slots 122, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Figure 7 illustrates a cut-away view of the socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 illustrates a schematic side cross-sectional view of the socket device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the internal components of the socket device 100 are positioned in the housing 102 at an inclination.

In an embodiment, the socket device 100 may include a surge protection mechanism, such as a fuse in order to handle any power surge. Further, the power sockets 114, 116, 118 may include a child safety shutter. The power sockets 114, 116, 118 may also include high quality brass contacts for establishing electrical connection.

As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the flexible cord socket device 100 having improved stability. The construction of the housing 102 is such that the socket device 100 can conveniently rest on any supporting surface. Further, the socket device 100 has a sleek and compact body structure.

The angular positioning of the receiving plate 104 ensures convenient plugging and removal of the power plugs of the appliances. Further, the top rim 110 is thin and owing to this minimal peripheral space around the receiving plate 104, easy usage of large-sized adapter or power plugs can be achieved. This effect is further enhanced by the increasing diameter profile towards the bottom of the cover portion 108. This would also eliminate the issues of tangling of cords of appliances owing to the large peripheral portion around the receiving plate 104, as is the case in the existing devices.

Furthermore, the varying height of the socket device 100 allows the power plugs of the appliances to be plugged at different heights, eliminating the possibility of wire cluttering, disbalancing, and overlapping of the power plugs. In fact, the power plugs can be easily removed due to the proposed construction.

Moreover, considering inclined positioning of components, such as internal Printed Circuit Board (PCB), the cord, and other components in the housing 102, the cord can be easily handled during the extension and retraction. Also, owing to varying height from the back to the front, the socket device 100 is a safe table accessory.

In addition, the structure of the central supporting portion 402 and the ribs 406 provide structural rigidity to the housing 102 while ensuring proper stress distribution, particularly, when the cord winding ring 502 is rotated for extension or retraction of the cord. The increasing height arrangement of the ribs 406 ensures smooth handling of the cord within the housing 102.

Therefore, the socket device 100 of the present disclosure are operation-effective and offer significant convenience to the consumer at least from the perspective of easy handling and stable positioning.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, 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. A flexible cord socket device (100) comprising:
a housing (102) comprising:
a base portion (106) adapted to be positioned on a supporting surface; and
a cover portion (108) adapted to be disposed on the base portion (106) and comprising a top rim (110) forming a first slot (112), wherein a diameter of the cover portion (108) increases from the top rim (110) towards a bottom of the cover portion (108); and
a receiving plate (104) disposed in the first slot (112) of the cover portion (108) such that the top rim (110) is adjacent to a periphery of the receiving plate (104), and comprising a plurality of power sockets (114, 116, 118) adapted to receive at least one power plug of an appliance,
wherein the construction of the housing (102) is such that the receiving plate (104) is at a predefined angle from the supporting surface when the flexible cord socket device (100) is resting on the supporting surface.

2. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angular positioning of the receiving plate (104) and the increasing diameter profile towards the bottom of the cover portion (108) are such that the flexible cord socket device (100) is stabilised in a predefined position on the supporting surface when receiving the at least one power plug.

3. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving plate (104) comprising a three-pin plug socket (114), a pair of two-pin plug sockets (116), and a USB receiver slot (118) positioned at different heights.

4. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving plate (104) is disposed at about an angle of 12 degrees with the supporting surface.

5. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an actuating switch (120) disposed on the receiving plate (104) and adapted to be operated to control power supply to the plurality of power sockets (114, 116, 118).

6. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
a central supporting portion (402) formed on a bottom surface (404) of the base portion (106) of the housing (102) and extending towards interior of the housing (102); and
a plurality of ribs (406) formed around the central supporting portion (402), wherein the plurality of ribs (406) is positioned in an order of increasing height around the central supporting portion (402).

7. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 6, comprising:
a cord winding ring (502) disposed in the cover portion (108) of the housing (102) and adapted to be supported on the plurality of ribs (406) when the cover portion (108) is disposed on the base portion (106); and
a cord adapted to connect the plurality of power sockets (114, 116, 118) of the receiving plate (104) with mains supply, wherein the cord is adapted to be positioned between the receiving plate (104) and the cord winding ring (502).

8. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cord winding ring (502) is adapted to be rotated for either extending the cord out of the housing (102) or retracting the cord into the housing (102).

9. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 8, comprising a second slot (302) formed in the base portion (106) for entry of the cord into the housing (102), wherein the second slot (302) is formed at a position higher than the cord winding ring (502) in the housing (102).

10. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cord winding ring (502) is adapted to be coupled with the receiving plate (104) such that a rotation of the receiving plate (104) translates to a rotation of the cord winding ring (502) for the extension and retraction of the cord.

11. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the receiving plate (104) comprising at least one third slot (122) adapted to be held by a user for rotating the receiving plate (104).

12. The flexible cord socket device (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving plate (104) is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction and an anti-clockwise direction for extending and retracting the cord, respectively.