DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an electric plug assembly and particularly to an electric plug assembly having a single piece plug pin.

BACKGROUND

An electric plug assembly is a device that establishes electrical contact between electric equipment and a source, such as a socket. The electric plug assembly includes an electric pin that is coupled to the wires of the electric equipment. The pin acts as a connector to complete the electric circuit. The electric pin can either be a live pin or a neutral pin in case of alternating current or can be a positive terminal and negative terminal in case of direct current. The electric pin can also be a ground or earth pin. The electric pin includes a projection part that protrudes from the electric plug assembly and a coupling part that resides within the electric plug assembly and couples to the electric wire via fasteners. Conventionally, the projection part and the coupling part are manufactured as separate components and are threaded to each other. In some electric plug assemblies, the projection part extends into the electric plug assembly and the portion of the projection part has a riveted hollow tube to allow coupling of the wire to the pin.

There are various limitations associated with the current design of the electric plug assembly. For example, the two parts manufacturing of the electric pin increases the overall cost of the electric plug assembly. Moreover, the two parts construction of the electric pin renders the electric plug assembly vulnerable to failure. On the other hand, the use of a riveted hollow tube to the projection part is not robust because the hollow tube tends to dislodge from the projection part. Therefore, the current designs of the electric plug assembly are prone to failure.

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 an electric plug assembly with a single piece plug pin that has provisions to receive wires from different orientations.

In an embodiment, an electric plug assembly is disclosed. The electric plug assembly includes a base plate adapted to receive wires and a cover plate having a plurality of plug openings and is coupled to the base plate to form a housing. The electric plug assembly also includes a plug pin adapted to be inserted in one of the plurality of plug openings. The plug pin includes a root part disposed in the housing a main part integrated with the root part. The main part is formed above the root part and is adapted to extend out from the housing.

In another embodiment, the main part includes a cavity extending along a length of the main part and adapted to receive an electric wire. On the other hand, the root part includes a first through-hole passing through a first side and a third side opposite to the first side and is adapted to receive an electric wire. In addition, the root part includes a second through-hole passing through a second side and a fourth side opposite to the second side and is adapted to receive a fastener to secure the electric wire to the root part. Further, the root part includes a top face abutting an inner surface of the base plate and is adapted to provide access to a cavity inside the main part.

According to the present disclosure, the plug pin is a single-piece component in which the root part is integrated into the main part which makes the construction of the plug pin simpler. Moreover, the through-holes allow multiple attachments of the electric wires thereby increasing the versatility of the electric plug assembly.

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 different views of an electric plug assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the electric plug assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a plug pin of the electric plug assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 4 illustrates a front view and a back view of the plug pin, 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.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an electric plug assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 1 illustrates shows a front view (A), a side view (B), a front perspective view (C), and a back perspective view (D), and a front perspective view (D) of the electric plug assembly 100. Further, Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the electric plug assembly 100. The electric plug assembly 100 may be used to supply electric current to an electrical equipment, such as a table fan or a refrigerator. The electric plug assembly 100 can be designed to have different rated capacities, such as a 6A rating for small electrical equipment, such as a table fan or a 16A rating for heavy electrical equipment, such as a refrigerator. The electric plug assembly 100 may receive electric wires from the electrical equipment and may be adapted to insert into an electric socket to establish electric contact with the electric socket. The electric plug assembly 100 may include, but is not limited to, a base plate 102, a cover plate 104, a plurality of plug pins 106, and a sleeve 108, details of which will be explained later.

Referring now to Figure 2, the base plate 102 may form a major part of the electric plug assembly 100 by size. The base plate 102 may include a pair of the housing walls 110 that extends from a base of the base plate 102. The housing walls 110 may couple to the cover plate and cover the components mounted to either the cover plate 104 or the base plate 102. In addition, the housing walls 110 may include depressions 112 that are sized and profiled to enable an operator to grab and hold the electric plug assembly 100 to engage and disengage the electric socket.

In one example, the cover plate 104 may be of similar size as the base plate 102. The cover plate 104 may include an outer surface 114 and an inner surface 116 opposite to the front face, such that the outer surface 114 may abut the electric socket. On the other hand, the inner surface 116 may include a cavity profile 118 that are adapted to receive the housing walls 110 to form a housing. The housing may be understood as a volume inside the electric plug assembly 100 in which the components may be housed. In one example, the housing walls 110 may have a cut-out portion and while the cavity profile 118 has a wall that forms an opening in which the sleeve 108 can be inserted. The sleeve 108 is configured to provide access to the electrical wires into the housing.

In one example, the electric plug assembly 100 may include a plate 120 that may be mounted to the inner surface 116 and proximate to the opening. The plate 120 may be configured to secure a portion of the electric wires entering the housing via the sleeve 108. The plate 120 may be made of a fibre material and may be secured to a pair of fastening points 122 on the inner surface 116.

In one example, the base plate 102 and the cover plate 104 may be secured to each other using fasteners 124. Further, the cover plate 104 may include additional fastening points 122 to receive the fasteners 124. Although not visible, the base plate 102 may also include fastening points concentric to the fastening points 122 on the cover plate 104 and is adapted to receive a portion of the fasteners 124. Although the present illustration shows four fasteners 124, a greater or lesser number of fasteners 124 may also be used, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

According to the present disclosure, the plug pin 106 is a single piece manufactured component. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 that show the plug pin 106. Specifically, Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the plug pin 106 of the electric plug assembly 100 while Figure 4 illustrates a front view and a back view of the plug pin 106. The plug pin 106 may include a root part 126 and a main part 128. The root part 126 may be disposed in the housing while the main part 128 may extend through the housing and out from the plug openings 130 of the cover plate 104. In one example, one of the plug pins 106A is a ground pin while another plug pin 106B is a live pin. Further, yet another plug pin 106C is a neutral pin.

In one example, the root part 126 is formed as a single component with the main part 128. The main part 128 may be made from the root part 126 by machining a piece of metal. The root part 126 may have a square-shaped cross-section and may include a first side 132A, a second side 132B, a third side 132C, and a fourth side 132D. Further, the first side 132A and the third side 132C are opposite to each other while the second side 132B and the fourth side 132D are opposite to each other. The root part 126 may also include a first through-hole 134 passing through the first side 132A and the third side 132C and is adapted to receive an electrical wire. The root part 126 may also include a second through-hole 136 passing through the second side 132B and the fourth side 132D and is adapted to receive a fastener 138 that secures the electric wire to the root part 126. In one example, the fastener 138 may press the electric wire against an interior surface of the root part 126.

The root part 126 may also include a top face 140 that may be opposite to the main part 128. In one example, the top face 140 may face an inner surface of the base plate 102. The top face 140 may have a third through-hole 142 that extends through the complete length of the root part 126 and may allow insertion of the electric wire. The provision of the third through-hole 142 and the first through-hole 134 provides an operator with various options to connect the electric wire to the plug pin 106 thereby making the electric plug assembly 100 versatile.

On the other hand, the main part 128 extends from the root part as shown in Figures 2 and 3. As mentioned before, the main part 128 may be formed as a single piece component of the root part 126. The main part 128 may have a cylindrical body 144 with a hemispherical tip 146. Further, the cylindrical body 144 may have a cavity 148 that extends along the length of the main part and is adapted to receive the electric wire. Referring now to Figure 4(B), the top face 140 provides access to the cavity 148 to insert the electric wire therein.

According to the present disclosure, the cavity 148 is present along the length of the main part 138 and as a result a greater length of electrical wire can be inserted into the cavity 148 resulting in a greater area of contact between the electric wire and the cavity 148. Such a greater contact with the wire prevents any disconnection of electrical connection when the wires are loosened because of prolonged usage. On the other hand, the plug pin 106 is a single-piece component that does away with the steps of manufacturing the root part 126 and the main part 128 separately, thus making the manufacturing of the plug pin 106 easier and simpler than currently known plug pins. Moreover, the plug pin 106 is less prone to failure associated with the two-piece components.

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 electric plug assembly (100) comprising:
a base plate (102) adapted to receive electric wires;
a cover plate (104) coupled to the base plate (102) to form a housing, and comprising a plurality of plug openings; and
a plug pin (106) adapted to be inserted in each of the plurality of plug openings, the plug pin (106) comprising:
a root part (126) disposed in the housing; and
a main part (128) formed above the root part (126) and adapted to extend out of the housing to be inserted in a socket, wherein the root part (126) is integrated in the main part (128).

2. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the root part (126) is sandwiched between the base plate (102) and the cover plate (104) to be secured in the housing.

3. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main part (128) has a circular cross-section, and the root part (126) has a square cross-section.

4. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main part (128) includes a cavity extending along a length of the main part (128) and adapted to receive an electric wire.

5. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the root part (126) includes:
a first through-hole (134) passing through a first side (132A) and a third side (132C) opposite to the first side (132A) and adapted to receive an electric wire;
a second through-hole (138) passing through a second side (132B) and a fourth side (132D) opposite to the second side (132B) and adapted to receive a fastener (138) to secure the electric wire to the root part (126); and
a top face (140) facing an inner surface of the base plate (102) and adapted to provide access to a cavity inside the main part (128).

6. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one plug pin (106) is one of a ground pin (106A), a live pin (106B), and a neutral pin (106C).

7. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, including a pair of fasteners to secure the base plate (102) to the cover plate (104).

8. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug opening is shaped as per the cross-section of the root part (126).

9. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate (102) and the cover plate (104) forms an opening adapted to receive a sleeve to guide the electric wire into the housing.

10. The electric plug assembly (100) as claimed in claim 9, comprising a plate (120) mounted on an inner surface (116) of the cover plate (104) and proximate to the opening, wherein the plate (120) is adapted to secure a portion of the electric wires within the housing.