DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to electrical sockets and more particularly, provides an electrical socket assembly with enhanced service life.

BACKGROUND

Commonly, electrical power outlets are employed for allowing a flow of electric current from a power source to a wide range of appliances. In particular, an electrical appliance is connected to a power socket through an electrical plug. Usually, the electrical plug includes multiple electrical pins which form an electrical connection with the power socket, when the electrical plug is inserted in the power socket. For instance, during plugging of the electrical plug, each of the electrical pins forms the electrical connection with a contact element of the power socket. In such an instance, when the electrical connection is formed, the electrical current flows through the contact element to the electrical pins of the electrical plug, and further to the electrical appliance.

In order to disconnect the flow of electric current to the electrical appliance, the electrical plug is unplugged from the electrical socket. However, frequent plugging and/or unplugging of the electrical plug from the electrical socket may lead to deformation of the contact element. This may further lead to breakage of the contact element of the electrical socket. Further, frequent plugging and/or unplugging of the electrical plug may also lead to breakage of the contact element of the electrical socket. This may further lead to a significant reduction in service life of the electrical socket, and may compromise safety. Therefore, there is a need for an improved electrical socket with enhanced service life.

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, an electrical socket assembly is disclosed. The electrical socket assembly includes a housing member having at least one slot defined by a plurality of walls of the housing member. The at least one slot is adapted to receive an electrical pin of an electrical plug. Further, the electrical socket assembly includes at least one contact member disposed in a recess of the housing member and adapted to form an electrical contact with the at least one electrical pin. The electrical socket assembly includes a pushing member disposed on one of the plurality of walls located opposite to the recess and adapted to maintain the electrical contact between the electrical pin and the at least one contact member. The pushing member is adapted to push the at least one electrical pin towards the at least one contact member disposed in the recess when the electrical pin is inserted in the at least one slot.

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 depicting an arrangement of an electrical plug and an electrical socket, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the electrical plug, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the electrical socket assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates a partial exploded view of the electrical socket assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 illustrates a partial sectional view of the electrical socket assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view taken along an axis A-A’ of Figure 1 depicting an arrangement of the electrical plug and the 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 been necessarily been 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.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof 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, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, 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 such as “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 one having ordinary skills 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 presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as 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 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 alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively 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 be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical socket assembly is disclosed. The electrical socket assembly includes a housing member and a face plate coupled to the housing member. Further, the electrical socket assembly includes at least one contact member disposed in the housing member. The contact member is adapted to form an electrical contact with an electrical pin of an electrical plug, when the electrical plug is inserted in the electrical socket assembly. The contact member has a partial-cube shape. Further, the electrical socket assembly includes at least one pushing member adapted to push the electrical pin of the electrical plug towards the contact member. The pushing member includes a protruded portion facing the contact member. Further, the pushing member is formed of different material than the contact member. The pushing member is a plate-shaped elastic member and partially inserted into the face plate. Further, the housing member includes a recess opens to anti direction of the protruded portion of the pushing member.

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

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view depicting an arrangement of an electrical plug 100 and an electrical socket assembly 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrical socket assembly 102 may be adapted to connect electrical appliances to an Alternating Current (AC) power source through the electrical plug 100. The electrical appliances may include, but is not limited to, household appliances. Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the electrical plug 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the electrical plug 100 may be connected to the electrical appliances through a cable, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the electrical plug 100 may include a plurality of electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 adapted to conduct electrical current, when inserted in the electrical socket assembly 102. The plurality of electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 may interchangeably be referred to as the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, when the electrical plug 100 is attached to the electrical socket assembly 102, the electric current may flow through the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 and subsequently, to the electrical appliances through the cable.

In an embodiment, the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 may be formed of any electrically conductive material known in the art, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical plug 100 may be embodied as a three-pin plug having three electrical pins. Accordingly, the electrical socket 102 includes three socket apertures for receiving corresponding electrical pins. The present disclosure is explained with respect to the electrical socket assembly 102 which is adapted to receive the three-pin plug. However, it should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it should not be construed as limiting, and the present disclosure is equally applicable to other combinations of electrical plugs and electrical sockets as well, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the electrical socket assembly 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical socket assembly 102 may include, but is not limited to, a housing member 302 and a face plate 304 coupled to the housing member 302. The housing member 302 may be adapted to accommodate various sub-components of the electrical socket assembly 102. In one embodiment, the face plate 304 may be coupled to the housing member 302 through a plurality of fasteners including, but not limited to, screws. In another embodiment, the face plate 304 may be coupled to the housing member 302 through snap locks.

In an embodiment, the face plate 304 may include at least one socket apertures 306 adapted to be aligned with the longitudinal slot 408-1 of the housing member 302 and to receive the electrical pin 202-1 of the electrical plug 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the face plate 304 may include a plurality of socket apertures 306-1, 306-2, 306-3 adapted to receive the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 of the electrical plug 100. The plurality of socket apertures 306-1, 306-2, 306-3 may interchangeably be referred to as the socket apertures 306-1, 306-2, 306-3, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The socket apertures 306-1, 306-2, 306-3 may individually be referred to as the socket aperture 306-1, the socket aperture 306-2, and the socket aperture 306-3.

Figure 4 illustrates a partial exploded view of the electrical socket assembly 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates a partial sectional view of the electrical socket assembly 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrical socket assembly 102 may include, but is not limited to, at least one contact member 402-1, a pushing member 404-1, and a fastening member 406. Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the electrical socket assembly 102 may include, but is not limited to, a plurality of contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3, a plurality of pushing members 404-1, 404-2, 404-3, and a plurality of fastening members 406. In an embodiment, the housing member 302 may be adapted to accommodate the plurality of contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3, the plurality of pushing members 404-1, 404-2, 404-3, and the plurality of fastening members 406-1, 406-2, 406-3.

In an embodiment, the plurality of contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3 and the plurality of pushing members 404-1, 404-2, 404-3 may interchangeably be referred to as the contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3 and the pushing members 404-1, 404-2, 404-3, respectively. The contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3 may individually be referred to as the contact member 402-1, the contact member 402-2, and the contact member 402-3. Similarly, the pushing members 404-1, 404-2, 404-3 may individually be referred to as the pushing member 404-1, the pushing member 404-2, and the pushing member 404-3.

Further, the housing member 302 may include at least one slot 408-1 defined by a plurality of walls 308 of the housing member 302. The at least one slot 408-1 may be adapted to receive an electrical pin 202-1 of the electrical plug 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing member 302 may include a plurality of slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3 adapted to receive the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-2 of the electrical plug 100. The plurality of slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3 may interchangeably be referred to as the plurality of longitudinal slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an assembled condition, when the face plate 304 is coupled to the housing member 302, the socket apertures 306-1, 306-2, 306-3 may be aligned with the longitudinal slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3 of the housing member 302, to allow insertion of the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 in the electrical socket assembly 102. The plurality of longitudinal slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3 may interchangeably be referred to as the longitudinal slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Each of the longitudinal slots 408-1, 408-2, 408-3 may extend in a direction parallel to an axis X-X’, as shown in Figure 5.

For the sake of simplicity and better understanding, constructional and operational details of the electrical socket assembly 102 are explained with respect to the longitudinal slot 408-1, the contact member 402-1, and the pushing member 404-1. As would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, the description of the longitudinal slot 408-1, the contact member 402-1, and the pushing member 404-1 is equally applicable to the longitudinal slots 408-2, 408-3, the contact members 402-2, 402-3, and the pushing members 404-2, 404-3, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5, as explained earlier, the longitudinal slot 408-1 of the housing member 302 may be adapted to receive the electrical pin 202-1 of the electrical plug 100. In an embodiment, the longitudinal slot 408-1 may be defined by a plurality of walls 308 (shown in Figure 3) extending in a longitudinal direction. The plurality of walls 308 may interchangeably be referred to as the plurality of walls 308-1, 308-2, 308-3, 308-4, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in an embodiment, the contact member 402-1 may be adapted to form an electrical contact with the electrical pin 202-1 to supply the electric current, when the electrical plug 100 is inserted in the electrical socket assembly 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact member 402-1 may have a partial-cube shape, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the contact member 402-1 may be disposed in a recess 506 formed in the housing member 302 of the electrical socket assembly 102. The recess 506 may extend in a direction parallel to the axis X-X’. An engaging portion 502 may be formed in the recess 506. The engaging portion 502 may be adapted to support the contact member 402-1 within the recess 506. Further, the face plate 304 may includes a protrusion 504 adapted to be coupled to the contact member 402-1 disposed within the recess 506.

In an embodiment, the contact member 402-1 may include a top surface 403-1, a bottom surface 403-2, and a pair of side surfaces 403-3, 403-4. The pair of side surfaces 403-3, 403-4 may interchangeably be referred to as the side surface 403-3 and the side surface 403-4. Further, the contact member 402-1 may include a first opening 410-1 formed on the top surface 403-1 and a second opening 410-2 formed on the bottom surface 403-2. The first opening 410-1 may be adapted to receive an engaging portion 502 formed in the recess 506. Further, the second opening 410-2 may be adapted to receive a protrusion 504 of the face plate 304, when the face plate 304 is assembled with the housing member 302. Owing to such an arrangement, the contact member 402-1 may be snugly accommodated within the recess 506 of the housing member 302.

In an embodiment, the side surface 403-3 of the contact member 402-1 may include an opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of fastening members 406. The contact member 402-1 may be positioned in the recess 506 such that the side surface 403-4 faces the longitudinal slot 408-1 adapted to receive the electrical pin 202-1 of the electrical plug 100. The side surface 403-4 may be adapted to form an electrical contact with the electrical pin 202-1, when the electrical pin 202-1 is inserted within the longitudinal slot 408-1.

In an embodiment, the pushing member 404-1 may be disposed within the housing member 302 of the electrical socket assembly 102. The pushing member 404-1 may be adapted to maintain the electrical contact between the electrical pin 202-1 and the contact member 402-1. In the assembled condition, when the face plate 304 is assembled to the housing member 302, the pushing member 404-1 may be partially accommodated in the face plate 304. In another embodiment, in the assembled condition, when the face plate 304 is assembled to the housing member 302, the pushing member 404-1 may be completely disposed within the housing member 302. Each of the pushing member 404-1 and the contact member 402-1 may be formed of different materials, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the contact member 402-1 may be formed of brass and the pushing member 404-1 may be formed of stainless steel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pushing member 404-1 may be disposed on one of the plurality of walls 308, interchangeably be referred to as the supporting wall 308-1, of the housing member 302. The supporting wall 308-1 may be located opposite to the recess 506 adapted to support the contact member 402-1. The pushing member 404-1 is adapted to push the electrical pin 202-1 in a direction towards the contact member 402-1 disposed in the recess 506, when the electrical pin 202-1 is inserted in the longitudinal slot 408-1.

In an embodiment, the pushing member 404-1 may be embodied as a plate-shaped elastic member. The pushing member 404-1 may be embodied as a leaf spring, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the pushing member 404-1 may include a protruded portion 508 adapted to push the electrical pin 202-1 in the direction towards the contact member 402-1 disposed in the recess 506. In an embodiment, the recess 506 may at least open in a direction opposite to the protruded portion 508 of the pushing member 404-1. The pushing member 404-1 may be adapted to push the electrical pin 202-1 in a direction substantially parallel to an axis Y-Y’, and thereby pushing the contact member 402-1. The pushing member 404-1 may be positioned on the supporting wall 308-1 in a manner that the protruded portion 508 faces the contact member 402-1 disposed in the recess 506, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view taken along an axis A-A’ of Figure 1 depicting an arrangement of the electrical plug 100 and the electrical socket assembly 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, when the electrical plug 100 is inserted in the electrical socket assembly 102, the pushing member 404-1 may push the electrical pin 202-1 of the electrical plug 100 towards the contact member 402-1. In particular, when the electrical pin 202-1 is inserted in the longitudinal slot 408-1, the pushing member 404-1 may resiliently push the electrical pin 202-1 in the direction towards the contact member 402-1 which is disposed in the recess 506. The electrical pin 202-1 may be inserted in the slot 408-1 longitudinally extending between the recess 506 and the supporting wall 308-1 supporting the pushing member 404-1. Owing to such an arrangement, the electrical pin 202-1 may form an electrical connection with the contact member 402-1, and thereby allow the electrical current to flow through the electrical pin 202-1 to the electrical appliance.

As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the electrical socket assembly 102 having the pushing members 404-1, 404-2, 404-3 adapted to push the electrical pins 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 of the electrical plug 100 towards the contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3. Owing to such an arrangement, the electrical socket assembly 102 of the present disclosure substantially eliminates risk of deformation and breakage of the contact members 402-1, 402-2, 402-3, due to frequent plugging and/or unplugging of the electrical plug 100 from the electrical socket assembly 102. This may further lead to substantial enhancement in the service life of the electrical socket assembly 102. Therefore, the electrical socket assembly 102 of the present disclosure is safe, risk-free, flexible in implementation, cost-effective, convenient, and has a wide range of applications.

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:1. An electrical socket assembly (102) comprising;
a housing member (302) having at least one slot (408-1) defined by a plurality of walls (308) of the housing member (302), the at least one slot (408-1) adapted to receive an electrical pin (202-1) of an electrical plug (100);
at least one contact member (402-1) disposed in a recess (506) adjacent to the at least one slot (408-1) of the housing member (302) and adapted to form an electrical contact with the at least one electrical pin (202-1); and
a pushing member (404-1) disposed on one of the plurality of walls (308) located opposite to the recess (506) and adapted to maintain the electrical contact between the electrical pin (202-1) and the at least one contact member (402-1),
wherein the pushing member (404-1) is adapted to push the at least one electrical pin (202-1) in a direction towards the at least one contact member (402-1) disposed in the recess (506) when the electrical pin (202-1) is inserted in the at least one slot (408-1).

2. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a face plate (304) adapted to be coupled to the housing member (302), wherein the face plate (304) includes at least one socket apertures (306) adapted to be aligned with the at least one slot (408-1) of the housing member (302).

3. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact member (402-1) have a partial-cube shape.

4. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an engaging portion (502) formed in the recess (506), wherein the engaging portion (502) is adapted to support the contact member (402-1) within the recess (506).

5. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the face plate (304) includes a protrusion (504) adapted to be coupled to the contact member (402-1) disposed within the recess (506).

6. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in any of claims 4 and 5, wherein the contact member (402-1) includes a first opening (410-1) adapted to receive the engaging portion (502) and a second opening (410-2) adapted to receive a protrusion (504) of the face plate (304).

7. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing member (404-1) and the contact member (402-1) are formed of different materials, the pushing member (404-1) is a plate-shaped elastic member.

8. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claims 1, the pushing member (404-1) is partially inserted into the face plate (304) and partially disposed within the housing member (302).

9. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claims 1, wherein the pushing member (404-1) is completely disposed within the housing member (302).

10. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing member (404-1) includes a protruded portion (508) adapted to push the electrical pin (202-1) in the direction towards the at least one contact member (402-1).

11. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pushing member (404-1) is disposed on one of the plurality of walls (308) in a manner that the protruded portion (508) faces the at least one contact member (402-1) disposed in the recess (506).

12. The electrical socket assembly (102) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical pin (202-1) is inserted in the at least one slot (408-1) longitudinally extending between the recess (506) and one of the plurality of walls (308) supporting the pushing member (404-1).