WO1996014674A1

WO1996014674A1 - Protector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1996014674A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000734
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew James Edgar
Original assignee: Andrew James Edgar
Priority date: 1994-11-04
Filing date: 1995-11-03
Publication date: 1996-05-17
Also published as: AUPM938494A0

Abstract

A protector assembly (10) for a socket assembly having a socket, the protector assembly including: protection means (12a, 12b) displaceable between a socket protected position and a socket unprotected position; and actuating means for displacing the protection means from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position, wherein the actuating means includes a pair of spaced operating members (11a, 11b) adapted to be manually engaged, the operating members being spaced from each other by a distance not less than a minimum predetermined distance.

Description

"PROTECTOR ASSEMBLY"

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a protector assembly for a socket assembly. The protector assembly may be retro¬ fitted to existing socket assemblies or may be incorporated in a child-proof socket assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

Protective covers for socket assemblies are known. Such covers generally include a cap adapted to be placed over the socket of the socket assembly to prevent children inserting objects into the socket. Some caps are provided with plug(s) for insertion into the socket. These types of caps are relatively tight fitting and are difficult to remove - this of course being a requirement so that the caps are not easily removable by a child.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a protector assembly for a socket assembly having a socket, the protector assembly including:- protection means displaceable between a socket protected position and a socket unprotected position; and actuating means for displacing the protection means from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position.

The protector assembly may be retro-fitted to a conventional socket assembly or may be incorporated in a child-proof socket assembly. Preferably, the protection means is biased toward the socket protected position.

While the actuating means may take any form, it is preferred that the actuating means includes a pair of spaced operating members adapted to be manually engaged, the operating members being spaced from each other by a distance not less than a minimum predetermined distance. Preferably, the minimum predetermined distance corresponds to a child's hand span. Thus, only a person able to engage both operating members with a single hand will be able to insert any object into the socket.

Preferably, the protection means cannot be displaced from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position unless both operating members are simultaneously engaged.

Preferably, the operating members are displaceable towards each other to displace the protection means from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position.

The protector assembly according to the invention can be employed on an electrical outlet having any number of socket assemblies. Similarly, the socket assemblies may have any number of sockets. In a preferred embodiment the electrical outlet includes a pair of socket assemblies each having a plurality of sockets and the protection means includes a pair of cover plates having a corresponding plurality of apertures.

The cover plates may be manually or electrically returned to the outlet locking position after removal of the plug. However, it is preferred that the cover plates are biased toward the socket protected position.

Displacement of the cover plates to the socket unprotected position by actuation of the actuating means may be performed by any suitable means. For example, the actuating means may include members which directly contact the cover plates or may include a more complex mechanism adapted to displace the cover plates. In a preferred embodiment the actuating means includes ram means having ramped surfaces engageable with the cover plates to displace the cover plates to the socket unprotected position.

Preferably the actuating means includes a pivotally mounted link pivot -member wherein manual engagement of the operating members causes pivoting of the link pivot member which in turn causes engagement of the ram means with the cover plates. In a preferred embodiment the link pivot member includes a recessed slot adapted to receive a pin mounted on one of the operating members, wherein pivoting of the link pivot member is prevented unless the pin is disengaged from the recessed slot by displacement of the operating member associated with the pin. In this embodiment, pivoting of the link pivot member is caused by displacement of the operating member not associated with the pin.

The various moving parts of the protector assembly according to the invention may be positioned within the assembly by any suitable means. However, it is preferred that the protector assembly includes support means having:- means for guiding the operating members; means for guiding the ram means; means for guiding the cover plates; and means for pivotally mounting the link pivot member.

In a most preferred embodiment, the protector assembly includes a front plate which, with the support means, at least partially constitutes a housing for the protection assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:-

FIG 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the protector assembly according to the invention;

FIG 2 illustrates the link pivot member of the protector assembly of FIG 1; and

FIG 3 is an illustration of a protection assembly according to the invention about to be retro-fitted to a conventional outlet consisting of a pair of socket assemblies.

BEST MODE

Referring to FIG 1, protector assembly 10 includes protection means in the form of cover plates 12a and 12b having apertures 14 corresponding to sockets 15, and actuating means which includes two opposed operating members 11a and lib, link pivot member 16 and ram means 17 which is adapted to engage and displace cover plates 12a and 12b to align apertures 14 with sockets 15.

Operating members 11a and lib are integral with arms 13a and 13b which are guided for sliding horizontal movement by guide means 20. The inner end of arm 13b is pivotally mounted relative to link pivot member 16 which is in turn pivotally mounted at 25 relative to support means in the form of backing plate 23.

Ram means 17 is pivotally mounted with respect to link pivot member 16 at 27 and includes slot 24 in which guide member 27, which is upstanding from backing plate 23, is slidably received. Further guide means 19 also guide ram means 17 in vertical movement.

Horizontal sliding movement of arm 13b causes anti¬ clockwise pivotal rotation of link pivot member 16 about point 25 which in turn causes vertical sliding movement of ram means 17. Ram means 17 engages and horizontally spreads cover plates 12a and 12b which are guided for horizontal sliding movement by guide means 18 in combination with guide means 20.

Thus, upon displacement of operating member lib, cover plates 12 are moveable from a socket protected position (as shown) to a socket unprotected position (not shown) wherein sockets 15 align with apertures 14 of cover plates 12 permitting insertion of the tines of an electrical plug into the sockets.

Screw apertures 22 are positioned to receive locating screws for locating the protector assembly 10 on an existing electrical outlet when retro-fitting an existing outlet. Alternatively, the locating screws may fix a child-proof socket assembly incorporating the protector assembly directly to the wall in the normal manner.

Switch apertures 21 are located to receive the switches of the existing electrical outlet and allow easy access to the switches when protector assembly 10 is secured in place over the existing outlet.

With reference to FIG 2, link pivot member 16 includes shaped aperture 25. The inner end of arm 13a includes a locating pin 28 which is received within aperture 25.

Aperture 25 includes locking recess 26. When the locating pin 28 is located within recess 26, pivotal movement of link pivot member 16 is prevented and the protector assembly is "locked" in the socket protected position. Actuation of operating member 11a displaces the locating pin 28 from recess 26 to "unlock" the protector assembly and link pivot member 16 can then rotate in an anti-clockwise direction in response to actuation of operating member lib. It will be understood that displacement of cover plates 12 to the socket unprotected position can only be achieved when both operating members are manually displaced. As previously discussed, the spacing of the operating members is such that a child cannot operate both operating members with a single hand leaving the other hand free to insert an object into an unprotected socket.

Biasing means in the form of a spring or springs are included such that the cover plates are normally maintained in the socket protected position and the locating pin 28 is maintained in the locking recess 26.

With reference to FIG 3, protector assembly 10 includes front plate 35 having switch apertures 21 adapted to receive switches 32 of an existing electrical outlet 31. Screws may be removed from apertures 33 of the existing outlet and secured through screw apertures 22 of protector assembly 10. Socket apertures 36 of front plate 35 are located to align with sockets 15 of the existing outlet 31. Therefore, apertures 14 of cover plates 12 are displacable to align with sockets 15 and socket apertures 36 of front plate 35. Front plate 35 is also provided with flexible side portions 29 for housing operating members 11.

The protector assembly according to the invention is both easily installed and easily used by adults.

Actuation of the assembly does not pose the problem seen in the prior art wherein removal of caps requires substantial effort.

In use the assembly can be placed directly over an existing electrical outlet by removing the screws from the outlet and replacing them when the assembly is in place. Alternatively, the mechanism of the invention may be incorporated into a child-proof electrical outlet, for example a new outlet, which is to be used as a replacement outlet or an outlet on a new construction.

It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A protector assembly for a socket assembly having a socket, the protector assembly including:- protection means displaceable between a socket protected position and a socket unprotected position; and actuating means for displacing the protection means from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position.

2. A protector assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the protection means is biased toward the socket protected position.

3. A protector assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuating means includes a pair of spaced operating members adapted to be manually engaged, the operating members being spaced from each other by a distance not less than a minimum predetermined distance.

4. A protector assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the minimum predetermined distance corresponds to a child's hand span.

5. A protector assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the protection means cannot be displaced from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position unless both operating members are simultaneously engaged.

6. A protector assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the operating members are displaceable towards each other to displace the protection means from the socket protected position to the socket unprotected position.

7. A protector assembly as defined in any preceding claim for use with an electrical outlet including a pair of socket assemblies each having a plurality of sockets, wherein the protection means includes a pair of cover plates having a corresponding plurality of apertures.

8. A protector assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the actuating means includes ram means having ramped surfaces engageable with the cover plates to displace the cover plates to the socket unprotected position.

9. A protector assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the actuating means includes a pivotally mounted link pivot member and wherein manual engagement of the operating members causes pivoting of the link pivot member which in turn causes engagement of the ram means with the cover plates.

10. A protector assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein the link pivot member includes a recessed slot adapted to receive a pin mounted on one of the operating members, wherein pivoting of the link pivot member is prevented unless the pin is disengaged from the recessed slot by displacement of the operating member associated with the pin.

11. A protector assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein pivoting of the link pivot member is caused by displacement of the operating member not associated with the pin.

12. A protector assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the protector assembly includes support means having:- means for guiding the operating members; means for guiding the ram means; means for guiding the cover plates; and means for pivotally mounting the link pivot member.