Electrical connectors – Convertible by internal change to selectively cooperate with... – Coupling part
Patent
1994-03-08
1995-12-12
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
Convertible by internal change to selectively cooperate with...
Coupling part
439143, H01R 2900
Patent
active
054744644
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an electrical adaptor or connector of the kind used by international travellers to enable the connection of electrical appliances conforming to one standard of plug configuration to electrical outlets or sockets formed to receive plug conforming to a different standard.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to provide such devices, see for example European Patent--B-0156076.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the kind aforesaid which is relatively simple in construction but which nevertheless enables a greater range of permutations than was heretofore available.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a housing having at one end a plurality of selectable pin arrays and at the other end a socket array, characterised by a carrier member on which the plurality of pin arrays is disposed, the carrier member being adapted to be mounted on the housing in a plurality of relatively rotated positions to bring the pin arrays into a position in which they can be moved into their operative condition one at a time. Preferably an apertured member is mounted on the said other end of the housing, the apertured member being adapted to be mounted on the housing in a plurality of relatively rotated positions to bring a plurality of socket arrays into an operative condition one. at a time. If desired the different socket combinations and/or the different connecting pin combinations may be brought into use by relative rotation between the body and disc-like members rotatable mounted at the ends of the cylindrical body. Alternatively disc-like members at the ends of the main body member may be detached and reconnected to the main body member (e.g. by plug and socket connections) in different rotational orientations to bring the different sockets and/or pins into operation.
Preferably the axial length of the cylindrical body is relatively short in comparison with its diameter to reduce its overhang in use in a wall socket and to improve the connection between the adaptor and the wall socket. In this connection it is a disadvantage of some known travel plugs that they are relatively long so that the inherent weight of the device causes them to tend to pull out of connection in use. This relatively short axial length may be achieved by arranging the connecting pins, when not in use, to be disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the adaptor and to be movable into a working position in which they extend in a substantially axial direction from one axial end of the adaptor body.
If desired a voltage transformer may be provided e.g. in the body or in a separate cylindrical housing which can be connected to the cylindrical body of the adaptor, to adapt the voltages of electrical appliances to that of the local country of use. Preferably the transformer will be capable of both stepping up the operating voltage or stepping down the voltage as is required simply by plugging it to the adaptor differently e.g. at opposite ends. The adaptor may be fused if desired. Preferably the device will have four or more socket configurations and four or more pin configurations. The adaptor may be arranged to prevent the use of certain permutations of socket and plug e.g. U.K. configuration in to U.K. configuration out and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of electrical adaptor in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adaptor of FIG. 1 taken from the opposite end;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the electrical adaptor of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the adaptor of FIGS. 1 to 3;
FIG. 5 is a view of the other end of the adaptor of FIGS. 1 to 3;
FIG. 6 is a cross section of the adaptor taken on the line X--X of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross section of the adaptor taken on the line Y--Y of FIG. 5, and
FIG. 8 is an interior vi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2994849 (1961-08-01), Mussari, Jr.
patent: 5178548 (1993-01-01), Fortmann et al.
Abrams Neil
Rutland Gilts Limited
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