Abstract:
An electrical accessory has releasably engageable first and second body members. The first body member includes a receiving portion adapted to be releasably engageable with a plug member of an electric cord of an electric appliance. The second body member has a first plug member that is electrically connectable with an electricity mains supply, a second plug member adapted to be releasably engageable with the first body member and an electric cord electrically connecting the first and second plug members. A securing device secures the first body member to a surface.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to an electrical accessory, e.g. an electrical adapter, or a wall socket, which enables an electrical appliance with an electric cord to be connected with the mains supply, while allowing the electric cord to be easily detached from the mains supply in suitable circumstances.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There are a large variety of electric appliances having different types of detachable electric cords to suit different needs. Most such electric cords have two plug members connected by an electric cable, in which one of the plug members is connectable to the electric appliance, while the other plug member is connectable to an electric source, e.g. a mains socket.  
         [0003]     A main shortcoming with such a conventional arrangement is that once the electric cord is engaged with the electric appliance, it is usually very difficult to detach the plug member from the electric appliance. This can be very dangerous if the electric cable is accidentally pulled when the electric appliance is operating. For instance, if a person trips over by the electric cable of an operating electric deep fryer or kettle, the whole appliance unit can be turned over and the contents, e.g. hot oil or boiling water, may be poured out of the deep fryer or kettle, possibly causing serious injuries to the person or other people around.  
         [0004]     Ways have thus been proposed to overcome or at least mitigate such shortcomings. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,942 issued to Lau et al. (the contents of which are incorporated herein for reference as if wholly repeated here) discloses an electric appliance with a body member and a detachable electric cord. The body member includes a connecting portion having at least one pin member extended therefrom. The electric cord includes at least a first plug member and a second plug member which are electrically connected with each other. The first plug member is electrically connectable to an electric source, e.g. the mains socket, and the second plug member is releasably engageable with the connecting portion of the body member by a magnetic attracting force between them. The pin member includes a taper end surface, and the second plug member includes at least one aperture sized to receive the pin member of the connecting portion of the body member, and  
         width   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   aperture       width   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   pin   ⁢           ⁢   member         
 
 is in the range of 1.1 to 5. 
 
         [0005]     Despite the availability of such an easily detachable electric cord, there are still in existence a large variety of electric appliances already manufactured and equipped with conventional electric cords fixedly attached thereto.  
         [0006]     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an electrical accessory enabling an electric cord to be connected with the mains supply, while allowing the electric cord to be easily detached from the mains supply in appropriate circumstances.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric accessory including releasably engageable first and second body members, said first body member including a receiving portion adapted to be releasably engageable with a plug member of an electric cord, said second body member being electrically connectable with an electricity mains supply, wherein said second body member includes a first part engageable with said first body member and a second part adapted to be electrically connectable with said electricity mains supply, wherein said first part and said second part are swivellable relative to each other.  
         [0008]     The first body member may advantageously include a plurality of electrically conductive pins releasably receivable within corresponding plurality of apertures of said second body member. By way of such an arrangement, electrical connection between the first and second body members is established when they are engaged with each other.  
         [0009]     Suitably, said second body member may include a shutter member movable between a first position in which access to said apertures is denied and a second position in which access to said apertures is allowed, and said shutter member may be biased towards said first position. Such ensures that when the first and second body members are disengaged from each other, even if the second body member is electrically connected with the mains supply, access to the apertures of the second body member is denied, thus assisting in preventing accidents from happening.  
         [0010]     Advantageously, said second body member may include at least one stopper for limiting the extent of relative swivelling movement between said first part and said second part. Such can prevent uncontrolled and undesirable swivelling or rotational movement between the first and second parts of the second body. Said first and second parts of said second body member may suitably be swivellable relative to each other by up to 180°, and preferably up to 340°. Said first part may advantageously be swivellable relative to said second part about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second part.  
         [0011]     Conveniently, said second part may include a plurality of electrically conductive pin members adapted to be received within apertures of a wall socket, and said pin members may be fixedly secured to said second part.  
         [0012]     Advantageously, said accessory may comprise an electric adapter adapted to be releasably engageable with a wall socket. Alternatively, said accessory may comprise a wall socket portion adapted to be fixed secured to a wall, in which case said second part of said second body member may be adapted to be fixedly secured to a wall.  
         [0013]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric accessory including releasably engageable first and second body members, said first body member including a receiving portion adapted to be releasably engageable with a plug member of an electric cord, said second body member being electrically connectable with an electricity mains supply, wherein said second body member includes a first part engageable with said first body member and a second part adapted to be electrically connectable with said electricity mains supply, wherein one of said first and second body members includes a plurality of pin members, wherein the other of said first and second body members includes a plurality of apertures each sized to receive one of said pin members, and wherein for each corresponding pair of aperture and pin member,  
         width   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   said   ⁢           ⁢   aperture       width   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   said   ⁢           ⁢   pin   ⁢           ⁢   member         
 
 is from 1.1 to 5.
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  shows a front perspective view of an electrical adapter according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as attached with an electric cord;  
         [0016]      FIG. 1B  shows a rear perspective view of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1A , with the electric cord removed;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is shows a further front perspective view of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1A , with the electric cord, upper body part and lower body part detached from one another;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of the upper body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of the upper body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3C  is a top view of the upper body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3D  is a side view of the upper body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front exploded view of the upper body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a rear exploded view of the upper body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a front view of the lower body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of the lower body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 6A ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6C  is a top view of the lower body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 6A ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6D  is a side view of the lower body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 6A ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a rear view of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1A  in a first configuration;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 7  in an alternative configuration;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a rear exploded perspective view of the lower body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1A  with a wall socket;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a front exploded perspective view of the lower body part of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 9  with a wall socket;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11A  shows a front view of a wall socket according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 11B  is a bottom view of the wall socket shown in  FIG. 11A ;  FIG. 11C  is a top view of the wall socket shown in  FIG. 11A ; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 11D  is a side view of the wall socket shown in  FIG. 11A , shown as installed on a wall.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]     An electrical accessory according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, being an electrical adapter generally designated as  100 , is shown in  FIGS. 1A  to  2 . In  FIG. 1A , the electrical adapter  100  is shown as releasably connected with a conventional electric cable  10 , not forming part of the present invention. The electrical adapter  100  includes an upper body part  102  and a lower body part  104 , which are releasably engageable with each other.  
         [0036]     On an upper surface  106  of the upper body part  102  are three apertures  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c  for receiving respective correspondingly shaped and configured electrically conductive pins  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  of a plug  14  of the cable  10 . As in conventional sockets, electrically conductive plates, e.g. copper plates, are provided in the apertures  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c . The pins  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  may thus be inserted into the apertures  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c  for physically connecting the cable  10  with the adapter  100 , and establishing electrical connection between the cable  10  and the adapter  100 . On a front surface  110  of the upper body part  102  is a panel  112  on which a trade mark of the manufacturer may be affixed. The panel  112  can also serve the purpose of signifying to the user that this front surface  110  is intended to face the outside when in use. This can assist in minimizing attempts of inappropriate connection between the upper body part  102  and the lower body part  104 .  
         [0037]     As to the lower body part  104 , such has a recess  114  on an upper end of its body  115 . From the recess  114  extends a receiving portion  116  with three apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c , for receiving correspondingly shaped and configured electrically conductive pins (see  FIG. 3B ) on an underside of the upper body part  102 , so that the pins may be inserted into the apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  of the lower body part  104  for physically connecting the upper body part  102  and the lower body part  104 , and establishing electrical connection there-between. The structure of the receiving portion  116  is similar to the plug disclosed in Lau et al.. A similar shutter mechanism including a shutter and a spring is also provided in the receiving portion  116 , in which the shutter is movable between a closed position in which access to the apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  is denied, and an open position in which access to the apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  is allowed. The spring acts to bias the shutter to the closed position.  
         [0038]     On the receiving portion  116  and around the aperture  118   a  is a magnetic plate  119  which assists in engagement between the lower body part  104  and the upper body part  102 , in a manner to be discussed below.  
         [0039]     On a rear surface  120  of the lower body part  104  is a circular plate  122  fixedly secured with three electrically conductive pins  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c , shaped and configured for plugging into a wall socket (not shown), thus allowing the lower body part  104  to be secured with the wall socket. The pin  12   a  of the cable  10  is electrically connected with the pin  124   a , via the aperture  108   a  of the upper body part  102 , a pin on an underside of the upper body  102 , and the aperture  118   a  of the lower body part  104 . The pin  12   b  of the cable  10  is electrically connected with the pin  124   b , via the aperture  108   b  of the upper body part  102 , a pin on an underside of the upper body  102 , and the aperture  118   b  of the lower body part  104 . The pin  12   c  of the cable  10  is electrically connected with the pin  124   c , via the aperture  108   c  of the upper body part  102 , a pin on an underside of the upper body  102 , and the aperture  118   c  of the lower body part  104 . The circular plate  122 , together with the three pins  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c , are swivellable relative to the body  115  of the lower body part  104 .  
         [0040]      FIGS. 3A  to  3 D show, respectively, a front view, a bottom view, a top view, and a side view of the upper body part  102  of the electrical adapter  100 . Referring in particular to  FIG. 3B , it can be seen that three electrically conductive pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c  extend from an underside of the upper body part  102 . The pin  126   a  is receivable within the aperture  118   a , the pin  126   b  receivable within the aperture  118   b , and the pin  126   c  receivable within the aperture  118   c , enabling the upper body part  102  and the lower body part  104  to be physically and electrically connected with each other.  
         [0041]     The shapes and configuration of the pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c , and their inter-relationship, in particular their relative dimension, with the apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c , whereby the upper body part  102  and the lower body part  104  can be engaged with each other and be readily disengageable from each other, are clearly and fully described and disclosed in Lau et al.. More particularly, for each pair of pin and aperture, namely the pin  126   a  and the corresponding aperture  118   a , the pin  126   b  and the aperture  118   b , and the pin  126   c  and the aperture  118   c ,  
         width   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   said   ⁢           ⁢   aperture       width   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   said   ⁢           ⁢   pin   ⁢           ⁢   member         
 
 is from 1.1 to 5. Although in the example as now described, the pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c  are carried by the upper body part  102 , and the apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  are provided in the lower body part  104 , it is envisaged as encompassed within the ambit the scope of this patent the arrangement that the pins are carried by the lower body part  104  and corresponding apertures are provided in the upper body part  102 . 
 
         [0042]     Returning to the present example, positioned on either side of the pin  126   a  is a respective magnetic plate  128 . When the upper body part  102  and the lower body part  104  are properly engaged with each other, in particular when the pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c  are received within the apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  of the receiving portion  116  of the lower body part  104 , the magnetic plates  128  are in abutment with and magnetically held to the magnetic plate  119  of the receiving portion  116 . The appropriate attractive magnetic force for holding the magnetic plates  128  and the magnetic plate  119  together, while allowing easy disengagement when appropriate, has been fully discussed and disclosed in Lau et al..  
         [0043]     As shown in the exploded views in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the upper body part  102  has two outer halves  130   a ,  130   b , which are engaged with each other to hold therebetween a socket module  132  and a plug module  134 . The socket module  132  includes the three apertures  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c  for connection with the plug  14  of the cable  10 . The plug module  134  is fixedly secured with the three electrically conductive pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c  for connection with the lower body part  104 . Electrically conductive wires (not shown here for clarity purpose) connect the apertures  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c  with the respective electrically conductive pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c  of the socket plug module  134 .  
         [0044]      FIGS. 6A  to  6 D show, respectively, a front view, a bottom view, a top view, and a side view of the lower body part  104  of the electrical adapter  100 . Referring in particular to  FIGS. 6A and 6D , it can be seen that the receiving portion  116  extends above the rim  138  of the body  115  of the lower body part  104 . Such an arrangement enhances easy disengagement between the upper body part  102  and the lower body part  104 . The plate  122  and the three electrically conductive pins  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c  are swivellable relative to the body  115  of the lower body part  104  about an axis P-P, which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis Q-Q of the body  115  of the lower body part  104 .  
         [0045]     By way of the aforesaid arrangement, when in use, the upper body part  102  and the body  115  of the lower body part  104  may be swivelled relative to the circular plate  122  from the position shown in  FIG. 7  in which the adapter  100  is in an upright position, e.g. to assume the position as shown in  FIG. 8 , in which the adapter  100  is slanted relative to a vertical axis T-T. Thus if the cable  10  is accidentally tripped over and pulled, the adapter  102  (minus the plate  122 ) may be swivelled in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, as indicated by the bi-directional arrow R-R in  FIG. 7 . If the pulling force is sufficiently strong, the upper body part  102  can be easily disengaged from the lower body part  104 , thus minimizing the risk of accidentally pulling and turning over the entire electric appliance with which the cable  10  is connected. The adapter  100  may be swivelled relative to the circular plate  122  clockwise and anti-clockwise by an angle θ each up to 90° relative to the vertical axis T-T, i.e. a total of 180° between its two extreme positions. To allow more flexibility, the adapter  100  may be swivelled relative to the circular plate  122  clockwise and anti-clockwise each by an angle θ up to 170° relative to the vertical axis T-T, i.e. a total of 340° between its two extreme positions.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show, respectively, a rear exploded perspective view and a front exploded perspective view of the lower body part  104  of the electrical adapter  100  with a wall socket  18 . The wall socket  18  may be fixedly secured in a wall, so that electricity mains supply may be connected with the socket  18 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the wall socket  18  includes switches  20  for controlling the operation of the socket  18 . A light  22  is also provided on the wall socket  18  for signifying whether the wall socket  18  is in operation.  
         [0047]     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the lower body part  104  includes two outer halves  140   a ,  140   b  which are engaged with each other to hold therebetween the receiving portion  116 . As mentioned above, on an upper end of the receiving portion  116  are the three apertures  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c , for receiving correspondingly shaped and configured electrically conductive pins  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c  extending from an underside of the upper body part  102 . Electrical wires (not shown) are provided to electrically connect electrically conductive parts (not shown) in the aperture  118   a ,  118   b  and  118   c  with the pins  124   a ,  124   b  and  124   c  respectively.  
         [0048]     The circular plate  122 , with which the pins  124   a ,  124   b  and  124   c  are secured, is engaged via an intermediate plate  142  with a protruding portion  144 . As can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 9 , the inner surface  146  of the protruding portion  144  is corrugated. A finger  148  is engaged via a spring  150  to slide on a recess  152  of the intermediate plate  142 . When the circular plate  122  and the intermediate plate  142  are assembled with each other, the finger  148  may slide on the recess  152  and reciprocate through an opening  154  of the circulate  122  (see  FIG. 10 ). When the circulate plate and the accompanying pins  124   a ,  124   b  and  124   c  and intermediate plate  142  swivel relative to the body  115  of the lower body part  104 , the exterior end of the finger  148  will travel along the corrugated inner surface  146  of the protruding portion  144 . A finger  156  carried by the intermediate plate  142  is received within a hole  158  of the outer half  140   b  of the lower body part  104 . The finger  156  co-operates with a stopper (not shown) carried by the outer half  140   b  of the lower body part  104  to limit the extent of swivelling movement between the circular plate  122  and the lower body part  104 , as discussed above.  
         [0049]     An electrical accessory according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, being a wall socket generally designated as  200 , is shown in  FIGS. 11A  to  11 D. As can be seen, the wall socket  200  includes a base portion  202  which may be fixedly installed in a wall  24 , as shown in  FIG. 11D , and a lower body part  204 . Mains electricity supply may be connected to the base portion  202 , as in the case of conventional wall sockets. Although, for brevity reason, the wall socket  200  is shown here as only including the base portion  200  and the lower body part  204 , it should be understood that an upper body part complementary with the lower body part  204 , e.g. the upper body part  102  discussed in the preceding preferred embodiment, is also included. Electrically conductive plates, e.g. copper plates, in apertures  206   a ,  206   b ,  206   c  of the lower body part  204  are connected with the electric wires of the mains supply.  
         [0050]     In the wall socket  200 , the lower body part  204  is swivellable relative to the base portion  202 . Thus, when the wall socket  200  is secured to a wall, a complementary upper body part is engaged with the lower body part  204 , and an electric plug with an electric cable is plugged into the upper body part, if the electric cable is tripped over, the lower body part  204  will swivel relative to the base portion  202 . If the pulling force is sufficiently large, the upper body part will be detached from the lower body part  204 , thus minimizing the risk of overturning the electrical equipment with which the electric cable is engaged.  
         [0051]     It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0052]     It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.