Patent Publication Number: US-8536820-B2

Title: Modular electric socket assembly and assembly method thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of electric connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular electric socket assembly and a method with use of the same. 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/IL2010/000631 (PCT Publication No. WO2011/016036), filed Aug. 3, 2010, and entitled “MODULAR ELECTRIC SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY METHOD THEREOF”, which claims priority to Israeli Application No. 200209, filed Aug. 3, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The installation of electrical sockets, including wall sockets and sockets for light sources and ceiling fans, is an inconvenient and difficult task, particularly when the electrical device to be mated with the socket, e.g. a chandelier, is of a heavy weight that jeopardizes the safety of the installer. 
     The electrical infrastructure conductors, i.e. the live conductor, neutral conductor, and ground conductor extending from an electrical supply system, have to be accurately connected to designated terminals associated with the socket. The socket will not deliver current to the electrical device mated therewith, and may even present a safety hazard, if the conductor connections are not properly made. The difficulty of installation is exacerbated when it is desired to install a power strip provided with a plurality of sockets and a correspondingly increased number of conductors, each of which may be differently arranged or configured. The installer also has to ensure that the circuit breaker associated with the socket is closed, to avoid electrocution when connecting the live conductor. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular electric socket assembly for delivering high voltage current to a domestic or an industrial electrical device that facilitates speedy and accurate installation. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a modular electric socket assembly that can be assembled without risk of a safety hazard. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a modular electric socket assembly, comprising a male plug unit factory connected electrically to a cover plate member having at least one electric socket, and a female plug unit retained in a wall of a building and electrically connected to an electric supply system, pins of said male plug unit being coupleable with corresponding cavities of said female plug unit. 
     The socket assembly preferably further comprises one-way mating means for ensuring that a plurality of conductors associated with the male plug unit will be in electrically conductable alignment with the plurality of conductors associated with the female plug unit, respectively. By virtue of its modularity and of the one-way mating means, the electric socket assembly of the present invention can be assembled significantly quicker than with respect to prior art sockets assemblies, up to one-tenth of the time. 
     As an additional safety precaution, each conductor associated with the female plug unit is applied to a wall of a corresponding pin receiving cavity and is spaced by a selected distance from an exterior face of the female plug unit, to prevent electrical contact with a finger inserted in said corresponding pin receiving cavity. Accordingly, an assembler need not be an experienced electrician. The male plug unit may be coupled with the female plug unit even when current is flowing from the electrical supply system to the female plug unit and an associated circuit breaker has not been closed. 
     In one aspect, the socket assembly may be configured such that the pins of the male plug unit will be electrically connected with the corresponding conductors of the female plug unit only if each pin of the male plug unit is inserted to a greatest extent within a corresponding cavity of the female plug unit. 
     In one aspect, the cover plate member comprises a socket region member provided with a plurality of grooves for the insertion therein of blades of an electric device operable by means of electricity delivered by the socket assembly and with a contact associated with, and aligned with an electrically activatable region of, said plurality of grooves, each of a plurality of conductors associated with the male plug unit being connected in electrically conductable alignment with a corresponding contact. 
     In one aspect, the cover plate member comprises a cover plate and a light switch which is pivotally mounted within said cover plate, contacts of said light switch being connected in electrically conductable alignment with a corresponding conductor associated with the male plug unit. 
     In one embodiment, the socket assembly is a power strip assembly comprising a base unit and a cover plate member having at least two socket regions and attached to said base unit, the male plug unit being interconnected with said base unit. 
     The base unit is preferably a panel on which are printed a plurality of conductive elements, said plurality of conductive elements being arranged so as to connect in electrically conductable alignment each contact with a corresponding conductor associated with the male plug unit. The panel is printed with a number of sets of conductive elements which corresponds to the number of socket regions with which the power strip assembly is provided and each of said sets of conductive elements is able to deliver electricity in parallel to an electric device coupled to a corresponding socket region. 
     A minimum gap between adjacent conductive elements is at least 0.2 mm, whereby to prevent generation of electric discharge when the socket assembly delivers voltage of 115 VAC or 220 VAC to an electric device. The panel is preferably made of a material that is electrically insulated and thermally conductive in order to maximize heat dissipation. 
     In one aspect, each printed conductive element has a minimum cross-sectional area of approximately 1 mm 2  and a maximum resistance of approximately 0.016Ω/m when 10 A current is being delivered through the power strip assembly. 
     In one aspect, a plurality of pin insertion holes to a wall of each of which conductive material is applied are formed in the panel, one or more conductive elements extending in electrically conductable alignment from each contact to one of said plurality of pin insertion holes. A first electrically conductable end of a two-ended pin is insertable in, and in electric conducting relation with, each of the plurality of pin insertion holes. A second electrically conductable end of the two-ended pin is adapted to be seated in a corresponding aperture of the male plug unit so as to be in electrically conductable alignment with a corresponding conductor associated with the male plug unit. 
     In one aspect, the first electrically conductable end of a two-ended pin is also in electric conducting relation with a corresponding contact. 
     In one aspect, a plurality of via holes are formed in the panel, each of said via holes conductably interfacing with a conductive element printed on a first face of the panel and with a conductive element printed on a second face of the panel. 
     In one aspect, the cover plate member also has a light switch region and additional conductive elements for connecting in electrically conductable alignment each contact of said light switch with a corresponding conductor associated with the male plug unit. 
     In one aspect, the panel is also printed with suitable circuitry for the activation and operation of one or more electronic devices. 
     In one aspect, the cover plate member comprises one or more detachable socket region members, each of said socket region members being formed with a plurality of grooves for insertion therein of blades of an electrical device. 
     In one aspect, a socket region member is detachable from a first area of the cover plate member and is reattachable to a second area of the cover plate member. 
     In one aspect, a first socket region member detached from the cover plate member is replaceable by a first socket region member having a groove arrangement different from that of said first socket region member, electricity being safely deliverable to both a first electrical device coupled with said first socket region member and to a second electrical device coupled with said second socket region member. 
     In one aspect, the male plug unit and the female plug unit are configured with a dedicated housing member having a spring terminal unit. 
     In one aspect, the female plug unit is recessed from an outer surface of the wall in which it is retained. 
     The present invention is also directed to a modular electric strip assembly, comprising a panel on which are printed a plurality of conductive elements; a cover plate member having at least two socket regions and attached to said panel; 
     a male plug unit interconnected with said panel; and a female plug unit retained in a wall of a building and electrically connected to an electrical infrastructure, pins of said male plug unit being coupleable with corresponding cavities of said female plug unit. Said plurality of conductive elements are arranged so as to connect in electrically conductable alignment a user device coupled to a selected socket region, each contact of said panel which is associated with said selected socket region, corresponding conductors associated with the male plug unit, and corresponding conductors associated with the female plug unit. 
     In one aspect, the electrical infrastructure is an electrical supply system and each socket region is formed with a plurality of grooves for the insertion therein of blades of an electrical device. 
     In one aspect, the electrical infrastructure is a telephonic or communication infrastructure for transmitting information to a user device coupled to a socket region. 
     The present invention is also directed to a method for assembling an electric socket assembly, comprising the steps of:
     a) connecting in electrically conductable alignment conductors of a female plug unit with wired connections of an electrical infrastructure and retaining said female plug unit within a wall of a building;   b) providing a panel on which are printed a plurality of conductive elements and which is formed with a plurality of contacts each of which is electrically connected with one or more of said conductive elements;   c) selecting a cover plate member having a desired number of socket regions wherein each socket region has a desired configuration;   d) attaching said cover plate member to said panel whereby a set of said contacts is positioned in an electrically activatable region of each of said desired number of socket regions;   e) interconnecting in electrically conductable alignment a male plug unit with said panel; and   f) in one motion, aligningly coupling said male plug unit with said female plug unit.   

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view in exploded form of a portion of a modular electric socket assembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective, schematic view of a female plug unit, showing a conductive element applied to a wall of each pin receiving cavity thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the female plug unit of  FIG. 2 , cut about plane A-A; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view in exploded form of a portion of a modular electric socket assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing one-way mating means; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view in exploded form of a portion of a modular electric socket assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are a perspective view in exploded form two embodiments, respectively, of a modular electric socket assembly; 
         FIG. 8A  is a front view of a cover plate of a power strip; 
         FIG. 8B  is a front view of the wiring connection of a prior art power strip while the metal connectors are removed; 
         FIG. 8C  is a rear view of a panel of a power strip assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention which is printed with a plurality of conductive elements; 
         FIG. 8D  is a front view of the panel of  FIG. 8C ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view in exploded form of a cover plate member being interconnected with the panel of  FIG. 8C ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view in exploded form of a male plug unit being interconnected with the panel of  FIG. 8C . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is a modular electric socket assembly that can be assembled quicker, more safely, and more reliably than prior art electric socket assemblies. As a result of these advantages, considerable savings to the resident of a dwelling may be realized as a certified electrician need not assemble the socket assembly. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of a modular electric socket assembly, generally indicated by numeral  10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. Socket assembly  10  comprises a female plug unit  4  mounted by a contractor in, and recessed from the surface of, a wall  2  of a building, and a male plug unit  7 , which is factory connected to the contacts of a socket cover plate and is insertable into female plug unit  4 . 
     Male plug unit  7  has three protruding conductive elements (hereinafter “pins”)  8   a - c  that protrude from the rear face  13  of a coupler  11 , e.g. having a rectilinear configuration. Pins  8   a - c  are sized to be inserted within cavities  5   a - c , respectively, formed in female plug unit  4  and to thereby be placed in electrical connection with a corresponding conductive element provided in each cavity. Within the front face  15  of coupler  11  are formed three cavities  17   a - c , which may be concentric with pins  8   a - c , respectively, and onto the inner wall of which is applied, e.g. by electroplating, conductive material in contact with a corresponding pin. Conductors  18   a - c  connected to the live, neutral, and ground contacts, respectively, of a socket cover plate are insertable within cavities  17   a - c , respectively, so as to be electrically interconnected with pins  8   a - c , respectively. 
     When male plug unit  7  is connected to the socket cover plate, such as following a factory installation operation, socket assembly  10  may therefore be easily, speedily, and accurately assembled, being capable of safely and reliably delivering high voltage current to a domestic or an industrial electrical device coupled to the socket assembly, by inserting pins  8   a - c  into cavities  5   a - c  of female plug unit  4  without risk of improper conductor connections or short circuiting. Since male plug unit  7  is not connected to the electrical supply system during a socket assembly operation, the assembler advantageously does not suffer any risk of electrocution if he contacts one of the pins  8   a - c.    
     As an additional safety measure, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a conductive element  9  applied to the wall  14  of each pin receiving cavity  5  is spaced by a distance L from front face  6  of female plug unit  4 . The socket assembly may be configured such that a pin will be electrically connected with conductive element  9  only if it is inserted to a greatest extent within cavity  5 . Distance L is sufficiently long to prevent a finger from contacting conductive element  9 , and thereby preventing electrocution, if inserted within cavity  5 . Accordingly, the electric socket assembly of the present invention may be advantageously assembled even when an associated circuit breaker has not been closed and current is flowing through conductive element  9  from the electric supply system. 
     Reliable socket assembly may be ensured by configuring male plug unit  7  with means for ensuring one-way mating with female plug unit  4 . 
     In one embodiment of one-way mating means shown in  FIG. 4 , male plug unit  7 A is provided with guide elements  31  and  32  that extend from rear face  13  of coupler  11  and are configured differently than pins  8   a - c . Female plug unit  4 A is accordingly formed with cavities  41  and  42 , which are shaped complementarily to, and located at the same corresponding relative location as, guide elements  31  and  32 , respectively, in addition to cavities  5   a - c  which are shaped complementarily to pins  8   a - c , respectively. By virtue of the guide elements, male plug unit  7 A can be mated with female plug unit  4 A in only one way to prevent a pin from being coupled inadvertently to an incorrect conductive element of a female plug unit cavity, leading to a short circuit, an overload or, more dangerously, shock or electrocution if a live conductor is connected to a ground conductor of an electric appliance. 
     For example, pins  8   a - c  are cylindrical, and guide elements  31  and  32  located above the pins are semicylindrical and shorter than the pins. When male plug unit  7 A is correctly oriented, guide elements  31  and  32  are receivable in cavities  41  and  42 , respectively, and pins  8   a - c  are receivable in cavities  5   a - c , respectively, allowing rear face  13  of. male plug unit  7 A to contact front face  6  of female plug unit  4 A. However, if male plug unit  7 A is incorrectly oriented, a guide element will contact female plug unit front face  6  and will prevent further insertion of the incorrectly aligned pin. 
     Alternative one-way mating means may include pins and cavities of different size or unevenly spaced pins and cavities. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , female plug unit  4 B and male plug unit  7 B are configured with dedicated housing members, e.g. made of plastic, to simplify the coupling of the conductors. 
     Housing member  31  of female plug unit  4 B is positioned within cylindrical electrical box  21 , and spring terminal unit  32  thereof is formed with cavities, e.g. similar to cavities  14   a - c  ( FIG. 2 ), for coupling with conductors  22   a - c , respectively. Live conductor  22   a , neutral conductor  22   b , and ground conductor  22   c  are connected to an electrical supply system and fed through vertically extending sleeve  24 , only a portion of which being shown. Forwardly of spring terminal unit  32  is female mating section  34  formed with cavities  5   a - c.    
     Housing member  37  of male plug unit  7 B also has a spring terminal unit  39  formed with cavities  17   a - c  for coupling with conductors  18   a - c , respectively, which are factory connected to the contacts of a socket cover plate. Rearwardly of spring terminal unit  39  is male mating section  38 , a rectangular enclosure in which are housed pins  8   a - c  ( FIG. 1 ). Male mating section  38  is adapted to slide over female mating section  34 , and is configured, when fully extended over female section  34 , to cause pins  8   a - c  to become engaged with the conductive element provided in cavities  5   a - c , respectively. Guide elements  45  and  46 , e.g. rectangular, protruding from the male and female sections, respectively, serve as one-way mating means and may be used to direct each pin into a corresponding cavity. 
     A spring biased lever  33  is provided for each conductor receiving cavity of spring terminal units  32  and  39 , and is used to quickly effect engagement of the conductor with a conductive element without need of any tools. Conductors  22   a - c  are usually provided with some curvature so that they can be extended from electrical box  21  during an assembly operation without being overly tensioned, and are coupled with terminal unit  32  before female plug unit  4 B is mated with male plug unit  7 B. 
     Male plug unit  7 B is electrically connected to cover plate  51  of socket assembly  50  shown in  FIG. 6 . Cover plate  51  may be formed integrally with outlet member  52  provided with three grooves  53 , e.g. formed in a depression which is recessed from the outer surface of outlet member  52 , for receiving the blades of an electric device. The contact associated with each groove  53  is connected in correct alignment to a corresponding conductor of male plug unit  7 B, so that when female plug unit  4 B is coupled to male plug unit  7 B the conductors  22   a - c  will deliver electricity with the correct polarity to the electric device coupled to socket assembly  50 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a modular socket assembly  60  for a light switch  62 . The contacts of light switch  62 , which is pivotally mounted within cover plate  61 , are electrically connected in correct alignment to a corresponding conductor of male plug unit  7 B, so that when female plug unit  4 B is coupled to male plug unit  7 B the conductors  22   a - b , excluding of course the ground connector, will deliver electricity with the correct polarity to the electric device coupled to socket assembly  60 . 
     It will be appreciated that any other customized socket assembly that can be quickly and accurately assembled may be provided for delivering electricity to a desired domestic or an industrial electrical device. 
       FIGS. 8A-D  illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the modular socket assembly is for use in a power strip. As referred to herein, a “strip” is an assembly normally but not necessarily in strip form that includes sockets for two or more electrical devices, such as a duplex outlet, and may further comprise one or more activation devices or switches, an internal surge protector, standby mode circuitry, and an internal circuit breaker. When the strip is a “power strip”, it is used to deliver electricity from an electrical supply system, e.g. of 115 or 220 VAC. 
     A typical power strip  90  is shown in  FIG. 8A . Power strip  90  is provided with two sockets  92  and  94 , socket  92  having grooves  93   a - c  and socket  94  having grooves  95   a - c  for the insertion therein of the blades of an electrical device. Pivoting light switch  96  is interposed between sockets  92  and  94 . A cover plate  91  is adapted to be connected to a base structural unit. 
     In order to appreciate the utility of the modular power strip of the present invention, reference is first made to  FIG. 8B , which illustrates the wiring connection of a prior art power strip while the metal connectors are removed for clarity. Dashed representations of sockets  92  and  94  and of light switch  96  are provided in  FIGS. 8B-D  for purposes of clarity. 
     In a power strip  90 A of the prior art mounted in base unit  89 , contacts  97   a - c  aligned with grooves  93   a - c  are provided in the region of socket  92 , contacts  98   a - c  aligned with grooves  95   a - c  are provided in the region of socket  94 , and contacts  99   a - b  are provided in the region of light switch  96 . Contacts  97   a  and  98   a  are interconnected by live wires  101   a - b , contacts  97   b  and  98   b  are interconnected by neutral wires  102   a - b , and contacts  97   c  and  98   c  are interconnected by ground wires  103   a - b . In addition to the interconnected wires for the sockets, live wire  104  and neutral wire  105  connected to light switch contacts  99   a  and  99   b , respectively, are also provided. The end of wires  101   a ,  102   a ,  103   a ,  104  and  105  are connected to the electric supply system while being fed for example through a vertically extending sleeve. 
     Due to the large number of wired connections, an electrician assembling the power strip is liable to incorrectly interconnect a set of contacts or to connect a contact to an incorrect type of wire. Following an incorrect wired connection, an electrical failure such as a short circuit, an overload or electrocution will result when an electrical device is coupled to a socket having an incorrectly wired connection and activated, or when a switch having an incorrectly wired connection is depressed to allow electricity to be delivered to an electric device. 
       FIGS. 8C and 8D  illustrate an exemplary power strip panel  90 B of the present invention. In order to reduce assembly time and to increase reliability and safety, power strip panel  90 B is advantageously provided with a plurality of preprinted conductive elements, e.g. made of copper, which connect the various contacts. Wired connections no longer need to be made in situ. Since the assembler need not be concerned with incorrect wired connections due to the high reliability of the printed circuit power strip panel, the assembler may be unskilled and simply couple panel  90 B to a plug unit, as will be described hereinafter, without risk of an electrical failure.  FIG. 8C  illustrates rear face  112  of panel  90 B while  FIG. 8D  illustrates front face  114  thereof. The printed conductive elements that are visible on the given panel face are indicated by gray striping, while those applied on the other face are indicated by dashed lines. 
     Contact holes  121   a - c  are provided at socket region  92 , contact holes  122   a - c  are provided at socket region  94 , and contact holes  123   a - b  are provided at light switch region  96 . One of through holes  126   a - c ,  127   a - c , and  128   a - b , also called via holes, is provided proximate to a corresponding contact hole to allow current to flow continuously to the other face of panel  90 B. Pin insertion holes  131   a - e  are also formed in panel  90 B, for the insertion in each of which a pin to be coupled with a plug unit. Each via and pin insertion hole has a wall to which is applied conductive material such as by electroplating. 
     Conductive elements  134   a - c ,  135   a - c , and  136   a - b  printed on front face  114  connect contact holes  121   a - c ,  122   a - c , and  123   a - b , respectively, with via holes  126   a - c ,  127   a - c , and  128   a - b , respectively. Via holes  126   a  and  127   a  are interconnected by conductive element  141 , via holes  126   b  and  127   b  are interconnected by conductive element  142 , and via holes  126   c  and  127   c  are interconnected by conductive element  143 , all of which are printed on front face  114 . On rear face  112  are printed conductive element  144  connecting via hole  127   a  with pin insertion hole  131   a , conductive element  145  connecting via hole  128   b  with pin insertion hole  131   b , conductive element  146  connecting via hole  128   a  with pin insertion hole  131   c , conductive element  147  connecting via hole  126   c  with pin insertion hole  131   d , and conductive element  148  connecting via hole  126   b  with pin insertion hole  131   e . In this fashion, all conductive elements are in correct alignment and none of which are in contact with an adjacent conductive element, allowing electricity to be reliably delivered from the electrical supply system to each electric device coupled to the power strip. 
     In contrast to conventional printed circuit devices for electronic devices having a rated current range of approximately 1-100 mA, the power strip of the present invention delivers electricity from an electric supply system and is therefore subjected to current on the order of 10 A. To obviate the concern of the generation of electric discharge between adjacent conductive elements of the printed circuit power strip panel if they become excessively heated and have an excessively high power consumption, each pair of adjacent conductive elements of power strip panel  90 B are arranged with a minimum gap G of at least 0.2 mm therebetween. Accordingly, a power strip assembly is able to deliver high-current electricity to an electric device that is coupled thereto, e.g. an electric heater, while the printed conductive elements are able to withstand the flow of high current without being excessively heated. For example, each copper conductive element has a minimum cross-sectional area of 1 mm 2  and a maximum resistance of 0.016Ω/m when 10 A current is being delivered therethrough. Power strip panel  90 B may be made of a material that is electrically insulated and thermally conductive to maximize heat dissipation. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a power strip assembly  160  is a unitary factory installed assembly that comprises cover plate member  165  provided with cover plate  161  for retaining socket regions  92  and  94  and light switch region  96 , power strip panel  90 B, and male plug unit  157 . A plurality of two-ended contact pins  164  are provided for electrically connecting each contact hole on front face  114  of power strip panel  90 B to an electrically activatable region of cover plate member  165 , after one electrically conductable end of pin  164  has been seated in a corresponding contact hole. One electrically conductable end of each of a plurality of factory installed, two-ended plug conducting pins  151  is coupled to a corresponding pin insertion hole  131  formed in rear face  112  of power strip panel  90 B. The second electrically conductable end of the five plug conducting pins  151  in turn are factory connected to male plug unit  157  by being inserted in corresponding cavities of the associated spring terminal unit  159 . In order to assemble the socket assembly, an assembler simply couples the five pins  158  of male plug unit  157  into corresponding cavities of the female plug unit connected to the electric supply system. 
     It will be appreciated that the cover plate member may be provided with any other desired number of socket regions, insofar as the power strip panel is printed with a number of sets of conductive elements which corresponds to the number of socket regions and each set of conductive elements is able to deliver electricity in parallel to an electric device coupled thereto. The cover plate member may comprise one or more detachable socket region members. When a socket region member, which is formed with grooves for insertion therein of blades of an electrical device, is detached from a first area of the cover plate or from the power strip panel, the detached socket region member may be reattached to a second area of the cover plate member, to allow an electrical device not accessible to the first area to be coupled to the power strip assembly. By being able to detach a socket region member from the cover plate member, an assembler is advantageously able to customize the socket region member with a groove arrangement which corresponds with the blade arrangement of an electric device desired to be coupled to the power strip assembly, for example for use in a foreign country. Despite the different groove arrangement of two socket region members, a contact pin is able to be electrically connected to the electrically activatable region of a second socket region member after having been replaced with a first socket region member. Prior to detaching or attaching a socket region member, the male plug unit of the power strip assembly should be detached from the female plug unit with which it is coupled. 
     The power strip panel of the present invention may be additionally printed with suitable circuitry for the activation and operation of electronic devices needed for efficient usage of a power strip assembly, such as an internal surge protector, standby mode circuitry, and an internal circuit breaker. 
     The power strip assembly may be configured such that only one set of two-ended pins may be employed. In this configuration, each pin insertion hole is aligned with a corresponding electrically activatable region of the cover plate member while a necessary number of printed conductive elements for delivering electricity to each electric device coupled to the power strip assembly are provided. 
     If so desired, a socket assembly according to any of the embodiments described herein may be provided with a panel on which are printed conductive elements for delivering electricity to an electric device coupled therewith. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the socket assembly or strip assembly is used to deliver information, including voice information, data information, and video information from a telephonic or communication infrastructure to a user device. The infrastructure may comprise an interface device such as a network interface device (NID) for demarcating the interface between the network through which the information is transmitted and the wiring extending to the premises of the user. Another interface device may be an optical network terminal (ONT) for use when the information is transmitted by means of fiber optics whereby the ONT demultiplexes the transmitted information into different components, such as voice for telephone applications, television, and Internet, and further provides power for the user devices. The socket or strip assembly includes a male plug element coupled with a female plug unit which is retained in a wall. The male and female plug units are in aligned electrical connection with the wired connection of the interface device. Typical wired connections for telephone applications include a telephone line to a telephone cable, a telephone cable to a telephone base, a telephone base to a handset cable, and a handset cable to a handset. 
     While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.