Patent ID: 8439697

Claim:
A locking panel socket for making an electrical connection with a line plug, the locking panel socket comprising: a socket connection portion, the socket connection portion having an end face and the end face having a plurality of recesses for receiving corresponding power pins of the line plug; a plug insertion channel, the plug insertion channel extending around the socket connection portion; a panel portion, the panel portion defining a plane and extending around the plug insertion channel; a locking mechanism which, in use, engages with one of said power pins when said pin is inserted into one of said recesses to restrain said line plug from being withdrawn from at least one of said recesses, the locking mechanism being provided within the socket connection portion; a release mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism to permit said power pin to be withdrawn from said recess, the release mechanism including an actuation portion and a linking portion that links the actuation portion with the locking mechanism; wherein the actuation portion is manually accessible on said panel portion and the linking portion extends from the actuation portion to the locking mechanism, and the linking portion includes a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions of the linking portion being on opposite sides of the plug insertion channel within a body of the panel socket such that said first portion is located on the side of the plug insertion channel having the panel portion of the panel socket and said second portion is located on the side of the plug insertion channel having the socket connection portion of the panel socket, said first portion extending away from the actuation portion in a first direction transverse to the plane of the panel portion and said second portion extending in a second direction, said second direction being parallel and opposite to the first direction such that said second portion extends towards the locking mechanism.