It is known that temporary connection of electrical equipment to the main supply circuit is generally realised by inserting the respective supply plugs into corresponding wall sockets connected to the main distribution line installation.

More precisely, the sockets are housed in special encasing boxes that generally contain several electric devices, called electrical"socket bodies", such as sockets, switches, buttons, etc..

In both domestic and industrial fields it is known that it is very often necessary to connect several pieces of electrical equipment to a single wall socket.

This is realised by shunting to this socket, a multi-purpose adaptor substantially composed of an adaptor body provided with a plug suited to be inserted into a wall socket, and with three or more sockets electrically connected to the plug itself.

More precisely, the plug is positioned on the rear of the adaptor body while the various sockets, which can be dual-type or multi-standard, are lodged on the front and sides.

In particular, a first socket is positioned co-axially to the plug, and the remaining sockets are distributed on the side surfaces of the adaptor body with the axes positioned at right angles to the plug axis.

The installation foresees that the user firstly inserts the plug into the wall socket, and then inserts the various electrical equipment supply plugs in the available shunt sockets.

A first drawback is represented by the fact that the installation of a multi-purpose adaptor of the type described prevents access to any electrical devices, switches, sockets, and buttons that are located adjacent to the wall socket wherein the adaptor is inserted.

In fact, the adaptor body is developed on a plane that is substantially parallel to the wall surface, thus preventing access to the electrical devices, switches, sockets, and that are located adjacent to the wall socket.

Another drawback is represented by the limited number of sockets that can be shunted from a wall socket.

To prevent these drawbacks, at least partially, mobile type multiple sockets can be used.

These comprise substantially a box element that houses a plurality of electric sockets, and that is provided with a supply cable of variable length equipped with a plug at an end for the electricity supply of the aforesaid sockets.

A first drawback of mobile multiple sockets is represented by the fact that they must be placed on the floor creating well-known problems.

A further drawback linked with the aforesaid problem is represented by the fact that the mobile socket being positioned on the floor, can be subject to accidental impact, sometimes causing involuntary plug removal.

The object of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacks.

In particular, a first object of the invention is to realise a multi-purpose adaptor that permits several pieces of electrical equipment to be connected temporarily to a single wall socket connected to the main supply circuit.

Another object is to realise a multi-purpose adaptor, that after insertion into the corresponding wall socket permits access to other eventual electrical elements housed in the same walled box.

A further object is to realise a multi-purpose adaptor that after installation, is similar in function and appearance to a set of wall sockets.

Another object is to realise a multi-purpose adaptor suited to receive plugs also of various standards.

Another object is to realise a multi-purpose adaptor that does not require fixing elements.

Another object is to create a multi-purpose adaptor that is compact and space saving.

Last but not least object is to realise a multi-purpose adaptor that is economical and versatile.

Said objects are achieved with a multi-purpose adaptor that, according to the main claim, comprises an adaptor body provided with at least one plug for insertion into a wall socket and suitable to supply a plurality of sockets, being characterised in that said adaptor body includes a first element to house said plug, and at least a second element to house said plurality of sockets, said first and said at least one second element being mechanically connected to each other through at least one connection element positioned transversally to the axis of said at least one plug.

Advantageously, the proposed multi-purpose adaptor permits an increase in the number of connections to the main electricity circuit, while guaranteeing access to the

other devices housed in the same encased box.

Once more, advantageously, the proposed adaptor, after insertion into the corresponding wall socket, substantially comprises an expansion of the access point to the main electricity installation.

Once more, advantageously, it does not require fastening supports since the application to the socket guarantees its fixation.

Said objects and advantages will be explained more clearly in the description of a preferred embodiment which is indicative but by no means limiting with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - figure 1 shows an axonometric view of the multi-purpose adaptor object of the invention inserted into a wall socket; - figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 1; - figure 3 shows a front view of the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 1 applied to a wall socket; - figure 4 shows a side view of the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 1; -figure 5 shows a front view of a different embodiment of the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 1 inserted in a wall socket; - figure 6 shows a front view of another embodiment of the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 1 inserted in a wall socket; - figure 7 shows an axonometric view of a different embodiment of the multi- purpose adaptor shown in figure 1; - figure 8 shows an axonometric view of another embodiment of the multi- purpose adaptor shown in figure 1 ; - figure 9 shows an axonometric view of a further embodiment of the multi- purpose adaptor shown in figure 1 ; - figure 10 shows an axonometric view of a embodiment of the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 7; - figure 11 shows an axonometric view of another embodiment of the multi- purpose adaptor shown in figure 1; - figure 12 shows a configuration that can be assumed by the multi-purpose adaptor shown in figure 9; The multi-purpose adaptor object of the present invention is represented in figures from 1 to 4 wherein it is identified throughout by the numeral 1.

It comprises an adaptor body 2 provided with a plug 3 which can be inserted into

a wall socket P, suited to supply a plurality of sockets 4 for temporary connection to the main electricity circuit of the supply plugs S of various electrical devices, not illustrated.

The invention foresees that the adaptor body 2 be composed of a first element 21 housing the plug 3 and a second element 22 housing the sockets 4, connected to each other mechanically and electrically through a rigid connecting element 23 positioned transversally to axis 31 of plug 3.

In particular, the connecting element 23 is positioned at right angles to axis 31, although other embodiments foresee different angles.

The three elements 21,22 and 23 are produced in a single block obtained for example by moulding, wherein all the necessary electrical connections between plug 3 and the various sockets 4 are located.

It is important to note that the connecting element 23 has a length 5 visible in figure 2 such that the distance 6 between axis 31 of plug 3 and the second element 22, is substantially equal to half the width L of the plate C that covers the encased box B wherein wall socket P is housed.

It should also be noted that the width 7 of the first element 21 is such that it does not encroach the space occupied by the modules or electrical socket bodies Dl, D2, D3, D4 located next to the wall socket P.

This guarantees advantageously the access to all the electrical socket bodies housed in the encased box B, even when the multi-purpose adaptor 1 is inserted in the respective wall socket P.

In different embodiments, not illustrated here for the sake of brevity, the length 5 of element 23 can vary while still remaining greater than or equal to half of the measurements Height H or Width L, of plate C necessary to guarantee access to the electrical socket bodies D 1, D2, D3, D4 even when the adaptor 1 is inserted.

As regards the sockets 4 these are positioned on a plane transversal to axis 31 of plug 3, arranged adjacent to each other in a line along a substantially rectilinear axis 8.

These are composed of a set of sockets of the same standard having pins and slots protected from accidental and/or voluntary direct contact. Alternatively, the set could comprise sockets also of different standards.

An alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 100 in figure 5 differs from the previous one in that it presents two sets of sockets 4 housed in the same number of second elements 22.

Another alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 101 in figure 5 differs from the previous one for the position of the sockets 4.

A further alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 102 in figure 7 differs from the previous one in that the sockets 4 are positioned also along the side wall 25 of the second element 22a.

This permits advantageously to further increase the number of usable sockets and to reduce the overall adaptor-plug size.

Another alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 103 in figure 8 differs from the previous ones in that the first element 21 b also houses a socket 4b positioned axially to plug 3.

A further alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 105 in figure 9 differs from the previous ones in that the connecting element 23c and the second element 22c are removably associated with each other.

More precisely they are mechanically and electrically connected through connecting means identified throughout with numeral 9.

Said connecting means 9 are preferably male female type 91,92 and permit the replacement of the set of sockets 4 making the multi-purpose adaptor 102 adaptable according to the user's needs.

In particular, the second element 22c is provided with several female elements 91 not illustrated, positioned on its side surfaces and suited to receive the corresponding male element 92.

Therefore the user can choose the most suitable configuration according to their personal needs and the space available.

As regards the male female elements 91,92 these could also be advantageously composed in plug-socket mode.

In any case the connecting means could also be of bayonet or another type provided that they guarantee the mechanical connection between elements 21, 22c, 23c and the electrical connection between plug 3 and sockets 4.

A further alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 105 in figure 10 differs from the previous one for the shape of the connecting element 23d and for the fact that the female element 92d is advantageously composed of one of the sockets 4, while the male element 91 d is a plug.

Another alternative embodiment identified globally by the numeral 106 in figure 11 differs from the previous one in that the connection means 9 are positioned between the connecting element 23 e and the first element 21 e.

In particular, the element 21 e comprises several female elements 92e to connect several male elements 91e belonging to the same number of socket sets. This permits the connection of several sets of sockets to the same plug 3 as shown in figure 12.

The installation foresees that the user inserts the multi-purpose adaptor 1 into the wall socket P that they intend using, and then inserts the various plugs S of the equipment to be supplied.

It should be noted that the thickness of plug 3 and of connecting element 23 is such that they do not encroach the space occupied by the electrical socket bodies D 1, D2, D3, D4 adjacent to the wall socket P in use.

This, together with the fact that the set of sockets 4 is not positioned on a surface facing the encased box B, permits the achievement of the above-mentioned objects.

It should also be noted that the rear surface of the second element 22, as shown in figure 4, is advantageously in contact with the wall, thus guaranteeing greater stability for the adaptor inserted in the socket.

In different embodiments, the adaptor could be provided with a switch suited to open/close the supply circuit to the various sockets 4.

This could also include both cut-off devices and the known safety devices for control of the load applied to the sockets 4, as well as warning signal means suited to signal the connection or lack thereof of sockets 4 to the main supply circuit, such as for example luminous leds.

While the invention has been described with reference to the appended drawings, during the realisation step it could be subject to modifications that in any case remain within the same inventive concept expressed in the following claims and therefore protected by the present patent.