OF

PAUL MARC JOHN SIMS FOR

WIRE CONNECTIONS USING COMPRESSION AND INSERT HOLDING METHODS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the connecting of wires when inserted into receiving units, including electrical pin plugs or other domestic and commercial electrical fittings.

Background

Power plugs and sockets are devices that allow electrically operated equipment to be connected to the primary alternating current power supply in a building. Electrical plugs and sockets differ in voltage and current rating, shape, size and type of connectors. The types used in each country are set by national standards, some of which are listed in the IEC technical report TR 60083, Plugs and socket-outlets for domestic and similar general use standardized in member countries of IEC. The scope of IEC TR 60083 states: The report only contains systems for which standard sheets have been published in a National Standard, which may be a National Standard of the country itself or any other IEC member country.

Plugs and sockets for portable appliances started becoming available in the 1880s, to replace connections to light sockets with easier to use wall-mounted outlets. A proliferation of types developed to address the issues of convenience and protection from electric shock. Today there are approximately 20 types in common use around the world, and many obsolete socket types are still found in older buildings. Co-ordination of technical standards has allowed some types of plugs to be used over wide regions to facilitate trade in electrical appliances, and for the convenience of travellers and consumers of imported electrical goods. Some multi-standard sockets allow use of several different types of plugs; improvised or unapproved adapters between incompatible sockets and plugs may not provide the full safety and performance of an approved socket and plug combination.

Generally the plug is the movable connector attached to an electrically operated device's mains cable, and the socket is fixed on equipment or a building structure and connected to an energised electrical circuit. The plug has protruding pins or, in US terminology, blades (referred to as male) that fit into matching slots or holes (called female) in the sockets. A plug is defined in IEC 60050 as an accessory having pins designed to engage with the contacts of a socket-outlet, also incorporating means for the electrical connection and mechanical retention of flexible cables or cords, a plug does not contain components which modify the electrical output from the electrical input (except where a switch and/or fuse is provided as a means of disconnecting the output from input). There is an erroneous tendency to refer to power conversion devices with incorporated plug pins as plugs, but IEC 60050 refers to these as 'direct plug-in equipment' defined as equipment in which the mains plug forms an integral part of the equipment enclosure so that the equipment is supported by the mains socket-outlet. In this article, the term 'plug' is used in the sense defined by IEC 60050. Sockets are designed to prevent exposure of bare energised contacts. Sockets may also have protruding exposed contacts, but these are used exclusively for earthing (grounding).

To reduce the risk of users accidentally touching energized conductors and thereby experiencing electric shock, plug and socket systems often incorporate safety features in addition to the recessed slots or holes of the energized socket. These may include plugs with insulated sleeves, recessed sockets, sockets with blocking shutters, and sockets designed to accept only compatible plugs inserted in the correct orientation.

Within the plug itself are the connecting points for Live, Negative and Earth, in most examples. The wire is divided and the exposed copper ends or strands are prepared by hand and inserted into ringed holes for each terminal value and the wires are then held using a small screw.

The screw clamps down onto the copper end of the wire, usually at a midsection area, holding the wire in place.

This provides a method wherein the screws downward force effectively clamps the wire end in place, it can be noted that the screw does not pass any electrical current of tracking to the head of the screw on the exterior.

The present invention aims to provide a method where the wires that are placed or inserted into a plug or female connection point and held in place using compression and barbed means applied to the end of the wire. This method provides a more rapid and instant way of fitting Live, Neutral and also, where applicable, Earth wires into a plug. This compression and barbed holding method of wires may also be applied to other inserted wires or cables that would under normal fitting circumstances require additional holding. Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided an improved method of holding electric live, neutral and service or earth wires when inserting them into a pinned plug or other fitting which supplies electricity, which would normally require a screw or similar holding method for the said wires.

The holding of the wire ends does not require the assistance of a threaded screw, in the preferred embodiment, as in known pinned plugs. These screws are normally located to pass through the opening rings set onto the side or within the body of each pin. These are located to a pin for the Live route, the Neutral route and in most cases the Earth route which has a suitably ampere rated fuse.

The remainder of the cable then passes through the interior shaping of the plug body and under a cable harness to be held in place, before the cover for the plug is located and attached to complete the wire installation.

In this embodiment, means to hold the wires is provided in the form of additional fixtures which use a narrowing point which are barbed toward the end of the wire which is to be held. The narrowing sections are staggered and are provided initially to first insert the contacting end of the wires and narrows at points as the wire passes within.

As the contacting end of the wire passes into the opening, a means to hold the end is provided using a method that has barbed or protruding points which grip the wire end and or harness when it is fully inserted, preventing it from being withdrawn. The process is detailed when the wire is inserted into a retainer and brass cylinder or barrel as one action. The recommended length of exposed bare wire is approximately ¼". In this design the wire is pushed into the brass cylinder until the exposed bare wire contacts the base of the cylinder. The cylinder is pushed into the main body which is attached to the component part requiring conducting. As this occurs the cylinder passes through and over the internal wall and protruding rings. The pre-folds and cut-outs within the metal work each contribute and act to connect, conduct and secure the wire in place thereto.

The depth of the base of the cylinder to the first internal ring and pre-cut out/fold, is set at 1/8" this results in the wire depth always meeting accurately in the correct position, to be clamped in place. This can also be adjusted to suit various applications by adjusting the depth of the cylinder accordingly. The base of the cylinder has a concertina design which acts as a spring to the cylinder, enabling tension to clip into place, via the retainer and also for release of the wire. As the first pre-cut out / fold creates the protruding clamp to hold the wire, it is measured so that the second ring of the component or outer barrel also enables as the brass cylinder, to pass and hold over the first ring. In doing so the pre-cut out / fold also protrudes and produces teeth between 30 degrees and 45 degree angles down towards the base of the cylinder, which not only grip into the sleeve and hold it very securely but also prevent the pulling out of the wire by the added purchase and resistance in place. The last point of this process is the retainer method, where a ring under tension, clips into place holding all components under tension, securing the cylinder in the outer tube or component. By unclipping the retainer, the device releases the clamping of the exposed wire and the sleeve so it can come apart and separate.

This disclosure provides various features and advantages to the user which include; the elimination of tools for assembly. The conduction is guaranteed by the assured measurement of the exposed wire and clamping action each time. The conduction is sufficient as the rings and pre-cut outs can encircle the wire never allowing for loss of connection. The connection is more secure as the sleeve is also securing the connection. The connection is safer as this concept gives two points of securing the wire rather than just one which is currently through just the clamping of the wire by a screw.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical wire holding method which has all the advantages of the prior art charging devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical wire holding method which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical wire holding method which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical wire holding method which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such an electrical wire holding method economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical wire holding method which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of figures

A electrical wire holding method has a wire of cable which is constituted by an insulation sleeve 1 and a copper wire end 2 in the known way. These are inserted into cylinders 4 and 5 and held in a tensioned manner by a retaining clip ring 3, as shown in Figure 1.

The wire or cable 1 A is inserted into the cylinder 4A and the retaining clip ring 3 is pressed into the accompanying fitting as shown in Figure 2.

The wire or cable 1B, as shown in Figure 3 is inserted into cylinder 4B and held with retaining clip ring 3B, with its copper wire end 2B passing though as shown. The fitting being held using pre-cut out folds 7 and 8 which press into the wire adding purchase thereto.

The end has a concertina embellished opening 6 to help create spring tension upon fitting.

Figure 4 shows a closer view of the fitting wherein the wire or cable 1C is shown inserted into the cylinder 4C with the copper wire end 2C fully seated to the end of the internal capacity. A space area 10 is created around the inserted wire or cable and the cylinder interior.

To the body of the cylinder 4C are the pre-cut out folds 7C and 8C and addition purchase onto the insulation sleeve provided by barbs 9 and 11.

To the copper wire end 2C are also barbed or protruding areas which grip and add purchase to the end, to prevent the wire or cable 1C from being pulled out or removed once inserted.

The spring tension provided by the concertina embellished opening 6C.

Figure 5 shows the wire or cable 1D and outer cylinder 4D linked.