Inverted plug adapter for type g electrical outlets

Abstract

A plug adaptor for use with electrical appliances in the UK, comprising a compact housing designed to minimize protrusion from a Type G electrical outlet. Additionally, comprises a live and neutral co

Description

Conventional Type G electrical plugs used in the United Kingdom are designed such that, when connected to a standard wall socket, the appliance’s cable extends downward from the plug. While this orientation is standard, it presents several challenges in various situations. Firstly, when wall sockets are installed close to the floor or other surfaces, the downward orientation of the cable can cause difficulties. The cable may be obstructed by the floor, baseboards, or other fixed structures, making it hard to fully insert the plug into the socket. This can prevent the appliance from functioning properly or create unsafe electrical connections. Secondly, furniture placement often becomes problematic due to the protrusion of cables. Placing furniture such as sofas, cabinets, or beds against walls with sockets can be hindered by the space required for the downward-running cables. This limitation can disrupt interior design plans and reduce usable space within a room. Additionally, cables pressed against furniture edges can suffer wear and tear, leading to potential electrical hazards. Thirdly, the aesthetic appeal of a room can be negatively affected by visible, dangling cables. In environments where a clean and uncluttered look is desired—such as modern homes, offices, or showrooms—the presence of cables running downward from sockets can be unsightly and detract from the overall design aesthetic. Moreover, safety concerns arise in households with pets or young children. Dangling cables can attract curiosity, leading to situations where a child or pet might pull on the cable. This can result in the plug becoming partially or fully dislodged from the socket, exposing live prongs and increasing the risk of electrical shock or short circuits. In some cases, pulling on the cable can also cause the connected appliance to fall, posing additional injury risks. In crowded or confined spaces, such as workshops, kitchens, or entertainment centers, downward-running cables contribute to clutter and increase the risk of entanglement or tripping hazards. Managing these cables becomes a challenge, and improper handling can lead to damaged cords or connections. Therefore, there is a clear need for a solution that allows the orientation of the appliance plug to be inverted when connected to a Type G socket. By enabling the cable to run upwards, many of the aforementioned issues can be mitigated. Such a solution should: ® Maintain Compatibility: Work seamlessly with existing Type G sockets and appliance plugs without the need for modifications. ® Ensure Safety: Preserve the ground connection and comply with electrical safety standards. ® Be Compact: Avoid excessive protrusion from the socket to prevent interference with furniture and reduce the risk of accidental disconnection. ® Enhance Aesthetics: Reduce visible cable clutter, contributing to a cleaner and more appealing environment. ® improve Accessibility: Facilitate easier plug insertion and removal in tight spaces or where obstructions are present. The present invention addresses these needs by providing a plug adaptor that allows a standard UK appliance plug to be inserted upside down into a Type G socket, causing the cable to extend upwards. This adaptor is designed to be compact, safe, and easy to use, offering a practical solution to the limitations of conventional plug orientations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel adaptor for type G electrical plugs and sockets that inverts the plug orientation so that the wire runs upwards instead of downwards. This inverted plug adaptor can improve the aesthetics of the plug and socket arrangement, act as a cable tidy, and aid users whose sockets may be installed too close to the ground for a regular plug to fit. The adaptor comprises a casing, pins, shutter, and copper contacts, which are arranged in such a manner that the adaptor can be plugged into any regular type G plug socket. The contacts inside the adaptor reroute the pins, allowing the appliance to be plugged in upside-down while maintaining the electrical connection and functionality of the appliance. The contacts within the adaptor can be made of various materials, including but not limited to copper, brass, or steel. These materials exhibit suitable electrical conductivity properties and can withstand the requirements of electrical appliances. The choice of materials may vary based on factors such as cost, availability, durability, and compatibility with the electrical system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the inverted plug adaptor for type G electrical outlets according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front facing view of the inverted plug adaptor showing the 180 degree orientation from the conventional pin arrangement. Fig. 3 is a side-on view of the inverted plug adaptor showing the case shape and pin locations corresponding to A on Fig 2. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the inverted plug adaptor, illustrating the pins, casing, shutter, and copper contacts. Fig 5 is a cross-sectional view of the inverted plug adaptor, showing the internal arrangement of the pins and copper contacts. It shows the cross section described on Fig 3 at section B-B. Fig 6 is a schematic representation of the electrical connections provided by the contacts within the inverted plug adaptor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The plug adaptor described herein is designed to comply with the BS 1363-3 standards, which define the specific requirements for the safety and performance of mains socket-outlets and plug adaptors in the UK. Compliance with these standards ensures the compatibility of the plug adaptor with the Type G electrical outlets commonly used in the UK. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The inverted plug adaptor for type G electrical outlets comprises a casing (1) that houses the pins (2), shutter (3), and contacts (4). The casing (1) is designed to accommodate a conventional type G plug, allowing the user to insert the plug into the adaptor in an upside-down orientation. The casing (1) may be made of durable, thermoset or thermoplastic or other non-conductive material. The housing of the plug adaptor is designed to meet the dimensional requirements specified in the BS 1363-3 standards, ensuring proper fit and connection with the electrical outlets. Additionally, the materials used in the housing are selected to meet the relevant safety and durability criteria outlined in the standards. The pins (2) are designed to be compatible with regular type G plug sockets, ensuring that the adaptor can be plugged into any standard type G outlet. The pins (2) include a live pin, a neutral pin, and an earth pin, which are essential for establishing an electrical connection. The shutter (3) is a safety feature that prevents accidental contact with the live parts of the adaptor when it is not in use. The shutter (3) is designed to automatically open when the type G plug is inserted into the adaptor and close when the plug is removed. The metal contacts (4) are positioned within the casing (1) and are arranged in such a manner that they reroute the live, neutral, and earth pins of the type G plug to their corresponding pins (2) on the adaptor. This ensures that the electrical connection is maintained even when the plug is inserted upside-down. The rerouting of contacts is achieved in a manner that does not compromise the safety or performance aspects defined in the BS 1363-3 standards. In use, an appliance with a type G plug can be connected to the inverted plug adaptor by inserting the plug into the casing (1) in an upside-down orientation. The shutter (3) automatically opens, allowing the live, neutral, and earth pins of the plug to make contact with the corresponding contacts (4) inside the adaptor. The contacts (4) then reroute the live, neutral, and earth connections to the respective pins (2) on the adaptor, which can be plugged into a standard type G socket. As a result, the wire of the appliance runs upwards from the adaptor, rather than downwards, providing improved aesthetics, cable management, and addressing issues with sockets installed at skirting board level; too close to the ground or that are obstructed by furniture. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein and may include variations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the inverted plug adaptor may be adapted for use with other types of electrical plugs and sockets, such as type B, D, E, H, I, J, K, M or N where the pin configurations are chiral objects if the plane of symmetry is taken to be the x-axis. Additionally, the casing (1) may be designed in various shapes, sizes, or colours to suit different user preferences, and the materials used for the casing, pins, shutter, and contacts may be selected based on specific requirements, such as durability, conductivity, and safety. The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention as described above and as noted in the appended claims. In conclusion, the inverted plug adaptor for type G electrical outlets provides a novel and practical solution for users who require an aesthetically pleasing, tidy, and versatile electrical connection. The adaptor enables the appliance wire to run upwards from the socket, addressing issues with sockets installed too close to the ground and improving cable management. The unique arrangement of pins, casing, shutter, and copper contacts ensures a safe and reliable connection, while maintaining the electrical functionality of the connected appliance. Other embodiments and variations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claim 1: A plug adaptor for use with electrical appliances in the UK, comprising:a. a housing compliant with BS 1363-3 dimensional requirements for plug adaptors, configured to minimise protrusion from a Type G electrical outlet;b. live and neutral contacts rerouted within the housing, wherein the routing of said contacts is configured to minimise the adaptor's size and volume while avoiding complex threedimensional configurations, to allow an electrical appliance plug to be inserted upside down— rotated 180 degrees relative to the socket outlet connection—while maintaining the conventional orientation of the adaptor's pins; andc. an unaltered ground contact within the housing to ensure a safe grounding connection,wherein the internal routing arrangement enables the adaptor to directly plug into a wall socket without the need for extension leads or additional cabling.Claim 2: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the housing compliant with BS 1363-3 dimensional requirements prevents excessive protrusion that could interfere with furniture or other objects, reducing the risk of the adaptor being pulled from the socket.Claim 3: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the housing is made of durable, wear-resistant materials to enhance longevity and safety.Claim 4: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the live and neutral contacts are made of copper to provide optimal electrical conductivity.Claim 5: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the live and neutral contacts are made of brass, offering enhanced durability and corrosion resistance.Claim 6: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the live and neutral contacts are made of steel, providing excellent durability and thermal conductivity.Claim 7: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the adaptor is specifically designed to be compatible with Type G electrical outlets in the UK.Claim 8: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the efficient routing of the contacts avoids complex three-dimensional configurations, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs.Claim 9: A method of using the plug adaptor of Claim 1, comprising:a. inserting the plug adaptor into a Type G electrical outlet in the normal orientation; andb. inserting the electrical appliance plug upside down into the plug adaptor, allowing the appliance cable to run upwards, whereby the adaptor facilitates usage in areas where downward-oriented cables would be obstructed.Claim 10: The method of Claim 9, wherein the housing compliant with BS 1363-3 dimensional requirements minimizes space consumption and potential hazards by maintaining a low profile against the wall.Claim 11: The plug adaptor of Claim 1, wherein the adaptor improves upon prior art by providing a direct, BS 1363-3 compliant solution to invert the orientation of an electrical appliance plug without the use of bulky designs or additional components.s