GARDEN SOCKET

PRISE FEMELLE DE JARDIN

English Abstract

The invention relates to a garden socket with a socket housing in which a
socket is accommodated comprising a connection consisting of an electrical
supply and a remotely radio-controlled on and off switch for said electrical
supply. The invention is characterized in that a detachable socket lid is
provided for fixed enclosure of said socket housing.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une prise femelle de jardin qui comporte un boîtier de prise, dans lequel est formée une prise de connexion, ainsi qu'un raccordement électrique pour l'alimentation en courant. Ladite prise femelle de jardin comporte un dispositif pour la mise en circuit ou hors circuit, télécommandée par radio, de l'alimentation en courant, et elle se caractérise par le fait qu'une coiffe amovible entoure fixement ledit boîtier.

Claims

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CLAIMS:
1. Garden socket comprising a housing (3) in which a socket (3.4) and a cord
tension
relief arrangement (5) for an electrical cord connected to the socket (3.4)
are
accommodated, and comprising a connector (3.8) for a supply of electric power
characterized in that
the electrical socket (3.4) is radio-remote controlled for switching power
therefrom on and
off;
the connector (3.8) for a supply of electric power is formed as a socket for
receipt of a
plug;
the cord tension relief assembly (5) comprises a series of pins.
2. Garden socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the pins of the
cord
tension relief assembly (5) are arranged on sidewalls (3.1, 3.2) of said
housing (3).
3. Garden socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the pins of the
cord
tension relief assembly (5) are arranged above each other on the sidewalk
(3.1,3.2).
4. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in
that
the housing (3) includes a bottom wall (3.3) having a clamping slot for
reception of a spike
(7).

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5. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims characterized in that
the
housing (3) comprises a rear wall (3.6) formed in the region of the sockets
(3.4).
6. Garden socket according to any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that
the sidewalls
(3.1, 3.2) each comprise a guide slot (3.10) for a cover (9).
7. Garden socket according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide slot
(3.10) is
formed between the sidewalls (3.1, 32.) and the rear wall (3.6).
8. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in
that the
cover (9) comprises at each of two opposing interior edges a ridge (9.2) that
may engage
the guide slots (3.10) as the cover (9) is slid therein from above.
9. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in
that the
cover (9) has the appearance of an item found in nature.
10. Garden socket according to any of the previous claims, characterized in
that the
cover (9) has the appearance of a stone.

Description

CA 02382915 2002-03-04
GARDENSOCKET
The present invention relates to a garden socket in accordance with the
preamble of
claim 1.
S
Such garden sockets are well-known in the art. They are used in gardens, in
order
to connect for example pumps and filters for garden ponds and water
decorations, or to
connect lights for illumination of the garden.
Such garden sockets have several disadvantages. As outdoor sockets, it must be
possible to switch them off. As such, there is a central on/off switch in the
house, the
garage or in another safe, locked structure. Frequently switching on and off
are however
forgotten. If there are several garden sockets that are to be selectively
switched on or off,
there must be accordingly many switches in the structure.
Furthermore known garden sockets are permanently wired to a supply of
electrical
power. However, it would be desirable to position a socket at an arbitrary
location and
connect the socket by way of an extension cord. This is not yet possible.
As a further disadvantage, garden sockets with their plug covers and similar
exterior mechanisms are exposed to the effects of the environment. This leads
to relatively
quick wear.
As a further disadvantage, plugs plugged in such typical garden sockets are
not
secured against tugs and the like. An inadvertent tug on a supply cable can
unplug a plug
from its socket, leading to an interruption of power.
It is an object of the present invention is to provide an garden socket which
is
better shielded from environmental effects and which may more easily be
addressed.
This object is provided according to invention by the characterizing features
of
claim 1.

CA 02382915 2002-03-04
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An embodiment of the invention is more particularly described with reference
to
the drawings. They illustrate
Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective opinion of a garden plug socket of the
available
invention, without dust cover;
Fig. 2 a schematic explosion representation of the garden plug socket
according to
invention.
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a garden socket 1. A socket housing 3
includes two
side walls 3.1, 3.2, an upper wall 3.2 and a bottom wall 3.3. In the present
embodiment,
four plug sockets 3.4 are arranged in pairs with one above another, in the
upper half of the
generally rectangular plug socket housing 3. Each plug sockets 3.4 includes a
flap 3.5 to
protect the socket connection against external effects, if no plug is
inserted. Side walls 3.1
and 3.2 extend beyond the vertical plane of the plug sockets 3.4 so that
lateral protection is
ensured.
A rear wall 3.6 of the housing 3 extends between side walls 3.1, 3,2 in the
upper
half of the sockets 3.4 against the rear edges and with bottom wall 3.7 (Fig.
2) forms a
closed space, that is additionally sealed, so that a space for electronics,
sealed against
environmental influences, is formed.
In the present embodiment, no rear wall 3.6 is provided in the lower half of
the
plug socket housing 3. A rear wall 3.6 could additionally extend in the lower
half towards
the front to act as a support.
Bottom wall 3.7 includes an additional plug socket 3.8 (Fig. 2), to which a
plug of
an extension cord may be connected.

CA 02382915 2002-03-04
-3-
In the lower, plug free, half of housing 3 a series of pins 5 are provided as
cable
tension relief arrangement. In the present embodiment sidewalls 3.1 and 3.2
also include
vertically spaced pins 5.
Bottom wall 3.3 of housing 3 includes an exterior clamping slot 3.9, which
serves
7 adapted to accommodation a spike 7. Spike 7 allows the garden socket to be
positioned
and fixed at any place in the ground.
Side walls 3.1 and 3.2 of housing 3 each include a guide slot 3.10, which is
preferably formed between side panels 3.1 and 3.2 and rear wall 3.6. A cover 9
is
generally closed and includes a bottom opening 9.1 and matches the external
dimensions
of garden plug socket 1. On its interior, cover 9 includes on two opposite
sides lengthwise
extending ridges 9.2, which can engage guide slots 3.10.
Cover 9 can be pushed from above onto the housing 3, until the bottom wall 3.3
comes into contact with an inner wall area of cover 9.
Cover 9 can have the outer appearance of stone or another natural substance,
so as
to disguise the technical mechanism under.

Representative Drawing