Title

Electrical Junction Housing

Technical Field The invention concerns an electrical junction housing for an interconnected electrical plug and socket, and in particular a housing suitable for use outdoors.

Background Art

Extension leads or cords have long been used to provide electrical connection between an electrical mains socket and a remote electrical appliance. A typical electrical extension lead has a plug at a first end and a socket at a second end. The plug at the first end is generally inserted into an electric mains socket and the plug of an appliance, or sometimes a further extension lead, is plugged into the socket at the second end.

When the interconnected plug and socket is outdoors it may be exposed to wet weather conditions that may compromise its safety.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention is an electrical junction housing, comprising:

A casing having an open lower end, the casing being sized to receive and house an interconnected electrical plug and socket.

A lid to releasably close the open lower end of the casing, the lid having at least one exit formation sized to allow cables trailing from the plug and socket to exit the housing.

And, at least one attachment formation to allow the housing to be suspended, in a substantially upright attitude, above the ground.

In use, suspension of the housing above the ground protects an interconnected electrical plug and socket housed within it from wet weather conditions such as rain, and resulting hazards such as puddles.

The casing may be bell-shaped to shed rain and other falling water.

The casing may have formations that engage with formations on the lid such that the closed container is sealed. For example, threads may be formed on the inner rim of the housing to engage with matching threads formed on the outer rim of the Hd.

The exit formation may comprise a pair of U-shaped openings in the lid. The openings may fit the cables tightly.

The attachment formation may be positioned on the casing or the lid.

The attachment formation may comprise an aperture at the top of the casing to receive a hook, rope or any other suspension means. Alternatively, or in addition, the attachment formation may comprise a socket for receiving a spike that can be pushed into the ground.

The attachment formation may involve a flange extending from the outer surface of the casing; the flange may have both an aperture for receiving a hook and an elongated socket for receiving a spike.

The lid may have an attachment formation extending from the bottom to receive a spike.

The housing may be made of durable material such as heavy-duty plastics to withstand weather exposure and knocks. It may be transparent or have a transparent window to allow inspection of the housed connection.

Brief Description of Drawings

An electrical junction housing exemplifying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the exploded housing.

Figs. 2(a), (b) and (c) show the lid in plan, elevation and vertical section respectively.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the casing, showing a socket for receiving a spike.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the housing similar to Fig. 1, but assembled and with an interconnected electrical plug and socket in the housing.

Figs. 5 and 6, (a) and (b) each show a vertical section of the housing, in use, suspended above the ground by different means.

Best Modes of the Invention Referring first to Fig. 1, the electrical junction housing 10 comprises a bell-shaped casing 20, a Hd 30 and a generally inverted-U-shaped flange 40 extending from the

outer surface of the bell 20. The bell 20 has a closed upper end 24 and an open lower end 22.

The lid 30 releasably closes the open lower end 22 of the bell 20 to create an enclosed chamber to house an interconnected electrical plug and socket; an electrical junction.

As shown in Figs. 1, and 2, screw threads 26 are formed on the inner rim of the lower end 22 of the bell 20 to engage with corresponding threads 36 formed on the outer rim of the lid 30. The outer diameter of the threaded rim 36 of the lid 30 is sized relative to the inner diameter of the open lower end the bell 22, such that the lid 30 can be screwed into the bell 20 to form a waterproof seal.

Referring to Figs. 2(a) to 2(c) again, the lid 30 has a pair of U-shaped exit openings 32 and 34 sized to receive cables trailing from an electrical junction. The lid 30 also has a hollow extension 38 extending from the bottom portion of the lid 30, which comprises an attachment formation.

The flange 40 in the bell 20 provides two further attachment formations. The top of the flange 40 has an aperture 42 to receive a hook, rope or any other fastener that will enable the housing 10 to be suspended above the ground. The flange 40 also has a vertically arranged elongated socket 44 on either side, sized to receive a spike that can be pushed into the ground; see also Fig. 3.

The use of the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 4, which illustrates the electrical junction housing 10 in Fig. 1, but with an interconnected electrical plug 50 and socket 52 housed within it.

A user first connects the plug and socket 50 and 52 and then places the cables 54 and 56, extending from the plug and socket, into respective exit openings 32 and 34 on the lid 30. Next, the bell 20 is brought down onto the lid 30. Holding the extending cables 54 and 56 in one hand and the bell 20 in the other, the bell can then be screwed down onto the lid. To remove the connection from the housing, a user simply has to reverse the process.

The housing 10 in Fig. 4, with a junction housed within it, is then ready for installation. Referring now to Fig. 5(a), the electrical junction housing 10 can be suspended above the ground 60 using a hook 62 inserted through the aperture 42; the hook 62 being

secured to another fixed object. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the electrical junction housing 10 can be suspended above the ground 60 using a spike 64 having one end inserted into the elongated socket 44 in the flange 40; in this case the other end of the spike is pushed into the ground 60.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, many other forms, alterations and variations are possible. For instance, the housing may be of any shape as long as an electrical junction can be accommodated within it. A cylindrical or even cuboid shape is envisaged. The housing may also be sized to accommodate more than one electrical junction.

The housing and the lid may be engaged using other inter-engagement mechanisms. For instance, the outer rim of the lid 30 may be fitted with a rubber O-ring such that the lid 30 may be pushed into the open end 22 to create a sealed container. Alternatively, the lid may be hinged onto the housing. The lid 30 may also have only one opening to allow both cables to exit the housing. It is additionally advantageous of the lid with the cables extending through the exit formations seals to be bell in a watertight manner.

The attachment formations may also be varied. For example, the flange 40 extending from the bell may have more than one socket, and two spikes may be employed as shown in Fig. 6(a). Also, a socket may be provided on the lid by hollow extension 38; shown in use in Fig. 6(b).

Further, the housing may be made of transparent but durable plastic such that the condition of an electrical junction housed within the housing can be checked without having to open the lid.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.