Electrical device with connector protection

(19)

(11)

EP 1 587 346 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	18.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/03

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	19.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/42

(21)	Application number: 05013718.1

(22)	Date of filing: 10.10.2000

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

H05B 33/08^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	00969732.7 / 1325670

(71)	Applicant: Elumina Lighting Technologies, Inc.
	King City, Ontario L78 1G3 (CA)

(72)	Inventors:
	Dickie, Robert G. Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 4V8 (CA) Tierney, Kirkwood T. New Tecumseth, Ontario L0G 1T0 (CA) Van Tuyl, David J. Holland Landing, Ontario L9N 1C3 (CA)

(74)	Representative: Garratt, Peter Douglas et al
	Mathys & Squire 120 Holborn London EC1N 2SQ London EC1N 2SQ (GB)

(54)	Electrical device with connector protection

(57) A device (100) is normally plugged into a common household wall socket via electrical contact blades (508) which protrude from rear surface (504) of housing (202). In a preferred embodiment of device (100), a recess or cavity (510) is formed in rear surface (504) of housing (202) surrounding electrical contact blades (508). A protector (512) is disposed in cavity (510) and extends the length of blades (508). Protector (512) is collapsible such that it collapses into cavity (510) as blades (508) are inserted into the wall socket. When blades (508) are removed from the wall socket, protector (512) extends from cavity (510) to prevent contact with blades (508) until device (100) is completely removed from the wall socket.

Search report