On 12 January 1932, Siemens-Schuckertwerke secured German Patent No. 567 906 for Wilhelm Klement’s plug and socket concept that became Schuko, a design that most people recognise instantly but rarely think about.
It is a useful reminder in innovation history that progress often comes from standardising the small things. As electricity spread into homes and workplaces, the question was not only how to generate power, but how to connect devices reliably and consistently. Patents helped capture those practical interface solutions and turn them into something that could be reproduced, licensed and widely adopted.
Klement’s 1929 filing matured into a granted right, and the idea went on to shape a widely used European plug system. Even the name Schuko became part of the IP story, protected and managed as a trademark.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Patent | 567 906 | 12.01.1932 | Plug device with protective contact for earthing or zeroing |
Last updated on 18 February 2026