EP3231040B1 - Socket outlet adapter - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a socket according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the prior art, a variety of socket adapters are known, which are primarily used to bridge the differences between different connector systems. For safety reasons, protective flaps or sliders are arranged on the sockets of the socket adapter into which different plugs can be inserted. These protective flaps prevent mismatched plugs or pointed objects from being inserted into the sockets, which can result in accidental electric shock to a person. The protective flaps or slides can only be opened by a dedicated plug, whereas opening with plugs of a wrong type or other objects does not succeed. The protective flaps or sliders are also referred to as child safety, since a malfunction of the socket adapter is mainly carried out by children.

A disadvantage of such protective flaps or sliders that they often jam and can only be locked and unlocked together. This means that it is possible that further protective flaps or sliders can be opened as soon as a protective flap or a safety slide is opened by a corresponding plug.

Although the other sockets are usually covered by the plugged plug. Nevertheless, the protective function is not sufficient, especially when narrow plugs are plugged into the socket adapter, which do not manage to cover the other sockets.

In the US 5,919,060 Such a socket adapter is disclosed with a first and second safety slide. The safety gates are biased in a known manner by springs and can be linearly displaced by inserting electrical plugs at right angles to the plug against the spring pressure. The direction of the displacement is determined by ramp-shaped end faces of the protective slide. When plugging in a US plug, the first safety slide is pushed down so that the plug-in openings are opened. Inserting an electrical plug according to the South Africa standard into the socket adapter shifts the second safety slide upwards. The first and second safety gate can be opened and closed independently of each other. The opening direction of the two safety valves is in opposite directions. Thus, if the first safety slide is open, the second safety slide can also be opened, since it is prevented by neither the first safety slide nor any other mechanical locking.

From the disadvantages of the described prior art, the object initiating the present invention results in the further development of a generic socket adapter, which more reliably prevents incorrect operation and increases user safety.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by an electrical socket according to claim 1. This mechanical lock ensures that only one socket is usable by a suitable plug, while the other socket is reliably locked. Moving or moving the protective element of the free socket is therefore not possible even if it would be attempted to plug in a suitable plug.

This mechanical locking also allows the protective element, which in any case is moved to its open position, to simultaneously lock the other protective element by virtue of this existing movement. The locking of the closed switch is therefore automatic, without any further operations would be required.

It has proven to be favorable when the first and second protective element are biased in opposite directions of movement in their closed positions. As a result, a plurality of protective elements can be arranged in the narrowest space in the housing, which can cooperate with one another for closing the unused protective elements. It would also be conceivable, of course, that the two protective elements are biased in a common direction of movement.

The invention is preferably characterized in that the first protective element has a closure element, with which a mechanical contact to the second closure element is realized when the first or the second protection element is in the open position. The technical feature of a mechanical contact between the first and second protective element, enables a Fehleinsanfällige locking possibility of the two protective elements.

Expediently, a first and second projection are formed successively on the closure element in the direction of movement of the first protection element, on which projections the second protection element can be hooked. This results in two Einhakposition, which serve to lock the first or the second protective element in its closed position. It would also be conceivable further projections in a plane parallel to the first and second projection in order to lock more protective elements can.

It has proven to be advantageous if the distance of the first projection to the second protective element is less than the distance of the second projection to the second protective element. By this arrangement of the projections in stages, only one projection always acts, because the other projection is too far away for cooperation with the second protective element.

In a further preferred embodiment, in the opened position of the second protection element, the second protection element is hooked to the first projection. Because the second protective element is always opened by a suitable plug, it is fixed in the open position by the plug. As a result, the first protective element, which is positively connected to the second protective element, inevitably fixed and is prevented from moving in the opening direction.

In a further preferred embodiment, in the opened position of the first protection element, the second protection element is hooked to the second projection. By providing two protrusions, either the first or the second protection element can be locked in its closed position.

It has proved to be advantageous if the closure element can be transferred from a first position, in which it has a smaller distance to the inside of the housing, into a second position, in which it has a greater distance from the inside of the housing. By this displacement of the closure element For example, either the first projection or the second projection may interact with the second protective element in an elegant manner. The projections preferably interact with the spring holder of the second protective element. On the pen holder a shoulder is formed anyway, which receives an additional function. It is also conceivable to use other projections or shoulders of the second protective element for hooking with one of the projections of the closure element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a ramp is formed on the inside of the housing, along which the closure element can slide from the first to the second position and vice versa. The ramp has exactly the height necessary to move the closure element to a position in which the first or the second projection can cooperate with the second protection element.

The invention is preferably also characterized in that the closure element has a slotted guide, whereby the closure element is forcibly guided along the ramp. The closure element is therefore always guided in both displacement directions of the first protective element on the ramp. This reliably prevents jamming with the second protective element or other components within the housing.

As low it has proven, if the slotted guide is realized by a provided on the closure element slot and a guided through the slot and connected to the housing pin. The slot has the same orientation as the ramp. Characterized in that the pin is firmly connected to the housing, the closure element must be held in each shift position of the first protective element on the ramp. Also, a load of the closure element by the second protective element does not lead to an evasive movement of the closure element.

In a further preferred embodiment, the slide guide is realized by a guide rail, which is oriented in the direction of the ramp and is connected to the housing. The closure element is then forcibly guided on the housing in a free space between the ramp and the guide rail. The fact that the closure element in this embodiment, the slide guide has no slot, it is less weakened. However, the ramp and guide rail must be precisely aligned so that the closure element can slide between them and not jammed.

Due to the advantage that the second protective element can be pushed past the closure element from the closed position into the open position, the displaceability of the second protective element is unimpeded. The closure element is only then guided by the ramp into the displacement track of the second closure element, if the second protection element is to be locked in any case.

Advantageously, there is a third protective element for closing a third socket, which third protective element interacts mechanically with the first or second protective element. It is also conceivable that more than two sockets are provided at the socket and all unused protection elements are to be locked.

Figur 1:

eine Schnittdarstellung der erfindungsgemässen elektrischen Steckdose mit dem ersten und zweiten Schutzelement in geschlossener Stellung;

Figur 2:

eine Schnittdarstellung in der sich das erste Schutzelement in der geschlossenen Position befindet und das zweite Schutzelement in der geöffneten Position befindet;

Figur 3:

eine Schnittdarstellung in der sich das zweite Schutzelement in der geschlossenen Position befindet und das erste Schutzelement in der geöffneten Position befindet und

Figur 4:

eine Schnittdarstellung in der sich das zweite Schutzelement in der geschlossenen Position befindet und das erste Schutzelement sich in der geöffneten Position befindet mit einer alternativen Kulissenführung.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of two embodiments of the invention with reference to the schematic representations. It shows in not to scale representation:

FIG. 1:

a sectional view of the inventive electrical socket with the first and second protective element in the closed position;

FIG. 2:

a sectional view in which the first protection element is in the closed position and the second protection element is in the open position;

FIG. 3:

a sectional view in which the second protection element is in the closed position and the first protection element is in the open position and

FIG. 4:

a sectional view in which the second protection element is in the closed position and the first protection element is in the open position with an alternative slotted guide.

In the FIGS. 1 to 3 an embodiment of the inventive socket is shown in sectional view, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 11 is. The socket 11 will preferably be a socket adapter to use the plug of a particular standard in countries with other connector standards. Such socket adapters are also referred to as travel plug or travel adapter. The socket adapter 11 comprises a housing 13, in which the other elements of the socket adapter 11 are received or arranged. The housing 13 comprises on its upper side a not shown bushing portion having a first and second sleeve 15,17. It is understood that the first and second socket 15,17 insertion (in the FIGS. 1 to 3 not shown). The first and second sockets 15, 17 serve to receive plugs of a first and second standard. For example, the first socket 15 may be suitable for receiving a US plug and the second socket 17 may be suitable for inserting a UK plug.

In the housing 11, a first and second protective element in the form of a first and second slide 19, 21 are arranged. The sliders 19,21 can be linearly displaced in a plane which is normal to the insertion direction of the plug of a first and second standard. By inserting a plug, the sliders 19,21 can be moved from a closed position to an open position. In the FIG. 1 Both slides 19,21 are shown in their closed position. The slides 19,21 are biased in their closed position by first and second springs 23,25. If a plug is pulled out of the first or second bushing 15, 17, the sliders 19, 21 are automatically closed by being pressed back into the closed position by the springs 23, 25. As the figures show, the slides 19,21 are biased in opposite directions. The springs 23,25 push the slide 19,21 so together. The sliders 19,21 can only be moved by matching plugs. This is preferably implemented by ramps provided on the slides, which transform the plug-in direction in a displacement direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction. Insertion of non-matching plugs or sharp objects misappropriated by the slide 19,21 prevented.

If one of the two jacks is 15,17 occupied, the slider of the other socket is mechanically locked in its closed position. When the first slider 19 is opened, the second slider 21 is locked in its locked position. When the second slider 21 is opened, the first slider 19 is locked in its locked position. This leads to an increased operating safety.

The first and second slides 19, 21 can lock each other by providing a mechanical connection between the two slides 19, 21. This connection is realized by a closure element 27, which in the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 3 in pairs. The closure element 27 is fastened in the region of a spring holder 29 of the first slider 19. The closure element 27 is forcibly guided along a ramp 31, which is formed on the inside of the housing. The closure element 27 slides on the ramp 31 as on a rail and can not deviate from the orientation of the ramp 31 due to the positive guidance. By the ramp 31, the closure member 27 is pressed into the housing interior when the first slider 19 is moved from the closed position to the closed position.

The forced operation is realized by a link guide. The slide guide comprises a slot 33 which is provided on the closure element, and a pin 35 connected to the housing 13. The slot 33 has the same orientation as the ramp and is therefore aligned parallel to the ramp. The pin 35 is fixedly attached to the inside of the housing. As a result, the closure element 27, when it is pulled down by the first slider 19, the ramp 31 do not dodge.

On the closure element 27, a first and second projection are formed, to which the spring holder 41 of the second slider 21 or another shoulder of the second slider 21 can be hooked. The first and second projections are arranged one above the other. In other words, the first and second projections 37, 39 are arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the slides 19, 21.

If the second slider 21 is moved to the open position, the spring holder 41 can slide past the second projection 39, since this is arranged farther away from the spring holder 41 and the closure element 27 from the ramp 31 in the closed position of the first slider 19 is not pressed into the housing interior. When the second slider 21 is in the open position, the spring holder 41 abuts against the first projection 37. The second slider 21 is fixed by an inserted plug in the open position. The first slider 19 is held and locked by the first projection 37 in the closed position. This locking or blocking of the first slider 19 is in FIG. 2 shown.

In FIG. 3 the locking or blocking of the second slider 21 is shown in its closed position. By inserting a suitable plug, the first slider is moved down to the open position. In this case, the closure element 27 is guided along the ramp 31 and pushed by the ramp 31 by the height of the ramp 31 into the housing interior. In the open position of the first slider 19, the spring holder 41 hooks on the second projection 39. The second slider 21 is therefore locked in its closed position by the shutter member 27 when the first slider 19 is in the open position.

In FIG. 4 Also shown is the locking or blocking of the second slider 21 in its closed position. However, the slotted guide is realized differently than in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 , The pin 35 and the slot 33 are replaced by a guide rail 43 in this embodiment. This creates between the ramp 31 and the guide rail 43, a clearance 45 in which the closure member 27 can slide and is positively guided. The closure member 27 is sized to fit snugly within the clearance 45 without jamming or jamming therein.

The guide rail 43 may be fixed at any position of the housing 13 as long as it is oriented exactly in the direction of the ramp 31. In FIG. 4 It is shown that the guide rail 43 is formed on the housing spring holder 47 of the first spring 23. As a result, no further attachment to the housing 13 is necessary because the housing spring holder 47 must be attached to the housing 13 anyway, so that the first spring 23 can press off from the housing 13.

The inventive socket 11 allows the space-saving, simple and reliable blocking of the free socket when the other socket is occupied by a plug.

Legend

11

Electrical socket adapter

13

casing

15

First socket

17

Second socket

19

First protection element, first slide

21

Second protection element, second slide

23

First springs

25

Second springs

27

closure element

29

Pen holder of the first slider

31

ramp

33

Long hole

35

pen

37

First advantage

39

Second advantage

41

Spring holder of the second slider

43

Guide rail on the housing

45

free space

47

Housing penholder

Claims (14)

1. Electrical socket, in particular electrical socket adapter (11) with

   - a housing (13),

   - a jack area provided on the housing (13) with

   - a first and a second jack (15, 17) for receiving plugs of a first and of a second standard, wherein the first and the second jack comprises first and second plug-in openings,

   - a first movable protective element (19) that is displaceable between a closed position and an open position, in which closed position it covers the first plug-in openings and in which closed position it frees the first plug-in openings,

   - a second movable protective element (21) that is displaceable between a closed position and an open position, in which closed position it covers the second plug-in openings and in which closed position it frees the second plug-in openings, wherein

   - the first and the second protective element (19, 21) are prestressed in order to be able to automatically return to the closed position,

   characterized in
   that the first or the second protective element (19, 21) is mechanically locked respectively in its closed position by the other protective element (19, 21) that is in the open position, wherein the protective element that is in the open position acts as a locking member.
2. Electrical socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second protective element (19, 21) are prestressed in their closed positions in opposing directions of motion.
3. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first protective element (19) has a closing member (27) with which a mechanical contact with the second protective element (21) is implemented when the first protective element or the second protective element (19, 21) is in the open position.
4. Electrical socket according to claim 3, characterized in that a first and a second projection (37, 39) are designed on the closing member (27) the one behind the other in the direction of motion of the first protective element (19), projections (37, 39) onto which the second protective element (21) can be hooked.
5. Electrical socket according to claim 4, characterized in that the distance of the first projection (37) to the second protective element (21) is less than the distance of the second projection (39) to the second protective element (21).
6. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 4 to 5, characterized in that, in the open position of the second protective element (21), the second protective element (21) is hooked on the first projection (37).
7. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the, in the open position of the first protective element (19), the second protective element (21) is hooked on the second projection (39).
8. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the closing member (27) can be transferred from a first position in which it has a smaller distance to the inner side of the housing (13) into a second position in which it has a greater distance to the inner side of the housing (13).
9. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 3 to 8, characterized in that a ramp (31) along which the closing member (27) can slide from the first position to the second position and conversely is designed on the inner side of the housing (13).
10. Electrical socket according to claim 9, characterized in that the closing member (27) has a slide guide so that the closing member (27) is forcibly guided along the ramp (31).
11. Electrical socket according to claim 10, characterized in that the slide guide is implemented by an oblong hole (33) provided in the closing member and a pin (35) that is passed through the oblong hole (33) and that is connected to the housing (13).
12. Electrical socket according to claim 10, characterized in that the slide guide is implemented by a guide rail (43) that is oriented in the direction of the ramp and that is connected to the housing (13).
13. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 3 to 12, characterized in that the second protective element (21) can slide past the closing member (27) from the closed position to the open position.
14. Electrical socket according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a third protective element exists for closing a third jack, which third protective element mechanically cooperates with the first or with the second protective element (19, 21).

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