EP3535815B1 - Travel adapter which can be securely grounded - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a travel plug adapter, which is also referred to herein as a travel plug for short. With the help of such an adapter, power plugs of a specific (domestic) standard can be plugged into the sockets available at the travel destination. To do this, the travel plug adapter requires a plug receptacle of the first standard and a power plug of a different standard. More specifically, the present invention relates to travel plug adapters that enable plugging into sockets of at least a first and a second standard. For this purpose, power plugs of a first and a second standard can be used alternatively with the travel plug adapter.

Background of the invention

Travel plug adapters or travel plugs of this type are becoming increasingly popular in times of increasing global travel and business activity. Therefore, there is a need for compact, easily transportable travel plug adapters that are compatible with sockets of several different standards.

The Chinese patent application CN 101872911 A discloses a travel plug adapter with a substantially circular housing. Power plugs are housed inside the housing, which can be selected and pushed out of the housing. In this way, at least three different power plug types can be used. The desired power plug is selected by rotating the upper housing section relative to the lower housing section. The upper housing section has a single outwardly projecting actuating slide. This actuating slide can be engaged with various power plug elements. The power plug elements are arranged side by side. To do this, it is rotated into a position above the power plug, which is pushed out from the bottom of the housing.

The German patent specification DE 10 2011 014 920 B4 discloses another travel plug, which is referred to as a universal plug adapter. In this travel plug, several sets of pins are provided in an outer housing. Each set of pins is connected to an operating element, with which it can be moved from the outside. For this purpose, the operating elements are guided through sliding slots in the housing. The operating elements are additionally guided by a locking plate provided inside the outer housing. This locking plate has a guide rail through whose recesses the operating elements can move. The guide rail provides an upper and a lower end position. The locking plate is spring-loaded so that an operating element can be held firmly in the upper or lower end position. The operating element and thus the corresponding set of pins can be released from the end positions and moved up or down by actuating a selector lever provided externally next to the operating elements. By pressing this selector lever, the locking plate is moved against the spring force. This allows the pins to be moved from their upper or lower end positions using the operating elements.

WO 2009/152629 A1 discloses a travel plug adapter according to the preamble of claim 1 with an intermediate plug set. The intermediate plug set comprises an AU plug contact. This has a ground pin, which is connected to another ground contact via a pickup. CN 204966898 U discloses another travel plug adapter which provides contact pins and ground pins of different standards.

In this solution, the external operating parts are used both to move the pin sets from a first end position, a standby position, to a second end position, a use position, and to lock the pin sets in these positions.

For both plug adapters from these disclosures, as well as for other commercially available plug adapters, high electrical safety is important. Reliable grounding of the plug adapter plays a particularly important role. The plug adapters are usually grounded when a selected plug is fully inserted into its operating position. It is conceivable that However, an electrical contact that could be harmful to the user may occur beforehand.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved travel plug adapter. The travel adapter should be inexpensive and reliable to manufacture, easy to transport and operate, and offer a high level of electrical safety.

This object is achieved by an adapter according to independent claim 1. Despite its very compact design, the travel adapter according to the invention avoids being earthed only in the use position and neither in the standby position nor in transition positions between the standby position and the use position.

The travel plug adapter according to the invention has a housing that can have various shapes. For example, a cuboid shape is generally practical for transport. However, the mechanism of the travel plug adapter is designed so that the housing shape can be chosen largely freely. It is advantageous if the housing has at least one flat side, but the mechanism can also be adapted to curved housing surfaces. The housing can be designed in one piece or in multiple parts. It has proven expedient to design the housing in two parts, namely with a lower housing part and an upper housing part. Both can be detachably connected to one another, for example by mechanical means, expediently by a screw connection.

The housing should have at least one plug receptacle. This is preferably provided on the top of the housing. Depending on the type of power plug (hereinafter referred to as "plug"), the plug receptacle can have various shapes. For example, if a Schuko plug is to be accommodated, the plug receptacle will have a substantially cylindrical recess and, in addition, contact sockets. to accommodate the contact pins of the Schuko plug. For other plug types, a recess or groove is not required. It may be useful to provide a flat top of the housing in which several contact sockets are located. As a rule, at least two contact sockets should be provided, forming a contact socket pair for accepting a plug of one standard. It may be useful to provide several contact socket pairs in order to accommodate several plugs of different standards. If the plugs also have earth conductors and the plug receptacle is to offer the option of earthing, it is usually necessary to provide a third contact socket or a third contact for each plug to be accommodated.

The travel plug adapter can also have at least one plug of a first standard and a second plug of a second standard. (Such plugs are sometimes also referred to as pin sets.) The plug of the first standard can be, for example, a Euro or Schuko plug, and the plug of the second standard can be a US plug. The plugs can be two-pin, i.e. ungrounded, or three-pin, so that an earth pole can be provided. This travel plug adapter is therefore suitable for use in more than one country. It is practical and usually necessary if the first plug and the second plug are used alternately.

Plugs conforming to many standards have a plug body that extends into the socket, the shape of which is determined by the socket's shape. Schuko plugs, for example, have such a plug body. This plug body has a basic cylindrical shape with two protruding grooves and two indentations. The grooves determine the orientation of the plug body required by the standard. Grounding contacts can be provided in the indentations. Two contact pins protrude from the bottom of the plug body of the Schuko plug. When the plug is in use, these are the current-carrying contacts, i.e., the positive and negative poles.

A Euro plug also has a plug body that is inserted into a socket and whose shape is determined at least in part by the shape of the socket. Plugs for Switzerland and Italy have similar plug bodies. The plug bodies of a Swiss plug and an Italian plug are similar. Both have three contact pins at the front. The outer contact pins form the positive and negative poles. The middle contact pin is for earthing. In the Italian plug, it is centrally located between the contact pins for the positive and negative poles. In the Swiss plug, it is offset from the line of these two contact pins.

In the context of the present invention, the term "plug body" is intended to describe the part of a plug that is inserted into the socket and whose shape is at least substantially determined by the socket's standard. Above the plug body, there is usually another part of the plug housing, referred to herein as the plug main housing. The plug main housing serves as cable routing; recessed grips or the like are often also provided. Unlike the plug body, the plug main housing is not determined by the shape of the socket.

Plugs of other standards do not require a plug body. The corresponding sockets have a generally flat top surface, which only has sockets for receiving contact pins. These sockets are usually circular or slotted. Plugs that do not have a plug body, but rather only have contact pins protruding from a plug housing, are suitable for the corresponding sockets.

The travel plug adapter can also include three or more plugs. Travel plug adapters with three or four plugs have proven to be very useful. At least one of the plugs, but usually all of the plugs, can be moved from a standby position, in which the plug is essentially located in the housing, into a use position. In the use position, the connector is completely or at least partially outside the housing. It is often possible for the connector to be moved completely back into the housing when returning to the ready position. It is advisable that the connector can be moved back into the housing at least far enough so that it does not interfere with other connectors.

A travel plug adapter according to the present invention should have a first plug, which comprises a plug body and a grounding contact. This first plug could therefore be, for example, a Schuko plug with a plug body of the known cylindrical shape and two contact pins, which serve as the positive and negative poles. In the use position, both the plug body and the first and second contact pins are arranged outside the housing for use. The plug body protrudes from the housing and the first and second contact pins, in turn, protrude from the plug body. In the standby position, the two contact pins are retracted into the plug body and the plug body itself is retracted into the housing. The first plug can of course also be a plug of a different standard.

The travel plug adapter according to the present invention can further comprise a second plug of a different standard, which in turn has a third contact pin and a fourth contact pin. The second plug can also have a ground contact. The second plug can thus be moved into the use position by having the third contact pin and the fourth contact pin protrude from the plug body of the first plug. These can then be inserted into a socket of a suitable standard without this plug body.

According to the present invention, the earth contact is to be maintained both in the use position and in transition positions between the The earth contact must be connected to the first earth contact in the standby and use positions. It is advisable if the earth contact receptacle is also connected to the earth contact in the standby position.

These measures provide additional safety when using the travel plug adapter and also convey this feeling to the user. Especially when the user is confronted with unfamiliar plugs and pins, incorrect operation can easily occur. It is also conceivable that an earth pin is partially retracted into the housing before the travel plug adapter is completely removed from a power outlet. This could create dangerous situations that can be avoided by the electrical connection of the earth contacts according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, the earth contact receptacle is connected to the first earth contact (or to the remaining earth contacts) by a movable contact clamp. Such a contact clamp is expediently made of metal. It can have a fixed end that is mechanically connected to a conductor. It can also have a movable end that is mechanically movably connected to a conductor. In either case, both the fixed end and the movable end are electrically connected to the conductor. This conductor can be the earth contact or the earth contact receptacle, or a conductor arranged between the earth contact and the earth contact receptacle.

It may be useful to connect the movable end to the first earth contact in a mechanically movable manner. The earth contact can then be guided through the movable end of the contact clamp or along it. This is particularly useful if the Earth contact is designed in the form of a pin or pin, for example in the form of a cylindrical pin or a flat pin.

It may also be useful to mechanically connect the ground contact to the contact clamp at its fixed end. This fixed connection allows the contact clamp to move with the ground contact when it is moved from its standby position to the use position.

According to the present invention, at least one or more contact rails are provided within the travel plug adapter. These contact rails can be arranged electrically, but also mechanically, between the earth contact receptacle and the earth contact. Such a contact rail is well suited for use with a contact clamp. On the one hand, the contact clamp is guided along the contact rail, i.e., in particular, its movable end is guided past the contact rail. It is often particularly useful if the movable end of the contact clamp engages around the contact rail. For this purpose, the movable end of the contact clamp can have two opposing contact jaws that can clamp around the contact rail. It can also be expedient if the fixed end of a contact clamp is connected to the contact rail. The contact rail can then hold the contact clamp in a desired, favorable position at the fixed end.

According to the present invention, the contact rail is mechanically connected to the earth contact receptacle (in addition to the electrical connection).

The contact bar is then mechanically held by the earth contact. This is particularly advantageous when using the earth contact of a Schuko plug. This mechanical connection allows for a compact Design of the plug with simultaneous safe and preferably direct contact between the earth contact receptacle and the contact rail.

Because the earth contact of a Schuko plug encloses the cylindrical plug housing in accordance with the German standard, they are mechanically particularly stable. Such an earth contact is expediently (and usually) designed as an earth contact track. Tilting is virtually impossible, particularly in the plane defined by the opposing earth contacts, so that mechanical play only occurs perpendicular to this plane. In a compact travel plug with many movable parts, little surface area is available for anchoring components. It is therefore advisable to use the earth contact of a Schuko plug to anchor at least one contact rail. It may also be advisable to use the earth contact of a Schuko plug to anchor at least two or all of the provided contact rails.

It is advisable if the contact rails are connected to the earth contact of a Schuko plug with one end face. It is advisable to screw the contact rails to the earth contact of a Schuko plug. This creates a stable mechanical connection which is detachable and can also serve for electrical current conduction. It is therefore advisable to screw them together using an electrically conductive screw. It is therefore also advisable to provide a blind hole and a thread in the end face of the contact rail(s). This blind hole can accommodate a screw. This connection can be made so strong and secure that only one connection is required on one side of a contact rail, preferably only on one end face. Contact rails with a round cross-section are held particularly satisfactorily by screwing.

A travel plug adapter is particularly useful in which, in addition to the first plug, a second plug of a second standard is provided, which is also assigned an actuating element which is designed to move the second plug between a standby position in which the second plug is located substantially inside the housing and a use position in which the second plug is located outside the housing in a usable manner, and a second earth contact is assigned to the second plug.

When using two plugs, it is advisable to connect the ground contact of the first plug to the fixed end of a first contact clamp, and the ground contact of the second plug to the movable end of the second contact clamp. This allows for a particularly compact design of the travel plug adapter.

A travel plug adapter with at least a first and a second plug is also useful, with the first plug having an earth contact and the contact clamp connected to the earth contact with its movable end, and the second plug having an earth contact connected to the fixed end of the same contact clamp. It is particularly useful if a common contact bar is provided for both plugs. Accordingly, it is useful if the earth contact of the second plug runs along the contact bar with the movable end of a contact clamp.

It is also particularly useful for connectors to be guided along sliding slots in the housing. This guide facilitates the guidance of contact clamps, especially along contact rails. This also applies to the provision of guide slots inside the connector. Such guide slots can also be provided in connector bodies.

It is also particularly expedient if the travel plug adapter is mechanically designed such that one of the plugs, for example the first plug, has a plug body and the plug body has guide slots. A guide slot can be provided for a support element of a second plug. Such a support element can be, for example, a support beam that guides contact pins of the second plug. The provision of such a guide slot allows the support element to be guided deep into the plug body of the first plug, thus enabling precise mechanical guidance of the contact pins it carries. The guidance is particularly precise if such a guide slot and a sliding slot in the plug housing are arranged in mutually parallel planes. This arrangement allows the support element to be guided by two slots and thus provides mechanically very secure and precise guidance.

This guide not only offers mechanical advantages but also increases electrical safety. Since the displacement path of the corresponding support element is precisely predetermined, jamming or damage to the electrical cables required in this area can be largely avoided.

It may be useful for the second plug to have a ground contact positioned at a distance from the plug body of the first plug. Such a ground contact is not located on the outside of the plug body, but is typically located a few millimeters apart (2 to 10 mm). For example, the ground contact can be provided in the form of a third contact pin positioned parallel to the contact pins for the positive and negative poles. Reliable grounding is particularly important for a travel plug adapter with such a compact design.

The travel plug adapter can have more than the first and second plugs; travel plug adapters with three or four plugs are often practical. For example, a third plug can be provided, with at least one contact located in the plug body of the first plug. It is conceivable, for example, that the earth contact of the third plug is located in the plug body of the first plug. It would also be conceivable for two current-carrying contacts of the third plug (positive and negative poles) to be located in the plug body of the first plug.

In such an arrangement, the safe grounding of the travel plug adapter is very important.

It is also useful if the travel plug adapter is designed so that the second and third plugs have the same polarity. This creates the same poles on one side of the plug's center plane, for example the positive pole on the left and the negative pole on the right. The center plane divides the plug down the middle between the live poles, or at least the live poles of the second and third plugs. This allows for easy and safe wiring of the plug. In principle, it is easy to use the travel plug adapter in positions rotated 180° to each other. However, it is often advantageous to mechanically restrict this use so that the travel plug adapter can only be used in one fixed position and then to select the polarity that is most favorable for this position.

It is possible to equip a travel plug according to the invention with a selection slider, in which a sliding position is provided for each plug and the selection slider is connected to an operating button provided on the outside of the housing and, depending on the sliding position of the selection slider, only one sliding of the selected plug between the standby position and the use position is permitted. Such a selection slider may comprise a locking element by which other plugs are locked in the ready position.

Alternatively, a selection slider can be omitted. This type of travel plug adapter therefore lacks a selection slider in addition to the operating sliders. This is particularly useful when a different mechanism than the selection slider prevents the simultaneous operation of more than one operating slider.

Within the scope of the present invention, it is also expedient to provide a locking element which locks at least the first plug or the second plug in the use position. This locking element is expediently connected to a release button provided on the outside of the housing. It can be spring-loaded against the release direction. The provision of a locking element is particularly expedient so that plugs are reliably held in the use position. Because, for example, the first and second as well as the third and fourth contact pins can have different lengths, a slight displacement from the use position might not be immediately noticed, but can be reliably prevented with the locking element.

It is advisable for the travel plug adapter housing to have sliding slots or similar recesses. The actuating elements or sliders can slide in these sliding slots. An additional sliding slot can also be provided for the selection slider. Sliding slots allow the movement of a slider while simultaneously guiding it. They therefore represent an advantageous and cost-effective mechanical solution. Since several actuating elements or sliders are usually provided on the travel plug adapter, it is particularly advantageous if these can be easily guided in sliding slots.

The optional locking element can be designed as a separate component from the selector slide. Alternatively, the locking element can also be a component connected to the selector slide. Designing it as a separate component has potential manufacturing advantages. The selector slide is a component that does not have to transmit or withstand large forces. However, by its very nature, the locking element must reliably exert enough force to securely hold a connector of any standard in the operating position.

For similar reasons, it is expedient if the locking element is also a separate component from the actuating slides. The locking element is considered a separate component if it has at least one component that is not also part of the selection slide or an actuating slide. As a general rule, it is expedient if all components of the locking element are designed separately from the components of the selection slide and the components of the actuating slides.

It is expedient if the (optional) locking element is connected to a release button, which is provided on the outside of the housing and can be actuated in a release direction. Such a release button allows the intuitive and safe release of the locking element when a plug is to be returned from the use position to the ready position. This design appears safer and more reliable than those in which certain movements of the actuation slide or the selection slide, or even the plug itself, lead to the plug being released. To prevent the release button from being accidentally actuated, it can also be provided with warning labels or designed in a warning color, such as red. The release button can be part of the housing, for example, if a suitable design allows part of the housing to be depressed. As a rule, it is expedient to provide a recess in the housing and to accommodate the release button as a part independent of the housing in this recess. The release button can expediently be arranged opposite the selection slide and/or the actuation slides.

It is advantageous if the locking element is spring-loaded, if necessary, against the release direction. The spring-loaded locking element allows the connectors to reliably engage automatically in a locking position as soon as the connectors are in the usable position. It is mechanically advantageous if the springs act exactly against the release direction.

A practical design of an (optional) locking element is one in which the locking element has at least one locking rib, and this locking rib has a sliding surface and a locking projection. An element connected to a moving plug can slide along the sliding surface. This element can then engage the locking projection, thus locking the plug connected to the element.

A travel plug adapter is useful in which at least one plug has a sliding nose or is mechanically firmly connected to one and the sliding nose runs on the sliding surface and can, if necessary, assume a locking position on a locking projection.

A travel plug adapter with a locking mechanism featuring multiple locking tabs, such as two, three, or four, is also useful. The number of locking tabs can be as large as the number of plugs. It may also be practical and sufficient if the number of locking tabs is fewer than the number of plugs.

Especially in the latter case, it is useful if at least two connectors are each connected to a sliding lug, and both sliding lugs run on the same locking rib of the locking element. Since both sliding lugs run on the same locking rib, both sliding lugs run on the same sliding surface and the same locking projection, where both sliding lugs assume a locking position. Since the travel plug adapter is not intended to accommodate two plugs in the use position at the same time, the sliding lugs alternatively assume this locking position on the locking projection. However, by having two sliding lugs, for example, two sliding lugs on adjacent plugs, share a suitably dimensioned locking bar, the number of locking bars can be reduced, making the travel plug adapter even more compact.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Reisesteckeradapters,

Fig. 2

zeigt aus ähnlicher Perspektive eine Darstellung des Ausführrungsbeispiels des Reisesteckeradapters, bei dem der US-Stecker in die Nutzstellung überführt wurde,

Fig. 3

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung auf den Reisesteckeradapter nach Fig. 2, in der die Unterseite sichtbar wird,

Fig.4

zeigt in entsprechender perspektivischer Darstellung den Reisestecker aus Fig. 3, bei dem der Schuko-Stecker in die Nutzstellung überführt wurde,

Fig. 5

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile des Reisesteckers,

Fig. 6

zeigt in ähnlicher perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile, wobei ein weiterer Tragrahmen für einen AU-Stecker sichtbar wird,

Fig. 7

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile, insbesondere das Gehäuse des Schuko-Steckers.

Fig. 8

zeigt in perspektivischer Darstellung ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile, insbesondere Kontaktstifte, eines Ausführungsbeispiels nach der vorliegenden Erfindung

Further features, as well as advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following drawings and the accompanying description. In the figures and the accompanying descriptions, features of the invention are described in combination. However, these features may also be encompassed by an inventive subject matter in other combinations. Each disclosed feature is therefore also to be considered as disclosed in technically expedient combinations with other features. Some of the figures are slightly simplified and schematic.

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a travel plug adapter according to the invention,

Fig. 2

shows from a similar perspective a representation of the exemplary embodiment of the travel plug adapter, in which the US plug has been transferred into the use position,

Fig. 3

shows a perspective view of the travel plug adapter according to Fig. 2 , in which the underside becomes visible,

Fig.4

shows in a corresponding perspective view the travel plug from Fig. 3 , in which the Schuko plug was moved into the use position,

Fig. 5

shows a perspective view of selected interacting components of the travel plug,

Fig. 6

shows in a similar perspective view selected interacting components, whereby another support frame for an AU plug is visible,

Fig. 7

shows a perspective view of selected interacting components, in particular the housing of the Schuko plug.

Fig. 8

shows in perspective view selected interacting components, in particular contact pins, of an embodiment according to the present invention

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a travel plug adapter 10 according to the invention, which is ready for use but not yet in the operating position. Rather, all plugs are in the standby position, ie, in the housing.

In the following, only the most essential elements of the travel plug adapter 10 are described. The travel plug adapter has a housing, which consists of an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 14. The upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 14 together form the main plug housing. On the upper side of the travel plug adapter, and thus in the area of the upper housing part 12, is the plug receptacle 16. This has a plurality of contact sockets 18. In detail, these are the socket pair 18A for receiving current-carrying UK contact pins, the socket pair 18B for receiving current-carrying AU contact pins, the socket pair 18C for receiving current-carrying US contact pins, the socket 18D for receiving a UK earth pin and the socket 18E for receiving a US earth pin or AU earth pin. In a corresponding manner, a A socket for contact pins according to the Schuko standard and a corresponding earthing must be provided. Such earthing is Fig. 8 shown.

The release button 20 is also provided on the side of the housing. It is used to lock and release actuating elements. The first actuating slide 22, with which the US contacts can be pushed out, the second actuating slide 24, with which the AU contacts can be pushed out, and the third actuating slide 26, with which a Schuko plug can be pushed out, is provided on the front of the housing.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the travel plug adapter according to the invention, in which the actuating slide 22 has been moved to its lower position. Accordingly, the contact pins for the US plug 28 protrude from the housing. The US plug 28 comprises two current-conducting contact pins, pins 30A and 30B, as well as a grounding pin 32. In the position shown, the travel plug can be inserted into a US-standard socket. This standard does not require the use of a plug body. The housing underside of the travel plug adapter 10 then rests flush with the flat surface of the US-standard plug.

In Fig. 3 The same travel plug is shown from a slightly different perspective. Here it is clearly visible that the underside 34 is flat. However, a plurality of openings 36 and elements are provided on this underside. The openings 36A and 36B are provided for conductive Schuko contact pins. The openings 36C and 36D are provided for conductive AU contact pins. The opening 38 is provided for an additional earth pin. The opening 38, together with the openings 36A and 36B, is provided in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. A fuse insert 46 is also provided next to this plug body.

Fig. 4 shows, from the same perspective, the travel plug adapter according to the invention, with the Schuko plug moved into the use position. Accordingly, the third actuating slide 26 has been moved to its lower position. The plug body 40 of the Schuko plug protrudes above the underside 34 of the housing. The current-carrying contact pins 42A and 42B of the Schuko plug, in turn, protrude from this. According to the standard, ground contacts 44 are located on the sides of the plug body.

Fig. 5 This figure shows a perspective view of selected interacting components of the travel plug 10. With the upper housing section removed, the view is directed into the interior of the plug, revealing primarily the components that are housed in the lower housing section 14. It should also be noted that not all components required for the plug's function are shown. A selection has been made for the sake of clarity.

The plug body 40 of the Schuko plug is visible. This contains openings 36A and 36B for the current-conducting contact pins of the Schuko plug. Also visible is opening 36E, which is intended for a ground contact pin. Another opening is also visible in this illustration: opening 56 for the ground pin of the AU plug.

Also shown are the current-conducting contact pins 30A and 30B for the US plug. These are in their ready position, i.e., retracted into the housing. Accordingly, the first actuating slide 22 is in the upper position. The actuating slide 22 can be held in this position by the locking mechanism 48.

The actuating slide 22 moves the support beam 50. The contact pins 30A and 30B are suspended from this support beam 50. Accordingly, the support beam 50 moves downward when the first actuating slide 22 is moved toward the housing bottom. The contact pins 30A and 30B are guided in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. The Schuko plug thus provides a guide for contact pins of a different standard.

Fig. 6 shows a similar perspective view of a similar selection of interacting components. The main difference to Fig. 5 The support beam 52 for the AU plug is also visible here. The support beam 52 is connected to the actuating slide 24. The support beam 52 has three beam ends, the beam ends 54A, 54B and 54C, which converge in the area 54. The beam ends 54A and 54B support the current-conducting contacts of the AU plug. They mechanically guide these contacts from the (illustrated) ready position to the use position. The beam end 54C guides the AU earth pin. The earth pin is thus moved from the (illustrated) ready position by the Fig. 5 visible opening 56 is moved into the use position.

For the AU plug, an arrangement was chosen in which the current-carrying pins are routed outside the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug, while the grounding pin is routed inside the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug. In contrast, the current-carrying contact pins for the US plug are routed inside the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. Both solutions allow for an advantageous and space-saving arrangement. Different solutions can be selected for different plugs.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of other selected interacting components of the travel plug adapter. Here, the actuating slide 22 for the US plug and the actuating slide 26 for the EU plug (designed as a Schuko plug) are visible. The support arm 50 is connected to the actuating slide 22. The support arm 50 guides the ground pin 32, which is moved outside the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. The support arm 50, on the other hand, guides the current-conducting contacts of the US plug inside the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. Accordingly, a guide slot 58 is provided in the plug body 40. This guide slot 58 allows the support bar 50 to engage deeply into the plug body 40, thus enabling secure mechanical guidance of the US contact pins.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of selected interacting components of an embodiment according to the present invention. Shown are a variety of contact pins for plugs of different standards. The corresponding contact pins can be used in a travel plug adapter according to the preceding illustrations. However, their mechanical arrangement differs slightly from those of the previously shown embodiment.

The contact pins are in turn guided on the support frame 60. More specifically, the support frame 60A, which carries the contact pins for a plug for Australia, and the support frame 60B, which carries the contact pins for a plug for the USA, are designated. The current-carrying contact 62 for Australia and the earth contact 64 for Australia are located on the support frame 60A. The earth contact for the USA is located on the support frame 60B (the current-carrying contacts for the USA are not visible in this illustration; some contact pins have also been omitted for the sake of clarity). However, the earth contact 68 for the UK plug is shown.

The earth contact track 70 serves as the earth contact for a Schuko plug. According to the embodiment of Fig. 1 Of course, another earth contact would also be possible, for example a socket like the sockets 18D or 18E shown there.

The ground contact track is connected to a first contact rail 72 and a second contact rail 74. (They can also be referred to as contact strips.) The connection is electrically conductive, but the connection is also designed such that the first contact rail 72 and the second contact rail 74 are mechanically held by the ground contact track 70 for the Schuko plug.

The electrical contact can be electrically transferred from the first contact bar 72 to the AU ground contact 64. The first contact clamp 76 is used for this purpose. The second contact clamp is used to transfer the electrical contact from the second contact bar 74 to the UK ground contact 68. The electrical contact is transferred from the second contact bar 74 to the US ground contact 66 via the third contact clamp 80.

The contact clips each have a movable end 82 and a fixed end 84. The movable end is referred to as "movable" with regard to its relative movement to the ground contact or the contact rail. In individual cases, it is stationary within the housing. The movable end 82 of the first contact clip 76 is movable relative to the first contact rail 72. With its two contact jaws 86A and 86B, the movable end 82 can slide along the first contact rail 72, thereby maintaining electrical contact. This sliding occurs while the ground contact 64 slides downward when the corresponding plug is transferred from the (shown) ready position to the use position. In general, within the scope of the present invention, it is expedient to provide two opposing contact jaws at both ends of a contact clip, but especially at its movable end.

The fixed end 84 is firmly connected to the earth contact 64. It could be connected directly to this contact, but in this case it is Ground contact holder 88 is connected to ground contact 64. The ground contact holder 88 thus holds the ground contact 64. The fixed end 84 of the first contact clamp 76 is, as can be seen, screwed to the ground contact holder 88.

A different solution was chosen for the US ground contact 66. This can also be moved from the illustrated standby position to a use position by sliding the support frame 60B downward (in this illustration, away from the ground contact track 70). In doing so, the cylindrical ground contact 66 is moved by the stationary third contact clamp 80. The third contact clamp 80 is stationary because its fixed end 84 is firmly connected to the end of the second contact strip 74.

The movable end 82 of the second contact strip 74 can also be expediently designed with two opposing contact jaws. Passing the ground contact through such contact jaws is particularly expedient for cylindrical contact pins. The term "movable end" refers to the third contact clamp 80 with regard to the relative movement of this end to the ground pin. In general, it is also expedient to attach the fixed end of a contact clamp to the end of a contact strip, for example, by screwing it.

The UK earth contact 68 is also connected to the earth contact track 70 via the second contact strip 74. In this case, the connection is made via the second contact clamp 78, whose fixed end 84 is firmly connected (and in this case also without an earth contact holder) to the earth contact 68. A screw connection again serves as a generally suitable connection. The movable end 82 of the second contact clamp 78 is moved along the second contact strip 74 when the earth contact 68 is transferred to its (lower) use position. Consequently, the second contact strip 74 carries two contact clamps. This is generally within the scope of This is a useful concept for the present invention. It is also useful within the scope of the present invention if the movable end of a first contact clamp (here clamp 78) and the fixed end of a second contact clamp (here clamp 80) are connected to a contact pin.

In the manner described in general terms and more specifically in the drawings, a travel adapter can be manufactured that is very convenient to use, yet highly prone to operating errors. Interestingly, the travel adapter can still be manufactured inexpensively in this way and can also be manufactured inexpensively and reliably, even if larger error tolerances must be allowed for in mass production.

List of reference symbols

10

Travel plug/travel plug adapter

12

Upper case

14

Lower housing part

16

Plug socket

18

contact socket

18A

UK socket pair

18B

OFF socket pair

18C

US socket pair

18D

Socket for UK earth pin

18E

US Earth Pin

20

Release button

22

first operating slide

24

second operating slide

26

third operating slide

28

US plug

30

current-conducting contact pins (US plug)

32

Grounding pin (US plug)

34

Plug body (Schuko plug)

36

Openings

36A

Opening current-conducting contacts (Schuko)

36B

Opening current-conducting contacts (Schuko)

36C

Opening current-conducting contacts (US)

36D

Opening current-conducting contacts (US)

36E

Opening further earth contact

38

Schuko plug

40

Schuko plug body

42

current-carrying contacts Schuko plug

44

Earth contact Schuko plug

46

Fuse compartment

48

Locking mechanism

50

US supporting beam

52

Opening earth pin

54

Support beam AU

56

Support beam ends AU

58

guide slot

60

Supporting frame

62

live contact AU

64

Earth contact AU

66

Earth contact US

68

Earth contact UK

70

Earth contact track Schuko

72

first contact strip

74

second contact strip

76

first contact clamp

78

second contact clamp

80

third contact clamp

82

movable end

84

fixed end

86

Contact jaws

88

Earth contact holder

Claims (12)

1. Travel plug adapter (10), which has a housing and a plug receptacle according to the Schuko standard, which has a first earth contact receptacle (70) and has at least one first plug (28, 38) of a first standard, the first plug (28, 38) being assigned an actuating element (26), which is designed for displacing the first plug (28, 38) between a ready position, in which the first plug (28, 38) is located substantially inside the housing, and a usable position, in which the first plug (28, 38) is located usably outside the housing, and the first plug (28, 38) is located substantially inside the housing, in which the first plug (28, 38) is located substantially inside the housing, and a use position in which the first plug (28, 38) is located usably outside the housing, and the first plug (28, 38) is assigned a first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) which can be electrically connected to the earth contact receptacle (70), wherein the earth contact receptacle (70) is connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) both in the usable position and in transitional positions between the ready position and the usable position, wherein the electrical contact between the earth contact receptacle (70) and the earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) is mediated by at least one contact rail (72, 74), characterised in that the at least one contact rail (72, 74) is connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) by means of at least one contact rail (72, 74), in that the at least one contact rail (72, 74) is mechanically connected to the earth contact receptacle (70) and there is direct contact between the earth contact receptacle (70) and the at least one contact rail (72, 74) and in which the connection of the earth contact receptacle (70) to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) is effected by a movable contact clip (76, 78, 80).
2. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first earth contact receptacle (18D, 18E, 70) is also connected to the first earth contact (44) in the standby position.
3. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact clip (76, 78, 80) has a fixed end (84) which is mechanically fixedly connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) or to the contact rail (72, 74) and has a movable end (82) which is mechanically movably connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) or to the contact rail (72, 74).
4. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the movable end (82) is mechanically movably connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68).
5. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first earth contact is designed as a cylindrical pin.
6. The travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first earth contact (44) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the contact clip (76, 78, 80).
7. Travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the movable end (82) of the contact clip (76, 78, 80) is guided on the contact rail (72, 74).
8. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least the first contact rail (72) and a second contact rail (74) are mechanically connected to the earth contact receptacle (70)
9. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 3 to 8, in which furthermore a second plug (28) of a second standard is provided, which is also assigned an actuating element (24) which is designed for displacing the second plug (28) between a ready position, in which the second plug (28) is located essentially inside the housing, and a usable position, in which the second plug (28) is located usably outside the housing, and a second earth contact (32) is assigned to the second plug,
10. A travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first earth contact (44) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the first contact clip (76) and the second earth contact (66) of the second plug (28) is connected to the movable end (82) of a second contact clip (80).
11. Travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 9 to 10, wherein the contact clip (80) is connected by its movable end (82) to the first earth contact (66), and wherein the second earth contact (68) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the contact clip (80).
12. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at the second earth contact (68) of the second plug (28) the movable end (82) runs on a second contact rail (74).

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