GB2336478A

GB2336478A - Power Socket Adaptor

Info

Publication number: GB2336478A
Application number: GB9808101A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chiu-Shan Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-16
Filing date: 1998-04-16
Publication date: 1999-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-16
Also published as: GB9808101D0; GB2336478B

Abstract

An adapter and socket structure (1) adapted for use on a securing frame (5) of a socket of European specification including a socket body provided with an electrically conductive frame at either side thereof to which a corresponding wire clamping reed having a wire clamping portion may be assembled. When the slide cover plate (42) becomes unbalanced on insertion of an electrically conductive element, the higher end will be checked by a projection at the inner side of the hole cover and the safety slide cover plate cannot be pushed aside. A German plug adapter seat (4) may normally be connected to a European socket so that a guide post therein pushes aside a safety slide cover plate inside the European socket so that, when using the plug of a European made electric appliance, there is no need to use a tool to push aside the safety slide cover plate.

Description

2336478

TITLE: ADAPTER AND SOCKET STRUCTURE ADAPTED FOR USE ON A SECURING FRAEM OF A SOCKET OF EUROPEAN SPECIFICATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates generally to an adapter and socket structure adapted for use on a securing frame of a socket of European specification, and more particularly to socket that may be insertably or lockably connected to a power supply lead wire and a ground lead wire and that includes a hole cover plate having a seat body with a safety slide cover plate at one side thereof so that the slide cover plate is subjected to the resilience of springs provided at both sides thereof to always close power supply insert holes of the hole cover plate, thereby ensuring safety. The socket may also be coupled to a Gerinan plug or European plug by means of a German plug adapter seat in which a w grounding guide post thereof is utilizable to push the safety slide cover plate downwardly. When the socket is used in conjunction with the European plug, there is no need to use a tool to push open the safety slide cover plate via a grounding insert hole. Besides, the German plug adapter seat may be provided with a safety slide cover plate at a rear side thereof to always ensure closure.

(b) Description of the Prior Art:

Different countries have different requirements regarding the connection between sockets and power supply lead wires. Therefore. there are different 1 6. The arrangement of the German plug adapter seat enables the socket of the present invention to be connected to a German plug.

7. By means of the German plug adapter seat, the socket of the present invention may be connected to a European socket and may, by utilizing a grounding guide post, push a safety slide cover plate inside the European socket downwardly so that there is no need to use a tool to push aside the safety slide cover plate when using a European made electric appliance. Besides, the German plug adapter seat is provided with a safety slide cover plate at a rear side thereof to normally close the insert holes to further ensure safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which.

Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention; Fig. IA is a perspective exploded view of the present invention after assembly of the socket., Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the present invention, Fig. 3 Is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment in which one of the 2 0 electrically conductive frames may, be insertably or lockably connected to the power supply wire.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view Illustrating an embodiment in which a grounding 4 conductive blocks having locking screws to allow secure locking connection with power supply lead wires.

2. The present invention allows the user to selectively connect the wires to the socket by insertion or locking and enables manufacturers to manufacture sockets with or without electrically conductive blocks and grounding conductive blocks.

3. By means of the arrangement of the adapter frame, the socket of the present invention may be directly installed in a European socket securing frame or other electric appliances.

4. A safety means is provided in power supply insert holes of a hole cover plate of the socket to be subjected to the resetting force of springs so that it normally always closes the power supply insert holes.

5. The hole cover plate of the present invention is provided with downwardly extendina fastening portions having fastening holes at two corners thereof, with projecting fastening corners provided at the other two corners, whereas the socket body is provided with four projecting fastening corners.

During assembly, the fastenin portions of the hole cover plate are caused 9 to engage two of the projecting fastening corners of the socket body, and two fastening elements also having fastening holes are used to engage the CY Z-- other two of the projecting fastening corners of the hole cover plate and the socket body respectively, thereby allowing quick assembly of the hole cover plate to the socket body.

3 The socket 1 includes a socket body 12 having two electrically conductive frame receiving regions 121 at both sides thereof respectively for receiving the respective electrically conductive frames 2. Each electrically conductive frame 2 has a wire clamping reed 22 provided with a wire clamping portion 221 assembled thereto at an appropriate position. The socket body 12 further includes a central receiving region 123 for receiving the grounding guide frame A distal end of the grounding guide frame 3 is formed with a wire clamping portion 313. Respective insert holes 124 are formed at the bottom portion of the socket body 12 at positions corresponding to the wire clamping reeds 22 and the wire clamping portions 313 so that respective cores 61 and 71 of the power supply lead wire 6 and the grounding lead wire 7 may be inserted 1 C C_ 1 via the insert holes 124 to be clamped by the wire clamping reed 22 and the wire clamping portions 221 and 313 to achieve secure clamping. Wire relieving press elements 125 are provided near respective insert holes 124 and may be pressed to release the wire clamping portions 221 and 313 to allow 1 - removal of wires. Furthermore, the insert holes 124 at both sides and the center of the bottom portion of the socket body 12 are arranged alternately with three receP,7in2 regions 123. The recel,,.ln regions 123 at the sides are respectively provided with electrically conductive blocks 21 having a locking hole 211 and a locking screw 212. Each electrically conductive block 21 has a projection 214 at an upper end of one side thereof. The receiving region 123 t at the center is likewise provided with a grounding guide block 31 having a 6 guide frame may be insertably or lockably connected to a grounding lead wire; Fig. 5 illustrates the socket of the present invention assembled firstly to an adapter frame and then to an European socket securing frame; Fig. 6 illustrates the socket of the present invention assembled firstly to the adapter frame and then to an electric appliance provided with European socket securing holes; Fig. 7 illustrates the socket of the present invention assembled to a German plug adapter seat to allow insertion of a German plug; Fig. 8 illustrates the socket of the present invention assembled to the German 10 plug adapter seat to allow connection with a plug of a European made electric appliance.

Fig. 9 illustrates the German plug adapter having another embodiment of the safety slide cover plate and being assembled to an European socket to allow reception of the plug of a European inade electric appliance., Fig. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the safety slide cover plate; Fig. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the guide post and guide slot of the safety slide cover plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figs. 1-4, the present invention essentially comprises a socket 20 1, two electrica1K. conductive frames 2, a grounding guide frame 3, a seat body 1 -- 1 4, an adapter frame 5, a power supply lead wire 6. and a grounding, conductive wire 7.

socket body 12 respectively. In addition, an elongate slot 112 is provided at one side wall of the hole cover plate 11. The seat body 4 having a guide post 41 at its center is assembled to the elongate slot 112. A safety slide cover plate 42 centrally provided with a guide hole 421 is assembled to the guide post 41 such that it may slidably displace along the guide post 41. Besides, inclined surfaces 422 are provided at the upper end of both sides of the safety slide cover plate 42. Normally, the safety slide cover plate 42 is closed within the interior of power supply insert holes 111 at both sides of the hole cover plate 11. If an electrically conductive element is inserted into any one of the power supply insert holes 11. the safety slide cover plate 42 will become unbalanced, i.e.. one end high, one end low. The hi her end will be checked 9 by a projection at the inner side of the hole cover plate 11 and the safety slide cover plate 42 cannot be pushed aside (not illustrated), thus preventing children from getting electric shock when playing with electrical sockets. When a plug is inserted into the socket of the present invention, the prongs of the plug will push away the inclined surfaces 422 to thereby push away the safety slide cover plate 42, allowing reception of the prongs of the plug.

With further reference to"Figs. 1 and IA, the socket 1 of the present invention may be installed in the adapter frame 5. The adapter frame 5 has a size specification equivalent to that of a European socket P. Two socket fastening plates 51 are formed at opposite inner walls of the adapter frame 5 for fastening engaging slots 127 at opposite sides of the socket 1. Additionally, 8 locking hole 311 and a locking screw 312. Besides. the conductive blocks 21 and the grounding guide block 31 are capable of complete contact with the two electrically conductive frames 2 and the grounding guide frame 3, wherein the projections 214 of the conductive blocks 21 are inserted into respective clamp regions 213 at the center of the electrically conductive frames 2 to achieve excellent electricity transmission. The cores 61 and 71 of the power supply lead wire 6 and the grounding lead wire 7 are inserted via the insert holes 123 provided at the side walls of the receiving regions 123 at the bottom portion of the socket body 12 into the locking holes 211 and 311 of the conductive blocks 21 and the grounding guide block 3 1, and locking screws 212 and 3 12 are used to lock them in position, thus achieving a socket that is insertably or lockably connected.

There is further provided a hole cover plate 11 having an insert hole for assembly to the socket body 12. Downwardly extending fastening portions 113 having fastening holes 1131 are provided at two corners of the hole cover plate 11. At the other two corners, there are provided respective projecting fastening corners 126. The four corners of the socket body 12 are also provided with respective projecting fastening corners 114. During assembly.

the fastening portions 113 of the hole cover plate 11 firstly engage two of the projecting fastening corners 126 of the socket body 12. Two fastening elements 115 also having fastening holes 151 are then used to en-age the other two projecting fastening corners 114 and 126 of the hole cover plate 11 and the t C_ 7 Hence, when using a European plug 86 of an electric appliance, there is no need to use a tool to push the safety, slide cover plate 12' downwardly via the grounding insert hole 13)'.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the above-mentioned German plug adapter seat 8 may be coupled to the European socket 1' in advance so that the grounding guide post 83 is inserted via the grounding insert hole 13' to push down the safety slide cover plate 12 inside the socket 1' to open the power supply insert holes 11'. To further ensure safety. a rear side of the German plug adapter seat 8 is provided with a depression 87 which is centrally provided with a guide post 871 including a support end 873 at a front end and an oval pin 872 at a rear end. There is further provided on the guide post 871 a safety slide cover plate 9 which has an inclined surface 91 and a central oval guide slot 92. Both sides of a rear edQe of the safety. slide cover plate 9 are provided with spring positioning posts 93 securing respective springs 931. whereby the safety slide 15 cover plate 9 non-nally closes the power supply, insert holes 81 to achieve safety.

And when the prongs 861 are simultaneously inserted to contact the inclined surface 91 of the safety slide cover plate 9. the safety. slide cover plate 9 will be in a balanced state. so that the oval guide slot 92 may just face the oval pin 872 of the guide post 871 to cause the safety slide cover plate 9 to be pushed along C_ by the guide post 871 in an axial direction. thereby allowing the prongs 861 to 1 t7 be inserted into the European socket V. Therefore, when a single prong or rod is inserted into the socket V, the safety slide cover plate 9 will be caused to the inner four corners of the adapter frame 5 are each provided with a stop plate 52, and two retaining plates 53 are respectively provided at front and rear sides of the adapter frame 5, whereby the socket 1 of the present invention may, by means of the adapter frame 5, couple to a European socket securing frame 13' or any electric appliance or instruments having securing holes of a European socket specification, as shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 7, the socket 1 may have a German plug adapter seat 8 inserted therein in advance. The German plug adapter seat 8 includes a depression provided with a grounding insert hole 82 and power supply insert holes 81 corresponding to the socket 1. A top end of the depression is provided with a grounding guide post 83 extending outwardly from within the depression. Furthermore, when the German plug adapter seat 8 is coupled to the socket 1 as a whole, by means of the grounding guide post 83 inserted into a groundine, insert hole 111 of the socket 1 to contact with the grounding guide frame 3 and be clamped therewith as a whole, a German plug 84 may also be received by the socket 1. Besides, the grounding guide post 83 extending into the depression is caused to contact a grounding element 841 of the German pluc, 84 to achieve grounding.

Referring to Fig. 8. the German lug adapter seat 8 may also be insertably p coupled to the European socket 1' as a whole in advance so that the grounding ide post 83 may, insert into the grounding insert hole 13' to push open a P1 3 safety slide cover plate 12' to thereby open power supply insert holes 1 V.

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Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An adapter and socket structure adapted for use on a securing frame of a socket of European specification. comprising a socket body, a hole cover plate, fastening elements, a power supply guide frame, a grounding guide frame, wire clamping reeds, wire relieving press elements, electrically conductive blocks, grounding guide blocks, a seat body, safety slide covers, springs, and frames, electrically conductive frame receiving regions at both sides of said socket body being respectively provided with an electrically conductive frame to which a corresponding wire clamping reed having a wire clamping portion is assembled.

a central receiving region of said socket body being provided with said grounding guide frame, which has a wire clamping portion formed at a rear end Z thereof, insert holes being provided at a bottom portion of said socket body at positions corresponding to said wire clamping reeds of electrically conductive frames and said wire clamping portion of said grounding guide frame so that cores of a power suppl-,, lead wire and a grounding lead wire may be inserted via said insert holes to be clamped bly said wire clamping reeds and said wire clamping portion, said wire relieving press elements being disposed near said c c insert holes and capable of causing said wire clamping reeds or said wire clamping portion to release the wires when being pressed, wherein depressed receiving regions are alternately arranged with said insert holes provided at both sides and the center of the bottom portion of said socket body.

and said electricaliv conducti,,,e blocks being disposed in two of said three 1 -) become inclined, so that the oval slot 92 cannot align with the oval pin 872 of the guide post 871. Hence, the safety slide cover plate 9 cannot be pushed down and continues to close the insert holes of the German plug adapter seat 8 to ensure safety.

Finally, reference is made to Fig. 11, which shows another embodiment of the guide post 87 1. A guide post 87 l' includes a support end 873' which has a cross pin 872 at a rear section thereof. The center of the safety slide cover plate 9 is correspondingly provided with a cross guide slot 92'. When the prongs 861 are simultaneously inserted to come into contact with the inclined surface 9 1, the safety slide cover plate 9 will be in a balanced state so that the cross guide slot 92 may just align with and receive the cross pin 872 to enable the safety slide cover plate 9 to be pushed along by the guide post 871' in an axial direction.

In summary. the present invention provides a socket that may be insertably or lockably connected to power supply lead wires and grounding lead wires.

that allows quick assembly of the hole cover plate to the socket body; and that provides positive safety effects by means of the safety slide cover plates.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is 2) 0 in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

11 fastening elements also having fastening holes are then used to engage the other two of said projecting fastening corners of said hole cover plate and said socket body respectively. an elongate slot being provided at one side wall of said hole cover plate, said seat body having a guide post at its center and being assembled to said elongate slot, a safety slide cover plate centrally provided with a guide hole being assembled to said guide post such that it may slidably displace along said guide post; inclined surfaces being provided at the upper end of both sides of said safety slide cover plate, said safety slide cover plate normally closes said power supply insert holes at both sides of said hole cover plate, whereby said socket may be insertably or lockably connected to said power supply lead wire and said grounding lead wire and allow quick assembly of said hole cover plate to said socket body, and when an electrically conductive element is inserted into any one of said power supply insert holes. said safety slide cover plate will become unbalanced, i.e., one end high. one end low, so that the higher end will be checked by a projection at the inner side of said hole cover plate and said safety slide cover plate cannot be pushed aside, thus preventing children from zetting electric shock when playing with electrical sockets.

2. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive blocks and said grounding guide block may be selectivelv assembled in said socket to provide a single wire locking function.

or said wire clamping reeds may be selectively installed to provide a single wire clamping function. or said electrically conductive blocks, said grounding guide 14 receiving regions that correspond to said electrically conductive frames, said electrically conductive blocks each having a locking hole, a locking screw, and a projection at an upper end of one side thereof, the receiving region corresponding to said grounding guide frame in the middle being provided with said grounding guide block, which has a locking hole and a locking screw, said electrically conductive blocks and said grounding guide block being in complete contact with said electrically conductive frames and said grounding guide frame respectively, wherein said projections of said electrically conductive blocks are inserted into respective clamping regions at the center of said electrically conductive frames to achieve optimum electricity transmission and to enable the cores of said power supply lead wire and said grounding lead C wire to be inserted into said locking holes of said electrically conductive blocks and said grounding guide block via said insert holes provided on the side walls of said receiving regions at the bottom portion of said socket body to be secured in position by said locking screws; said socket body having said hole cover plate assembled thereto, said hole cover plate having an insert hole, downwardly extending fastening portions having fastening holes being W provided at two corners of said hole cover plate, with projecting fastening corners being provided at the other two corners, four corners of said socket body being provided with respective projecting fastening corners, so that.

durina assembly, said fastening portions of said hole cover plate are caused to engage two of said projecting fastening corners of said socket body. and two 13 contact a grounding element of said German plug to achieve grounding.

5. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 1, wherein said German plug adapter seat may be insertably coupled to said European socket as a whole in advance so that said grounding guide post may insert into said grounding insert hole to push open a safety slide cover plate therein to thereby open power supply insert holes, whereby when using a European plug of an electric appliance, there is no need to use a tool to push down said safety slide cover plate of said European socket via said grounding insert hole, and a rear side of said German plug adapter seat being provided with a seat body having a guide post to allow assembly of said safety slide cover plate, which is provided with a spring, said safety slide cover plate closing said power supply insert holes when said European plug or German plug is not plugged in to thereby ensure safety, said safety slide cover plate capable of being pushed open without use of a tool to allow direct insertion of said European plug or German plug c

6. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 1, wherein a plurality of partition plates is provided at a rear side of said German plug adapter seat, one of said partition plates being centrally provided with a guide post which has t Z> a support end at a front end thereof and a oval pin at a rear section thereof, said 2) 0 aulde post havina a safetv slide cover plate disposed thereon, said safety slide c 1:5 1 1 cover plate being provided with an inclined surface and an oval guide slot in the center thereof. spring positioning posts provided at both sides of a rear edge of 16 block and said wire clamping reeds may all be installed in said socket to provide multiple functions.

3. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 1, wherein said socket may be assembled to an adapter frame which has a size specification equivalent to that of a European socket, two socket fastening plates being formed at opposite inner walls of said adapter frame for fastening engaging slots formed at opposite sides of said socket, the inner four corners of said adapter frame being each provided with a stop plate, and two retaining plates being respectively provided at front and rear sides of said adapter frame, whereby said socket may, by means of said adapter frame, couple to a European socket securing frame or any electric appliance or instruments having, securing holes of a European socket specification.

4. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 1. wherein said socket may have a German plug adapter seat inserted therein in advance, said German plue, adapter seat including a depression provided with a grounding insert hole and power supply insert holes corresponding to said socket, a top end of said depression provided with a grounding guide post extending outwardly from within said depression, whereby when said German plug adapter seat is coupled to said socket as a whole, by means of said grounding guide post inserted into a grounding insert hole of said socket to contact with said grounding guide frame and be clamped therewith as a whole, a German plug may also be received by said socket. and said grounding guide post extends into said depression to said safety slide cover plate being respectively provided with a spring so that said safety slide cover plate normally always closes said power supply insert holes and is capable of being pushed along an axial direction.

7. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 1, wherein said safety cover plates may be selectively not installed in said socket.

8. The adapter and socket structure as defiried in Claim 6, wherein said guide post of said safety slide cover plate is provided with a cross pin at a rear section of said support end. and the center of said safety slide cover plate is correspondingly provided with a cross guide slot, whereby when two prongs are simultaneously inserted to contact said inclined surface of said safety slide cover plate, said safety slide cover plate will be in a balanced state and said cross guide slot will align and receive said cross pin to enable said safety slide cover plate to be pushed along in an axial direction.

9. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 6 or 7. where-in the shape of said guide slot and the rear section of said guide post of said safety slide cover plate may be configured to be any shapes having the same effects as required.

10. The adapter and socket structure as defined in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the design of said safety slide cover plate and said guide post may also be adapted for use in sockets.

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