AU2009227829B1 - Contacting piece structure of outlet - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 11 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Powertech Industrial Co., Ltd. Address for Service: A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222, Mitcham, SA 5062 Invention Title: Contacting piece structure of outlet The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- CONTACTING PIECE STRUCTURE OF OUTLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [00011 The present invention relates to a contacting piece structure of an outlet, particularly to a contacting piece structure provided in an outlet for allowing insertion pieces or pins of a male plug to be inserted therein. 2. Description of Related Art [00021 With the advancement in quality-of-life, more and more electronic products are used in every house. Usually, each of these electronic products utilizes a power line to connect with a female receptacle, or outlet located within a wall, or other safe flat surface of the house to obtain electricity, thereby maintaining its normal operation. However, the number of the outlets provided in the house is limited, so that a further extension outlet may be used to connect to the outlet embedded in the wall, and the power line of the electronic product is connected to the extension outlet instead. [00031 Within the conventional extension outlet, contacting piece (also referred to as copper pieces or terminals) are provided, thereby creating electrical connection with inserted pins into a plug of the power line. In the conventional extension outlet, the contacting pieces are usually chamfered, thereby facilitating insertion of the pins of the plug into the extension outlet and preventing the contacting piece from suffering damage. [00041 However, in practice, if only the contacting pieces are chamfered, the pins of the plug may not be inserted therein easily, especially in the case of line contact between the contacting pieces and the pins of the plug. 2 [00051 In order to overcome the above problems, the present Inventor proposes a novel and reasonable structure based on his delicate research and expert experience. For the purposes of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. Also a reference within this specification to a document is not to be taken as an admission that the disclosure therein constitutes common general knowledge in Australia. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [00061 The objective of the present invention is to provide a contacting piece structure of an outlet whereby the pins of a plug can be inserted therein smoothly. [00071 The present invention provides a contacting piece structure of an outlet, which includes: a connecting piece; and at least one contacting unit. The contacting unit has a base connected to the connecting piece, and two clamping arms bent to extend from both sides of the base. The two clamping arms are provided with a clamping portion respectively. A clamping space is formed between the two clamping portions and extended vertically from top to bottom. One side of one of the two clamping portions is bent to form a guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping space. The guiding portion comprises a guiding convex and a guiding slope connected to the guiding convex. [00081 The present invention has advantageous features as follows: The contacting piece structure of the present invention is bent to form a guiding portion comprising a guiding convex and a guiding slope. 3 When the pins of a plug are inserted into the clamping space, the pins of the plug can be guided into the clamping space more smoothly by means of the large-area guiding mechanism formed by the guiding convex and the guiding slope. When the pins of the plug are inserted into the clamping space, the pins of the plug can be guided into the clamping space more smoothly by means of the large-area guiding mechanism formed by the guiding convex and the guiding slope, so that the electrical connection between the pins and the contacting pieces can be obtained more efficiently. Further, the contacting pieces may not suffer damage easily. [00091 In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are exemplary and illustrative only but not to be used to impose limits upon the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00101 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [00111 FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the second embodiment of the present invention; [00121 FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 4 [00131 FIG. 4 is a top view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the third embodiment of the present invention; [00141 FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; [00151 FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; [00161 FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; [00171 FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; [00181 FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention; and [00191 FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [00201 The present invention provides a contacting piece structure of an outlet, which is fixedly provided inside the outlet for allowing pins (not shown) of a plug to be inserted therein. Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a first 5 embodiment of the present invention. The contacting piece structure includes a connecting piece 1 and at least one contacting unit 2. The connecting piece 1 and the contacting unit 2 are made of metallic materials having good electrical conductivity, such as copper. The connecting piece 1 is formed into an elongated piece. The contacting unit 2 is connected to the connecting piece 1. Of course, a plurality of the contacting units 2 may be provided, and these contacting units 2 are connected to the connecting piece 1 with intervals. [00211 The contacting unit 2 is integrally formed with the connecting piece 1 by means of a pressing process. The contacting unit 2 has a base 20 and two clamping arms 21, 22. The top of the base 20 is connected to the bottom of the connecting piece 1. The two clamping arms 21, 22 are formed by bending forwards and extending from both sides of the base 20. The shape of the clamping arm 21 or 22 is not limited to any specific form, and it can be shaped as that in FIGS. 4, 5 or 6. [00221 The distal ends of the two clamping arms 21, 22 are formed with a clamping portion 23, 24 respectively. A clamping space 25 is formed between the two clamping portions 23, 24 and extended vertically from top to bottom. The pins of the plug can be inserted into the clamping space 25, thereby obtaining electrical connection between the contacting unit 2 and the pins. [00231 In the present embodiment, the upper side of the clamping portion 23 is formed with a chamfered portion 26. One side of the clamping portion 24 is bent to form a guiding portion 27 inclining with respect to the clamping space 25. The guiding portion 27 can be bent in different directions 6 based on the inserting direction of the pins of the plug. The guiding portion 27 comprises a guiding convex 271 and a guiding slope 272 connected to the guiding convex 271, thereby guiding the pins of the plug to enter the clamping space 25 more smoothly. In the present embodiment, the guiding portion 27 is formed by bending rearwards from the upper side of the clamping portion 24, but it is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the guiding portion 27 can be formed by bending forwards or rearwards from the lower side of the clamping portion 24. With the above structure, the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the present invention can be obtained. [00241 Please refer to FIG. 1 again. The surfaces of the two clamping arms 21, 22 can be further provided with a rib 211, 221 respectively, thereby reinforcing the strength of the two clamping arms 21, 22. In this way, the contacting unit 2 has a larger clamping force and a long lifetime. The rib 211 (or 221) extends a suitable distance, and it can be formed by recessing or protruding from the surface of the clamping arm 21 (or 22). The rib 211 (or 221) can extend in a longitudinal or transverse direction. In the drawings, the rib extends in the transverse direction as an example. [00251 Please refer to FIG. 2, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a second embodiment of present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the guiding portion 27 is provided on the upper side of the clamping portion 23 of the clamping arm 21, and the guiding portion 27 is formed by bending forwards from the clamping portion 23. 7 [00261 Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a third embodiment of present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the upper side of the clamping portion 23 is bent forwards to form the guiding portion 27, and the upper side of the clamping portion 24 is bent rearwards to form the guiding portion 27. The two clamping portions 23, 24 are staggered in the front-and-back direction. [00271 Please refer to FIG. 5, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a fourth embodiment of present invention. The two clamping portions 23, 24 are arranged to be symmetrical with each other. [00281 Please refer to FIG. 6, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a fifth embodiment of present invention. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the fourth embodiment lies in that: the shape of the clamping arm 21 or 22 is not the same. Thus, the shape of the clamping arm 21 (or 22) is not limited to a specific form. [00291 Please refer to FIG. 7, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a sixth embodiment of present invention. The upper sides of the two clamping portions 23, 24 are bent rearwards to form a guiding portion 27 respectively. [00301 Please refer to FIG. 8, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a seventh embodiment of present invention. The difference between the seventh embodiment and the sixth embodiment lies in that: the upper sides of the two clamping portions 23, 24 are bent forwards to form a guiding portion 27 respectively. 8 [00311 Please refer to FIG. 9, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to an eighth embodiment of present invention. The upper side and the lower side of the clamping portion 23 are bent to form the guiding portion 27 respectively. The upper side and the lower side of the clamping portion 24 are bent to form the guiding portion 27 respectively. However, the guiding portion 27 may be formed by bending forwards or rearwards from either side of the clamping portion 23 (or 24). Further, the bending direction of the clamping portion 23 (or 24) is not limited, thereby generating various combinations. [00321 Please refer to FIG. 10, which shows the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to a ninth embodiment of present invention. The difference between the ninth embodiment and the eighth embodiment lies in that: the upper sides of the two clamping portions 23, 24 are bent forwards to form the guiding portion 27 respectively, and the lower sides of the two clamping portions 23, 24 are bent forwards to form the guiding portion 27 respectively. [00331 Of course, in all of the above-mentioned embodiments, the guiding portion 27 comprises the guiding convex 271 and the guiding slope 272 connected to the guiding convex 271 (the reference numerals of the guiding convex and the guiding slope are omitted in FIGS. 5 to 10), thereby providing a better guiding effect. [00341 To sum up, in the contacting piece structure of an outlet according to the present invention, the guiding portion comprises the guiding convex and the guiding slope. When the pins of the plug are inserted into the 9 clamping space, the pins of the plug can be guided into the clamping space more smoothly by means of the large-area guiding mechanism formed by the guiding convex and the guiding slope, so that the electrical connection between the pins and the contacting pieces can be obtained more efficiently. Further, the contacting pieces may not suffer damage easily. In addition, the guiding portion can be located at the upper side, lower side or both sides of the clamping portion. The guiding portions can be bent forwards or rearwards. Alternatively, one guiding portion is bent forwards and the other is bent rearwards. The orientation of the guiding portions can be designed based on the inserting direction of the pins of the plug. [00351 The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the preferred embodiments of the present invention, without any intention to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. Various equivalent changes, alternations or modifications based on the claims of present invention are all consequently viewed as being embraced by the scope of the present invention. 10

Claims (10)

1. A contacting piece structure of an outlet, comprising: a connecting piece; and 5 at least one contacting unit having a base connected to the connecting piece, and two clamping arms bent to extend from both sides of the base, an end edge of each clamping arm extended toward each other and defining a clamping portion, a clamping space being formed between the two clamping portions and extended vertically from top to bottom, one corner of one end of 10 the two clamping portions being bent to form a guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping space, the guiding portion comprising a guiding convex and a guiding slope extended from the guiding convex.

2. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 1, 15 wherein the other side of one of the two clamping portions is bent to form another guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping space, the other guiding portion comprises a guiding convex and a guiding slope connected to the guiding convex. 20

3. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 2, wherein one side of the other clamping portion is bent to form a further guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping space, the further guiding portion comprises a guiding convex and a guiding slope connected to the guiding convex. 25

4. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 3, wherein the other side of the other clamping portion is bent to form a still further guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping portion, the still further guiding portion comprises a guiding convex and a guiding slope 30 connected to the guiding convex. 11

5. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 4, wherein a surface of each clamping arm is provided with a rib.

6. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 1, 5 wherein one side of the other clamping portion is bent to form a further guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping space, the further guiding portion comprises a guiding convex and a guiding slope connected to the guiding convex. 10

7. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 6, wherein the other side of the other clamping portion is bent to form a still further guiding portion inclining with respect to the clamping space, the still further guiding portion comprises a guiding convex and a guiding slope connected to the guiding convex. 15

8. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 7, wherein a surface of each clamping arm is provided with a rib.

9. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 1, 20 wherein the other clamping portion is provided with a chamfered portion.

10. The contacting piece structure of an outlet according to claim 1 or 9, wherein a surface of each clamping arm is provided with a rib. 12