EP0411216B1

EP0411216B1 - Multipurpose safety receptacle

Info

Publication number: EP0411216B1
Application number: EP89307789A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chiu-Shan Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-01
Filing date: 1989-08-01
Publication date: 1996-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-01
Also published as: DE68925359D1; ATE132663T1; ES2081844T3; DE68925359T2; EP0411216A1; GR3019534T3

Abstract

A multipurpose safety receptacle for alternative connection thereto of a variety of plug pins, which includes a bottom block (1) comprising two receiving troughs (11) (13) at both lateral sides for receiving two conductive frames (2) (2') respectively, a ground connection trough (12) in the middle for receiving a ground connection frame (3), a division plate (4) mounted on the bottom block to enclose the conductive frames and the ground connection frame, and an upper cover covering over the division plate and fixedly connected with the bottom block by means of heat sealing process to form a receptacle assembly for further connection to a frame panel which frame panel is comprising retainer means and stop members to firmly hold up the receptacle assembly when the receptacle assembly is mounted thereon.

Description

This invention relates to a multipurpose safety receptacle.
Regular electric plugs, sockets or receptacles may vary in structure according to the power source available. The currently commercialized electric plugs, sockets, and receptacles may include single-phase double-line, single-phase three-line, three-phase three-line, and three-phase four-line, etc. Because the specifications assigned in a nation are different in the other, different structures may required for use in different country. For example, a single-phase double-line electric plug may comprise round pins or flat pins, and therefore, the receptacle used shall be constructed in accordance with the specification of the electric plug. More particularly, the electric plugs which have single-phase three-line or three-phase three-line may comprise two flat pins and one round pin, or three flat pins, or three round pins, ... etc., and in consequence, different electric receptacles shall be used to match with the specifications of the electric plugs used. If the plug used does not match with the receptacle, the receptacle or the plug shall be changed, or an additional connector shall be used to connect the plug to the receptacle.
In FR-A-1 073 818 a multipurpose electrical safety receptacle is known but this does not solve the problems adequately.
The present invention is related to a kind of multipurpose safety receptacle which is specifically designed to solve the above-said problems and is featuring in that:

1. The internal structure is specifically designed for alternatively connection thereto of a variety of electric plugs that are respectively used in all countries in the world;
2. By means of the design of the L-shaped pin holes of the upper cover matching with the arrangement of the division plate and spring leaves, electric shock can be protected, and the plug that has L-pins can be firmly retained when it is connected thereto;
3. It may be served as a connector for regular plug or receptacle;
4. It comprises retainer elements to firmly retain the electric wire without making any damage to the conductors or electric wires; and
5. Either single-core or multi-core conductors may be connected or replaced simply and efficiently.

The present invention is to provide a multipurpose safety receptacle and more particularly to a receptacle applicable for alternative connection thereto of a variety of plugs, which is including a bottom block having two receiving troughs at both lateral sides for setting therein of two conductive frames, and a ground connection trough for setting therein of a ground connection frame, a division plate mounted on the top of the bottom block to enclose the conductive frames and the ground connection frame, and an upper cover covering over the bottom block and fixedly connected thereto by means of heat sealing process or adhesive or lock screws. When the bottom block is fixedly connected with the upper cover with the division plate, the conductive frames and the ground connection frame firmly positioned therein, the assembly is further mounted on a frame panel and firmly retained thereto by means of the retainer means and stop members of the frame panel.
The embodiments of multipurpose safety receptacle according to this invention are described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a single outlet receptacle constructed according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the division plate with the two associated conductive frames according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3-1 is another sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame panel according to the present invention;
Fig. 4-1 is a back view of the frame panel according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 is an operational schematic view, illustrating the application of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective fragmentary view of a multi-outlet extension receptacle constructed according to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a partly sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 6;
Fig. 7-1 is a sectional view of the conductor fixture;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of multi-outlet extension line receptacle according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a partly fragmentary view of a multi-outlet extension line receptacle according to the present invention, which is comprising a plug assembly;
Fig. 10 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating the application of a plug assembly incorporated multi-outlet extension line receptacle alternatively matching with different extension line assembly;
Fig. 11 is a schematic drawing, illustrating the positioning of a receptacle according to the present invention.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3-1, there is shown an example of single outlet receptacle constructed according to the present invention. The receptacle is including a bottom block (1) having two opposite troughs (11 and (13) for receiving therein conductive frames (2) and (2)' respectively, and a ground connection trough (12) for receiving therein a ground connection frame (3). The conductive frames (2) and (2)' are symmetrically disposed, comprising spring leaves (21) and (21)', receiving plates (22) and (22)', U-shaped conducting plates (23) and (23)', and U-shaped frames (24) and (24)'. The U-shaped frames (24) and (24)' are having corrugated tracks (25) and (25)' for setting therein of control plates (26) and (26)' respectively, wherein the control plates (26) and (26)' are respectively controlled by screw means (27) and (27)' to move forward or backward. When the control plates (26) and (26)' are moved forward, they are positioned on the top of the corrugated tracks (25) and (25)' respectively, having the hook ends (261) and (261)' firmly retaining the single-core conductors which are respectively inserted therein. When the control plates (26) and (26)' are retreated by means of the screw means (27) and (27)' to move to a position beneath the corrugated tracks (25) and (25)', flexible multi-core conductors may be respectively inserted therethrough and fixedly connected thereto when the screw means (27) and (27)' are respectively screwed up. Therefore, according to the present invention, either single-core or multi-core conductors may be simply connected to the receptacle. According to the present invention, the division plate (4) of the receptacle is including bilaterally two opposite guide rails (42) and (42)' and two opposite slots (41) and (41)', a notch (43), and a round hole (44). When in assembly, the conductive frames (2) and (2)' are respectively set in the troughs (11) and (13) of the bottom block (1), with the spring leaves (21) and (21)' of the conductive frames (2) and (2)' respectively set in the slots (41) and (41)' of the division plate (4), and the ground connection frame (3) is set between notch (43) and the round hole (44) and received in the ground connection trough (12) of the bottom block (1). According to the present invention, the upper cover (5) of the receptacle is including a pair of L-shaped pin holes (51) and (51) bilaterally disposed at the top, an oval hole (52) in the middle, a round hole (53) on the oval hole (52), two square holes (54) and (54)' set on the top and the lower end to respectively communicate with the oval hole (52), another round hole (55) set at a lower position below the oval hole (52), and a pair of openings symmetrically set at both lateral sides of the round hole (55), which pair of openings are comprised of elongated holes (56) and (56)', round holes (57) and (57)', and square holes (58) and (58)' respectively. As soon as the upper cover (5), division plate (4), conductive frames (2) and (2)', ground connection frame (3), and bottom block (1) and the related accessories are coupled together, they are further fixedly connected by means of heat sealing or adhesive or screw means to form a multipurpose safety receptacle. Please refer to Figs. 4 and 4-1, the multipurpose safety receptacle constructed as above described may be further mounted on a frame panel (7). The frame panel (7) is having four pieces of stop members (71) and a pair of retainer means (72). When the receptacle is mounted on the frame panel (7), the stop members (71) are arranged to stop against the receptacle at the back side and the retainer means (72) are having the projecting portions (73) respectively set in the retaining holes (15) of the bottom block (1) to let the receptacle be firmly positioned. Because the receptacle has a square structure, it may be set at any position. When the retainer means (72) are flexibly bending outward, the receptacle may be easily pushed outward to detach from the frame panel (7).
Referring to Fig. 5 and considering Figs. 1 and 2 again, a plug (6) which is having L-pins (61) and (61)' may be utilized. When in operation, the L-pins (61) and (61)' are respectively inserted into the L-shaped pin holes (51) and (51)'. When the L-pins (61) and (61)' are in contact with the division plate (4), the electric power is still not connected unless the L-pins (61) and (61)' have been continuously forced to move downward along the guide rails (42) and (42) to become in contact with the spring leaves (21) and (21)'. Therefore, the present invention can protect against electric shock during connection. Because of the special electric shock preventive design and because of the arrangement of the hook ends of the control plates, the present invention becomes very practical for use to serve as wall lamp extension receptacle, electric bell extension receptacle, .. etc.
The second type of plug (6) which is having a round pin (62) in the middle may also be used for connection with the receptacle constructed according to the above-described specification. The round pin (62) may be inserted into the oval hole (52) to connect with the ground connection frame (3), and the bilateral two round pins (67) and (67)' may be respectively inserted into the round holes (57) and (57)'. If a plug has three round pins arranged in a row, the middle round pin may be inserted into the round hole (55). If a plug has three round pins arranged in triangular position, in which the middle round pin (63) has an extra large size, thus, the middle round pin (63) may be inserted through the round hole (53) into the curved portion (31) of the ground connection frame (3). If a plug (6) includes two flat pins (66) and (66)', the two flat pins (66) and (66) may be inserted into the elongated holes (56) and (56)' respectively. If a plug (6) has square pins (64), (68) and (68)', the square pins (64), (68) and (68)' may be inserted into the square holes (54), (58) and (58)' respectively. Therefore, the receptacle constructed according to the present invention is specifically designed to match with the variety of plugs which are commonly used in all countries in the world. According to the present invention, there is a gap respectively defined between the receiving plates (22) and (22)' and the U-shaped conducting plates (23) and (23)' of the conductive frame (2), such that when plug pins are inserted, the plug pins will be respectively in contact with the receiving plates (22) and (22)' at an slightly inclined angle. Through this special arrangement, the service life can be reasonably extended. Further, the U-shaped conducting plates (23) and (23)' each is having a smaller front end and a relatively larger rear end to make the structure more flexible so as to efficiently receive either round plug pins or square plug pins.
With reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a multi-outlet receptacle (100) constructed according to the present invention, which is mainly including a bottom block (110), two conductive frames (120) and (120)', a ground connection frame (130), a division plate (140), and an upper cover (150). The bottom block (110) is having two receiving troughs (111) and (113) and a ground connection trough (112). The conductive frames (120) and (120)' are symmetrically disposed. Similar to the structure of the conductive frames (2) and (2)' as illustrated in Fig. 1, the conductive frame (120) and (120)' are including spring leaves (121) and (121)', receiving plates (122) and (122)', U-shaped conducting plates (123) and (123)', and pressure plates (124) and (124)'. When in assembly, the U-shaped conducting plates (123) and (123)' are respectively set in the U-shaped troughs (114) and (114)', the receiving plates (122) and (122)' are respectively set in the slopes (115) and (115)', the pressure plates (124) and (124)' are respectively mounted on the supporting stands (114) and (114)'. When the conductive frames (120) and (120)' are respectively received in the receiving troughs (111) and (113) and firmly positioned therein and covered by the division plate (140), the spring leaves (121) and (121)' are protruding beyond the division plate (140) through the holes (142) and (142)' respectively. The L-shaped holes (141) and (141)' of the division plate (140) are served for electric shock preventive purpose only, while the holes (143) and (143)' of the division plate (140) are arranged for penetration therethrough of the receiving plates (122) and (122)' and the U-shaped conducting plates (123) and (123)', and the elongated hole (144) and round hole (145) are for insertion therein of ground connection plug pins respectively. According to the present invention, the ground connection frame (130) is including bevel notches (131) for connection thereto of big ground connection pins respectively, and bevel side edge (132) for connection thereto of round plug pins through single side connection. Similar to the embodiment before described, the upper cover (150) is comprising L-shaped pin holes (151) and (151)', oval pin holes (152), round pin holes (153), square pin holes (154), (154)', (158) and (158)', elongated pin holes (156) and (156)', and round holes (157) and (157)'. The upper cover (150) may be used for connection thereto of a variety of plugs in same procedures as previously described. According to the present invention, the conductive frames (120) and (120)' and the ground connection frame (130) each is having a conductor fixture (125) for fixation thereto of respective conductors. The conductor fixture (125) is integrally incorporated with the conductive frame (120), comprising a wire hole (126), a screw means (127) and a notch (128). When a conductor is inserted, it is clearly viewed through the notch (128) and fixedly connected thereto by means of the screw mean (127). The structure of the conductor fixture of the conductive frame (120)' as well as the ground connection frame (130) is just same as the conductive frame (120). As shown in Figs. 7 and 7-1, the bottom block (110) is also comprising a conductor fixture (160), which is having a rectangular body comprising hole (161), screw means (162), pressure block (163), and notch (164). When a conductor (165) is inserted through the hole (161), the pressure block (163) is driven by the screw means (162) to press down the conductor (165) toward the notch (164) and the conductor (165) will be immediately bent into a curved shape and firmly positioned therein.
With reference to Figs. 9 and 10, the multi-outlet receptacle (100) may be incorporated with a plug assembly. As shown in the drawings, metal contact plates (170), (170)' and (180) are mounted on the bottom block (110) to respectively connect with the conductive frames (120) and (120)' and the ground connection frame (130) at one end. The metal contact plates (170), (170)' and (180) which are comprising holes (171), (171)' and (181), and several indentations (172), (172)' and (182), are respectively arranged to match with the holes (174), (174)' and (184), and several noses (175), (175)' and (185) of L-shaped plug pins (173), (173)' and (183), which L-shaped plug pins (173), (173)' and (183) are respectively connected to the metal contact plates (170), (170)' and (180) by means of lock pins (176), (176)' and (186). When the metal contact plates (170), (170)' and (180) and the L-shaped plug pins (173), (173)' and (183) are fixedly connected, a plug socket (190) and a plug cover (191) are further mounted on the bottom block (110) to firmly hold up the L-shaped plug pins (173), (173)' and (183) by means of screw means (192) and (192)'. Through the said arrangement, a multipurpose, multi-outlet and plug incorporated safety receptacle is thus achieved. Please refer to Fig. 10 again, the plug socket (190) is having a recess (193) made on the front side wall to match with the nose (313) of the receptacle (310) of the extension line assembly (300) for quick connection. The receptacle (310) of the extension line assembly (300), similar to the embodiment of the receptacle illustrated in Fig. 1, is having L-shaped pin holes (351) and (351)' and oval pin hole (352), while the plug (320) of the extension line assembly (300) is having two L-pins (321) and (321)', a ground connection pin (322) and a recess (323). As an alternate form, the plug (320) may have different plug pins for different purpose.
With reference to Fig. 11, the multi-outlet receptacle, according to the present invention, is having unique structure for quick positioning. As shown in the drawing, a hole (410) is made on the bottom surface of the receptacle for hanging of the receptacle. A positioning plate (420) which is comprising a hole (421) at one end and another hole (422) at the opposite end is revolvably connected, by means of a screw means (430) through the hole (421), to the receptacle at the bottom opposite to the hole (410). When to fix the receptacle onto a wall (500), the receptacle (400) is hung on the nail (510) of the wall (500) by means of its hole (410), and the positioning plate (420) is turning downward and fixedly connected to the wall (500) by means of screw means (520) through the hole (422). According to the present invention, when the receptacle (400) is not in use, the positioning plate (420) is received in the recess (440), or the positioning plate (420) may be turned outward for connection when it is in use.
According to the present invention, the single outlet type receptacle as illustrated in Fig. 1 may be connected to the retainer means (72) of the frame panel (7) as illustrated in Fig. 4. When the present invention is to be served as a plug connector, the receptacle disclosed in Fig. 1 may alternatively comprise at the rear end the ten different plug pins as illustrated in Fig. 5 while the front end receptacle structure remains unchanged, so as to serve as a multipurpose plug connector.

Claims

A multipurpose electrical safety receptacle comprising:
a cover (5) having at least one pair of generally L-shaped pin holes (51) disposed on opposed sides of an axis, at least one oval hole (52) along the axis arranged between the L-shaped pin holes, with a central round portion (53) or with a square portion at each end (54), at least one round hole (55) on the axis, and at least one pair of openings symmetrically spaced at opposed sides of the axis aligned with the respective round hole, each opening comprising an elongate portion (56) with a round portion (57) or with a square portion (58) or a slot inclined to the axis,

a division plate (4) located behind the cover, having two laterally spaced guide rails (42) and two opposite slots, and a notch (43) and a round hole (44) in the middle;

a bottom block (1) having two receiving troughs (11,13) spaced on opposite sides of a ground connection trough, and a plurality of retaining holes (15) around the periphery,

two conductive frames (2, 2') set in respective receiving troughs of the block, and each comprising a spring leaf (21), co-operating with the respective slots of the division plate, a receiving plate, a U-shaped conducting plate (23) and

a ground connection frame (3) for engagement by ground connection pins of different sizes and for co-operation with the notch (43) and the round hole (4) of the division plate (4);

whereby when a plug which has L-pins is connected to the receptacle the L-pins initially contact the guide rails (42) of the division plate (4) and move further along said guide rails (42) to contact the spring leaves (21) of the conductive frames (2) to effect electrical connection, when a plug which has flat plug pins is connected to the receptacle the flat plug pins are inserted between the receiving plates and the U-shaped conducting plates (23) to effect electrical connection with the receiving plates and said U-shaped conductive plates (23) and when a plug which has two round plug pins or square plug pins is connected to the receptacle the plug pins engage the U-shaped conducting plates (23) to effect electrical connection.
A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the conductive frames (2) and the ground connection frame (3) each comprises a U-shaped frame including a corrugated track (25) for receiving a control plate (26), the control plate being movable along the associated corrugated track by a screw means (27) to control the positioning of the respective conductor.
A receptacle according to claim 1 or 2 including a frame panel (7) comprising a projecting portion (73), wherein the cover (5) is fixedly connected to the block (1) with the division plate (4), the conductive frames (2) and the ground connection frame (3) fixedly received therein, the receptacle being mounted on the frame panel (7) and firmly retained therein by means of the four stop members (71) and the retainer means (72).
A receptacle according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cover (5), division plate (4) , conductive frames (2), ground connection frame (3), and block (1) are made in single-outlet or multi-outlet form, with the cover comprising L-shaped pinholes (51), round pin holes, holes for ground connection including oval holes, round holes (53) and square holes (54), or elongate pin holes (56), round pin holes or square pin holes for connection thereto of a variety of plug pins according to requirements.
A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein each conductive frame (120) comprises a conductor fixture (125) having a hole for insertion therethrough of a conductor and means whereby the inserted conductor can be fixedly connected thereto.
A receptacle according to claim 5, wherein the conductor fixture (125) has a hole (161) therein and comprises a screw means (162) to control a pressure block (163) to engage a conductor (165) inserted through the hole (161) so as to press the conductor (165) into a curved shape and be firmly retained therein.
A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle structure is incorporated with a plug assembly to serve as an extension line receptacle for alternative connection thereto of a variety of extension line assemblies, the plug assembly comprising metal contact plates (170) respectively connected with the conductive frames and the ground connection frame at one end, and also respectively connectable with L-shaped plug pins at the other end.
A receptacle according to any preceding claim having a hanging hole (410) in the outer surface of the block of the receptacle for suspension of the receptacle, and a positioning plate (420) rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the block opposite the hanging hole by means of a screw means (430) for fixation of the receptacle onto a wall surface (500) by screw means (520).
A receptacle according to any preceding claim having plug pins at one end and the multipurpose plug holes at the other end so as to serve as a plug connector.
A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground connection frame has an end slightly inclined downwardly to define a curved portion at lateral sides for easy connection engagement by ground connecting pins.