EP0473562A1 - Extraction device for an electric plug - Google Patents

Abstract

The device provides for a thrust member (30, 130, 90) mounted between the body (10)/support (12, 112) assembly of the plug (8) and the casing of the socket (70) which exerts an axial force enabling them to execute an axial relative movement and an actuating element (50, 150, 100) interacting with the said thrust member (30, 90) such that the actuation of the said actuating element (50, 150, 100) ensures the said axial relative movement and therefore the extraction of the conductor pins (18) of the plug (8) from the socket-terminal bushes or grippers (72) of the socket (70). The extraction device may be mounted either on sockets (70) or on plugs (8) of standard type. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to electrical current plugs and more particularly relates to a device making it possible to easily extract such a plug from a standard electrical outlet in which it has been positioned.

• prise de courant : l'élément comprenant les douilles ou pinces de contact généralement sous tension permanente ; cet élément constitue la partie dite "femelle" d'un connecteur et qui est généralement fixée au mur ;
• fiche de courant : l'élément relié à l'appareil et comprenant les broches conductrices que l'on introduit dans les douilles ou pinces de contact pour assurer l'alimentation de l'appareil ; cet élément constitue la partie dite "mâle" d'un connecteur.

For clarity and easy understanding of the present invention, it is convenient to call:

• socket: the element comprising the sockets or contact clamps generally under permanent tension; this element constitutes the so-called "female" part of a connector and which is generally fixed to the wall;
• current plug: the element connected to the appliance and comprising the conductive pins which are inserted into the contact sockets or clamps to supply the appliance with power; this element constitutes the so-called "male" part of a connector.

It is well known that ordinary plugs, although being easy to insert into a standard socket, are however difficult to extract from such a socket. Indeed, the only means provided to the user is to grip the plug by its end generally comprising the electric current wire to pull it in its direction.

We understand the difficulties of the user: he has little support to exert his force and the grip surface of the plug is relatively limited; in addition, the opening of the sockets or the spacing of the clamps remains constant to permanently ensure a frank electrical contact while the diameter of the pins increases according to the amperage to increase the contact surfaces between the sockets or clamps and the pins; this to avoid overheating. It is therefore easy to understand that the extraction of the cards becomes more and more difficult as a function of the increase in amperage.

However, such plugs (amperage from 4 to 10 Amps) are commonly used for household appliances such as vacuum cleaners, fryer, robot, etc.

Therefore, when the user wants to remove such a plug, he tends to exert maximum force on the plug without retaining the plug, which most often has the effect of tearing the plug somewhat cooperating with the plug that we want to extract.

It must be noted that after having removed such a plug from a socket several times, either the plug is torn from its support, or the electric cable is torn from the plug, with all the drawbacks and in particular the risk of electric shock which resulting.

It is generally observed that for young people or the elderly, extracting a plug, even with a low amperage, is a delicate operation.

Taking into account the abundant use of ordinary cards of the type described above, it turns out to be desirable to propose a simple and effective device for use, ensuring for a minimum of effort the safe extraction of a card. current from the standard outlet in which it was placed, without any damage to the outlet or to the plug and cable connected to it.

Such a device would also have the advantage of eliminating any risk of electrocution run by any user who tears off the socket or the electric cable while trying to extract a plug.

The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a simple, reliable and economical means for extracting an electric current plug while avoiding any tearing of the socket in which it has been positioned and / or of the electric cable.

A second object of the invention is to provide the approval of a simple and easy-to-use command.

A third object of the invention is to provide a single command making it possible to extract the electric current plug from the socket cooperating with it, and with ergonomics such that the user is not tempted to grasp the electric cable.

A fourth aim is to provide an electrical current plug provided with an extraction means according to the invention, which is housed in existing electrical current sockets and therefore does not require any fundamental or costly modification.

A fifth aim is to propose a means of extracting an electrical current plug which can be easily mounted on existing plugs.

A sixth aim of the invention is to propose a file provided with the device according to the invention, using standard elements and already approved by the various security and / or standardization organizations so as to avoid administrative approval procedures.

A seventh object of the invention is to provide an electrical outlet provided with an extraction means according to the invention.

An eighth object of the invention is to propose a protective plate for an electrical outlet provided with the device which is the subject of the invention and intended thus easily replacing existing protective pads.

With a view to achieving these aims, the device which is the subject of the invention is essentially characterized by the content of the main claim.

• la figure 1 représente, en vue éclatée, les principaux éléments constitutifs d'un dispositif d'extraction appliqué, selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, à une fiche de courant électrique,
• la figure 2 représente, en coupe, une prise de courant électrique standard vue de dessus et fixée dans une paroi,
• la figure 3 représente une fiche de courant électrique selon la figure 1 introduite dans la prise de courant standard représentée à la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est semblable à la figure 3 mais représente la fiche de courant électrique, déboîtée de la prise après actionnement du dispositif d'extraction,
• la figure 5 est semblable à la figure 3 et représente une variante d'exécution du dispositif d'extraction appliquée à une fiche de courant,
• la figure 6 est semblable à la figure 4 et représente la variante d'exécution de la figure 5,
• la figure 7 représente, en vue éclatée, les principaux éléments constitutifs d'un troisième dispositif d'extraction selon l'invention, appliqué cette fois à une prise de courant électrique,
• la figure 8 représente, en coupe, une prise de courant électrique munie du dispositif d'extraction apparaissant à la figure 7 et en position inopérative,
• la figure 9 représente le dispositif d'extraction de la figure 8 après actionnement de ce dernier.

Various advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of preferred embodiments given below, without implied limitation and for which:

• FIG. 1 represents, in exploded view, the main constituent elements of an extraction device applied, according to a first embodiment of the invention, to an electrical current plug,
• FIG. 2 represents, in section, a standard electrical outlet seen from above and fixed in a wall,
• FIG. 3 represents an electrical current plug according to FIG. 1 inserted into the standard socket outlet shown in FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but represents the electrical current plug, disengaged from the socket after actuation of the extraction device,
• FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 and represents an alternative embodiment of the extraction device applied to a current plug,
• FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4 and represents the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 shows, in exploded view, the main constituent elements of a third extraction device according to the invention, this time applied to an electrical outlet,
• FIG. 8 represents, in section, an electrical outlet fitted with the extraction device appearing in FIG. 7 and in the inoperative position,
• Figure 9 shows the extraction device of Figure 8 after actuation of the latter.

In these figures, for the sake of clarity, only the elements necessary for understanding the invention and the identical elements have been given the same references.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plug 8, provided with the extraction device according to the invention, mainly comprises four parts: a body 10, a support 12, a ring-shaped pushing member 30 and a control element 50. For comparison, a standard card comprises a support 12 and a body 10.

The body 10, which is substantially cylindrical, has a shape and a profile such that it can be introduced into any standard socket, especially in EEC countries and adapts to the support 12 on which the electric current conductors 18 are fixed ensuring transmission of electrical energy and a so-called "earth" connection 14. A screw 16 secures the support 12 to said body 10. It should be noted that the support is a standard part approved by all the safety and / or standardization organizations. At the periphery of the body 10, there are two standard guide rails 20 diametrically opposite on either side of said body 10. Finally, an opening 22 ensures the passage of an electric cable 23 connected to the conductors 18 and to the connection of "ground" 14. According to the invention, a pawl 11 is located axially on the rear face of the body 10 also comprising a stud 21 and the guide rails 20 include a groove 24 in which a spring 26 is embedded to ensure after the 'actuation of the extraction device, the return of the ring 30 and the control handle 52 in their inoperative position.

The ring 30 is guided by said body 10 so as to obtain an axial relative movement between said ring 10 and said body 10, and in particular comprises two diametrically opposed profiles 32 as well as two guide grooves 38 on its internal surface which each trap a guide rail 20. A stud 36 is incorporated at the bottom of each of the guide grooves 38 to cooperate with the corresponding spring 26. Finally, an opening 34 allows the lateral passage of the electric cable 23.

The movable control element 50 comprises a control handle 52, a cover 54 while a cutout 56 made in the cover 54 ensures the passage of the electric cable 23 when the latter leaves laterally. Two cams 60 placed in diametrically opposite manner close to the internal surface of the cover 54 cooperate with the two diametrically opposed profiles 32 of the ring 30. These cams have an inclination of approximately 30 °.

A circular groove 58 is intended to receive the pawl 11 to secure said control element 50 and the body 10 and prevent any subsequent disassembly, which is desired by certain standards.

On the other hand, the internal surface 51 of the control element 50 comprises an annular depression 53 cooperating with the stud 21 to limit the movement of the control element 50.

There is shown in Figure 2, in section, the housing of a standard electrical outlet 70 fixed in a wall. It includes a protective plate 71, two sockets or contact clamps 72 under permanent voltage, serving to trap the electric current conductors 18 of a standard plug and a pin 74 representing the "earth" and fitting into the connection 14 made in the support 12 of any electrical plug.

In Figure 3 there is shown the housing of a standard electrical outlet in which is fitted an electrical current plug such as shown in Figure 1. As can easily be seen, the conductors 18 are trapped in the sockets 72, while the front surface 40 of the ring 30 is in the immediate vicinity of the flange 80 of the protective plate 71 of the housing the power outlet.

It is also interesting to note that the distance between the end of the rim 80 of the protective plate 71 and the front surface of the support 12 when the plug 8 is positioned in the socket 70, remains the same regardless of the type of socket used (visible, recessed, flying socket, etc.) because it is standardized.

The rim 80 has a standardized shape and profile so that the socket housing 70 only accepts plugs which meet the standards in force.

In a purely practical way, the user connects the device that he wishes to use, provided with the electric current plug according to the invention, as he is used to doing, simply by inserting the plug 8 fully in socket 70.

Thanks to the extraction device which is the subject of the invention, when the user wishes to remove the plug 8 from the socket 70, it suffices for him to turn the control handle 52 a quarter of a turn to the left (as indicated by the arrow F1 in Figures 1 and 4); during this movement, the cams 60 integral with the control element 50 cooperate with the profiles 32 located on the ring 30 exerting an axial force between the socket 70 and the plug 8.

This axial force firstly has the effect, if necessary, of displacing and positioning the front surface 40 of the ring 30 against the flange 80 of the protective plate 71 which then serves as a shoulder. The movement of the ring 30 is then limited, the continued rotation movement of the handle 52 ensures the axial movement of the body 10 and of the support 12 relative to the ring 30 which is stationary and therefore the withdrawal of the assembly "support (12) - body 10" of the plug 8 (arrow F2 FIG. 4) from the housing of the socket 70.

As can be seen, the withdrawal of the current plug, using the device which is the subject of the invention, requires only a minimum of effort and at no time can the user tear off the plug or the electric cable.

The cutout 56 of the control element 50 is of course dimensioned such that at no time, during the rotation of the handle 52, the cover 54 does not interfere with the electric cable 23.

On the other hand, a sheet 8 provided with the device which is the subject of the invention does not require any particular approval since it incorporates standard elements such as the support 12 which are standardized and approved by all the organizations concerned.

As can be seen, the device which is the subject of the invention not only facilitates the extraction of plugs but simultaneously it guarantees greater security for the user and since the front surface 40 of the ring 30 rests on the socket 70, it eliminates any tearing force transmitted to the electrical socket, thus ensuring the immobility of the latter, of the contact sockets, of the electrical conductors and of its installation housing.

In addition, no traction is exerted on the electric cable 23 during the extraction of the current plug, which is also an additional guarantee of safety.

On the other hand, according to the measurements carried out, if the extraction of a standard 10-amp plug requires on average a force of between 4 and 5 kilos, the same plug fitted with the device object of the invention is removed from the socket using an average force of 1.5 kilos.

The prototype sheet 8 described above includes a standard support 12 approved by all the European organizations concerned; the internal volume of the body 10 corresponds to the volume provided by any existing plug for housing, connection and fixing of the electric cable; finally the ring-shaped thrust member 30 and the handle 52 of the control element 50 are of a diameter such that the plugs according to the invention can easily be placed side by side in strips, double socket or multiple and be removed using the device object of the invention without any discomfort or interference.

Advantageously, the length of the ring 30 is such that at the end of movement of the control element 50 for the extraction of the plug 8, the conductors 18 are entirely disengaged from the contact sockets or clamps 72; thus the plug 8 is completely separate from the socket 70.

Rather than providing a lateral outlet for the electrical cable, as shown on sheet 8 in Figure 1, it is also possible to provide an axial outlet, generally desired for electrical extension cords.

In this case, at the height of the pawl 11 and the circular groove 58, a central and coaxial opening allows the passage of the electric cable. The pawl now and guiding the handle is located at the periphery of this opening. Of course, the handle 52 is also provided with an axial opening 59 (Figure 4).

The support 12 being a standardized and therefore standard part, it is easy to place on the market the extraction device consisting of the assembly of parts 10, 30 and 50, namely the body, the ring and the control element , the user then simply having to remove the support 12 from the existing body and fix it in this assembly using screw 16.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a variant of the extraction device in which the front surface 140 of the pushing member comes to rest on the bottom of the electrical outlet, thus making it possible to propose a plug fitted with the device extraction with the same outside diameter as a plug

In this embodiment, the plug comprises a substantially cylindrical support 112 and acting as a body 10; the device which is the subject of the invention comprising two parts, namely a ring-shaped pushing member 130 which is concentric and in contact with the external surface of the support 112 itself, and a control element 150, which is concentric and precisely adjusted around the rear section of the ring 130. In this embodiment, when the plug is fully inserted into the housing of the socket 70 (FIG. 5), the front surface 140 of the ring 130 is close to the front face of the support 112 and therefore of the bottom surface 73 of the socket 70.

Guide ribs are present on the outer surface of the support 112 and cooperate with guide grooves on the internal surface of the ring 130 to allow relative axial movement between the ring 130 and the support 112. As in the first mode embodiment, springs are placed inside the guide ribs and cooperate with studs placed inside the ring 130. Two diametrically opposite cams 160 are also placed near the cover 154 of the control element 150 and cooperate with the profiles 132 of the ring 130.

The standard guide rails imposed by certain standards are themselves provided on the outer surface of the ring 130.

A retainer 163 makes the element of control 150 secured to the support 112 while allowing them a relative rotational movement. Nipples 121 are also provided on the internal surface of the control element 150 and cooperate with annular depressions 153 formed in the rear face of the support 112 to limit the rotary movement of the control element 150, preferably at around 90 ° .

When the control element 150 is rotated, using the handle 152 (arrow F1 - Figure 6), a force is generated by the pressure of the ring 130 on the bottom surface 73 of the socket 70 and a equal but opposite force is generated by the cams and the profiles, in the direction F2 ensuring the withdrawal of the plug and therefore of the conductors 18 of the contact sockets 72 from the socket 70. In this way, the support 112 is moved axially from a distance ensuring the complete extraction of the conductors 18 and therefore allowing the plug and the control element to be easily removed from the socket.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cable leaves the socket axially and for this, an axial opening 159 is provided in the control element 150.

As in the first embodiment, the cams 160 preferably have an angle of 30 ° to provide a mechanical advantage and a force ratio of approximately 3: 1 and thus allow easy removal of the plug by a user by turning the control element with only hand force.

In Figures 7 to 9, a third embodiment of the invention is shown. In this case, the extraction mechanism is no longer mounted on the periphery of an electrical plug 8 but on that of an electrical outlet box 70; the elements of said mechanism remaining practically the same.

As shown in Figure 7, the plate protection 71 of a socket 70 fitted with the extraction device according to the invention comprises a ring-shaped rim 80 in which three axial slots 81 are made, preferably distributed at 120 ° from one another.

This rim 80 receives a cup-shaped pushing member 90 whose outer surface comes close to the inner surface of said rim, the cup 90 being provided with three pins 91 which engage in the three slots 81 of the rim 80 of such so that the cup 90 can move by an axial movement relative to the rim 80.

This cup 90 also has two openings 92 corresponding to the openings 82 made in the protective plate 71 to allow the passage of the conductors 18 of a standard plug, while the opening 93 corresponds to the opening 83 allowing the passage of the pin 74 of "earth". Finally, an opening 94 allows the passage of a screw fixing the plate 71 to the socket 70 via the opening 84, in a conventional manner and therefore not described.

A control element 100 of annular shape, mounted on the outer periphery of the flange 80 and guided in rotation by the latter comprises three inclined slots 101, in which engage the pins 91 of the cup 90, as well as a lever control 102. A spring 103, one end of which is fixed to said control lever 102 and the other to one of the pins 91, ensures the return of the control element 100 to the rest position, position in which the cup 90 comes against the bottom surface 73 of the plate 71 and therefore allows the user to position a standard plug in the socket 70 (FIG. 8).

Two lateral plates 200 guide and maintain the control element 100.

Such a standard plug comprises a body 10 and a support 12 to which current conductors 18 are fixed and a so-called "earth" connection 14.

When the user wishes to remove the plug from the socket 70, it suffices, as in the previous embodiments, to simply actuate the control element 100 using the lever 102 in the direction indicated by the arrow F1.

Indeed, the rotation of the control element 100 and therefore the movement of the slots 101 ensure the movement of the pins 91 along the slots 81 and therefore an axial movement of the cup 90 relative to the socket 70 (Figure 9). As the bottom of the cup 90 comes to bear by exerting an axial force on the front surface of the support 12 of the electrical plug, the latter is then moved axially in the direction of the arrow F2 and the plug is therefore removed from the taken. When the user releases the lever 102, the spring 103 returns the control element to the rest position; the cup 90 is then brought back to the bottom surface 73 of the socket in which any standard electrical plug can then be positioned.

Of course, this cup-shaped thrust member 90 may have any other shape (cylindrical, annular, triangular, ...) as long as it cooperates with the support 12 of the plug to ensure the extraction of the plug while by allowing the passage of the conductors 18 and of the pin 74.

As the protective plates 71 of the electrical outlets are standard and standardized elements, it is conceivable to place on the market a plate 71 provided with the device according to the invention as shown in FIG. 7, the user then being able to easily replace any existing plate by such a plate 71.

As can easily be understood using these three preferred embodiments, the device object of the invention ensures the extraction of an electrical plug while exerting on the socket housing an opposite force so as to keep this socket stationary and therefore avoid any possibility of tearing. On the other hand, no traction is exerted at any time on the electric cable.

The embodiments described relate to sockets and plugs for domestic use (NBN C 61-112-1 / CEB standards) but it should be noted that the device which is the subject of the invention can be applied to any other type of socket. and plug and in particular prototypes were produced for those implemented in the United States, in Great Britain, as well as for plugs and sockets for industrial use, such as those covered by IEC 309-2 standards.

Although the preferred angle of the cams is of the order of 30 °, this angle can of course vary depending on the particular application and the extraction force to be produced. In practice, for the various prototypes produced, this angle varies between 20 ° and 40 ° depending on the desired displacement and the force required.

It should be noted that with the device which is the subject of the invention, the standards for maintaining the conductors are all respected and that it is the only extraction of the plugs which is greatly facilitated.

In addition, while in the embodiments described, the angle of the surfaces of the cams and of the associated profiles is straight, these surfaces can be curvilinear so that the manual force exerted during the withdrawal of a grip is practically constant. In this case, the surface is slightly inclined in its first half, corresponding to the force required for the withdrawal of the conductors from the grip of the sockets and which requires significant effort, while it is more inclined in the second half of its movement, which corresponds to the final removal of the plug from the taken, and therefore to a less significant effort.

On the other hand, if in the above description the socket 70 is always shown fixed in a wall, it should be noted that it can be independent (case of electrical extension cords), the device object of the invention retaining all its advantages .

Claims (10)

Device for extracting an electrical current plug (8) from a corresponding socket (70), - The plug (8) generally consisting of a set "body (10) - support (12, 112)", said support carrying conductors (18), said body having an opening (22) to ensure the passage of a generally flexible electric cable (23) connected to the conductors (18); - the socket (70) comprising a housing intended to receive the assembly "body (10) - support (12, 112)" of the plug and of the sockets or clamps (72) located inside the housing and whose cooperation with the conductors (18) of the plug (8) ensures the transmission of electrical energy, characterized in that it comprises: - a thrust member (30, 130, 90) mounted between the assembly "body (10) - support (12, 112)" of the plug (8) and the socket housing (70) and exerting an axial force , allowing them to perform a relative axial movement; - a control element (50, 150, 100) cooperating with said thrust member (30, 90) so that the actuation of said control element (50, 150, 100) ensures said axial relative movement and therefore the extraction of the conductors (18) from the plug (8) from the sockets or clamps (72) from the socket (70). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushing member (30, 130) bears on a surface (80, 73) of the socket (70). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushing member (90) bears on the support (112) of the plug (8). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushing member (30) is peripheral to the body (10) and / or to the support (12, 112) of the plug (8). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element (50, 150, 100) performs a rotary movement. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooperation between the control element (50, 150, 100) and the thrust member (30, 130, 90) is produced by means of cams (60, 160 , 101) and profiles (32, 132, 81), transforming the rotary movement of the control element (50, 150, 100) into an axial movement of the thrust member (30, 130, 90). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushing member (30, 130) and the control element (50, 150) are mounted on a plug (8). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element (50, 150) is integral with the "body (10) - support (12, 112)" assembly of the plug (8). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thrust member (90) and the control element (100) are mounted on the housing of a socket (70). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thrust member (30, 130, 90) and the control element (50, 150, 100) are mounted on standardized elements, such as the bodies (10) or supports (12) of plugs (8) and / or the protective plates (71) of socket-outlet boxes (70), so that the assembly thus produced replaces said standardized elements.

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