EP1317022B1 - Electrical socket with independent movable covers, especially for electrical rasors - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical plug has an isolating body with a forward section (12) and a rear section (13). There are three holes, each with an isolating material retractable shutter (20), and activated by a pin. There are flexible return sections (30) for each of the shutters separately. There is a slab section (42) with cavity and flexible strip (38) with holes (49) allowing separation pin entry.

Description

• une partie avant dotée de trois trous de passage de broches de contact électrique de fiches de raccordement électrique, et
• une partie arrière dotée de trois pièces de contact de type femelle respectivement situées en regard des trous ménagés dans la partie avant, propres chacune à recevoir une broche de contact électrique et formant les bornes d'un seul et même circuit électrique bi-tension, l'une d'entre-elles constituant une borne commune aux deux valeurs de tension.

The present invention generally relates to electrical plugs of the type comprising a body of insulating material, having:

• a front part provided with three holes for the passage of electrical contact pins of electrical connection plugs, and
• a rear part provided with three female-type contact pieces located respectively opposite the holes in the front part, each adapted to receive an electrical contact pin and forming the terminals of one and the same bi-voltage electrical circuit, l one of them constituting a terminal common to both voltage values.

It applies in particular but not exclusively to the supply of equipment of very low power, especially electric shavers.

According to a provision already known, there is provided a cover which covers the passage holes of the socket and which must be lifted with one hand to insert the plug with the other hand when you want to connect this card to the catch.

Such a cover makes it possible to guarantee the tightness of the socket as long as no plug is inserted into the socket.

However, once the two pins of a plug inserted into two of the three holes corresponding to a voltage level, the third of them is exposed to splashing water. As a result, the known socket no longer meets the sealing function once the connection plug inserted into it.

It should be recalled, in this regard, that according to a provision already known, the plugs of the aforementioned type can be equipped with a separation transformer of the mains and user circuits to protect the latter because of its insulation compared to Earth.

Until now, the powering of the transformer was made using several additional parts (cams, copper contact with rivet, ...) controlled by the introduction of the electrical contact pins of a plug of electrical connection in the female type contact parts or conducting cells of the socket.

An example of this kind of socket is described in GB-A-1 445 055.

The present invention generally relates to a provision for sealing the aforesaid plugs, even after the introduction of plugs therein, and further leading to other advantages.

More specifically, it relates to a socket as defined in claim 1.

As a result, the seal is obtained with as many independent retractable shutters that there are passage holes and therefore female-type contact parts. In use, only two retractable shutters out of three are used, depending on the chosen voltage level. The third unused is always closed, which allows to obtain, without cover, a seal of the electrical outlet, both in the absence of an electrical connection plug and after introduction of such a plug in the catch.

In addition, the powering of the transformer is done directly with a single piece (contact blade), low cost and easy to assemble, for the benefit of an economic outlet and having greater reliability .

It should also be noted that the flap bearing the elastic blade thus has a dual function, namely the sealing of the socket and turning on the transformer.

For reasons of efficiency of operation, the elastic return means preferably comprise springs each acting in compression between a retractable flap and a side wall of the housing of the front part.

Preferably, the socket according to the invention further comprises a plate which extends between the female-type contact parts and the retractable flaps and which comprises means for translational guidance of these flaps.

This plate thus makes it possible to perfect the guidance of the retractable shutters while contributing to the maintenance of these in the housing of the front part.

The wafer thus implemented according to the invention can also advantageously assume other functions.

It may, for example, comprise a housing cavity of the resilient blade, the bottom of which is pierced with two holes through the two pins of the separation transformer.

The elastic blade can thus move on the bottom of this cavity, which contributes to the proper operation of the tensioning system of the separation transformer.

In order to complete this operation, the cavity of the wafer preferably comprises at least one receiving slot of the retaining studs of the elastic blade on its support flap and translational guide these pads.

The wafer may also have, in the right of the female type of contact parts, recesses which give access to these contact parts.

In this case, it further advantageously comprises, in the extension of these recesses, projecting on its face disposed facing the rear part, consoles provided for guiding the electrical contact pins of the connection plug.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une prise de courant suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 en est une vue en perspective éclatée ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues en perspective de la partie avant et de la plaquette que comporte cette prise de courant ;
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle en perspective de cette partie avant, illustrant le logement de cette dernière, équipé des volets escamotables et des ressorts de rappel visibles sur la figure 2 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale de la partie avant de la prise de courant, suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 7 et 8 sont respectivement des vues en perspective et en coupe médiane longitudinale du volet escamotable central de la figure 2 ;
• les figures 9 et 10 sont respectivement des vues en perspective et en coupe médiane longitudinale du volet escamotable droit de la figure 2 ; et
• les figures 11 et 12 sont des vues en perspective illustrant, de façon très schématique, la mise sous tension du transformateur de séparation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, by way of example, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a socket according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view;
• Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the front portion and the plate that includes this socket;
• Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of this front part, illustrating the housing of the latter, equipped with retractable flaps and return springs visible in Figure 2;
• Figure 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the front portion of the socket, along the line VI-VI of Figure 1;
• Figures 7 and 8 are respectively views in perspective and in longitudinal median section of the central retractable flap of Figure 2;
• Figures 9 and 10 are respectively views in perspective and in longitudinal median section of the right retractable flap of Figure 2; and
• Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views illustrating, very schematically, the power of the separation transformer.

It should be noted in this regard that, for the sake of clarity, the scales of these views are different from each other.

In the embodiment shown, the socket 10 according to the invention comprises, in a manner known per se, a body 11 of insulating material formed of a front portion 11 and a rear portion 13 fixed to the front portion 12 by screwing.

This screwing does not fall, of itself, of the present invention, it will not be described here.

In a manner also known per se, the front portion 12 is provided with three holes 14, 14 ', 14 "for the electrical contact pins of electric connection plugs, while the rear portion 13 is provided with three contact pieces of female type respectively located opposite the holes 14, 14 ', 14 "formed in the front portion 12.

These contact pieces are housed in a compartment 15 of the rear part 13 and two of them, bearing the reference numeral 16, have been shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

These contact parts 16 are also not, of themselves, of the present invention, they will not be described here, and it will be the same for the associated record.

It will simply be indicated that, in the embodiment shown, the three contact pieces 16 are each adapted to receive an electrical contact pin and together form the terminals of one and the same bi-voltage electrical circuit, one of which between them constituting a terminal common to both voltage values.

The socket 10 being, more specifically, intended to receive the pins of electrical shaver connection plugs, these values are, after connection of the socket 10 to the electrical power distribution network, equal to 110 V and 230 V .

For this purpose, the rear portion 13 comprises a housing 17 containing a separation transformer 18 electrically connected to the contact parts 16 of the female type and which is intended to be connected to the distribution network of the electric current through two terminals 19 .

It should also be noted that each of the through holes 14, 14 ', 14 "has a particular configuration that allows the plug 10 to receive electrical contact pins of different standards.

According to the invention, a retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 "of insulating material is associated with each of these holes 14, 14', 14" of the front part 12 and is designed to be actuated by an electrical contact pin to move from a closed position, in which it covers the hole with which it is associated, to an open position when an electrical connection plug is inserted into the socket 10.

According to the invention, these retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "are independent of each other so that the unused contact piece 16 remains protected by a retractable flap 20, 20', 20" occupying its closed position.

Moreover, resilient return means, described in more detail below, permanently urge each of the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "towards its closed position.

The front portion 12 also comprises a housing 21 having a bottom 22 in which are drilled the through holes 14, 14 ', 14 ", in a horizontal alignment.

The retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "are movably mounted in translation in this housing 21, parallel to each other and to the bottom 22.

In practice, in the embodiment shown, the housing 21 extends forwardly of the front portion 12 and its bottom 22 is located at the front end thereof, while the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "interposed on the access to the contact parts 16 are arranged between this bottom and the rear portion 13.

In the embodiment shown, each retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 "is formed of a tongue 23, 23', 23" terminated longitudinally by an actuating heel 24, 24 ', 24 "which extends beyond the plane of the tongue 23, 23 ', 23 ", front and rear sides thereof, and on which is formed, as is best seen in Figures 7 to 10, an inclined face 25, 25', 25" which extends obliquely with respect to the plane of the tongue 23, 23 ', 23 ".

In the assembled state of the socket 10, each inclined face 25, 25 ', 25 "is located opposite the hole 14, 14', 14" with which the retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 "is associated on which it is formed to generate the translation of the latter in response to a thrust exerted by an electrical contact pin of a connection plug.

In practice, in order to accommodate the actuating heel 24, 24 ', 24 "of each of the retractable flaps 20, 20', 20", the bottom 22 of the housing 21 comprises a recess 26 which receives the part of the beads 24, 24 ', 24 "protruding from the plane of the tongue 23, 23', 23" on the front side of the retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 ".

The housing 21 of the front portion 12 further comprises means for guiding the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "in translation.

More specifically, these guide means comprise parallel ribs 27 protruding from the bottom 22 of the housing 21, between the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 ", and studs 28 projecting from the two side walls 29 of the housing 21. extending parallel to the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 ".

In the embodiment shown, the elastic return means comprise springs 30 each acting in compression between a retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 "and a side wall 29 of the housing 21 of the front portion 12, which extends transversely to the direction of movement of these retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 ".

Preferably, and this is the case for the embodiment shown, each of the springs 30 is housed in a longitudinal recess 31 formed in the bottom 22 of the housing 21 of the front portion 12.

Furthermore, each retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 "has a lug 32, 32', 32" at its longitudinal end opposite that having the inclined face 25, 25 ', 25 "and forming a seat for one of the ends of the spring 30 associated with this retractable flap 20, 20 ', 20 ".

On its side, the side wall 29 of the housing 21 which extends transversely to the direction of movement of the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "and in front thereof, comprises, for each spring 30, a pair of bosses arranged face to face and shaped so as to grip one end of this spring 30 to secure it to the housing 21. In the embodiment shown, each of the bosses is generally wedge-shaped.

A front plastron 34 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), not shown in FIG. 1, is provided to cover the front face 35 of the front portion 12 of the socket 10.

This front plastron 34 is shaped so that it can be fitted on the front portion 12 and has a passage opening of the housing 21.

In the assembled state, the bottom face 22 located outside the housing 21 is thus flush with the front face of the front plastron 34.

It should also be noted in this regard that in the embodiment shown, the plastics used for the manufacture of the front portion 12 and the front plastron 34 are different.

According to an advantageous development of the present invention, two pins 36 available from the transformer 18, which extend towards the front portion 12, are used for energizing this separation transformer 18 (see FIGS. 11 and 12), while the rear face 37 of the retractable flap 20 'protecting the contact piece 16 of the female type constituting the common terminal (the central flap in the case of the embodiment shown), carries an elastic blade 38 of conductive material of the electricity, adapted to electrically connect the two pins 36, so that the actuation of the flap 20 'carrying it, when introducing an electrical connection plug into the socket 10, causes this blade elastic 38 until it comes into contact with the two pins 36, causing the separation transformer 18 to be directly energized.

It should be remembered here that such a transformer 18 serves in particular to separate the mains and user circuits to protect the latter because of its isolation from the earth.

This elastic blade 38 is retained on the retractable flap 20 'by means of two pairs of studs 39 spaced apart from each other.

These pads are erected on the face 37 of the flap 20 'and pinch the elastic blade 38 to retain it on the flap 20'.

The two pairs of pads 39 are, moreover, connected to one another by a central rib 40 also erected on the face 37 and on which the elastic blade 38 rests.

The flaps 20 and 20 "located on either side of the central flap 20 'each have, on their side, a longitudinal notch 41, 41" adapted to each receive a pin 36 of the separation transformer 18, so that this pin 36 does not interfere with the movement of the retractable flap 20, 20 "corresponding.

Regarding the front portion 12, it should also be noted that the ribs 27 of the housing 21 also contribute to the support and guidance of the elastic blade 38.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the electric plug 10 further comprises a plate 42 which extends between the female-type contact parts 16 and the retractable flaps 20, 20 ' 20 "and which comprises means for translational guidance of these flaps 20, 20 ', 20".

In practice, this plate 42 extends substantially level with the outlet of the housing 21 of the front portion 12, at the interface between the latter and the rear portion 13.

More specifically, these guide means comprise bars 43 extending parallel to one another and on either side of recesses 44 formed in the wafer 42, to the right of the contact parts 16 of the female type.

These recesses 44 are intended to give access to these contact pieces 16.

These bars 43 can guide the retractable flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "by cooperation with their actuating heel portion 24, 24', 24" which extends beyond the plane of the tongue 23, 23 ', 23 ", on the side rear of the flap (opposite side to that located opposite the through holes 14, 14 ', 14 ").

In the embodiment shown, the plate 42 also has, in the extension of the recesses 44, projecting from its face 45 disposed opposite the rear portion 13, consoles 46 provided for guiding the electrical contact pins of the plug. connection.

This plate 42 further comprises a cavity 47 for accommodating the elastic blade 38, the bottom 48 of which is pierced with two holes 49 through which the pins 36 of the separation transformer 18 pass.

This cavity 47 further comprises two slots 50 for receiving the studs 39 for retaining the elastic blade 38 on its support flap 20 'and for translational guiding of these studs 39.

The wafer 42 thus provides, by itself, the plurality of functions defined above.

In the assembly, it is firstly assembled the subassembly consisting of the front portion 12 and flaps 20, 20 ', 20 ", with introduction of the springs 30 and the elastic blade 38.

After the plate 42 has been placed in the housing 21 of the front portion 12, the rear portion 13 provided with its separation transformer 18 is attached to the front portion 12.

If, in use, a plug 51 (see Figures 11 and 12) is engaged in the socket 10 according to the invention, with the aid of the through hole 14 'and one of the through holes 14 and 14 ", these pins 52 act on those flaps 20, 20 ', 20 "associated with the two holes, in favor of the inclined faces 25, 25', 25" of the two corresponding flaps.

These two flaps then go from the closed position shown in particular in FIG. 5 to the open position shown in FIG. 12 for the single flap 20 ', thereby allowing the pins 52 of the plug 51 in the course of undertaking to have access to the underlying contact parts 16.

In contrast, the third component remains in its closed position and thus protects the unused contact piece 16.

As a result, the tightness of the socket 10 according to the invention is guaranteed both in the absence of a connection plug and after introduction of such a plug into the socket.

The actuation of the flap 20 'furthermore causes the elastic contact blade 38 towards the pins 36 of the separation transformer 18.

Thus, when the plug 51 is engaged in the socket 10, the blade 38 is in contact with these two pins 36, which connects electrically, causing the power of the separation transformer 18 (see Figure 12).

When removing this plug, the springs 30 constituting the elastic return means systematically return the flaps to their closed position.

This movement also brings the elastic blade 38 away from the pins 36.

Claims (21)

1. An electrical plug socket (10) comprising a body (11) of insulating material, having:

   - a front portion (12) provided with holes (14, 14', 14") for the passage of electrical contact pins (52) of electrical connecting plugs (51), a retractable shutter (20, 20', 20") of insulating material being associated with each of the holes (14, 14', 14") and designed to be capable of being actuated by an electrical contact pin (52) for moving from a closure position in which it covers the hole (14, 14', 14") with which it is associated to an open position when an electrical connecting plug (51) is introduced into the plug socket (10),

   - a rear portion (13) provided with contact pieces (16) of female type which are each disposed in facing relationship with one of the holes (14, 14', 14") provided in the front portion (12) and each capable of receiving an electrical contact pin (52) and together forming the terminals of one and the same dual-voltage electrical circuit, said rear portion (13) comprising a housing (17) containing a separation transformer (18) electrically connected to the contact pieces (16) of female type,

   - resilient return means (30) permanently urging each of the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") in the direction of its closure position,

   
   and characterised in that the contact pieces (16) and therefore the holes (14, 14', 14") and the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") are three in number, one of the contact pieces (16) constituting a terminal common to the two voltage values, each of the three retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") is independent of the other two in such a way that the unused contact piece (16) remains protected by a shutter (20, 20', 20") which is in its closure position, and the separation transformer (18) is provided with two studs (36) which extend in the direction of the front portion and which are used for applying voltage to the transformer (18) while the face (37) of the retractable shutter (20') protecting the contact piece of female type constituting the common terminal which is disposed in facing relationship with the studs (36) carries a resilient strip (38) of electrically conductive material capable of electrically connecting the two studs (36) so that actuation of the shutter (20') carrying it, upon the introduction of a plug (51) into the plug socket (10), entrains said strip (38) until it comes into contact with the two studs (36) causing voltage to be applied directly to the transformer (18).
2. An electrical plug socket according to claim 1 characterised in that the front portion comprises a housing (21) having a bottom in which said holes (14, 14', 14") are pierced in a horizontal alignment, and by means of which the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") are mounted movably with a translatory movement on the front portion in parallel relationship with each other and with the bottom (22).
3. An electrical plug socket according to claim 2 characterised in that the housing (21) extends forwardly of the front portion (12) and its bottom (22) is disposed at the front end of the latter while the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") which are interposed on the access to the contact pieces (16) are disposed between the bottom (22) and the rear portion (13).
4. An electrical plug socket according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the shutters (20, 20") disposed on respective sides of that carrying the resilient strip (38) each have a longitudinal notch (41', 41") for receiving one of the studs (36) of the separation transformer (18) in such a way that the stud (36) does not impede the movement of the corresponding retractable shutter (20, 20").
5. An electrical plug socket according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the resilient strip (38) is retained on the shutter carrying it by projections (39) upstanding on said shutter (20') and gripping said strip (38).
6. An electrical plug socket according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that each shutter comprises an inclined face (25, 25', 25") disposed in facing relationship with the passage hole (14, 14', 14") with which the retractable shutter (20, 20', 20") is associated to generate the translatory movement of the latter in response to a thrust force exerted by an electrical contact pin (52).
7. An electrical plug socket according to claim 6 characterised in that each retractable shutter (20, 20', 20") is formed by a tongue portion (23, 23', 23") terminated longitudinally by an actuating heel (24, 24', 24") which projects beyond the plane of the tongue portion (23, 23', 23"), on the front and rear sides thereof, and on which is formed said inclined face (25, 25', 25") which extends obliquely with respect to the plane of the tongue portion (23, 23', 23").
8. An electrical plug socket according to claims 2 and 7 in combination characterised in that the bottom (21) comprises a recess (26) receiving the part of the heel (24, 24', 24") which projects beyond the plane of the tongue portion (23, 23', 23") of the retractable shutter (20, 20', 20"), on the front side thereof.
9. An electrical plug socket according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that it further comprises a plate portion which extends between the contact pieces (16) of female type and the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") and which comprises means for guiding said shutters with a translatory movement.
10. An electrical plug socket according to claim 9 characterised in that the plate portion (42) comprises a cavity (47) for accommodating the elastic strip (38), the bottom (48) of which is pierced with two holes (49) for the passage therethrough of the two studs of the separation transformer (18).
11. An electrical plug socket according to claims 5 and 10 in combination characterised in that the cavity (47) of the plate portion (42) comprises at least one slot (50) for receiving the projections (39) for retaining the resilient strip (38) on its support shutter (20') and for guiding said projections (39) in a translatory movement.
12. An electrical plug socket according to any one of claims 9 to 11 characterised in that at right angles with the contact pieces (16) of female type the plate portion (42) has openings (44) which give access to those contact pieces.
13. An electrical plug socket according to claim 12 characterised in that in line with the openings (44) and in projecting relationship on its face (45) disposed in facing relationship with the rear portion (13) the plate portion (42) has supports (46) provided for guiding the electrical contact pins (52) of the connecting plug (51).
14. An electrical plug socket according to claim 7 and any one of claims 9 to 13 characterised in that the guide means provided on the plate portion comprise bar portions (43) extending in mutually parallel relationship and on respective sides of the openings (44) and designed to guide the portion of the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") projecting beyond the plane of the tongue portion (23, 23', 23") of the shutter (20, 20', 20") rearwardly thereof.
15. An electrical plug socket according to any one of claims 2 to 14 characterised in that the resilient return means comprise springs (30) each operatively disposed in a compression mode between a retractable shutter (20, 20', 20") and a side wall (29) of the housing (21) of the front portion (12), which extends transversely to the direction of displacement of the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20").
16. An electrical plug socket according to claim 15 characterised in that each of the springs (30) is accommodated in a longitudinal hollow (31) in the bottom (22) of the housing (21) of the front portion (12).
17. An electrical plug socket according to claim 15 or claim 16 characterised in that each retractable shutter (20, 20', 20") comprises a lug (32, 32', 32") at its longitudinal end opposite to that having said inclined face (25, 25', 25") and forming a seat for one of the ends of the spring (30) associated with said retractable shutter.
18. An electrical plug socket according to claim 17 characterised in that one of the side walls of the housing (21) of the front portion (12), which is transverse to the direction of displacement of the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") comprises for each spring (30) a pair of bosses (33) disposed in mutually facing relationship and shaped in such a way as to embrace an end of said spring (30) for securing it to the housing (21).
19. An electrical plug socket according to any one of claims 2 to 18 characterised in that the housing (21) of the front portion (12) comprises means for guiding the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") in a translatory movement.
20. An electrical plug socket according to claim 19 characterised in that the translatory guide means comprise parallel ribs (27) projecting from the bottom (22) of the housing (21) between the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20") and projections (28) in protruding relationship on the two side walls (29) of the housing (21) extending in parallel relationship to the retractable shutters (20, 20', 20").
21. An electrical plug socket according to any one of claims 1 to 20 characterised in that the contact pieces (16) of female type and the passage holes (14, 14', 14") are designed to receive the pins of connecting plugs of electric razors.

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