EP1732174B1 - Socket having a movable hole bottom and a retractable shutter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates, in general, electrical power outlets of the type comprising a well adapted to receive a complementary electrical connection plug.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

It aims more particularly those which comprise on the one hand, a retractable shutter, more commonly called, in a simplified manner, "eclipse", or "eclipse", which, against elastic return means, is mounted movably in its plane between an extended position of rest, for which it hides passage openings, located at the right of contact cells, thereby preventing access to these contact cells, and a retracted position of service, for which, duly eclipsed it releases these passage openings and thus allows access to these contact cells and, secondly, a movable protective flap which prevents the deposit of dirt inside the well.

As is known, the retractable shutter thus used constitutes a safety member which, in the rest position, opposes any metal element inadvertently introduced, for example by a child, into one of the passage openings of the front element can not reach the corresponding contact cell, which is normally under tension.

Backup means are also usually implemented so that only is likely to constrain the retractable shutter to eclipse simultaneous intervention in two openings of passage of the front element, as is the case when the commitment of a card, regardless of the number of poles thereof.

An outlet of this kind is described in the patent application DE 3731588 A1 .

According to one embodiment described in this document, the socket comprises a subassembly mounted in translation in the well and comprising a lower plate forming a shutter, an upper plate forming a protective flap with, between them, means of safeguard of the aforementioned type.

Elastic means are operative to cause a rotational movement of one plate relative to the other to provide pin-through openings of the plug formed in the top plate in correspondence with passage apertures of the pins of the bottom plate. Thus the engagement of pins in the openings of the upper range causes a displacement in translation of the lower plate which releases it from a locking rotation - due to the means of safeguarding - with respect to the upper plate. The elastic means then cause this rotation and the matching of the passage openings. The continued thrust exerted by means of the plug has the consequence that the subassembly moves axially in the well of the socket and that the pins of the plug finally come into contact with the contact cells of the socket. When removing the plug, the subassembly returns to the rest position under the action of a spring.

The document US Patent 2735906 describes a socket according to the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to improve this kind of grip, especially in terms of safety.

More specifically, it relates to a well socket having, at the bottom of the well, electrical contacts for an electrical connection plug having complementary electrical connection pins according to claim 1.

In other words, it is taken advantage, according to the invention, of the introduction of the complementary electrical connection plug into the socket to release the shutter in translation and cause its movement thereby allowing access to internal electrical contacts to the catch.

Such an arrangement therefore makes it possible not only to prevent the deposit of dirt in the access to the electrical contacts when the electric plug is not used but also to ensure that the distance to the electrical contact cells of the socket remains at a maximum, particularly when a simple push, using a finger for example, is exerted on the protective flap.

• De préférence, la prise comporte des moyens élastiques de rappel sollicitant en permanence le volet vers sa position haute de repos, sensiblement dans le même plan que le ou les rebords du puits du boîtier.

According to possibly combined preferred characteristics of the invention:

• Preferably, the socket comprises resilient biasing means permanently biasing the shutter towards its upper rest position, substantially in the same plane as the rim or rims of the housing well.

Also preferably, the socket according to the invention comprises a base provided with electrical contacts of the female type, each adapted to receive one of the pins of the complementary electrical connection plug, the latter being in engagement with the female type parts when the shutter is in the low position, solicited. Such a device makes it possible in particular, when resilient return means permanently biasing the flap towards its upper rest position, are provided, in practice, to eliminate any risk that the force exerted by the elastic return means releases the pins of the parts. contact type female.

Preferably, the plug comprises a shutter adjoining the shutter on the rear side thereof, the shutter being placed for this purpose in a support secured to the shutter, and adapted so that the shutter moves in a plane parallel to that formed by the flap, the displacement of said shutter being effected in contact with the pins of the complementary electrical connection plug in the connection phase to the socket, in order to pass from a closed position, in which it covers the through holes pin in an open position, in which it allows this access.

Preferably, the shutter is adapted to move or allow the movement of the locking means of a blocking position in translation of the flap in the well to a deactivated position allowing this translation.

It is therefore taken advantage of the movement of the shutter caused by the introduction of the plug to release the translation of the flap in the well.

This shutter is therefore able to advantageously provide several functions.

Firstly, it obstructs the pin passage holes in its closed position, and thus prevents any penetration of dirt into the well.

In this same position, it can be adapted to prohibit the translation of the flap during a simple thrust on it by maintaining locked the locking means in translation.

According to another preferred feature, the shutter is adapted to move or allow the displacement of the locking means by a movement of the shutter being limited to a rotation around itself.

In other words, it is taken advantage of the only rotation of the shutter caused by the introduction of the plug, to unlock the locking means of the translation of the flap in the well.

Preferably, according to the invention, this shutter is shaped so as to transform the translation movement of the pins of the electrical connection plug being connected to said socket, in motion rotation around itself, to move from the closed position to the open position, by rotating on itself.

As for the shutter, the socket preferably comprises resilient return means continuously biasing the shutter towards its closed position, for example a spring, preferably a flat type spring, comprising at least one turn and extended by two rectilinear branches, to ensure a return to initial position in rotation.

• un obturateur, un support d'obturateur solidaire du volet, un axe de rotation de l'obturateur ayant, en pratique, une longueur sensiblement identique à la profondeur du puits, ledit axe étant conformé à son extrémité supérieure, de manière à être solidaire en rotation avec l'obturateur avec un débattement angulaire en rotation entre ledit obturateur et ledit axe et dans la position de repos fermée de l'obturateur, son extrémité inférieure étant en butée sur une plaquette comportant un trou de passage pour ledit axe,
• ledit axe et ledit trou de passage ayant des sections complémentaires de manière à ce qu'une orientation angulaire relative précise de l'axe par rapport au trou soit nécessaire pour permettre le passage de l'axe dans le trou, en superposant leurs sections complémentaires,
• une position angulaire relative permettant le passage de l'axe dans le trou étant obtenue par la rotation de l'obturateur solidaire en rotation de l'axe causée par l'introduction d'une fiche dans la prise, l'obturateur étant solidaire en rotation de l'axe, le passage de celui-ci dans le trou de la plaquette autorise la translation dudit obturateur et donc de son support et du volet dans le puits,
• le débattement en rotation entre l'obturateur et l'axe ayant une amplitude telle que :
  • d'une part, la rotation de l'obturateur lors de l'introduction d'une fiche de raccordement dans la prise, entraîne une rotation de l'axe jusqu'à sa position angulaire relative permettant son passage dans le trou, et
  • d'autre part, lorsque l'axe se trouve dans ladite position angulaire autorisant son passage dans le trou, l'obturateur puisse retrouver, par sa rotation relative par rapport à l'axe, sa position de fermeture sans rotation dudit axe.

In a preferred embodiment, the socket according to the invention has, moreover, a mechanism for locking the translation of the shutter comprising in particular:

• a shutter, a shutter support secured to the shutter, an axis of rotation of the shutter having, in practice, a length substantially identical to the depth of the well, said axis being shaped at its upper end, so as to be secured in rotation with the shutter with an angular displacement in rotation between said shutter and said axis and in the closed rest position of the shutter, its lower end being in abutment on a plate having a through hole for said axis,
• said axis and said through hole having complementary sections so that a precise relative angular orientation of the axis relative to the hole is necessary to allow the passage of the axis in the hole, by superimposing their complementary sections,
• a relative angular position allowing the passage of the axis in the hole being obtained by the rotation of the shutter integral in rotation with the axis caused by the introduction of a plug into the socket, the shutter being secured in rotation of the axis, the passage of the latter in the hole of the plate allows the translation of said shutter and therefore its support and the flap in the well,
• the displacement in rotation between the shutter and the axis having an amplitude such that:
  • on the one hand, the rotation of the shutter during the introduction of a plug into the socket, causes a rotation of the axis to its relative angular position allowing its passage through the hole, and
  • on the other hand, when the axis is in said angular position allowing it to pass through the hole, the shutter can be retrieved by its relative rotation with respect to the axis, its closed position without rotation of said axis.

In other words, the insertion of the plug into the socket results in the rotation of the shutter, which in turn causes the rotation of the axis which is thus in an angular position relative to the plate allowing the passage the axis in the hole, and thus a translation of the axis, the shutter, its support and the flap in the well.

In addition, in this embodiment, the axis has, on the one hand, elastic return means in translation, positioned, for example, between the wafer and said axis, said means respectively biasing the axis and thus the shutter towards its position. high and, secondly, rotating return means positioned, for example, between the axis and the shutter support, urging it out of its relative angular position allowing translation. Furthermore, the shutter also has elastic return means in rotation preferably between the shutter and the shutter support and the shutter towards its closed position.

In a simplified embodiment of a socket according to the invention, the axis may be shaped so as to be integral in rotation with the shutter without angular displacement with said axis, these two elements being able, for example, to be of a single holding, in which case, the shutter will return to its closed position only when the axis has left its relative angular position allowing its passage through the hole.

In this same embodiment, the elastic return means in rotation of the axis and the shutter can be merged, since there is no angular displacement in rotation between these elements.

In another embodiment of a socket according to the invention, these locking means can block translation by interference shapes with said well or its rim, or rims.

Preferably, in this embodiment, said locking means in translation of the flap comprise radial extensions of at least one part mounted in translation in the well, said radial extensions being, when the socket is unused, interfering in shape with said well or its rim so as to block the translation of the flap in said well and these the extensions being elastically retractable so as to interrupt the interference of shapes with the well or its rim when they are constrained under the effect of the introduction of a plug in the well.

Preferably, the translation locking means are radial extensions coming integrally with the shutter support, and designed to interfere with the shape of the well when the socket is not in use. Said radial extensions are elastically retractable so as to interrupt the interference of shapes with the well and thus unlock the translation when they are constrained, their rest position being the position preventing the translation of the flap in the well, the shutter being preferably positioned in radially closed position behind said extensions to prevent this deformation, the latter being possible only when the shutter is in the open position, releasing the space required for said elastic retraction behind the extensions.

Alternatively, in this embodiment, the translation locking means comprise radial extensions attached to the shutter support, mounted in translation radially thereon and designed to interfere with the well when the socket is not used, and the shutter comprises grooves cooperating by hooking with hooks radial extensions, so as to bring the radial portions towards the center during the rotation of the shutter and thus release the translation of the flap in the well.

It should be noted that, whatever the embodiments, the socket and in particular the well, the shutter, and the shutter, can have a different number and a different distribution and shape of the pin holes, so that adapting to different geometrical dimensions of electrical sockets and additional electrical connection plugs, in particular for different forms and positioning of earth pins, in particular according to the standards and standards in force in a given country.

Thus, for example, for the German standard, the shutter will be designed with adequate openings to let the earthing contacts, the shutter is of course adapted to receive said passage openings for the earth contacts through a cruciform configuration for example.

In addition, in this preferred embodiment for the German standard, the top of the diametrically opposite lateral guides can serve as a support surface for the locking means in translation of the flap in the well (see in this regard the aforementioned document From 3731588 )

According to another preferred feature of the invention, backup means are implemented on the shutter so that only is likely to constrain the shutter to move to its open position simultaneous intervention in the two holes of spindle passage of the shutter by means of the electrical connection plug.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• La figure 1 est une vue générale en perspective d'une prise de courant selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue éclatée des principales pièces constitutives de la même prise ;
• les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues en perspective des mêmes éléments constitutifs assemblés, la prise étant respectivement en position verrouillée et déverrouillée ;
• la figure 4 est une vue éclatée des principales pièces constitutives d'une réalisation simplifiée d'une prise selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective des principaux éléments constitutifs d'un autre mode de réalisation d'une prise selon l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue éclatée des principaux éléments constitutifs assemblés de la prise de la figure 5 ;
• les figures 7A et 7B représentent les principaux éléments constitutifs assemblés d'un quatrième mode de réalisation d'une prise selon l'invention, respectivement à l'état verrouillé et déverrouillé.

Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge from the following description, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which like, similar or equivalent parts are identified with the same numerical references. Moreover, for the sake of clarity of the figures, the various elements are not represented in a homogeneous scale.

• The figure 1 is a general perspective view of a power socket according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is an exploded view of the main constituent parts of the same socket;
• the Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views of the same assembled components, the socket being respectively in the locked and unlocked position;
• the figure 4 is an exploded view of the main components constituting a simplified embodiment of a socket according to the invention;
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of the main components of another embodiment of a socket according to the invention;
• the figure 6 is an exploded view of the main constituent elements assembled from taking the figure 5 ;
• the Figures 7A and 7B represent the main assembled components of a fourth embodiment of a socket according to the invention, respectively in the locked and unlocked state.

The socket 100 represented in particular on the figure 1 in particular a base 160 provided with cells of electrical contacts (not visible) and associated with a housing 180 having a central well 181 in which is mounted a protective flap 121, shown in FIG. figure 1 in its upper position, namely substantially in the same plane as the rim of the well 182. Two holes 122a, 122b of the pins of the complementary plug (not shown) and a hole 122c passage of the pin of the setting earth housed in the well 181 of the socket 100 are formed in this flap 121.

As can be seen on the figures 2 , 3A and 3B this socket comprises in a general manner, in this embodiment, a support 101, a shutter 110 to be housed in the support 101, an axis head 135 and a translation locking pin 130 provided to cooperate advantageously with the shutter 110, a torsion spring 140 for the shutter 110, a plate 150 assembled with the base 160 and a helical spring 141 to cooperate with the axis 130.

More specifically, the shutter support 101 generally has a "D" shape, with a generally parallelepipedal recess 102 for receiving the shutter 110 bordered by two lateral openings 103a, 103b located on either side of a shutter 110. partial bottom 104 of the recess 102, which is provided at its center with a hole 105a for the passage of the axis, and, on either side of this hole, holes 105b, 105c passage for the pins an electrical plug. This support 101 further comprises fastening means provided for cooperating, here by snapping, with the shutter 121 forming the bottom of the mobile well and visible in figure 1 . These fixing means are here in the form of appendages 166 projecting laterally from the support 101.

The shutter 110 is adapted to be mounted in the recess 102 of the support 101. It comprises, for this purpose, a hollow central portion 111 in which extends a cross member 112 by means of which the shutter is pivotally mounted on the locking pin in translation, and two peripheral lugs 113a, 113b each comprising an inclined plane 114a, 114b, these planes being oriented inversely relative to each other around the central portion, so as to be able to transform the translation movement of a plug into rotational movement of the shutter 110. These inclined planes 114a, 114b are each extended by a lug 115a, 115b of locking adapted to cooperate with the pin passage holes 122a, 122b of the flap 121 to form with the tilting arrangement of the shutter 110 on the head 135 of the locking pin 130, means for safeguarding the kind defined above.

The axis head 135 has a groove 136 capable of receiving the cross member 112 of the shutter 110 and a crenellated lower portion 137.

The locking pin 130 comprises a blind hollow cylindrical main portion 131 provided to accommodate the coil spring 141, one end of the latter coming to bear against the bottom of said recess. The main portion 131 is extended by a crenellated portion 132, provided to mesh with the crenellated lower portion 137 of the head 135 axis.

The main portion 131 of the locking pin 130 further has longitudinal ribs 133a, 133b diametrically opposite, and a slot 134 for receiving a branch 142 of the spring 141.

The hole 105a passing through the axis 130 of locking formed in the bottom of the support 101 has, for the purpose of the establishment of this axis, a section complementary to that of the main part of this axis. After assembly, the ribs 133a, 133b of the main portion 131 are thus spaced from the bottom of the support 101.

Moreover, this axis passage hole is bordered by two edges 107a, 107b in an arc projecting from the bottom 104, around which is wound the middle portion of the spring 140 of torsion, while the lateral wings thereof bear respectively against a shoulder 116 formed on the back of the shutter 110 and a portion of the vertical wall delimiting the generally parallelepipedic recess, which adjoins one of the lateral openings in which will engage the ears 113a, 113b of the shutter at the moment of its rotation.

The wafer 150 comprises, for its part, a central hole 151a extended by two notches 152a, 152b diametrically opposed so as to form a section complementary to that of the axis 130 of locking provided ribs 133a, 133b. The wafer 150 also has, on either side of this central hole 151a, holes 151b, 151c for the passage of the pins of the electric plug, as well as means for fixing the base, here the legs latching 154a, 154b, 154c.

On its side, the base 160 comprises, in the right of cells of electrical contacts, holes 161b, 161c of passage of pins for the pins of the complementary electrical connection plug, these holes being located on either side of a central hole 161a passage of the coil passage spring 141. A double bottom (not visible in the figures) of the base serves as a lower support for this spring. This double bottom further comprises means for locking in rotation of the spring 141 around itself, the last turn 143 of the spring 141 may, for example, be glued to said double bottom. This base comprises, moreover, a hole 161d for the passage of the grounding pin for extending into the well of the socket. It should also be noted that the housing 180 and the wafer 150 are here each assembled to the base 160, by snapping.

• d'une part, il agit comme ressort de rappel en translation pour l'axe 130, prenant appui au fond de la creusure borgne de l'axe 130 et sur le double fond du support 160 (non représenté), et
• d'autre part, il agit en torsion, afin d'assurer un rappel en rotation de l'axe 130 par rapport à la plaquette 150, afin de solliciter celui-ci hors de la position angulaire dans laquelle les nervures 133a, 133b sont en face des encoches 152a, 152b.

It should be noted that the spring 141 has a dual function:

• on the one hand, it acts as a return spring in translation for the axis 130, bearing on the bottom of the blind recess of the axis 130 and on the double bottom of the support 160 (not shown), and
• on the other hand, it acts in torsion, in order to ensure a return in rotation of the axis 130 relative to the wafer 150, in order to urge it out of the angular position in which the ribs 133a, 133b are in face of the notches 152a, 152b.

Thus, in the embodiment illustrated on the figures 1 , 2 ,. 3A and 3B , the introduction of an electrical connection plug (not shown) into the pin holes 122a, 122b formed in the protective flap 121, causes, via the inclined planes 114a, 114b, a transformation of the translational movement of the rotating plug of the shutter 110 mounted on the back of the protective flap 121, which in turn drives the head 135 of axis which meshes with the axis 130 of locking rotation, against the action of the torsion spring 140 and spring 141 and with the cross member 112 and the groove 136 located in the head 135 axis. In the rest position, before the introduction of the form as visible in particular figure 3A , the end of the axis 130 opposite the head 135 axis is supported on the wafer 150, the ribs 133a, 133b are not in front of the notches 152a, 152b provided to accommodate them. As visible especially in figure 3B , the rotation of the axis head 135 driven by the introduction of the plug described above, gives the relative angular orientation to the axis 130 relative to the wafer 150, via their respective crenellated portions 137 and 132, allowing the 133a ribs, 133b to be placed in front of the notches 152a, 152b, and allowing the translation of the axis 130, against the action of the spring 141, and thus the descent of the support 101 and 121 integral shutter from each other, in the well 181, thus allowing access to the electrical contacts to the pins of the newly introduced connection plug.

Conversely, the withdrawal of the plug causes the return of the shutter 110 in the rest position 140, in which it covers the pinhole holes 122a, 122b formed in this flap 121, under the action of the torsion spring 140, then the return of the protective shutter 121 to its upper position, under the action in translation of the helical spring 141 of return and finally the rotation of the axis 130 out of the position allowing its translation, under the action of rotation of the spring 141.

On the other hand, the support on only one of the inclined planes 114a, 114b of the shutter 110 causes a tilting thereof and, consequently, the locking in rotation of this shutter by penetration of the lug 115a, 115b prolonging the plane inclined 114a, 114b corresponding in the passage hole 122a, 122b opposite pins, which is formed in the protective flap 121.

• l'axe 230 qui est composé d'une partie principale 231 d'un seul tenant avec la tête d'axe 232, et
• le ressort 241, qui ne remplit qu'une fonction de rappel en translation, le rappel en rotation étant assuré par le ressort 140.

A simplified embodiment of the present invention is shown in figure 4 . In this embodiment, the grip is strongly similar to the grip according to the preferred embodiment described above. The differences between the two embodiments relate to:

• the axis 230 which is composed of a main part 231 in one piece with the axis head 232, and
• the spring 241, which performs only a function of return in translation, the return in rotation being provided by the spring 140.

Thus, in this simplified embodiment, the introduction of a plug into the socket causes a rotation of the shutter 110, which in this embodiment cooperates through the cross member 112 with the groove 234, which, as in the previous embodiment, drives the locking pin 230 in rotation, relative to the wafer 150, which allows the ribs 133a, 133b to be placed in position. face of the notches 152a, 152b and allowing the translation of the axis 130. The removal of the plug first causes the return of the protective shutter 121 to its upper position, under the action of the spring 241 return in translation, then the return of the shutter 110 in the rest position, under the action of the spring 140, when the ribs 133a, 133b are disengaged from the notches 152a, 152b. This simplified embodiment can be advantageous for reducing the manufacturing costs of a socket according to the invention, in particular thanks to the axis 230 which can be advantageously molded in one piece and to the spring 241 not requiring an additional blocking device in translation.

Another embodiment of a plug according to the invention is shown in FIG. Figures 5 and 6 . The plug 300 of this embodiment also generally comprises a protective flap 320, a flap support 310, a rotary shutter 301, a torsion spring 340 for the shutter 300, a helical return spring 341 for the protective flap, and a housing 380, the whole being intended to be mounted on a not shown base, similar to that shown in FIG. figure 2 and including electrical contacts for the pins of the connector plug.

The protective flap 320 comprises a disc 321 having two pinhole holes 322a, 322b for the pins of the electrical connection plug and a through hole 322c for the grounding pin which is intended for extend into well 381 of the socket (not visible on Figures 5 and 6 ). Two diametrically opposite tabs 323a, 323b extend this disc 321 extending perpendicularly thereto for participating in guiding the flap 320 in the well of the housing. A radial opening 324 is made in each of these tabs 323a, 323b while the housing 380 has two corresponding notches 381a, 381b radial and diametrically opposed.

The shutter support 310 comprises a plate 312 and an axle 313 projecting centrally from this plate 312 and on which the shutter 301 is intended to be rotatably mounted.

The plate 312 has on both sides of this axis 313, two pin holes 314a, 314b for the pins of the electrical connection plug. Each of them is placed in correspondence with a second pinhole each formed in a bearing 315a, 315b extending parallel to the plate 312, on the axis side, and each connected to this plate by two wall portions.

Each of these wall portions which extends perpendicularly to the plate at its longitudinal end, is slotted longitudinally so as to form with an angled extension, a tab 316a, 316b resilient translation locking.

The two other portions 317a, 317b of respective walls are each positioned so as to limit the amplitude of the rotation of the shutter 301, one of them serving in addition to support one of the wings of the spring torsion 340.

The shutter has a similar configuration to that of the previous embodiment, since it also comprises a hollow central portion 304 for mounting rotatably on the axis of the shutter support and two peripheral ears 302a, 302b each having an inclined plane 303a, 303b, the two planes being inclined in opposite directions for the same reasons as above.

The two extensions 316a, 316b in brackets that come in one piece with the support 310 are designed to pass through the two radial openings 324 made in the flap 320 and lead into the two radial notches 381a, 381b of the housing 380. provision prevents the translation of the support 310, and the flap 301, insofar as the extensions 316a, 316b bear on the housing 380.

These extensions 316a, 316b, however, are elastically deformable and can therefore move back towards the axis of the support 313, thereby disengaging notches 381a, 381b to allow translation of the flap 320 in the well of the housing.

In practice, the rest position of the peripheral ears 302a, 302b of the shutter 301 makes it impossible to move these extensions 316a, 316b.

On the other hand, when an electrical connection plug is inserted into the socket, the pins thereof advantageously cooperate with the inclined planes 303a, 303b of the shutter 301, which pivots around the axis 313 of the support releasing enough space to make the elastic deformation of these extensions 316a, 316b possible. In a similar manner to the previous embodiment, this frees the translation of the protective shutter 320, which can descend into the well against the return force exerted by the coil spring 341, and thus give access to the contacts electric.

On the other hand, in view of the tight adjustments implemented, an inadvertent intervention on one of the peripheral lugs 303a, 303b of the shutter 310 will inevitably lead to an angled positioning of the protective flap 320 in its well 381, preventing any translation of flap.

In a fourth embodiment shown in Figures 7A and 7B and similar to the previous embodiment, the locking mechanism in translation of the flap (not shown for clarity) can be achieved by replacing the extensions by latches 411 a, 411b reported, whose outer ends are housed, when the socket is not used, in slots 482a, 482b of the housing. These latches are movably mounted in translation on a support 410 shutter 401 it comprises, for this purpose, inclined planes 402a, 402b of a hollow central portion 403, for the same reasons as above. On this central part of the shutter, are arranged two notches 405 diametrically opposed provided to accommodate the inner ends 412a, 412b locks shaped hook and able to cooperate with said notches 405.

This shutter 401 is here also pivotally mounted on its support 410 and provided with a locking pin in rotation on each of its peripheral edges, on the opposite side to that having the inclined plane, in order to cooperate with a pinhole provided in the shutter support during an untimely intervention on one of its peripheral ears.

Thus, when a plug is inserted into a socket 400 according to this embodiment, the translation of the pins causes a rotation of the shutter 401 around itself by cooperation of shape with the inclined planes 402a, 402b, this rotation itself causing a translation of the locks 411a, 411b inwardly by cooperation between the hooks 412a, 412b and the notches 405, which transform the rotation in translation of the two bolts 411a, 411b towards each other, in the manner of a cremone, by disengaging the outer ends of the latches of the notches, thus unlocking the translation of the flap ( not shown) in the well.

Further operation and the remainder of the plug structure according to this third embodiment being similar to the previous embodiment, it will not be described in more detail here.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant embodiment.

In particular, instead of being mounted mobile in a circular motion, the shutter implemented could be mounted movably in a linear motion.

Claims (15)

1. Electric socket (100, 300, 400) having a recess which is suitable for receiving a complementary electric connection plug and comprising, perpendicular to the bottom of the recess, electric contacts for complementary electric connection pins of the electric connection plug, a flap (121, 320) which is intended for protecting the recess and is provided with holes (122a, 122b, 322a, 322b) through which the pins of the electric connection plug pass and which is movably mounted in translation in the recess, the flap, in the resting position, being in an upper position for closing the recess, and means for locking the flap against translation in the recess in order to prevent the flap from being translated towards the bottom of the recess, the locking means being suitable for being disabled when the electric connection plug is inserted into the recess of the socket via the through holes provided in the flap, characterised in that
   said socket comprises an obturator (110, 301, 401) for the holes (122a, 122b, 322a, 322b) made in the flap through which the pins pass, the obturator being movably mounted on the back of the flap and being shaped such that, when in contact with the pins of the complementary electric connection plug during a stage of being connected to the socket, said obturator is displaced in a plane parallel to that which is formed by the flap in order to pass from a closed position, in which said obturator covers the holes through which the pins pass, into an open position, in which said obturator allows the electric contacts to access the pins of the electric connection plug, a return spring (140, 240) permanently urging said obturator towards its closed position.
2. Electric socket according to claim 1, characterised in that the obturator (110, 301, 401) is suitable for displacing the locking means or allowing said locking means to be displaced from a position for locking the flap (121, 320) against translation in the recess towards a disabled position which permits this translation.
3. Electric socket according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the obturator (110, 301, 401) is suitable for displacing said locking means or allowing said locking means to be displaced by a movement of the obturator which is restricted to a rotation about said obturator.
4. Electric socket according to claim 3, characterised in that the obturator (110, 301, 401) is shaped such that, during a stage of insertion into the socket, said obturatorconverts the translational movement of the pins of the electric connection plug into a rotational movement about said obturator.
5. Electric socket (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the locking means comprise a locking shaft (130), one end of which is connected to the obturator (110) for rotation therewith, the other end of the shaft resting on a plate (150) located substantially at the bottom of the recess and comprising a hole (151 a) through which said shaft passes, a return spring (141) influencing the shaft so as to permanently urge the flap (121) towards the upper position for closing the recess, by means of the obturator, and in that the shaft (130) of the plate and the hole (151 a) in the plate have complementary portions and relative angular orientations such that, when the socket is not in use, said portions have an offset angular position which does not allow the shaft (130) to pass into the hole (151) and, therefore, does not allow the flap to be translated, whereas, when a plug is being inserted, the rotation of the obturator is transmitted to the shaft such that the portion thereof has an angular position in which said portion is on top of the complementary portion of the through hole (151 a) in the plate (150), which thus permits said translation.
6. Electric socket (100) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the locking shaft (130) is shaped so as to be connected to the obturator (110) for rotation therewith so as to have a rotational angular displacement between said obturator (110) and said locking shaft (130), said displacement having an amplitude such that the obturator can return to its closed position, in which it covers the contact openings (161b and 161c), while the shaft (130) is in the angular position which allows it to pass into the hole (150).
7. Electric socket (100) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the obturator (110) is mounted on the flap (121) by means of a support (101), a return spring (141) being suitable, where necessary, for permanently urging the support (101), and therefore the cover flap (121), towards the upper position for closing the recess.
8. Electric socket according to claim 7, characterised in that the return spring (141) is suitable for acting as a spring for countering the translation for the shaft (130), and therefore for the support (101) and the cover (121), and for countering rotation in order to urge the shaft (130) to rotate out of its relative angular position which permits said translation.
9. Electric socket (300, 400) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said means for locking the flap against translation are suitable for preventing the translation by an interference fit with said recess or the edge thereof.
10. Electric socket according to claim 9, characterised in that said means for locking the flap against translation comprise radial extensions (316a, 316b, 411 a, 411 b) of at least one part translatably mounted in the recess, said radial extensions, when the socket is not in use, being in an interference fit with said recess or the edge thereof so as to prevent the flap from translating in said recess, and these extensions being elastically retractable so as to stop the interference fit with the recess or the edge thereof when said extensions are forced herein by a plug being inserted into the recess.
11. Electric socket (300) according to claim 10, characterised in that said radial extensions are formed integrally with a support (310) for the obturator.
12. Electric socket (300) according to claim 11, characterised in that, in the closed position, the obturator (301) is positioned radially behind said extensions (316a, 316b) in order to prevent the elastic deformation thereof, said deformation being possible only when the obturator (301) is in the open position, which therefore clears the space required for said elastic retraction behind the extensions.
13. Electric socket (400) according to claim 10, characterised in that said radial extensions (411 a, 411 b) are attachments which are movably mounted on said at least one part such that they can assume one of the two end positions, said extensions being in an interference fit with the recess or the edge thereof in the first position, but not in the second position.
14. Electric socket (400) according to claim 13, characterised in that said attachments (411 a, 411 b) are mounted so as to move radially in translation relative to said at least one part and are each shaped at the inner radial end thereof (412a, 412b) so as to rotationally engage with the obturator, said obturator being shaped so as to engage with the radial ends of said attachments in such a manner that the rotation of said obturator resulting from an electric connection plug being inserted into the socket radially translates said radial extensions from said first position into said second position.
15. Electric socket (100, 300, 400) according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that protection means (115a, 115b) are used on the obturator for only enabling to force the obturator to be displaced towards its open position in the case of a simultaneous intervention in the two holes of the flap through which the pin passe, by means of the electric connection plug.

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