EP3316414A1 - Travel adapter which can be securely grounded - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a travel plug adapter, which is also referred to herein briefly as a travel plug. With the help of such an adapter, power plugs of a specific (domestic) standard can be plugged into the existing outlets at the place of travel. In particular, there is a travel plug adapter (10) which has a housing and a plug receptacle (16) which has a first ground contact receptacle (18D, 18E, 70) and at least one first plug (38) of a first standard, wherein the plug ( 38) is associated with an actuating element (26), which is used for displacing the plug (38) between a standby position, in which the plug (38) is located substantially within the housing, and a use position, in which the plug (38) is located outside the housing, is formed, and the plug (38) is associated with a first ground contact (44) which is electrically connectable to the ground contact receptacle (18 D, 18 E, 70), wherein the Erdkontaktaufnahme (18 D, 18 E, 70) both in the use position and in transition positions between the standby position and the use position with the ground contact (44) is connected.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a travel plug adapter, which is also referred to herein briefly as a travel plug. With the help of such an adapter, power plugs of a specific (domestic) standard can be plugged into the existing outlets at the place of travel. For this purpose, the travel plug adapter requires a plug receptacle first standard and a power plug of another standard. In the present case, it is more accurate to travel plug adapters that allow plugging into sockets at least a first and a second standard. For this purpose, in the travel plug adapter mains plug of a first and a second standard can be used alternatively.

Background of the invention

Travel plugs or travel plugs of this type are increasingly used in times of increasing global travel and business. There is therefore a need for compact, well portable travel plug adapters that are suitable for power outlets of several different standards.

The Chinese patent application CN 101872911 A discloses a travel plug adapter with a substantially circular housing. Housing connectors are housed inside the housing, which can be selected and pushed out of the housing. In this way, at least three different types of power connectors can be used. The selection of the desired power plug is done by the upper housing part is rotated relative to the lower housing part. The upper housing part has a single outwardly projecting actuating slide. This actuating slide can be brought into engagement with different power plug elements. The power plug elements are arranged side by side. It is brought by twisting into a position above the outwardly herauszuschiebenden from the housing power plug.

The German patent DE 10 2011 014 920 B4 discloses another travel plug, which is referred to as a universal plug adapter. In this travel plug several plug pin sets are provided in an outer housing. Each pin set is connected to a keypad with which it can be moved from the outside. The controls are guided through sliding slots in the housing. The control units are additionally guided by a provided inside the outer housing locking plate. This locking plate has a backdrop through which recesses, the controls can move. The scenery provides an upper and a lower end position. The locking plate is resiliently biased so that a control panel can be held firmly in the upper or in the lower end position. The control panel and thus the corresponding pin set can be released from the end positions and moved up or down by an externally provided next to the controls additionally provided selector lever is actuated. By pressing this selector lever, the blocking plate is moved against the spring force. This allows the pins to be moved from their upper or lower end position using the keypads.

In this solution, the outer keypads are used both to transfer the pin sets from a first end position, a standby position, to a second end position, a use position, as well as to lock the pin sets in these positions.

With both plug adapters from these disclosures, as with other commercially available plug adapters, high electrical safety is important. In particular, the reliable grounding of the plug adapter plays a role. The plug adapters are grounded regularly when a selected plug is completely transferred to its use position. It is conceivable however, that a user-damaging electrical contact already comes about before.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved travel plug adapter. The travel adapter should be inexpensive and reliable to produce, easy to transport and operate and provide high electrical safety.

This object is achieved by an adapter according to the independent claim. The travel adapter according to the invention avoids, despite very compact design, that this is grounded only in the use position and neither in the ready position nor in transition positions between standby position and use position.

The travel plug adapter according to the invention has a housing which can have different shapes. For example, a cuboid shape is usually convenient for transport. The mechanics of the travel plug adapter is, however, designed so that the housing form can be chosen largely freely. It is advantageous if the housing has at least one flat side, but the mechanism can also be adapted to curved housing surfaces. The housing can be made in one piece or in several parts. It has proved to be expedient to carry out the housing in two parts, namely with a housing lower part and a housing upper part. Both can be releasably connected to each other, for example by mechanical means, expediently by a screw connection.

The housing should have at least one connector receptacle. This is expediently provided on the housing top. Depending on the type of male power plug (hereafter short: plug), the plug receptacle may have different shapes. For example, if a Schuko plug is to be received, then the plug receptacle will have a substantially cylindrical recess and, moreover, contact sockets for receiving the contact pins of the Schuko plug. Other types of plugs do not require a pit or pit. It may be expedient to provide a flat housing top, in which a plurality of contact sockets are provided. As a rule, at least two contact sockets should be provided, which form a pair of contact sockets for receiving a plug of a standard. It may be appropriate to provide multiple pairs of female contact to accommodate several plugs of different standard. If the plugs also have grounding and the plug receptacle to provide the possibility of grounding, it is usually necessary to provide per male plug and a third contact socket or a third contact.

The travel plug adapter may further comprise at least a first standard plug and a second second standard plug. (Such connectors are sometimes referred to as pin sets.) The plug of the first standard may be, for example, a Euro or Schuko plug and the plug of the second standard to a US plug. The plug can be bipolar, that is ungrounded, or even three-pole, so that a ground pole can be provided. The present travel plug adapter is therefore suitable for use in more than one country. Expedient and usually also required if the first plug and the second plug are used alternatively.

Plugs many standards have a plug body, which protrudes into the socket and whose shape is determined by the shape of the socket. For example, Schuko plug have such a plug body. This plug body has a cylindrical basic shape with two protruding grooves and two indentations. The grooves determine the required according to the standard orientation of the connector body. Earthing contacts can be provided in the indentations. At the bottom of the plug body protrude at the Schuko plug two pins, when using the plug, these are the current-carrying contacts, ie the plus and the negative pole.

Also, a Euro plug has a plug body which is inserted into a socket and whose shape is at least partially determined by the shape of the socket. Similarly, plugs for Switzerland and Italy have plug bodies. The plug bodies of a Swiss plug and an Italian plug are similar. Both have front three contact pins. The outer contact pins form the plus and the minus pole. The middle contact pin is used for earthing. In the case of the Italian plug, it is arranged centrally between the contact pins for the positive and the negative pole. The Swiss plug is offset from the line of these two pins.

In the context of the present invention, the word plug body is intended to describe the part of a plug which is inserted into the socket and is at least substantially fixed in its shape by the standard of the socket. Above the plug body, another part of the plug housing is usually arranged, referred to herein as the plug main housing. The main connector housing is used for cable management, often grip recesses or the like are provided. Unlike the plug body, the plug main body is not determined by the shape of the socket.

Plugs of another standard do not require a plug body. The corresponding sockets have a substantially flat top, which has only sockets for receiving contact pins. These bushings are usually circular or slot-shaped. For the corresponding sockets are plugs that have no connector body, but only from a connector housing excellent contact pins.

The travel plug adapter may also include three or more plugs. Travel plug adapters with three or four plugs have proven to be very useful. At least one of the plugs, but generally all the plugs, can be brought from a standby position, in which the plug is located substantially in the housing, into a use position. In the Useful position, the plug is usable completely or at least partially outside the housing. It is often possible for the plug to be completely moved back into the housing during the return to the ready position. It is expedient that the plug can at least be moved back into the housing so far that it is not in the way of other plugs.

A travel plug adapter according to the present invention is intended to have a first plug comprising a plug body and a ground contact. This first plug could thus be, for example, a Schuko plug with a plug body of the known cylindrical shape and two contact pins which serve as positive and negative poles. In the use position, both the plug body and the first and the second contact pin are usefully arranged outside the housing. In this case, the plug body protrudes from the housing and the first and the second contact pin protrude in turn from the plug body. In the standby position, the two contact pins are retracted into the plug body and the plug body itself is retracted into the housing. Of course, the first plug can also be a plug of another standard.

The travel plug adapter according to the present invention may further comprise a second plug of a different standard, which in turn has a third contact pin and a fourth contact pin. The second plug may also have a ground contact. The second plug can thus be transferred into the use position that the third contact pin and the fourth contact pin protrude from the plug body of the first connector. These can then be inserted without this plug body into a socket matching standard.

According to the present invention, the Erdkontaktaufnahme should both in the use position, as well as in transition positions between the Ready position and the use position to be connected to the first ground contact. It is expedient if, in addition, the ground contact receptacle is also connected in the standby position to the earth contact.

These measures provide additional security when using the travel plug adapter and also give the user that feeling. Especially when the user is confronted with unfamiliar plugs and pins, it can easily lead to incorrect operation. It would also be conceivable that a ground pin is partially retracted into the housing before the travel plug adapter is completely pulled out of a socket. This creates dangerous situations that can be avoided by the electrical connection of the earth contacts according to the present invention.

It is particularly useful if the connection of Erdkontaktaufnahme with the first ground contact (or with other ground contacts) is done by a movable contact clip. Such a contact clip is suitably made of metal. It may have a fixed end which is mechanically fixed to a conductor. It may additionally have a movable end which is mechanically movably connected to a conductor. In any case, both the fixed end and the movable end are electrically connected to the conductor. This conductor may be the earth contact or the ground contact pick-up or a conductor arranged between earth contact and ground contact pickup.

It may be appropriate to connect the movable end mechanically movable with the first ground contact. Then, the ground contact may be passed through or moved along the movable end of the contact clip. This is particularly useful when the Earth contact is designed in the form of a pin or pins, for example in the form of a cylindrical pin or a flat pin.

It may also be appropriate to mechanically connect the earth contact with its fixed end to the contact clip. Due to the fixed connection, the contact clamp moves with the earth contact, when it is moved from its standby position to the use position.

It has proven to be very useful to provide at least one or more contact rails within the travel plug adapter. These contact rails can be arranged electrically, but also from their mechanical position forth between Erdkontaktaufnahme and ground contact. Such a contact rail is well suited for the use of a contact clip. In this case, it comes into question on the one hand, that the contact clip is guided along the contact rail, so in particular is guided past with its movable end of the contact rail. It is particularly useful when the movable end of the contact clip engages around the contact rail. For this purpose, the movable end of the contact clip may have two opposite contact jaws which can clasp the contact rail.

It may also be expedient if the fixed end of a contact clip is connected to the contact rail. The contact rail can then hold the contact clip in a desired favorable position at the fixed end.

It may also be expedient to mechanically connect the contact rail to the ground contact receptacle (in addition to the electrical connection). The contact rail is then mechanically held by the Erdkontaktaufnahme. This is particularly advantageous in the Erdkontaktaufnahme a Schuko plug. This mechanical connection allows a compact Construction of the plug at the same time safe and preferably also direct contact between Erdkontaktaufnahme and contact rail.

Particularly expedient is a travel plug adapter, in which in addition to the first plug, a second plug of a second standard is provided, which is also associated with an actuating element, which is for displacing the second plug between a standby position, in which the second plug is substantially within the housing , and a use position in which the second plug is usefully located outside the housing, is formed and the second plug is associated with a second ground contact.

It is expedient for two plugs, when the ground contact of the first connector is connected to the fixed end with a first contact clip and the ground contact of the second connector is connected to the moving end of the second contact clip. This allows a particularly compact design of the travel plug adapter.

Also useful is a travel plug adapter having at least a first and a second connector, wherein the first connector has a ground contact and the contact clip is connected with its movable end to the ground contact and the second plug has a ground contact, which is connected to the fixed end of the same contact clip is. It is particularly useful if a common contact rail is provided for both plugs. Accordingly, it is expedient if the earth contact of the second plug with the movable end of a contact clamp runs on the contact rail.

It is also particularly expedient if plugs are guided on sliding slots in the housing. This guide facilitates the guidance of contact clips, especially along contact rails. This also applies to the provision of guide slots in the interior of the plug. Such guide slots can also be provided in plug bodies.

It is also particularly expedient if the travel plug adapter is designed mechanically such that one of the plugs, for example the first plug, has a plug body and the plug body has guide slots. In this case, a guide slot may be provided for a support element of a second connector. In such a support member may be, for example, a support beam, the contact pins of the second connector leads. The provision of such a guide slot allows the support element is guided deep into the plug body of the first connector and thus makes a precise mechanical guidance of the contact pins carried by him possible. The guide is particularly precise when such a guide slot and a sliding slot of the plug housing are arranged in mutually parallel planes. This arrangement allows the leadership of the support member through two slots and thus a mechanically very safe and precise guidance.

This guide not only has mechanical advantages, but also serves to increase electrical safety. Since the displacement of the corresponding support member is precisely predetermined, it can be largely avoided that a jamming or damage occurring in this area electrical lines occurs.

It may be expedient if the second plug has a ground contact, which is arranged at a distance from the plug body of the first plug. Such a ground contact is therefore not outside of the plug body, but is provided at a distance of typically a few millimeters (2 to 10 mm). For example, the earth contact may be provided in the form of a third contact pin, which is arranged parallel to the contact pins for plus and minus pole. Especially with one in this way very much compact built-in travel plug adapter, a reliable grounding is important.

The travel plug adapter may have more than the first and second plugs, often travel plug adapters with three or four plugs are convenient. For example, a third plug can be provided in which at least one contact is guided in the plug body of the first plug. It is conceivable, for example, that the ground contact of the third plug is guided in the plug body of the first connector. It would also be conceivable that two current-carrying contacts of the third connector (positive and negative pole) are guided in the plug body of the first connector.

With such an arrangement, the secure grounding of the travel plug adapter is very essential.

It is also expedient if the travel plug adapter is constructed so that the second plug and the third plug have the same polarity. Then lie on one side of the center plane of the plug equal poles, for example, on the left each of the plus pole and right each of the negative pole. The median plane divides the plug centrally between the current-carrying poles, at least the current-carrying poles of the second and the third plug. This allows easy and safe wiring of the plug. Basically, it is easily possible to use the travel plug adapter in 180 ° rotated positions. However, it is often advantageous to limit this use mechanically so that the travel plug adapter can only be used in a fixed position and then to choose the polarity relative to this position favorable.

It is possible to equip a travel plug according to the invention with a selector slide, in each of which a sliding position is provided for each plug and the selector slide is connected to a provided on the outside of the housing control knob and depending on the sliding position the selection slider is only allowed to move the selected connector between the ready position and the use position. Such a selector slide may comprise a blocking element by which other plugs are locked in the ready position.

Alternatively, it is also possible to dispense with a selection slide. In such a travel plug adapter so no selection slide is provided in addition to the actuators. This is particularly useful if the simultaneous actuation of more than one operating slide is avoided by a mechanism other than that of the selection slide.

In the context of the present invention, it is also expedient to provide a latching element which locks at least the first plug or the second plug in the use position. Conveniently, this locking element is connected to an outside of the housing provided release button. It can be resiliently biased against the release direction. The provision of a locking element is particularly useful so that plugs are reliably held in the use position. Because about the first and the second and the third and the fourth contact pin may have different lengths, a minimal displacement from the use position may not be noticed immediately, but can be reliably prevented with the locking element.

It is expedient if the housing of the travel plug adapter has sliding slots or similar recesses. The actuators or slides can run in these sliding slots. It may also be additionally provided a sliding slot for the selection slide. Slide slots allow the movement of a slider while guiding. They thus represent an advantageous and inexpensive mechanical solution. Since usually several actuators or sliders are provided on the travel plug adapter, it is particularly advantageous if they can be performed in a simple manner in sliding slots.

The optional locking element can be designed as a component separate from the selector slide. Alternatively, the locking element may also be a component connected to the selector slide. The design as a separate component potentially has manufacturing advantages. The selector slide is a component that does not have to transmit large forces or has to withstand large forces. By its nature, the locking element must, however, apply sufficient force to reliably hold a plug of any standard in the use position.

For similar considerations, it is expedient if the locking element is also a separate component from the operating slide. In this case, the locking element is to be understood as a separate component if it has at least one component which is not part of the selection slide or an actuating slide. It is expedient in most cases when all components of the locking element are designed separately from the components of the selection slide and also the components of the actuating slide.

It is useful if the (optional) locking element is connected to a release button, which is provided on the outside of the housing and to operate in a release direction. Such release button allows the intuitive and safe release of the locking element when a plug is to be transferred from the use position back to the ready position. This construction appears safer and more reliable than those in which certain movements of the actuating slide or the selection slide or even the plug itself lead to the release of the plug. So that the release button is not accidentally pressed, it can also be provided with warnings or in a warning color, for example in red, be designed. The release button may be part of the housing, such as when a part of the housing can be pressed by suitable design. In general, it is expedient to provide a recess in the housing, and the release button as independent of the housing part in this To provide recess. Suitably, the release button opposite to the selector slide and / or the actuators are arranged.

It is expedient if the latching element is optionally resiliently biased against the release direction. The resilient biasing of the locking element allows the reliable automatic engagement of plugs in a lock when the plug is in the use position. It is mechanically advantageous if the springs act exactly opposite to the release direction.

An expedient embodiment of an (optional) latching element is one in which the latching element has at least one latching web and this latching web has a sliding surface and a latching projection. On the sliding surface, an element connected to a moving plug can slide along. This element can then engage the latching projection, so that the connector connected to the element is locked.

It is expedient to have a travel plug adapter in which at least one plug has a sliding nose or is mechanically fixedly connected to such and the sliding nose runs on the sliding surface and can possibly assume a locking position on a latching projection.

It is also useful a travel plug adapter, wherein the locking means comprises a plurality of locking webs, for example, two, three or four locking webs. The number of locking bars can be just as large as the number of plugs. Appropriate and sufficient, it may also be, if the number of locking webs is less than the number of plugs.

Especially in the latter case, it is expedient if at least two plugs are each connected to a sliding nose and both slide lugs run on the same latching web of the latching element. Since both Gleitnasen run on the same locking bar, so run both Gleitnasen on the same sliding surface and on same latching projection on which both slide lugs can assume a locked position. Since in the travel plug adapter not two plugs should be transferred simultaneously to the use position, the sliding lugs take alternatively this locking position on the locking projection. But by two Gleitnasen, for example, two sliding lugs adjacent plugs, share a suitably sized locking bar, the number of locking bars can be reduced and the travel plug adapter be built so compact.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Reisesteckeradapters,

Fig. 2

zeigt aus ähnlicher Perspektive eine Darstellung des Ausführrungsbeispiels des Reisesteckeradapters, bei dem der US-Stecker in die Nutzstellung überführt wurde,

Fig. 3

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung auf den Reisesteckeradapter nach Fig. 2, in der die Unterseite sichtbar wird,

Fig. 4

zeigt in entsprechender perspektivischer Darstellung den Reisestecker aus Fig. 3, bei dem der Schuko-Stecker in die Nutzstellung überführt wurde,

Fig. 5

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile des Reisesteckers,

Fig. 6

zeigt in ähnlicher perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile, wobei ein weiterer Tragrahmen für einen AU-Stecker sichtbar wird,

Fig. 7

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile, insbesondere das Gehäuse des Schuko-Steckers.

Fig.8

zeigt in perspektivischer Darstellung ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile, insbesondere Kontaktstifte, eines Ausführungsbeispiels nach der vorliegenden Erfindung

Other features, but also advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and the accompanying description. In the figures and in the accompanying descriptions, features of the invention are described in combination. However, these features may also be included in other combinations of an article of the invention. Each disclosed feature is thus also to be regarded as disclosed in technically meaningful combinations with other features. The illustrations are partly slightly simplified and schematic.

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a travel plug adapter according to the invention,

Fig. 2

shows from a similar perspective a representation of the exemplary embodiment of the travel plug adapter, in which the US plug was transferred to the Nutzstellung,

Fig. 3

shows a perspective view of the travel plug adapter Fig. 2 in which the bottom is visible,

Fig. 4

shows in a corresponding perspective view of the travel plug Fig. 3 in which the Schuko plug was transferred to the use position,

Fig. 5

shows in perspective view selected cooperating components of the travel plug,

Fig. 6

shows in a similar perspective view selected cooperating components, wherein a further support frame for an AU plug is visible,

Fig. 7

shows in perspective view selected cooperating components, in particular the housing of the Schuko plug.

Figure 8

shows in perspective selected cooperating components, in particular contact pins, an embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a travel plug adapter 10 according to the invention, which is ready for use, but is not yet in use position. Rather, all the connectors are in the ready position, ie in the housing.

Hereinafter, only the most essential elements of the travel plug adapter 10 will be described. The travel plug adapter has a housing which consists of an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 14. The upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 14 together form the plug main housing. On the top of the travel plug adapter and thus in the region of the upper housing part 12 is the plug receptacle 16. This has a plurality of contact sockets 18. Specifically, these are the receptacle pair 18A for receiving current-carrying UK contact pins, the receptacle pair 18B for receiving current-carrying AU contact pins, the receptacle pair 18C for receiving current-carrying US contact pins, the receptacle 18D for receiving a UK ground pin and the receptacle 18E for receiving a US earth pin or AU earth pin.

On the side of the housing, the release button 20 is also provided. It serves to lock and release actuators. On the front of the housing, the first actuating slide 22 is provided, with which the US-contacts can push out, the second actuating slide 24, with which the AU-contacts can push out and the third actuating slide 26, with which a Schuko-plug can be pushed out.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the travel plug adapter according to the invention, in which the actuating slide 22 has been transferred to its lower position. Accordingly, the contact pins for the US plug 28 protrude from the housing. The US plug 28 includes two power conductive pins, the pins 30A and 30B, and a ground pin 32. In the illustrated position, the travel plug may be inserted into a US standard socket. This standard does not require that a plug body be used. The housing bottom of the travel plug adapter 10 is then flush on the flat surface of the plug according to US standard.

In Fig. 3 the same travel plug is shown from a different perspective. Here it is clearly seen that the bottom 34 is flat. At this bottom, however, a plurality of openings 36 and elements is provided. The openings 36A and 36B are provided for current-conducting Schuko contact pins. The openings 36C and 36D are provided for current-conducting AU contact pins. The opening 38 is provided for an additional ground pin. The opening 38 is provided together with the openings 36A and 36B in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. In addition to this plug body, a fuse insert 46 is also provided.

Fig. 4 shows from the same perspective the travel plug adapter according to the invention, in which the Schuko plug was placed in the use position. Accordingly, the third operating slide 26 has been brought to its lower position. Over the bottom 34 of the housing protrudes Plug body 40 of the Schuko plug out. For this in turn, the current-carrying pins 42A and 42B of the Schuko plug stand out. According to the standard, ground contacts 44 are located on the sides of the plug body.

Fig. 5 shows in a perspective view selected cooperating components of the travel connector 10. The view goes with the housing upper part in the interior of the plug, so you can see essentially the components that are received by the housing base 14. It should also be noted that not all components required for the function of the plug are shown. For the sake of clarity, a selection has been made.

One recognizes the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. In this, the openings 36 A and 36 B are provided for the current-conducting contact pins of the Schuko plug. Further, one recognizes the opening 36E, which is provided for a ground contact pin. It can be seen in this illustration also another opening, the opening 56 for the ground pin of the AU plug.

Shown are also the current-conducting contact pins 30A and 30B for the US plug. These are in their ready position, so they are withdrawn into the housing. Accordingly, the first operating slide 22 is in the upper position. The actuating slide 22 can be held in this position by the locking mechanism 48.

The actuating slide 22 moves the support bar 50. On this support bar 50, the contact pins 30A and 30B are suspended. Accordingly, when the first operating slide 22 is displaced, the support bar 50 moves downward in the direction of the housing bottom. In this case, the contact pins 30A and 30B in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug out. The Schuko plug thus offers a guide for pins of a different standard.

Fig. 6 shows in a similar perspective view a similar selection of cooperating components. As an essential difference to Fig. 5 Here is also the support beam 52 recognizable for the AU plug. The support beam 52 is connected to the actuating slide 24. The support beam 52 has three beam ends, the beam ends 54A, 54B and 54C, which converge in region 54. The bar ends 54A and 54B support the current-carrying contacts of the AU plug. You lead these contacts mechanically from the (illustrated) ready position to the use position. The beam end 54C carries the AU ground pin. The earth pin is thus from the (pictured) ready position by the in Fig. 5 visible opening 56 transferred to the use position.

For the AU plug so an arrangement was chosen in which the current-carrying pins are guided outside the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug, however, the ground pin is guided within the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug. By contrast, the current-carrying contact pins for the US plug are guided within the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. Both solutions allow an advantageous and space-saving arrangement. Different solutions can be chosen for different plugs.

Fig. 7 shows in perspective view other selected cooperating components of the embodiment of the travel plug adapter. Here are the actuating slide 22 for the US plug and the actuating slide 26 for the EU plug (designed as a Schuko plug) recognizable. The support arm 50 is connected to the actuating slide 22. The support arm 50 carries the ground pin 32, which is moved outside of the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. The support arm 50, however, leads the current-carrying contacts of the US plug within the plug body 40th the Schuko plug. Accordingly, a guide slot 58 is provided in the plug body 40. This guide slot 58 allows the support beam 50 engages deep into the plug body 40 and so a secure mechanical guidance of the US pins is possible.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective representation of selected cooperating components of an embodiment of the present invention. Shown are a variety of pins for connectors of different standards. The corresponding pins can be used in a travel plug adapter according to the previous figures. But in their mechanical arrangement, the contact pins are slightly different from those of the embodiment shown above.

The contact pins are again guided on the support frame 60. Described in more detail is the support frame 60A, which carries contact pins for a plug for Australia, and the support frame 60B, which carries contact pins for a plug for the USA. In particular, the current-carrying contact 62 for Australia and the ground contact 64 for Australia are routed to the support frame 60A. On the support frame 60B, the ground contact for the United States led (The current-carrying contacts for the United States are not visible in this illustration, also for clarity, some pins were not shown). Shown, however, is the ground contact 68 for the UK plug.

As Erdkontaktaufnahme serves Erdkontaktbahn 70 for a Schuko plug. According to the embodiment of Fig. 1 would of course also another Erdkontaktaufnahme possible, such as a socket on the type of the sockets 18D or 18E shown there.

The ground contact track is connected to a first contact rail 72 and a second contact rail 74. (You can also speak of contact strips.) The connection is electrically conductive, but the connection is also designed so that the first contact rail 72 and the second contact rail 74 are mechanically held by the earth contact path 70 for the Schuko plug.

From the first contact rail 72, the electrical contact to the AU ground contact 64 can be transmitted electrically. The first contact clip 76 serves this purpose. The second contact clip is used to transmit the electrical contact from the second contact rail 74 to the UK ground contact 68. Via the third contact clip 80, the electrical contact is transmitted from the second contact rail 74 to the US ground contact 66.

The contact clips each have a movable end 82 and a fixed end 84. The movable end is referred to in terms of its relative movement to the ground contact or the contact rail as "movable". In individual cases, it is stationary within the housing. The movable end 82 of the first contact clip 76 is movable relative to the first contact rail 72. With its two contact jaws 86A and 86B, the movable end 82 can slide along the first contact rail 72 while maintaining electrical contact. The corresponding sliding along takes place while the ground contact 64 slides when transferring the corresponding connector from the (illustrated) ready position to the use position down. Generally, it is expedient in the context of the present invention to provide two opposite contact jaws at both ends of a contact clip, but in particular at its movable end.

The fixed end 84 is fixedly connected to the ground contact 64. It would be possible to connect directly to this contact, but in the present case is connected to ground contact 64 by earth contact holder 88. The ground contact holder 88 thus holds the ground contact 64. The fixed end 84 of the first Contact clip 76 is, as can be seen, bolted to ground contact holder 88.

Another solution was chosen for US ground contact 66. This can also be transferred from the standby position shown in a Nutzstellung by that the support frame 60 B down (in this illustration, away from the Erdkontaktbahn 70) is moved. In this case, the cylindrical earth contact 66 is moved by the stationary third contact clamp 80. The third contact clip 80 is stationary, since its fixed end 84 is fixedly connected to the end of the second contact strip 74.

The movable end 82 of the second contact strip 74 can expediently again be designed with two opposite contact jaws. The passage of the earth contact through such contact jaws is particularly useful for cylindrical pins. The term "movable end" is based on the third contact clip 80 in terms of the relative movement of this end to understand the earth pin. In general, it is also expedient to attach the fixed end of a contact clip at the end of a contact strip, for example, to screw.

The UK ground contact 68 is also connected via the second contact strip 74 with the Erdkontaktbahn 70. In this case, the connection is made via the second contact clip 78, the fixed end 84 is firmly (and in this case without a Erdkontakthalter) connected to the ground contact 68. As a generally suitable connection in turn serves a screw. The movable end 82 of the second contact clip 78 is moved along the second contact strip 74 when the ground contact 68 is transferred to its (lower) use position. Consequently, the second contact strip 74 carries two contact clips. This is generally a useful concept in the context of the present invention. It is also useful in the context of the present invention, when the movable End of a first contact clip (here the clip 78) and the fixed end of a second contact clip (here the clip 80) are connected to a contact pin.

In the manner described in more general and more concrete terms in the drawings, a travel adapter can be produced which can be operated very comfortably, but in which incorrect operation is scarcely to be expected. Interestingly, the travel adapter in this way is still inexpensive to produce and can also be produced inexpensively and reliably, even if larger error tolerances must be allowed in mass production.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Travel plug / travel plug adapter

12

Housing top

14

Housing bottom

16

plug receptacle

18

Contact socket

18A

UK-socket pair

18B

OFF socket pair

18C

US-socket pair

18D

Socket for UK ground pin

18E

US ground pin

20

release button

22

first actuating slide

24

second actuating slide

26

third control slide

28

US Plug

30

current conducting pins (US plug)

32

Grounding pin (US plug)

34

Plug body (Schuko plug)

36

openings

36A

Opening of electrically conductive contacts (Schuko)

36B

Opening of electrically conductive contacts (Schuko)

36C

Opening electrically conductive contacts (US)

36D

Opening Conductive Kontatke (US)

36E

Opening further earth contact

38

Safety plug

40

Safety plug body

42

live contacts Schuko plug

44

Earth contact Schuko plug

46

fuse compartment

48

locking mechanism

50

Stringer US

52

Opening earth pin

54

Stringer AU

56

Stringer end AU

58

guide slot

60

supporting frame

62

live contact AU

64

Earth contact AU

66

Earth contact US

68

Earth contact UK

70

Ground contact Schuko

72

first contact strip

74

second contact strip

76

first contact clip

78

second contact clip

80

third contact clip

82

moving end

84

solid end

86

Contact baking

88

Erdkontakthalter

Claims (15)

Travel plug adapter (10) which has a housing and a plug receptacle (16) which has a first earth contact receptacle (18D, 18E, 70) and at least one first plug (38) of a first standard, wherein the plug (38) is an actuating element ( 26) associated with displacing the plug (38) between a standby position in which the plug (38) is substantially within the housing and a use position in which the plug (38) is usefully located outside the housing, is formed, and the plug (38) is associated with a first ground contact (44) which is electrically connected to the Erdkontaktaufnahme (18 D, 18 E, 70), wherein the Erdkontaktaufnahme (18 D, 18 E, 70) both in the use position and in Transitional positions between the standby position and the use position with the ground contact (44) is connected. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the Erdkontaktaufnahme (18D, 18E, 70) is also connected in the standby position with the first ground contact (44). Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection of Erdkontaktaufnahme (18 D, 18 E, 70) with the first ground contact (32) by a movable contact clip (76, 78, 80). A travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact clip (76, 78, 80) has a fixed end (84) mechanically fixedly connected to a conductor and having a movable end (82) which is mechanically movable with a conductor connected is. A travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the movable end (82) is mechanically movably connected to the first ground contact (44). Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first ground contact is designed as a cylindrical pin. The travel plug adapter (10) of any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first ground contact (44) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the contact clip (76, 78, 80). Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contact between Erdkontaktaufnahme (18D, 18E, 70) and ground contact (32,44) by a contact rail (72, 74) is mediated. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the movable end (82) of the contact clip (76, 78, 80) on the contact rail (72, 74) is guided. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the contact rail (72, 74) is mechanically connected to the Erdkontaktaufnahme (18 D, 18 E, 70). Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact rail (72, 74) is mechanically connected to the Erdkontaktaufnahme (70) of a Schuko plug. Travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is further provided a second plug (28) of a second standard, which is also associated with an actuating element (24) for displacing the second plug (28) between a standby position, in the the second plug (28) is substantially within the housing, and a use position in which the second plug (28) is usefully located outside the housing is formed and the second plug is associated with a second ground contact (32), A travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the ground contact (44) of the first plug (38) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the first contact clip (76) and the ground contact (66) of the second plug (28) the movable end (82) of the second contact clip (80) is connected. A travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first plug has a ground contact (66), and the contact clip (80) is connected at its movable end (82) to the ground contact (66), and further wherein a second plug ( 28) is provided, which has a ground contact (68), wherein the ground contact (68) with the fixed end (84) of the contact clip (80) is connected. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at the ground contact (68) of the second plug (28), the movable end (82) on a contact rail (74) runs.

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