EP3316419A1 - Secure travel connector adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a travel plug adapter, which is also referred to herein as a travel plug adapter. With the aid of such an adapter, power plugs of a specific (domestic) standard can be plugged into the existing outlets at the place of travel. More specifically, it is a travel plug adapter (10) having a housing, a connector receptacle and at least a first connector (34) of a first standard and a second connector (36) of a second standard, wherein the first connector (34) and the second connector (36), alternatively from a standby position, in which the respective connector is located substantially in the housing, can be brought into a use position, wherein the first connector (34) with a first actuating slide (22) for its transfer from the standby position in the Useful position is connected, and the second plug with a second actuating slide (24) is connected to its transfer from the standby position to the use position, characterized in that a selector slide (20) is provided, which alternatively in a first position, the first plug (34) or in the second first position releases the second plug (36) for transferring into the use position and there A latching element (66) is provided, which locks at least the first plug (34) or the second plug (36) in the use position and which is configured as a separate component from the selection slide (44).

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 with a substantially round 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 operating slide can with different power plug elements in Intervention be brought. It is brought by twisting into a position above the outwardly herauszuschiebenden from the housing power plug.

This travel plug adapter may be useful for many purposes. However, the mechanical rotation of the upper housing part relative to the lower housing part requires a precise housing manufacturing to allow a low-resistance rotational movement and also to ensure that the actuating slide can be reliably brought into engagement with a power plug element in different housing positions. Incidentally, the round shape itself is a limitation. In many cases, for example, a cuboid travel plug adapter is perceived as easier to transport. Furthermore, you do not have all the selectable power plug elements in view from a certain angle with a round travel plug adapter.

The German patent DE 10 2011 014 920 B4 discloses another travel plug adapter, which is referred to as a universal plug adapter. In this travel plug adapter 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 against the spring force emotional. 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. The disadvantage of this is that during the movement of the pin sets by the controls in addition the selector must be operated. This is a convenient one-handed operation in the way. Furthermore, the operating parts in the sliding slots do not run freely because the resiliently biased locking plate constantly presses against the operating parts during the movement. While the selector lever is being operated, it would also be possible to transfer two pin sets into or at least in the direction of the useful position as a result of incorrect operation.

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

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 detachably connected be, for example, by mechanical means, conveniently by a screw.

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. If, for example, a Schuko plug is to be received, then the plug receptacle will have a substantially cylindrical recess and, in addition, contact bushes 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 should further comprise at least one plug of a first standard and a second plug of a second standard. (Such connectors are sometimes referred to as pin sets.) The plug of the first standard may be, for example, an EU 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.

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 use 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.

The first plug is connected to an actuating slide for its transfer from the ready position to the use position. The second plug is also connected to an actuating slide for its transfer from the ready position to the use position. Thus, the travel plug adapter has at least a first actuating slide and a second actuating slide. The actuating slide can be conveniently carried out like a button, so that they can be easily moved with a finger. Sliding slots can be provided in the housing for the actuation slides. You can also connect sliding slots together, so that there is a guide link for the operating slide. It is expedient, as a rule, to provide one slide slot per actuation slide and to arrange these slide slots parallel to one another.

At the travel plug adapter a selection slide is provided, which can be brought at least in a first position and a second position. This selection slide is alternatively in its first position, the first connector or in its second position the second connector for transfer to the use position free.

In this way, the selection slider offers a practical added value for the travel plug adapter. Not infrequently, a travel plug adapter is carried several times in the same destination country. It is also contemplated that in a destination country, the required plug from the use position is returned to the standby position while it is not needed. It is therefore advantageous if the corresponding plug type can be set on the selection slide. It is easily possible to label the selection slider in such a way that the destination country can be easily read and adjusted there. After the selection slide is then transferred to the appropriate position, only the corresponding plug can be transferred to the use position. This usually means that only one operating slide can be moved.

Since the travel plug adapter should always be made compact, the actuators are usually close together. It may therefore be easy that about a finger is not placed exactly on the actuating slide, and an adjacent actuating slide could be accidentally moved along. Since, however, only the operation of a plug and thus (usually) also an actuating slide is made possible by the present invention, the accidentally mitzuührt actuating slide does not move (or he does not move at least the associated connector). This makes the operation of the travel plug adapter more forgiving.

However, the provision of a selector slide which releases only a plug and an actuating slide also has considerable safety advantages. If more than one plug is pushed out at the same time, current can flow through other than the standard-compliant contacts. This can damage the travel plug adapter and, in the worst case, damage to connected devices or even a user.

The plugs can be brought into the use position by means of the actuating slide. Of importance for the safe use of the travel plug adapter is that the plug remain in the use position, for example, even if they are introduced against pressure in a socket. In order to secure the whereabouts of plugs in the use position and to lock them there may be provided in the context of the present invention, a locking or locking element. This latching element can lock at least one plug of the travel plug adapter, expediently, the latching element can also lock several or all plugs in the use position.

The locking element is expediently designed as a separate component from the selector slide. The design as a separate component 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 possibly provided 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 to the ready position back. 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 to provide the release button as independent of the housing part in this recess. Suitably, the release button opposite to the selector slide and / or the actuators are arranged.

It is useful if the latching element is 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 a 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 slide nose or is mechanically firmly connected to such a plug and the sliding nose runs on the sliding surface and can assume a locking position on the locking 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 sliding lugs run on the same locking bar, so both slide lugs on the same sliding surface and on the same locking 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.

The selector slide can be provided in any suitable form within the scope of the present invention. He will usually allow in a mechanical way, the movement of only one plug and prevent the movement of the other plug. Conveniently, the selector slide can act on the actuating slide, which are connected to the respective plugs. It may also be expedient if the selector slide acts on another element connected to the plugs.

The selector slide may comprise a selector slide body. This can be placed inside the housing of the travel plug adapter. It is appropriate then to provide a recess in the housing, which allows the operation of the selection slide. For example, an actuation button, which is also referred to as a selector slide button below, be accessible through the recess. It is also conceivable that the selection slider body is placed outside the housing, and it acts on the outside of the housing on the actuating slide or acts by means of a passage inside the operating slide.

At least one plug or all plugs can be connected to an engaging element, which cooperates with the selector slide so that the transfer of the plug is prevented in the use position. Conveniently, the engaging element may be designed as a cam or generally as a projection. The movement of the engagement element can be prevented by a blocking element of the selection slide, for example by a locking bar, a locking cam or the like. Suitably, the arrangement of the locking cam in series, so that the cams form a comb-like locking bar. Depending on the position of the selection element, it should also be possible that the movement of an engagement element is not prevented, but its passage is allowed. For this purpose, the blocking element can advantageously have recesses which allow the passage of the engaging element. For example, a number of projections and recesses may be provided on the selector slide.

It is useful if the housing of the travel plug adapter has sliding slots. The actuators can run in these slide 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 actuation slides are provided on the travel plug adapter, it is particularly advantageous if these are guided in a simple manner in sliding slots can be. In the context of the present invention, the actuating slide only the movement of the plug, usually cause an up or down movement. The actuating slide must provide neither for the locking of the plug in the use position, nor cause that only one plug can be selected. Inasmuch as the actuators in the present invention are allowed to perform one function only, they can be easily and reliably guided in slide slots. If an actuating slide, for example, spring-loaded, the guide would be in a sliding slot usually less user-friendly, the slide was prone to tilting, would be "hooked" and would certainly have a higher resistance.

As explained, it is advantageous if the position of the selection element can not be changed as soon as a plug has been transferred to the use position. For this purpose, a locking element can be provided. Conveniently, the locking element is provided on the selector slide or connected thereto. Lock element and selector slide can represent a single component or at least one connected overall component.

It is expedient to have a locking element which has a first functional element for interacting with the first connector and a second functional element for interacting with the second connector. In order to enable a simple and inexpensive production of the locking element, it is expedient if the first functional element and the second functional element are identical in construction. The first functional element and the second functional element can each be made available from identical components or similar component sections.

It is particularly useful if the locking element has fingers, which can engage firmly connected to the housing recordings. The functional elements may expediently be in the form of fingers become. The locking element may also have projections or cams instead of fingers. The recordings may be designed, for example, as projections or recesses in a detent gate. The receptacles could also be designed as recesses or holes in the housing or in a component connected to the housing.

It is expedient if the locking element comprises a spring element. It is even possible if the locking element is formed entirely of a spring element, such as a leaf spring. The fingers of the locking element can be resiliently biased by means of such a spring. The direction of the spring force goes into the recordings on the housing. The projection of the springs into the corresponding receptacles is prevented as long as all the plugs are in the ready position.

It is useful if a finger of the locking element is pressed in the direction of the spring force in a recess as soon as a plug is transferred to the use position.

It is useful if the spring element of the locking element resiliently biases its fingers in the direction of the receptacles connected to the housing for the fingers. The engagement of the fingers in the corresponding recordings can then be conveniently prevented by firmly connected to the connectors elements, as long as the plug are in the ready position. It is useful, for example, if parts of the actuating slide take on this task. For example, the actuating slide can be connected to sliding surfaces, which slide during the transfer of the actuating slide in the use position on the fingers along, but release them in the use position, so that the actuating slide associated fingers dips into a recording associated with the finger.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Aufführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Reisesteckeradapters,

Fig. 2

zeigt aus gleicher Perspektive eine Darstellung des Aufführungsbeispiels des Reisesteckeradapters, bei dem der Euro-Stecker in die Nutzstellung überführt wurde,

Fig. 3

zeigt das Aufführungsbeispiel, bei dem der Euro-Stecker in die Nutzstellung überführt wurde, aus einer anderen Perspektive,

Fig. 4

zeigt eine Untersicht des Aufführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 5

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile,

Fig. 6

zeigt eine Seitenansicht der Bauteile aus Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

zeigt eine wieder andere Seitenansicht der Bauteile aus Fig. 5,

Fig. 8

zeigt aus dem Blickwinkel der Fig. 6 eine ergänzte Auswahl zusammenwirkender Bauteile,

Fig. 9

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht zwei andere zusammenwirkende Bauteile,

Fig. 10

zeigt in anderer perspektivischer Ansicht dieselben zusammenwirkenden Bauteile,

Fig. 11

zeigt in einer Aufsicht ausgewählte zusammenwirkende Bauteile,

Fig. 12

zeigt in einer perspektivischen Ansicht zwei zusammenwirkende Bauteile,

Fig. 13

zeigt in einer perspektivischen Ansicht zwei andere zusammenwirkende Bauteile,

Fig. 14

zeigt in einer Seitenansicht die Bauteile aus Fig. 13.

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 a performance example of a travel plug adapter according to the invention,

Fig. 2

shows from the same perspective a representation of the performance example of the travel plug adapter, in which the euro plug was transferred to the use position,

Fig. 3

shows the performance example, in which the Euro plug was transferred to the position of use, from another perspective,

Fig. 4

shows a bottom view of the performance example,

Fig. 5

shows in perspective view selected cooperating components,

Fig. 6

shows a side view of the components Fig. 5 .

Fig. 7

shows a different side view of the components again Fig. 5 .

Fig. 8

shows from the point of view of Fig. 6 a complementary selection of interacting components,

Fig. 9

shows in perspective view two other cooperating components,

Fig. 10

shows in another perspective view the same cooperating components,

Fig. 11

shows in a top view selected cooperating components,

Fig. 12

shows in a perspective view two cooperating components,

Fig. 13

shows in a perspective view two other cooperating components,

Fig. 14

shows in a side view of the components Fig. 13 ,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a travel plug adapter 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. 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. At the front of the travel plug adapter 10, a selector slide knob 20 is provided. Via the selection slide knob 20 different actuation slides can be selected and released. Below the selector slide knob 20, a first actuation slide 22, a second actuation slide 24, a third actuation slide 26 and a fourth actuation slide 28 are provided.

Fig. 2 shows the same travel plug adapter in the same perspective view. In this travel plug adapter, however, a plug was transferred to the use position. Accordingly, there is the Selector slide knob 20 in the position at the left end of its displacement. In this position, the left operating slide, so the first actuating slide 22 is released. The actuating slide 22 is transferred from the upper to the lower position. As a result, the euro plug 30 protrudes downward. This Euro plug has the plug body 32 and two contact pins, a first contact pin 34A and a second contact pin 34B. In this way, the travel plug adapter 10 can be plugged into a socket according to Euro standard. On the top of the travel plug adapter are then pairs of contact socket available that allow you to plug in plugs that do not meet the Euro standard. Specifically, these are the UK jack pair 18A, the AUS jack pair 18B, the US jack pair 18C and the jack 18D for the UK ground pin.

In the context of the present invention, the first plug may expediently also be a Schuko plug. Such a Schuko plug has two pins, which correspond to those of the Euro plug substantially. These pins can protrude permanently over the plug body of the Schuko plug (or also over that of the Euro plug). By a suitable mechanism, the contact pins when transferring the Schuko plug body (or corresponding to the Euro plug body) can be moved back into the ready position in the plug body, so that the plug occupies less space in the standby position. Especially when such a mechanism is used, a reliably functioning selection slider plays a major role, so that the full displacement is available and the connector is completely transferred to the use position and the ready position.

Fig. 3 shows the same plug from a different perspective. The plug is in the same position as in Fig. 2 , ie the Euro plug is transferred to the use position. It can be seen on the bottom of the housing that even more pins 36, so pins other standard are provided. Further, a fuse slot 38 is provided on the underside. This insert is closed to the outside with the visible lid, the slot can be rotated, for example, with a coin to remove the lid and replace a fuse.

Furthermore, the release button 40 is provided on the hitherto invisible housing side. This release button is received by a housing recess. More specifically, a recess is provided both in the upper housing part 12 as well as in the lower housing part 14, which surround the release button 40 in common. Pressing the release button allows a downwardly pushed plug, as in this case the Euro plug 30, back into the housing. While the release button is not pressed, the plug can not be pressed into the housing, so that can not happen unintentionally when inserting the plug into a socket.

Fig. 4 shows the bottom view of the same travel plug adapter. Here are other details to see more clearly and are therefore discussed in connection with this figure. The bottom view shows that the actuating slide 22 to 28 and also the selector slide knob 20 do not protrude greatly over the lateral housing surface. The mechanism of the present invention allows a compact, yet easy to use arrangement in which the actuation slides are arranged close to each other. The selector slide knob 20 is slightly higher than the actuation slides and therefore easily overtops them.

The contact pins 34 for the Euro plug are guided in a plug body 32. The pins for remaining standard plug are led out of the bottom of the housing, without an additional plug body would be provided. For sockets different country standard here two pins are provided, so each a pin pair. The pair of contact pins 36A is intended for the UK, below is also the talk of UK contact pins. The pair of contact pins 36B is provided for Australia, hereinafter also referred to as the pair of OUT contact pins. The contact pin pair 36C is intended for the USA, below is also the talk of the US contact pin pair. In addition, a ground contact 36D is provided. This earthing contact is intended for the United Kingdom and is therefore also known as the UK earthing contact. It is possible that a grounding is made via this contact. However, as a rule, such a contact is also provided when no earth conductor is guided over it. This contact then serves as an opening pin for a UK power outlet. The opening pin causes the remaining two contacts can be inserted.

It can be seen that the release button 40 is provided exactly opposite to the actuation slides and the selector slide knob. It is quite expedient in the context of the present invention to provide the selector slide knob and all actuation slides on one side of the housing. For safe and intuitive handling, it is also generally desirable to provide the release button 40 opposite thereto.

Fig. 5 shows in a perspective view of selected cooperating parts of the embodiment of a travel plug adapter. Shown is the lower housing part 14. Below the housing is the plug body 32, which belongs to the Euro plug. According to the position of the plug body 32, the first actuating slide 22 is shown in a lower position. The housing has sliding slots 42 on the front. Visible are four juxtaposed sliding slots 42, each of which can receive an actuating slide. For the sake of clarity, only the first actuating slide 22 has been shown. Above the sliding slots, the selector slide body 44 can be seen. Opposite the selector slide body 44, the recess 46 for the release button can be seen.

The selector slide body is shown in the position in which it is also used in the complete travel plug adapter. However, it is shown without the parts holding it in this position. This simplified representation also serves for clarity. It is convenient to arrange the selector slide body 44 above the actuation slides, i. H. opposite the housing bottom, from which pins can be moved out and transferred to the use position.

Fig. 6 essentially shows the in Fig. 5 illustrated elements from a side perspective. Shown again are the lower housing part 14 and the selector valve body 44. The selector valve body 44 is again shown in the position in which it is held by other components (not shown). Also shown is the second actuating slide 24 adjacent to the first actuating slide 22. While the first actuating slide 22 was shown in a lower position, that is to say the useful position of the plug, the second actuating slide 24 is shown in an upper position, that is to say the standby position.

In this view, it can be seen that the selector slider body 44 has a locking cam 48 on its rear side, which faces the interior of the travel connector adapter. It can also be seen that the first actuating slide is connected to a guide arm 50. This guide arm 50 can be additionally supported by components not shown and then ensures that the position and movement of the actuating slide 22 is not determined solely by the sliding slot 42. As a rule, however, the guidance of the actuating slide is sufficient alone in Gleitschlitzen. At the upper end of the guide arm 50 a Eingreifnocken 52 is formed.

The engaging cam 52 may be engaged with the locking cam 48 so as to prevent downward movement of the second operating slider 24.

Fig. 7 shows in another side view the interaction of Fig. 5 and 6 known parts. In Fig. 7 In turn, one recognizes the lower housing part 14 and, in the position corresponding to its position in the complete travel plug adapter, the selector valve body 44. The rear side of the selector valve body 44 engages with the guide arm 50 of the second actuation slider. On its rear side, the selector slider body has a plurality of locking cams, the cams 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D and 48E. Passages in the form of recesses are provided between these locking cams, the recesses 54A, 54B, 54C and 54D. While in the position shown, the locking cam 48C is in engagement with the engagement cam of the guide arm 50, the engagement cam of the guide arm 50 is no longer engaged in a different position of the selector slider body with a locking cam. Rather, the displacement of the selector slider body 44 causes the locking cam 48 of the guide arm is above a recess. From this position, the guide arm and thus the entire actuating slide can be moved downwards in the direction of the use position.

Fig. 8 has a similar side view as Fig. 6 , but here is an additional component shown. Again shown are the lower housing part 14, the second actuation slide 24 and the selector valve body 44. As already shown, the actuation slide 24 (as well as the other actuation slides) has a guide arm 50. This guide arm 50 has at its end on the engagement cam 52, which can be brought into engagement with locking cam 48.

Beyond the components that are already in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 have been shown, the locking element 56 is still shown in this view. The latch member 56 is substantially in the form of a leaf spring conforming to the inside of the selector pusher body 44 (the side oriented toward the guide arm). The locking element 56 has at its upper end the finger 58, which protrude beyond the top of the selector slide body 44. The locking element 56 also has the pressure surface 60, which also includes a survey.

The function of the latch member 56 is as follows: While the actuation slider 24 is in the illustrated upper position, the engagement cam 52 exerts pressure on the pressure surface 60. As the actuating slide is moved downwardly at a suitable position of the selector pusher body 44, the engagement cam 52 (or possibly another member of the guide arm 50) no longer pushes against the pressure surface 60. The finger 58 is resiliently biased to move due to the spring force moved towards the center of the travel plug adapter (ie in Fig. 8 to the left).

This spring effect comes into play as soon as pressure is no longer exerted on the pressure surface 60. Then, the finger 58 moves to the lock position. In this locking position, it can engage with a stationary element connected to the housing, which can generally be described as a finger receptacle. As a result, the selector slide body 44 is also held in a fixed position relative to the housing.

Fig. 9 shows in a perspective view of the Auswahlschieberkörper 44 and the locking element 56, more precisely its fingers 58. The locking element 56 may for example be made of a bent leaf spring. At its upper end, the selector slide body 44 has recesses. Through the four illustrated recesses can in each case the fingers 58 of the locking element 56 are inserted therethrough. On the one hand, this ensures that locking element 56 and selector slide body 44 are also well connected to one another in the upper region. On the other hand, the recesses allow the four fingers 58A, 58B, 58C and 58D of the latch member 56 to move well between the latch position and the select position (or standby position).

Fig. 10 shows in a perspective view from another viewing direction the selection slider body 44 and the locking element 56. Again, these fingers 58 and their operation are clearly visible. The locking element 56 is intended to be mechanically fixed to the selector slide body 44. For this purpose, the selector slider body 44 may have recesses which allow easy insertion or a click connection between selector slider body 44 and locking element 56. This can be seen in the lower region of the selector slide body 44.

Fig. 11 The viewing direction is from the direction of the lower housing part 14 on the underside of the upper housing part 12. Accordingly, one recognizes the contact sockets 18. At the front housing wall, the locking element 56 nestles. It is additionally held in the functional travel plug adapter by the selector slide body 44, which, however, is not shown here for the sake of clarity.

The fingers 58A, 58B, 58C and 58D of the latch member 56 conform to the housing top. All fingers are shown in the ready position. As soon as an assigned actuating slide and the corresponding plug are transferred to its position of use, a finger moves into the locked position. In order to effect the locking of the finger in the locking position, is on the underside of the housing Locking link 62 provided. This locking link has recesses. In the embodiment shown, the recesses are separated by webs of adjacent recesses. The locking link 62 has a total of four recesses, the recess 64A, the recess 64B, the recess 64C and the recess 64D.

Another form of locking linkage may also be appropriate, in general, the locking link to the housing should have fixed finger holders. As soon as a finger 58 dips into an associated recess 64, the locking element 56 assumes a stationary position relative to the housing. It can thus no longer be displaced together with the selector slider body 44, in the viewing direction the relevant displacement is blocked upwards or downwards.

Fig. 12 shows in a perspective view two other cooperating components of the travel plug adapter. The components are again shown in their "natural" position, ie in the position they would occupy in the full travel plug adapter. Shown are the lower housing part 14 and the latching element 66. The lower housing part has, in a known manner, four sliding slots 42 arranged parallel to one another. The locking element 66 has the already known release button 40. It also has a chassis 68. The chassis 68 is equipped with unspecified mounting clips that allow the attachment of the locking element 66 to other elements of the travel plug adapter. The latching element 66 also has three latching webs, the first latching web 70A, the second latching web 70B and the third latching web 70C.

Fig. 13 shows the operation of the locking webs. In this figure, the latching element 66 is shown without the lower housing part 14, but together with the plug body 32 for the Euro plug. The locking element 66 acts also with other plug bodies and pins together, the effect should, however, only be explained here using the example of the Euro plug and therefore the corresponding plug body 32. The plug body is firmly connected to the first actuating slide 22, which in turn has a guide arm 50. The plug body 32 is further connected to a slide nose 72. The sliding lug can slide along the first latching web 70A and can assume a locking position at the lower end of the first latching web 70A.

Fig. 14 shows the off Fig. 13 known elements, but this time in a side view, from which the exact functioning can be seen even better. In this view, it can be seen that the first latching web 70A (as well as the remaining latching webs) has a sliding surface 74 and a latching projection 76. On the sliding surface 74, the slide nose 72 of the plug body 32 can slide along. In order to enable the sliding, the locking element 66 is laterally movable, ie in the predetermined by the orientation of the release button 40 release direction (in this view, a direction from right to left). The latching element 66 is resiliently biased so that the slide nose 72 is pressed against the sliding surface 74. When the plug body 32 reaches its use position, the sliding nose 72 reaches the latching projection 76. Since the latching element 66 is resiliently biased (such that it is thereby pushed to the right in this illustration), the sliding nose 72 moves under the latching projection 76 and is thus locked , This locking is mechanically very favorable, since the latching web 70A is loaded along its main extension direction and thus essentially has to absorb only compressive forces. By pressing the release button 40, however, the lock can be reliably released, and the plug body can be moved back along the sliding surface 74 in its standby position.

In the manner described in more general and more concrete terms in the drawings, a travel adapter can be made which is very convenient to use leaves, but in which errors are unlikely 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

20

Control knob of the selector slide

22

first actuating slide

24

second actuating slide

26

third control slide

28

fourth actuating slide

30

Euro plug

32

plug body

34

pin

36

contact pins

36A

UK-pins

36B

OFF pins

36C

US pins

36D

UK-ground contact

38

securing slot

40

release button

42

sliding slot

44

Selection slider body / selector slide

46

Recess for release button

48

locking cam

50

guide

52

Engaging / Eingreifnocke

54

recess

56

locking element

58

finger

60

print area

62

locking link

64

recess

66

locking element

68

chassis

70

latching web

72

slide nose

74

sliding surface

76

catch projection

Claims (15)

Travel plug adapter (10) having a housing, a plug receptacle (16) and at least a first plug (34) of a first standard and a second plug (36) of a second standard, wherein the first plug (34) and the second plug (36 Alternatively, from a standby position, in which the respective plug is located substantially in the housing, can be brought into a use position, wherein the first connector (34) connected to a first actuating slide (22) for its transfer from the standby position to the use position is and the second connector is connected to a second actuating slide (24) for its transfer from the ready position to the use position, characterized in that a selector slide (44) is provided, which alternatively in a first position the first plug (34) or in second first position releases the second connector (36) for transfer to the use position. Travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, wherein further comprises a latching element (66) which locks at least the first plug (34) or the second plug (36) in the use position and which is designed as a separate component from the selector slide (44) , Travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, wherein the latching element (66) is connected to a release button (40) provided on the outside of the housing. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the latching element (66) has at least one latching web (70), wherein the latching web (70) has a sliding surface (74) and latching projection (76). Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one plug has a sliding nose (72) which runs on the sliding surface (74) and can assume a locking position on the latching projection (76). Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the latching element (66) has a multiplicity of latching webs (70), for example two, three or four latching webs (70). Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, in which at least two plugs each have a sliding nose (72), and both sliding lugs on the same latching web (70) of the latching element (66) run. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one plug with an engaging element (52) is connected, which cooperates with the selector slide (20), that the transfer of the plug is prevented in the use position. A travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the selector slide (20) comprises at least one locking cam (48) which inhibits movement of the engagement element (52) in certain positions of the selector slide (20) and the selector slide has at least one recess (54 ), which allows the passage of the at least one engaging element (52). Traveling plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing sliding slots (42) for receiving the actuating slide (22, 24, 26, 28). Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which there is further provided a locking element (56), which after transferring the first plug (34) or the second plug (36) in the use position inhibits the movement of the selector slide (20) between the first position and the second position. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the locking element (56) has a first functional element for cooperation with the first connector (34) and a second functional element for cooperation with the second connector (36). The travel plug adapter (10) of any of claims 11 or 12, wherein the latch member (56) has fingers (58) engageable with receptacles (64) fixedly secured to the housing. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the locking element (56) comprises a spring element. The travel plug adapter (10) of any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the fingers (58) of the latch member (56) are resiliently biased toward the receptacle (64) connected to the housing.

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