EP3459146A1

EP3459146A1 - Travel plug adapter that is easy to operate

Info

Publication number: EP3459146A1
Application number: EP17730380.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bruce Stanley John Hutchison; Richard Albert Norman; Alasdair Max Paul Barnett
Original assignee: Travel Blue Ltd
Current assignee: Travel Blue Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-20
Filing date: 2017-05-18
Publication date: 2019-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-18
Also published as: CN109417257A; EP3459146B1; CN109417257B; ES2961878T3; WO2017198798A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a travel plug adapter, which has a housing, a plug socket (16), and at least a first plug (34) of a first standard and a second plug (36) of a second standard, wherein each plug is assigned an actuation slide (22, 24, 26, 28), which is led outside through a sliding slit (42) of the housing and is designed to slide the plug between a readiness position, in which the plug is located substantially within the housing, and a usage position, in which the plug is outside of the housing and can be used, and the sliding slits (42) are arranged adjacent to each other, and wherein the travel plug adapter (10) has a selection slide (44) having a sliding position for each plug and the selection slide (44) is connected to an operating button (20) provided on an outer face of the housing and has a blocking element (49), which is arranged within the housing and which, in accordance with the sliding position of the selection slide (44), permits only sliding of the selected plug between the readiness position and the usage position while other plugs are locked in the readiness position by the blocking element (49), characterized in that the selection slide (44) can be slid between the sliding slits (42) and at least one actuation distance between two adjacent sliding positions of the selection slide is less than a distance between two adjacent sliding slits (42).

Description

Easy-to-use travel plug adapter

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 10187291 1 A discloses a travel plug adapter 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 actuating slide can be brought into engagement with different power plug elements. It is brought by twisting into a position above the outwardly herauszuschiebenden from the housing power plug.

This travel plug may be useful for many purposes. However, the mechanical twisting of the upper housing part relative to the lower housing part requires precise housing production in order to achieve a low-resistance rotational movement allow and also to ensure that the actuating slide can be reliably brought into different housing positions in engagement with a power plug element. 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 10 201 1014920 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. 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. Incidentally, the controls occupy much space on the connector surface. This stands in the way of a free design-oriented design and the achievement of a compact design. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved travel plug 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 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. If, for example, a Schuko plug is to be accommodated, then the plug receptacle will have a substantially cylindrical depression 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 useful, as a rule, per control slide to provide a sliding slot and to arrange these sliding slots parallel to each other.

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. He has to a blocking element.

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 the present invention but only the operation of a plug and thus (usually) also an actuating slide is made possible, 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 kit radapte rs f e h I e rto I ranr.

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, power may still exceed others standardized contacts flow. This can damage the travel plug adapter and, in the worst case, damage to connected devices or even a user.

It is expedient if the housing of the travel plug adapter has sliding slots or similar recesses. 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 they can be guided in a simple manner in sliding slots. 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.

In the context of the present invention, it is therefore expedient if the selector slide is displaceable between the slide slots and at least one actuation path between two adjacent sliding positions of the selector slide is smaller than a distance between two adjacent slide slots. It is usually expedient if the selector slide is displaceable exactly or substantially perpendicularly between the slide slots. It is useful if all actuating paths between two adjacent sliding positions of the selector slide are smaller, a distance between two adjacent sliding slots. It may be expedient to arrange the selector slide at an acute angle to the vertical to the slide slots, if he still develops a sufficient barrier effect in the vertical. This is intended herein The sliding path of a selector slide which is "slidable" between the sliding slots need not be limited by the sliding slots.

It is expedient if the plug has a Eingreifnocken for engaging in the locking element and the locking element for each Eingreifnocken includes a recess through which the Eingreifnocken is displaced in a certain sliding position of the selector slide. In this case, in the context of the present invention, the distance between two adjacent recesses smaller than the distance between the provided for these recesses adjacent Eingreifnocken.

The blocking element can be designed as a comb-like locking bar with alternately arranged recesses and locking cams. This makes it possible to produce a reliable working and compact locking element. Useful may be, if the locking bar contains a locking cam more than recesses.

In a particularly compact plug adapter, the locking strip can be arranged to be displaceable substantially perpendicular to the sliding slots. In this case, at least one engagement cam can be connected via a guide arm with the corresponding plug.

The plugs can be brought into the use position by means of the actuating slide. Advantageous for the safe use of the travel plug adapter is that the plug also 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 can be designed as a component separate from the selection 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 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 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 expedient if the latching element is optionally resiliently biased against the release direction. The resilient biasing of the locking element allows the reliable automatic locking of plugs into a lock as soon as the plugs are 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 slide lugs run on the same locking bar, so both slide lugs run on the same sliding surface and 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 expedient to then 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.

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. To 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 can be conveniently carried out in the form of fingers. 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 on the transfer of the operating slide in the use position on the fingers, but release them in the use position, so that the actuating slide associated fingers dips into a recording associated with the finger.

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.

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

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 in the

From a different perspective,

4 shows a bottom view of the performance example,

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of selected cooperating

components

6 shows a side view of the components of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 shows another side view of the components from FIG. 5, FIG.

FIG. 8 shows from the perspective of FIG. 6 a supplemented selection of interacting components, FIG.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of two other cooperating

components

10 shows in another perspective view the same interacting components,

FIG. 1 1 shows, in another perspective view, the interacting components of FIG. 10;

12 shows a plan view of the components known from FIGS. 9 to 11,

Fig. 13 shows in a plan view selected cooperating components of a

Embodiment of a travel plug according to the invention,

Fig. 14 shows in a perspective view a plurality of selected ones

components

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of the components according to FIG. 14.

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 plugs are in the ready position, d. H. in the case.

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 connector receptacle 1 6. 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, the selector knob 20 is 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 socket pair 18A, the AUS socket pair 18B, the US socket pair 18C, and the socket 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 underside of the housing, that even more pins 36, so pins are provided other standard. Further, a fuse slot 38 is provided on the underside. This slot is after closed on 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 contact pin pair 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 It is possible that a grounding is performed 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 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 elements shown in FIG. 5 from a lateral perspective. Shown again are the lower housing part 14 and the selector valve body 44. The selector valve body 44 is again in the FIG Position shown 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 the known from Fig. 5 and 6 parts. In Fig. 7 can be seen in turn the lower housing part 14 and in the position corresponding to its position in the full travel plug adapter position the selector slide body 44. The back of the selector slide body 44 is in engagement with the guide arm 50 of the second actuating slide. 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 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 which have already been shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 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 in the direction of 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 selection slider body 44 and the locking element 56, more precisely its fingers 58. The locking element 56 may be made for example of a bent leaf spring. At its upper end, the selector slide body 44 has recesses. By the four recesses shown in each case the fingers 58 of the locking element 56 can be 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 selector slider body 44 and the locking element 56. Again, these fingers 58 and their mode of 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.

Figure 1 1 shows in a plan view obliquely from below the selection slide body 44 and the locking element 56. In this view, the locking cam 48 A, 48 B, 48 C and 48 D can be clearly seen. Recesses 54A, 54B, 54C and 54D can be seen between the locking cams. The recesses not only allow the passage of the engagement cam 52 of the guide arms 50, they also allow the appropriate

Connection of the locking element 56 with the selector slide body 44.

The locking element 56 has four webs, which functional elements of the

Locking elements 56 form and their upper ends forming the fingers 58A, 58B, 58C and 58D. These web-like functional elements can be performed through the passages 54 and thus ensure a light and stable connection between Locking element 56 and selector slide body 44. It can be seen from this view that locking element 56 is provided at its lower end with connecting clips, more precisely with the three connecting clips 57A, 57B and 57C. These three

Connecting clips may be received in bushings 59 provided on the selector slider body 44.

These bushings 59 are opposite at the top of the

Selector slide body 44 recesses 55 are provided, which can accommodate the fingers. These recesses on the selector body 44 allow the easy and secure connection of the locking element 56 with the

Selector slide body 44. Therefore, the locking element can be made in one piece of a metal plate or preferably a leaf spring portion.

In this view, it can also be clearly seen that the five locking cams 48 a

form comb-like locking bar 49.

FIG. 12 shows the same elements in plan view. In the supervision, it can be seen that the fingers 58 can be arranged close to each other. Likewise, the passages are close together. Signed is the length B, which is the

Overall length describes over which passages are provided. The length B is thus measured from the left end of the first passage 54A to the right end of the passage 54D. The size comparison in connection with other components is shown in the following figures.

13 shows a bottom view of the interaction of the locking element 56 with the upper housing part 12. 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. The locking element 56 adapts to the front housing wall. 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 latch position, the locking link 62 is provided on the housing bottom. 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. 14 shows a multiplicity of selected components in perspective view. Visible are each carrier webs for different pins. In particular, the support bar 66A for the contact pins for the USA can be seen. This carrier 66A is connected to the guide arm 50A. Arranged next to it is the carrier 66B for the contact pins for Australia. It is connected to the guide arm 50B. In addition, recognizable is the support bridge 66C for the contact pins for Great Britain. It is connected to the guide arm 50C. In addition, the support web 66D is recognizable, which is connected to the guide arm 50D and is responsible for the movement of the Euro plug.

As can be seen, the guide arms 50 are released depending on the position of the selector slider body 44, the position of which can be adjusted externally by the selector slider knob 20.

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of the components shown in FIG. In the following, location information such as left, right, top and bottom respectively refer to the representation in Fig. 15. Visible again are the guide arms 50 and the Selector slider body 44. Also visible are the locking cams 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D and 48E, which form a comb-like locking bar 49 on the inside of the selector slider body 44. Recesses 54 are respectively provided between these locking cams 48, which allow the passage of the guide arms and more precisely their engaging elements, which are not visible here. The corresponding recesses are the recess 54A, the recess 54B, the recess 54C and the recess 54D.

In the illustrated position of the selector slider body 44, the up and down movement of the guide arm 50D for the Euro plug is possible. This is done by the first operating slide 22 (not visible in this view) connected to the guide arm 50D. The remaining guide arms 50A, 50B, 50C engage with the comb-like locking bar 49 via their engagement cams.

The locking cam 48A blocks the guide arm 50A, the locking cam 48B blocks the guide arm 50B and the locking cam 48C blocks the guide arm 50C. In the illustrated position of the selector slide body 44, the locking cam 48E is not engaged with the guide arm 50D.

The guide arms 50 are arranged over a distance A which extends from the center of the guide arm 50A to the center of the guide arm 50D. The distance A also corresponds to the length over which the centers of the actuating slide are arranged. It will be appreciated that the recesses 54 are located a lesser distance, over the distance B (see FIG. 12), which extends from the left end of the first passage 54A to the right end of the fourth passage 54D. For the purposes of the present invention, the distance B, which extends over the length of the passages, less than 50% or less than 80% of the distance A amount over which the centers of the actuating slide are arranged.

To select a different plug, the Euro plug 30 is first pushed with the actuating slide 22 into the lower housing part 14. In this case, the engagement cam 52 of the guide arm 50D moves upward through the recess 54D of the locking bar 49. Subsequently, a selection of another plug is made by sliding the selection slide body 44 by means of the selection slide button 20 in the direction of arrow 68. The locking cam 48E fixes the guide arm 50D of the actuating slide 22 and releases depending on the position of the selection slide body 44 and the locking bar 70 with the recesses 54 a guide arm 50 of another connector.

The recesses 54 of the locking bar 70 are arranged opposite the engagement cam 52 of the guide arms 50 according to a mathematical principle, which is not dissimilar to the vernier principle. The distance between two adjacent recesses 54 is the same size for all recesses 54. Likewise, the distance between two adjacent engagement cam 52 for all engagement cam 52 is the same size. However, the distance between two adjacent recesses 54 is smaller than the distance between two adjacent engagement cams 52 and guide arms 50. In other words, two adjacent locking cams 48 are arranged at a distance which is shorter than the distance between two adjacent guide arms 50 and Betätigungsschiebern 22, 24, 26, 28 is.

With this arrangement, when the selector slider body 44 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 68, the guide arm 50C is first released when the right end of the lock cam 48C is shifted to the left side of the guide arm 50C and the left end of the engagement cam 52 of the guide arm 50C, respectively. Then, the guide arm 50C can be moved with the engagement cam 52 through the recess 54C down. This position of the selection slide body 44 is reached starting from the position in FIG. 15 after a displacement by a distance B1.

When the selector slider body 44 is now further displaced in the direction of the arrow 68, the guide arm 50C is locked by the locking cam 48D. The plug of this guide arm 50C can not be extended out of the housing. Likewise, the guide arm 50D remains fixed by the engagement in the lock cam 48E. Once the right end of the locking cam 48B is displaced to the left side of the guide arm 50B, this is released and can be pushed down with the engagement cam 52 through the recess 54B. Starting from the position of the selection slide body 44 of FIG. 15, this position is after a shift reached by a distance B2, which represents a second distance that is longer than the first distance B1.

Accordingly, when the selector slider body 44 is displaced by a distance B3, the right end of the lock cam 48A is located at the left side of the guide arm 50A. This guide arm 50A can now be pushed down through the recess 54A, while all other guide arms 50B, 50C, 50D are locked by the respective locking cams 48C, 48D and 48E. In this case, the locking cams 48 are each at least partially in a path of movement of the locked guide arms 50. For a selection of another plug thus a maximum shift of the selection slide body 44 by means of the selector slide 20 by the distance B3 is required. The route B3 represents a third route, which is longer than the second route B2.

The space-saving design is made possible in part by the fact that the immersion cams, while they are engaged with the locking cams, do not completely overlap them. It has been shown that the partial overlap of the cams, but only with sufficiently selected overlap length, causes a reliable blocking position.

Compared to a conventional locking bar with only one recess a much shorter actuating travel of the selection slide 20 is achieved in this way. With only one recess, a displacement of the selector slide 20 by a distance A is necessary in order to select the connector with the guide arm 50A from the position for the plug with the guide arm 50D shown in FIG. This plug A corresponds to the distance between the guide arm 50D of the first actuating slide 22 and the guide arm 50A of the fourth actuating slide and is significantly larger than the above-mentioned distance B3. Also for the other guide arms 50C, 50B, the distances B1 and B2 are shorter than operating paths as with a locking bar with only one recess.

The present design allows a more convenient operation and a more compact design of the travel plug, since the selector slide 20 must be moved only over a distance which is substantially smaller than the distance A, and in the representation of Figure 15 corresponds to the route B3. For the purposes of the invention, the maximum required for the selection slide displacement distance may be less than 30%, less than 50% or less than 80% of the distance A, over which the centers of the actuating slide are arranged.

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 REFERENCES

10 travel plug / travel plug adapter

12 housing top

14 housing base

1 6 connector receptacle

18 contact socket

18A UK socket pair

18B OFF socket pair

18C US female pair

18D socket for UK ground pin

20 Control knob of the selector slide

22 first actuating slide

24 second actuating slide

26 third actuating slide

28 fourth control slide

30 Euro plug

32 plug body

34 contact pin

36 contact pins

36A UK contact pins

36B OFF pins

36C US pins

36D UK ground contact

38 fuse insert

40 release button

42 sliding slot

44 selector valve body / selector slide

46 recess for release button

48 locking cam

49 locking bar

50 guide arm

52 engaging element / engaging cam

54 recess Recess (for fingers)

locking element

connecting clips

finger

Feedthrough for connection clips Print area

locking link

recess

carrying web

Arrow for a direction of movement

Claims

claims

1 . A travel plug adapter (10) comprising 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, each plug having an actuation slide (22, 24, 26, 28 ), which is guided by a sliding slot (42) of the housing to the outside and for moving the plug between a standby position, in which the plug is substantially inside the housing, and a use position in which the plug can be used outside the Housing is formed, and the slide slots (42) are arranged side by side, and wherein the travel plug adapter (10) has a selector slide (44) each with a sliding position for each plug and the selector slide (44) provided with a on an outer side of the housing Operating button (20) is connected and has a blocking element (49) which is arranged within the housing, and depending on the sliding position of the selector slide (44) only a displacement of the selected plug between the standby position and the use position allows while other connectors are locked by the locking element (49) in the standby position, characterized in that the selector slide (44) between the sliding slots (42) is displaceable and at least one actuating path between two adjacent sliding positions of the selection slide is smaller than a distance between two adjacent sliding slots (42).

2. travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, wherein each plug has a Eingreifnocken (52) for engaging in the locking element (49) and the locking element (49) for each Eingreifnocken (52) includes a recess (54) through which the Eingreifnocken (52) in a certain sliding position of the selector slide (44) is displaceable.

3. travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, wherein the distance between two adjacent recesses (54) is smaller than the distance between the provided for these recesses adjacent engagement cam (52).

4. travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the blocking element comprises a comb-like locking bar (49) with alternately arranged recesses (54) and locking cam (48).

5. travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 4, wherein the locking bar (49) includes a locking cam (48) more than recesses (54).

6. travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the locking bar (49) is arranged substantially perpendicular to the sliding slots (42) displaceable.

7. travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2 to 6, wherein at least one Eingreifnocken (52) via a guide arm (50) is connected to the corresponding plug.

8. travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in which further comprises a locking element (56) which after transferring the first plug (34) or the second plug (36) in the use position, the movement of the selection slide ( 44) between the

Sliding positions inhibits.

9. travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein, wherein the locking element (56) is a first functional element for

Cooperation with the first connector (34) and a second

Functional element for cooperation with the second connector (36).

10. travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the locking element fingers (58), which can engage in receptacles (64) fixedly connected to the housing.

1 1. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the locking element (56) comprises a spring element.

12. travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein that a latching element is provided which locks at least the first plug (34) or the second plug (36) in the use position.

13. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the latching element is connected to an outside of the housing provided release button (40).

14. Travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the latching element is designed as from the selector slide (44) separate component.