EP3830908B1 - Socket - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a socket for a mains plug with at least two contact pins, comprising a base which has on an outside at least two sockets equipped with internal electrically conductive contact surfaces for receiving one contact pin each.

In conventional sockets, a rigid collar is arranged around the base as protection against accidental contact, in order to avoid accidentally touching the contact pins of the plug when inserting the contact pins into the sockets and thus the risk of electric shock. The base with the sockets thus forms the bottom of a socket formed by the base and collar, into which the mains plug is plugged. The height of the collar above the outside of the base (the "bottom of the can") is about the same as the length of the contact pins in order to ensure protection against accidental contact. With some types of plugs, protective contact springs are also arranged on the inner circumference of the collar, which are contacted by protective contacts of the mains plug when the mains plug is plugged in, before the contact pins of the mains plug enter the sockets, in order to ground the device connected via the mains plug before it is supplied with power.

The insertion depth of the contact sockets on the bottom of the socket and the height of the collar, which serves as protection against accidental contact and grounding, require a large overall height of the socket, usually at least twice the length of the contact pin. In the case of flush mounting of the socket, a correspondingly deep cutout in the wall is therefore required; in the case of surface mounting, the socket protrudes far from the wall, which is a hindrance and makes the socket susceptible to damage. If the socket is installed in an extension cord or a socket strip, it takes up a lot of space in distribution, transport and storage.

EP 2 385 588 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

The aim of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned and to create a particularly compact, space-saving socket.

• einen Kragen, der am Sockel zwischen einer eingefahrenen Stellung, in welcher er im wesentlichen bündig mit der genannten Außenseite abschließt, und einer ausgefahrenen Stellung, in welcher er von der Außenseite vorspringend diese kragenartig umgibt, beweglich gelagert ist, und
• einen die Abdeckung mit dem Kragen koppelnden Kopplungsmechanismus, welcher dafür ausgebildet ist, dass die Abdeckung bei eingefahrenem Kragen in der Schließstellung und bei ausgefahrenem Kragen in der Offenstellung ist.

This goal is achieved with a socket of the type mentioned in the introduction, which is characterized according to the invention by:

• a collar movably mounted on the base between a retracted position in which it is substantially flush with said outer face and an extended position in which it projects from the outer face and surrounds the latter in a collar-like manner, and
• a coupling mechanism coupling the cover to the collar, which is adapted for the cover to be in the closed position when the collar is retracted and to be in the open position when the collar is extended.

The invention creates a socket in which the collar of the socket, which serves as protection against accidental contact and optionally grounding, is mounted so that it can move relative to the base (bottom of the socket) of the socket, so that it can be retracted when the socket is not in use. At the same time, the socket cover coupled with the movement of the collar prevents a mains plug from being plugged in when the collar is in the retracted position, so that the risk of unintentionally touching exposed live contact pins of the plug is averted. As a result, the overall height of the socket can be reduced by up to half without compromising operational safety.

The result is a socket that takes up only half the space in distribution, installation and when not in use. This not only reduces storage and transport costs by half, but also enables completely new ones Areas of application for flush mounting or installations in shallow recesses, e.g. in furniture construction, or for surface mounting where the socket protrudes only slightly and is therefore not prone to damage. For example, a group of outlets according to the invention can be surface mounted over a single wall box without protruding significantly from the wall.

The collar is preferably equipped with at least one protective contact spring. The (at least one) protective contact spring of the collar can be electrically connected to a corresponding ground connection of the base, for example via a connecting cable. However, it is particularly favorable if the protective contact spring is electrically connected to a ground connection of the base via a sliding contact, in order to avoid a cable connection that is expensive to manufacture and prone to faults.

The sliding contact can, for example, directly form the ground connection of the socket. In the case of, for example, two protective contact springs that each slide on a sliding contact, the two sliding contacts can also be connected to one another and form the grounding connection of the socket.

The cover that selectively occludes the sockets can be of any type known in the art. For example, the cover - in the manner of conventional child safety devices - be formed by a parallel to the outside of the base rotatable plate with openings that can be brought into and out of alignment with the sockets. The cover is preferably a spring-loaded slide which is displaceably mounted in the base parallel to its outside. The slider can be provided with appropriate openings which can be brought into and out of alignment with the bushings for selectively locking and unlocking them and is particularly easy to couple with the movement of the collar.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the coupling mechanism is formed by a link on one of the two parts, cover and collar, on the one hand, and a control cam, which interacts with the link, on the other of the two parts, cover and collar, on the other hand. In the case of a slide, the link can be, for example, a ramp on the slide and the control cam can be a projection on the collar that slides on the ramp, resulting in a stable construction that is not prone to failure.

The movement of the collar can be induced in a number of ways. In the simplest case, the collar can be pulled out by hand into its extended position and pulled over the contact pins of the mains plug, for example using a grip tab. In the extended position of the collar, the mains plug can be plugged into the then opened sockets while the collar is still held by hand; once the prongs of the power plug enter the sockets, the cover, blocked open by the prongs, holds the collar in the extended position so that it can be released.

Alternatively, a wide variety of mechanisms can be provided for a so-to-speak "automatic" extension of the collar. In a first embodiment, the collar is spring-biased into the extended position and can be temporarily latched in the retracted position by means of a releasable latch. If the latch is designed, for example, in the manner of a snap-in or snap-in snap button, the collar can be pushed out by tapping and pushed back in again.

The latch, which holds the spring-loaded collar in the retracted position, can also be triggered in other ways than by tapping the collar, for example by touching the cover with the contact pins of the mains plug when plugging it in. For this purpose, the cover can be resilient in the closed position in the socket receiving direction be depressible and release the latch when pressed. The cover thus forms a kind of “trigger element” for the collar to jump out due to spring force.

For its retraction and extension movement, the collar can be slidably guided directly on the base, especially when the overall height of the base corresponds approximately to the extension path of the collar. Alternatively or additionally, further guides can be provided for the collar. In a first variant, the base carries a frame surrounding it via a spacer, on the outer circumference of which a folded edge of the collar is guided in a sliding manner. In a second variant, the base carries, via a spacer, a frame surrounding it, in which the collar is slidably guided and accommodated in the retracted position. In both cases, there is a large, stable guidance of the collar, in the second case the frame is also visible from the outside and can be a design element or part of a surrounding cover or a surrounded housing.

In both variants, said spacer can be a mounting structure for surface or flush mounting of the socket. In particular for surface mounting, the mounting structure can be a mounting plate, for example, which is equipped with electrical connections for the contact sockets and the (optional) contact springs of the socket. Alternatively, the mounting structure may be a basket, scaffold, or skeleton that can be inserted into a wall box for flush mounting.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, a circumferential seal can be provided between the collar and the frame and/or between the collar and the base in order to prevent dust, moisture and splashing water from entering the socket. It is also particularly favorable for this if a closure flap is articulated on the base or the collar.

In that embodiment of the invention in which the collar is guided in a frame, such a closure flap can be articulated on this frame and, when it is opened, can move the collar into its extended position via an actuating mechanism. This represents a further possibility of an "automatic" actuation of the collar, as it were. Opening the flap allows the collar to be extended and closing it retracts it again.

When using such a frame, in which the collar is guided, the frame can also be used to set up or connect several sockets next to one another. In a further aspect, the invention accordingly creates a multiple socket with at least two sockets of the type presented here, which have a frame in which the collar is guided, the sockets having a common housing which at the same time forms the frame of the socket.

• die Fig. 1a und 1b eine erste Ausführungsform der Steckdose der Erfindung in der Einfahrstellung (Fig. 1a) und in der Ausfahrstellung (Fig. 1b) jeweils in einer Perspektivansicht;
• die Fig. 2a und 2b eine zweite Ausführungsform der Erfindung in der Einfahrstellung (Fig. 2a) und in der Ausfahrstellung (Fig. 2b) jeweils in einer Perspektivansicht;
• Fig. 3a die Steckdose der Fig. 2a und 2b in einer gesprengten Perspektivansicht;
• Fig. 3b eine Perspektivansicht der Abdeckung der Steckdose von Fig. 3a;
• die Fig. 4a und 4b eine dritte Ausführungsform der Steckdose der Erfindung in einer gesprengten Perspektivansicht (Fig. 4a) und in einer Perspektivansicht in der Ausfahrstellung mit geöffneter Klappe (Fig. 4b);
• Fig. 5 eine vierte Ausführungsform der Steckdose der Erfindung in der Ausfahrstellung in einer Perspektivansicht; und
• die Fig. 6a und 6b eine Mehrfach-Steckdose gemäß der Erfindung mit allen Steckdosen in der Einfahrstellung (Fig. 6a) und mit je zwei Steckdosen in der Einfahr- und in der Ausfahrstellung (Fig. 6b) jeweils in einer Perspektivansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings show:

• the Figures 1a and 1b a first embodiment of the socket of the invention in the retracted position ( Fig. 1a ) and in the extended position ( Fig. 1b ) each in a perspective view;
• the Figures 2a and 2b a second embodiment of the invention in the retracted position ( Figure 2a ) and in the extended position ( Figure 2b ) each in a perspective view;
• Figure 3a the socket of Figures 2a and 2b in an exploded perspective view;
• Figure 3b a perspective view of the cover of the socket of FIG Figure 3a ;
• the Figure 4a and 4b a third embodiment of the socket of the invention in an exploded perspective view ( Figure 4a ) and in a perspective view in the deployed position with the flap open ( Figure 4b );
• figure 5 a fourth embodiment of the socket of the invention in the extended position in a perspective view; and
• the Figures 6a and 6b a multiple socket according to the invention with all sockets in the retracted position ( Figure 6a ) and with two sockets each in the retracted and in the extended position ( Figure 6b ) each in a perspective view.

Referring to the Figures 1a to 4b a socket 1 for a power plug (not shown) has a base 2 which has (at least) two sockets 4 on its outer side 3 for receiving contact pins of the power plug. Each socket 4 usually takes one contact pin of the mains plug, and the number and arrangement of the sockets 4 on the outside 3 of the base 2 depends on the standard of the mains plug or socket 1.

The socket 1 is basically suitable for any type of standard, in particular for those plug standards in which protection against accidental contact is prescribed for the contact pins of the mains plug, and in particular grounding, as explained in more detail later. Examples of standards for which the socket 1 is suitable are e.g. plugs of types A to N or the CEE series 7, both for household mains voltages of 110 to 250 volts and for three-phase networks of 400 volts, for example. In the case of a "German" socket of type F (CEE 7/3 or 7/4), the socket 1 has, for example, two sockets 4 and two diametral protective contact springs 23, which will be explained later. However, it is also possible for the socket 1 to have three sockets 4, for example if the protective contact of the mains plug is also designed as a contact pin, as with plug types B, D or G to N, or more than three sockets 4, e.g. in the case of a three-phase socket or in special applications such as charging sockets for electric vehicles, which in addition the current-carrying sockets and the protective contacts also have signal contacts.

The base 2 can, for example, be mounted directly in a flush-mounted wall box, in a housing, on a wall, etc., and contain connection terminals via which the sockets 4 can be electrically connected to the mains. The base 2 can but also be equipped with a mounting structure 5, for example formed in one piece with this or mounted on this. The mounting structure 5 can as in the Figure 3a and 4a shown to be a mounting plate with openings 6 for surface wall mounting and corresponding access openings 7 to the electrical connections of the sockets 4 inside the base 3. However, instead of a mounting plate, the mounting structure 5 could also be a basket, framework or skeleton for anchoring the socket outlet 1 be in a wall socket, or the housing of a device, a multiple socket, etc., in or on which socket 1 is installed.

A collar 8 is movably mounted on the base 2, specifically between a retracted position in which its end face 9 is essentially flush with the outer side 3 of the base 2 (see FIG Fig. 1a , 2a ), and an extended position in which it protrudes from the outside 3 and surrounds it like a collar (see Fig. 1b , 2 B , 4b and 5 ). In its extended position, the collar 8 serves as protection against accidental contact for the contact pins of the mains plug (not shown), as long as these are not fully inserted into the sockets 4 .

For this purpose, the extension or cantilever height H of the collar 8 relative to the outside 3 of the base 2 is at least as great as the longest possible exposed electrically conductive length of the contact pins of the mains plug. In the case of a type F (CEE 7/3) mains plug, for example, the contact pin length is 19 mm and the cantilever height H is at least 19 mm. However, since the contact surfaces inside the sockets 4 are generally set back somewhat compared to the outside 3, for example by 1 to 2 mm, the extension height H can also be correspondingly lower. Because the contact pins of the mains plug only begin to conduct electricity when they actually touch the inner electrically conductive contact surfaces of the sockets 4 . From this point in time, the collar 8 should in any case be extended so far be sure that you cannot accidentally touch the contact pins of the mains plug with your fingers.

Since the yardstick for touch protection is the size of the user's fingers, the extension height H can also be reduced to such an extent that a small gap may remain between the mains plug to be inserted and the edge of the collar 8 if the gap is so small that even small children cannot reach into the gap and touch the contact pins of the mains plug.

To ensure that a mains plug can only be inserted into the socket 1 when the collar 8 is in the fully extended contact protection position ( Fig. 1b , 2 B , 4b, 5 ) is located or is at least already so far extended that any remaining gap no longer allows unintentional touching of the contact pins of the mains plug, the sockets 4 are equipped with a cover 10 in the manner of a "childproof lock". The cover 10 closes in the retracted position of the collar 8 ( Fig. 1a , 2a ) the bushings 4 completely and release them in the extended position of the collar 8 ( Fig. 1b , 2 B , 3b , 5 ) entirely free.

For this purpose, the cover 10 is movably mounted on or in the base 2 between its closed and open position. The movement of the cover 10 is coupled to the movement of the collar 8 via a coupling mechanism (described in more detail later): extending the collar 8 moves the cover 10 from the closed to the open position or, conversely, opening the cover 10 leaves the collar 8 out.

The movements of cover 10 on the one hand and collar 8 on the other hand can be linearly or non-linearly coupled via a corresponding gear, so that intermediate positions are also possible, for example. In an intermediate position, the cover 10 only partially closes the sockets 4, while the collar 8 is only partially extended. However, since the insertion of the contact pins of the mains plug requires an at least almost complete opening of the sockets 4, it is ensured that the contact pins of the mains plug can only be inserted into the sockets 4 if at the same time the collar 8 is at least extended far enough to prevent accidental contact with the live contact pins.

Alternatively, the movements of the cover 10 and the collar 8 can also be coupled indirectly, or one movement can trigger the other. For example, when the collar 8 reaches its extended position, a cover 10 that was still in its closed position up to that point can suddenly spring open. It is also possible for the movement coupling of cover 10 and collar 8 to be brought about by a third element that acts jointly on both elements of cover 10 and collar 8, for example a closure flap (described in more detail later) of the socket.

The collar 8 can be slidably guided directly on a peripheral surface 11 of the base 2 parallel to its extension direction R, optionally with the interposition of a peripheral seal. Alternatively or additionally, the collar 8 can also be guided on other surfaces of the base 2, for example a frame 12 carried by the base 2 and surrounding it (see FIG Figure 2b , 3a ), on the outer circumference of which a folded edge 13 of the collar 8 is slidably guided. A circumferential seal between the frame 12 and the edge 13 can optionally also be provided here. The frame 12 can be held by the mounting structure 5, which serves as a spacer to the base 2 here.

In the embodiment of Figures 1a, 1b , 4a , 4b and 5 the collar 8 is guided within a frame 14 surrounding the base 2 at a distance. The frame 14 can also be connected to the base 2 via the mounting structure 5 serving as a spacer, for example in one piece or in several pieces. The frame 14 can in particular also protrude so far that in the retracted position of the collar 8 its outer side 14' is flush with the end face 9 of the collar 8 and also the outer side 3 of the Base 2 completes, see Fig. 1a . A circumferential seal can optionally be arranged between the frame 14 and the collar 8 .

the Figures 3a and 3b show a possible embodiment of the cover 10 in the form of a slide 15 mounted in the base 2 so that it can be displaced parallel to its outer side 3. The slide 15 is inserted, for example, into a lateral slot 16 of the base 2 and, by means of springs 17, which are supported in the base 2, in biased its open position. The slider 15 is provided with openings 18 or recesses 19, which can be brought into and out of alignment with the sockets 4 during its displacement movement in order to open and close them.

The slide 15 serving as a cover 10 is coupled in movement to the collar 8 via a connecting link control. In the present case, this link control or this coupling mechanism comprises a link in the form of a ramp 20 at one end of the slide 15 on the one hand and a control cam or link plunger in the form of a projection 21 ( Figure 4a ) on the collar 8 on the other hand. When retracting the collar 8, the projection 21 presses on the ramp 20 and forces it to the side or rides up, whereby the slide 15 is pressed against the force of the springs 14 into the base 2 and its openings 18 or recesses 19 out of alignment with be brought to the sockets 4. In the retracted position of the collar 8, the cover 10 is in its closed position.

Of course, all other types of link controls between cover 10 and collar 8 are possible. For example, the cover 10 can be a small plate rotatably mounted parallel to the outside 3 of the base 2 and having corresponding recesses or openings 18, 19, and the slide control can consist of correspondingly curved slides. The link of such a link control can also be arranged on the collar 8 and the control cam or link plunger on the cover 10 . Instead of link controls, any gear between collar 8 and cover 10 are provided, which couple their movements, for example gear drives, lever drives, belt drives, etc.

Another possibility of the movement coupling between collar 8 and cover 10 is that the socket 1 with an openable flap 22 ( Figure 4b ) is provided, which is articulated on one side, for example, on the frame 14 . Via a (not shown) gear, the flap 22 can extend the collar 8 when opening and at the same time move the cover 10 into the open position, and conversely retract the collar 8 and close the cover 10 when closing the flap 22 .

In each of the above embodiments, the collar 8 can optionally be equipped with one or more protective contact springs 23, depending on the plug standard. In the case of plugs of type E or F, for example, two protective contact springs 23 lie in corresponding recesses on opposite inner peripheral sides of collar 8 . The protective contact springs 23 can be connected, for example via cables (not shown), to a corresponding grounding connection in the base 2 which is accessible, for example, via the opening 7 of the base 2 or the mounting structure 5 . As in the Figure 3a and 4a shown, sliding contacts 24 can be used instead of connecting cables, which produce continuous electrical contact between the protective contact springs 23 mounted on the collar 8 and the sliding contacts 24 mounted on the base 2 during the retracting and extending movement of the collar 8 . The sliding contacts 24 can be connected to one another in the base 2 and to a ground connection, for example also as a one-piece punched and bent part.

The collar 8 can optionally be embodied in the form of a push button or push button, which can be spring-biased into its extended position by means of springs 25 and temporarily latched in its retracted position by means of a releasable latch (not shown). By tapping in the retracted position, the collar from its latching on the latch will be released and springs to its extended position; Conversely, the collar 8 can be brought back into its retracted position from its extended position by pressing it against the force of the springs 25 and then locked on the latch.

Optionally, the cover 10 can be used as a trigger element for releasing a latch that holds the collar 8 in its locked retracted position. For example, in its closed position, the cover 10 can be resiliently mounted slightly in the socket-receiving direction, i.e. counter to the collar extension direction R. If an attempt is made to insert the contact pins of a mains plug into the sockets 4, the contact pins press the closed cover 10 slightly resiliently inwards. This slight retracting movement of the closed cover 10 can be used to trigger a latch which holds the collar 8 in its temporarily locked retracted position, so that the collar 8 springs into its extended position, which in turn moves the cover 10 into its open position.

While the inner circumference of the collar 8 is essentially determined by the connector standard used, the outer circumference of the collar 8 can be of any shape, for example cylindrical as in the embodiment of FIG figure 5 . The optional frame 14, which surrounds the collar 8, can also have any shape, e.g. as in FIG figure 5 shown the shape of a cover plate when the socket 1 is to be installed in a wall opening, a device housing, etc. With a screw 2 ', the base 2 can be anchored, for example, in such a wall opening, such a device housing or generally in a conventional installation box.

the Figures 6a and 6b show the installation of several sockets 1 in a common housing 26 of a multiple socket 27. The frames 14 of the adjacent sockets 1 are combined here in one piece to form a common frame or form one of the sides of the housing 26.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but includes all variants, modifications and combinations thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. Socket (1) for a power plug with at least two contact pins, comprising

   a base (2) having, on an outer side (3), at least two jacks (4) equipped with inner electrically conductive contact surfaces for receiving one contact pin each,

   wherein a cover (10) is mounted on the base (2) movably between a closed position in which it covers the jacks (4) and an open position in which it exposes the jacks (4),

   characterised by

   a collar (8), which is mounted on the base (2) movably between a retracted position in which it is substantially flush with said outer side (3) and an extended position in which it projects from the outer side (3) and surrounds the outer side (3) collar-like, and

   a coupling mechanism coupling said cover (10) with said collar (8) and being configured such that the cover is in the closed position when the collar (8) is retracted and in the open position when the collar (8) is extended.
2. Socket according to claim 1, characterised in that the collar (8) is equipped with at least one grounding contact spring (23).
3. Socket according to claim 2, characterised in that the grounding contact spring (23) is electrically connected with a grounding connector of the base (2) via a sliding contact (24).
4. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the cover (10) is a spring-loaded slider (15) mounted in the base (2) parallelly slideably with respect to the outer side (3) thereof.
5. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the coupling mechanism is formed by a guiding surface on one of the two parts cover (10) and collar (8) on the one hand and a cam cooperating with the guiding surface on the other one of the two parts cover (10) and collar (8) on the other hand.
6. Socket according to claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the guiding surface is a bevel (20) on the slider (15) and the cam is a projection (21) on the collar (8) which slides on the bevel (20).
7. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the collar (8) is spring-loaded towards the extended position and temporarily lockable in the retracted position by means of a disengageable catch.
8. Socket according to claim 7, characterised in that the cover (10) can, in the closed position, be springily pressed in the receiving direction of the jacks and disengages the catch upon pressing.
9. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the base (2) supports via a spacer (5) a frame (12) surrounding the base, wherein a bent-back edge (13) of the collar (8) is guided slideably on the outer circumference of the frame.
10. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the base (2) supports via a spacer (5) a frame (12) surrounding the base, in which frame the collar (8) is guided slideably and received in the retracted position.
11. Socket according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the spacer (5) is a mounting structure for surface- or flush-mounting the socket (1).
12. Socket according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that a circumferential seal is provided between the collar (8) and the frame (12, 14).
13. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that a circumferential seal is provided between the collar (8) and the base (2).
14. Socket according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that a cover flap (22) is articulated on the base (2) or on the collar (8).
15. Socket according to claim 14 in combination with claim 10, characterised in that the cover flap (22) is articulated on the frame (14) of the base (2) and brings, upon being opened, the collar (8) into its extended position via an actuating mechanism.
16. Multi-Socket with at least two sockets according to any one of claims 1 to 15 each in combination with claim 10, characterised in that the sockets (1) have a common housing (26) which forms the frames (14) of the sockets (1).

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