EP4057452A1

EP4057452A1 - Special latch mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP4057452A1
Application number: EP21460033.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-08-26
Filing date: 2021-08-11
Publication date: 2022-09-14
Also published as: PL435079A1

Abstract

A special latching mechanism of an electric socket is placed between the contacts of the electric socket body /1/ and has a profile /3/ which, together with two springs /5/, is located between the contacts in a movable protective housing /2/ together with the profile /3/, where the profile /3/ has one or preferably two catches /4/ pressed by the mechanism cover /6/ and may have an asymmetrical or symmetrical geometry with two catches /4/, or one catch /4/, whereas for a socket with a cylindrical grounding pin /7/ has two springs /5/ that accumulate energy and press the profile /3/ against the protective cover /2/, one of which is movably mounted on the earthing pin / 7/, and in case of a socket with symmetrical earthing, it has two springs /5/ arranged symmetrically in the movable housing /2/; the mechanism may have two types of protection against falling out; one is located on the protective housing /2/, and the other protection is provided by the geometry of the profile /3/ making a "click-clack", while the movable protective cover /2/ is moved through the opening in the central part of the socket body /1/ between the contacts.

Description

The object of the invention is a special latching mechanism for an electrical socket, intended for use in residential and industrial buildings, enabling assisted pulling out of a power plug.
In the unit known from the patent specification PL 166207 : plug-in socket - plug, the electric circuit consists of fixed contacts of the socket, moving contacts of the socket and contacts of the plug. The movable contacts of the socket close the electric circuit after pressing the button. Known from the patent specification PL 177680 , an electrical plug connector with a plug-in socket and a socket pin, in particular with a socket pin with a round cross-section, which has a plug-in chamber in which a coil spring is located, having individual coils compressed in the axial direction, the coils having mostly the same main diameter.
A plug-in socket known from patent specification PL 182336 comprises, on one side, a mechanism which has at least two conductive contact sleeves and at least two connecting clamps in a body of insulating material, and, on the other side, a bracket to which the mechanism is rigidly connected and which, through a central hollow, allows free access to the mechanism.
A plug-in socket with a surge arrester known from the patent specification PL 193540 for obtaining a socket for a surge arrester, which socket is in the form of a standard socket and ensures the correct mounting of the elements of the surge arrester in the base.
Known from the patent specification PL 203754 , a plug-in socket, especially surface-mounted, two-pole with protective contacts, intended for round power plugs, has a contact in the form of a protective pin and an insulating circular collar that covers the socket, sliding in the vertical axis in both directions through a sliding mechanism built-in a plug-in socket that works by insertion of the plug.
The purpose of using the latching mechanism in the "click-clack" electrical plug-in socket is to minimize or completely eliminate the forces pulling the socket body out of the electrical box in favour of more favourable forces pressing the socket body into the electrical box. This is of particular importance in the technology of drywall, where the pulling forces, after some time of use, lead to the gradual loosening of the body of the socket, or even sliding out of the electrical box from the wall. This goal was achieved by developing a special outlet with a bistate latching mechanism.
The special latching mechanism for the electrical socket is distinguished by the fact that it is located between the contacts of the body of the electrical socket and has a profile which, together with two springs, is located between in a movable protective housing, together with the profile, the profile having one, preferably two catches pressed by the mechanism cover and may have an asymmetrical or symmetrical geometry with two catches or with one catch, while for a socket with a cylindrical earthing pin it has two springs that collect energy and press the profile against the protective cover, one of which is movably seated on the earthing pin, and for a socket with symmetrical earthing it has two springs arranged symmetrically in the movable housing, yet the mechanism may have two types of protection against falling out, one of which is in the protective housing and the other protection is provided by the geometry of the profile making the "click-clack", while the movable protective cover is moved through an opening in the central part of the socket body between the contacts. It is preferred that the latching mechanism has an opening in the socket body, the movement of which is extended by the additional flange, and is limited by a ledge that ensures the correct starting position of the mechanism, and it may have a child safety cam located on the outer side of the movable protective cover of the profile.
One of the advantages of the click-clack socket is the possibility of using the socket by persons having only one limb at a time, which becomes particularly important in the case of electrical outlets used with extension cords or light electrical appliances. In this case, any support surface, e.g. floor, wall, can be used to disconnect the plug from the socket.
The object of the invention is presented as the example in the figure, where Fig. 1 shows the latching mechanism for the asymmetric socket outlet, Fig. 2 shows the latching mechanism for the symmetric socket outlet, Fig. 3 shows the movable protective cover of the asymmetric socket profile, Fig. 4 shows the movable protective cover for the asymmetric socket outlet profile with cams, Fig. 5 shows the movable protective cover of the symmetrical socket profile, Fig.6 shows the movable protective cover of the asymmetrical socket profile with cams, Fig.7 shows the asymmetrical socket profile, Fig.8 shows the symmetrical socket profile, Fig.9 shows the socket body, Fig.10 shows the socket with latching mechanism without the movable cover.
There are two types of mechanisms designed for electrical sockets of asymmetrical construction with earthing pin shown in Fig.1 and symmetrical construction with earthing symmetrically distributed in the socket shown in Fig.2. In both cases the elements of the special latching mechanism are the same, but their position and shape change. Fig.1 shows a cross-section of an asymmetrical socket and Fig.2 shows a cross-section of a symmetrical socket, where the elements of the special latching mechanism and selected elements of the socket itself are shown, better illustrating its position. The special latching mechanism for asymmetrical socket Fig. 1 comprises the following elements: body of the electrical socket 1, movable protective cover of the profile 2, profile 3, catch 4, springs 5, mechanism cover 6, grounding pin 7, movable cover 8. Whereas the symmetrical socket Fig. 2 comprises the same elements except for the grounding pin 7. The movable cover 8 is not necessary, but it can be used additionally for safety or aesthetic reasons. The construction of the special latching mechanism must include all components indicated in Fig.1 and Fig.2 except for the movable cover 8, which can be used optionally. This is because these components are necessary for the "click-clack" function. At the same time the special latching mechanism should be as compact as possible. This requirement is necessary in order to maintain the required insulation distances between the elements through which the live current from the mains flows. The compactness of the mechanism is obtained by using typical elements included in the electrical socket to construct the special latching mechanism, and thus the body of the socket 1 becomes at the same time the body of the mechanism itself, in which the protective cover of the profile 2 together with the profile 3 placed in it are moved. In the body 1 there is a socket, in which one end of the catch 4 is placed in such a way as to ensure its rotation with a slight resistance caused by the pressure of the cover of the mechanism 6. The other of the ends of the catch 4 moves along the track placed on the profile 3. The mechanism also includes two springs 5, one of the ends of which rest on the mechanism cover 6 and which can be free or additionally fixed on the cover 6. The other two ends move with the profile 3 and these ends are fixed in the profile 3. In the case of an asymmetrical socket additional axial location ensures that one of the springs is moved on the earthing pin 7.
The special latching mechanism can act as a button for the plug or is connected in a detachable manner to the movable cover 8. Since the compactness of the special latching mechanism intended for an electrical socket requires multifunctionality on its individual components, therefore they are additionally discussed with reference to subsequent figures from Fig. 3 to Fig. 9, individual sections of such components have been distinguished, i.e. the movable cover of the profile 2, the profile 3 and the body 1. Sections of such components of the special latching mechanism together with the functions they fulfil constitute the essence of minimizing this mechanism, making it possible to be installed in an electrical socket. The movable cover of the profile 2 is made in four variants used for installation in an electrical socket, in which a movable cover 8 is used. Two variants intended for use in an asymmetrical electric socket Fig.1 are shown in Fig.3 and Fig.4, while two variants intended for installation in a symmetrical electric socket Fig.2 are a consequence of the obligation to use child safety devices in some countries, especially European ones.
The movable cover of the profile 2 - the first variant for an asymmetrical socket Fig. 3 has the following components: an opening 2a enabling connection with the movable cover of contacts, ledges 2b blocking the mechanism in the upper location in a specific position, recess 2d enabling the reduction of the height of the mechanism, jacket 2c preventing the catches 4 from falling out from the profile, opening 2e for the earthing pin. The movable protective cover of the profile 2 - the second variant for the asymmetrical socket Fig. 4 with grounding performs an additional movement of the covers of the contacts protecting the socket against children, using additional elements in the form of cams 2f placed outside the movable cover of the profile 2. The movable cover of the profile 2 second variant has the following elements; opening 2a enabling connection with the movable cover of contacts, ledges 2b locking the mechanism in the upper position in a defined position, recess 2c enabling reduction of the height of the mechanism, jacket 2d protecting against falling out of the catches from the profile 2, opening 2e for the earthing pin, , cams 2f of the child safety mechanism. The movable cover of the profile 2 - first variant Fig. 5 for a symmetrical socket with childproof lock Fig. 6 is additionally equipped with cams 2f for the childproof lock. The profile 3 has two variants for use in each asymmetrical socket Fig. 1 and one symmetrical socket Fig. 2. The profile 3 performs several functions that ensure simple assembly and proper operation of the mechanism. The elements providing these functions together with the description are shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, where: the threaded opening 3a enables connection with the movable protective cover of the profile 2, cover 3b moving the spring 5, track 3c with the lowering moving the catch 4, recess 3d for a spring 5 moved on the earthing pin 7.
Profile 3 in the variant of a symmetrical socket, where: threaded openings 3a enable connection with a movable protective cover of the profile 2, covers 3b moving springs 5, track 3c moving the catch 4.
The body of the electrical socket 1 equipped with a special latching mechanism shown in Fig. 9 has additional elements not present in typical electrical socket bodies, where: opening 1a moving the special latching mechanism, additional flange 1b extending the stroke of the mechanism, ledge 1c limiting the stroke of the mechanism, additional openings 1d on the child lock cam. Fig.10 shows a socket with a special latching mechanism without the movable cover 8. The absence of these openings applies to all variants without the movable cover 8.
The special latching mechanism operates according to the generally known principle for this type of mechanism, which causes the two-state function of the mechanism, i.e. the on and off state. The two-state function is obtained by appropriately moving the catch 4 or catches 4 along the track on the profile 3 as it is done in typical mechanisms. The differences lie in the additional function of the mechanism - which is the accumulation of the elastic strain energy necessary to pull the plug out of the socket with little external force. The accumulation of additional elastic strain energy in such a small space limited on all sides means that multifunctionality is required from the elements of the mechanism. Therefore, the profile 3 moves under the influence of external pressure overcoming the preload of the springs 5 together with the protective cover 2, which at the same time prevents the catches from falling out of the minimised tracks performing the click-clack functions. In turn, the profile 3 with the protective housing 2 is moved in the body 1.

Claims

A special latching mechanism for an electric socket, characterized by the fact that it is located between the contacts of the body of the electrical socket 1 and has a profile 3 which, together with two springs 5, is located between the contacts in a movable protective housing 2, together with the profile 3, the profile 3 having one or preferably two catches 4 pressed by the mechanism cover 6 and may have an asymmetrical or symmetrical geometry with two catches 4 or one catch 4, while for the socket with a cylindrical grounding pin 7 it has two springs 5 accumulating energy and pressing the profile 3 against the protective cover 2, one of which is movably seated on the grounding pin 7, and for a socket with symmetrical grounding it has two springs 5 symmetrically arranged in the movable housing 2; the mechanism may have two types of protection against falling out, while one is located in the protective housing 2 and the other protection is provided by the geometry of the profile 3 making a click-clack, while the movable protective cover 2 is moved through an opening located in the central part of the socket body 1 between the contacts
A special latching mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that it has an opening 1a moved in the body 1 of the socket, the movement of which is extended by an additional flange 1b, the limitation being a ledge 1c ensuring the correct initial position of the mechanism, while it- may have child safety cams 2f located on the outer side of the movable protective profile 3, Fig.6.