FR2732824A1 - Dual voltage plug for connection to domestic appliance, e.g. heated baby feeding bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

The dual voltage plug for connecting an appliance to the mains electricity supply comprises two sets of connections (6,7 and 4a,4b) for connection to the two different network supplies respectively. A supply flex with at least two conductors is fitted to the plug. The plug comprises a hollow body (1,2) allowing a mobile section (8) to slide internally between two positions in which either one or the other set of contacts is operational. Contacts (8a,10,12) ensure connection of the flex contacts to the first set of plug terminals (6,7) when the sliding section is in its first position, whilst further contacts (8e,4c) ensure the connection to the second set of plug terminals in the second position of the mobile element.

Description

BI-VOLTAGE SOCKET
Technical area
The invention relates to the field of electrical connection accessories such as sockets. The invention finds applications in all devices capable of operating under several voltages, and in particular bottle warmers supplied by the sector or connected to a car battery.

Previous techniques
Traditional baby bottle warmers contain an electrical resistance which, when energized, delivers electrical power capable of heating a bath in which the bottle is immersed.

Obviously, the bottle warmers intended to operate indoors have a resistance dimensioned for a voltage of 230V. In addition, to heat the bottles during a trip by car, bottle warmers have been designed whose resistance is calculated to operate on the battery voltage, that is to say generally 12V. Of course, these two voltages are not compatible and the car bottle warmers do not work on the mains voltage, and vice versa.

To solve this problem, bottle warmers have been proposed having two resistances supplied alternately by an electronic switch box. This box has two connection cords each equipped with a plug of different shape. This box contains means for recognizing the type of supply voltage and connects the appropriate resistance depending on the use.

Although satisfactory, this solution has a significant cost price and requires special electronic equipment which reduces the reliability of the assembly.

Brief description of the invention
The more general problem which the invention proposes to solve is to
simply allow selective feeding of electrical equipment
having two charges connected by a common point by means of a single
and even grip, while ensuring the safety of the manipulator.

For this purpose, a dual-voltage socket has been designed for the
connection of an electrical appliance to two distribution networks
of electricity delivering different voltages, respectively a prime and
a second network,
This plug is characterized in that it includes:
- two sets of connection plugs respectively at
first and second network,
- a power cord for the device comprising at least two
conductors,
- a hollow body having arrangements capable of allowing the
internal sliding of a moving assembly between two positions
each corresponding to operation under voltage
determined, said mobile equipment comprising:
means capable of ensuring the connection of the
connection to the first network with two of the conductors
supply, when said crew is in the position
corresponding to the first network,
means capable of ensuring the disconnection of the
connection to the first network with the two conductors
corresponding supply, when said crew is in the
position corresponding to the second network.

In other words, the socket according to the invention comprises mechanical locking means preventing the connection of the two power sources simultaneously, while ensuring the selection of the device supply circuit as a function of the side of the socket used.

In practice, the means capable of ensuring the connection are conductive parts carried by the mobile assembly, intended to come into simultaneous contact with the plugs for connection to the first network and with the conductors.

In an embodiment making it possible to combine the mechanical locking function of the moving assembly and the electrical conduction function,
The mobile team carries one of the connection plugs to the first network.

In a practical embodiment, the means capable of ensuring the disconnection of the plugs for connection to the first network are constituted by an extension of the mobile assembly positioned in the vicinity of the end of the plugs for connection to the second network, which extension is pushed back towards the body of the socket by causing the disconnection when the plugs for connection to the second network are inserted into the complementary socket.

In a practical embodiment suitable for connection combined with a network of the mains type and with a battery supply of the cigarette lighter type
- the plugs for connection to the first network are a touch
conductive and an elastic pin
- the plugs for connection to the second network are two pins
male, each of the pins being connected to a supply wire of
the device
- The moving equipment, able to move between an extended position,
corresponding to the connection to the second network, and a position
pressed corresponding to the connection to the first network, supports the
conductive touch and features
a conductive part electrically connected at one end to the
conductive button, the other end of the conductive part being
able to come into contact with one of the male pins when the crew
mobile is in the depressed position
an elastic conductive strip intended to establish contact between
the elastic pin and a third device supply wire
when the moving part is in the depressed position
and an insulating extension intended to prevent the introduction of
male pins when the moving element is in the depressed position,
and intended to keep the crew in the extended position when
male plugs are introduced.

In practice, it is said that the moving element is in the extended position or in the "mains" position when the conductive button is prominent, that is to say when the plug is connected to the mains. In contrast, the moving part is said to be in the depressed position or in the "battery" position when the plug is inserted into a cigarette lighter and the conductive button is retracted.

This socket is in the form of a body conforming to a parallelepiped shape at the level of the male plugs and a cylindrical shape at the level of the pin and of the conducting key.

To solve the mounting problem, the body is formed of two parts assembled by snap-fastening or the like.

To allow the socket to be in the disconnected position at rest, it also includes a return spring, capable of keeping the moving element at rest in the extended position.

To improve the quality of contact with the conductive part, one of the male plugs is secured to an elastic pin having a groove intended to receive the conductive part when the crew is in the depressed position.

To solve the problem of placing the cylindrical body in the female part of the socket, as well as to ensure good contact of the pin with the third supply wire, the elastic pin has:
- a U-shaped portion whose branches are parallel to the cylindrical body
- two bulges forming the extensions of the branches of the U, said
bulges being oriented outwards and protruding from
relation to the cylindrical body,
and the flexible blade has
- two lateral arms intended to come into contact with the connection of
bulges with branches
- and two hooks directed towards the end of the third supply wire and
whose ends meet at the axis of symmetry
longitudinal of the socket
while the free end of the third wire is connected to a contact square
oriented in such a way that cooperation with the two hooks in
causes separation for good contact
To reduce the risk of priming between the contact square and the wires surrounding the socket, there is also a piece of insulating material implanted around said contact square.

To facilitate mounting of the plug, the free end of the cylindrical body is screwed onto the body of the plug.

To protect the conductive key when the socket is connected by the male plugs, the cylindrical body receives a removable protective cover.

This type of plug finds an advantageous application when it equips the electric power cord of a bottle warmer able to operate under a voltage of 230V AC and 12V DC.

Brief description of the drawings
The manner of carrying out the invention and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge clearly from the description of the following embodiment, with the support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a socket according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a sagittal section of the same socket, The movable assembly being in the extended position.

Figure 3 is a section along section B of Figure 2.

FIG. 4 is a section along section C of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section along section D of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a section along section E of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a section along section F of FIG. 2.

Figure 8 is a sagittal section of the same socket, the movable assembly being in the depressed position.

FIG. 9 is a section along section G of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a section along section H of FIG. 8.

Way of realizing the invention
In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner illustrated by the figures.

In general, the socket according to the invention is broken down into five sub-assemblies, namely: the body (1,2), the male plugs (4,5), the mobile assembly (8), the button ( 6) and the pin (7).

This socket is intended to connect a device comprising two loads, typically resistors in the case of a bottle warmer, these two resistors having a common point This connection is made by means of a cord with three conductors (F1, F2, F3).

In the case of a double 230V AC / 12V DC power supply, we call F2 the wire connected to the common point of the two resistors, F1 the wire connected to the free point of the resistance dedicated to 230V and F3 the wire connected to the point. heating of the resistor supplied with 12V.

The body of the plug is made up of two separate parts (1,2), molded from plastic. The upper part (1) has two distinct sections, namely a substantially parallelepiped part (1.a) corresponding to the conventional dimensions of a power outlet, and a semi-cylindrical portion (1.b). This portion (1.b) is slightly offset upwards relative to the parallelepiped section (1.a). The connection between the sections (1 .a) and (1 .b) is made by a curved shape (1 .c).

The lower part (2) of the body takes up a similar architecture composed of a parallelepipedic portion (2.a) and a semi-cylindrical portion (2.b), slightly offset upwards relative to the parallelepipedic section.

This lower part (2) receives at the level of the curved zone, the power cord (14).

The two parts (1,2) of the body are snapped together to form a monolithic body. At the end of the cylindrical portion, a thread (1.c, 2.c) allows the screwing of a terminal portion (3) of cylindro-frustoconical shape. The flat face of this part (3) has a centered circular opening.

At its other front end, the body receives a support plate (5) for the male plugs (4.a, 4.b). This plate (5) has two holes each crossed by a male plug (4.a, 4.b). The internal part of the plug (4.a) is directly connected to the supply wire (F1). The internal part of the plug (4.b) has an axial cylindrical hole. A conductive pin (4.c) is forcibly inserted inside this hole. It consists of two separate arms, one (4.c.1) being connected to the wire (F2) and the other (4.c.2) having a portion oriented in the opposite direction to the plug (4). This portion is slightly curved to form a cylinder sector (4.c.3) capable of receiving a cylindrical conductor.

One of the characteristic parts of the invention is constituted by the mobile assembly (8). This is generally elongated and breaks down into zones fulfilling distinct functions, namely cylindrical part (8.b) for supporting the key (6)
- a flat part (8.c) for supporting the contacts of the pin (7)
- a connection part (8.d) with the F2 wire
- and a locking disc (8.e)
First of all, the end (8.b) situated on the side of the cylindrical portion of the body receives the conductive key (6). This key (6) is connected with the conductive part (8.a) which runs through the center of the mobile assembly (8) up to the connection zone with the wire (F2). Thus, the movable assembly (8) includes the conductive part (8.a) by overmolding and serves as an insulator.

The moving element is extended by a flat portion (8.c) receiving on top the flexible blade (10) whose operation is described below. This flat part (8.c) of the mobile assembly (8) is extended by two sections at right angles to a second part (8.d) which extends to the plate (5) for supporting the plugs, substantially in the plane defined by these two sheets.

The end of this second part (8.d) located in the center of the socket has two guide wings (8.f) extending laterally, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the part. One of these wings lets rise upwards,
The end (8.a.1) of the conductive part (8.a) at a height corresponding to that of the arm (4.c), to allow the latching during a translation of the movable assembly.

This second part is extended by a disc (8.e) which protrudes from the plate (5) for supporting the plugs. It is slightly smaller in diameter than the space between plugs in order to be able to slide between them. In a variant not illustrated, the disc (8.e) is shaped to surround these two sheets (4.a 4.b) to ensure better security.

The connection with the ground of the 12V power supply is made by a pin (7) located in a plane parallel to that defined by the two male plugs (4,5). This part is in the form of a U whose branches (7.c, 7.d) are extended by bulges (7.a, 7.b) oriented towards the outside. The base of the U-shaped portion is located substantially directly above the end (8.a.1) of the conductive part (8.a). The spacing between the branches (7.c, 7.d) of the U is slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical section (1.b) of the body. The bulges (7.a, 7.b) of this pin are intended to come into contact with the interior of the male part of the 12V socket. To this end, they extend beyond the cylindrical portion (1.b) of the body, passing through two slots (1.d, 2.d) formed at the level of the contact area of the two parts (1,2) forming the body itself.

This pin (7) is blocked in translation on the one hand thanks to the contact area of the bulges (7.a, 7.b) with the corresponding slots, and on the other hand thanks to a cover (11) covering the base of the pin. This cover (11) also makes it possible to electrically isolate said base from the pin with respect to the other neighboring conductors.

The upper part of this cover (11) comprises the connection with the conductive wire (F3). This wire is welded on a metal square (12) oriented with one of these corners in the direction of the key (6).

This square (12) is located in a common plane with the upper part (10.c, 10.e) of the flexible blade (10). This flexible blade is intended to bring the pin and the wire (F3) into contact with the square (12). This part is secured to the top of the flat part (8.c) of the mobile assembly.

It consists of two vertical arms (10.a, 10.b) intended to come into contact with the pin (7), at the interior of the connection of the bulges (7.a, 7.b) with the U-shaped portion. These two arms (10.a, 10.b) are connected to a fixing part (10.c). This part is extended in the direction of the square (12) by two flexible hooks (10.d, 10.e) whose ends are opposite.

Furthermore, the position of the movable assembly (8) relative to the body (1,2) is subject to the return force of a spring (13). This is supported on the one hand on the lower part of the body, at a stop (2.e) formed in the bottom of the cylindrical portion (2.b), near the connection zone with the parallelepiped portion (2.a). On the other hand, the spring (13) rests on a step (8.h) of the movable assembly, at the junction of the flat part (8.c) and the cylindrical portion (8.b) d 'hooking of the button (6). The spring (13) is held in its operating axis by a finger (8.9) which passes through the stop (2.e) and penetrates inside the spring.

Operation of the invention.

As mentioned above, this type of plug is intended to equip a device capable of operating under two types of power supply, in particular 12V DC and 230V AC.

For 230V operation, the male plugs (4.a, 4.b) are used to connect the appliance to a known type of mains socket, while the pin (7) and the button (6) are used to connect plug into an automobile cigarette lighter.

Figures 2 to 7 illustrate the socket in the "230V" position. We observe that the plug (4) is connected to the wire (F1) while the plug (5) is connected to the wire (F2) by the pin (4.c ). When the plug is pressed, the disc (8.e) is pushed back onto the support plate (5) which puts the moving element in the extended position. In this way, the end of the conductive part (8.a) is spaced about 15mm from the pin (4.c). Similarly, the flexible blade (10) is also moved away from the square (12). Thus, the visible metal parts (pin 7 and key 6) are disconnected from the parts under potential, which prevents any risk of accident.

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate the socket in the "12W 'position. In this case, it can be seen that the conductive button (6) is pushed back towards the body (1,2), which places the mobile assembly (8) in position pressed in. By this movement,
The end (8.a.1) of the conductive part (8.a) is engaged in the spindle (4.c) which therefore connects the conductive button (6) and the wire (F2). Furthermore, the vertical arms of the flexible blade come into contact with the pin while the hooks reach the square. Thus, the pin (7) is connected to the wire (F3). Advantageously, when the connections are established as above, the disc (8.e) of the mobile assembly is pushed back between the male plugs, which prohibits the introduction into a mains socket. If by chance the return spring ( 13) no longer had its effect, the attempt to introduce the plug would cause said connections to disengage before the plugs reach the live parts of the socket. The strokes and dimensions of the various parts involved are calculated so that the distance counted in the air between the live parts and the visible metal parts is at least 8mm.

The foregoing description clearly shows the advantages which emerge
of the invention and in particular we can emphasize the possibility of using with
a single socket, a device able to operate under two voltages
different and comprising two circuits connected by a common point, while
ensuring perfect safety and good ergonomics.

Bottle warmers equipped with such a plug are therefore particularly
autonomous.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS SECOND NETWORK. moving part is in the position corresponding to the corresponding supply conductors (F2, F3), when said connection (6,7) to the first network with both means (8.e, 4.c) capable of ensuring disconnection mobile plugs (8) is in the position corresponding to the first network, supply conductors (F2, F3), when said connecting equipment (6,7) to the first network with two of the means (8.a, 10, 12) capable of ensuring the connection of the determined plugs, said movable assembly comprising :: each corresponding to operation under an internal sliding tension of a movable assembly (8) between two positions - a hollow body (1,2) having suitable arrangements to allow the conductors (F1, F2, F3), - a power cord of the device comprising at least two (6,7) and to the second network (4.a, 4.b), - two sets of plugs of connection respectively to the first - 1 - Bi-voltage socket for the connection of an electrical appliance to two electricity distribution networks delivering different voltages, respectively a first and a second network, characterized in that it comprises: - 2 - Bi-voltage socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the means capable of ensuring the connection are conductive parts (8.a, 10,12) carried by the moving element, intended to come into contact simultaneous connection plugs (6,7) to the first network and conductors (F2, F3). - 3 - Bi-voltage outlet according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable assembly (8) carries one of the plugs (6) for connection to the first network. - 4 - Bi-voltage socket according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means capable of ensuring the disconnection of the connection plugs (6,7) to the first network are constituted by an extension (8. e) of the mobile assembly positioned in the vicinity of the end of the plugs for connection (4.a, 4.b) to the second network, which extension is pushed back towards the body (1,2) of the socket, causing disconnection when the plugs for connection (4.a, 4.b) to the second network are inserted into the additional socket.  an elastic conductive strip (10) intended to establish contact between the elastic pin (7) and a third wire (F3) supplying the device when the mobile assembly (8) is in the depressed position and an insulating extension (8.b) intended to prevent the insertion of the male pins (4,5) when the moving element is in the depressed position, and intended to keep the element in the extended position when the male pins are introduced.  a conductive part (8.a) electrically connected at one end to the conductive key (6), the other end of the conductive part (8.a) being able to come into contact with one (4.a) of the pins males when the moving element (8) is in the depressed position  - The moving part (8), able to move between an extension position corresponding to the connection to the second network and a depressed position corresponding to the connection to the first network, supports the conductive key (6) and comprises - 5 - Bi-voltage socket outlet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: - the plugs for connection to the first network are a conductive button (6) and an elastic pin (7) - the plugs connection to the second network are two male pins (4.a, 4.b) each of the pins being connected to a supply wire (F1, F2) of the device, - 6 - Bi-tension plug according to claim 5, characterized in that the body (1,2) has a parallelepiped shape (1.a, 2.a) at the level of the male plugs (4.a, 4.b) and a cylindrical shape (1.b, 2.b) at the pin (7) and the conductive button (6). - 7 - Bi-voltage socket according to claim 6, characterized in that the body is formed of two parts (1,2) assembled by snap-fastening. - 8 - Bi-voltage socket according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it also comprises a return spring (13), capable of keeping the mobile assembly (8) at rest in the extended position . - 9 - Bi-voltage socket according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the male plugs (4.b) is integral with an elastic pin (4.c) having a groove (4.c.3) intended for receive the conductive part (8.a) when the movable assembly (8) is in the depressed position. U, said bulges being oriented towards the outside and located in projection relative to the cylindrical body (1 .b, 2.b), in that the flexible blade (10) comprises - two vertical arms (10.a, 10. b) intended to come into contact with the connection of the bulges (7.a, 7.b) with the branches (7.c, 7.d) - and two hooks (10.d, 10.e) directed towards the end of the third supply wire (F3) and the ends of which meet at the level of the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the socket and in that the free end of the third wire (F3) is connected to a square (12) of contact oriented in such a way that cooperation with the two hooks (10.d, 10.e) causes them to spread apart for good contact. - 10 - Bi-voltage socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic pin (7) has: - a U-shaped portion whose branches (7.c, 7.d) are parallel to the cylindrical body - two bulges (7.a, 7.b) forming the extensions of the branches of the  - 11 - Bi-voltage socket according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in its application to the equipment of an electrical supply cord of a bottle warmer capable of operating at a voltage of 230V AC and 12V continuous.