FR2772193A3 - Electrical two-pin plug with built-in fuse - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connector plug has a moulded body 10a that has embedded wires 14a,b one of which connects directly with one pin 13b and the other with a fuse 15 contact 12b. The fuse is located in a recess formed in an insert 215 and this has a conductor 211a connecting to the other pin. The fuse is retained by a shaped insert 30 that fits in the end.

Description

 Male electrical outlet with fuse mounting structure.

 The present invention relates to an improved male electrical outlet, of the built-in fuse type and, more particularly, to a male electrical outlet with an improved fuse mounting structure.

 The E.U.A. No. 4,738,639 to Henderson describes a male electrical outlet capable of receiving two fuses. The E.U.A. No. 4,968,269 to Urani et al. describes a fuse holder for receiving a fuse. These two patents find limited application as they are different from typical male electrical outlets. EUA patent No. 4,679,877 to Ahroni and EUA patent Applicants' Nos. 5,634,818 both describe a typical male electrical outlet in which a fuse is incorporated. A common disadvantage of these two patents is that the fuse housing has two halves, which gives a complex structure which is difficult to produce and The present invention is intended to provide an improved configuration which tempers and / or solves the above problems.

 A male electrical outlet of the present invention includes a housing in which a first compartment is defined. This housing has an end face through which project first and second plugs and in which an opening is defined which communicates with the compartment. An upper cover is removably mounted on the end face to close this opening.

 A fuse holder is mounted in the first compartment and comprises a main body in an upper side from which there is an access via which a fuse can be passed. A side opening is defined in one side of the fuse holder and a side cover is removably mounted in this side opening.

 The electrical outlet further comprises a first metal wire, a second metal wire in electrical connection with the second plug, a first conductive part attached to the fuse holder and in electrical connection with the fuse and the first plug, and a second conductive part attached to the fuse holder and in electrical connection with the fuse and the first wire.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a male electrical socket according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of a male electrical socket according to the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the male electrical socket according to the present invention, and
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the male electrical outlet according to the present invention.

 Referring to the drawings, a male electrical outlet according to the present invention comprises a housing 10 in which is defined a compartment 11. The housing 10 has an end face lOa with travcrs which protrude from the first and second plugs 1 3a and 1 3b and in which an opening 100 is defined in communication with the compartment 11 of the housing 10.

 A fuse holder 20 is mounted in compartment 11 and comprises a second compartment 20a (FIG. 1) defined in this fuse holder for receiving a fuse 15. The fuse holder 20 comprises a main body 21 in an upper side of which is deflected nor an access 210 by which the fuse 1: 15 can be passed. The main body 21 further comprises a lateral opening 212 defined in one of its sides (FIG. 1) and a side cover 22 is removably fixed to the main body 21 to close the lateral opening 212 and form a part of the main body 21.

 As seen in Figures 1 and 4, the main body 21 comprises a first guide conduit 211a in which extends a first conductive part 12a. This first conductive part 12a is in electrical connection with a first conductive end 15a of the fuse 15. The main body 21 also comprises a second guide duct 21 lb in which a second conductive part 12b extends. The second conductive part 12b is in electrical connection with a first metal wire 14a and with a second conductive end 15b of the fuse 15. The main body 21 further comprises two lateral wings 215 formed on its two lateral faces, each wing 215 being pierced a hole 214a, 214b through which an associated plug 13a, 13b passes. The second plug 13b is in electrical connection with a second metal wire 14b.

 Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4, we see that an upper cover 30 is removably mounted on the access 210 of the main body 21 and has two snap fasteners 32, 33 respectively formed at the two ends of its underside, each snap fastener 32, 33 having a latching end 320, 330. The contour of the access 210 includes a stepped portion (Figure 1) intended to be releasably engaged with the latching ends 320 , 330.

The upper cover 30 further comprises a central rod 34 (FIG. 4) which extends downwards from the underside of the upper cover 30 to push the fuse 15 downwards so that it is in reliable electrical contact with the first and second conductive ends 15a and 15b of the fuse 15. The upper cover 30 further comprises a beveled portion 31 which extends downward from the underside of the cover 30, while the contour of the access 210 includes an inclined surface (not referenced) so as to establish a guiding function and close contact between them, as best seen in Figure 4.

 During manufacture and assembly, the first and second conductive parts 12a and 12b are respectively mounted in the first and second guide conduits 211a and 211b, the first plug 13a coupled to the first conductive part 12a projecting from the housing 10 by the corresponding hole 214a, and the second conducting part 12b is connected from the electrical point of view to the first metal wire 14a. Then, the second plug 13b is placed so that it protrudes from the corresponding hole 214b and it is held in place. The second metal wire 14b is then electrically connected to the second plug 13b. The side cover 22 is then fixed to the side opening 212 of the main body 21 of the fuse holder. The main body 21 and the plugs 13a and 13b are placed in a mold and plastic material is injected into the mold to form the housing 10 and thus enclose the main body 21 and the side cover 22. The access 210 of the main body 21 of the fuse holder allows replacement of fuse 1.5 after removing the upper cover 30.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the structure of the male electrical outlet to which a fuse is incorporated is simpler than in conventional configurations and that this electrical outlet is easy to manufacture and assemble.
It should be understood that the foregoing description has been given purely by way of non-limiting illustration and that variants or modifications may be made thereto within the framework of the present invention.

Claims (1)

 CLAIM  Male electrical outlet characterized in that it comprises  - a housing (10) in which a first compartment (11) is defined, the housing having an end face (10a) through which protrude first and second plugs (13a, 13b) and in which an opening is defined ( 100) which communicates with the compartment  - a fuse holder (20) mounted in the first compartment and comprising a main body (21) in an upper side where an access (210) is defined through which a fuse (ICi) can be passed, a lateral opening (212) ) being defined in one side of the fuse holder and a side cover (22) being removably mounted in said side opening,  - a first metal wire (14a),  - a second metal wire (14b) in electrical connection with the second plug (13b),  - a first conductive part (12a) fixed to the fuse holder and in electrical connection with the fuse (15) and the first lich (13a),  - a second conductive part (12b) fixed to the fuse holder and in electrical connection with the fuse and the first metal wire and  - An upper cover (30) removably attached to the end face to close the opening.