FR2899728A1 - Electric socket for receiving male plug, has hook maintaining slider in armed position in retaining unit`s active configuration, and slider returned to rest position in which retractors are disengaged from contacts in inactive configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

The socket has female contacts (3) with a retaining unit placed in an active or inactive configuration and formed of a retractable hook and a corresponding stop. The hook retains the stop, in the active configuration, and maintains a slider, with respect to a base, in an armed position in which the contacts are placed in a spaced configuration, by retractors (61). A bistable slider (6) is returned elastically, in the inactive configuration, by springs (R) to a rest position in which the retractors are disengaged from the contacts and permit the contacts to adopt a locked configuration.

Description

The invention relates, in general, to the design of the

  electrical equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to an electrical socket adapted to receive a plug having at least two connection pins selectively inserted into the socket in an insertion direction and under the effect of an insertion force. , this socket comprising a base, a front face covering the base and pierced with orifices intended to be traversed by the pins of the plug, at least two female contacts, and retaining means selectively placed in active configuration or in an inactive configuration, each female contact being disposed in the base, being intended to receive a pin, and taking the form of a clamp adopting by default a tight configuration under the effect of an elastic bias. A socket of this type is for example described in the patent application WO 96/13081, which relates to a socket designed to oppose a relatively modest force to the insertion and voluntary extraction of a plug, but to oppose a substantially greater force to any untimely extraction of the plug. This result is achieved in particular through the use of pins with specific pins.

  In this context, the purpose of the invention is to propose a socket having the same advantages as the known socket of this document, without nevertheless requiring the use of plugs with particular pins.

  To this end, the taking of the invention, moreover in accordance with the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that it further comprises an actuating finger, a bistable slide provided with at least two spacers, and a probe, in that the probe is movable relative to the base and selectively driven by the insertion force between an advanced position and a retracted position, in that the retaining means active configuration hold the slide relative to the base in an armed position for which each female contact is placed by one of the spacers in a spaced configuration, in that the probe, from its advanced position to its retracted position, places the holding means in inactive configuration, in that the slider, in the inactive configuration of the retaining means, is resiliently biased towards a rest position in which each spacing is r is released from the corresponding female contact and thus allows it to adopt its tight configuration, and in that the actuating finger is kinematically connected to the slide and movable between first and second extreme positions 20, the second of which imposes on the slide of to adopt his armed position. Preferably, the invention further provides that this plug comprises at least one lever having a free end forming said probe, that the actuating finger, from the first extreme position to its second extreme position, causes the feeler of its position moved back to its advanced position, and that the probe pushes the plug away from the female contacts by moving from its retracted position to its advanced position. The slide advantageously takes the general form of a moving flat frame in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion, this slide having two points each forming a spacer.

  For example, it may be wise to provide that the slider slides parallel to the bottom of the base,

  that the retaining means comprise at least one retractable hook connected to the base and at least one stop carried by the slide, that the retractable hook is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of insertion and elastically biased towards a

  protruding position, that, in the active configuration of these retaining means, the hook holds the stop and maintains the slide relative to the base, and that the lever, when the probe moves from its advanced position to its retracted position, pushes the hook out of the

  stop and place these retaining means inactive configuration.

  The actuating finger can in particular be articulated on the base around a pivot axis, be sized to come into contact with a surface

  support of the slide in its second extreme position at least, and have a gripping portion accessible on the front face of the socket. It is also possible to provide that the lever has an articulated end articulated on the base and

  remote from the free end forming a feeler, that the actuating finger carries a cam dimensioned to bear on the lever between its free and bound ends, and that the cam drives the probe from its retracted position to its advanced position by pivoting

  actuating finger about its axis, from its first extreme position to its second extreme position.

  The ergonomics and the compactness of the grip of the invention can be further improved by arranging the actuating finger so that it moves from its first extreme position to its second extreme position by pivoting towards the insertion orifices of the invention. plug. According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the front face may have an insertion jig in which the insertion openings of the plug are made, this jig being movable in translation relative to the base, being selectively driven by the . plug between an advanced position and a retracted position under the effect of the insertion force, and being selectively driven in the opposite direction by the free end of the probe lever.

  The socket of the invention may also include a pin or a grounding contact, secured to the base. The use of the socket of the invention may finally be improved by providing that the lever is elastically biased towards its first extreme position. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plug according to the invention, waiting for connection of a plug, and corresponding to a first model; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a socket according to the invention, waiting for connection of a plug, and corresponding to a second model; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a socket as shown in Figure 2, wherein is inserted a plug whose electrical cord, shown sectioned, allows a connection to the ground; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a socket as illustrated in FIG. 2, in which a plug is inserted, the electrical cord of which, without earth connection wire, is shown cut off; - Figure 5 is a sectional view of the socket shown in Figure 2, shown waiting for connection of a plug; - Figure 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the socket shown in Figure 4, shown after the insertion of a plug;

  Figure 7 is another cutaway perspective view of the socket shown in Figure 4, shown after insertion. a form;

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inside of the base of the socket illustrated in FIG. 4, illustrated in the configuration that this socket adopts after the insertion of a plug, itself not shown for the sake of clarity;

  Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the socket shown in Fig. 4, shown in a configuration which it adopts transiently when extracting a plug previously inserted into this socket; FIG. 10 is a broken and partially exploded perspective view of the socket illustrated in FIG. 9, represented in the configuration that it adopts at the end of the extraction of a previously inserted plug.

  in this hold; Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 10; FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the inside of the base of the socket illustrated in FIG. 4, represented in the configuration adopted by this socket during

  extracting a form; and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a socket according to another embodiment of the invention, waiting for connection of a plug. As previously announced, the invention relates to an electrical socket adapted to receive a plug F typically having two or three connection pins, the electrical connection being made by pushing these pins into the socket along an insertion direction X and by applying an insertion force. Such a socket comprises in known manner a base 1, a front face 2 and two or three female contacts, the front face covering the base 1 and being pierced

  30 orifices 210 to be traversed by the pins of the plug F.

  Depending on the type of connection desired and the applicable standard, this socket may include a pin 8 or a contact 8 secured to the base 1 and specifically provided to provide a connection to the ground.

  Each female contact 3 is disposed in the base 1 and intended to receive a pin.

  To allow control of the force required to insert a plug into the socket and the force required to extract the plug, each female contact 3 of the socket takes the form of a resilient clip adopting by default a tight configuration, this plug comprising further retaining means 41 and 42 placed at will in an active configuration or in an inactive configuration.

  The socket of the invention further comprises at least one actuating finger 5, a bistable slide 6, and a feeler 70, the latter may be single or associated with each side of the socket.

  The slider 6 takes for example the general shape of a flat frame slidably mounted in the bottom 10 of the base 1 and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction X, this slider 6 having two points each forming a spacer 61.

  The retaining means may then consist of a retractable hook connected to the base 1 and a corresponding abutment 42 carried by the slider 6, each of the elements that constitute the hook and the abutment may be single or associated with each side of the socket.

  The retractable hook 41 is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the insertion direction X of a plug F and elastically biased to a projecting position. In the active configuration of the retaining means 41 and 42, the hook 41 retains the stop 42 (FIG. 11)

  and thus keeps the slider 6, relative to the base 1, in an armed position for which each female contact 3 is placed by one of the spacers 61 in a remote configuration as illustrated in FIG. 12.

  In inactive configuration of the retaining means 41

  and 42, the slider 6 is resiliently biased by one or more springs R (FIG. 8) towards a rest position in which each spacer 61 is disengaged from the corresponding female contact 3 and thus enables it to adopt its tight configuration.

  The probe 70 is movable relative to the base 1 between an advanced position visible in Figure 9 and a retracted position visible in Figures 6 and 7.

  When connecting a plug F, this probe is moved from its advanced position to its retracted position

  under the effect of the insertion force, and correlatively places the retaining means 41 and 42 in their inactive configuration. The actuating finger 5, which has a gripping portion 50 accessible on the front face 2 of the

  taken, is movable relative to the base between first and second extreme positions, and for example articulated on the base 1 about a pivot axis Y. This actuating finger 5 is further dimensioned to come into contact with a surface bearing 60 of the slider 6 and move the slider from its rest position to its armed position by itself passing from its first extreme position visible in Figures 6 to 8 at its second extreme position visible in Figures 9 to 12.

  In the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is the one illustrated in the figures, the feeler 70 is in fact constituted by the free end of a lever 7 whose linked end 71, distant from this feeler 70, is articulated on the base 1.

  Furthermore, the actuating finger 5 carries a cam 51 sized to bear on the lever 7 between its free ends 70 and 71 linked.

  The pivoting of the actuating finger 5 around its axis Y, from its first extreme position to its second extreme position, thus causes rotation, about the same axis Y, of the cam 51 which drives to its

  15 turns the probe 70 from its retracted position to its advanced position.

  Correlatively, the probe 70, moving from its retracted position (FIG. 7) to its advanced position (FIG. 9) pushes the plug F away from the female contacts 3

  20 and causes or assists the extraction of the plug F out of the socket.

  As further shown in FIG. 7, the lever 7 is shaped and arranged so as to push back, when the feeler 70 passes from its advanced position to its

  25 retracted position, the hook 41 out of the stop 42 and thus to place the retaining means 41 and 42 in their inactive configuration.

  Due to the elasticity of the retractable hook 41, these retaining means 41 and 42 spontaneously reposition themselves in their active configuration when the actuating finger 5 moves from its first extreme position visible in FIGS. 6 to 8 to its second position. FIGS. 9 to 12. As best shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the movement by which the actuating finger 5 passes from

  its first extreme position at its second extreme position is preferably oriented so that the finger pivots towards the insertion openings 210 of the plug F. To improve the ease of use of the plug, the latter advantageously comprises a spring

  72 (FIG. 5) capable of resiliently biasing the lever 7

  towards its first extreme position. The operation of the socket as described is as follows. After commissioning of the plug and in the absence of plug, the slider 6 is in its armed position illustrated in Figure 12, and the female contacts are in their spaced configuration also illustrated in this figure 12. 20 introduction of a plug F is relatively easy since the insertion force of the plug does not have to overcome the friction forces which, on a conventional socket, interfere with the introduction of the pins into the female contacts 3. During this introduction, the feeler 70 moves from the advanced position illustrated in FIG. 9 to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 7. At the end of this movement, the lever 7, which carries the feeler 70, pushes back ( figure 7) the retractable hook 41

  30 which emerges from the stop 42, thus releasing the slide 6 which returns to its rest position illustrated in FIG. 8.

  The female contacts 3 then close again, elastically enclosing the pins of the plug F and making it very difficult to unintentionally extract the plug.

  The voluntary extraction of the plug is obtained by moving the actuating finger 5 from its first extreme position illustrated in FIG. 8 to its second extreme position illustrated in FIG. 10. During this movement, the finger 5 presses on the surface 60 of the slider 6 and pushes the slider from its rest position shown in Figure 8 to its armed position shown in Figure 12. Correlatively, the female contacts deviate, releasing the pins of the catch.

  Simultaneously, the cam 51 raises the lever 7 whose free end, forming probe, pushes the plug F out of the socket. FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment in which the front face 2 of the socket has an insertion jig 21 movable in translation relative to the base 1. More precisely, this jig, in which the openings 210 for introducing the the plug F is mounted on the base 1 so as to be driven by this plug between an advanced position and a retracted position under the effect of the insertion force. The structure of the socket, not visible in Figure 13, may be the same as that illustrated in the other figures, the template 21 is therefore likely to be driven from its retracted position to its advanced position by the probe 70 constituted by the free end 70 of the lever 7.

Claims (10)

  . 1. Electrical socket capable of receiving a plug (F) having at least two connection pins selectively inserted into the socket in an insertion direction (X) and under the effect of an insertion force , this socket comprising a base (1), a front face (2) covering the base (1) and pierced with orifices (210) intended to be traversed by the pins of the plug, at least two female contacts (3), and retaining means (41, 42) selectively placed in active configuration or in inactive configuration, each female contact (3) being disposed in the base (1), being adapted to receive a pin, and taking the form of a clamp adopting by default a tight configuration under the effect of an elastic bias, characterized in that it further comprises an actuating finger (5), a slide (6) bistable with at least two spacers (61) , and a feeler (70), in that the feeler (70) is movable relative to the base (1) and selectively driven by the insertion force between an advanced position and a retracted position, in that the retaining means (41, 42) in active configuration hold the slider (6) relative to the base (1) in a position armed with wherein each female contact (3) is placed by one of the spacers (61) in a remote configuration, in that the probe (70), from its advanced position to its retracted position, places the retaining means (41). , 42) in inactive configuration, in that the slider (6), in the inactive configuration of the retaining means (41, 42), is resiliently biased towards a rest position in which each spacer (61) is disengaged from the female contact (3). ) and allows it to adopt its tight configuration, and in that the actuating finger (5) is kinematically connected to the slide (6) and movable between first and second extreme positions, the second imposes on the slide (6). ) to adopt armed position.   2. Electrical socket according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one lever (7) having a free end (70) forming said feeler (70), in that the actuating finger ( 5), from the first extreme position to the second end position, causes the probe (70) from its retracted position to its advanced position, and in that the probe (70) pushes the plug (F) away from the female contacts. (3) from its retracted position to its advanced position.   Electrical outlet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slider (6) takes the general form of a flat frame movable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction X). slider (6) having two tips each forming a spacer (61).   Electrical outlet according to one of the preceding claims, in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the slide (6) slides parallel to the bottom (10) of the base (1), in that the retaining means ( 41, 42) comprise at least one retractable hook (41) connected to the base (1) and at least one stop (42) carried by the slide (6), in that the retractable hook (41) is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the insertion direction (X) andelastically biased towards a projecting position, in that, in the active configuration of these retaining means (41, 42), the hook (41) retains the stop (42) and maintains the slide (6) relative to the base (1), and in that the lever (7), during the passage of the probe (70) from its advanced position to its retracted position, pushes the hook (41) out of the stop ( 42) and places these retaining means (41, 42) in an inactive configuration.   Electrical outlet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating finger (5) is articulated on the base (1) about a pivot axis (Y), is dimensioned to come in contact with a bearing surface (60) of the slider (6) in its second extreme position at least, and has a gripping portion (50) accessible on the front face (2) of the socket.   6. Electrical power socket according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the lever (7) has a connected end (71) hinged to the base (1) and remote from the free end forming a probe (70). ), in that the actuating finger (5) carries a cam (51) dimensioned to bear on the lever (7) between its free ends (70) and linked (71), and in that the cam ( 51) drives the probe (70) from its retracted position to its advanced position by pivoting the actuating finger (5) about its axis (Y) from its first extreme position to its second extreme position.   Electrical outlet according to Claim 6, characterized in that the actuating finger (5) moves from its first extreme position to its extreme second position by pivoting towards the plug insertion holes (210). ).   Electrical outlet according to one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the front face (2) has an insertion jig (21) in which the openings (210) of introduction of the plug (F), in that this template (21) is movable in translation relative to the base (1) and selectively driven by the plug between an advanced position and a retracted position under the effect of the force of insertion, and in that this jig (21) is selectively driven in the opposite direction by the free end (70) of the lever (7).   9. Electrical outlet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a pin (8) or a contact (8) for connection to the ground, integral with the base (1).   10. Electrical power socket according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 2, characterized in that the lever (7) is resiliently biased towards its first extreme position.