FR2933243A1 - Sealing device for e.g. Franco-belge type outlet, has key including connecting portion cooperated with lock insert of body, where insert does not pass from unlocking position to locking position in which insert is locked with key - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a body extracting element i.e. key, including a connecting portion that is cooperated with a lock insert (23) of a body (20). The insert attains a locking position in which the body is retained with an outlet (10) e.g. Franco-belge type outlet, even in the absence of the key, and an unlocking position in which the body is extracted from the outlet. The insert does not pass from the unlocking position to the locking position in which the insert is locked with the key.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to sockets and more particularly to devices for closing these sockets.

BACKGROUND ART It is known that there are such devices intended to be inserted into a power outlet in place of a power plug to prevent accidental access by young children to the live parts located at the door. inside of the socket. Community model No. 000594809-002 is known in particular an assembly comprising a plurality of bodies each adapted to fit into a socket for masking the cells and an extraction element comprising a gripping portion for an operator and a T-section head adapted to engage through a slot of a body inserted in a socket, then to be slightly rotated to make a temporary mechanical connection with the body to extract it from the socket.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a plug-in plug-in device that provides greater security while remaining simple and convenient to use. It proposes for this purpose a plugging device for socket outlet, comprising a body adapted to fit therein to mask the cells and an extraction member of said body, which extraction element comprises a gripping portion for a operator and a temporary mechanical connection portion with said body; characterized in that said body comprises a lock cylinder, in that said extraction element is a key whose connecting portion is adapted to cooperate with said cylinder and in that said cylinder has a locking position where said body is adapted to be retained at said socket at least in the absence of the key and an unlocking position where said body is adapted to be extracted from said socket, which barrel can move from the unlocking position to the locking position that with the key. The closure device according to the invention therefore offers a level of security that a lock offers and consequently makes it possible to avoid not only the accidental contact of persons such as young children with the live elements to which they give access the cells, but also and especially the unauthorized connection of electrical appliances in the socket, reserving this possibility to only those persons equipped with the key to extract the body of the shutter device to release the access of a power plug to the cells of the socket. The invention also offers, compared to the conventional solution of equipping the socket with a folding flap that can be locked in a position where it prohibits access to the cells of the socket, the advantage of allowing the locking of existing conventional jacks already in place. According to preferred features because of the performance that they achieve, said body has a front wall shaped to at least partially follow the predetermined contour of a well of said plug, and a side wall shaped to be disposed at less partially in said well. Such a conformation with a front wall and a side wall is particularly suitable for housing a lock barrel, the length of which is in general relatively large, while offering a high level of safety against attempts of forced tearing, the fact that the front wall follow the contour of the well of the socket preventing or in any case greatly limiting the possibilities of grasping the body of the device by its side wall with enough grip. According to other features preferred for their universality, and in particular for their compatibility both with Franco-Belgian standard plugs and the German standard: - said body has a side wall having a plurality of openings in each of which is engaged a rib adopting a position where it projects from said side wall when said cylinder is in the locking position and a position where it is flush with said side wall when said cylinder is in the unlocked position, whereby said ribs are adapted, when said barrel is in the locking position, to be locked against the side wall of a well with a predetermined contour that includes said socket; - Said body comprises at least one pad which belongs to at least one said rib, with said barrel which comprises a cam for controlling the position of said pad; said body comprises two said pads disposed on either side of said cylinder, which comprises a said cam for each said pad, which pads each comprise two said ribs each located at a respective end of said pad; said body has a lateral wall comprising two flat portions facing one another and two curved portions each extending between one end of a first said flat portion and one end of a second said flat portion; each said curved portion has a radial recess adapted to accommodate a ground contact with a predetermined arrangement of said socket; at least one said recess is adapted to house a ground contact pin of a Franco-Belgian socket; and / or - at least one said recess is adapted to house a lateral earth contact of a German socket. According to other preferred features which are more particularly suitable for plugs with the Germanic standard: said lateral wall comprises two opposite radial recesses each having a bottom ramp having two curved portions whose convexity is turned outwards with the zone where they meet said curved portions forming a cradle with a V-section, whereby each said recess is adapted to latch a lateral earth contact of a Germanic plug; and / or - said key is retained in said barrel only when that is in said unlocking position. According to other features preferred for their universality, which can be implemented in particular with Franco-Belgian standard plugs and German standard: - said body comprises a base and a cover movable relative to said base between an open position and a position closed with said body which is adapted to be held in closed position when said barrel is in said locking position; said pedestal comprises at least one column projecting from a bottom wall opposite said hood with a rod of said hood which is slidably movable in said pillar to expand at least the distal end of said pillar when said body is in the closed position; - said column has at its distal end a projecting tab; and / or - said body comprises two said columns, adapted to be inserted into the cells of said plug in the manner of the pins of a current plug when said body is in said open position, and to be retained at said plug when said body is in said closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of exemplary embodiments, given below by way of illustration and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. plan view of the body of a closure device according to a first embodiment of the invention, fitted in the locking position in a Franco-Belgian type socket; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device comprising the body illustrated in FIG. 1 and the corresponding key; - Figures 3 and 4 are two perspective views taken at different angles of the body of Figure 1; - Figures 5 and 6 are two plan views of the body of Figure 1 without its cap, with the barrel respectively in the locking position and unlocking position; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a closure device according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the body of this device; - Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of the cover that comprises the body of this device; - Figure 10 is a perspective view of the barrel that includes the body of this device; - Figure 11 is a perspective view of a German-type socket in which the device is engaged in the locking position; - Figure 12 is a very simplified sectional view of the assembly shown in Figure 11 along a plane passing through the two lateral earth contacts of the socket; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a shutter device according to a third embodiment of the invention; - Figure 14 is a perspective view from below of the body of this device; - Figures 15 and 16 are two perspective views respectively from above and below the cover that includes the body of this device; - Figures 17 and 18 are two perspective views respectively from above and below the base that comprises the body of this device; - Figure 19 is a perspective view of the barrel that includes the body of this device; - Figures 20 and 21 are side views of the body of this device, respectively in the open position and in the closed position; and FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the zone XXII of FIG. 21, the body of the device being shown in a locking position in a socket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT The socket 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is of the Franco-Belgian type. It has a hubcap 11 overlooking a base not visible.

The hubcap 11, formed of insulating plastic material, comprises a facade 13, which is rectangular in outline, and recessed with respect to this facade 13, a well 14 delimited by a side wall 15 and whose bottom wall 16 has the cells necessary for the insertion of the contact elements of a current plug.

The body 20 of a closure device 18 according to a first embodiment of the invention, is disposed in the well 14 in the locked position, preventing access to the active parts (cells) of the socket 10. The body 20 comprises a molded plastic cover 21 fixed on a base 22 also made of molded plastic, a lock cylinder 23 and two pads 25 made of a relatively soft material. The closure device 18 further comprises the body 20, a key 19 (Figure 2) for passing the barrel 23 that includes the body 20 of the locking position illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 to the unlocking position illustrated in Figure 6.

The base 22 has a flat bottom wall 26 and a side wall 27 oriented in the axial direction. The side wall 27 has two flat portions 28 and 29 facing one another and two curved portions 30 and 31 each extending between one end of the portion 28 and one end of the portion 29.

This side wall 27 is shaped to at least partially follow the side wall 15 of the well 14 of a plug 10 of Franco-Belgian type (cylindrical side wall with a protruding ground pin) or Germanic type (generally cylindrical side wall with a flat on two opposite lateral sides and with two protruding land side contacts opposite one another).

The first curved portion 30 has in its central zone, a radial recess 35 whose contour is U-shaped and which is adapted to receive a lateral earth contact of a German-type plug. The second curved portion 31 also has in its central zone a radial recess 36. The latter has a depth greater than that of the recess 35 and has a slightly wider rounded end. Thus this recess is adapted both to receive a lateral earth contact of a German type plug but also the pin of the earth contact member 16 of a Franco-Belgian type plug (Figures 5 and 6) . Each curved portion 30, 31, has on either side of the corresponding recess 35, 36, an opening 40 located at the bottom wall. The cover 21 has a central flat and circular portion 41 overhung by a frustoconical portion 42 slightly off-center. The cover 21 also has a peripheral rim 44 which extends outwards and slopes slightly in the opposite direction to the frustoconical portion 42. The contour of the peripheral rim corresponds to the contour of the lateral wall of the base 22 except at the second recess 36 where the contour is identical to the recess 35. The frustoconical portion 42 has a cylindrical opening 45 through the portion 41 and provided for mounting the barrel 23. The barrel 23 has a cylindrical main portion 47, a first end comprises a slot 49 for the insertion of the temporary mechanical connection portion 19A of the key 19.

At the end opposite the slot 49, the barrel 23 comprises two cam members 50 projecting from the cylindrical portion 47. The two pads 25 are identical and consist of a relatively flexible material. Each pad 25 is generally in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped 51 from which protrudes from each of its longitudinal ends, a transverse rib 52 beveled. The barrel 23 is disposed in the base 22 so that the cams 50 rest on the bottom wall 26. The two pads 25 are arranged in the base 22 so that they extend parallel to the side portions 28 and 29 with their ribs 52 facing the outside of the base 22. Each rib 52 is inserted into a corresponding opening 40. The barrel 23 has a locking position (FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5) in which the slot 49 is here at 90 ° to the axis of the two recesses 35 and 36 and where the cams 50 project towards the pads 25, so that the ends of the ribs 52 protrude clearly from the outer surface of the side wall 27. The barrel 23 also has an unlocking position (FIG. 6) in which the slot 49 is here in alignment with the two recesses 35 and 36 and where the cams protrude towards these same recesses 35 and 36, so that the pads can retract into the body 22 with the ends of the ribs 52 which are flush with the outer surface of the side wall 27.

The key 19 comprises, in addition to the connecting portion 19A adapted to cooperate with the barrel 23, a gripping portion 19B for an operator. To set up the closure device 18, the operator introduces the body 20 with the barrel 23 in the unlocking position (the connecting portion 19A of the key 19 inside the barrel 23) in the well 14 of FIG. a catch 10 of Franco-Belgian or Germanic type. Then, using the gripping portion 19B, it turns the key 19 by a quarter of a turn to drive the barrel 23 in the locking position and to project the ribs 52 of the outer surface of the side wall 27 so that their ends are locked against the side wall 15 of the well 14 (Figure 1). The operator then only has to remove the key 19 from the barrel 23, the body 20 being retained in the well 14 of the jack 10 thanks to the compressive force exerted by these ribs 52 on the side wall 15. remove the body 20 of the closure device 18 out of the socket 10, the reverse operations are performed, that is to say that the operator inserts the key 19 in the barrel 23, he turns the key a quarter turn to drive the barrel in unlocked position (Figure 6) where the ribs 52 are retracted and it can then proceed to the removal of the device 18.

In a variant not shown, each shoe 25 is biased towards the retracted position by an elastic member, for example a spring disposed between the wall 28 or 29 and the corresponding pad. A second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12. The same numerical references were used as for the first embodiment, but increased by 100. The closure device 118 comprises a body 120 and a key 119. The body 120 comprises a molded plastic cover 121 and a barrel of lock 123. The key 119 makes it possible to move the barrel 123 from the locking position to the unlocking position. The cover 121 has a front wall 124 slightly convex towards the outside and a lateral wall 125 oriented in the axial direction, bordering the wall 124 along its contour (Figure 9).

The front wall 124 has a central opening 126 delimited by a cylindrical bore 127 (FIG. 9) extending towards the inside of the cover 121 (FIG. 8) and which is provided for the positioning of the barrel 123. The lateral wall 125 comprises two flat portions 128 and 129 facing one another and two curved portions 130 and 131 each extending between one end of the portion 128 and one end of the portion 129. This side wall 125 is provided for s' adapting to the contour of the well 114 of a German-type plug 110 with two side contacts 115 of J-shaped profile earth (Figure 12). The two flat portions each comprise in their central zone, a rib 132 extending over the entire width of the side wall 125 and in a direction parallel to the axis of the body 120. The two curved portions 130 and 131 each have in their central zone, a radial recess 133. This recess 133 which extends over the entire width of the side wall 125, is defined by two parallel flat portions 134 and a bottom ramp 135 having two curved portions. A first curved portion 135A extends from the front wall 124 in the direction and to within half of the free end 136 of the side wall 125 where the second curved portion 135B originates, the area where the two portions meet. 135A and 135B forming a cradle 135C with a V-shaped section. The second curved portion 135B extends towards the free end of the side wall 125, with an outwardly facing convexity. In general, in section, the ramp 135 has a central portion in V, each branch of which is extended by a curved portion whose convexity is turned outwards. The barrel 123, which has a generally cylindrical shape, has at one of its ends, a slot 149 for the insertion of the temporary mechanical connection portion 119A of the key 119. At its opposite end, the barrel 123 has a necklace 150 split. When mounting the body 120, the collar 150 is removed and the barrel 123 is inserted into the central opening 126 so that the flat end of the barrel 123 having the insertion slot 149 is flush with the front wall 124 ( Figure 9). Then, the collar 150 is put back on the barrel 123 finally to ensure its maintenance inside the cylindrical was 127. The key 119 further comprises the connecting portion 119A adapted to cooperate with the barrel 123, a portion 119B for an operator. The shutter device 118 is designed to cooperate exclusively with the well 114 of a German-type socket 110 (FIG. 11). To set up the closure device 118, the operator forcibly introduces the body 120 (with the barrel 123 in the locked position) into the well 114 of the receptacle 110. The two lateral contacts 115 in J differ in following the profile of the curved portions 135B on which they are supported. By continuing the insertion movement, the two lateral contacts 115 tend to gradually resume their original spacing so that their inner ends 116 are positioned in the cradle 135C (Figure 12), making a snap.

The restoring forces exerted by these two lateral contacts 115 then firmly hold the body 120 in the well 114 of the socket 110. To remove the body 120, the operator introduces the connecting portion 119A of the key 119 into the slot 149 of the barrel 123 in the locking position.

Then, using the gripping portion 119B, it turns the key 119 by a quarter turn to drive the barrel 123 unlocking position in which the key 119 becomes integral with the latter. Then, using the gripping portion 119B, the operator pulls on the key 119 which has the effect, in view of the conformation of the ramp 135B, to separate the two lateral contacts 115, causing the release of the body 120 A third embodiment of the closure device according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. The same numerical references were used as for the first embodiment, but increased by 200.

The closure and locking device 218 comprises a body 220 and a key 219. The body 220 comprises a molded plastic cover 221 mounted in translation on a base 222 also made of molded plastic and a lock cylinder 223. The key 219 makes it possible to pass the barrel 223 of the body 220 from the locking position to the unlocking position. The cover 221 (Figure 15) has a front wall 224 slightly convex outwardly and a side wall 225 oriented in the axial direction which borders the wall 224 along its contour. The front wall 224 has a central opening 226 delimited by a cylindrical shaft 227 extending towards the inside of the cap 221 (FIG. 16) and which is provided for the insertion of the barrel 223. The lateral wall 225 comprises two flat portions. 228 and 229 facing one another and two curved portions 230 and 231 each extending between one end of the portion 228 and one end of the portion 229.

This side wall 225 is provided to follow the contour of the well of a German type socket.

The two planar portions 228 and 229 each comprise in their central zone, a rib 232 extending over the entire width of the side wall 225 and in a direction parallel to the axis of the body 220. The two planar portions 228 and 229 present also at each of their longitudinal ends and at their free ends, two latching tabs 236 which project transversely towards the inside of the cover 221 (FIG. 16). The two curved portions 230 and 231 each have in their central zone, a radial recess 233. Each recess 233 is shaped like the recesses 133, with two flat portions 234 similar to the flat portions 134 and a ramp 235 similar to the ramp 135. 227, two cylindrical rods 237 protrude transversely from the inner side of the cap 221 beyond the side wall 225.

The base 222 (FIGS. 17 and 18) comprises a generally flat bottom wall 240 whose contour resumes that of the free end 236 of the lateral portion 225, particularly at the level of the recesses and ribs. The bottom wall 240 has in its center an opening 241 delimited by a shaft similar to the barrel 227 and by a tab-shaped cup 280 extending about 120 °, oriented transversely to the barrel and arranged coaxially therewith. A side wall 242 protrudes transversely to the bottom wall 240. This side wall runs along the contour of the wall 240 while being slightly set back from this contour. Thus, this side wall 242 has two planar portions 248 and 249 facing one another and two curved portions 250 and 251 each extending from one end of the portion 248 to one end of the portion 249. Curved portions 250 and 251 each have in their central zone a radial recess 253 with a rectangular profile.

The two planar portions 248 and 249 have at each of their longitudinal ends, two sliding grooves 255 for the latching tabs 236 and which extend from the bottom wall about two-thirds of the width of the side wall 242. On either side of the opening 241, the bottom wall 240 has two other circular through openings 257 (Figure 17) whose diameter corresponds to that of the cylindrical rods 237. Two hollow columns 260 project from the bottom wall. 240 around the openings 257 and at the opposite side of the side wall 225. Each column 260 consists of two semi-cylindrical portions 261 facing each other and slightly spaced, each of the semi-cylindrical portions 261 having at its free end, a latching lug 262 (Figures 20 and 21). The barrel 223 comprises a slot 269 for the insertion of the temporary mechanical connection portion 219A of the key 219 and a collar 270 split to ensure the maintenance of the barrel within the cylindrical barrel 227. It includes beyond collar 270, a latch 271 in the form of an angular sector extending over approximately 45 °, of slightly smaller radius than that of the opening 241 and extending transversely to the axis of the barrel 223, this disc being connected to the rest the barrel 223 by a link arm 272 with an angular sector-shaped section extending for approximately 45 °, so that the distal end of the assembly formed by the latch 271 and the arm 272 is in the form of a half disk. The key 219 further comprises the connecting portion 219A adapted to cooperate with the barrel 223, a gripping portion 219B for an operator (Figure 13). During assembly of the body 220, the collar 270 is removed and the barrel 223 is inserted into the central opening 226 so that the flat end of the barrel 223 having the insertion slot 269 is flush with the end wall 224 ( figure 13). Then, the collar 270 is put back on the barrel 223 to ensure its maintenance inside the cylindrical was 227. The cover 221 is then mounted on the base 222, the rods 237 passing through the openings 257 and the tabs 236 snapping into the grooves 255 so that the cover 221 can slide the vis-à-vis the base 222 between the two positions open (Figure 20) and closed (Figure 21).

To set up the shutter body 220, the operator verifies that the cylinder 223 is in the unlocking position in which the key 219 is secured to the body 220 and where the latch 271 is opposite the opening 241 so that it can pass freely on one side and the other of the chin 280 of this opening. The operator then moves the cover 221 away from the base 222 to bring the body 220 into its open position shown in FIG. 20. Then, with the help of the gripping portion 219B, it turns the key 219 a quarter of a turn in order to to drive the barrel 223 in the locking position. In this position, the latch 271 abuts on the edge of the cap 280 so that the cover 221 and the base 222 are made fixed relative to each other and the key 219 becomes integral with the barrel 223. The operator then force the body 120 into the well of the socket (not shown with the exception of the bottom wall 285 of the well, see Figure 22). The balusters 260 move closer to the wells of the socket until the tabs 262 snap against the bottom wall of the well (FIG. 22) by flexing the two semi-cylindrical portions 261 of each of the two balusters 260. The operator then turns the key 219 a quarter of a turn in order to drive the barrel 223 in the unlocked position, then closes the cover 221 on the base 222 in order to bring the body 220 back to the closed position of FIG. During this closing movement, the rods 237 slide in the balusters 260 to the position shown in FIG. 21. At the same time, the two lateral contacts of the socket begin to deviate along the profile of the curved portions 235B. on which they are supported (in the same manner as for the previous embodiment) and then are positioned in the cradle 235C. Finally, the operator turns the last key 219 a quarter of a turn in order to drive the barrel 223 in the locking position and removes the connecting portion 219A. In this position, in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, the restoring forces exerted by the two lateral contacts at the ramps 235 firmly hold the body 220 in the well of the socket. On the other hand, the tabs 262 are retained at the bottom wall 285 of the well because the rods 237 prevent any bending of the two semi-cylindrical portions 261 (FIG. 21). To remove the body 220, the operator introduces the connecting portion 219A of the key 219 in the slot 269 of the barrel 223 in the locking position. Then, with the help of the gripping portion 219B, it turns the key 219 by a quarter turn to drive the barrel 223 unlocking position in which the key 219 becomes integral with the latter. Then, using the gripping portion 219B, the operator pulls the key 219 which has the effect of bringing the body 220 in the open position shown in Figure 20 (spacing of the two lateral contacts and raising of the rods 237 ). By continuing the movement, the tabs 262 disengage from the bottom wall of the well by flexing the two hemicylindrical portions 261 of each of the two columns 260, causing the release of the body 220. In a variant not shown, the recesses 233 are replaced by recesses shaped differently, for example such as the recesses 35 and 36 of the body 20 (Figures 1 to 6).

In another variant not shown, the body 20 has a number of ribs such that 52 different from four, for example two, six or seven, the number of pads such as 25 and cams such as 50 being of course modified accordingly. Many other variants are possible depending on the circumstances, and it is recalled in this regard that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Socket closure device (10; 110), comprising a body (20; 120; 220) adapted to fit therein to conceal the cells and an extraction element of said body, which extraction element comprises a gripping portion for an operator and a temporary mechanical bonding portion with said body (20; 120; 220); characterized in that said body (20; 120; 220) comprises a lock cylinder (23; 123; 223), in that said extraction element is a key (19; 119; 219) whose connecting portion ( 19A; 119A; 219A) is adapted to cooperate with said barrel and in that said barrel (23; 123; 223) has a locking position in which said body (20; 120; 220) is adapted to be retained at said engagement ( 10; 110) at least in the absence of the key (19; 119; 219) and an unlocking position where said body is adapted to be extracted from said socket, which barrel (23; 123; 223) can not move from the unlocking position to the locking position only with the key (19; 119; 219). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (20; 120; 220) has a front wall (44; 124; 224) shaped to at least partially follow the predetermined contour of a well (14; 114). a said plug (10; 110), and a side wall (27; 125; 225) shaped to be disposed at least partially in said well (14; 114). 3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said body (21) has a side wall (27) having a plurality of openings (40) in each of which is engaged a rib (52) adopting a position where it protrudes from said side wall (27) when said barrel (23) is in the locking position and a position where it is flush with said side wall (27) when said barrel is in the unlocking position, whereby said ribs (52) are adapted, when said barrel (23) is in the locking position, to be locked against the side wall (15) of a well (14) with a predetermined contour that comprises said outlet (10; 110) . 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said body (21) comprises at least one pad (25) to which belongs at least one said rib (52), with said barrel (23) which comprises a cam (50) for controlling the position of said pad (25). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said body (21) comprises two said pads (25) disposed on either side of said cylinder (23), which comprises a said cam (50) for each said pad ( 25), which pads each comprise two said ribs (52) each located at a respective end of said pad. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said body (20; 120; 220) has a side wall (27; 125; 225) having two planar portions (28, 29; 128, 129). 228, 229) facing one another and two curved portions (30, 31; 130, 131; 230, 231) each extending between one end of a first said flat portion (28; 128; 228); ) and an end of a second said flat portion (29; 129; 229). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each said curved portion (30, 31; 130, 131; 230, 231) has a radial recess (35, 36; 133; 233) adapted to accommodate a ground contact ( 16; 115) at a predetermined arrangement of said socket (10; 110). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one said recess (36) is adapted to accommodate a ground contact pin (16) of a Franco-Belgian plug (10). 9. Device according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that at least one said recess (35, 36; 133; 233) is adapted to accommodate a lateral earth contact (115) of a socket Germanic (110). 10. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said lateral wall (125; 225) comprises two opposite radial recesses (133; 233) each having a bottom ramp (135; 235) having two curved portions (135A, 135B) whose convexity is outwardly oriented with the area where said curved portions meet forming a cradle (135C) with a V-section, whereby each said recess (133; 233) is adapted to snap-fit a lateral earth contact (115) of a Germanic plug (110). 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said key (119; 219) is retained to said barrel (123; 223) only when that is in said unlocking position. 12. Device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 10 or 11, characterized in that said body (220) comprises a base (222) and a cover (221) movable relative to said base between an open position and a closed position with said body which is adapted to be held in closed position when said barrel (223) is in said locking position. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that said base (222) comprises at least one column (260) projecting from a bottom wall (240) opposite said cover (221) with a rod (237). said cover (221) being slidably movable in said post (260) for expanding at least the distal end of said post (260) when said body is in the closed position. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said column (260) has at its distal end a projecting lug (262). 15. Device according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that said body (220) comprises two said columns (260), adapted to be inserted into the cells of said socket in the manner of the pins of a plug current when said body (220) is in said open position, and to be retained at said engagement when said body is in said closed position.