JP2001257051A - Power source adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved durability in a power source adapter which is constructed to have winding cord. SOLUTION: A power source adapter comprises an adapter body 11 which is equipped with an electric circuit to convert alternating current into direct current, a reel 14 which is installed on a winding axle 15 of the adapter body with rotating state and reels up and releases the cords by rotating, and a contact mechanism which connects electrically the adapter 11 and the reel 14 maintaining the rotating state of the reel. The adapter comprises electrode parts 15a, 15b which are to connect the contact mechanism with the electric circuit and are installed on the winding axles 15 integrally and contact terminals 18a, 18b which are connected with the cord 17 to be wound by the reel and are to contact with the electrode parts 15a, 15b formed on the winding axle 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power adapter, and more particularly, to a power adapter configured to wind a cord.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, power supply adapters (AC adapters) are widely used for charging portable terminals. This power adapter plugs into a household power plug,
A process of converting 100 V AC to DC of a predetermined voltage is performed. Further, a cord for connecting to the portable terminal is connected to the power adapter, and a connector for connecting to the portable terminal is provided at an end of the cord.

[0003] This type of power adapter is often carried with a portable terminal. For this reason, the portability of the power adapter itself has been improved. As a means for improving the portability, there has been known a configuration in which a cord can be wound into a power adapter main body (hereinafter, the power adapter having this configuration is referred to as a wind power adapter). According to this rewind type power adapter,
Since the cord can be stored in the power adapter body when carrying, portability can be improved.

By the way, the winding type power supply adapter capable of winding up the cord has a structure in which a winding section for winding up the cord rotates with respect to a power supply adapter body provided with a conversion circuit for performing AC-DC conversion. Therefore, the electrical connection between the cord and the conversion circuit becomes a problem.

FIG. 1 shows a connecting mechanism for connecting a cord and a conversion circuit, which is provided in a conventional retractable power supply adapter. In the figure, an AC / DC conversion circuit (not shown) is provided therein. A power adapter body 1 (hereinafter referred to as an adapter body) has a plug jack 2 inserted into a household outlet.
However, for example, it is arranged in a foldable configuration.

On the upper surface 1a of the adapter body 1,
A support shaft 5 on which a reel 4 (a winding portion) described later is supported is provided upright. On the upper surface 1a, a first annular electrode 6a and a second annular electrode 6 are formed concentrically with the support shaft 5.
b is formed. The first and second annular electrodes 6
Reference numerals a and 6b denote metal films patterned on the upper surface 1a.

An upper case 3 is attached to the upper part of the adapter body 1 having the above-described structure. The upper case 3 is provided with a reel 4 (winding unit) on which the cord 7 is wound. The reel 4 has a pair of disk-shaped flanges 4a and 4b, and the cord 3 is wound between the pair of flanges 4a and 4b.

The outer flange 4a of the pair of flanges 4a and 4b is configured to be exposed from the upper case 3.
The winding process is performed by rotating the flange 4a. On the other hand, a pair of contact terminals 8a and 8b connected to the cord 7 are provided on the other flange 4b.

The arrangement positions of the pair of contact terminals 8a and 8b correspond to the first and second electrodes 6a and 6b formed on the upper surface 1a of the adapter body 1 described above. Then, when the upper case 3 is mounted on the adapter body 1, the contact terminals 8a, 8b are connected to the corresponding electrodes 6a, 6b and are electrically connected.

In the above configuration, even if the reel 4 rotates when the cord 7 is pulled out or wound up, the contact terminals 8a,
8b is an annular first and second electrode 6a, 6b
The electrical connection is maintained to slide over. Therefore,
Even when the reel 4 rotates, the electrical connection between the cord 3 and the AC / DC conversion circuit is maintained.

[0011]

However, in the conventional power adapter, when the cord 7 is pulled out or wound, the contact terminals 8a, 8b
Are configured to slide on the first and second electrodes 6a and 6b. Further, as described above, the first and second electrodes 6 are formed.
a and 6b were formed of a metal film. For this reason, there has been a problem that the first and second electrodes 6a and 6b deteriorate with time, and the durability of the power adapter decreases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power adapter capable of improving durability even with a cord winding type configuration.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided an adapter body provided with an electric circuit for converting an alternating current into a direct current, and a rotating shaft provided on the adapter body. A cord winding unit that is movably provided, and that takes up and withdraws a cord by rotating, the adapter body and the cord winding unit while maintaining the cord winding unit in a rotatable state. A power supply adapter comprising: a contact mechanism for electrically connecting the take-off section; a first electrode section connected to the electric circuit and integrally provided on the support shaft; A cord wound around the cord winding section is connected to the first electrode, and the second electrode is slidably contacted with the first electrode.

According to the above construction, the first electrode portion connected to the electric circuit is formed integrally with the support shaft on which the cord winding portion is supported, and the second electrode to which the cord is connected is the first electrode portion. Since the electrical connection is made by sliding contact with the first electrode, the durability of the power adapter can be improved.

That is, since the support shaft supports the cord winding portion, the support shaft is constituted by a shaft-like member having high mechanical strength. By using the shaft composed of this shaft-like member as an electrode, the cord winding member rotates when the cord is pulled out and wound, and accordingly, the second electrode is moved on the shaft that is the first electrode. Even if it slides, unlike the conventionally used electrode made of a metal film,
The first electrode does not break with time. Therefore, the durability (lifetime) of the power adapter can be improved.

Further, since the first electrode and the support shaft are integrated, it is not necessary to dispose the first electrode separately from the support shaft as in the prior art, and the number of parts can be reduced and assembly can be simplified. It becomes possible to plan.

[0017]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a power adapter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the power supply adapter 10, FIG. 2 is a plan view, a bottom view, and a side view showing the external appearance of the power supply adapter 10, and FIG. It is.

As shown in each figure, the power adapter 10
Are roughly the adapter body 11, the upper case 13,
And a code 17 and the like. The adapter body 11 has a housing shape, and an AC-DC conversion circuit (not shown) for converting AC into DC is provided on a circuit board 20 (see FIG. 3) provided therein. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 2B, an insertion jack 12 for inserting into a household power outlet and a plug 19 provided at the end of a cord 17 are provided on the bottom of the adapter body 11. A recess 11b to be mounted is formed. The insertion jack 12 is configured to be foldable with respect to the adapter main body 11, thereby improving portability (see FIG. 2C). Further, the plug 19 inserted into the portable terminal at the time of charging is also stored in the concave portion 11b of the adapter body 11 when carrying, so that portability can also be improved.

The circuit board 20 is provided with a support plug 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support plug 16 includes a support shaft 15, a plug body 16a,
And bolts 21 and the like. Plug body 1
6a is for holding the support shaft 15, and a screw portion 16b is provided on the upper portion thereof.

Then, after inserting the support shaft 15 and the screw portion 16b into a hole formed in the circuit board 20, the screw portion 16b
The support plug 16 is fixed to the adapter body 11 by screwing the bolt 21 to the adapter body 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the support shaft 15 is provided on the upper surface 11 a of the adapter body 11.
It is in the state of being erected.

Here, attention is paid to the support shaft 15 provided on the support plug 16. The support shaft 15 supports the reel 14 described later, and thus has a shaft structure. In this embodiment, the support shaft 15 is connected to the cord 17 and the circuit board 2.
It also functions as a contact mechanism for electrically connecting 0.

For this reason, the support shaft 15 has an upper electrode 15a formed above and a lower electrode 15b formed below the insulating portion 15C formed substantially at the center. That is, the electrodes 15a and 15b are configured integrally with the support shaft 15. These electrodes 15a, 15b
Has a shaft structure as described above, and therefore has a higher mechanical strength than the conventional electrodes 6a and 6b made of a metal film (see FIG. 5).

The electrodes 15a and 15b having the above structure are
The support shaft 15 is provided by wiring arranged inside the hollow support shaft.
Through the plug body 16a. Then, by connecting the extracted wiring to the circuit board 20, each of the electrodes 15a and 15b is electrically connected to the circuit board 20.

Next, the upper case 13 will be described. The upper case 13 is provided on the upper surface 11 of the adapter body 11.
a that functions as a lid that covers a. The upper case 13 is provided with a reel 14 (cord take-up unit) for taking up and pulling out the cord 17.

The reel 14 has a pair of flanges 14
a and 14b. Of which, flange 1
4a is attached to the upper case 13 in a rotatable configuration. For this reason, the reel 14 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the upper case 13. At this time, the reel 14
An operation portion 14c (recess) is formed on the surface of the flange 14a exposed on the upper surface of the upper case 13 to facilitate operability.

An opening 2 is provided at the center of the reel 14.
4 are formed. Inside the opening 24, a pair of contact terminals 18a and 18b are provided. Each of the contact terminals 18a and 18b is constituted by two contacts which are opposed to and separated from each other. Also, each contact terminal 18
The a and 18b are configured such that one end thereof is fixed to the reel 14 by fixing screws 22 and 23, and the other end extends toward the center of the opening 24.

Further, the contact terminals 18a and 18b
As shown in FIG. 3, is disposed at a position shifted in the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the reel 14 (that is, in the axial direction of the support shaft 15). Specifically, the contact terminal 18a is located at the upper part in FIG. 3, and the contact terminal 18b is located at the lower part in FIG. In addition, a long hole 27 for drawing out the cord 17 to the outside of the upper case 13 is formed on a side surface of the upper case 13.

The upper case 13 constructed as described above is mounted and fixed to the adapter body 11 such that the center axis of the reel 14 coincides with the support shaft 15 erected on the adapter body 11. In this mounted state, the support shaft 15 is located between the two contacts forming each of the contact terminals 18a and 18b. That is, each contact terminal 18a, 18b is connected to the upper case 1
In a state where 3 is mounted on the adapter main body 11, the support shaft 15 is sandwiched.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the contact terminals 18a and 18b.
Shows a state where the support shaft 15 is sandwiched. As described above, the contact terminals 18a and 18b
Of the rotating shaft (in the height direction in FIGS. 3 and 4). Further, the shift amount is configured to correspond to the height difference between the electrodes 15a and 15b provided on the support shaft 15.

Therefore, when the upper case 13 is mounted on the adapter body 11, the contact terminal 18a contacts the upper electrode 15a of the support shaft 15, and the contact terminal 18b contacts the lower electrode 15b of the support shaft 15. Thereby, the contact terminal 18a is electrically connected to the upper electrode 15a, and the contact terminal 18b is electrically connected to the lower electrode 15b. At this time, a pair of contacts constituting each of the contact terminals 18a and 18b are connected to the shaft-shaped electrode portions 15a and 15b as described above.
Contact each other so as to pinch them.
Is rotatable with respect to each of the electrode portions 15a and 15b. Therefore, even when the reel 14 around which the cord 17 is wound is configured to be rotatable about the upper case 13, the cord 17 and the circuit board 20 can be electrically connected.

According to the above configuration, the durability of the power supply adapter 10 can be improved. That is, the spindle 1
Reference numeral 5 is for supporting the reel 14, and is formed of a shaft-like member having high mechanical strength. By using the support shaft 15 made of a shaft member having high mechanical strength as the electrode portions 15a and 15b, the mechanical strength of the electrode portions 15a and 15b is also improved.

Therefore, when the cord 17 is pulled out and wound, the reel 14 rotates, and accordingly, the contact terminals 18a and 18b are integrated with the support shaft 15 in the electrode portion 15
Unlike the electrodes 6a and 6b (see FIG. 5) made of a metal film which have been conventionally used, even if they slide on the electrodes 15a and 15b, the electrodes 15a and 15b are prevented from being deteriorated and damaged with time. Can be. Thereby, the durability (lifetime) of the power adapter 10 can be improved.

According to the present embodiment, the electrode portions 15a,
Since the shaft 15b is integrated with the shaft 15, the first and second electrodes 6a and 6b (see FIG.
5) is not required, and the number of parts can be reduced and assembly can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, each of the electrode portions 15
Although an example in which the contact mechanism between the contact terminals a and 15b and the contact terminals 18a and 18b is applied to the power adapter 10, the present invention is not limited to this. It is widely applicable.

Further, each of the electrode portions 15a, 15b
To form the insulating portion 15c, a connector jack conventionally used

As described above, according to the present invention, the first electrode section connected to the electric circuit is formed integrally with the support shaft on which the cord winding section is supported, and the first electrode section to which the cord is connected. 2
The electrode is slidably in contact with the first electrode to make electrical connection, so that the durability of the power adapter can be improved.

Further, since the first electrode and the support shaft are integrated, there is no need to dispose the first electrode separately from the support shaft as in the prior art, and the number of parts can be reduced and assembly can be simplified. It becomes possible to plan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a power adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing an overview of a power adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a left side view.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a connection position where an electrode portion and a contact terminal are connected.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a spindle plug.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a power adapter as an example of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Power adapter 11 Adapter main body 13 Upper case 14 Reel 14a, 14b Flange 15 Support shaft 15a, 15b Electrode part 15c Insulation part 16 Support plug 17 Cord 18a, 18b Contact terminal 19 Plug 20 Circuit board 22 Fixing screw 25 Bearing recess

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuki Uemura 1049 Oda, Oita, Iizuka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture Inside Kyushu Mitsumi Co., Ltd. (72) Kazutoshi Ichinose 4-3 Tsunashima, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture No. 1 Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5H006 AA05 HA05 HA08

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An adapter body in which an electric circuit for converting an alternating current to a direct current is provided, and a rotatable shaft provided on the adapter body. A power supply comprising: a cord winding unit that performs take-out and pull-out; and a contact mechanism that electrically connects the adapter body and the cord winding unit while maintaining the cord winding unit in a rotatable state. In the adapter, the contact mechanism is connected to the electric circuit, and a first electrode unit integrally provided on the support shaft is connected to a cord wound around the cord winding unit. A power adapter comprising: a second electrode slidably contacting the first electrode.