JP2003187896A - Electrical connection device having function for preventing tracking phenomena - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical connection device having a function for preventing tracking phenomena. <P>SOLUTION: This electrical connection device comprises a pair of electrical connection terminals inserted into a receptacle, drop preventing members arranged with the pair of electrical connection terminals, a switching member which can switch two positions of a first position where the drop preventing member is protruded from the outline of the electrical connection terminal and a second position where the drop preventing member is housed within the outline of the electrical connection terminal, a first supporting member on which the pair of electrical connection terminals are mounted, and a second supporting member on which the switching member is mounted. And this electrical connection device is detachably attached to the receptacle by constituting the drop preventing member to be switchable in the first position or the second position by relatively displacing the second supporting member to the first supporting member, and the first supporting member and the second supporting member are provided with a mechanism to be locked at a required angle. On the surface having contact with the receptacle of the first supporting body, a covering member is provided to change the surface material to an insulator, which can prevent the deposition of dust in the pair of electrical terminals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector (plug, AC adapter, charging adapter, etc.) that is plugged into an outlet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an electrical connector such as a plug is connected to an outlet, the cord may be caught on a leg and the plug may be inadvertently pulled out. Also,
Since an electrical connection tool such as a plug has been plugged into the outlet or table tap for a long time, dust gradually accumulates in the gap between the outlet and the electrical connection tool, and when this dust causes moisture, a spark discharge occurs between both electrodes of the plug. Will be repeated. Then, electricity may flow between both electrodes of the plug to generate heat, which eventually causes a "tracking phenomenon" of ignition.

[0003]

When such a situation occurs, in the case of an electric device having a built-in timer such as a television or an audio, the plug may be pulled out, so that the time setting of the timer may be stopped. If it goes crazy, or if it is a temperature control device for a tropical fish tank, temperature management can not be done, it will kill the tropical fish, or in the case of a PC, the data in the memory or hard disk will be damaged, However, there was a problem with medical equipment that could lead to serious problems. In addition, dust gradually accumulates in the gap between the outlet and the electrical connector, spark discharge is repeated, the insulation state between both electrodes of the plug deteriorates, and electricity flows, causing the generated resistance to generate heat and finally ignite. There was a problem. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to use the second support body by locking the second support body at a predetermined angle, and to use the material attached to the first support body as an insulator. Is provided to provide an electric connecting device that can safely use an electric device.

[0004]

An electrical connector according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a pair of electrical connection terminals to be inserted into an outlet, and a fall prevention member provided together with the pair of electrical connection terminals. A switching member for switching the drop-out prevention member between a first position protruding from the outer shape of the electric connection terminal and a second position housed in the outer shape of the electric connection terminal; and the pair of electric connection terminals. A first support to which the switch is attached and a second support to which the switching member is attached, and by moving the second support relative to the first support, the fall prevention member is moved to the first support. An electric connector that is detachably attached to an outlet by being configured to be switchable between a first position and the second position, the first supporting member and the second supporting member.
The support is provided with a locking mechanism for locking at a required angle.
Further, a cover member made of an insulating material is provided on the surface of the first support member that contacts the outlet. According to this mechanism, even if a force acts to pull out the electrical connector from the outlet, one of the fall prevention members can be surely prevented from coming off, and the second support body is locked at a predetermined angle for use. Because it can be done, it is less likely to get caught in the cord and it can be used safely. As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fall prevention member may be attached to the electric connection terminal so as to be rotatably supported by the shaft. According to this mechanism, when the electric connecting device is inserted into the outlet, the electric connecting terminal is covered, dust can be prevented from accumulating, the tracking phenomenon can be prevented, and the device can be used more safely. As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover member is attached to the first support and is attached so as to be held by an outlet. As a result, the electrical connection terminal, the fall prevention member, and the cover member can be unitized, which can contribute to ease of assembly.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of an electric connecting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plug which is an example of an electrical connecting tool.

The plug P has a pair of plug terminals 1 and 2 (corresponding to electrical connection terminals) inserted into an outlet C, and a pair of fall prevention members 3 and 4 provided together with the pair of plug terminals 1 and 2. A first support 5 to which the plug terminals 1 and 2 are attached, a second support 6 composed of a first case 6a and a second case 6b, and a cover member 13 attached to the first support. The first case 6a and the second case 6b are combined with a screw 7. The second support 6 is rotatable with respect to the first support 5 about the rotation axis X. In FIG. 1A, the falling prevention members 3 and 4 are the external shapes of the plug terminals 1 and 2. It is in the second position D2 housed inside. As can be seen from the figure, the fall prevention member 3,
4 The directions in which they project are opposite to each other.
The drop-off prevention member 3 on the front side of the figure is about to project upward, and the drop-off prevention member 4 on the other side is about to project downward. In FIG. 1B, the second support 6 is attached to the rotation axis X.
It shows a state in which it is rotated 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction B. In this state, the fall prevention members 3 and 4 are all plug terminals 1 and 4.
It is located at the first position D1 protruding from the outer shape of No. 2. This state is also a state in which the plug P is set so as not to come off from the outlet C. In addition, even if the second support 6 is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction A about the rotation axis X, it is possible to set the position of the fall prevention tools 3, 4 to the first position D1. Further, in this state, the cover member 13 is also in a state of being held by the outlet C.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal construction of the drop-out prevention mechanism. In this figure, only the one fall prevention member 3 is shown, but the other fall prevention member 4 has the same mechanism except that the projecting directions are opposite. FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the fall prevention mechanism. The fall prevention member 3 is rotatably coupled to the plug terminal 1 by a first rotation support shaft 10. The first rotation support shaft 10 is a stepped pin and is joined to the plug terminal 1 by crimping or another appropriate method. The fall prevention member 3 has a locking portion 3 having a tapered surface 3a.
b, a lock release action portion 3d having a tapered surface 3c, a first lock action portion 3e, and a second lock action portion 3f. The fall prevention member 3 is a unit integrated with the plug terminal 1, and is attached to the attachment portion 5 a of the first support body 5. The attachment is performed by an appropriate method such as adhesion. The switching members 8 and 9 are the plug terminals 1 and 2.
On the other hand, it is rotatably attached by the second rotation support shaft 11. The second rotation support shaft 11 is a stepped pin and is joined to the plug terminal 1 by crimping or another appropriate method. The switching member 8 includes a first support body 5 and a second support body 6.
It is attached so as to straddle the first case 6a.
The second case 6b is attached to the second support 6 so as to be sandwiched between the second case 6b and the second case 6b. The attachment method may be only sandwiching, or screw connection and adhesion may be used together.
FIG. 2 shows a part of the mounting structure, in which the coupling protrusion 8a of the switching member 8 is inserted into the groove formed in the second case 6b. The switching member 8 acts on the unlocking action portion 3d and the first locking action portion 3e.
The contact portion (protruding portion) 8b and the second contact portion (contact-like end surface) 8c that acts on the second locking action portion 3f are provided. The rotary shaft X described in FIG. 1 is the second rotary shaft 11
Coincide with the center of. In FIG. 2, the outlet C is partially shown in a sectional view. The outlet C is provided with an insertion hole Ca into which the plug terminals 1 and 2 are inserted, and an engagement portion Cb with which the engagement portion 3b of the fall prevention member 3 is engaged. Further, since the plug P locks the second support body 6 when rotating counterclockwise and clockwise 90 degrees and 45 degrees,
An upper 90-degree locking hole 5b1 is formed on the upper surface of the first support body 5, and a lower 90-degree locking hole 5b2 is formed on the lower surface thereof, and the upper side surface (centering around the second rotation support shaft 11) is moved upward by 45 degrees. The 45-degree locking pin 5c1 is provided with a downward 45-degree locking pin 5c2 projecting downward from the side surface (centering around the second rotation support shaft) in the 45-degree direction. The upper 90-degree locking pin 6a1 and the lower 90-degree locking pin 6b2 corresponding to the upper 90-degree locking hole 5b1 and the lower 90-degree locking hole 5b2 are attached to the first case 6 respectively.
a and the front surface of the second case 6b. further,
The switching member 8 is provided with a 45 degree locking hole 8d for locking the upper 45 degree locking pin 5c1 and the lower 45 degree locking pin 5c2. The above structure forms the locking mechanism. Then, a cover member that fulfills another feature, that is, a tracking phenomenon preventing mechanism will be described. The cover member 13 is attached to arbitrary positions on the upper and lower sides of the surface where the plug terminals 1 and 2 of the first support body 5 are inserted into and contact with the outlet C. The attachment is performed by an appropriate method such as adhesion.

Next, the operation of the plug P according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the plug P is inserted. Before inserting, the longitudinal direction of the plug terminals 1 and 2 (inserting direction) and the longitudinal direction of the second support body 6 may be aligned with the same direction. At this time, the cover member 13 attached to the first support body 5 is held on the surface of the plug terminal 1, 2 into which the outlet C is in contact. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the second support 6 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. By rotating the second support body 6, the replacement member 8 also rotates together with the second rotation support shaft 11 (X axis). Then, the first contact portion 8b of the switching member 8 pushes the first locking action portion 3e of the dropout prevention member 3, so that the dropout prevention member 3 is biased clockwise around the first rotation support shaft 10.
As a result, the locking portion 3b moves to the first position D1 protruding from the outer shape of the plug terminal 1, and the locking portion 3b moves to the outlet C.
Engages with the locking portion Cd. Further, at this time, the locking portion 3b of the plug terminal 1 of the plug P engages with the locking portion Cd of the outlet C, whereby the first support body 5 is pulled and the cover member 13 is held more firmly. . The same applies to the other fall prevention member 4 and the cover member 13. As a result, the plug P is prevented from coming off the outlet C, and dust is prevented from collecting between the plug terminals 1 and 2. At this time, the upper 90 degree locking hole 5b1
The second support 6 can be held in the counterclockwise 90 ° direction by engaging and locking the upper 90 ° locking pin 6a1. When removing the plug P from the state of FIG. 4,
The second support 6 is rotated clockwise around the second rotation support shaft 11. The first contact portion 8b of the switching member 8 acts on the lock release action portion 3d to rotate the fall prevention member 3 counterclockwise of the first rotation support shaft 10. As a result, the fall prevention member 3 is accommodated in the outer shape of the plug terminal 1 at the second position D.
Switched to 2. (State of FIG. 2) In FIG. 5, the second support 6 is rotated clockwise from the state of FIG.
It is in a rotated state. The switching member 8 also rotates in the clockwise direction together with the second support 6, the second contact portion 8c contacts the second locking action portion 3f, and the fall prevention member 3 is rotated around the first rotation support shaft 10 in a clockwise direction. Rotate in the direction. As a result, the stopper portion 3 is switched to the first position D1 in which the engaging portion 3b projects from the outer shape of the plug terminal 1, and the engaging portion 3b and the engaging portion Cb of the outlet C are engaged. Become. Further, at this time, the locking portion 3b of the plug terminal 1 of the plug P engages with the locking portion Cb of the outlet C, whereby the first support body 5 is pulled and the cover member 13 is held more firmly. It As a result, the plug P is prevented from coming off the outlet C, and dust is prevented from collecting between the plug terminals 1 and 2. At this time, the lower 90-degree locking pin 6b2 is inserted into and locked in the lower 90-degree locking hole 5b2 so that the second support 6 can be held in the clockwise 90-degree direction. When removing the plug P from the state of FIG. 5, the second support 6 is rotated counterclockwise. Similarly, the switching member 8 is also rotated counterclockwise, and the first contact portion 8b acts on the lock release action portion 3d, so that the fall prevention member 3 is moved to the first position.
The rotation spindle 10 is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the falling-off preventing member 3 made of synthetic resin has the locking portion 3b.
Is switched to the second position D2 housed in the outer shape of the plug terminal 1. (State of FIG. 2) When the first contact portion 8b acts on the unlocking action portion 3d, the tapered surface 3c is provided,
Prevents malfunctions due to being caught. It should be noted that in the state of being rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 2, the upper 45 degree locking pin 5c1 has the 45 degree locking hole 8
d and can be supported in the upward 45 degree direction (see FIG. 3). Also, when rotated 45 degrees clockwise, the lower 45 degree locking pin 5c2 enters the 45 degree locking hole 8d and
It can be supported in the direction of 5 degrees. Further, this plug has a structure that does not come off by inclining the second support body 6 within 45 to 90 degrees, so that the position of the retaining set can be easily known. The cover member 13 needs to be made of an insulating material, capable of being bent or expanded / contracted like a plastic plate or a sponge plate, and excellent in waterproofness. As described above, the second support body 6 may be rotated in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, which improves the usability. In addition, since the second support member 6 that constitutes the plug P is rotated, the operability is superior to the configuration in which the push button or the slide lever is operated.

In the present embodiment, the plug is given as an example of the electric connecting device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an electric connecting terminal such as an AC adapter, a charging adapter, an extension cord or the like which is inserted into an outlet (outlet). Are included. The outlet is not limited to the one provided on the wall surface of the room, but includes any one having an insertion port into which an electrical connection terminal is inserted, such as an extension cord, an adapter, or a rear portion of an electric device. In the present embodiment, the second support 6 is rotated with respect to the first support 5 to switch the fall prevention members 3 and 4 and hold the cover member 13. May be switched by sliding with respect to the first support.

[0010]

1) By rotating the second support member that constitutes the plug and locking it at 45 and 90 degrees, the second support member can be prevented from falling naturally and hooked on the foot. Even in the case, it has a structure that does not easily come off. 2) It is possible to prevent the second support from coming off within the range of 45 to 90 degrees, and it is possible to easily determine whether the second support is in the pull-out preventing state or the pulling-out state by knowing the locking position at 45 degrees. 3) Since the cover member is made of an insulator, it can be used safely without short-circuiting between the plug terminals. 4) When the plug is inserted into the outlet C and the second support is rotated, the cover member attached to the plug is more firmly held and dust is prevented from collecting between the plug and the outlet. The tracking phenomenon can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a plug according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the structure of a falling-out prevention mechanism and a cover member attached as a tracking phenomenon prevention function.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cover member attached as a falling prevention mechanism and a tracking phenomenon prevention function.

FIG. 4 is a plug operation diagram (No. 1).

FIG. 5 is a plug operation diagram (part 2).

FIG. 6 is a reference diagram of a tracking phenomenon.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 plug terminal 2 plug terminals 3 Fall-out prevention member 4 Fall prevention member 5 First support 6 Second support 7 screws 8 Switching member 13 Cover member P plug C outlet X rotation axis Spark by S short

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of electrical connection terminals to be inserted into an outlet, a fall prevention member provided together with the pair of electrical connection terminals, and a first position where the fall prevention member protrudes from the outer shape of the electrical connection terminal, A switching member at a second position housed within the outer shape of the electrical connection terminal; a first support body to which the pair of electrical connection terminals is attached; and a second support body to which the switching member is attached, By moving the second support relative to the first support, the fall prevention member is moved to the first position and the second position.
It is an electrical connector that is detachably attached to an outlet by being configured to be switchable to a position, and is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the first support and the second support at a required angle. An electrical connector characterized by. 2. A cover member having an insulator made of a material incidental to the first support body to which the pair of electrical connection terminals are attached is provided, and the cover member is provided between the outlet and the electrical connector by the locking mechanism. 2. A tracking phenomenon preventing function is provided, which can hold dust and prevent dust from accumulating in the pair of electrical connection terminals.
The electrical connection tool described in.