JP2006236677A - Outlet cover device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outlet cover device to automatically close a cover when a plug is removed from the outlet. <P>SOLUTION: The cover device comprises a base plate having a hole receiving an outlet attached on a wall and fixed to the wall in a state that the outlet is received into the hole; a cover attached to the base plate with a hinge to cover the surface of the outlet by being closed so as to freely be openable and closable; a spring energizing the cover in a closing direction; a locking means automatically locking the cover into the base plate when the cover is closed by the energized power from the spring; and an operation means releasing the locking of the cover caused by the locking means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an outlet cover device.

  An unused outlet has a plug outlet exposed. In this way, if the plug outlet of the outlet is left exposed, an infant or the like may insert a conductor such as a metal piece into the plug outlet and may cause an electric shock or short circuit. When not in use, dust may adhere to the plug insertion port and cause contact failure during use.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, an outlet that attaches one side of the cover to the periphery of the plug insertion port of the outlet body by a hinge and detachably locks the other side of the cover to the outlet body by a locking means. Is provided (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-81474 (see FIG. 2)

In the outlet disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the upper edge of the cover is attached by a hinge, the cover is closed by its own weight. However, since the locking means is set to a locking force that cannot be opened unless the force is equivalent to that of an adult, the cover cannot be locked unless the cover is pushed in with a considerable force. If the cover is forgotten to be locked, the cover is easily opened by an infant or the like.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an outlet cover device in which a cover is automatically closed when a plug is removed from an outlet.

  The outlet cover device according to claim 1 has a hole for receiving an outlet attached to a wall, and a base plate fixed to the wall in a state where the outlet is received in the hole, and the base plate can be opened and closed by a hinge. And a cover that covers the surface of the outlet when closed, and a spring that biases the cover in the closing direction, and the cover is automatically closed when the cover is closed by the biasing force of the spring. And an operating portion for releasing the locking of the cover by the locking means. In this case, the operation unit may be a reciprocating linear operation or a reciprocating rotation operation about a predetermined axis.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the outlet cover device according to the first aspect, wherein the operation portion is provided at two locations, and the locking means is used when the two operation portions are operated at the same time. The cover is configured so as to be unlocked. There may be two or more operation parts, but when three or more operation parts are provided, the operability deteriorates, so two operation parts are preferable.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the outlet cover device according to the second aspect, wherein the operation portions provided at the two locations are located on a side portion opposite to the cover. In this case, in the case where two or more outlet outlets are provided, it is preferable that two operation parts are provided apart in the direction in which the outlets are arranged.

  According to the invention of claim 1, when the plug is removed from the outlet, the cover is automatically closed and locked to the base plate by the biasing force of the spring, so that the cover is not forgotten to be locked, Safety can be ensured.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cover cannot be opened unless the two operation portions are operated, so that there is no possibility that the cover is opened by an infant or the like.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the two operation portions are located further apart, there is no further possibility that the cover is opened by an infant or the like.

  1 is a perspective view showing an outlet cover device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cover device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the hinge in the cover device shown in FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover is opened, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover device is attached to the wall, FIGS. These are operation | movement diagrams of the latching means in the cover apparatus shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outlet cover device 1 includes a base plate 10 fixed to the wall so as to expose the surface portion 2 a of the outlet 2 attached to the wall, and a cover 20 that covers the surface of the base plate 10. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base plate 10 has a rectangular hole 11 for exposing the surface portion 2 a of the outlet 2 at the center. Moreover, the base plate 10 has the hinge accommodating part 12 in one side edge. The base plate 10 is formed with a rectangular hole 14 for receiving a screw insertion hole 13 and a claw of an operation portion of a locking means described later at both upper and lower edges. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a stepped portion 14 a that engages with a claw of the operation portion is formed on the inner back side surface of the hole 14.

The cover 20 includes a rectangular dish-shaped surface plate 21 that opens toward the back surface side, and a lid 22 that covers the opening of the surface plate 21.
The surface plate 21 has a notch 23 on one side wall for accommodating the leaf portion of the hinge. Moreover, the surface plate 21 has a notch 24 in the upper and lower end walls for accommodating an operation portion of a locking means described later. Further, a circular hole 26 is formed in the center of the surface plate 21 to accommodate the decorative plate 25 on which characters and the like are displayed. The decorative plate 25 has a circular shape and has a flange 25a on the periphery. The decorative plate 25 is inserted into the hole 26 from the back side of the surface plate 21. In a state where the decorative plate 25 is inserted into the hole 26, the flange 25 a of the decorative plate 25 is brought into contact with the edge back side portion of the circular hole 26 of the surface plate 21. Since the lid 22 is attached to the back side of the surface plate 21, the flange 25 a of the decorative plate 25 is held while being sandwiched between the surface plate 21 and the lid 22. In this way, the decorative plate 25 provided on the surface plate 21 can be rotated by a finger.
On the other hand, the lid 22 has a notch 28 for accommodating the hinge 27 on one side. Further, the lid 22 has rectangular holes 29 in the upper and lower end portions for accommodating the claws of the operation portion of the locking means described later. Further, a step portion 30 is formed in the center portion of the lid 22 such that the front surface side (surface plate 21 side) is convex and the back surface side is concave. Further, screw insertion holes 31 used for screwing the lid 22 to the surface plate 21 are formed at the four corners of the lid 22.

The hinge 27 is composed of hinge pieces 32 and 33. The central hinge piece 32 is attached to the base plate 10 side. The hinge piece 32 includes a leaf 32a screwed to the base plate 10 and a knuckle 32b formed integrally with the leaf 32a. The other hinge piece 33 is attached to the cover 20 side. The hinge piece 33 includes a leaf 33a screwed to the surface plate 21 and a knuckle 33b formed integrally with the leaf 33a. Also, a shaft 34 that fits inside the knuckle 32b is attached to one end of the knuckle 33b of the hinge piece 33.
The knuckle 32b in the one hinge piece 32 is provided with a pin 35 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction thereof. The pin 35 is provided through the knuckle 32b in the radial direction. On the other hand, the shaft 34 is formed with a slot 36 as shown in FIG. 3, and a pin 37 is provided so as to cross the slot in the radial direction. Each end of a coil spring 38 is hung on the pins 35 and 37. In this case, the coil spring 38 is mounted in a state where tension is applied in a direction in which the cover 20 is closed with respect to the base plate 10. That is, the coil spring 38 is hung on the pins 35 and 37 in a twisted state.
Instead of the coil spring 38, a torsion spring may be provided. In short, any type of biasing means may be used as long as the cover 20 biases the cover 20 in the closing direction when the cover 20 is in the open state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking means 39 includes a push button 40 as an operation unit, and a spring 41 that biases the push button.
As shown in FIG. 5, the push button 40 includes a claw 42 on the back surface. The base portion 40 a of the push button 40 is held in a state of being sandwiched between the back surface of the front plate 21 and the surface of the lid 22. The push button 40 is attached to the cover 20 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A spring 41 is interposed between the base portion 40a and the receiving portion 21d protruding from the back surface of the front plate 21. The push button 40 is urged toward the outside of the cover 20 by a spring 41. Further, the claw 42 of the push button 40 is inserted through the hole 29 of the lid 22 and protrudes from the back surface of the lid 22. When the cover 20 is closed (closed), the claw 42 enters the hole 14 of the base plate 10 and can be engaged with the stepped portion 14a. An inclined portion 42 a is formed at the tip of the claw 42 as shown in FIG. 6C. When the inclined portion 42 a hits the peripheral edge of the hole 14 of the base plate 10, the claw 42 and the push button 40 are subjected to the urging force of the spring 41. The claws 42 move against the inside of the cover 20, and the claw 42 enters the hole 14 as the cover 20 is pushed. When the cover 20 is further pushed in this state, the claw 42 reaches the step portion 14 a and is engaged with the step portion 14 a by the urging force of the spring 41.
The above locking means 39 is assembled to the lid 22 before the lid 22 is screwed to the surface plate 21.
It should be noted that the push button 40 and the claw 42 may be configured by different members.

Next, a method for attaching and using the cover device 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the cover device 1, with the cover 20 opened against the urging force of the coil spring 38, the hole 11 of the base plate 10 is fitted to the surface portion 2 a of the outlet 2, and the base plate 10 It is attached to the wall 3 by tightening the screw 43 inserted through the hole 13.
Then, after the cover device 1 is attached to the wall, when the hand is released from the cover 20, the cover 20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow with respect to the base plate 10 by the urging force of the coil spring 38, as shown in FIG. The claw 42 of the locking means 39 is automatically engaged with the step 14 a of the hole 14 of the base plate 10.

When the outlet 2 is used, the push button 40 is pushed toward the inside of the cover 20 against the urging force of the spring 41 from the state of FIG. 6 (A), and the nail as shown in FIG. 6 (B). 42 is detached from the step 14 a of the hole 14 of the base plate 10, and the cover 20 is pulled away from the base plate 10. Then, the cover 20 is opened against the urging force of the coil spring 38 of the hinge 27.
At this time, the free end portion of the cover 20 and the base plate 10 can be easily opened so that the two push buttons 40, 40 are respectively put on the thumb and the middle finger or the ring finger and the buttons are pressed. It is preferable to form a step portion between the cover 20 and the cover 20 so that an index finger is hung on the back surface of the step portion. Alternatively, it is preferable to provide knurled eyes (non-slip) on a part of the side wall on the free end side of the cover 20.
In this state, a plug (not shown) is inserted into the plug insertion port of the outlet 22. In the state in which the plug is inserted, the cover 20 is prevented from being blocked by the plug or the cord connected to the plug, so the cover 20 is not blocked.

  On the other hand, when the plug is pulled out from the plug insertion port, the cover 20 is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the coil spring 38 of the hinge 27, and as shown in FIG. 42a contacts the peripheral edge of the hole 14 of the base plate 10, and further enters the hole 14, and engages with the step portion 14a as shown in FIG. 6 (A).

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be variously deformed in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where two push buttons 40 are provided has been described, but one may be provided. A lever or other operation unit may be provided in place of the push button 40, one may be the push button 40, and the other may be an operation unit other than the push button, such as a lever. The installation location in this case is preferably provided with two operation portions at a position where the infant cannot easily operate with one hand, for example, at a distance such that the infant cannot operate simultaneously with one hand. Moreover, it is preferable that the structure of the operation part is a structure that cannot be operated simultaneously.

It is a perspective view which shows the outlet socket apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of a cover apparatus. It is a perspective view which notches and shows a part of hinge in a cover apparatus. The perspective view which shows the state by which the cover was open | released FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 1, showing a state where the cover device is attached to the wall. It is an operation | movement figure of the latching means in a cover apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cover apparatus 2 Outlet 3 Wall 10 Base plate 11 Hole 14 Hole 14a Step part 20 Cover 21 Surface plate 22 Lid 27 Hinge 38 Coil spring 39 Locking means 40 Push button (operation part)
41 Spring 42 Claw

Claims (3)

  A base plate fixed to the wall in a state where the outlet is received in the hole, and the outlet is attached to the base plate by a hinge so as to be openable and closable; And a cover for urging the cover in the closing direction, and a locking means for automatically locking the cover to the base plate when the cover is closed by the urging force of the spring. And an operation unit for releasing the locking of the cover by the locking means.   The operation portion is provided at two places, and the two engagement portions are configured so that the cover is unlocked by the locking means when operated at the same time. The outlet cover device according to claim 1.   The outlet cover device according to claim 2, wherein the operation portions provided at the two positions are located on a side portion opposite to the cover.

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