JP3057426U - Combination of inlet and outlet - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a combination of an inlet and an outlet provided with a lock member for preventing an outlet from easily coming out of an inlet for electrical connection. A combination of an inlet and an outlet for preventing the outlet from unexpectedly coming out of the inlet when the outlet is connected to the inlet fixed to the frame, wherein the inlet, the outlet or the frame is provided with a protruding portion, A combination of an inlet and an outlet, characterized in that one end of a lock member for preventing a stopper is pivotally attached to the projecting portion, and the other end of the lock member is hooked on the outlet or the inlet.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to the combination of an outlet, plug or connector for electrical connection with an inlet or socket, and more particularly to the combination of an outlet and an inlet with a safety lock.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Until now, outlets or plugs or connectors have only been inserted into inlets or sockets, usually fixed to the frame of electrical equipment by a pair of flathead screws, etc., so that the outlet does not come out of the inlet during energization. There was no special means to prevent slippage. For this reason, in order to prevent the two from coming off, generally, the cord should not be subjected to artificial tensile force as much as possible, such as by laying the cord along the wall surface or attaching the cord that crawls on the floor surface with adhesive tape. Was. However, even then, the slack in the cord or the poor adhesion of the tape causes the cord used in personal computers, word processors and other OA equipment to become entangled with the foot of pedestrians, causing the outlet to suddenly fall out of the inlet. In some cases, the data entered so far disappeared. Similar concerns also arise in medical settings that operate x-rays, electrosurgical units, cardiopulmonary bypass and other medical devices, and are particularly serious in this case, as they can be life-threatening. This is also important for various types of experimental equipment in research laboratories and the like, and this is particularly the case when the outlet comes out of the inlet when using various household electrical appliances such as TVs, videos, and vacuum cleaners, so that power is cut off. What is often confused is what many people are experiencing everyday.

In order to solve such a drawback, the applicant of the present application has previously described a locking member for preventing the outlet 2 from coming out of the inlet 1 unexpectedly when the outlet 2 is connected to the inlet 1 as shown in FIG. 3. An outlet integrally formed by a wire-like spring member, one end of which is swingably engaged with one of the inlet and the outlet, and the other end of which is elastically engaged with the other of the inlet or the outlet. The lock member 3 for use has been disclosed (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-162968). This lock member has completely eliminated the accident that the engagement between the inlet and outlet was suddenly disengaged.

However, such an outlet lock member 3 is usually mounted swingably on a tightening screw 4 for screwing the inlet 1 or the outlet 2 to a frame or the like.

However, recent remarkable developments in assembling techniques have eliminated the step of fixing an inlet or the like to a frame using a tightening screw or the like. Instead, as shown in FIG. For example, a pair of tapered projections 5 is provided on the opposing wall surface, and this inlet 1 is positioned at the inlet mounting opening 7 of the frame 6, and the inlet is inserted until the tops of the pair of tapered projections 5 bite into the opening 7. The inlet 1 is pressed in the direction of arrow 8 and pushed into the opening 7 to be elastically fitted therein, so that the inlet 1 can be easily and quickly attached to the frame 6 without using a tightening screw.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 In such a recent assembling procedure, since the fixing screw 4 for fixing shown in FIG. 8 is not required to fix the inlet 1 to the frame 6, a member for swingably mounting the lock member 3 cannot be provided. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide means for easily attaching the lock member 3 without such a fixing screw.

Further, in the conventional lock member 3 as shown in FIG. 8, it is objectively confirmed whether or not the lock member 3 is completely set at an appropriate engagement position of the inlet or the outlet. As a result, it was necessary for the operator to visually and / or tactually confirm whether or not the lock member 3 was completely and elastically fitted to the counterpart. When the lock member having elasticity is engaged in an incomplete position, for example, when the operator is in a hurry, the elasticity of the lock member often causes the lock member to become inadvertently without the knowledge of the operator. This is because there is a fear that an accident may occur in which the inlet and the outlet are disengaged from each other due to the engagement state.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides means for swingably mounting a safety lock member on either the inlet or the outlet or near an opening of a frame for mounting the inlet. Things.

Further, a projection is provided on the projecting means for swingably mounting the safety lock member, whereby the safety lock member is elastically engaged with an appropriate engagement position of the inlet or the outlet. Once the inlet and outlet are set to the appropriate bite position, they can be released unless a predetermined force is applied to release the bite. No lock means is provided for the safety lock member.

[0010]

[Action]

 After the inlet and outlet are plugged and engaged, the safety lock member engages the inlet, outlet or frame to ensure that the outlet and inlet are both plugged and engaged. To separate the two, remove the safety lock and then pull out the outlet from the inlet. Further, the locking means for the safety lock member allows the operator to objectively confirm whether or not the safety lock member has moved to the proper engagement position. After moving to the proper engagement position, the locking means for the safety lock member provides the function of securely holding the safety lock member in that position unless a special external force is applied.

[0011]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 shows an inlet 10 according to the present invention. An outlet (not shown) is inserted into this inlet. Here, the “inlet” includes a female socket and a male socket, and the “outlet” inserted into the inlet includes a male plug or a male connector and a male plug or a female connector. Shall be considered. The inlet 10 has a flat surface portion 12 having a surface larger than the surface of the inlet mounting opening 7 provided in the frame 6 or the like as shown in FIG. 9, and has a predetermined length hanging therefrom. A bottom wall portion 14 having a recess 16 therein for receiving an outlet similar to outlet 2 shown in FIG. 8 and having various known forms; And a plug connection portion or pin 18 having one end fixed to the bottom of the wall portion 14. The inlet 10 itself can be formed of an insulating synthetic resin. On the opposite side surface of the wall portion 14, there is provided a known tapered projection (not shown) as shown by reference numeral 5 in FIG. Thus, the inlet 10 can be attached to the socket attachment opening with one touch. Such an inlet 10 itself is known to those skilled in the art.

In the present invention, a pair of protrusions 20 are provided on the outer surface of the recess 16 of the flat surface portion 12. The projecting portion 20 has a small hole 22 at a substantially central portion thereof. The protruding portion 20 can be formed integrally with the inlet 10, can be joined thereto with an adhesive or the like, or can have a wall portion provided on an opening (not shown) provided in the flat surface portion 12. It is also possible to push it in from the 14 side and fix it in the position as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, on the inner surface of the projecting portion 20 provided with the small hole 22, a slightly raised raised portion 24 is provided around the small hole 22. It is provided. As is clearly shown in FIG. 4, the raised portion 24 is generally provided around the center of the small hole 22 in a direction approximately from 0 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Preferably, the raised portion 24 is provided at 3 o'clock. The height is increased as approaching the direction, and the height suddenly becomes zero at approximately 3 o'clock. The position of the raised portion 24 starts at the 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock position and ends at the 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock position, depending on the thickness of the line of the safety lock member (see reference numeral 3 in Fig. 8) to be used. It will be understood that there are times. Further, depending on the form of the outlet or inlet, the ridge may be provided in such a manner that it gradually rises from the 6 o'clock direction to the 3 o'clock direction. Further, depending on the form of the safety lock member, the raised portion 24 can be provided on the outer surface of the protruding portion 20.

The height of the raised portion 24 is changed in this way so that the user can objectively sense the position of the safety lock member. That is, when the safety lock member is rotated around the small hole 22 after the inlet and the outlet are inserted into and engaged with each other, the safety lock member gradually moves up the protruding portion 24 and moves. When the member is latched in the predetermined locking position or when the member is latched, the member is suddenly separated from the raised portion 24. Further, for this reason, in order to release the safety lock member once locked in the lock position, the operator must intentionally move the safety lock member to the above-mentioned raised portion 24. For this reason, the raised portion 24 provides a locking means for the safety locking member.

The protruding portion 24 providing the locking means can be further formed by, for example, obliquely cutting off the inner wall surface of the protruding portion 20 as shown in FIG. That is, from the small hole 22 on the wall surface of the projecting portion 20 to the outer edge of the projecting portion 20, in FIG. 4, from the 0 o'clock position to the 3 o'clock position, as shown by reference numeral 26 in FIG. Shave it in a fan shape. In this case, the shaving amount decreases from 0 o'clock to 3 o'clock and suddenly increases at the 3 o'clock position.

Of course, the raised portion 24 that provides the locking means also provides an excellent effect in a case where it has a simple hemispherical shape in addition to such a shape.

Such a raised portion 24 can be provided only on one side of the pair of projecting portions 20, but is preferably provided on both sides. This is because the movement of the safety lock member can be achieved in a more stable state on both the left and right sides.

The small hole 22 of the projection 20 is pivotally connected to one end of a safety locking means which is preferably made of a resilient member and disclosed by the same applicant. An example of this safety locking means is indicated by reference numeral 3 in FIG. 8, but it is to be noted that the form of the locking means can be appropriately changed depending on the shape and dimensions of the outlet used, and other factors. It is easily understood by traders.

Although not shown, a screw receiving hole is provided in the flat surface portion 12 of the inlet 10 between the protrusion 20 and the recess 16 or in the outer portion of the protrusion 20 as necessary. You can do it. Thereby, the inlet can be more completely fixed to the frame or the like via the screw.

When the present invention is carried out, first, the inlet 10 of the present invention is positioned in the inlet mounting opening prepared in advance, and a tapered protrusion (not shown in FIG. 9) of the inlet 10 is provided. ) Is pushed into the opening until it elastically fits into the opening, and is fixed therein as shown in FIG. At this position, the pin 18 of the inlet 10 is in a state of being energized.

Next, for example, one end of a lock member indicated by reference numeral 3 in FIG. 8 is fitted into a small hole 22 provided in the protrusion 20 of the inlet 10 fixed in the inlet mounting opening of the frame. When the lock member is properly fitted in the small hole 22, the lock member is swung upward in the small hole 22 to, for example, the position of 0 o'clock in FIG. 4, and the surface of the recess 16 is completely opened. State. Next, for example, an outlet similar to the outlet 2 shown in FIG. 8 is inserted into the recess 16 of the inlet 10.

After the outlet is properly fitted to the inlet 10, the safety lock member is swung clockwise in the small hole 22, for example, at 3 o'clock in FIG. The safety lock member starts to rise on the slope of the raised portion 24 and suddenly falls from the raised portion 24 to the inner surface of the protruding portion 20 at the point where the raised portion 24 disappears, for example, at 3 o'clock in FIG. At this time, the safety lock member is locked at a predetermined portion of the inlet or the outlet. Therefore, the operator can objectively confirm that the safety lock member is engaged with the appropriate latching position by rotating the safety lock member to a position where the safety lock member is disengaged from the raised portion 24. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the position or shape of the raised portion 24 varies depending on the shape of the safety lock member, the position of the outlet or inlet, and the like.

In order to release the engagement between the inlet and the outlet, first, it is necessary to release the safety lock member from the raised portion 24 which holds the safety lock member in a locked state. For this purpose, it is necessary to move the safety lock member above the raised portion 24. That is, the pair of legs of the safety lock member received in the small holes 22 of the protrusion 20 are pressed so as to approach each other, and at the same time, the safety lock member is separated from the inlet or outlet with which it is engaged. To place the safety lock member on the raised portion 24. As a result, the locked state of the safety lock member is released. Next, the safety lock member is moved, for example, from the 3 o'clock position to the 0 o'clock position in FIG. After the safety lock has moved completely from the front of the recess 16 in the inlet 10, the outlet is removed from the inlet. Thus, the engagement between the two can be released.

The operation of latching and releasing the safety lock member having the slope 26 as shown in FIG. 5 is substantially the same as that of the raised portion 24 of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows another inlet 30 of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that a flat surface portion 36 fixing a protruding portion 32 having a small hole 34 in the center has a stepped shape. In this embodiment, the height of the protruding portion 32 protruding from the frame (see the frame 6 in FIG. 9) located on the back side of the flat surface portion 36 can be made lower than in FIG.

As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 6, the positions of the small holes 22 and 34 of the projections 20 and 32 for receiving one end of the safety lock member swing the safety lock member between the operation position and the non-operation position. Since it is necessary to perform a dynamic movement, it is positioned so as to protrude from the frame surface.

FIG. 7 is a view in which, when the inlet mounting opening is preferably formed in the frame 40 by punching and molding, the pair of folded rising portions 42 are punched out, and then the portion is raised. A small hole 44 for receiving one end of the lock member is provided substantially at the center of the rising portion 42. In this case, after the inlet mounting opening is punched and formed, the inlet 46 obtained by removing the protruding portion 20 from the inlet 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on the inlet mounting opening by the above-described procedure. Thereafter, the safety lock member is fitted into the small hole 44 of the rising portion 42, and the outlet can be mounted and locked in the same manner as described above.

In the figures, the small holes 22, 34, 44 provided in each of the projections 20, 32, 42 have a circular cross section, but this shape may be elliptical. Further, in order to facilitate the insertion of the lock member, it may be formed in a hook-like groove shape communicating with the outer edge of the protruding portion or the folded up portion. In this case, when the lock member is fitted into the hole, it is not necessary to press the end of the lock member inward, and simply move the end of the lock member along the groove. It can be easily fitted.

In the above description, the protrusions 20 and 32 for receiving one end of the safety lock member are provided for the inlets 10 and 30. However, this is not an indispensable requirement. A member similar to the protruding portion or the folded-up rising portion or simply a built-up portion is provided on the outlet side, and one end of the safety lock member is pivotally connected to the outlet, and a small portion of the protruding portion or the folded-up rising portion on the inlet side is provided. The holes 22, 34, and 44 are communicated with the protruding portions 20, 32 or the outer edge of the folded rising portion 42 to form a hook-shaped groove, and the safety lock member is fitted into the hook-shaped groove of the inlet or the frame. And the same effect can be obtained.

Of course, even in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, these protrusions 32 and 42 are provided with the raised portions 24 or the inclined surfaces 26 as shown in FIGS. In view of work safety, in many cases the ridges or slopes will be provided as in the embodiment of FIG.

[0031]

[Effect of the invention]

 According to the present invention, after the outlet is connected to the inlet, only the locking member is locked to prevent the two from being unexpectedly separated from each other, so that they are used in personal computers, word processors and other OA equipment, for example. This prevents accidents in which the cord is entangled with the foot of the pedestrian, the outlet comes out of the inlet, and the data entered so far disappears. In addition, disconnection accidents due to separation of outlets from inlets at medical sites operating X-rays, electric scalpels, cardiopulmonary bypass, and other medical devices, and similar accidents in various types of experimental equipment at research laboratories, etc. have been completely completed. Can be prevented. In addition, similar accidents in homes such as televisions, videos and vacuum cleaners can be prevented as well.

Further, since the lock member of the present invention is constituted by a spring member, when the outlet is pulled by a very strong force, the outlet is pulled out from the inlet before the cord is cut. The outlet will not be damaged.

In one example of the present invention, since the safety lock member of the elastic fitting type is pivotally mounted on the protrusion provided on the inlet or the socket itself, the screw means for receiving the safety lock member is provided. And the handling is extremely easy.

Furthermore, since the folded up portion for holding the lock member can be formed at the same time when the inlet mounting opening is punched and formed in the inlet mounting frame, the forming operation is easy.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the locking means for the safety lock member is provided around the small hole of the protruding portion, so that the safety lock member is forgotten to be locked, is insufficiently locked, or is temporarily locked. Unintentional release of the safety lock member can be completely prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inlet showing an embodiment in which a protrusion is provided on the inlet itself.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the inlet shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the inlet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially omitted view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a portion indicated by a broken circle V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an inlet showing another embodiment in which a protrusion is provided on the inlet itself.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a frame and an inlet showing an embodiment in which a protrusion is provided on the frame itself.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a combination of an inlet and an outlet with a lock for preventing slippage disclosed by the same applicant as above.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a known mode in which an inlet is attached to an inlet mounting opening of a frame with one touch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inlet 12 Flat surface part 14 Wall part 16 Indentation 18 Pin 20 Projection part 22 Small hole 24 Ridge 26 Slope 30 Inlet 32 Projection part 34 Small hole 36 Flat surface part 40 Frame 42 Folding part 44 Small hole 46 Inlet

Claims (8)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A combination of an inlet and an outlet for preventing the outlet from coming out of the inlet when the outlet is connected to the inlet fixed to the frame, wherein the protrusion is provided on the inlet, the outlet or the frame. A small hole is provided in the projecting portion, and one end of a safety lock member for preventing the falling-off is pivotally connected to the small hole, and the other end of the lock member is hooked to an outlet or an inlet. Combination of inlet and outlet. 2. A combination of an inlet and an outlet according to claim 1, wherein a lock means for a safety lock member is provided around the small hole. 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the locking means is a raised portion. 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the raised portion has a taper. 5. The combination of claim 2, wherein the locking means is a ramp 26. 6. The combination of an inlet and an outlet according to claim 2, wherein the locking means has a hemispherical shape. 7. A combination of an inlet and an outlet for preventing the outlet from unexpectedly coming out of the inlet when the outlet is connected to the inlet fixed to the frame, wherein the outlet is prevented from coming out of a small hole provided in the outlet. A combination of an inlet and an outlet, wherein one end of a lock member for prevention is pivotally mounted, and the other end of the lock member is hooked to an outlet, an inlet or a frame. 8. The combination of an inlet and an outlet according to claim 1, wherein the small hole has a groove shape extending to the outer edge of the protrusion.