JP3719260B2 - AC adapter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an AC adapter, and more particularly to an AC adapter having a retractable plug.

  For example, there are various AC adapters such as a portable AC adapter for charging a portable telephone and an AC adapter for transforming an AC power source into a working voltage or converting it to a DC power source. In order to reduce the size and improve the portability of these AC adapters, a configuration in which the plug can be accommodated by rotating by 90 ° with respect to the case (a retractable configuration) is performed.

  An example of a conventional adapter will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). FIG. 9A is a schematic front view of the AC adapter, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the AC adapter taken along the line aa in FIG. 9A.

  The AC adapter 1 is provided with a case 2 made of an insulating resin and a plug 3. The plug 3 includes a pair of blades 4a and 4b formed from a conductive metal material, and a holding portion 5 formed integrally by molding the end portions of the blades 4a and 4b using a resin material. Has been. In the case 2, a circuit board (not shown) for converting AC power into DC power is arranged.

  A rotating shaft 6 extends from the holding portion 5 of the AC plug 3, while a bearing portion 7 that supports the rotating shaft 6 is provided inside the case 2. The plug 3 is housed in the case 2 around the rotary shaft 6 (shown by the middle chain line in FIG. 9A), and protrudes from the case 2 to connect to a power source (not shown) (FIG. 9). (A) (indicated by a solid line) is provided so as to be rotatable by 90 ° in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Note that contact portions of blades 4a and 4b connected to a power source are provided on the end surface of the holding portion 5 of the AC plug 3, and contacts are provided on the circuit board in the case 2, and contact the contact portions when the plug 3 rotates. Although it is configured to be elastically contactable with the child, illustration and description are omitted here.

  In the AC adapter 1 described above, the blades 4a and 4b of the plug 3 are arranged with the wide portions of the blades 4a and 4b facing each other with the axis of the rotary shaft 6 interposed therebetween.

The AC adapter 1 that can accommodate the plug 3 by rotating the plug 3 is a state in which the plug 3 is raised from the case 2 and rotated by 90 ° (the raised state), for example, a fitting structure including a projection and a hole (not shown) (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-224717

  However, in the conventional AC adapter, since the blade of the plug and the holding portion are integrated, it is necessary to secure a space corresponding to the plug in the case in which the plug is accommodated in the case. In other words, this is a major obstacle to reducing the size of the AC adapter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can reduce the size of a case that accommodates a plug, and more accurately reduce the thickness in a direction in which a pair of blades of the accommodated plug face each other. The purpose is to provide an adapter.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention,
A case in which a bearing portion is formed;
A plug formed of two holding part halves each holding one blade, and having a two-body structure in which the two holding part halves engage with each other so as to be separated and close to each other;
The two holding part halves are separated from each other by pulling out the blade from the case, and the two holding part halves are brought close to or in close contact with each other by accommodating the blade in the case. A separation distance adjustment mechanism for adjusting the proximity and separation movement of the holding part half body;
Ri Na provided with first and second rotary shaft supported in said bearing portion is provided on the plug, the plug is rotated 90 ° around the rotation axis from the state drawn from the case An AC adapter configured to be housed in the case ,
The first rotation shaft is provided in one holding part half,
The second rotating shaft is provided on a side opposite to the side on which the first rotating shaft of the one holding portion half is provided, and an outer surface that is a part of the outer surface of the second rotating shaft is formed. And a rotary shaft half that is provided on the other holding portion half and has an outer surface that is a part of the outer surface of the second rotary shaft,
The distance adjusting mechanism, and a protrusion extending in the side wall of said other holder half, constituted by a substantially L-shaped guide groove formed in the vicinity of the bearing portion of the case, the blade By operating, the projection moves as guided by the substantially L-shaped guide groove so that the other holding half is separated from, close to, or closely contacts with the one holding half. Configure
In the state where the blade is housed in the case, the second rotating shaft is formed only by the outer surface formed on the rotating shaft half provided in the one holding portion half, and the blade is The other holding part half moves by being pulled out of the case, and is provided on the outer surface formed on the rotating shaft half provided on the one holding part half and the other holding part half. The outer surface formed on the rotating shaft half is flush with the outer surface, and the second rotating shaft is formed by the two rotating shaft halves.

  According to the present invention, the case can be made thinner by reducing the width dimension of the case in the blade separation direction as compared with the integrated conventional plug.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A preferred embodiment (hereinafter referred to as this embodiment) of an AC adapter according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  An AC adapter according to a first example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the AC adapter 10 according to the first example of the present embodiment is made of, for example, an insulating resin in which a pair of conductive metal blades 12a and 12b that are paired in combination is extended. A plug 16 composed of two holding part halves 14a and 14b, a circuit board 18 for converting AC power into DC power, and upper and lower halves 20a made of, for example, insulating resin for accommodating the plug 16 and circuit board 18 , 20b. Reference numeral 24 denotes a click feeling imparting member made of, for example, a synthetic resin that is used by being engaged with the plug 16.

  The holding part half body 14a extends in a circular arc shape on one side of the rectangular part 26, a rectangular part 26 formed in a stepped shape, a plate-like part 28 provided apart from the rectangular part 26, and the rectangular part 26. A tongue piece 30. A contact portion 32 made of a rod-like conductive metal is provided on one side of the rectangular portion 26. The holding | maintenance part half body 14b has the cylindrical part 36 by which the recessed part 34 was formed in the step shape on one side. A rotating shaft 38 extends on one side perpendicular to the side where the concave portion 34 of the cylindrical portion 36 is formed, and a contact portion 40 made of a rod-like conductive metal is provided on the rotating shaft 38, while the contact portion 40 is A rotating shaft 42 is also provided on one side opposite to the provided side. The rotation shaft 42 is provided with a plurality of irregularities 42a on the outer periphery.

  The rectangular part 26 and the recessed part 34 are fitted together, and the two holding part halves 14a and 14b are integrated to form the plug 16. In the integrated state, an arc-shaped gap (groove portion) 72 is formed between the tongue piece portion 30 and the columnar portion 36 (see FIG. 2). The two holding part halves 14a and 14b are configured to be separable in the X1-X2 direction in FIG. On the circuit board 18, a pair of conductive metal contacts 44a and 44b whose ends are bent in a U-shape are erected in opposition.

  The case upper half 20a is provided with a pair of vertical wall portions 46a and 48a for accommodating the plug 16, and one end of the space A between the vertical wall portions 46a and 48a is an opening formed on one side surface. Communicate with B. The wall portions 46a and 48a are provided with two arch-shaped half bearing portions 50a and 52a. Reference numerals 54a and 56a denote cylindrical portions having holes for inserting the locking members.

  The case lower half 20b substantially corresponds to the case upper half 20a, and is provided with a pair of vertical wall portions 46b and 48b having two bearing portion halves 50b and 52b and cylindrical portions 54b and 56b. However, the case lower half 20b is formed with an opening E communicating with the space D between the walls on the lower surface as well as the opening C on the side surface. A protrusion 60 is provided by connecting the vertical wall 48 b and the side surface 58.

  In a state where the AC adapter 10 is assembled, the bearing part half body 50a and the bearing part half body 50b, and the bearing part half body 52a and the bearing part half body 52b form bearing parts, respectively. A protrusion (shown by hatching in FIG. 1) 62 is formed on the side surface of the bearing half body 50b in the Y direction in FIG. Details of the protrusion 62 will be described later.

  In the click feeling imparting member 24, a seat portion 64 and a pair of elastic claws 66 a and 66 b facing each other with the seat portion 64 interposed therebetween are integrated at a base portion 68, and an L-shaped engagement is provided on the opposite side of the base portion 68. A stop 70 is provided.

  To assemble the AC adapter 10 having the above components, first, the circuit board 18 is attached to the case lower half 20b. Next, the two holding part halves 14a and 14b are fitted and integrated. Next, the click feeling imparting member 24 is attached to the rotating shaft 42.

  At this time, the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 42 abuts on the seat portion 64 and the concave portions are locked by the claws of the elastic claws 66a and 66b. Then, the rotary shaft 42 is positioned in the bearing half 52b and the rotary shaft 38 is positioned in the bearing half 50b, and the locking portion 70 is fitted in the projection 60, so that the plug 16 and the click feeling imparting member 24 are positioned. Attach to the lower half of the case.

  Further, the upper case half 20a is placed over the lower case half 20b while positioning the corresponding portion with the lower case half 20b. Finally, a locking member (not shown) such as a screw is inserted into and fixed to the holes of the cylindrical portions 54a and 54b, 56a and 56b, whereby the AC adapter 10 is completed.

  Here, the protrusion 62 of the bearing half 50b will be described with reference to FIG. The inner circumference (indicated by reference numeral 62a) of the protrusion 62 is formed in an arc shape substantially flush with the bearing half 50b. On the other hand, the outer periphery of the ridge 62 is circular (indicated by reference numeral 62b) in parallel with the inner peripheral bearing surface of the bearing half 50b from the horizontal plane to an angle 90 ° below. Although formed, the tip is formed in a straight line (indicated by reference numeral 62c), and the tip is refracted in an obtuse angle (indicated by reference numeral 62d), and is gradually separated from the bearing surface.

The plug 16 in which the two holding portion halves 14a and 14b are integrated from above the case lower half 20b is positioned with respect to the protruding portion 62, and between the tongue piece 30 and the cylindrical portion 36. The formed gap (groove) 72 is engaged. Then, the plug 16 is accommodated in the lower case half body 20b by rotating the plug 16 by 90 ° in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 and arranging the plug 16 in the X1-X2 direction. Although details will be described later, in the completed state of the AC adapter 10, the tongue 16 is moved while being guided by the outer periphery of the protrusion by rotating the plug 16 further 90 degrees downward. The blades 12 a and 12 b are pulled out from the opening E of the case 22.
Next, the operation of the plug 16 of the AC adapter 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), and 4 (b). 4 (a) corresponds to FIG. 3 (a), and FIG. 4 (b) corresponds to FIG. 3 (b). In FIG. 3, the holding portion half 14a holding the blade 12a and Only the ridges are taken out and the relationship between them is schematically shown.

  When the AC adapter 10 is not used, the plug 16 is accommodated in the case 22 as shown in FIG. This facilitates carrying the AC adapter 10 and the like. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the tongue piece 30 is engaged with the boundary portion between the arc-shaped portion 62b of the ridge portion and the horizontal straight portion 62c. In the holding part halves 14a and 14b, the rectangular part 26 enters the innermost part of the recess 34, and the two holding part halves 14a and 14b are in close contact with each other. The thickness dimension H1 of the case 22 is set according to the spacing L1 between the blades 12a and 12b in this state.

  When the AC adapter 10 is used, as shown in FIG. 3B, a finger is inserted through the opening C (see FIG. 1) on the side surface of the case 22 and the blade 12a is hooked on the finger. (See FIG. 1), by pulling out the blade 12a to the lower side of the case 22, the blade 12b is pulled out from the case 22 together with the blade 12a.

  At this time, the holding portion half 14b holding the blade 12b rotates around the rotation shafts 38 and 42 (see FIG. 1), while holding the blade 12a as shown in FIG. 4B. The holding portion half body 14a has a tongue portion 30 guided by the straight portion 62c of the ridge portion, and in a horizontal direction (X direction in FIGS. 3B and 4B), a bearing portion (or a rotating shaft). Move away from the direction. Thereby, the two holding | maintenance part halves 14a and 14b reach the state from which the rectangular-shaped part 26 retracted | retreated from the innermost part of the recessed part 34, and the holding | maintenance part half 14a separated from the holding | maintenance part half 14b. Therefore, the tongue piece portion 30 and the protruding portion act as a separation distance adjusting mechanism.

  Here, in the state shown in FIG. 3B, that is, when the blade 12a is pulled out by, for example, 30 ° downward from the horizontal direction, the blades 12a and 12b are separated by a separation distance L2, and thereafter the blade 12a is moved by 90 °. Even in a state where the blades 12a and 12b are completely pulled out downward, the blades 12a and 12b maintain the separation distance L2. The holding part half 14a separated from the holding part half 14b is stopped and fixed at a position where the back part of the tongue piece 30 is pulled out by 90 ° by moving along the stopper part (not shown) of the case 22. At the same time, it is not separated from the holding part half 14b by a predetermined distance or more.

  In the process of pulling out the blade 12a, the rotating shaft 42 rotates while the concavo-convex portion 42a engages with the pair of elastic claws 66a and 66b of the click feeling imparting member 24, so that a good click feeling is obtained. Can be operated.

  The separation distance L2 is a predetermined dimension required when using the AC adapter 10 defined by the standard. According to the AC adapter 10 according to the first example of the present embodiment, when the AC adapter is not used, the interval between the blades is narrowed and can be accommodated in a thinned case. When used, the distance between the predetermined blades can be easily set by simply pulling out the blade with a finger.

  Here, an electrical connection mechanism between the contact portion of the blade and the contact of the circuit board in the AC adapter 10 according to the first example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In a state where the blades 12a and 12b are accommodated in the case 22, the contact portions 32 and 40 are at a position rotated by 90 ° with respect to the opposing contacts 44a and 44b erected on the circuit board 18. Then, for example, by rotating the blade 12a by approximately 30 ° and pulling it out below the case 22, the contact portions 32 and 40 come into contact with the contacts 44a and 44b, and thereafter the blade 12a is further rotated to a position of 90 °. The contact portions 32 and 40 elastically contact with each other while pressing the contacts 44a and 44b. As a result, the electrical connection can be reliably obtained without causing a problem such that the contact portion is pressed against the inelastically provided contact and causes wear damage over time.

  Next, an AC adapter according to a second example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The basic configuration of the AC adapter according to the second example of the present embodiment is the same as that of the AC adapter 10 according to the example of FIG. 2 of the present embodiment. For this reason, about the AC adapter which concerns on the 2nd example of this Embodiment, about the component same as the AC adapter 10, the same referential mark as the AC adapter 10 is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The AC adapter according to the second example of the present embodiment is an AC adapter in which the two holding unit halves are separated by a distance adjusting mechanism, and the two holding halves and the case necessary for the separating distance adjusting mechanism are AC adapters. Different from 10. 6 to 8, the circuit board provided with the contact portion and the contact is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the AC adapter 74 according to the second example of the present embodiment is made of, for example, an insulating resin in which one pair of conductive metal blades 12 a and 12 b that are paired together is extended. A plug 78 composed of two holding part halves 76a and 76b and a case 82 composed of insulating resin upper and lower halves 80a and 80b that accommodate the plug 78 are substantially constituted.

  The holding portion half body 76a and the holding portion half body 76b are formed with recesses 84 and 86 that are fitted together and can be separated from each other. Further, the holding portion half 76a is provided with a rotating shaft 42 supported by the click feeling imparting member 24, and a bearing portion half 88a is provided on the side opposite to the side where the rotating shaft 42 is provided. ing.

  On the other hand, the holding portion half 76b is provided with a rotating shaft half 88b, and the rotating shaft 88 is configured in an integrated state with the holding portion half 76a. The holding | maintenance part half body 76b has the projection part 90 on the opposite side to the side in which the rotating shaft half body 88b was provided.

  In the case upper half 80a, a pair of vertical wall portions 92a and 94a for accommodating the plug 78 is provided with two arch-shaped bearing half portions 96a and 98a, and the bearing portion half body 98a of the vertical wall portion 94a. A substantially L-shaped groove portion 100a is formed in the vicinity of.

  The case lower half 80b substantially corresponds to the case upper half 80a and is provided with a pair of vertical wall portions 92b and 94b having two bearing half halves 96b and 98b, and the groove portion 100a in the assembled state of the AC adapter 74. And a groove portion 100b formed in an arc shape parallel to the arc surface of the bearing portion half body 98b.

  In a state where the AC adapter 74 is assembled, the bearing half body 96a and the bearing half half body 96b, and the bearing half half body 98a and the bearing half half body 98b constitute a bearing part. Moreover, the groove part 100a and the groove part 100b comprise the substantially L-shaped guide groove 100 (refer FIG. 8).

  Next, the operation of the plug 78 of the AC adapter 74 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a), 7 (b), 8 (a), and 8 (b). 8 (a) corresponds to FIG. 7 (a), and FIG. 8 (b) corresponds to FIG. 7 (b). In FIG. 7, the holding portion half body 76a holding the blade 12a and Only the guide groove 100 formed in the vertical wall portions 94a and 94b is taken out, and the relationship between the two is schematically shown.

  When the AC adapter 74 is not used, the plug 78 is accommodated in the case 82 as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, the protrusion 90 is located closest to the rotating shaft 42 (or the corresponding bearing) in the guide groove 100, and the two holding portion halves 76a, 76b is in close contact. The thickness dimension H2 of the case 22 is set in accordance with the separation interval L3 between the blades 12a and 12b in this state.

  When the AC adapter 74 is used, the blade 12b is pulled out from the case 22 together with the blade 12a. At this time, the holding portion half 176a holding the blade 12a rotates about the rotation shafts 88 and 42 (see FIG. 6), while holding the blade 12b as shown in FIG. 8B. The holding portion half body 76b moves to a position away from the rotation shafts 88 and 42 from the state of FIG. Thereby, the movement of the holding part half body 76b is left behind in the movement of the holding part half body 76a, and the holding part half body 76b is separated from the holding part half body 76a. Therefore, the protrusion 90 and the guide groove 100 act as a separation distance adjustment mechanism.

  The holding part half 76a moves along a stopper part (not shown) of the case 82, stops at a position pulled out by 90 °, is fixed, and is separated from the holding part half 14b by a predetermined distance or more. There is nothing.

  In the state of being pulled out from the case 82, the separation interval L4 between the blades 12a and 12b is larger than the separation interval L3 and has a predetermined dimension required when the AC adapter 74 defined by the standard is used.

  According to the AC adapter 74 according to the second example of the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the AC adapter 10 according to the first example of the present embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an AC adapter according to a first example of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the plug of the AC adapter of FIG. 1 is attached to the case. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the plug of the AC adapter of FIG. 1, FIG. 3A shows a state in which the blade is accommodated in the case, and FIG. 3B is a drawing of the blade from the case. Indicates the state. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing only one holding part half and a protruding part in order to supplementarily explain the operation of the plug of the AC adapter of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic diagram of FIG. 3 (a). 4 (b) is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 (b). FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the contact portion with respect to the contact of the AC adapter of FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the AC adapter according to the second example of the present embodiment. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the plug of the AC adapter in FIG. 6. FIG. 7A shows a state where the blade is housed in the case, and FIG. 7B shows that the blade is pulled out from the case. Indicates the state. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing only one holding part half and a guide groove in order to supplementarily explain the operation of the plug of the AC adapter of FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 (b) is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7 (b). 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining a conventional AC adapter. FIG. 9A is a side view of a state in which the blade is pulled out from the case, and FIG. 9B is a state in which the blade is accommodated in the case. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10, 74 AC adapter 12a, 12b Blade 14a, 14b, 76a, 76b Holding part half body 16, 78 Plug 18 Circuit board 22, 82 Case 24 Click feeling imparting member 30 Tongue piece part 32, 40 Contact part 38, 42, 88 Rotating shaft 44a, 44b Contact 50a, 50b, 52a, 52b, 96a, 96b, 98a, 98b Bearing part half body 62 Projection part 100 Guide groove

Claims (1)

A case in which a bearing portion is formed;
A plug formed of two holding part halves each holding one blade, and having a two-body structure in which the two holding part halves engage with each other so as to be separated and close to each other;
The two holding part halves are separated from each other by pulling out the blade from the case, and the two holding part halves are brought close to or in close contact with each other by accommodating the blade in the case. A separation distance adjustment mechanism for adjusting the proximity and separation movement of the holding part half,
Ri Na provided with first and second rotary shaft supported in said bearing portion is provided on the plug, the plug is rotated 90 ° around the rotation axis from the state drawn from the case An AC adapter configured to be accommodated in the case ,
The first rotation shaft is provided in one holding part half,
The second rotating shaft is provided on a side opposite to the side on which the first rotating shaft of the one holding portion half is provided, and an outer surface that is a part of the outer surface of the second rotating shaft is formed. And a rotating shaft half that is provided on the other holding portion half and has an outer surface that is a part of the outer surface of the second rotating shaft,
The separation distance adjusting mechanism is constituted by a protrusion extending on the side wall of the other holding portion half body and a substantially L-shaped guide groove formed in the vicinity of the bearing portion of the case, and the blade By operating, the projection is moved by being guided by the substantially L-shaped guide groove so that the other holding half is separated from, close to, or in close contact with the one holding half. Configure
In the state where the blade is housed in the case, the second rotating shaft is formed only by the outer surface formed on the rotating shaft half provided in the one holding portion half, and the blade is The other holding part half moves by being pulled out of the case, and is provided on the outer surface formed on the rotating shaft half provided on the one holding part half and the other holding part half. An AC adapter configured to be flush with the outer surface formed on the rotating shaft half and to form the second rotating shaft by the two rotating shaft halves.

Images