JPH10241775A - Power source adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent tracking phenomenon, which occurs in the case where, if a power source adapter is not inserted in a close contact with a power source receptacle, dust is stock or accumulated between the adapter and the receptacle so that a current flows between a pair of plug metal fitting via water contained in the dust. SOLUTION: A plurality of grooves 17 or projections are formed at a surface, having a pair of plug metal fittings 13, 14 of a casing 12 in such a manner as to pass between and across the plug metal fittings 13, 14. Consequently, it is possible to increase a creepage distance between the plug metal fittings 13, 14, so as to enhance an insulating property just by the quantity of the creepage distance increased, thus preventing any tracking phenomenon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power adapter for receiving power from a commercial power outlet and supplying the power to another electronic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows a conventional power adapter. Reference numeral 1 denotes a power adapter, which is provided with a pair of plugs 3 and 4 on one plane P of a housing 2. This power adapter 1
Power is supplied to another electronic device 6 through the cord 5. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the power adapter 1 is connected to a power outlet. The plug fittings 3 and 4 are connected so that the plane P of the power adapter 1 contacts the plane Q of the power outlet 7 provided on the wall of the building. Insert into plug insertion holes 8 and 9.

[0003]

However, in the conventional power adapter 1 described above, when the plane P is used without being in close contact with the plane Q of the power outlet 7, dust adheres to the gap between the plane P and the plane Q. It may accumulate, and if it contains moisture, dust and the surface of the housing 2 may be carbonized. In such a state, a current flows between the plug fittings 3 and 4, so-called tracking phenomenon occurs,
The power adapter 1 could be damaged.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide an excellent power adapter capable of preventing a tracking phenomenon.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an end of a surface of a housing provided between a pair of plug fittings is provided on a surface provided with a pair of plug fittings. A plurality of grooves or ridges extending from the end to the end are provided. By providing such grooves or ridges,
As the creepage distance between both plugs can be extended,
The insulating property can be increased by that much, and the tracking phenomenon in which a current flows between both plug fittings can be prevented.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a power supply adapter having a plurality of grooves or projections provided on the surface of a housing between a pair of plug fittings. Since the creepage distance can be increased, the tracking phenomenon can be prevented. In addition, the unevenness of the plurality of grooves or ridges makes it difficult for dust to adhere to the entire surface, and the moisture contained in the dust is easily evaporated, so that the tracking phenomenon can be more effectively prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power adapter according to the first aspect, wherein a bottom surface of the groove or a bottom surface between the plurality of ridges is formed as a slope. When the adapter is used in a horizontal state, water can be discharged through the slope.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of grooves or ridges are provided between a pair of plug fittings from one end of the surface with respect to the surface of the housing provided with the plug fittings. As described above, the power supply adapter according to claim 1 has the same function as the invention according to claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of grooves or ridges are provided at a position extending from at least one pair of plug fittings from one end of the surface of the housing provided with the plug fittings. A power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power adapter has the same function as the invention according to claim 1.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a power adapter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a power adapter, which has a pair of plugs 13 and 14 on one plane A of a housing 12. This power adapter 11
Supplies power to another electronic device 16 through the cord 15. In the plane A of the housing 12, two grooves 1 extending from one end of the plane A to the other between the plug fittings 13 and 14.
7 are formed.

By providing such two grooves 17, the creepage distance from the plug fittings 13 to 14 is conventionally L, but the depths a, b,
L + (a + b + c + d) is obtained by adding c and d, and the insulation distance can be extended. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the plugs 13 and 14 of the power adapter 11 are inserted into the plug insertion holes 22 and 23 of the power outlet 21 provided on the wall of the building, the plane A of the power adapter 11 is Even when the power supply outlet 21 and the plane B of the power outlet 21 are not in close contact with each other, the insulating property can be increased by the length of the creepage between the plug fittings by the groove 17, and the thickness of the housing is not increased to secure the insulating property. Therefore, the tracking phenomenon can be prevented even in a configuration in which a live part such as a transformer is disposed inside. In addition, the unevenness of the groove 17 makes it difficult for dust to adhere to the entire surface, and makes it easy for moisture contained in the dust to evaporate. In this respect, the tracking phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

Incidentally, even when the groove 17 is provided from the end of the plane A to a position beyond at least the space between the pair of plugs 13 and 14, the tracking phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 shows a power adapter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, in which the bottom surface of the plurality of grooves 17 of the power adapter 11 shown in FIG. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, since the bottom surface of the groove 17 is a slope 31, as shown in FIG. 4, the power adapter 11 is inserted into the table tap 41 and used in a horizontal state. The power adapter 11
Is on the upper side, and even if the amount of adhered moisture increases due to dew condensation or the like, the moisture can be discharged through the slope 31 of the groove 17, so that the tracking phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 shows a power adapter according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Instead of the plurality of grooves 17 of the power adapter 11 shown in FIG. Since the other components are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, since a plurality of ridges 51 are formed on the plane A, the creepage distance between the plug fittings 13 to 14 is conventionally L, similarly to the power adapter 11 of FIG. Is L + (a + b + c + d), which is the sum of the heights a, b, c, and d of both wall surfaces of each ridge 51, and the insulation distance can be extended. For this reason, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the housing 12 for securing the insulation properties, so that the tracking phenomenon can be prevented even with a configuration in which a live part such as a transformer is disposed inside. In addition, the unevenness of the ridges 51 makes it difficult for dust to adhere to the entire surface and makes it easy for moisture contained in the dust to evaporate. In this respect, the tracking phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 6 shows a power adapter according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The bottom surface between the plurality of ridges 51 of the power adapter 11 shown in FIG. As in the second embodiment, even when the power adapter 11 is inserted into the power strip 41 and used in a horizontal state, the slope 61 between the ridges 51 and 51 is used.
Since the water can be discharged through this, the tracking phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

[0018]

According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above embodiment, the surface of the housing provided with the pair of plugs is provided with:
Since a plurality of grooves or ridges passing between the plugs are provided, the creepage distance between the two plugs can be extended, and the insulation can be increased by that much. A tracking phenomenon in which a current flows through the circuit can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a power adapter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the power adapter according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected to a power outlet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a power adapter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a power adapter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is connected to a power strip.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a power adapter according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a power adapter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a power adapter in a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where a power adapter in a conventional example is connected to a power outlet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Power adapter 12 Housing 13 and 14 Plug metal fitting 15 Cord 16 Electronic device 17 Groove 31 Slope 51 Ridge 61 Slope

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A power adapter, wherein a plurality of grooves or ridges are provided on a surface of a housing between a pair of plugs. 2. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the groove or a bottom surface between the plurality of ridges is a slope. 3. A plurality of grooves or ridges extending from one end of the surface to a pair of the plugs and extending to the other end with respect to the surface of the housing provided with the plugs. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein 4. A plurality of grooves or projections are provided from one end of a surface of a housing provided with plug fittings to a position beyond at least a pair of said plug fittings. Item 7. The power adapter according to Item 1.