JPH1050390A - Cord connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple, low-priced cord connector, capable of automatically lighting or lighting out by installing a sensor for detecting brightness and a controller in a plug or a socket and turning the electrical continuity on and off based on a signal obtained. SOLUTION: A plug 2 and a socket 6, formed by injection molding synthetic resin are connected with a cord 3 for obtaining a cord connector. Semicircular projections 2b, 2b from which terminal pins 5, 5 are projected in parallel and an earth terminal pin 4 positioned between the projections 2b, 2b stand erect on the mating surface of the plug 2. The earth terminal pin 4 is bent and housed in a groove 2c, and the plug 2 can be used as a two pole plug. A ring-shaped projection 6b which fits to a ring-shaped projection 2a of the plug 2 to make it waterproof is formed on the mating surface of the socket 6, and terminal blades 9 and an earth terminal blade 10 are formed in the bottom of a recess 6a. A sensor, having a light detecting part 13b and its cover 12 is arranged in the socket 6, and electrical continuity of the connector is turned on and off with a built-in controller according to the brightness detected with the sensor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the construction of plugs and sockets such as extension cords, connection cords, relay cords, branch outlets, and the like comprising plugs, cables and sockets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when it is desired to place an electric appliance such as a lighting fixture or an electric tool in a location that cannot be reached by a cord attached to an electric appliance that is far from an outlet provided in a building or a power source such as a generator, or when a power outlet is used. When it is buried, an extension cord, a connection cord, a relay cord, a branch outlet, and the like are used. These extension cords, connection cords, and relay cords have a cable interposed between a plug and a socket so that power can be supplied by connecting a power supply to a power supply cord of an electric product. In addition, the branch outlet merely provided a plurality of plug insertion ports.
Therefore, a technique has been known in which home electric appliances are connected, and when dark, a switch is turned off to stop the operation of the electric appliances. For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-703
No. 77. Also, a technique is known in which a cord connector can be used for both two poles and three poles. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-783 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. 3-845.
No.67 and Japanese Utility Model No. 6-38380.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, a manual switch is separately required, which increases the cost, and the optical outlet itself has a large configuration, cannot be used outdoors, and requires an extension cord or connection cord. However, it was difficult to handle as a relay code. In addition, if a normal plug is inserted into a socket that controls power supply by brightness or the like, it may be misunderstood as a failure in a state where it cannot be used.
In addition, in the plug and socket for 100 volts or 200 volts, the technology that allows the use of a three-pole plug provided with a ground terminal and a two-pole plug not provided is premised on indoor use. Because the shape of the mating surface of the insertion part was exclusively designed, it could not be connected if it was waterproof. That is, in the case of a waterproof type, the shape of the mating surface of most of the insertion ports is circular. In the case of two poles, the two terminals are provided at the same position from the center. Are arranged at eccentric positions so as to be substantially equidistant from the center. Therefore, even if the plug and the socket with and without the ground terminal are connected, the center is displaced in the plugged state, so that water can easily enter and cannot be used outdoors or around water. Further, depending on the use condition, a gap may be generated due to stress or the like, and water may enter.

[0004]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described. That is, a sensor for detecting the brightness is provided to one of the cord connectors including the plug and the socket, and the continuity between the plug and the socket is determined by a signal from the sensor.
In addition to providing N / OFF means, a covering member is provided in the detection section of the sensor. In addition, in a cord connector with a mating surface of a three-pole plug and socket, the earth terminal pin and the terminal pin can be replaced with the main body, or the earth terminal pin can be stored in the main body, and the terminal pins slide in parallel. It can be moved, or the ground terminal pin can be stored in the main body side, and the terminal pin or the case can be rotated and moved in parallel. A projection is provided on a mating surface of a socket of a cord connector composed of a plug and a socket, a recess is formed on the mating surface of the plug, and a projection is formed on a mating surface of the plug. And a recess is provided around the mating surface of the socket so as to fit around the mating surface of the plug, and a ring-shaped projection is formed at the center of the mating surface to fit around the protrusion of the plug.

[0005]

Next, examples will be described. 1 is a perspective view showing a cord connector of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a socket, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the same, FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of a control unit, and FIG. Integrates a plug and a socket and has a built-in control unit,
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a covering member, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a control unit is incorporated in a reel type extension cord,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a socket is provided by branching the distal end of an extension cord, and a control unit is provided in one of the sockets.
1 is a plan view of an embodiment in which a ground terminal pin and a terminal pin are replaced, FIG. 9 is a front sectional view thereof, FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where two poles are replaced, FIG. 11 is a front sectional view thereof, FIG.
2 is a plan view of an embodiment in which the terminal pin is moved in conjunction with the bending of the ground terminal pin, FIG.
14 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which terminal pins are rotated, FIG. 15 is a front sectional view of the same, FIG. 16 is a plan view of another embodiment, FIG. 17 is a front sectional view of the same, and FIG. It is a front sectional view of the example made to do.

An embodiment in which a cord connector is applied to an extension cord will be described with reference to FIG. Extension cord A is 1
The figure shows a three-pole case with a ground terminal pin 4 for 00 volts. The plug 2 is connected to a socket 6 via a cord 3, and the main body of the plug 2 and the socket 6 are integrally formed by injection molding from synthetic resin. To prevent water from entering. The mating surface of the plug 2 and the insertion portion of the socket 6 is circular, and a ring-shaped convex portion 2a is formed around the mating surface of the plug 2.
Is configured so as to fit into the recess 6a formed around the mating surface of the socket 6 and hermetically seal to prevent water or the like from entering when extended and inserted.

On the mating surface side of the plug 2, semi-circular projections 2b are projected, and the semi-circular projections 2b
Further, a pair of terminal pins 5 protrude in parallel. A groove 2c is formed between the semi-circular convex portions 2b.
As shown in FIG. 15, the ground terminal pin 4 is pivotally supported by the pin 7 at the end of the terminal c so as to be bent.
When the ground terminal pin 4 is bent, it is accommodated in the groove 2c.

The socket 6 has a pair of terminal blades 9, 9 for inserting the terminal pins 5.5 in the mating surfaces in the recesses 6a, provided inside the main body in accordance with the positions and shapes of the terminal pins 5.5. Further, an earth terminal blade 10 for inserting the earth terminal pin 4 in accordance with the position and shape of the earth terminal pin 4 is provided on the mating surface in the concave portion 6a. And
A lid 11 conforming to the shape of the concave portion 6a is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the concave portion 6a, and a lid 12 as a member for covering a detection portion 13b of a sensor 13 described later is integrally provided at a rear end portion. ing. Further, in order to further ensure waterproofness, a ring-shaped projection 6b is provided on the bottom surface in the recess 6a of the socket 6 so as to surround the terminal blades 9, 9 and the ground terminal blade 10. Is fitted to a cylindrical projection 2b 'provided on a plug 2' having no ground terminal as shown in FIG. 5 to achieve double waterproofing. It is to be noted that if a ring-shaped convex portion 2c is provided around the distal end of the cylindrical protrusion 2b ', it is possible to achieve better adhesion. Further, the shapes of the ring-shaped protrusion 6b and the cylindrical protrusion 2b 'are not limited, and may be a quadrangle or another polygon. Further, a protrusion is formed inside the cylindrical protrusion 2b'. Ring-shaped convex part 2
It is also possible to form a ring-shaped convex portion inside c to be triple.

The inside of the socket 6 is shown in FIG.
Power supply wires 3a, 3a and a ground wire 3b for the cord 3
The conductor 13 a of the sensor 13 is connected to the substrate 14, and the other end of the substrate 14 is connected to the terminal blades 9. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the projection (regulation pin in this embodiment) 1 is connected to the socket 6 so that a normal plug cannot be inserted.
Projecting toward the center of the mating surface of the projection 1 as shown in FIG.
Only the plug 2 'provided with the concave portion 2d according to the above can be connected. That is, a normal 100 volt plug is not connectable, and only a plug of a specific electric appliance is connected, such as a control for operating or blinking when it becomes dark.
Since d is provided, it can be connected to other sockets and outlets. However, the protrusion 1 has two poles or three
The shape is not limited to a pole as long as the terminal pin 5 does not come into contact with the terminal blade 9, and the shape is not limited. In addition, the protrusion 1 is provided at the center of the mating surface between the terminal blades 9. Although they are arranged, the arrangement position is not limited, and they may be arranged on the side of the terminal blade 9.

The substrate 14 and a portion connected to the substrate 14 are integrally formed of a synthetic resin 15 so that water does not enter. The sensor 13 is composed of an optical sensor such as CdS, a photodiode, and a phototransistor.
The sensor 13 may be provided at the rear end of the plug main body, or the sensor 13 may be provided on the substrate 14 so as to connect between the light detection unit and the outside of the main body by an optical fiber. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the substrate 14 and a connection portion to the substrate 14 are integrally formed with a light-transmitting synthetic resin 15 and further integrally formed with a black or other light-impermeable synthetic resin 16 on the outside thereof. , To keep out water. As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 14 may be housed in a pipe 17 and integrally molded while covering both sides of the pipe 17 with a synthetic resin 19.

Next, the electric circuit of the control section C will be described with reference to FIG. On the substrate 14, the sensor 13 composed of a phototransistor, the relay 20, the transistor 21, a resistor, a diode, a capacitor, a fuse and the like are arranged. The normally open contact 20a of the relay 20 is connected in series to the middle of one of the conductors 3a connecting the terminal pins 5.5 of the plug 2 and the terminal blades 9.9 of the socket 6. Further, a control section C is connected in parallel to the conductors 3a. When the control section C is bright, the sensor 13 is turned on, and no current flows to the base of the transistor 21 so that the control section C is turned off. When dark, the sensor 13 is turned off, and a current flows to the base of the transistor 21, and the transistor 13 is turned off.
Is turned on, a current flows through the relay 20 and turns on, the contact 20a is closed, and a current can flow through the extension cord A. If you want to use it in a bright time,
2 over the detector 13b and cover it,
In the state of F, it can be used as a normal extension cord. However, it is also possible to change the connection position of the sensor 13 or change the transistor to a PNP type so that the sensor 13 is turned off when dark, and turned on when bright.

The control section C is provided with a socket 6
5 can be provided on the plug 2 side instead of the side.
Connection body 22 integrating a plug and a socket as shown in FIG.
Can also be provided. In this case, a sliding shutter 23 is used instead of the lid 12 as a covering member of the detecting portion 13b of the sensor 13, and there is no limitation as long as it can cover the detecting portion 13b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control section C can be provided on a reel 18 on which an extension cord is wound. In this case, the detection unit 13b is arranged on the side surface of the reel, but the arrangement position is not limited. It can be provided on a stand, a handle, a plug, or the like. Also,
As shown in FIG. 7, the extension cord is branched at one end (in this embodiment, the socket side, but may be the plug side), and a plurality of sockets 6, 6 ', 6' are connected and at least one of them is connected. One socket 6 is provided with a control unit, and the other can be used as a normal extension cord or a socket that responds to brightness as normal sockets 6 'and 6'.

The plug 2 has the ground terminal pins 4 and the terminal pins 5.5. If the connection surface is circular, the terminal pins 5.5 are located at positions shifted from the center as shown in FIG. Since it is arranged, when it is connected to a socket without an insertion hole for the ground terminal pin, the center is displaced and cannot be fitted perfectly, so that the connection part cannot be waterproofed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, a detachable block 24 is provided on the joint surface side of the plug 2, and an earth terminal pin 4 is protruded from the block 24. A contact 4a is protruded from the side surface so as to be in contact with and connected to the ground wire 3b. Also, terminal pins 25
Is formed in a crank shape and is inserted and fixed to the block 24. Of the terminal pins 25, the terminal 25a on the same side that protrudes the ground terminal pin 4 protrudes to a position eccentric from the center of the mating surface, and The terminal 25b (projected downward in FIG. 9) is located at the center in the left-right direction. On the other hand, a hole 26a for inserting the ground terminal pin 4 and holes 26b and 26b for inserting the terminal pins 25 and 25 are formed in the plug body 26, and a wide terminal blade 27 is inserted into the hole 26b. The blade 27 is connected to the conductor 3 a of the cord 3.

In such a configuration, when connecting to a socket with a ground terminal, as shown in FIGS.
The block 24 is inserted into the plug body 26 with the ground terminal pin 4 and the terminal pins 25 protruding, and the terminal 25 b
To the terminal blade 27, and the contact 4a of the ground terminal pin 4
Are in contact with the ground wire 3b. When connecting to a socket without a ground terminal, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the block 24 is pulled out, turned upside down, the ground terminal pin 4 is inserted into the hole 26a, and the terminal 25a is brought into contact with the terminal blade 27. is there. The ground wire 3b is grounded from a ground wire 3c that branches off from the middle and extends to the outside.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the lower portion of the ground terminal pin 4 is pivotally supported by the pin 7, and the ground wire 3b is connected to the pin 7. The terminal pins 5.5 have an intermediate portion fixed to a slider 29. The slider 29 allows a rail portion provided on the plug body 26 to be slidable left and right, and a lower portion of the terminal pins 5.5 is provided with a sliding hole 26c.
26c, and the terminal pins 5.5 are urged rightward on the paper by the springs 30 to maintain the state. However, the springs 30 are eliminated and the sliding holes 26c
26c may be provided with a locking projection or the like. The lower ends of the terminal pins 5 and 5 are made to contact the terminal blades 31 and 31 respectively, and the terminal blades 31 and 31 are made wide so as to be in contact even when sliding left and right.
3a. A link 32 is pivotally connected between the left surface of the slider 29 and the lower end of the ground terminal pin 4.

With such a configuration, when connecting to a socket with a ground terminal, the connection is made in the state shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and when connecting to a socket without a ground terminal, the connection is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As described above, when the ground terminal pin 4 is bent inward, the slider 29 is pulled through the link 32, and the terminal pins 5.5 move to the center side, and are inserted into the socket without the ground terminal. The mating surfaces of the socket body and the socket body match and can be fitted. When the ground terminal pin 4 is raised and set up, the link 32 is raised.
, The slider 29 is pushed, and the terminal pins 5.5 move to the original right side.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the lower part of the ground terminal pin 4 is pivotally supported by the pin 7, and the ground wire 3b is connected to the pin 7. The lower portions of the terminal pins 5.5 are fixed to the block 34, and the terminal pins 5
The lower end of 5 is in contact with the terminal springs 35, 35, which are connected to the conductors 3a, 3a. The block 34 has a groove 34a formed in the center so that the ground terminal pin 4 can be fitted when bent. The block 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is rotatably fitted to the upper part of the plug body 33, and the center O2 of the block 34 and the center O1 of the plug body 33 are displaced from each other.

With such a configuration, when connecting to a socket with a ground terminal, the connection is made in the state shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and when connecting to a socket without a ground terminal, as shown by a two-dot chain line, When the block 34 is rotated by 180 degrees, the center of the terminal pins 5
When the ground terminal pin 4 is bent and housed in the groove 34a, it can be connected to a socket without a ground terminal.

As another embodiment of rotating the block in accordance with the presence or absence of the ground terminal, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the ground terminal pin 4 can be bent by the pin 7 on the block 34 '. The contact rings 36, 36, 37,... Are respectively provided with the pins 5.5, facing the bottom surface of the block 34 ′ and the bottom surface of the block insertion hole of the plug body 33 ′.
37, 38 and 38 are provided, the contact rings 36 and 36 are arranged between the ground terminal pin 4 and the ground wire 3b, and the contact rings 37, 37, 38 and 38 are connected to the terminal pins 5.5 and the conductive wires 3a and 3a.
3a, so that even when rotated by 180 degrees, a current flows in contact therewith. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the contact ring is disposed only at the position where the contact ring is rotated and stopped. In addition, a sealing material is disposed at the boundary between the rotating parts in the above-described embodiment to prevent water or the like from entering the inside.

Also, as shown in FIG. 18, the block 36 is formed integrally with the cord 3 without rotating the inner block, and an eccentric case 37 is rotatably fitted to the outside of the block 36. It can also be. In this manner, the ground terminal pin 4 is bent and the case 37 is rotated about the center O1 to be inserted into the socket without the ground terminal pin insertion portion. In addition, waterproofing can be achieved by integrally molding the block 36, and there is no problem even if water enters between the block 36 and the case 37. In this embodiment, the moving mechanism is provided on the plug side, but may be provided on the socket side.

[0022]

As described above, the present invention has the following advantages. That is, one of the plug and the socket has a sensor for detecting the brightness, and a signal from the sensor turns ON / OFF the conduction between the plug and the socket.
Since the FF is provided, the cost can be reduced as a simple configuration without providing a controller separately. Then, if a lighting device used outdoors is connected, it can be controlled to turn on when it becomes dark and turn off when it becomes bright, and it is possible to omit the operation of turning on and off. Further, by providing a covering member on the detecting portion of the sensor, the detecting portion is covered with the covering member, so that the detecting portion remains ON or OF.
F can be maintained as it is, and when set to the state of ON, it can be used as a normal cord connector,
If the switch is set to the OFF state, the switch can be kept in an unused state, and the switch operation can be simplified.

[0023] Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the ground terminal pin can be stored in the main body only by replacing the ground terminal pin and the terminal pin with the main body side. The three-pole code connector can be replaced with the two-pole code connector simply by sliding in parallel, or by simply allowing the ground terminal pin to be housed in the main body side and rotating and moving the terminal pin in parallel. To the opposite or the opposite cord connector, can be connected to the shape, in the case of a waterproof cord connector,
The mating surfaces match, so that intrusion of water or the like can be prevented in a connected state.

Further, since the projection is provided on the mating surface of the socket and the concave portion is formed on the mating surface of the plug according to the fifth aspect, a normal plug cannot be inserted into the socket. Without receiving power supply, without being controlled by a controller provided in the socket, the plug can be inserted into another socket or outlet, etc., and if you do not want to control it, you can use it as usual Therefore, misuse can be prevented with a simple configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a projection is provided on the mating surface of the plug, the terminal pin protrudes from the projection, and a recess is provided around the mating surface of the socket to fit around the mating surface of the plug. At the center of the mating surface, a ring-shaped projection is provided to fit around the projection of the plug, so that a double waterproof structure can be achieved, and even if some stress is applied, water can be reliably prevented from entering. Thus, safety for outdoor use can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cord connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the socket.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a covering member in which a plug and a socket are integrated and a control unit is incorporated.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a control unit is incorporated in a reel type extension cord.

[FIG. 7] A socket is provided by branching the end of the extension cord.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a control unit is provided in one of them.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an embodiment in which a ground terminal pin and a terminal pin are replaced.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where two poles are replaced.

FIG. 11 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an embodiment in which a terminal pin is moved in conjunction with bending of a ground terminal pin.

FIG. 13 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which a terminal pin is rotated.

FIG. 15 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 18 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment in which the case is rotated.

[Description of Signs] A Extension cord C Control part 2 Plug 3 Cord 4 Ground terminal pin 5 Terminal pin 6 Socket 12 Lid 13 Sensor 37 Case

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for detecting brightness at one of a cord connector comprising a plug and a socket, and a signal from the sensor to turn on / off conduction between the plug and the socket.
A code connector characterized by comprising means for performing F and a covering member provided at a detection portion of the sensor. 2. A cord connector in which a mating surface of a three-pole plug and a socket is circular, wherein a ground terminal pin and a terminal pin can be replaced with a main body side. 3. A cord connector in which a mating surface of a three-pole plug and a socket is circular, wherein a ground terminal pin can be housed in the main body and the terminal pin can be slid in parallel. . 4. A cord connector in which a mating surface of a three-pole plug and a socket is circular, wherein a ground terminal pin can be stored in the main body, and the terminal pin or the case can be rotated and moved in parallel. And code connector. 5. A code connector comprising a plug and a socket, wherein a projection is provided on a mating surface of the socket, and a concave portion is formed on the mating surface of the plug so as to match the projection. 6. A cord connector comprising a plug and a socket, a projection is provided on a mating surface of the plug, a terminal pin projects from the projection, and the periphery of the mating surface of the plug is fitted around the mating surface of the socket. A cord connector comprising: a concave portion; and a ring-shaped protrusion which fits around the protrusion of the plug at a center portion of the mating surface.