JPS62128464A - Electric source connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a power connector, and more particularly to a power connector useful for power plugs and adapters for coupling to sockets, such as wall-mounted sockets. [Regarding]

PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE INVENTION Previously, Canadian Patent No. 717,200 teaches that power is available at a power outlet when a plug is inserted into the outlet. A power plug is revealed which is provided with an indicator light for indicating.

Two embodiments of the power plug shown in Canadian Patent No. 717,200 have a neon indicator lamp embedded within a molded plug body. However, this embodiment has the problem that because the plug body is molded around the lamp, the lamp may be damaged by the heat and/or pressure of the material of the plug body. .

Another embodiment of the power plug shown in Canadian Patent No. 717,200 has a lamp, a pair of power pins, and a die member, the lamp being drilled into the die member. fitted into a socket and coupled to the pin, the lamp device comprises a die member, the pin, and a cutout machine provided with an opening through which the light of the lamp can be seen from the outside. The lamp is inserted into the member.

In both embodiments of this conventional plug, the indicator lamps and the resistors provided on them are connected to the pins of the plug by wires, which are easily damaged by turn into. Additionally, this conventional plug manufacturing process is time consuming and relatively expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a power connector which incorporates an indicator light to indicate the availability of power supply current through the connector and which is easier and more economical to manufacture than conventional comparable connectors. It is to be.

[Means for solving problems]

According to the present invention, a power connector includes a body, a cavity formed inside the body, a lamp housed in the cavity, and a lamp in the body through which light can pass from the lamp to the outside of the body. at least one aperture, an electrically conductive member within the body for conducting a power source through the connector, the power source supplying the electrically conductive member to the lamp for illumination of the lamp; means for electrically coupling, the body being molded in a single piece around the electrically conductive member, and the cavity allowing insertion of the lamp into the cavity. having an opening leading to the outside of the body to
and a closing means for closing the opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical coupling means comprises a coupling member frictionally engaged with the electrically conductive member, and the electrically conductive member is in engagement with the coupling portion. exposed to the interior of the cavity. The lamp and the coupling member form part of a lamp device inserted into the cavity, and the lamp device is provided with a voltage drop to reduce the voltage of the power source so that the power source is adapted to the lamp. have the means.

The electrically conductive member may include a pin projecting from the body of the power connector and/or a socket located within the body of the power connector.

EXAMPLES The present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, through specific examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The power plug is shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the attached drawings,
The power plug is designated with reference number 10. The power plug generally has a male dee 12 molded in a single piece of resilient material, such as ebonite or other elastomeric material that is electrically insulating.

This embodiment of the invention is a three pin plug having a ground pin 14 extending from the plug body 12 and two spaced piers 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the leads 16 are formed by the ends of elongated metal strips that are coupled to each individual power conductor 18 and that have curved intermediate ends. A portion 20 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plug body 12 is formed with a cavity 22, and the curved intermediate portions 20 of the elongated metal strips are placed with their curved sides facing each other to form a cavity 22. It extends into the.

The conducting wire 18 is connected to the grounding pin 14 as a grounding lead wire.
forming a portion of the cable having a third conductor 24 coupled to the third conductor 24;

An indicator light device is designated by the reference numeral 26 and is generally inserted into the cavity 22 through an open end 28 of the cavity 22, and the open end 28 is secured to the plug body with an adhesive (not shown). It is closed by a closing plate 30.

The indicator lamp device 26 includes an indicator lamp 32 secured by an adhesive 34 to a cylindrical portion 36 made of an electrically insulating material. Sliding coupling members 38 and 40
are fixed to the cylindrical portion 36 by their outer circumferences with their sliding surfaces facing each other.

The coupling member 38 is coupled by solder to a conductor wire 42 extending from one end of a resistor 44, and a conductor wire 46 extending from the other end of the resistor 44 is soldered to and extends from the lamp 32. 4g of conductor wire
is soldered to the sliding coupling member 40.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the sliding coupling members 38 and 40 are engaged with the intermediate portion 20 of the sliding coupling or electrically conductive member.

Accordingly, the lamp 32 is coupled in series with the resistor 44 to illuminate the lamp when the conductor 18 is coupled to a source of power source energy, which is applied to the lamp 32 to avoid damage to the lamp. The voltage across the conductor 18 is reduced by the resistor 44 before it is turned on.

The above describes the plug structure. The guy 12 is molded around the electrically conductive member forming the pin 16 and around the power supply lead 18, but is not molded around the lamp assembly 26. It must be noted that it has not been taken. Furthermore, the indicator lamp device 26 is formed completely separate from the plug body 12, and after the molding of the plug body 12, the indicator lamp device is slidably inserted into the cavity 22 of the plug body. The run f32 is connected to the #plug during molding of the plug body 12 when the plug is manufactured. It must be noted that it is not affected in any way by the heat and/or temperature of the material of the body-12.

Moreover, the plug body 12 is formed with three passages 50, 52 and 56 extending from the cavity 22, i.e. from near the lamp 32, to the outer surface of the plug body 12, so that from the run f32 A hole or passage is provided for transmitting and blocking light to the outside of the power plug.

The passageway 50 is closed by a translucent closing means or window 56, which window is made of, for example, a plastic material;
and are secured by adhesive or otherwise across their passageways.

In another embodiment of the power connector according to the present invention, the electrically conductive member is inserted as shown in FIG. 4 to be coupled to the power conductor shown in FIG. Extending to the rear of the power connector, the electrically conductive member at the rear of the connector is adapted to form part of a socket (60) embedded in the plug body. In this embodiment, the plug body is designated by the reference numeral 62, and the plug socket 60 serves to receive a power coupling bin, such as the bin 16 of a power plug (not shown).

In other respects, the power connector shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the power connector shown in FIGS. 1-3, and in particular, the power connector shown in FIG. It has an indicator lamp device 26 inserted in sliding engagement with the intermediate portion 20 of the electrically conductive member as in the embodiment of FIG. The FIG. 4 connector may be coupled, for example, between a traditional computer plug or electrical outlet.

It is contemplated that the invention is particularly advantageous when it is embodied as a power plug mounted on the drop-in line of a block heater. In this case, the user of the block heater can check whether voltage is being applied to the heater by inserting the plug into the outlet and checking whether the indicator run f32 is lit.

However, the invention does not limit the plug to block heater use, for example to provide a visual indication of whether power is available when the power connector is plugged into a power socket or other power connector. Additionally, the plug may be used in the drop-in line of other electrical devices and appliances.

The plugs shown in the accompanying drawings are such that their plug bodies are molded in a single part, and therefore the manufacturing of the plugs is relatively simple, economical and widespread; This has the advantage of providing a good electrical connection with reduced risk of damage to the bulb.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the power connector according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view cut along the line - - in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a side view showing an embodiment of the power supply connector according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line -■, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the power connector according to the present invention. 10...Power plug, 12...Plug body, 1
6...Power supply bin, 1B...Power supply lead wire, 20...
intermediate part, 22... cavity, 26... indicator lamp device,
30... Closing plate, 32... Lamp, 36... Cylindrical portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A power connector, which includes a body, a cavity formed inside the body, a lamp housed in the cavity, and light from the lamp to the body. at least one in the body that can pass through to the outside
an electrically conductive member inside the body for conducting a power supply through the connector; and an electrically conductive member inside the body for conducting a power supply through the connector, and an electrically conductive member for electrically connecting the electrically conductive member to the lamp for illumination of the lamp by the power supply. means for coupling, the body being molded in a single piece around the electrically conductive member, and the cavity allowing insertion of the lamp into the cavity; 1. A power supply connector having an opening leading to the outside of the body, and comprising a closing means for closing the opening. 2. The power supply connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling means includes a coupling member that frictionally engages with the electrically conductive member. 3. The power supply connector according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive member is exposed to the interior of the cavity by engagement with the coupling member. 4. The lamp and the coupling member form part of a lamp device inserted into the cavity, and the lamp device lowers the voltage of the power source so that the power source is adapted to the lamp. The power supply connector according to claim 2 or 3, having voltage reduction means for reducing the voltage. 5. The power supply connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the electrically conductive member has a pin protruding from the body. 6. The power supply connector according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the electrically conductive member forms a socket inside the body. 7. Any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising translucent means for allowing light to pass from the lamp to the exterior of the body through the hole and for closing the hole. Power connector as described in .