JPS648906B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for electrically connecting and disconnecting a plurality of units that are hinged to each other.

Some electrical devices are made in multiple units and the units are hinged together. According to this, these units can be conveniently arranged in parallel when in use, and stacked on top of each other when stored or carried.

However, when electrical connections between units are made using ordinary connection cords, there are problems in that the appearance deteriorates and the connection cords get in the way, and there is also the disadvantage that disconnection accidents are likely to occur. Furthermore, even though it is not necessary to electrically connect the units when storing or transporting them, if you have to remove and attach the connection cords each time, it is not only cumbersome to operate, but the connection cords, etc. There is also a high risk of losing it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection device that automatically connects or disconnects a plurality of hinged units depending on their states.

The electrical connection device between hinge-coupled units according to the present invention separately connects a pair of matingly connected connector elements to opposite locations of first and second units that are hinge-coupled to each other, and one of the connector elements. is fixed in position and the other connector element is incorporated so as to be slidable toward or away from the one connector element, and the other connector element is connected to the hinge joint of the first and second units. This is based on the fact that it has a mechanism that allows it to slide in conjunction with relative rotation around the center.

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows first and second units 2, 3, which are connected to each other by a hinge 1, stacked on top of each other for convenient storage and transportation. The first and second units 2, 3 are
When relatively rotated about the hinge 1, the surfaces 2a and 3a are aligned in a state where they face each other. The first unit 2 has a pin connector 5 installed in a recess 4 provided in a surface 2a in a fixed position. On the other hand, the second unit 3 has a socket connector 7 built into a recess 6 provided in the surface 3a so as to be slidable in the direction of the arrow 8. The recesses 4 and 6 are provided at locations that can face each other. Further, the pin connector 5 and the socket connector 7 can be fitted together to establish an electrical connection, and may be a general type having conductive contacts built into an insulator.

Now, in FIG. 1, the pin connector 5 and the socket connector 7 are assembled so that they do not protrude from the surfaces 2a and 3a, so in this state, even if the surfaces 2a and 3a are made to face each other, ,
Connection between connectors 5 and 7 cannot be obtained. Therefore,
When the first and second units 2 and 3 are rotated relative to each other around the hinge 1, the socket connector 7 is slid in conjunction with the rotation,
A mechanism for protruding from the surface 3a is incorporated.

A concrete example of the mechanism is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, one wing 1a of the hinge 1 is fixed to a first unit 2, and the other wing 1b is fixed to a second unit 3. An arm 11 is rotatably attached to one blade 1a of such a hinge 1 by a mounting plate 9 at an eccentric position slightly apart from the hinge axis 1c. The arm 11 is the notch 1 of the hinge 1
2 to the second unit 3, and a bent portion 11a at the tip thereof is engaged with a groove 7a formed in the insulator of the socket connector 7. Note that the direction in which the socket connector 7 can slide is indicated by the symbol 8 as in FIG.

Further, the explanation will be made using FIG. 3 as well. First, when the first unit 2 and the second unit 3 are overlapped, the blades 1a and 1b of the hinge 1 are also overlapped with each other, and the bent portion 11 of the arm 11
a is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, and the socket connector 7 is in a position where it does not protrude from the surface 3a of the second unit 3. When the first unit 2 is rotated with the hinge 1 relative to the second unit 3, one of the blades 1a rotates as shown by the arrow 13, and the bent portion 11a of the arm 11 accordingly rotates.
moves along the groove 7a as shown by arrow 14. Therefore, the socket connector 7 will not move until the blade 1a rotates by a certain angle _θ1 .

As the first unit 2 rotates, the blade 1a
When the arm 11 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow 13, the arm 11 will drag the socket connector 7 along the direction of the arrow 8 due to the engagement between the bent portion 11a and the groove 7a. From now on, feather 1a
While the socket connector 7 rotates through an angle of θ ₂ (θ ₂ ≈135°), the socket connector 7 is projected from the surface 3a of the second unit 3. The amount of movement of the socket connector 7 at this time is indicated by the symbol L in FIG.

When the first unit 2 is rotated any further, the socket connector 7 remains stationary in a projecting state, and during this time the pin connector 5 is fitted into the socket connector 7, whereby the first and second Electrical connection between units 2 and 3 is established. The final position of the bent portion 11a is indicated by the symbol 11a'.

In this manner, electrical connection between the first and second units 2, 3 is automatically established simply by rotating the first and second units 2, 3 relative to each other.
This connection state is shown in FIG.

Furthermore, if the first and second units 2 and 3, which have such an electrical connection, are relatively rotated in the opposite direction to that described above, the first and second units The electrical connection between the two units 2 and 3 is disconnected, and then the socket connector 7 is housed in the unit 3, so that contacts etc. are not damaged.

In the above-described embodiment, the pin connector is fixed in position and the socket connector is slidable, but it is of course possible to use a structure in which the pin connector slides. It goes without saying that various other design changes are also possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a unit assembly having an embodiment of the present invention with the connector disconnected;
3 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of operation, and FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the unit assembly showing the connector connected state. 1...Hinge, 2...First unit, 3...
Second unit, 5...pin connector, 7...socket connector, 11...arm.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of matingly connected connector elements is separately provided at opposite locations of the first and second units hinged to each other, and one connector element is fixed in position and the other connector element is fixed in position. incorporated so as to be slidable in a direction toward or away from the connector element, and the other connector element is interlocked with relative rotation about the hinge joint of the first and second units; An electrical connection device between hinge joint units, characterized by being provided with a sliding mechanism.