WO2007004797A1

WO2007004797A1 - A waterproof safety plug socket

Info

Publication number: WO2007004797A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyung-Eun Kim; Hak-Tae Kim
Original assignee: Kyung-Eun Kim; Hak-Tae Kim
Priority date: 2005-07-01
Filing date: 2006-06-27
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Also published as: KR100664765B1; KR20050113133A

Abstract

Disclosed is a waterproof safety plug socket including an upper casing which has at least one plug groove for protecting a plug and a pair of terminal holes defined in a bottom of the plug groove, a terminal box in which connection terminals are installed to be aligned with respective terminal holes, and a closure member which is arranged between the terminal holes and the connection terminals and constitutes a safety device for automatically opening and closing the terminal holes when plug pins are inserted into and removed from the terminal holes, the plug socket comprising a plug packing defined with terminal holes which communicate with the terminal holes and around which the plug packing is brought into close contact with the plug pins to ensure waterproofness; and a fastening cover for fastening the plug packing.

Description

Description A WATERPROOF SAFETY PLUG SOCKET

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a plug socket, and more particularly, to a waterproof safety plug socket which has a plug packing capable of being commonly used for plug pins having 4 mm and 4.8 mm standard diameters, so that waterproofness can always be ensured irrespective of the standard diameters of a plug pin, whether a plug is inserted into or removed from the plug socket, and which can quickly discharge inflowing water, maintain a waterproofing function even when the plug socket is flooded so as to make maintenance of the plug socket easy, and prevent electric leakage and electric shocks, thus significantly improving safety. Background Art

[2] As is generally known in the art, in a plug socket, electric leakage or electric shocks may be caused at a place having a substantial amount of moisture or which is under water. Therefore, a waterproofing structure and a safety device should be provided to prevent an electric shock when a child inserts a conductive article into a terminal hole while playing. To this end, various plug sockets have been disclosed in the art.

[3] A conventional waterproof plug socket which is to be used indoors is disclosed in

Korean Utility Model Application No. 1993-29440. The waterproof plug socket has a closure member which can be rotated to open and close terminal holes when plug pins are inserted into and removed from the terminal holes. Also, a plug socket having a cover for closing terminal holes using spherical projections is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 125092.

[4] By the disclosures of these documents, when the plug socket is not used, the terminal holes are closed to prevent water from leaking into the plug socket. Also, when a playing child inserts a conductive article such as a chopstick into one of the terminal holes, the terminal holes are kept closed to prevent an accident from occurring.

[5] However, in these techniques, since the closure member does not completely close the terminal holes, water is likely to leak into the plug socket. In particular, when considering the fact that the diameter of a terminal hole is set to 5.5 mm in the standard for plugging type connection sockets and the diameter of a plug pin is arbitrarily set to either 4 mm or 4.8 mm, there exists a gap of 0.7 mm ~ 1.5 mm. Therefore, even when the plug pins are inserted into the terminal holes, water may still leak into the plug socket, and a serious situation may result.

[6] Further, the plug socket is provided with side grounding type or central grounding type ground terminals, and a cover is installed to prevent water drops from being scattered over ground terminal holes. Nonetheless, this conventional technique can only be applied when using an L-shaped plug, and cannot be applied when using a straight type plug because the cover cannot be completely closed in the case of the straight type plug, and waterproofness cannot be ensured.

[7] Also, in the conventional art, if water is inadvertently introduced into a plug groove of the plug socket, such as in the case of spilling water in a cup, the water must be quickly drained out of the plug socket. In this connection, the conventional art does not provide means for quickly draining water out of the plug socket.

[8] In addition, in order to open and close a cover, manipulations for locking and unlocking a clamp or a band should be separately implemented, thus the use of the plug socket is inconvenient. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof safety plug socket which has a plug packing capable of being commonly used for 4 mm and 4.8 mm standard diameters of a plug pin, so that waterproofness can be always ensured irrespective of the standard diameters of a plug pin, whether a plug is inserted into or removed from the plug socket, and which can quickly discharge inflowing water, maintain a waterproofing function even when the plug socket is flooded so as to make maintenance of the plug socket easy, and prevent electric leakage and electric shocks, thus significantly improving safety.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof safety plug socket which can perform a waterproofing function and ensure convenience in use thereof. Technical Solution

[11] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a waterproof safety plug socket including an upper casing which has at least one plug groove for protecting a plug and a pair of terminal holes defined in a bottom of the plug groove, a terminal box in which connection terminals are installed to be respectively aligned with the terminal holes, and a closure member which is arranged between the terminal holes and the connection terminals and constitutes a safety device for automatically opening and closing the terminal holes when plug pins are inserted into and removed from the terminal holes, the plug socket comprising a plug packing defined with terminal holes which communicate with the terminal holes and around which the plug packing is brought into close contact with the plug pins to ensure waterproofness; and a fastening cover for fastening the plug packing. Advantageous Effects

[12] Thanks to the above features of the present invention, the waterproof safety plug socket according to the present invention provides advantages in that, since the plug socket has a plug packing capable of being commonly used for plug pins having 4 mm and 4.8 mm standard diameters, waterproofness can be always ensured irrespective of the standard diameters of a plug pin whether a plug is inserted into or removed from the plug socket. Also, due to the construction of the waterproof safety plug socket according to the present invention, inflowing water can be quickly discharged out of the plug socket, the waterproofing function of the plug socket is maintained even when the plug socket is flooded, so as to ease administration of the plug socket, and electric leakage and electric shocks are prevented, thus significantly improving safety.

[13] Further, in the present invention, a separate manipulation of opening and closing a cover, which is otherwise required in the conventional art when inserting and removing a plug into and from a plug socket, is not necessary. Therefore, although it is only necessary to insert and remove a plug into and from the plug socket as in the conventional plug socket, waterproofness and convenience in use can be ensured through a simple structure. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[15] FIG. 1 is a partially-exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of a waterproof safety plug socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[16] FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view illustrating the waterproof safety plug socket shown in FIG. 1;

[17] FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

[ 18] FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2;

[19] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3;

[20] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 with a plug inserted into the waterproof safety plug socket;

[21] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 3; and

[22] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a closure member according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[24] FIG. 1 is a partially-exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of a waterproof safety plug socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view illustrating the waterproof safety plug socket shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5, with a plug inserted into the waterproof safety plug socket, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 3.

[25] Referring to FIGs. 1 through 7, a waterproof safety plug socket 1 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper casing 10 which has at least one plug groove 1OA for protecting a plug 2 and a pair of terminal holes 12 defined in the bottom 11 of the plug groove 1OA, a terminal box 20 in which connection terminals 21 are installed to be respectively aligned with the terminal holes 12, and a closure member 30 which is arranged between the terminal holes 12 and the connection terminals 21 and constitutes a safety device for automatically opening and closing the terminal holes 12 when plug pins 2a are inserted into and removed from the terminal holes 12. According to the present invention, the plug socket 1 comprises a plug packing 40 defined with terminal holes 41 which communicate with the terminal holes 12 and around which the plug packing 40 is brought into close contact with the plug pins 2a to ensure waterproofness, and a fastening cover 50 for fastening the plug packing 40.

[26] Here, preferably, the closure member 30 constituting the safety device comprises a plate 31 which is formed with closure projections 33 to be inserted into and removed from the terminal holes 12 of the plug groove 1OA, and a rotation shaft 35 which is integral with the plate 31 and is defined with a threaded worm groove 37 (see FIG. 8). A closure member chamber 60 is fixedly installed below the terminal holes 12 of the plug groove 1OA, and a worm protrusion 63, which engages with the threaded worm groove 37, is formed on the circumferential inner surface of a through-hole 61 which is defined through the center of the bottom of the closure member chamber 60. A spring 38 is provided to elastically support the closure member 30. Two or four threaded worm grooves 37 may be defined on the closure member 30.

[27] Thanks to the above-described construction, when the plug pins 2a are inserted into the terminal holes 12, as the closure member 30 is pushed downward, the closure projections 33 are removed from the inner walls of the terminal holes 12 and can be rotated. Then, as the closure member 30 is continuously pushed downward, the closure projections 33 are rotated while the threaded worm groove 37 is guided by the worm protrusion 63, whereby the closure member 30 is moved out of the moving path of the plug pins 2a. Afterwards, if the plug pins 2a are removed from the terminal holes 12, the closure member 30 is moved upward and returned to its original position by the elastic force of the spring 38 and the guiding engagement of the threaded worm groove 37 and the worm protrusion 63.

[28] At this time, even when a playing child inserts a conductive article into one of the terminal holes 12, the closure member 30 is lopsided and is not rotated.

[29] Preferably, the plug packing 40 is formed with a bellows 43 around each terminal hole 41 to contract and expand, depending upon the diameter of the plug pin 2a. Also, the fastening cover 50 comprises a cover plate 51 and a pair of hooks 53 which are formed on the lower surface of the cover plate 51 at both lengthwise ends of the cover plate 51 to be hooked while defining a space 55 between the cover plate 51 and the bottom 11 of the plug groove 1OA, in which the plug packing 40 can be movably received. Further, hook holes 45 and 14 to be hooked with the hooks 53 are defined through the plug packing 40 and the bottom 11 of the plug groove 1OA. The plug packing 40 is made of a soft material.

[30] The space 55 for receiving the plug packing 40 functions to reduce friction when the plug pins 2a pass through the terminal holes 41, and thereby prevents wearing of and damage to the plug packing 40. The space 55 further allows the plug packing 40 to be moved depending upon the position of the plug pin 2a in the terminal hole 12 to be brought into close contact with the plug pin 2a.

[31] As described above, the plug pins 2a are manufactured to have diameters of 4 mm and 4.8 mm in conformity with international standards. In this regard, due to the fact that the plug packing 40 is formed to have the bellows 43, it is possible to appropriately absorb a manufacturing tolerance. Also, due to the fact that the plug packing 40 is brought into close contact with the plug pins 2a, total waterproofness can be ensured. The bellows can be formed to have a circular, spiral or quadrangular shape.

[32] Preferably, bellows packings 70 are installed in ground holes 13 which are defined through the bottom 11 of the plug groove 1OA to watertightly close the ground holes 13 while allowing ground terminals 27 to pass therethrough.

[33] The ground terminals 27 perform a grounding function and elastically grasp the body of the plug 2. Although the ground terminals 27 can be moved while the plug pins 2a are inserted into and removed from the terminal holes 12, since the bellows packings 70 are provided, waterproofness can be ensured even though movement of the ground terminals 27 is possible.

[34] Also, it is preferred that at least one drain opening 15 be defined through the side wall of the plug groove 1OA of the upper casing 10.

[35] Moreover, the terminal box 20 may be formed of a transparent material and defined with a drain opening 23, and a cover 25 having a packing 25a is fitted into the drain opening 23 (see FIG. 4).

[36] The cover 25 can be hingedly coupled to the terminal box 20 or be integrally formed therewith by way of a connection piece 29 made of a flexible material.

[37] Furthermore, a switch 80 which has a transparent soft cover 83 can be provided to the upper casing 10.

[38] In addition, protuberances 51a are formed on both lengthwise ends of the cover plate 51 of the fastening cover 50 to guide assembly of the fastening cover 50. Therefore, the assembly of the plug packing 40 and the fastening cover 50 in the plug groove 1OA can be easily conducted. The protuberances 51a are formed to correspond to recesses 17 which are defined on the side wall of the plug groove 1OA.

[39] Hereafter, the use of the waterproof safety plug socket 1 according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described.

[40] When plug pins 2a are inserted into the terminal holes 12, the plug packing 40 is brought into close contact with the plug pins 2a. If the plug pins 2a are removed from the terminal holes 12 to be in an unused state, the plug packing 40 is brought into close contact with the closure projections 33 of the closure member 30. In this way, water- proofness is always ensured.

[41] Also, due to the fact that the plug packing 40 is formed of a flexible material to allow the bellows 43 to expand and contract around the terminal holes 41, the plug packing 40 can be flexibly used for plug pins 2a having different diameters.

[42] Further, because the bellows packings 70 are provided to the ground terminals 27, total waterproofness can be ensured.

[43] In addition, because the drain opening 15 is defined through the side wall of the plug groove 1OA, in the case where water leaks into the plug groove 1OA, the water can be quickly drained.

[44] Moreover, as the terminal box 20 is made of a transparent material and the cover 25 having the packing 25 a is provided to the terminal box 20 and is prevented from being separated therefrom, possible flooding of the plug socket can be confirmed with the naked eyes, and administration and handling of the plug socket can be easily implemented.

[45] Also, in the present invention, a separate manipulation of opening and closing a cover, which is otherwise required in the conventional art when inserting and removing a plug into and from a plug socket, is not necessary. Therefore, while it is only necessary to insert and remove a plug into and from the plug socket as in the conventional plug socket, waterproofness and convenient use can be ensured through a simple structure.

[46] In the drawings and specification, typical preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and are not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

[1] A waterproof safety plug socket including an upper casing (10) which has at least one plug groove (10A) for protecting a plug (2) and a pair of terminal holes (12) defined in a bottom (11) of the plug groove (10A), a terminal box (20) in which connection terminals (21) are installed to be respectively aligned with the terminal holes (12), and a closure member (30) which is arranged between the terminal holes (12) and the connection terminals (21) and constitutes a safety device for automatically opening and closing the terminal holes (12) when plug pins (2a) are inserted into and removed from the terminal holes (12), the plug socket comprising: a plug packing (40) defined with terminal holes (41) which communicate with the terminal holes (12) and around which the plug packing (40) is brought into close contact with the plug pins (2a) to ensure waterproofness; and a fastening cover (50) for fastening the plug packing (40).

[2] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the closure member (30) comprises a plate (31) which is formed with closure projections (33) to be inserted into and removed from the terminal holes (12) of the plug groove (10A) and a rotation shaft (35) which is integral with the plate (31) and is defined with a threaded worm groove (37); a closure member chamber (60) is fixedly installed below the terminal holes (12) of the plug groove (10A), and a worm protrusion (63), which engages with the threaded worm groove (37), is formed on a circumferential inner surface of a through-hole (61) which is defined through a center of a bottom of the closure member chamber (60); and a spring (38) is provided to elastically support the closure member (30).

[3] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plug packing (40) is formed with a bellows (43) around each terminal hole (41) to contract and expand depending upon a diameter of the plug pin (2a); the fastening cover (50) comprises a cover plate (51) and a pair of hooks (53) which are formed on a lower surface of the cover plate (51) at both lengthwise ends of the cover plate (51) to be hooked while defining a space (55) between the cover plate (51) and the bottom (11) of the plug groove (10A), in which the plug packing (40) can be movably received; and hook holes (45 and 14) to be hooked with the hooks (53) are defined through the plug packing (40) and the bottom (11) of the plug groove (10A).

[4] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein bellows packings (70) are installed in ground holes (13) which are defined through the bottom (11) of the plug groove (10A) to watertightly close the ground holes (13) while allowing ground terminals (27) to pass through them. [5] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one drain opening (15) is defined through a side wall of the plug groove (10A) of the upper casing (10). [6] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the terminal box (20) is formed of a transparent material and is defined with a drain opening

(23); and a cover (25) having a packing (25a) is fitted into the drain opening

(23). [7] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein a switch (80) which has a transparent soft cover (83) is provided to the upper casing (10). [8] The waterproof safety plug socket as set forth in claim 1, wherein protuberances

(51a) are formed on both lengthwise ends of the cover plate (51) of the fastening cover (50) to guide assembly of the fastening cover (50).