EP3014711A1

EP3014711A1 - Electrical plug

Info

Publication number: EP3014711A1
Application number: EP14736472.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pawel Matyjaszczyk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-25
Filing date: 2014-05-30
Publication date: 2016-05-04
Also published as: WO2014209143A1

Abstract

Electrical plug comprising a housing (1), in which there are arranged and protrude from its front surface (2) contact pins (3). Inside the housing (1) there is at least one through channel (9,14), in which there is inserted a stem (10,21) of the ejector (11.15). Along a length from the front surface the channel is widened on at least one side by the amount of (m). The ejector (11,15) is formed from at least one stem (10,21) terminated with a button (16) entering a recess (12) and that stem has on its side surface at least one hook-shaped latch (17) entering into the widening (m) of the channel (9,14). The hook-shaped latch (17) is formed by an inclined surface (18,22), a surface of a longitudinal slot (19,23) and a surface of a cross indentation (20,24), and its height is slightly less than the amount (m) of the widening of the channel (9,14), wherein the cross indentation (20,24) is located at the front side hook-shaped latch (17), in the view from the front side of the stem (10,21).

Description

Electrical plug

The invention relates to electrical plug containing a mechanical system allowing the plug to be more easily removed from an electrical socket. In the known and utilized electrical plugs there are often difficulties to remove the plug from the electrical socket. These difficulties arise from excessive pressure of contact elements embedded in the electrical socket on the plug's pins. High pressure of the contacting components, preferred because of the conduction of electric current, makes difficult to remove the plug from the electrical socket and therefore pull out of the electrical socket from the wall may occur.

Patent description DE 19708800 Al, describes an electrical plug having a body, in which there are embedded contact pins connected with electric conductors. In the middle of the body there is a through-hole, in which there is a pushpin with a length greater than the length of the hole, and the neck of said body is tapered allowing for fingers hold. Pulling the plug from an electrical socket requires grasping the body with fingers and pressing on an ejector, which by pushing on the inner surface of the socket causes the plug to eject. An electrical plug known from patent description DE 19513170, like the one presented above, is equipped with an ejector extending throughout the through-hole in the body. This ejector is equipped on the one end with a shaped button and from the electrical socket side with cross foot. Pulling the plug from the socket is similar to the previous solution, it takes place after pressing the button while supporting the body. A similar solution for plugs for electrical connections is known from the patent application PL 368217 Al. In this solution a housing have sideways projecting tabs, and in its through-channel has a slider with a working tip, extended in its extreme position beyond the front surface. The slider on its end, opposite to the working tip has a button used to actuate when removing the plug from the electrical socket.

From polish patent description PL 189433 there is known an electrical plug containing a mechanical system assisting in the plug removal from an electrical socket. This system has the form of a slider located in the channel in the central part of the plug and connected to the slider assembly allowing for the slider movement. The arms of two levers are based on the rear surface of the slider, the levers are mounted on the axis of its rotation, which are mounted within the plug housing on both sides of the slider. The slider located in the channel of the housing has, in its axis, a guide groove and a returning spring placed in it, the spring is based on one end on the pin mounted in the housing. In order to remove the plug from the electrical socket its needed to squeeze in hand the outer arms of lever - bringing them closer to each other. The lever pressure moves out the slider from the plug housing and through it, it ejects the plug from the electrical socket.

The problem to solve is to provide a plug constructed in a way that it can be easily removed from the electrical socket without the of fear loosening or even detachment of the socket from the wall. At the same time, the plug should be ergonomic, is, easy to grasp and remove using only one hand. In order to meet this condition, the plug should have dimensions no larger than a standard plug, which allows plugging-in of several plugs next to each other, to the sockets arranged in standardized distances on the power strip.

The problem is solved by a plug according to the invention (which may be any standard plug), in which there is implemented an improved mechanical system, assisting in removing it from the electrical socket. Standard plug has a housing, in which there are arranged and protrude from the front surface contact pins. On its side, the housing has a lug, through which the power cord is run and connected to the contact pins. On the sidewall, near the rear surface the housing has an omnidirectional protrusion or at least two protrusions. At the rear, the housing incorporates a bottomed recess. Inside of the housing there is at least one through channel, that extends from the bottom of the recess to the front surface and it is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the contact pins. In the channel there is an inserted stem terminated with a button entering into the recess, wherein the steam and the button assemble an ejector.

The plug according to the invention is characterized in that, the through channel on the part of its length, not less than 5 mm, from the front side is widened, at least one side by an amount "m", and the stem has on its side surface, at least one hook-shaped latch entering the widening of the channel m, wherein said hook-shaped latch is formed by the inclined surface, the surface area of the longitudinal slot and the surface of the cross indentation. Material used for the steam and consistent with it hook-shaped latch has elastic properties. The height of the hook-shaped latch in an unloaded position is equal to or lesser than the amount "m" of the widening of the channel. In the basic embodiment, there is a cross indentation at the front side hook- shaped latch, in the view from the front side of the steam.

Formed in this way hook-shaped latch due to the presence on its front of the inclined surface and from the bottom of the longitudinal slot, is subject to bending during the insertion of the stem into the housing channel. By sliding the stem in the channel to a position at which the hook-shaped latch is moved to the area, in which the channel is widened by the amount "m", loosening of the bended latch takes place and it hooks on the ledge in the channel.

In the alternative embodiment, the cross indentation is situated on the rear side of the hook-shaped latch, when viewed from the front side of the steam. This cross indentation forms a resistance surface. In this case, the height "w" of the hook-shaped latch, in an unloaded position, is equal to or lesser than the amount "m" of widening of the channel. Formed in this way hook-shaped latch has a reinforced structure. It's inclined surface begins from a side surface of the steam and, in the normal position - not pressed, rises until reaching the height "w". It's cross-section, largest at the base, which is a condition of increased strength, gently decreases over the entire length and the resistance surface is formed by it's entire rear surface. The hook-shaped latch springy bended during the insertion of the stem in the channel, after the movement beyond the surface of the ledge of the widening "m" loosens and it's resistance surface moves into the widening "m" and hooks behind that ledge, preventing its withdrawal. In both, the first, and the second embodiment, after hooking it is impossible to retract or withdraw of the stem back. Further movement of the stem and at the same time the entire ejector takes place in the work area, that is, the position, at which the front the stem is retracted or flush with the front surface of the plug, to the position at which the front the stem protrudes beyond that surface to a distance of not less than 13 mm. With this movement of the ejector, the plug is removed from the electrical socket. The steam, in a different embodiment, in the cross-sectional has a shape resembling the letter T and has a high strength despite being weakened by a cut of the longitudinal slot and the cross indentation. Moreover, such a shape of the ejector steam is preferable because of the arrangement of the channels and the other parts of the plug, which is clearly visible in the front view of the plug. The dimensional sizes of the channel cross-section together with its widening "m" and the dimensional sizes of the cross-sectional of the stem together with the hook-shaped latch are mutually selected to form a sliding fit, which facilitates the relative sliding motion of these elements.

Between the bottom of the recess and the button there is a compression spring, of which one end is mounted on the pin located in the middle of the inner sidewall of the button and the other end is based on the front surface of the bore in the wall of the bottom. This spring keeps the ejector in the maximum retracted position "to the back," at which the front surfaces of the stems of the ejector are fully retracted. In embodiment of the plug, in which there is the ejector with one steam, the compression spring is applied on said stem, and spring's one end is based the inner surface of the button and the other end is based on the front surface of the bore in the wall of the bottom.

The plug according to the invention has a compact and simple to implement design. In comparison to other known mechanisms facilitating the removal of the plug from electrical socket it has basically just differently formed elements, that is, a channel, in which there is widening by amount m and the stem of the ejector with hook-shaped latches. Thus shaped elements do not increase the cost of construction of the plug, but fundamentally facilitate their mutual assembly, which simply consists of inserting the stem or the steams of the ejector into the channel in the housing in the plug. In case of damage to the ejector, it shall be discarded, and the new, undamaged ejector inserted in the channel. An additional element used in the ejector is a spring, which the installation involves positioning of the spring on the steam on the inner wall of the button and pressing the stems of the ejector into the channels in the housing. In the plug with a single channel, the spring slides over the stem, and in this position steam of the ejector is pressed into the channel in the plug's housing. The ejector button is partly housed in the cavity of the housing and as the movable element is shielded by this housing against possible damage and unwanted pressing. On the sidewall of the housing there is an omnidirectional protrusion or at least two protrusions. The omnidirectional protrusion implemented in high power plugs, increases their ergonomics, as the plug to be removed can be grasped with the fingers, by sliding them from any position and at any angle. Universal plugs and low power plugs have two protrusions located on opposite sides, which also makes them comfortable in use. After inserting fingers under the omnidirectional protrusion or side protrusion on the connector housing, and pressing thumb on the button causes the free eject of the plug from the wall socket. During removing of the plug, the electrical socket is not affected. Preferred examples of the invention will be described with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a medium power plug in a perspective view, from the front,

Figure 2 shows the same plug in a view from the front,

Figure 3 shows the plug in longitudinal section according to the line C-C indicated in the Figure 2,

Figure 4 shows an ejector in a perspective view,

Figure 5 shows a high power plug in a perspective view, from the front,

Figure 6 shows the same plug in a view from the front,

Figure 7 shows the plug in longitudinal section according to the line A- A indicated in the Figure 6,

Figure 8 shows a low power plug in a perspective view, from the front,

Figure 9 shows the same plug in a view from the front,

Figure 10 shows a longitudinal section of the plug according to the line A- A indicated in the Figure 9,

Figure 11 shows an ejector of that plug in a perspective view.

Figure 12 shows a variant embodiment of the plug in perspective view from the rear, Figure 13 shows the same plug in the view from the front,

Figure 14 shows the plug in longitudinal section, according to the line A- A indicated in Figure 13, where the visualized ejector is maximally retracted to the back,

Figure 15 shows the plug in longitudinal section, according to the line A-A indicated in Figure 13, -as before, where the visualized ejector is maximally extended to the front,

Figure 16 shows the plug in longitudinal section, according to the line B-B indicated in Figure 13, where the ejector and the spring are visualized,

Figure 17 shows the ejector of this plug in a perspective view,

Fig. 18 shows the ejector in a side view in the direction of arrow C indicated in Figure 17. Example of the invention 1 - a universal medium power plug.

Shown in Fig. l, Fig.2, Fig.3 and Fig.4 a medium power plug has a housing 1, in which there are arranged and protrude from its front surface 2 contact pins 3. On its side, the housing 1 has a lug 4 through which a power cord 5 is run and connected to the contact pins 3. On the sidewall, near a rear surface 6 the housing 1 has two symmetrically arranged protrusions 8 and inside the housing 1 there are two through channels 9, in which stems 10 of an ejector 11 are inserted. The housing 1 comprises a recess 12 with a bottom 13 located in the rear side of said housing. Each of the through channels 9 passes from the bottom 13 to the front surface 2 and its parallel to the longitudinal axis of the contact pins 3. Each of the two through channels 9 on a length corresponding to the length of the contact pin, that is about 19 mm from the front surface 2 is widened on one side by the amount of m = 1.6 mm. Used in this plug the ejector 11 is formed from two stems 10 terminated with integrated button 16 entering the recess 12. The stem 10 has on its side surface a hook-shaped latch 17 entering, in the assembled plug, into the widening "ni" of the channel 9. The hook- shaped latch 17 is formed by an inclined surface 18, the surface of a longitudinal slot 19 and a surface of a cross indentation 20. The height of the latch is slightly lesser than the amount m = 1.6 mm of the widening channel 9. The longitudinal slot 19 allows for bending of the hook-shaped latch 17 during insertion of the stems 10 of the ejector 11 into the through channels 9. Between the bottom 13 of the recess 12 and the button 13 there is a compression spring 26, of which one end is mounted on a pin 25 located in the middle of the inner sidewall of the button 16 and the other end is based on the front surface of a bore 27 in the wall of the bottom 13. It is possible to construct a plug without the compression spring 26. But then the ejector 11 can occupy any position in the channel 9 and then the steams 10 can extend from the front side 2 of the plug that is not inserted into the electrical socket.

Example of the invention 2 - a high power plug. Shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 a high power plug is different from the universal medium power, as described in detail in the example 1 , by implementation of omnidirectional protrusion 8 (instead of the two protrusions 7). The protrusion 8 also acts as a shield for a button 16 and completely shields the button 16.

Example of the invention 3 - a low power plug.

Shown in Fig.8, Fig.9, Fig.10 and Fig.11 a low power plug has a flattened housing 1 , in which there are arranged and protrude from its front surface 2 contact pins 3. On its flat side, the housing 1 has a lug 4 through which a power cord 5 is run and connected to the contact pins 3. On the sidewall, near a rear surface 6 the housing 1 has two arc- shaped protrusions 8 adapted to the fingers. Inside the housing 1 there is one through channel 14, in which stem 21 of an ejector 5 is inserted. The housing 1 comprises a recess 12 with a bottom 13 located in the rear side of said housing. The through channel 14 passes from the bottom 13 to the front surface 2 and its parallel to the longitudinal axis of the contact pins 3. The through channel 14 along the length of 19 mm from the front surface 2 is widened symmetrically on both sides by an amount m = 1.6 mm on each side. Used in this plug the ejector 15 is formed from one stem 21 terminated with an integrated button 16 entering the recess 12. The stem 21 has on its side surface, symmetrically on both sides, hook-shaped latches 17 entering, in the assembled plug, into the widening m of the central channel 14. Each of the hook- shaped latches 17 is formed by an inclined surface 22, the surface of a longitudinal slot 23 and a surface of a cross indentation 24. The height of the latch is slightly lesser than the amount m = 1.6 mm of the widening channel 14. The longitudinal slots 23 allow for bending of the both hook-shaped latches 17 during insertion of the stem 21 of the ejector 15 into the through channel 14. Between the bottom 13 of the recess 12 and the button 16 there is a compression spring 26, which is mounted on the steam 21, the spring's one end is based on the inner surface of the sidewall of the button 16 and the other end is based on the front surface of a bore 27 in the wall of the bottom 13. Similarly, this plug can also be used without the compression spring.

Example 4 - variant embodiment of the plug.

Plug in a variant embodiment is shown in Fig.12 to Fig. 18. The plug has a housing 1, in which there are arranged and protrude from its front surface 2, contact pins 3. On its side, the housing 1 has a lug 4 through which a power cord 5 is run and connected to the contact pins 3. On the sidewall, near a rear surface 6 the housing 1 has two symmetrically arranged protrusions 8 made in a way, that in the front of said protrusions, there is indentation 8, thereby, the overall dimensions are not enlarged. Inside of the housing 1 there are two through channels 9, in which stems 10 of an ejector 11 are inserted. The housing 1 comprises a recess 12 with a bottom 13 located in the rear side of said housing. Each of the through channels 9 passes from the bottom 13 to the front surface 2 and it is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the contact pins 3. Each of the two through channels 9 on a length similar to the length of the contact pin, that is about 15 mm from the front surface 2 is widened on the both sides by the amount of m = 1.8 mm. Used in this plug ejector 11, made of elastic material is formed from two stems 10 terminated, with integrated with the steams button 16 entering the recess 12. The steam 10 having a cross sectional shape resembling the letter T, has on its side surface hook-shaped latches 17 entering, in the assembled plug, into the widening "m" of the channel 9. Each of the hook-shaped latches 17 is formed by an inclined surface 18, the surface of a longitudinal slot 19 and a surface of a cross indentation 20 situated from the back, so that the surface is a resistance surface 28. The height of the latch "w" measured from the side surface of the stem 10 is w = 1.5 mm. The longitudinal slot 19 allows for springy bending of the hook-shaped latch 17 in order to inserting the stems 10 of the ejector 11 into the through channels 9. During insertion of the stems 10 of the ejector 11 in the channels 9, the front edges and walls of the channels 9 press against inclined surfaces 18 of the hook-shaped latches, which bend and hide in the longitudinal slots. After further movement of the stems 10 beyond the surface of a ledge 29, which begins widening "m", the hook-shaped latches loosen and the resistance surfaces 28 hook behind the surface of the ledge 29. Between the bottom 13 of the recess 12 and a button 16 there is a compression spring 26, of which one end is mounted on a pin 25 located in the middle of the inner sidewall of the button 16 and the other end is based on the front surface of a bore 27 in the wall of the bottom 13.

It is possible to construct a plug without the compression spring 26. But then the ejector 11 can occupy any position in the channel 9 and then the steams 10 can extend from the front side 2 of the plug, which is not inserted into the electrical socket.

Claims

1. An electrical plug cooperating with electrical sockets, comprising a housing (1), in which there are arranged, and protrude from its front surface (2), contact pins (3), and the housing (1) has:

on the side - a lug (4) through which a power cord (5) is run and connected to the contact pins (3),

on the sidewall, near a rear surface (6) - an omnidirectional protrusion (7) or at least two protrusions (8),

at rear - a recess (12) with a bottom (13),

and inside - at least one through channel (9,14), which passes from the bottom (13) to the front surface (2) and its parallel to the longitudinal axis of the contact pins (3), and in this channel (9,14) there is inserted a steam (10,21) terminated with a button (16), which enters the recess (12),

and that stem (10,21) and the button (16 ) form an ejector (11,15),

characterized in that, the through channel (9,14) along a part of the length, not lesser than 5mm from the front surface (2) is widened, on at least one side by the amount of (m), and the stream (10,21) has on its side surface at least one, hook- shaped latch (17) entering into the widening (m) of the channel (9,14), wherein the hook-shaped latch (17) is formed by an inclined surface (18,22), a surface of a longitudinal slot (19,23) and a surface of a cross indentation (20,24).

2. The electrical plug according to claim 1, characterized in that, material used for the steam (10,21) and consistent with it hook-shaped latch (17) has elastic properties.

3. The electrical plug according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the height of the hook-shaped latch (17) in an unloaded position is equal to or lesser than the amount (m) of the widening of the channel (9,14).

4. The electrical plug according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the cross indentation (20) is situated on the rear side of the hook-shaped latch (17), when viewed from the front side of the steam (10), and forms a resistance surface (28), and the height (w) of the hook-shaped latch (17), in an unloaded position, is equal to or lesser than the amount (m) of widening of the channel (9).

5. The electrical plug according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that, the steam (10) in cross-sectional has a shape resembling the letter T.

6. The electrical plug according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that, between the bottom (13) of the recess (12) and the button (16) there is a compression spring (26), of which one end is mounted on a pin (25) located in the middle of the inner sidewall of the button (16) and the other end is based on the front surface of a bore (27) in the wall of the bottom (13).

7. The electrical plug according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that, between the bottom (13) of the recess (12) and the button (16) there is a compression spring (26), mounted on the steam (21), the spring's one end is based on the inner surface of the button (16) and the other end is based on the front surface of a bore (27) in the wall of the bottom (13).