JP2009104880A - Plug conversion mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fix a plug conversion adaptor to the side of an AC adaptor without adding restrictions on the shape and the size or the like to the AC adaptor. <P>SOLUTION: Pins provided at recessed insertion parts of conversion plugs are fitted and fixed to holes provided in parallel plug parts of an AC adaptor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an AC adapter that converts a commercial power source into a power source suitable for an electric device to be used, and a battery charger that is connected to the commercial power source and charges a battery.

  In the prior art, the AC adapter is attached with a plug that matches the standard of the country in which it is used. To use it in a country where the shape of the power outlet is different, it is necessary to convert it to a plug suitable for that country. A plug conversion adapter that is attached to the plug and converts the shape of the plug is used. If it is simply attached to the plug, the coupling force is weak and there is a risk of dropping off. For this reason, a mechanism for fixing to a portion where the AC adapter and the plug conversion adapter are coupled is provided. As a mechanism, it has a structure having a guide mechanism and a lock mechanism for determining and fixing both the AC adapter and the plug conversion adapter. (For example, a structure that is fixed by attaching a positioning groove and a locking hole on the AC adapter side, a rib that fits into the groove of the AC adapter on the plug conversion adapter side, and a fixed projection of a moving structure that fits into the lock hole. .

As an example of the above, Patent Document 1 below can be cited.
JP 2002-1981146 A

  In the prior art, a special mechanism is required for both the plug conversion adapter and the AC adapter in order to fix the plug conversion adapter to the AC adapter, and it is necessary to add a dedicated structure to the AC adapter. For this reason, there is a problem that the shape becomes large due to the restriction of the shape and the added structure.

  In the case of using the AC adapter without using the plug conversion adapter, the fixing mechanism for the plug conversion adapter that is not required remains attached, so that neither the shape nor the dimensions are optimal.

  By adding a mechanism to fix the plug conversion adapter without adding a restriction to the shape of the AC adapter or a mechanism that prevents downsizing, the optimal shape can be achieved both when the plug conversion adapter is installed and when it is not installed. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention according to the present application has a structure in which a hole is added to the plug portion of the AC adapter, and a pin having a moving mechanism is arranged in the plug insertion portion of the plug conversion adapter. When the terminal of the AC adapter is inserted into the plug insertion portion of the plug conversion adapter, the pin that is engaged with the hole formed in the plug portion of the AC adapter is fixed by being inserted into the hole. The mechanism on the side of the AC adapter for fixing the plug conversion adapter only requires a hole in the plug, and does not require a mechanism that affects the shape and structure.

  The second invention according to the present application is characterized in that the mechanism of claim 1 is also used for a battery charger.

  In the prior art, a special mechanism for coupling and fixing to both the AC adapter and the plug conversion adapter is required. As a result, the AC adapter cannot avoid the restriction of the shape due to the coupling mechanism and the enlargement of the external shape, and it is the minimum and optimal shape and design for use when using the AC adapter alone without using the plug conversion adapter. I couldn't.

  According to the first invention of the present application, only the plug portion is perforated on the AC adapter side, and there is no influence on the design, structure, and external dimensions, and both the size and shape of the AC adapter are optimized. be able to.

  In addition, as long as there is a hole in the plug part of the AC adapter, the plug conversion adapter can be used in common, and even if it has a structure in which a storage mechanism is added to the plug part, it is not affected by the storage method at all, Plug conversion adapter can be shared.

  According to the second invention of the present application, the plug conversion mechanism of the first invention is also added to the battery charger. Battery chargers require higher portability than AC adapters, and since there is no DC cable, the difference in size and design during storage appears significantly. For this reason, an effect becomes still larger.

  Further, when carrying a plurality of power supplies for traveling or the like, the load can be reduced because the plug conversion adapter can be shared.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment, in which 1 is an AC adapter that converts a commercial power source to a power source required by an electrical device, and 1-1 is a shape that can be plugged into a Japanese commercial power outlet. Plug, 1-1-1 is a fixing hole for fixing in the AC plug, 1-2 is a DC cable for supplying power to an electric device, 2 is a plug conversion adapter for converting a plug shape to be plugged into an outlet, -1 is a conversion adapter housing containing the mechanical parts of the plug conversion adapter 2, 2-3 is a release lever for releasing the fixation of the AC adapter 1 and the plug conversion adapter 2, and 2-6 is plugged into a European commercial power outlet. This is a conversion plug with a shape that enables

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the AC adapter 1 and the plug conversion adapter 2 coupled together, and 1-1-2 is a front end of the AC plug 1-1 for making it easier to enter the plug insertion part 2-1-1. The chamfered portion, 2-1-1 is a plug insertion portion for inserting the AC plug 1-1 into the plug conversion adapter 2, and 2-1-2 is the positioning of the lock mechanism for fixing the plug conversion adapter 2 to the AC adapter. 2-2 is a lock pin for fixing the plug conversion adapter 2 to the AC adapter, and 2-2-1 is a part of the lock pin 2-2 that engages with the fixing hole 1-1-1. The fixed shaft 2-2-2 is a guide portion for allowing the lock pin 2-2 to be retracted backward when the lock pin 2-2 is in contact with the AC plug 1-1, and 2-2-3 is the lock pin 2-2. Mating groove for regulating rotation and interlocking with release lever, 3-1 is a knob to which a finger is applied to move the release lever 2-3, 2-3-2 is an interlocking plate for moving the lock pin 2-2 in conjunction with the release lever 2-3, and 2-4 is a release. A spring 2-5 for applying a force in the fixing direction to the lever is a contact plate for electrically coupling the AC plug 1-1 and the conversion plug 2-6.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in a state where the AC adapter 1 and the plug conversion adapter 2 are coupled, and 2-1-3 is a sliding groove which is a guide groove for locating and sliding the release lever 2-3. The moving grooves, 2-3-3 are fitted with the sliding grooves 2-1-3, and the sliding ribs are fitting portions for sliding the release lever 2-3, and 2-5-1 is the contact plate 2-5. Is a contact part which becomes a part which contacts AC plug 1-1.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the AC adapter 1 and the plug conversion adapter 2 taken along the line BB.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in a state where the AC adapter 1 and the plug conversion adapter 2 are coupled.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a state when the plug conversion adapter 2 is attached to the AC adapter 1.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a state when the plug conversion adapter 2 is removed from the AC adapter 1.

  The AC adapter 1 is usually used by inserting the AC plug 1-1 into a Japanese commercial power outlet. The power supplied from the AC plug 1-1 is converted by the electric circuit in the AC adapter 1 and supplied with power suitable for the electric equipment connected to the DC cable 1-2 through the DC cable 1-2.

  When the electric device connected to the AC adapter 1 is used in Europe, it cannot be used as it is because the outlet shape of the commercial power source is different.

  In order to use, the AC plug 1-1 of the AC adapter 1 is inserted into the plug insertion part 2-1-1 of the plug conversion adapter 2 and coupled.

  The plug conversion adapter 2 has a guide hole 2-1-2 formed in the side surface of the plug insertion part 2-1-1, and is attached without any gap in a slidable state with the lock pin 2-2. A part of the lock pin 2-2 has a sliding groove 2-1-3 in a two-sided manner and engages with the interlocking plate 2-3-2 protruding from the release lever 2-3 so that it cannot rotate. Connected. The release lever 2-3 is a sliding groove 2-1-3 and a sliding rib 2-3-3 provided in the conversion adapter housing 2-1, and the lock pin 2-2 is connected to the plug insertion portion 2-1. -1 is coupled in a movable state in the direction of entering and exiting, and a force is applied in the direction of entering the plug insertion portion 2-1-1 by the spring 2-4.

  When the AC plug 1-1 of the AC adapter 1 is inserted into the plug insertion part 2-1-1 of the plug conversion adapter 2, the chamfered part 1-1-2 of the AC plug 1-1 is moved as shown in FIG. The lock pin 2-2 is pushed out in the F direction by coming into contact with the guide portion 2-2-2 of the lock pin 2-2, and the AC plug 1-1 can be further inserted. When the AC plug 1-1 reaches the deepest part of the plug insertion part 2-1-1, the AC plug 1-1 is opened as shown in FIG. The position of the pin 2-2 is matched and the fixed shaft 2-2-1 of the lock pin 2-2 is fixed by fitting with the fixing hole 1-1-1.

  At this time, the conversion plug 2-6 attached to the plug conversion adapter 2 is coupled to the contact plate 2-5 inside the plug conversion adapter 2, and the contact plate 2-5 is cut off of the plug insertion portion 2-1-1. The contact portion 2-5-1 protrudes from the notch and is electrically coupled by contacting the AC plug 1-1.

  Plug the conversion plug 2-6 of the plug conversion adapter 2 into a European commercial power outlet. The power is supplied from the conversion plug 2-6 to the AC plug 1-1 through the contact plate 2-5, and the power converted by the electric circuit inside the AC power supply is supplied to the electric equipment via the DC cable 1-2. .

  To remove the plug conversion adapter 2 from the AC adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 7, the knob 2-3-1 of the release lever 2-3 is pushed in the G direction. As a result, the lock pin 2-2 coupled to the interlocking plate 2-3-2 of the release lever 2-3 also moves in conjunction with the fixing hole 1-1-1 and the lock pin 2 provided in the AC plug 1-1. -2 fixed shaft 2-2-1 is disengaged, and there is no longer any thing that restrains plug conversion adapter 2 and AC adapter 1.

Example configuration diagram Example cross section AA diagram of the embodiment BB diagram of the embodiment CC diagram of the embodiment State diagram when the plug conversion adapter of the embodiment is installed State diagram when unlocking the embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1 AC adapter 1-1 AC plug 1-1-1 fixing hole 1-1-2 chamfered portion 1-2 DC cable 2 plug conversion adapter 2-1 conversion adapter housing 2-1-1 plug insertion portion 2-1 2 Guide hole 2-1-3 Sliding groove 2-2 Lock pin 2-2-1 Fixed shaft 2-2-2 Guide part 2-2-3 Fitting groove 2-3 Release lever 2-3-1 Knob 2- 3-2 Interlocking plate 2-3-3 Sliding rib 2-4 Spring 2-5 Contact plate 2-5-1 Contact part 2-6 Conversion plug F Moving direction G Direction of load applied to the knob

Claims (2)

A plug conversion mechanism comprising an AC adapter having a first plug having the first form, and a structure for coupling to the first plug part and a plug conversion adapter having a second plug having a different form from the first plug. There,
A hole is provided in the first plug, and there is a movable pin in the part that is connected to the first plug of the plug conversion adapter. Plug conversion mechanism characterized by   2. The plug conversion mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the device to which the plug conversion adapter is attached is a battery charger.

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