WO2011042783A1

WO2011042783A1 - Receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2011042783A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/002470
Authority: WO
Inventors: Noboru Hashimotu; Maki Kondou
Original assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-10-05
Filing date: 2010-09-30
Publication date: 2011-04-14
Also published as: CN102576958B; JP4951048B2; WO2011042783A8; TWI406456B; TW201125232A; KR20120072379A; KR101323504B1; JP2011081962A; CN102576958A

Abstract

There is provided a receptacle capable of reducing an impact caused by closing of a receptacle cover and preventing a breakage of the receptacle cover against a plurality of opening/closing motions. The receptacle cover 2 is attached to a shaft 32 and the shaft 32 is inserted through an insertion hole 33a of a damper member 33, so that the damper member 33 is provided pivotally relative to the shaft 32. When the receptacle cover 2 pivots, the shaft 32 pivots with the receptacle cover 2 integrally. Accordingly, the shaft 32 and the damper member 33 come into friction contact with each other. This provides sliding resistance between the damper member 33 and the shaft 32 to reduce a pivot speed of the receptacle cover 2, thereby reducing an impact occurred when the receptacle cover 2 comes into contact with a receptacle body.

Description

RECEPTACLE

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receptacle provided with a cover that covers a pin insertion port.

Background of the Invention Conventionally, an outdoor receptacle attached to such as an outer wall of a house is known. Such outdoor receptacle, for example, has been used for an outdoor lighting device or the like, and is increasingly used for charging an electric car in recent year .

In order to prevent water such as rain water from infiltrating into a pin insertion port of such outdoor receptacle, there is provided a receptacle cover disclosed in, e.g. , Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-158345) , in which the pin insertion port ("a plug-in port" as described in Patent Document 1) is closed with the cover ("a lid" as described in Patent Document 1) while no plug is connected to the outdoor receptacle.

In the above conventional structure, the receptacle is accommodated in a case ("a cover body" as described in Patent Document 1) in such a way that a pin insertion port thereof is exposed, and a cover covers the pin insertion port of the receptacle, the cover being pivotally attached to the case through a pivot shaft. Further, the cover is biased to a cover closing direction (a direction of covering the pin insertion port) by a biasing member such as a spring, so that the cover

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C0NFIR ATI0N COPY is automatically closed while no plug is connected to the receptacle. Furthermore, a convex sliding contact part is provided in the cover and a planar sliding contact part is provided in the case. Since such sliding contact parts are in friction with each other just before the cover is closed, the pivot speed of the cover can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the damage of the cover and a loud noise due to an impact caused by closing of the cover. Summary of the Invention

In the above conventional structure, however, the sliding contact parts need be provided in both of the case and the cover, which makes the case and the cover bulky disadvantageously. Further, to make the pivot speed of the cover reduced to an appropriate speed when the cover is being closed, it is required to align the positions of the cover and the case such that the sliding contact parts come into slight contact with each other, which makes the manufacture thereof difficult.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a receptacle capable of being manufactured easily and reducing an impact caused by closing of a cover.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receptacle includes:

a receptacle body having a plug-insertion surface with pin insertion ports, plug pins of a plug being detachably inserted into the respective pin insertion ports;

a receptacle cover pivotable between a closed position in which the plug-insertion surface of the receptacle body is covered and an opened position in which the plug- insertion surface of the receptacle body is exposed to the outside;

a supporting part pivotally supporting the receptacle cover with respect to the receptacle body about a pivot shaft provided at one end of the receptacle cover, the pivot shaft being fixed to the receptacle cover to pivot with the receptacle cover together; and

a biasing member biasing the receptacle cover to the closed position,

wherein the supporting part is provided with a damper member having a shaft hole through which the pivot shaft is to be inserted, the damper member weakening a biasing force applied to the receptacle cover from the biasing member by adding a sliding resistance when the receptacle cover pivots with respect to the supporting part.

In accordance with such configuration, the receptacle cover biased to the closed position is attached to the pivot shaft, and to the pivot shaft, the damper member is attached so as to come into contact with the pivot shaft. Accordingly, the closing force of the receptacle cover when the receptacle cover pivots to the closed position is weakened by the sliding resistance generated between the pivot shaft and the damper member. Thus, an impact caused by closing of the receptacle cover can be reduced. Further, since the damper member for adding the sliding resistance is provided integrally with the supporting part, neither the receptacle body nor the receptacle cover increase their sizes, unlike the conventional receptacle. Furthermore, there is no need to align the damper member, unlike the conventional receptacle, thereby enabling to assemble the receptacle with ease.

In the state where the receptacle body is installed on a wall surface such that its plug-insertion surface faces approximately downward and in the state where the receptacle cover is in the closed position, the supporting part supports a lower end portion of the receptacle cover. In the receptacle cover, there may be provided a drain hole that defines a gap between the receptacle cover and the supporting part, the water flowing along a surface of the receptacle cover opposed to the receptacle body being drained through the drain hole to the outside .

In accordance with such configuration, in the state where the receptacle body is installed on a wall surface , the supporting part supports the lower end portion of the receptacle cover when the receptacle cover is closed. In the receptacle cover, the drain hole is formed to define a gap between the receptacle cover and the supporting part. Even if rain water, for example, infiltrates into a space defined by the receptacle cover and the receptacle body (in this space, there is provided the pin insertion ports of the receptacle) , the infiltrated water is discharged through the drain hole to the outside. Accordingly, undesirable accidents such as a short circuit between pin receivers due to the infiltration of the water into the pin insertion ports of the receptacle can be avoided. Further, among the infiltrated water into this space, the water flowing downwardly along the surface of the receptacle cover opposed to the receptacle body is discharged through the drain hole to the outside without reaching the supporting part. Therefore, the water can hardly infiltrate into the supporting part, and the damper member provided in the supporting part is prevented from deteriorating due to the water.

Besides, on the surface of the receptacle cover opposed to the receptacle body, there may be provided a rib for guiding the water flowing along the surface to the drain hole in the state where the receptacle cover is in the closed position.

In accordance with such configuration, on the surface of the receptacle cover opposed to the receptacle body, there is provided the rib for guiding water to the drain hole . Such configuration is allowed to guide water flowing along the surface to the drain hole. Accordingly, it becomes difficult for the water to infiltrate into the supporting part, and the damper member provided in the supporting part is reliably prevented from deteriorating due to the water.

Further, a waterproof seal packing may be provided on a portion being in contact with receptacle body in the receptacle, cover, in the state where the receptacle cover is in the closed position.

In accordance with such configuration, since the waterproof seal packing is provided on the receptacle cover, the infiltration of the water into the space defined by the receptacle cover and the receptacle body can be avoided.

Furthermore, on at least one of opposed surfaces of the receptacle cover and the receptacle body, there may be provided a buffer member for reducing the impact occurred when the receptacle cover pivots to the closed position.

In accordance with such configuration, since the buffer member is provided on at least one of the opposed surfaces of the receptacle cover and the receptacle body, the impact caused by closing of the receptacle cover is reduced more than a receptacle cover with no buffer member.

Further, in the receptacle cover, there may be provided a holding part for holding the plug to keep a state in which the plug pins are being inserted into the pin insertion ports when the plug pins of the plug are inserted into the pin insertion ports .

In accordance with such configuration, since the receptacle cover is provided with the holding part for holding the plug, the plug is prevented from disengaging automatically even when a user removes his/her hand from the plug in the state where the plug pins are being inserted into the pin insertion port, thereby enabling to keep the state where the plug blades are being inserted into the pin/blade insertion port.

Accordingly, the invention is allowed to provide a receptacle capable of being manufactured easily and reducing an impact caused by closing of the receptacle cover. Brief Description of the Drawings

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a receptacle 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the receptacle viewed from a different direction from that of Fig. l;

Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing a receptacle cover and a supporting part, and Fig. 3B is a perspective right front view showing a biasing spring 34;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the receptacle of which a receptacle cover is in a closed position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the receptacle of which the receptacle cover is in an opened position;

Fig. 7 is a side view showing a plug before being inserted into the receptacle;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the plug after being inserted into the receptacle;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a receptacle cover and a supporting part in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a receptacle cover and a supporting part in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a receptacle of which a receptacle cover is in an opened position in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments (First Embodiment)

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. Note that up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions described below correspond to directions of orthogonal coordinates shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

A receptacle 1 of the first embodiment includes a receptacle unit, a receptacle cover 2 and a supporting part 3. The receptacle unit includes a body 4; a receptacle block 5 accommodated in the body 4 in such a way that a pin insertion port 51a is exposed from a bottom surface of the body 4; and a decorative cover 6 covering front, left, right and top surfaces of the body 4. The receptacle cover 2 is pivotally attached to the body through the supporting part 3 to cover the pin insertion port 51a that is exposed from the bottom surface of the body 4. A rear surface of the body 4 is covered with a seal packing 7 and an insulating fixing frame 8.

The body 4 has a frame-shaped base 41 to which the seal packing 7 is attached, and a protruding section 42 protruding forwardly from the base 41. At a central upper end portion and a central lower end portion in a front surface of the base 41, mounting holes 41a and 41b into which mounting screws (not shown) are to be inserted are formed therethrough. Around the lower mounting hole 41b, there are provided locking holes 41c for locking locking parts 43a of a screw cover 43. Further, in the upper portion of the base 41, a fitting groove 4 Id is formed along a boundary of the protruding section 42 in the left-right direction, and locking grooves 41e are provided on both sides of the base 41 in the left-right direction.

The protruding section 42 includes: an upper wall part 42a with an approximately semicircular shape; a front wall part 42b with an approximately semi-cylindrical shape that is inclined so as to be more protruded forward as it goes downward and extended successively from the left and right side walls of the base 41; and a lower wall part 42c with an approximately semicircular shape , In the upper wall part 42a of the protruding section 42, there is provided a groove 42d through which to pass the mounting screw to be inserted into the upper mounting hole 41a. At a central lower end portion of the front wall part 42b, there is provided a flexible part 42e that is elastically bendable in the front-rear direction by forming two slits extending approximately parallel upwardly from the lower wall part 42c. Further, from the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42 to the front surface of the base 41, an insertion opening 42f through which an exposed surface 51b of a receptacle case 51 to be described below is to be exposed and an insertion opening 4If through which a stepped portion 31c of a supporting body 31 to be described below is to be exposed are opened successively in a substantially L-shape when being viewed from the left-right direction.

The receptacle block 5 includes, in the receptacle case 51 serving as an outer frame, plug-pin receivers 52 for receiving plug pins 91a of a plug 9 (see Fig.7) , locking springs (not shown) for holding electric wires (not shown) drawn out from a wall surface, and release buttons (not shown) for releasing the lock of the locking springs . The plug pins 91a of the plug 9 may have a flat shape, a round shape and/or a semicircular shape, for example .

The receptacle case 51 includes: pin insertion ports 51a formed in a bottom surface 51el of a recess 51e to be described later in the exposed surface 51b, the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 being to be inserted thereinto; and wire insertion holes 51c for inserting electric wires into the locking springs.

The pin insertion ports 51a include: a pair of, e.g., flat-shaped pin insertion ports 51al with, for example, an approximately rectangular shape into which a pair of a voltage-side and an earth-side plug pins 91al among the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are to be inserted; and a semicircular-shaped pin insertion port 51a2 with, for example, an approximately semicircular shape into which a ground plug pin 91a2 among the pins 91a of the plug 9 is to be inserted.

A fixing flange 51d to be fixed on the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42 is formed around the exposed surface 51b to provide a step from the exposed surface 51b. In the state where the fixing flange is fixed on the lower wall part 42c, the exposed surface 51b is exposed through the insertion opening 42f . Besides, in the exposed surface 51b, there is provided the recess 51e recessed backwardly in a direction of inserting the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 (hereinafter, referred to as "plug- insertion direction") ; i.e., the recess 51e is recessed upwardly in Fig. 1, and has a circular shape when being viewed from the lower side.

The recess 51e includes: a bottom 51el having the pin insertion ports 51a; and a side wall 51e2 surrounding a periphery of the bottom 51el and extending opposite to the plug-insertion direction (i.e., downwardly) . A plug case 92 of the plug 9 is partially inserted into the recess 51e as described below.

The receptacle case 51 is fixed to the protruding section

42 in such a way that mounting screws (not shown) are inserted through body fitting parts 51f located on the left and right sides of the receptacle case 51 and the mounting screws are screwed into mounting holes 42g formed in a rear surface of the protruding section 42.

The decorative cover 6 is made of a synthetic resin into a hollow shape, and attached to the body 4 to cover the top, front, left and right surfaces of the body 4. The decorative cover 6 includes: an upper wall part 6a with an approximately semicircular shape covering the upper wall portion 42a of the protruding section 42 ; a front wall part 6b with an approximately semi-cylindrical shape covering the front wall portion 42b with the approximately semi-cylindrical shape of the protruding section 42; and side wall parts 6c covering the side walls of the base 41. On an inner surface of the upper wall part 6a of the decorative cover 6, as shown in Fig. 2, there are provided fitting pieces 6d protruding downwardly. Further, on inner surfaces of both sides of the side wall parts 6c of the decorative cover 6, fitting pieces 6e with an approximately T shape, when being viewed from the left-right direction, are formed to protrude inwardly. Furthermore, at a lower portion of the inner surface of the front wall part 6b of the decorative cover 6, a plurality of, e.g., four claw-like locking portions 6f are formed to protrude backwardly (see Fig. 4) . The decorative cover 6 is fixed detachably to the body 4 by fitting the claw-like locking parts 6f to a lower portion of the flexible part 42e, in such a way that the fitting pieces 6d are slidingly engaged with the fitting groove 41d in the upper portion of the base 4 and the fitting pieces 6e are slidingly engaged with the locking grooves 41e in the side surfaces of the base 41. When the decorative cover 6 is removed from the body 4, a jig is inserted between the flexible part 42e and the front wall part 6b of the decorative cover 6 from its lower side. This makes the flexible part 42e deformed backwardly to unlatch the claw- like locking portions 6f from the flexible part 42e, so that the decorative cover 6 can be easily detached from the flexible part 42e.

The receptacle cover 2 has a semicircular shape approximately the same as the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42, and a handle part 2a is formed to protrude from the front end of the receptacle cover 2. In the center of a surface (top face) opposed to the pin insertion ports 51a in the receptacle cover 2, a recess portion 2b is formed. Further, in the center of the recess portion 2b, there is provided a holding part 2c for hooking and holding the plug 9 when plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a. Furthermore, in a rear end of the receptacle cover 2, two pivotal supporting parts 21 with an approximately cylindrical shape are protruded from the receptacle cover 2 and arranged in a same straight line such that their axial directions extend in the left-right direction. In the pivotal supporting parts 21, insertion holes 21a having a diameter approximately the same as that of a shaft 32 to be described below and locking holes 21b into which a straight part 34c of a biasing spring 34 to be described below is to be inserted (see Fig. 3A) are formed therethrough in the left-right direction.

The supporting part 3 has : a supporting part body 31 screwed on the lower front portion of the base 41; the shaft 32 pivotally held at the supporting part body 31; a damper member 33 made of such as an urethane and having an insertion hole 33a with approximately the same diameter as that of the shaft 32; and two biasing springs 34. The biasing spring 34, as shown in Fig. 3B, includes: a spiral spring part 34a having an inner diameter slightly larger than that of the shaft 32; an L-shape portion 34b with an approximately L shaped figure extending tangentially from one end of the spring part 34a; and the straight part 34c extending axially from the other end of the spring part 34a.

The supporting part body 31 has a substrate step 31b with an approximately rectangular shape protruded forwardly on an upper half of a supporting substrate 31a. On a center portion of the substrate step 31b, a supporting step 31c with an approximately U-shaped cross-section is protruded forwardly. In the supporting step 31c, an insertion hole 3Id with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft 32 is formed therethrough in the left-right direction. In both sides of the supporting step 31c, holding holes 31e with a diameter slightly- larger than an outer diameter of the biasing spring 34 and a depth approximately the same as a length of the spring part 34a of the biasing spring 34 are formed successively. Namely, in the both sides of the supporting step 31c, there are formed the cylindrical holding holes 31e in which the two biasing springs 34 are accommodated respectively, and the insertion hole 3Id into which the shaft 32 is to be inserted is formed to allow centers of the two holding holes 31e to communicate with each other. Further, in a rearward of the holding hole 31e in the substrate step 31b, a groove 3If with a width approximately the same as a lateral length of the spring part 34a of the biasing spring 34 is formed successively from the holding hole 31e (see Fig. 3A) . Namely, the biasing spring 34 is inserted into the holding hole 31e in such a way that the spring part 34a is slid into the groove 31f from a lower part of the substrate step 31b and further is slid forwardly. Further, in a rear surface of the supporting part body 31 (see Fig. 2) , an accommodation hole 31g with an approximately same shape as that of the damper member 33 is provided. The damper member 33 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 31g, and then fixed to the supporting part body 31. In the state where the damper member 33 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 31g, the insertion hole 3Id of the supporting part body 31 and an insertion hole 33a of the damper member 33 are aligned such that the shaft 32 is inserted therethrough .

The seal packing 7 made of elastic materials such as a flexible polyvinyl chloride is attached in the rear side of the base 41. The seal packing 7 has outer dimensions approximately the same as those of the base 41 and prevents water, such as rain water, from infiltrating into an inside of the receptacle 1 from between a wall surface and the body 4 by contacting the wall surface and the body 4 closely. In upper and lower ends of center portion of the seal packing 7, the mounting holes 7a and 7b into which the mounting screw for attaching the body 4 to the wall surface is to be inserted are drilled, respectively. In the front surface of the seal packing 7, there is provided a fitting groove 7c into which a fitting rib 41g formed in the rear surface of the body 4 is to be inserted, and in the upper center portion of the seal packing 7, an insertion hole 7d is formed to pass the electric wire drawn from the wall surface therethrough.

An insulating mounting frame 8 is formed to have outer dimensions smaller than those of the seal packing 7, and is accommodated in the inside of the seal packing 7 from the rear side of the seal packing 7. In upper and lower ends of a center portion of the insulating mounting frame 8, mounting holes 8a and 8b into which the mounting screws are to be inserted are drilled, respectively. In the center portion of the insulating mounting frame 8, an insertion hole 8c is formed to pass the electric wire drawn from the wall surface therethrough.

Next, the internal structure of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in Fig. 4, the receptacle block 5 is accommodated in the protruding section 42 of the body 4. A part of the receptacle block 5 is inserted into the insertion opening 42f serving as an insertion hole which is provided in the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42. Specifically, the fixing part 51d of the receptacle case 51 is placed on the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42. In the state where a side wall portion 51g connecting the exposed surface 51b and the fixing part 51d are in stepwise contact with a periphery of the insertion opening 42f , the receptacle block 5 is arranged relative to the protruding section 42 such that the exposed surface 51b is exposed through the insertion opening 42f . In this state, the bottom surface of the lower wall portion 42c of the protruding section 42 and the exposed surface 51b constitute a plug-insertion surface of the receptacle body.

The insertion opening 42f is configured to tilt upward as it goes forward. Accordingly, the receptacle block 5 is attached to the protruding section 42 so as to protrude and tilt forward as it goes downward. The pin insertion ports 51a are formed on the bottom 51el of the recess portion 51e in the receptacle case 51, so that the bottom 51el and the pin insertion ports 51a tilt upward as it goes forward, as well as the insertion opening 42f .

The supporting part 3 is attached to the base 41 from the rear side thereof such that the supporting step 31c protrudes through the insertion hole 41f . The supporting part body 31 of the supporting part 3 is fixed to the base 41 from the rear side thereof with the mounting screws (not shown) which are inserted through two mounting holes 31h (see Fig. 3A) drilled in the supporting substrate portion 31a, and screwed with screw holes 41h (see Fig. 2) formed in the rear surface of the base 41. Further, the three cover claws 43b protruding backwardly from an upper portion of the screw cover 43 are inserted into three locking holes 31i with an approximately rectangular shape formed in the lower portion of the supporting substrate portion 31a and into the locking holes 41i formed in the base 41.

The receptacle cover 2 and the supporting part 3 are assembled integrally as follows. Firstly, the straight part 34c of the biasing spring 34 is inserted into the locking hole 21b formed in the pivotal supporting parts 21 of the receptacle cover 2. Secondly, the spring part 34a of the biasing spring 34 is fitted in the holding hole 31e. Finally, the L-shape portion 34b of the biasing spring 34 is hooked on the supporting step 31c of the supporting part body 31 (see Fig. 3A) , and then the shaft 32 is inserted through the insertion hole 21a of the pivotal supporting parts 21, the biasing spring 34, insertion hole 31d of the supporting step 31c, and the insertion hole 33a of the damper member 33. Since grease is injected into the insertion hole 33a of the damper member 33, the shaft 32 is able to pivot with friction against the damper member 33. On the other hand, since the shaft 32 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 21a of the pivotal supporting parts 21, the receptacle cover 2 and the shaft 32 pivots together. With such configuration, in the case where the receptacle cover 2 is pivoted from its closed position, the spring part 34a of the biasing spring 34 is deformed from its initial state, i.e. , a spring shape when the receptacle cover 2 is in the closed position. In this state, since the biasing spring 34 is recovered to the initial state by its elastic force, the receptacle cover 2 is biased to the closed position.

Namely, the receptacle cover 2 is pivotable about the shaft 32 between the closed position, in which the insertion opening 42f and the pin insertion ports 51a are covered from the lower side, and the opened position, in which the receptacle cover 2 is apart from the insertion opening 42f. Additionally, the receptacle cover 2 is biased to the closed position side by the biasing spring 34.

The seal packing 7 is provided in the rear side of the base 41 of the body 4 as mentioned above, and the insulating mounting frame 8 is accommodated in a rear side of the seal packing 7. Two mounting screws (not shown) are inserted through mounting holes 41a and 41b formed in the base 41, mounting holes 7a and 7b formed in seal packing 7, and mounting holes 8a and 8b formed in insulating mounting frame 8, respectively. Accordingly, the seal packing 7 and the insulating mounting frame 8 are interposed between the body 4 and the wall surface. Finally, these components are fixed to the wall surface while keeping their respective positions.

Next, with reference to Figs. 5 to 8 , operations of inserting and removing the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 into and from the plug pin insertion ports 51a will be described.

Firstly, with reference to Fig . 5, a state of the receptacle

1 when the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are not inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a is described.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the case where the receptacle cover

2 is in a closed position, the receptacle cover 2 is held so as to cover the lower surface of the protruding section 42 of the body 4 and a lower edge of the decorative cover 6. Specifically, the receptacle cover 2 has approximately the same shape as a bottom opening of the decorative cover 6, and its front portion is in contact with the lower end surface of the decorative cover 6 and its rear portion is in contact with the side surfaces of the decorative cover 6. Thus, the receptacle cover 2 covers the decorative cover 6 from the lower side thereof with substantially no gaps therebetween. In this state, the biasing spring 34 biases the receptacle cover 2 to the insertion opening 42f , so that the receptacle cover 2 is prevented from pivoting downwardly due to, e.g., its own weight and generating a gap between the decorative cover 6 and the receptacle cover 2.

Generally, in case where a receptacle cover capable of opening and closing a pin insertion port is provided, a user may- forget to close the receptacle cover after pulling out the plug. In the case of washing a car near the receptacle, for example, there is a possibility that water used for washing the car infiltrates into the pin insertion port. In this embodiment, however, the biasing springs 34 are provided in the supporting part 3 to bias the receptacle cover 2 to the insertion opening 42f , thereby preventing an unintended open of the receptacle cover 2.

Next, with reference to Figs. 6 and 7, an operation of inserting the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 into the pin insertion ports 51a is described.

When the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 is inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a, at first, the handle portion 2a of the receptacle cover 2 is held by a hand, and then receptacle cover 2 is pivoted downwardly to open the receptacle cover 2. From this state, the plug 9 is pushed upwardly into the receptacle case 51 until a front surface 92a of the plug case 92, on which the plug pins 91a are provided, hits the bottom 51el of the receptacle case 51, so that the plug pins 91a are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a.

Next, with reference to Fig. 8, a state of the receptacle 1 when the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a is described.

The pin receivers 52 built in the receptacle block 5 are provided corresponding to the respective plug pins 91a of the plug 9. Specifically, the pin receiver 52 includes a voltage-side pin receiver gripping the respective voltage-side plug pins from its both sides, and an earth- side pin receiver gripping a ground plug pin 91a2 from its both sides. Each of the voltage-side pin receivers and the earth-side pin receiver is elastically deformed to grip the respective plug pins 91al and 91a2. The recovery force caused by the elastic deformation makes the voltage-side pin receivers and the earth-side pin receiver hold the respective plug pins 91al and 91a2.

Further, in the embodiment, when the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a, the holding part 2c holds the plug 9. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, when plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a, the holding part 2c formed in the recess part 2b of the receptacle cover 2 comes into contact with a rear surface 92b of the plug case 92 from the lower side thereof. Namely, the holding part 2c is hooked on the rear surface 92b of the plug case 92 to hold the plug 9. Since the receptacle cover 2 is biased by the biasing spring 34 so as to pivot clockwise as shown in Fig. 8, the holding part 2c pushes the plug 9 upwardly, so that the plug 9 can be held stably. With such configuration of holding the plug 9 by the holding part 2c, it is difficult for the plug 9 to be removed from the receptacle 1. For instance, even if a user's foot is caught by a cable of the plug 9, the plug 9 is hard to be detached from the receptacle 1.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the recess part 51e is formed in the receptacle case 51 and the plug case 92 is inserted thereinto. Therefore, in the state where plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a to apply current to the plug 9, any gaps are not generated between the front surface 92a of the plug case 92 and the insertion opening 42f. Accordingly, the plug pins 91a to which the current is applied becomes hard to be touched by such as a hand.

Finally, with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, an operation of detaching the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 from the pin insertion ports 51a is described.

From the state (see Fig. 8) where the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 are inserted into the pin insertion ports 51a, the handle portion 2a is held by a hand to pivot the receptacle cover 2 backwardly. Now, since the holding part 2c is apart from the rear surface 92b of the plug case 92, the plug pins 91a of the plug 9 becomes detachable from the pin insertion ports 51a, if the plug 9 is pulled in a direction (downwardly) opposite to the direction of inserting the plug 9. In this state, when the plug 9 is pulled downwardly, the plug 9 can be detached easily.

When the hand is removed from the handle portion 2a of the receptacle cover 2 after detaching the plug 9, the receptacle cover 2 pivots to the closed position by the biasing force of the biasing spring 34 (in the clockwise direction in Fig. 7 ) . Since the shaft 32 is press -fitted into the pivotal supporting parts 21 of the receptacle cover 2, the shaft 32 also pivots together with the receptacle cover 2. In the state, the shaft 32 and the damper member 33 are in friction with each other to generate a sliding resistance. Therefore, the sliding resistance reduces a pivot speed of the shaft 32 and the receptacle cover 2. In accordance with the present embodiment, the pivot speed at which the receptacle cover 2 comes into in contact with the decorative cover 6 can be reduced as compared with that of a receptacle cover with no damper member. Accordingly, the impact caused by closing of the receptacle cover 2 can be weakened. Further, in the present embodiment, since the damper member 33 is fixed to the supporting body 31 so as not to be moved, the shaft 32 pivots with a sliding resistance larger than that of a shaft without the damper member 33. As mentioned above, the provision of the damper member 33 weakens the impact caused by closing of the receptacle cover 2, thereby preventing a loud noise caused by closing of the receptacle cover 2 and damage of the receptacle cover 2 due to the impact. Further, since the damper member 33 for adding the sliding resistance is formed integrally with the supporting part 3, neither the receptacle body nor the receptacle cover are enlarged in size , unlike a conventional receptacle . Furthermore , since there is no need to align the damper member 33, unlike a conventional receptacle, the receptacle 1 can be assembled easily .

(Second Embodiment)

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 9. Since the second embodiment has the same structure as that of the first embodiment except for providing a drain hole 22 and ribs 23 in the receptacle cover 2, detailed descriptions of other components than the receptacle cover 2 will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, since the receptacle cover 2 is provided to cover the bottom surface of the decorative cover 6, water is hard to infiltrate into a space surrounded by the receptacle cover 2 and the decorative cover 6 (the pin insertion ports 51a are located in the space) . Even such configuration, however, it is difficult to prevent the water from infiltrating into the space completely. For instance, there is a fear that rainwater may infiltrate through a slight gap between the handle portion 2a of the receptacle cover 2 and the front wall part 6b of the decorative cover 6. This water, for example, flows into the supporting part 3 located in the bottom of the receptacle cover 2 and may degrade the damper member 33 made of an urethane. Accordingly, as shown in Fig.9, in this embodiment, a drain hole 22 is provided between two pivotal supporting parts 21 in the receptacle cover 2, and ribs 23 are provided in front of the pivotal supporting parts 21 (on the side of the handle portion 2a viewed from the pivotal supporting parts 21) . In the state where the receptacle cover 2 is attached to the supporting part 3, the drain hole 22 is formed so as to generate a gap between the holding step 31c and the receptacle cover 2. The ribs 23 are formed on the top surface of the receptacle cover 2 (the surface opposed to the pin insertion ports 51a when the receptacle cover 2 is in the closed position) so as to guide water flowing from the handle portion 2a to the pivotal supporting parts 21 to the drain hole 22. Besides, the ribs 23 are formed to protrude from the top surface such that their side surfaces facing the handle portion 2a are slanted to make a V-shape toward the drain hole 22 and the pivotal supporting parts 21. Accordingly, the water infiltrated into the above space flows to the drain hole 22 or the outside of the pivotal supporting parts 21 along the ribs 23, and then is discharged to the outside. Therefore, degradation of the damper member 33 due to the water flowing into the pivotal supporting part 3 can be prevented.

(Third Embodiment)

A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 10. Since the third embodiment has the same structure as that of the first embodiment except for providing a waterproof seal packing 24 in the receptacle cover 2, detailed descriptions of other components than the receptacle cover 2 will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the waterproof seal packing 24 with an approximately U shape made of elastic materials such as an elastomer is provided on the top surface of the receptacle cover 2 (the surface opposed to the pin insertion port 51a when the receptacle cover 2 is in the closed position) and a side surface thereof. Accordingly, the receptacle cover 2 comes into contact with the decorative cover 6 without any gaps when the receptacle cover 2 is in the closed position, and this prevents water from infiltrating into the space surrounded by the receptacle cover 2 and the decorative cover 6. -

In the present embodiment, the drain hole and the ribs may be provided in the receptacle cover 2 as in the second embodiment .

(Fourth Embodiment)

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 11. The up and down direction in the following explanation corresponds to the vertical direction in Fig. 11. Since the fourth embodiment has the same structure as that of the first embodiment except for providing buffer members 100 in the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in Fig. 11, cylindrical buffer members 100 made of a polyurethane are provided on the bottom surface of the lower wall part 42c of the protruding section 42 to protrude therefrom. In the case where the receptacle cover 2 pivots from the opened position to the closed position, the receptacle cover 2 comes into contact with the buffer members 100, so that the impact is further reduced, in addition to the reduction of a pivot speed of the receptacle cover 2 by the sliding resistance generated between the damper member 33 and the shaft 32, like the first embodiment. Accordingly, the impact is able to be reduced more than that in the first embodiment. Note that the buffer members 100 may be provided on the exposed surface 51b of the receptacle case 51 or the top surface of the receptacle cover 2, or may be provided on a plurality of places .

In the present embodiment, the drain hole, the ribs, and the waterproof seal packing may be provided like the second embodiment or the third embodiment .

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims .

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle comprising:

a receptacle body having a plug- insertion surface with pin insertion ports, plug pins of a plug being detachably inserted into the respective pin insertion ports;

a receptacle cover pivotable between a closed position in which the plug-insertion surface of the receptacle body is covered and an opened position in which the plug- insertion surface is exposed to the outside;

a biasing member biasing the receptacle cover to the closed position,

2. The receptacle as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the supporting part supports a lower end portion of the receptacle cover in the state where the receptacle body is installed on a wall surface such that the plug- insertion surface thereof faces substantially downward and in the state where the receptacle cover is in the closed position, and wherein the receptacle cover is provided with a drain hole that defines a gap between the receptacle cover and the supporting part, the water flowing along a surface of the receptacle cover opposed to the receptacle body being drained through the drain hole to the outside.

3. The receptacle as set forth in Claim 2, wherein a rib for guiding the water flowing along the surface opposed to the receptacle body to the drain hole when the receptacle cover is in the closed position is provided on the surface .

4. The receptacle as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3 , wherein a waterproof seal packing is provided on a portion being in contact with the receptacle body in the receptacle cover in the state where the receptacle cover is in the closed position.

5. The receptacle as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 4 , wherein a buffer member for reducing an impact occurred when the receptacle cover pivots to the closed position is provided on at least one of opposed surfaces of the receptacle cover and the receptacle body.

6. The receptacle as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the receptacle cover is provided with a holding part for holding the plug to keep a state in which the plug pins are being inserted into the pin insertion ports when the plug pins of the plug are inserted into the respective pin insertion ports .