Abstract:
An electrical receptacle with a baffle latching mechanism can prevent an electroshock accident by keeping the baffle and baffle latching mechanism from moving. A baffle latching mechanism for an electrical receptacle, comprises a rectilinear baffle latch comprising a first side perpendicular to a second side, a positioning groove between a first end and a second end of the first side, a platform at the bottom of the positioning groove, and a positioning convex pin projecting from the second side of the baffle latch.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority of Chinese patent application 201110122297.5 filed May 12, 2011, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to electrical receptacles. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an electrical receptacle with a baffle latching mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The existing technology includes two types of electrical receptacles. In one type, the left and right sockets are both I-shaped. In the other type, the left socket is I-shaped and the right socket is T-shaped. The electrical receptacle with a socket baffle device normally includes an enclosure, a reset button with extension arm and a jack guard baffle mechanism. An example for a dual-I-shaped safety baffle device is the baffle device publicized in the Chinese utility model patent with Patent No. of 200920223089.2. It includes a left baffle, right baffle, spring, pedestal connected securely with the middle-level support, etc. An example for a left-I &amp; right-T-shaped safety baffle devices is the baffle device publicized in the Chinese utility model patent with Patent No. of 200920167808.3. It includes a first spring used for reset of the left and right baffles, the small baffle used for blocking the T-shaped hole, a second spring and reset mechanism used for reset of the small baffle, and a pedestal connected securely with the middle-level support. When a plug is inserted into the baffles, the left and right baffles are exposed, exposing the guide plug bush below them. When the plug is pulled out, the baffle unit covers the guide plug bush under the function of the reset spring. The baffles must cooperate with the latching mechanism to realize the function of covering the conductive plug bush. The problem to be resolved by this disclosure is to provide an electrical receptacle with a baffle latching mechanism, which is simple in structure and has excellent action reliability. 
     SUMMARY 
     The inventor provides an electrical receptacle with a baffle latching mechanism, which is simple in structure and has excellent action reliability. 
     A baffle latching mechanism for an electrical receptacle, comprises a rectilinear baffle latch comprising a first side perpendicular to a second side, a positioning groove between a first end and a second end of the first side, a platform at the bottom of the positioning groove, and a positioning convex pin projecting from the second side of the baffle latch. 
     A safety mechanism for an electrical receptacle, comprises a rectilinear baffle latch comprising a first side perpendicular to a second side, a positioning groove between a first end and a second end of the first side, a platform at the bottom of the positioning groove, and a positioning convex pin projecting from the second side of the baffle latch. A baffle comprises an end face and a groove in the end face. The positioning convex pin projects against the end face of the baffle when the baffle latching mechanism is in a locked condition. The positioning convex pin projects in to the groove of the baffle when the baffle latching mechanism is in an unlocked condition. 
     An electrical receptacle comprises a reset button, a reset extension arm attached to the reset button, an enclosure, and a baffle comprising an outer wall and a positioning groove in the outer wall. A baffle latch comprises a positioning convex pin and an elastic element. The elastic element abuts the baffle latch and one of the enclosure or the reset extension arm, and the elastic element drives the baffle latch between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. The reset button is configured to move between a tripped position and a reset position. When the reset button is in the tripped position, the positioning convex pin projects against the outer wall of the baffle and the baffle latch is in the locked condition. When the reset button is in the reset position, the positioning convex pin projects in to the groove of the baffle and the baffle latch is in the unlocked condition. 
     The advantage of this electrical receptacle is the prevention of an electroshock accident when there is a problem with the wiring or in reverse wiring conditions. The electrical receptacle can keep the mounting baffle and latching mechanism from moving, thereby preventing an electroshock accident caused by an abnormal or mistaken plug-in and ensuring safety in use. The latching mechanism provides a buffer space for the reset button extension arm, and can effectively prevent the reset button from jumping up and damaging the baffle latch when the plug is not pulled out. The latching mechanism operates stably and acts reliably. The structure of this baffle latch is simple. Only one type of molded part is needed for both the left side and the right side, minimizing the quantity of parts, reducing the cost for mold making, and facilitating warehouse storage and installation. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the electrical receptacle will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice. The objects and advantages of the electrical receptacle will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a 3-D breakdown structural diagram of Example 1. 
         FIG. 2  is a structural diagram of the safety baffle device matching with the baffle latch in Example 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a breakdown structural diagram of the safety baffle device of Example 1. 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical-view structural diagram of Example 1 with the baffle in a latched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 5  is a side structural diagram of Example 1 with the baffle in a latched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 6  is a vertical-view structural diagram of Example 1 with the baffle in an unlatched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 7  is a side structural diagram of Example 1 with the baffle in an unlatched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 8  is a 3-D breakdown structural diagram of Example 2. 
         FIG. 9  is a structural diagram of the safety baffle device matching with the baffle latch in Example 2. 
         FIG. 10  is a breakdown structural diagram of the safety baffle device of Example 2. 
         FIG. 11  is a structural diagram with the left baffle in  FIG. 10  turned over. 
         FIG. 12  is a vertical-view structural diagram of Example 2 with the baffle in a latched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 13  is a side structural diagram of Example 2 with the baffle in a latched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 14  is a vertical-view structural diagram of Example 2 with the baffle in an unlatched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 15  is a side structural diagram of Example 2 with the baffle in an unlatched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 16  is a 3-D breakdown structural diagram of Example 3. 
         FIG. 17  is a structural diagram of the safety baffle device matching with the baffle latch in Example 3. 
         FIG. 18  is a breakdown structural diagram of the safety baffle device of Example 3. 
         FIG. 19  is a structural diagram with the small baffle in  FIG. 18  turned over. 
         FIG. 20  is a structural diagram with the right baffle in  FIG. 18  turned over. 
         FIG. 21  is a vertical-view structural diagram of Example 3 with the baffle in a latched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 22  is a side structural diagram of Example 3 with the baffle in a latched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 23  is a vertical-view structural diagram of Example 3 with the baffle in an unlatched state (upper cover removed). 
         FIG. 24  is a side structural diagram of Embodiment 3 with the baffle in an unlatched state (upper cover removed). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Example 1 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the example aims at the electrical receptacle with the two sockets both being I-shaped holes. The electrical receptacle with a baffle latching mechanism includes an enclosure (which includes upper cover and pedestal, where only upper cover  1  is shown in  FIG. 1 ), reset button  2  with an extension arm ( 2 A,  2 B), and a jack guard baffle mechanism. The jack guard baffle mechanism is provided with a baffle latching mechanism linked with the reset button  2 . 
     The baffle latching mechanism includes baffle latch  6  with positioning convex pin  6 B. The outer wall of at least one baffle of the jack guard baffle mechanism has a positioning groove  7 G to match with the positioning convex pin. The baffle latching mechanism also includes elastic element  20  which can drive the baffle latch to move up and down. The elastic element  20  mates with the reset button extension arm  2 B to allow the baffle to link with the reset button. Specifically, the baffle latch  6  can be provided above or below the reset button extension arm, and the elastic element  20  can be provided above or below the baffle latch  6  accordingly. The elastic element can cooperate with the reset button extension arm to make the baffle latch move up and down. 
     The possible movement modes are as follows: 1) The reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B press baffle latch  6  down. After the reset button extension arms rise, the elastic element  20  pushes the baffle latch up. 2) The reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B press the baffle latch  6  down. After the reset button extension arms rise, the elastic element  20  pulls the baffle latch  6  up. 3) After the reset button  2  moves down, the elastic element pushes the baffle latch  6  downwards. While the reset button  2  moves up, the reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B lift the baffle latch  6  up. 4) After the reset button  2  moves down, the elastic element  20  pulls the baffle latch  6  downwards. While the reset button  2  rises, the reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B lift the baffle latch  6  up. In this example, the baffle latch  6  is located above the reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B and the elastic element  20  is located above the baffle latch  6 . When the reset button  2  is not reset, elastic element  20  accumulates compression elastic potential energy. 
     Two groups of sockets are provided on the electrical receptacle of this example. Inside the enclosure, two groups of jack guard baffle mechanisms, shown in  FIG. 3 , are provided. Latching and unlatching of the two groups of baffle devices can be realized through a baffle latch. The reset button  2  is located between the two groups of jack guard baffle mechanisms. The number of positioning convex pins  6 B on the baffle latch  6  and the number of positioning grooves  7 G on the baffle  7  or  8  can be multiple. Because unlatching of the baffle  7  or  8  can be realized through cooperation of a positioning convex pin  6 B and a positioning groove  7 G, each of the two ends of the baffle latch  6  has a positioning convex pin  6 B to match with the positioning groove  7 G to match with the baffle in the same side as the two groups of jack guard baffle mechanisms. 
     Elastic element mounting seat with convex pin  6 A is provided in the middle of the baffle latch  6 . The elastic element  20  of this example is a spring. The two ends of the spring are sustained against the elastic element mounting seat and the top of the enclosure interior (i.e. top of the inner wall of the upper cover  1 ) respectively. The elastic element can also be an arc reed, V reed, etc. The two ends of the reed can be sustained against a latch. Inside the enclosure, support positions are provided to sustain against the middle of the reed. For example, the middle of the reed can be sustained against the top of the upper interior, or against the middle-level support. The two ends of the reed, facing the middle part sustained against the support position, are bent outwards to realize the up-and-down movement of the baffle latch. 
     As long as at least one of the left and right baffles  7 ,  8  is provided with a group of baffle latching mechanisms, the latching of the baffle can be ensured. In this example, both the left baffle  7  and the right baffle  8  are provided with baffle latching mechanisms  6 . As long as at least one elastic element  20  is provided, stable resetting in the vertical direction can be ensured. To save material, in this example, only one elastic element and one spring are provided. However, it is also possible to provide multiple ones. The elastic element mounting seat includes a groove located in the middle of the baffle latch  6 . Platform  6 C is provided at the bottom of the groove. In the center of the platform, there is convex pin  6 A. Spring  20  is fixed over the convex pin  6 A. Or otherwise, a sleeve, such as a cylindrical indent, can be provided at the center of the platform. The spring  20  is embedded inside the sleeve. 
     For processing convenience, positioning groove  7 G is a rectangular notch located at the two corners on the side of the baffle facing the baffle latch. Above the rectangular notch, there is the latching face  7 F which can position along the baffle latch  6 . Two positioning grooves  7 G are made on one baffle  7  or  8 , and so the two groups of jack guard baffle mechanisms are interchangeable and the assembly is convenient. 
     The jack guard baffle mechanism in this example includes left baffle  7  and right baffle  8  which are made of insulation material, and reset spring  9  used as the baffle elastic reset mechanism. The left and right baffles can match crossly in a sliding way. The left baffle is provided with baffle support foot  7 D, and the right baffle is provided with baffle foot  8 D. 
     Inside the enclosure, middle-level support  13  with guide jacks  13 C is provided. The middle-level support  13  is equipped with a sliding platform  13 A on which the left baffle  7  and right baffle  8  can slide. On the sliding platform, positioning hole  13 B is opened for the baffle support feet  7 D,  8 D to extend in. When the left and right baffles are locked, the two baffle support feet adhere to the inner edges facing the two positioning holes of the middle-level support respectively for positioning. When the left and right baffles are unlocked, the guide jacks in the middle-level support are exposed. 
     On the middle-level support  13 , conductive metal sheet  14  is installed. On the conductive metal sheet, conductive plug bush  14 A is provided. The conductive plug bush  14 A is located below the guide jack  13 C of the middle-level support  13 . When the baffles are opened, a plug will insert into the conductive plug bush  14 A. 
     The action process is as follows: In an initial state, the reset button  2  is not pressed down, the positioning convex pins  6 B contact with the latching face  7 F above the baffle latch positioning groove  7 G. The left baffle  7  is latched, and the spring  20  is compressed to accumulate compression elastic potential energy. Refer to  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 . Because the positioning convex pin  6 B contacts the latching face  7 F, the baffles  7  and  8  cannot slide open to allow a plug or other object to enter. This ensures the safety of a user because any condition such as reverse wiring, electrical fault, or end of device life can cause the reset button to rise up, thereby adjusting the baffle latch  6  to the latched position. This arrangement also allows a receptacle to be shipped in a latched condition so that if reverse wiring occurs, the user is deterred from using the receptacle. 
     When the reset button  2  is pressed down and is in reset status, the reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B go downwards, the baffle latch  6  moves downwards under the action of spring  20  to move the positioning convex pins  6 B to the position corresponding to the positioning grooves  7 G. The left baffle  7  is allowed to open. The action process of the baffle latch of the right baffle  8  is identical to that of the baffle latch of the left baffle, and occurs simultaneously. In this time, when an electric plug is inserted in, the left and right baffles will be opened, as shown in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8˜15 , this example is different from Example 1 in that: In this example, the reset is realized through the elastic support feet provided on the baffle  6 . Specifically, the baffle elastic reset mechanism is elastic support feet ( 7 D &amp;  8 D) provided on the left and right baffles respectively. 
     Inside the enclosure, middle-level support  13  with a guide jack is provided. On the sliding platform  13 A of the middle-level support  13 , positioning hole  13 B is provided for the elastic support feet ( 7 D &amp;  8 D) to extend in. When the left and right baffles are locked, the two elastic support feet ( 7 D &amp;  8 D) of the two baffles adhere to the outer edges facing the two positioning holes  13 B of the middle-level support respectively for positioning. When the left and right baffles are unlocked, the elastic support feet ( 7 D &amp;  8 D) accumulate elastic potential energy for opposite movement, and the guide jacks in the middle-level support are exposed. The elastic support feet ( 7 D &amp;  8 D) on the said left and right baffles are located on the outer wall of the corresponding baffles respectively. At the connection between the elastic support foot  7 D and the bottom of the left baffle  7 , groove  7 M is made to provide the elastic support foot  7 D with bending space. Corresponding groove is also made on the right baffle  8 . Similarly to Example 1, as long as one of the left baffle  7  and the right baffle  8  is provided with a group of baffle latching mechanisms, latching of the baffle can be ensured. In this example, both the left baffle  7  and the right baffle  8  are provided with baffle latching mechanisms. The action process is similar to that of Example 1 but includes the above elastic compression of the elastic support feet. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 16-24 , this example aims at the electrical receptacle with I-shaped jacks in the left side and with T-shaped jacks in the right side. Inside the enclosure, middle-level support  13 , conductive metal sheet  14  and conductive metal sheet  15  are provided. The conductive metal sheet  14  is provided with I-shaped conductive plug bushes  14 A, while the conductive metal sheet  15  is provided with T-shaped conductive plug bushes  15 A. On the middle-level support  13 , guide jacks  13 C,  13 D are made corresponding to the positions of I-shaped conductive plug bush  14 A and T-shaped conductive plug bush  15 A. When the guide jacks are exposed, the conductive plug bushes can also be exposed. In this example, the jack guard baffle mechanism includes left baffle  7 , right baffle  8  and small baffle  16 . The small baffle  16  is located below the right baffle  8 . The left baffle  7  is provided with a group of baffle latching mechanisms. 
     The jack guard baffle mechanism includes left baffle  7 , right baffle  8  and reset spring  9 . The left and right baffles can match crossly in a sliding way. The right baffle  8  is provided with baffle support foot  8 D. For the left baffle  7 , due to the limitation of the baffle latch, it is not necessary to provide a baffle support foot. Below the right baffle  8 , small baffle  16  is provided. Guide rail  8 X is provided below the right baffle  8 . The small baffle  16  has guide groove  16 A to cooperate with the guide rail  8 X of the right baffle. Above the small baffle  16 , there is a travel slant  16 B which allows the small baffle  6  to move along the direction perpendicular to the right baffle opening direction under the action of the T-shaped plug. Sliding platform  13 B for baffle sliding is provided on the middle-level support  13 . The small baffle  16  is provided between the right baffle  8  and the sliding platform  13 B of the middle-level support  13 . 
     With the small baffle, it is not necessary to provide a baffle latch  6  at the external side of the right baffle. As such, the baffle latch  6  at that location is optional. A baffle latching mechanism is provided at the external side of the said left baffle. Shown in broken lines in  FIG. 18 , locking block is provided at the front end of the left baffle  7 . 
     Locking groove  16 C is provided in the left side of the small baffle  16  to match with the locking block of the left baffle. Positioning wedge  13 E is provided on the middle-level support  13 . Below the small baffle  16 , latching face  16 D to match with the front end of the positioning wedge  13 E of the middle-level support, and the second guide groove  16 G to match with the slant side of the positioning wedge are provided. After the plug is inserted in, the various groups of wedging mechanisms cooperating with each other are separated and unlatched automatically. After the plug is pulled out, they fit and latch automatically with the assistance of the spring or elastic component pressures and the interaction of the various wedges and sliding faces. 
     The action process is as follows: In an initial state, the reset button  2  is not pressed down, the baffle latch positioning convex pin  6 B contacts with the latching face  7 F in the external side of the left baffle  7 , and the left baffle  7  is latched, as shown in  FIGS. 21 &amp; 22 . When the reset button  2  is pressed down and is reset successfully, the reset button extension arms  2 A,  2 B move downwards, the baffle latch  6  moves downwards under the action of the elastic element until the positioning convex pin  6 B corresponds to the baffle positioning groove  7 G. When a plug is inserted in, the baffles can be opened, exposing the guide jacks and conductive plug bushes on the middle-level support  13 . Refer to  FIGS. 23 &amp; 24 . 
     In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various other modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.