Safety socket

A safety socket of the present invention has one or several groups of socket holes, lock mechanisms, and release mechanisms. Plug can be inserted into the socket holes. The lock mechanism can engage the plug for preventing unexpected removal of the plug. The release mechanism is used for operating the lock mechanism for releasing the plug. The release mechanism has a button which is arranged at aside of the socket holes. Thus, the button would not be hidden by the plug. User can approach to the button easily. Operation condition of the safety socket is then facilitated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a safety socket which is able to prohibit unexpected removal of plug.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In conventional safety socket, some products are provided with a plate or flake accompanied with an opening The plate/flake can be pressed tilt so as to engage a plug with the opening. Thus, removal of the plug is prohibited. Such socket and technique is detailed described in prior patent GB2383202. In addition, TW utility model TWM285106 adopts the same technique to prevent removal of plug.

Besides, another restriction mechanism for preventing removal of plug is provided as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,749. Safety of using the socket and the plug is also improved.

However, the socket provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,749 is inconvenient in using. The buttons for removing or releasing plugs are arranged just above the groups of socket holes. When plugs are inserted in the groups of socket holes, the buttons would be hidden. User can hardly approach to the buttons for releasing plugs.

The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a safety socket which has an approachable button or release mechanism for releasing locked plug.

To achieve the above and other objects, a safety socket of the present invention includes a housing, at least one lock mechanism, and at lease one release mechanism.

The housing has an upper surface. The housing is formed with at least a group of socket holes. The group of socket holes comprises plural socket holes. The group of socket holes is adapted for a corresponding plug to insert therein. The plug has at least two conductive pins each of which is able to insert into one of the socket holes.

The lock mechanism is disposed beneath the upper surface. The lock mechanism is arranged with one of the socket holes. The lock mechanism is adapted for switching between a lock position and a release position. The lock mechanism engages the conductive pin which inserts into the socket hole corresponding to the lock mechanism when the lock mechanism is located at the lock position, so that the plug is unable to be removed from the socket holes. The plug is able to insert into and escape from the socket holes arbitrarily when the lock mechanism is located at the release position.

The release mechanism is motionably disposed on the housing. The release mechanism and the lock mechanism achieve an operational relationship, so that the release mechanism is able to drive the lock mechanism toward the release position. The release mechanism has a button. The button protrudes upon the upper surface. The button is arranged at one side of the group of socket holes.

In some possible cases, one socket hole and a remote socket hole of the group of socket holes are arranged laterally and extend vertically. The button is arranged out of the region defined between the socket holes remote from each other from a front view.

In other possible cases, a fictitious rectangular region is defined on the upper surface. The rectangular region is minimized to just enclosing the group of socket holes. The rectangular region has two short sides which are arranged laterally. The button is arranged out of the short sides from a front view.

In the other possible cases, the housing is formed with plural groups of socket holes. The safety socket comprises plural lock mechanisms and plural release mechanisms to correspond to the groups of socket holes. The groups of socket holes are arranged vertically. The release mechanisms have buttons which are laterally arranged beside the groups of socket holes.

As such, the safety socket of the present invention is suitable for connecting with a plug. The lock mechanism would engage and lock the plug once the plug is inserted into the socket holes. Unexpected removal of the plug is prohibited. When user intends to remove the plug, user can press the button of the release mechanism down, and the lock mechanism would then release the plug. The button is located aside of the socket holes. Thus, user can approach to the button easily.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 2for a first embodiment of the present invention. The safety socket is provided for a plug9to be inserted therein. The plug9includes at lease two conductive pins91which are made of metal and formed as plates. In the present embodiment, the plug includes three conductive pins91and a hexagonal shell92. The safety socket is suitable for mainframe or server. Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 5. The safety socket includes a housing1, a lock mechanism2, and a release mechanism3. Preferably, a restrain mechanism4is also included in.

The housing1has an upper surface11. The housing1is formed with a group of socket holes12including plural socket holes121,122,123, and124which are adapted for the plug9to insert therein. The conductive pins91can insert in the socket holes respectively. Corresponding to appearance of the plug9, the group of socket holes includes one socket hole122which are stretched as a hexagonal annular ditch. The other socket holes121,123, and124are enclosed by the hexagonal socket hole122. Thus, the hexagonal shell92of the plug9can be inserted into the corresponding hexagonal socket hole122. In the present embodiment, the housing1is assembled from an outer housing13and an inner housing14. For fixation purpose, the outer housing13is formed with fixation holes131which are adapted for the inner housing14to insert therein. Correspondingly, as shown inFIG. 3A, the inner housing14is formed with fixation poles141.

The lock mechanism2is disposed beneath the upper surface11, being arranged with one socket hole121. The lock mechanism2can be switched between a lock position and a release position. More particularly, the lock mechanism includes an engagement plate which is preferably made of metal. The engagement plate has a fix section21and an engage section22. The fix section21is formed with corresponding groove and mounting plate211which are provided for being mounted on the housing1. Thus, the fix section21is mounted to the housing1. The engage section22stretches out from one end of the fix section21. The engage section22is tilted with respect to the fix section21. The engage section22extends forward and is positioned between the inner housing14and the outer housing13, as shown inFIG. 4. The engage section22has an opening221which is lined up with the socket hole121. The engage section22is bendable with respect to the fix section21. Please refer toFIG. 9andFIG. 10. When the lock mechanism2is switched toward the release position, the engage section22is bent to sway toward the upper surface11and is substantially parallel to the upper surface11. The phrase substantially parallel taken here means that an angle defined by the upper surface11and the engage section22is narrowed or that the engage section22is parallel to the upper surface11after the lock mechanism is switched toward the release position. In other words, the engage section22is not necessarily parallel to the upper surface11. The engage section22and the fix section21of the engagement plate have elasticity. Thus, when the engage section22is bent toward the upper surface11, the engage section22bears elastic force exerted backward provided by the engagement plate. Therefore, the lock mechanism2has a tendency to return to the lock position automatically.

The release mechanism3is motionably disposed on the housing1. The release mechanism3and the lock mechanism2achieve an operational relationship, so that the release mechanism3is able to drive the lock mechanism2toward the release position. More particularly, the release mechanism3includes a button31and a linkage32. The button31protrudes vertically upon the upper surface11. The button31is arranged at one side of the group of socket holes12, so that user can approach the button easily even the plug is inserted into the socket holes. When the button31is pressed down, the button31pushes and drives the linkage32to move. The linkage32grasps at the distal end of the engage section22, so that the engage section22is bent to sway when the linkage32moves. The lock mechanism is then switched to the release position. Preferably, the button31and the linkage32are slidably disposed on the housing1. A slide direction defined by the release mechanism is perpendicular to the upper surface11. In addition, the linkage32is formed with an abutting surface at one side. In other possible embodiments of the present invention, the button31may press on, be mounted to, be engaged to, or be attached to the linkage32.

The button31of the release mechanism and the socket holes121,122,123, and124are all located on the upper surface. The button31is arranged at one side of the group of socket holes. More specifically, one socket hole123and the remote socket hole124of the group of socket holes are arranged laterally and extend vertically. In other words, the socket holes123,124which are remote from each other are lengthened vertically and arranged laterally. As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 5, the button31is arranged out of the region defined between the socket holes123,124from a front view.

Even though the group of socket holes12may be lengthened and arranged with different patterns, location of the button31can still be described as follows. Please refer toFIG. 6andFIG. 7. A fictitious rectangular region15is defined on the upper surface11. The rectangular region15is minimized to just enclosing the group of socket holes12. The rectangular region15has two short sides which are arranged laterally. The button31is arranged out of the short sides from a front view. In other words, the button31is located laterally out of the short sides of the rectangular region15.

Please refer toFIG. 8. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the housing1may be formed with plural groups of socket holes12. Correspondingly and respectively, plural lock mechanisms, release mechanisms, and restrain mechanisms are provided in the safety socket. Such safety socket is suitable for mainframe and server5. In the embodiment, the groups of socket holes12are lined vertically up, and the buttons31of the release mechanisms are laterally arranged beside the groups of socket holes12.

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 5. The restrain mechanism4is located between the release mechanism3and one socket hole122. When the plug9inserts in the socket holes121,122, the restrain mechanism4abuts against the release mechanism3. Motions of the release mechanism3and the lock mechanism are then resisted. Thus, the lock mechanism is unable to return to the lock position arbitrarily. More particularly, the restrain mechanism may be made of metal or other suitable material. The restrain mechanism4has an elastic member41and a positioning portion42. The positioning portion42is a curved or folded plate which is mounted to the housing1. The elastic member41is a curved elastic plate which stretches out from the positioning portion42. A distal end of the elastic member41stretches away from the upper surface11. Preferably, the elastic member41stretches perpendicularly from the positioning portion42. That is to say, a connection portion of the elastic member41which is connected to the positioning portion42is perpendicular to the positioning portion42. The elastic member41is partially located in the socket hole122which corresponds to the restrain mechanism. The socket hole122is adapted for the shell92to insert therein. When the plug9is inserted into the socket holes, the elastic member41is pressed by the plug9and moves from a slack position to a restrain position. The elastic member41has a tendency to recover to the slack position.

Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 9toFIG. 13, the safety socket co-operated with the plug9is provided with safety and convenience effects.

For safety purpose, as shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 11, after the plug9is inserted into the safety socket, the lock mechanism is located at the lock position. The engage section22engages the conductive pin91which is inserted into the socket hole corresponded to the lock mechanism. The conductive pin91inserts into the opening of the engage section22. The engage section22is driven by elastic force and tilted to the upper surface11. Thus, a periphery edge of the opening clips the conductive pin91. The plug9is then engaged and unable to be removed from the socket holes or the safety socket. Thus, unexpected or accidental removal of the plug9is prevented.

When user intends to remove the plug9, as shown inFIG. 10andFIG. 12, user can press the button31down. The button31is located aside of the socket holes without blind. User can approach the button31and operate the release mechanism and the lock mechanism easily.

After the plug9is inserted into the socket holes, the plug9presses against the elastic member41until the button31is pressed down and the plug is removed. As shown inFIG. 11, the elastic member41is forced to the restrain position and presses against the linkage32of the release mechanism. Please refer toFIG. 12. After the button is pressed down, the distal end of the elastic member41further abuts against the abutting surface321of the linkage32, as shown inFIG. 11AandFIG. 12A. Thus, the elastic member41presses against and even engages the release mechanism, making the release mechanism unable to move arbitrarily. When user presses the button31, the release mechanism is forced to move, taking the lock mechanism to the release position. Although the lock mechanism has a tendency to return to the lock position, the obstructed release mechanism is held in position by the elastic member, restraining and preventing recovery of the lock mechanism. In other words, once the button is pressed down, even though user may relinquish the button, the lock mechanism would be still unable to recover to engage the conductive pin91until the plug is removed. Without engagement, the conductive pin91can penetrate in and out arbitrarily.

In the present embodiment, the abutting surface321of the linkage32is tilted, facing the elastic member41. Thus, motions of the elastic member41and the linkage32are smoothened. In other possible embodiments of the present invention, the abutting surface may be formed parallel to the upper surface, or the abutting surface may be dismissed without damaging function of the elastic member and the linkage.

By the operation condition mentioned above, user can press down the button31with single hand, switching the lock mechanism to the release position, and pull and remove the plug9with the same single hand. As shown inFIG. 13, the plug9is then removed from the safety socket. The safety socket is single hand operable. Operation of the safety socket is facilitated.

Please refer toFIG. 10andFIG. 13. When the plug9is removed form the socket holes121,122, the elastic member41is released and recovered to the slack position. The release mechanism and the lock mechanism are then released. The lock mechanism pushes the release mechanism and removes to the engage position automatically.

To conclude, by the structure described above, safety and conveniency of the safety socket is facilitated.