Secured connector and using process thereof

The present invention discloses a secured connector and a using process thereof. The secured connector includes a connector body with one end having at least a conductive terminal for plugging in a socket, a cover located at another end of the connector body and having at least an arc opening for a plug of an electronic apparatus to plug therethrough, and a securing device located in an interior of the connector body and including at least a conductive spring piece forming at least an arc trench for directing the plug to a securing position, so that the plug is secured with a securing knob on the conductive spring piece.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a secured connector and a using process thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the progressing of science and technology, a variety of electric appliances become essential tools in life. The power converter, which is frequently used in the daily life, is used to rectify the commercially available AC power and convert it into the DC power for providing the desired power to the electric appliance.

The power converter, such as an adapter and a charger, includes a plug for plugging in a socket and receiving the commercially available AC power. Since there are various kinds of socket standards, the power converter is usually connected to a connector having different forms of conductive terminals to correspond to the different socket standards.

While using the connector, however, if the connector cannot be effectively secured with the power converter, the connector may be remained on the socket when pulling out the power converter, which may cause a danger of electric shock. In addition, the power converter may be loosened and dissembled from the connector, which may cause power failure of the electric appliance or data loss.

For effectively securing the connector with the power converter, the conventional connector and power converter usually have corresponding structures respectively for fitting with each other (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,863). However, such way is inconvenient to the user since different power converters must be used with different connectors so as to be effectively secured.

To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above, the present invention provides a secured connector designed for the American standard plug, which can be effectively secured with the power converter without using any specific structure on the power converter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a secured connector for effectively securing with a power converter.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a secured connector for applying to any power converter having the American standard plug.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the secured connector includes a connector body with one end having at least a conductive terminal for plugging in a socket, a cover located at another end of the connector body and having at least an arc opening for a plug of an electronic apparatus to plug therethrough, and a securing device located in an interior of the connector body and including at least a conductive spring piece forming at least an arc trench for directing the plug to a securing position, so that the plug is secured with a securing knob on the conductive spring piece.

Preferably, the electronic apparatus is one selected from a group consisting of an adapter, a charger and an AC power cord.

Preferably, the plug includes at least a conductive prong for electrically connecting with the connector.

Preferably, the conductive prong has a hole for securing with the securing knob.

Preferably, the securing knob has a top located at the opposite side to a plugging side of the plug.

Preferably, the arc opening is corresponding to the arc trench.

Preferably, the conductive spring piece further includes a positioning knob for positioning the plug at a first position.

Preferably, the securing knob has a bigger thickness than the positioning knob does.

Preferably, the plug is rotated between the first position and the securing position along the arc trench.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the process for using a secured connector includes steps of plugging a plug of an electronic apparatus at a first position of the connector through at least an arc opening of the connector, rotating the plug from the first position to a second position along the arc opening for securing the plug with the connector, and connecting the connector with a socket for providing power to the electronic apparatus.

The process further includes steps of pulling the connector out of the socket, rotating the plug from the second position to the first position, and pulling the plug out of the connector.

Preferably, the connector includes a securing device, which includes at least a conductive spring piece for forming at least an arc trench corresponding to the arc opening.

Preferably, the conductive spring piece includes a positioning knob for positioning the plug at the first position, and a securing knob for securing the plug at the second position.

Preferably, the securing knob has a bigger thickness than the positioning knob does, and has a top located at the opposite side to a plugging side of the plug.

Preferably, the plug is rotated between the first position and the second position along the arc trench.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the process for using a secured connector includes steps of plugging a plug of an electronic apparatus at a securing position of the connector for securing the plug with the connector, connecting the connector with a socket for providing power to the electronic apparatus, pulling the connector out of the socket, rotating the plug from the securing position to a positioning position, and pulling the plug out of the connector.

The process further includes steps of plugging the plug of the electronic apparatus at the positioning position of the connector through at least an arc opening of the connector, and rotating the plug from the positioning position to the securing position along the arc opening.

Preferably, the connector includes a securing device, which includes at least a conductive spring piece for forming at least an arc trench corresponding to said arc opening.

Preferably, the conductive spring piece includes a positioning knob for positioning the plug at the positioning position, and a securing knob for securing the plug at the securing position.

Preferably, the securing knob has a bigger thickness than the positioning knob does, and has a top located at the opposite side to a plugging side of the plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIGS.1(a) to1(b) which are schematic views showing the assembly structure of the connector10and the power converter11according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. The plug of the power converter11(such as an adapter and a charger), which conforms to the American standard, includes two parallel conductive prongs111having two holes112at the front ends thereof, respectively. The conductive prongs111are plugged into the connector10through two arc openings102of the connector10(as shown in FIG.1(a)). Of course, the plug can also includes two conductive prongs111and a conductive stick113, and are plugged into the connector10through three arc openings102of the connector10(as shown in FIG.1(b)). In addition, the shapes and the number of the conductive terminals101of the connector10can be varied, as shown inFIG. 2, depending on the standards of the corresponding sockets.

Please refer toFIG. 3which is a schematic view showing the structure of the connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector includes a connector body30, a cover31and a securing device32. The connector body30has two conductive terminals301located at one end thereof for plugging in a socket (not shown). The cover31is located at another end of the connector body31and having two arc openings311for the conductive prongs of the power converter to plug therethrough. The securing device32is located in the interior of the connector body30, and includes two conductive spring pieces forming respectively two arc trenches321, which are corresponding to the arc openings311. The securing device32can be fixed to the connector body30by a screw, which passes through a screw hole323at the bottom of the securing device32, and is fixed in the thread3011at the end of the conductive terminal301, so as to be electrically connected. In addition, the securing device32can also be fixed and electrically connected to the conductive terminal301by riveting or welding.

Please refer to FIGS.4(a) to4(c) which are the front, top and side views showing the structure of the securing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The conductive spring piece42, which forms the arc trench41, has a positioning knob43and a securing knob44on one side thereof. The securing knob44has a bigger thickness than the positioning knob43does (as shown in FIG.4(b)), and the securing knob44has a top located at the opposite side to a plugging side of the plug (as shown in FIG.4(c), the arrow indicates the plugging direction of the plug).

Please refer to FIGS.5(a) to5(b) which are schematic views showing the relative positions of the plug and the securing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the plug of the power converter is plugged in the arc trench51formed by the securing device of the connector, the conductive prong52of the plug first contacts with the positioning knob53at a first position or named positioning position (as shown in FIG.5(a)). The positioning knob53can fit with the hole at the front end of the conductive prong52for positioning the conductive prong52at the first position. It is easy to pull the conductive prong52out of the connector when the conductive prong52is located at the first position, since the positioning knob53has a small thickness and cannot secure the conductive prong52completely. Along the arc trench51, the conductive prong52can be rotated from the first position to a second position or named securing position to contact with the securing knob54(as shown in FIG.5(b)). The securing knob54can also fit with the hole at the front end of the conductive prong52. Since the securing knob54has a bigger thickness and its top is located at the opposite side to a plugging side of the conductive prong52, it can secure the conductive prong52completely. Therefore, when the conductive prong52is located at the second position, it cannot be pulled out of the connector.

Please refer to FIGS.6(a) to6(c). The present invention also provides a process for using the connector as described above, which includes the following steps. First, the plug of the power converter61is plugged in and at the first position of the connector60through the arc openings for positioning. At this time, the connector60is assembled on the power converter61with an angle (as shown in FIG.6(a)), and is not completely secured with the power converter61, so that the plug of the power converter61can be easily pulled out of the connector60. Then the plug is rotated along the arc openings to the second position, and at this time, the connector60is assembled on the power converter61regularly (as shown in FIG.6(b)). Since the plug of the power converter61can be secured completely by said securing knob, it cannot be pulled out of the connector60. Finally, the conductive terminals601of the connector60are plugged in the socket for providing power to the power converter61, which can be used safely. When the power converter61is not used, the conductive terminals601are pulled out of the socket, and then the plug of the power converter61is rotated from the second position to the first position (as shown in FIG.6(c)), and finally, the plug of the power converter61is pulled out of the connector60.

Please refer to FIG.7. Since the connector70of the present invention is designed for the plug which conforms to the American standard, it can be also secured with the plug71of an AC power cord72of an electric appliance (such as a hair dryer73).

In conclusion, the present invention provides a secured connector designed for the American standard plug of a power converter (such as an adapter and a charger). The secured connector has a securing device therein for effectively securing and safely pulling out. In addition, the use of the securing device does not need a corresponding structure on the power converter, so the connector of the present invention can be applied to any power converter having an American standard plug, and also to any electric appliance having an AC power cord with an American standard plug. Furthermore, except the size, the Japanese standard plug is the same as the American standard plug, so the secured connector of the present invention can be also applied to any power converter having a Japanese standard plug, and any electric appliance having an AC power cord with a Japanese standard plug.