Combined power socket for artificial tree

The present invention provides a combined power socket for artificial trees. The combined power socket includes a first socket and a second socket which are capable of supplying control signals to light strings on the artificial trees in addition to power supply, thus can realize the intelligent control of light strings. Furthermore, the first socket and a second socket can be connected in two directions without considering the positive and negative poles of the power supply. The product assembly is simpler and more convenient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and particularly to a combined power socket for an artificial tree and an artificial tree having the combined power socket.

2. Description of Related Art

The string is widely used for indoor and outdoor decorating Christmas trees, decorations are essential festivals. A large number of general configuration to decorate the Christmas lights string 5-10 or above. At present, setting multiple string plug and jack adapter for power supply socket string, Jack number is generally two to ten, so can only be connected with two to ten strings. If you need to connect more string will be equipped with one or more additional power socket, which need to use one or more electrical socket. Generally, one side of the wall on the general configuration of a city outlet, it is easy to appear mains outlet is not enough, or the need to configure additional plug plate, the use of inconvenience. And in the process of assembly, the need for workers to climb down the wire, assembly is not safe.

Therefore, the connecting terminal is fixed on the Christmas tree trunk in the combined power, when the trunk of the upper and lower segments connected, fixed on the trunk in the combined electric connection terminals are electrically connected with each other, such as the application date is Dec. 24, 2015, the electric connector China utility model patent No. 20152107394.7 patent publication. However, the wires of the electric connector are extended and connected in the trunk, the assembly cost is high, and the electric connection cannot be observed in the use, and the utility model has great safety hidden trouble.

The utility model relates to a combined power socket which is disclosed in the patent application date of May 24, 2013 and the patent number 201320289695 of the utility model can be sheathed on the periphery of the trunk. However, the socket of the combined power supply socket is arranged on one of the socket body, and the manufacturing process is complex and needs to be improved. In addition, lamps in the existing light string each has a built-in chip, which can realize intelligent control, however the existing power socket for the artificial tree does not have an intelligent control line for transmitting control signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in detail through several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Please refer toFIGS.1,2and7, a combined power socket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a first socket10and a second socket20that are matched with each other. The first socket10and the second socket20are both designed to be sleeved on a rod or a tube, thus having a ring structure. When an end of a tube is inserted to an end of another tube, the first socket10which is sleeved on the end of the tube is capable of being electrically connected to the second socket20which is sleeved on the end of the another tube.

A first end of the first socket10defines six holes111, a conductive element15is received in the first socket10. A first end of the second socket20is formed with three conductive pins25that can be inserted into the six holes111and electrically contacts with the conductive element15. The first socket10and the second socket20both define an outlet hole16,26communicating with the inside of the sockets in their outer side walls or in a part near the outer side walls. Both the first socket10and the second socket20can lead out one group or two groups or more than two groups of conductive wires through their outlet holes as needed, and one group of conductive wires can be connected to an electrical connector40capable of being electrical connecting with another electrical connector of another socket or light string. Another set of conductive wires can be connected to a power plug or a power adapter for adapting to an external power socket. Another set of conductive wires can be connected to another electrical connector40. In particular, when the conductive wires of the first socket or the second socket are connected to the power plug or a power adapter, a controller70is connected in series between the two. The controller70includes a control circuit used for outputting a control signal to one of the three conductive pins25. The other two of the conductive pins25are used to connect positive and negative poles of the power supply.

Please refer toFIGS.2,4, and5at the same time. In this embodiment, the first socket10mainly includes a housing made of insulating material and the conductive element15located in the housing. The housing mainly includes an annular base plate11, an annular (ring-shaped) inner wall12, an annular (ring-shaped) outer wall13and an annular cover plate14. The annular inner wall12extends substantially perpendicular from an inner edge of the base plate11towards a first side of the base plate (in the direction indicated by arrow A in theFIG.2, a surface of the base plate on a second side is used as the first end of the first socket). The annular outer wall13extends substantially perpendicular from an outer edge of the base plate11towards the first side of the base plate. The annular cover plate14connected to ends of the inner wall12and the outer wall13. The base plate11, the cover plate14, the inner wall12and the outer wall13define a receiving space for receiving ends of the conductive wires and the conductive element15. In addition, the outlet hole16communicating the inside and outside of the first socket is formed between the end of the outer wall13and the edge of the cover plate14.

The first socket10also includes seven pillars extending from the base plate11towards the first side of the base plate. Six of the seven pillars are hollow pillars with holes penetrating both ends of the pillars, which are named as a first pillar181and a second pillar182, a third pillar183, a fourth pillar184, a fifth pillar185, and a sixth pillar186. Six through holes serving as the holes111are defined on the base plate11at positions corresponding to the first pillar to the sixth pillar. The holes111(pillars181-186) are rotationally symmetrically distributed. In this embodiment, they are arranged on a circle, but in other embodiments, they may not be on a circle. The seventh pillar is named as a seventh pillar187, which extends from the base plate11toward the first side of the base plate, and is located between the fourth pillar184and the fifth pillar185and is closer to an outer side of the circle.

Four partitions (isolation panels)188are formed respectively between the first pillar181and the second pillar182, between the second pillar182and the third pillar183, between the fourth pillar184and the fifth pillar185, and between the fifth pillar185and the sixth pillar186. The four partitions188extend substantially along the circle where the six pillars181to186are located. A partition189is also formed between the third pillar183and the seventh pillar187to isolate the fourth pillar184and the outer wall13, therefore a space between the fourth pillar184and the outer wall13is separated into two parts. In this embodiment, the two ends of the partitions188and189are respectively connected to the pillars at both ends. In other embodiments, the partitions may not be connected to the pillars at both ends.

The conductive element15includes a first conductive tube151, a second conductive tube152, a third conductive tube153, a fourth conductive tube154, a fifth conductive tube155and a sixth conductive tube156respectively inserted into the first to sixth pillars181to186. The first conductive tube151and the fourth conductive tube154are connected by a first conductive body157, the second conductive tube152and the fifth conductive tube155are connected by a second conductive body158, and the third conductive tube153and the sixth conductive tube156are connected by a third conductive body159. The first conductive body157, the second conductive body158, and the third conductive body159are insulated and isolated by the partitions188and189. Specifically, the first conductive body157is located in a channel defined by the annular inner wall12, the sixth pillar186, the fifth pillar185and the partition188between the sixth and the fifth pillars186,185, and the fifth pillar185, the fourth pillar184, and the partition188between the fifth pillar185and the fourth pillar184. A part of the second conductive body158is located in a channel defined by the inner wall12and the second pillar182, the third pillar183and the partition188between the second pillar182and the third pillar183, and a further part of the second conductive body158is located in a channel defined by the inner wall12, the third pillar183, and a part of the partition189. The last part of the second conductive body158is located in a channel defined by the fourth pillar184, the fifth pillar185, the partition188between the fourth pillar184and the fifth pillar185, and a part of the partition189. A part of the third conductive body159is located in a channel defined by the annular outer wall13and the partition189, and the other part is located in a channel defined by the annular outer wall13, the fifth pillar185, the sixth pillar186and the partition188between the fifth pillar185and the sixth pillar186.

The structures of the six conductive tubes are similar, and the structures of the three conductive bodies are similar. In the following, only the first conductive body157and the first conductive tube151are used as examples to describe the structures of the conductive bodies and the conductive tube in detail. In this embodiment, the first conductive body151is a metal wire or a long metal sheet, which is generally bent into an arc shape. Please refer toFIG.6, the first conductive tube151is a round tube formed by bending a rectangular metal sheet, the first conductive tube151is connected to one end of the first conductive body157. The end of the first conductive tube151away from the first conductive body157defines a plurality of slits (notches) extending along the axial direction thereof, so that the end of the first conductive tube151forms a plurality of elastic claws1521to facilitate the insertion of the corresponding rod-shaped pins for electrical connection. The first conductive tube152to the sixth conductive tube156are inserted into different insertion holes111from the first side of the base plate11respectively. The elastic claws of the first conductive tube152to the sixth conductive tube156do not protrude outside the insertion holes111to prevent accidental electric shock after the first socket10is powered on. In particular, since the first to third conductive bodies are all connected to the end of the corresponding conductive tube, when the conductive tubes are inserted into the insertion holes111of the pillars, the first, second and third conductive bodies are all higher than the pillar relative to the base plate. Therefore, the height of the partitions188and189relative to the base plate11should be higher than the height of the pillars relative to the base plate to prevent adjacent conductive bodies from contacting.

In addition, a tube143is also extending outwardly (relative to the inside of the first socket) and perpendicularly from an inner ring edge of the cover plate14. The tube143is used for increasing a contact area between the first socket and the rod or tube which the first socket is sleeved on, and increasing the strength of the first socket at the same time.

In an implementation environment, as shown inFIG.7, two power cords output by a power plug30or a power adapter are connected to a controller70, and the output terminal of the controller70leads out three wires for outputting control signals and positive and negative power supplies. The three wires enter the accommodating cavity of the first socket10from the outlet hole16and are electrically connected to the first conductive body157, the second conductive body158, and the third conductive body159, respectively. In addition, the first conductive body157, the second conductive body158and the third conductive body159can respectively lead one or more wires to be combined into one or more bundles of wires41, which extend from the outlet hole16to connect with electrical connectors40each having three conductive interfaces. The electrical connector40is adapted to an external electrical device, such as an electrical connector of a light string of a Christmas tree or an electrical connector on the second socket20.

Please refer toFIG.1toFIG.3andFIG.7at the same time, the second socket20mainly includes a shell made of insulating material and three conductive pins25. The shell mainly includes a ring-shaped second base plate21, an annular (ring-shaped) second inner wall22, an annular (ring-shaped) second outer wall23and an annular second cover plate24. The annular second inner wall22extends substantially perpendicular from an inner edge of the second base plate21towards a first side of the second base plate (in the direction indicated by arrow A′ in theFIG.3, a surface of the second base plate on a second side is used as the first end of the second socket). The annular second outer wall23extends substantially perpendicular from an outer edge of the second base plate21towards the first side of the second base plate. The ring-shaped second cover plate24connected to the ends of the second inner wall22and the second outer wall23. The second base plate21, the second cover plate24, the second inner wall22and the second outer wall23enclose a receiving space for receiving ends of the conductive wires and a part of the conductive pins25. In addition, similar to the first socket10, the outer circumference of the second base plate21is circular, and the outer circumference of the second cover plate24is circular, and the inner circumference corresponds to the shape of the second base plate21, which can seal a space defined by the second inner wall22and the second base plate. A wire hole26is formed between the end of the second outer wall23and the edge of the second cover plate24.

The second socket20also includes two insert pieces27extending from the second outer wall23towards a second side (in the direction indicated by the arrow B′ in theFIG.3) of the second base plate21opposite to the first side, and three second pillars28extending from the second base plate21towards the first side of the second base plate. Three through holes211penetrating both ends of the second base plate21and the second pillars28are formed on the second base plate21at positions corresponding to the three second pillars28. Three conductive pins25are inserted into the three through holes211respectively and is respectively electrically connected to the three wires of the two sets of conductive wires51and52that enter the receiving cavity of the second socket20from the second outlet hole26. The other ends of the conductive wires51and52located outside the second socket20are electrically connected to the electrical connector40′. It can be understood that the electrical connectors connected to the ends of the conductive wires51and52may be the same or different according to actual usage conditions. Thereby, the second socket20can be electrically connected with the expansion first socket10′ or the second socket20′.

In this embodiment, the two insert pieces27are distributed rotationally symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the second socket20, and a part of the insert piece27that crosses the base plate21is generally triangular, and the end is arc-shaped. Correspondingly, the first socket10is formed with two receiving slots or avoiding space171for accommodating the insert pieces27, as limiting members between the first socket and the second socket, allowing the first socket and the second socket to be plugged into each other in a first relative position or a second relative position. In this embodiment, the two insert pieces27are arranged at 180 degrees relative to the central axis, so that the first relative position and the second relative position are set opposite.

In addition, a tube243is also extending outwardly (relative to the inside of the second socket) and perpendicularly from an inner ring edge of the second cover plate24. The tube243is used for increasing a contact area between the second socket and the rod or tube which the second socket is sleeved on, and increasing the strength of the second socket at the same time. Moreover, a middle of the conductive pin25is wider, and one end is inserted into the through hole211from the outside of the second base plate21, so that a part is exposed outside the second socket20, but does not exceed the end of the insert pieces27, and a part extends through the second pillars28and is fixed and electrically connected with the conductive wires.

In order to facilitate the connection of the first socket10and the second socket20, a plurality of fasteners121extend from the inner wall11of the first socket10towards the cover plate14, and the ends of the fasteners121can be buckled on the inner edge of the cover plate14so that the two are fixedly connected. Correspondingly, escape positions144are formed on the tube143of the cover plate14corresponding to the ends of the buckles121. Similarly, the second socket20is also formed with fasteners221similar to the fasteners121and escape positions244similar to the escape positions144.

In addition, the inner walls oft the first socket10and the second socket20are also formed with protrusions123and223protruding toward the inner side of the inner walls. Correspondingly, openings must be formed on the rod or tube to be installed, and the first and second sockets can be stably fixed on the rod or tube, and it is not easy to slide up and down.

When in use, the first socket10and the second socket20are plugged together: the insert pieces27are inserted into the corresponding escape positions171, the conductive pins25are inserted into the insertion holes111and inserted into the claw-shaped ends of the corresponding conductive tubes. For electrical connection, the first socket10and the second socket20are tightly connected together by friction between the insert pieces and the avoiding positions, the conductive pins and the conductive tubes. At this time, the power input of the combination socket only relies on, for example, the electrical connector40shown inFIG.7to supply power to the outside. If it is necessary to expand the number of electrical connectors40, it is sufficient to increase the conductive wires drawn from the outlet holes and connect the electrical connectors, or the electrical connector40′ can be used to connect a first extension socket10′ (with the same structure of the first socket10), and the expansion second socket20′ (with the same structure of the second socket20) can be further expanded.

In other embodiments, another group or groups of conductive wires with one end connected to an electrical connector40can also enter the receiving cavity of the second socket20from the outlet hole26to be electrically connected to the three conductive pins25respectively. Therefore, both the first socket10and the second socket20have electrical connectors40. It is understandable that two or more electrical connectors40can be drawn from the first socket10and/or the second socket20as required.

The combined power socket of the present invention has three conductive pins which are respectively connected to the positive and negative poles of a power supply and the control signal output end of the control circuit, which can realize the intelligent control of light strings. In addition, the second socket can be guided by a stopper formed by the insert pieces and the avoiding positions, and can be inserted into the first socket in two directions without considering the positive and negative poles of the power supply. The product assembly is simpler and more convenient.

In other embodiments, the insertion holes111may not be arranged on a circle, as long as the six insertion holes are divided into two groups, and the two sets of insertion holes are arranged rotationally symmetrically.

In other embodiments, only the electrical connector40may be led out from the second socket20, and only the power plug30or a plug for connecting with a power adapter is provided on the first socket.

In other embodiments, the insert piece can be arranged on the first socket and the avoiding positions is arranged on the second socket.

In other embodiments, the position of the outlet hole may be set on the outer sidewalls of the first socket and the second socket, such as the outer wall13and the second outer wall23. The outlet holes can also be provided on the cover plate14and the second cover plate24. The number of outlet holes of each socket can be set to two or more as required.

In the above embodiment, the insert pieces extend from the outer wall of the ring structure. It is understandable that the insert pieces may also extend from the inner wall of the ring structure, or the combined power socket may have inner side insert pieces and outer side insert pieces.

It is understandable that in other embodiments, only fixing parts such as screws can be used to fix the two parts of the housing of the first socket and the second socket, so that the fasteners121and221can be omitted, as long as gaps communicating with the inside of the socket for draining liquid is formed on the inner wall11and the second inner wall21, and a water inlet and a water outlet are formed at positions corresponding to the gaps on both ends of the first socket and the second socket.

FIG.7is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the combined power socket of the present invention when it is applied to an artificial tree. The artificial tree60includes a three-segment trunk (a lower trunk611, a middle trunk612, and an upper trunk613), brackets63sleeved on the trunk for connecting the branches62, and light strings64hanging on the branches62. The first socket10is sleeved on an upper end of the lower trunk611; the second socket20is sleeved on an lower end of the middle trunk612, and a first socket10′ for expansion is sleeved on an upper end of the middle trunk612; another second socket20′ is sleeved on a lower end of the upper trunk613. When the three tree trunks611,612613are plugged together, the ends of the tree trunks are plugged together, the first socket10and the second socket20are mechanically and electrically connected, and the first socket10′ and the second socket20′ for expansion are mechanically and electrically connected. The second socket20and the first extension socket10′ are electrically connected through the electrical connector40′, and the current from the power plug30can be transmitted to the second socket20′. The light string64may also be electrically connected to the electrical connectors40of the first socket10′ and the second socket20′. Since all conductive wires extend from the outside of the trunk, the connection is convenient and quick. Flexible wires can be used to lead out the electrical connectors, making the connection of the light strings more convenient and quicker, and the manufacturing process of the first socket and the second socket is greatly simplified. Since the insert holes and the conductive tubes on the first socket are rotationally symmetrically distributed, the first socket and the second socket have multiple insertion directions, which is more convenient for the connection and fixation of each section of the trunk.

In the above embodiment, the first socket is used as a female plug and is fixed to the upper end of the lower tree trunk, which can prevent electric shock accidents after being powered on. The second socket is used as a male plug, and only the upper and lower tree trunks are fixedly connected and the male and female plugs are plugged into each other before being charged, and there is no danger of exposed conductive pins.

While the invention has been described in terms of several exemplary embodiments, those skilled on the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, it is noted that, the Applicant's intent is to encompass equivalents of all claim elements, even if amended later during prosecution.