Safety socket

A safety socket of the present invention has a lock mechanism which is utilized for engaging a tubular hexagonal shell of a plug when the plug inserts into the safety socket. Thus, the components of the safety socket can be arranged loose within easier spacing. Therefore, safety purpose is fulfilled with simplified structure. Manufacturing of the safety socket is 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, WO2010/029511 and TW utility model TWM285106 adopt the same technique to prevent removal of plug.

However, the plug utilized with the socket described above can be damaged by the socket easily. The socket is provided with a tilted engagement plate which is utilized for engaging pins of the plug. After repeated engagement of the engagement plate and the pins, the pins can be abraded easily. Moreover, for reducing cost, plugs are sometimes provided with thinned pins. Therefore, pins are always deformed and torqued by the socket. With the torture caused by the socket, lifetime of the plug can hardly be maintained.

In addition, the socket is difficult to be manufactured. Some plugs are provided with a hexagonal shell. Correspondingly, the socket should be provided with a hexagonal groove. Thus, arrangement and location of the engagement plate of the socket is limited by the groove. Size of the engagement plate should be small. Therefore, manufacture is difficult and cost is raised.

Besides, lifetime of the socket is limited. For releasement purpose, a release button should be provided on the socket. Accompanied with the button, linkage connected between the button and the engagement plate is also essential for the socket. However, the linkage has to detour round the groove in the narrowed and limited space. Reliability of the linkage would be questionable.

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 simplified safety socket which can engage the plug inserted therein.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide a safety socket with an engagement state which can be controlled by user easily.

The other object of the present invention is to provide a safety socket which has a prolonged lifetime and a diminished cost.

To achieve the above and other objects, a safety socket of the present invention includes a housing, a lock mechanism, and a switch mechanism.

The housing has a front surface. The front surface is formed with a group of socket holes which comprises at least two insertion holes and a groove. The groove encloses said two insertion 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 in one of the insertion holes and a shell which is able to insert in the groove.

The lock mechanism is disposed in the housing. The lock mechanism is located adjacent to the groove. The lock mechanism is able to be switched between a first position and a second position. The shell is able to insert into and escape from the groove when the lock mechanism is located at the second position. The lock mechanism intervenes in the groove when the lock mechanism is switched toward the first position, so that removal of the shell which is inserted in the groove is prohibited. The lock mechanism has a tendency to return to the first position.

The switch mechanism is disposed on the housing. The switch mechanism is adapted for manual operation to switch the lock mechanism.

Therefore, the safety socket engages a plug with the hexagonal shell of the plug. The engagement plate of the safety socket can be arranged in periphery portion of the safety socket. Components of the safety socket are then arranged widely. Manufacturing and fabricating of the components are facilitated. In addition, the structure of the safety socket is amended, improving stability and durability of the safety socket.

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 plug1to be inserted therein. With corresponding operation, the safety socket can engage and lock or release the plug1. The plug1includes two or three conductive pins11which are made of metal and formed as plates. In addition, the plug further includes a hexagonal tubular shell12which is arranged around the conductive pins11. The safety socket includes a housing2, a lock mechanism, and a switch mechanism4. Preferably, a restrain mechanism is also included in.

Please refer toFIG. 2toFIG. 5. The housing has a front surface21. The front surface21is formed with a group of socket holes. In corresponding to the plug1, the socket holes include two or three insertion holes22and a groove23. The insertion holes22are adapted for the conductive pins of the plug to insert therein. The groove23encloses the insertion holes22and is adapted for the hexagonal shell of the plug to insert therein. Thus, the plug is able to insert into the corresponding group of socket holes. To fulfill fabrication purpose, the housing2of the present embodiment includes an outer housing24and an inner housing25. The insertion holes22are formed on the inner housing25. The groove23is defined between the outer housing24and the inner housing25.

The lock mechanism is disposed in the housing2and adjacent to the groove23. More specifically, the lock mechanism includes an engagement plate31and an elastic member32. The engagement plate31is disposed in the housing2. One side311of the engagement plate31abuts against the outer housing24. The engagement plate31is formed with two pillared protrusions312at two ends of the side311. The protrusions312abut against the outer housing. The engagement plate31is able to pivot, so that the opposite side311′ can move close to or away from the front surface21. The engagement plate31is formed with an opening313. The opening313has an appearance and a location corresponding to those of the groove23. The engagement plate31is located adjacent to the groove23, enclosing the groove23. The side311of the engagement plate is parallel to the front surface21. Thus, the engagement plate31pivots about an axis which is defined by the side311and is parallel to the front surface21. Therefore, the lock mechanism or said engagement plate31can be switched or pivoted between a first position and a second position. When the engagement plate31pivots toward the first position, the engagement plate31is tilted to the front surface21. Then, the engagement plate31intervenes in the groove23, pressing on the shell which inserts into the groove23. Thus, removal of the shell of the plug is resisted. When the engagement plate31pivots toward the second position, the engagement plate31is substantially parallel to the front surface21. Thus, the shell is able to insert or escape from the groove23randomly. The phrase substantially parallel taken here means that an angle defined by the front surface21and the engagement plate31is shrunken or that the engagement plate31is parallel to the front surface21after the engagement plate31is pivoted to the second position. In other words, the engagement plate31not necessarily exactly parallel to the front surface21. The elastic member32is arranged between the engagement plate31and the inner housing25. The elastic member32provides an elastic force exerted on the engagement plate31, so that the engagement plate31has a tendency to return to the first position. In other words, without external force or insertion of the shell, the engagement plate31is generally located at the first position. In other possible embodiments of the present invention, the elastic member32may be neglected. Alternatively, the engagement plate31can be produced bendable with suitable material and structure, and the elastic force can be provided by the bendable engagement plate.

The switch mechanism4is disposed on the housing. The switch mechanism is adapted for manual operation to change location of the lock mechanism so as to switch the lock mechanism. In the present embodiment, the switch mechanism4is used for switching the engagement plate31toward the second position. More specifically, the switch mechanism includes a controller41. The controller41is disposed in the housing2by insertion of a pin42, more particularly, is disposed in the outer housing24. The controller41is able to rotate about the pin42. The pin42or the rotation axis of the controller41is parallel to the front surface21, and also parallel to the pivoting axis of the engagement plate31. The controller has an activate portion411, an extend portion412, and a restrain portion413. The activate portion411, the extend portion412, and the restrain portion413are formed as poles, stretching away from the pin42. The activate portion411extends and protrudes outwardly from the front surface21. The extend portion412abuts against the side311′ of the engagement plate31with a distal end thereof. As such, the activate portion411is provided for manual operation, switching and rotating the controller41between a lock position and a release position. When the controller41is located at the lock position, the controller41does not abut against the engagement plate31. Thus, the lock mechanism or said engagement plate31is able to be switched between the first position and the second position without resistance. When the controller41is located at the release position, the controller41abuts against and presses on the engagement plate31with the distal end of the extend portion412, so that the engagement plate31is pivoted toward the second position.

The restrain mechanism is used for abutting against the controller41when the shell inserts in the groove23. By press of the restrain mechanism, motion of the controller41between the lock position and the release position is resisted. More specifically, please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 4, andFIG. 5, the restrain mechanism includes a restrain member51which is disposed on the housing2. The restrain member51extends and protrudes integrally from the outer housing24where adjacent to the groove23. The restrain member51is located between the controller41and the groove23. The restrain member51can be switched between an initial position and a restrain position. When the restrain member51is located at the initial position, the restrain member is partially received in the groove23. Thus, the shell would press on the restrain member51and drives the restrain member51to the restrain position when the shell inserts into the groove23. When the restrain member51is located at the restrain position, the restrain member51is located adjacent to or presses directly on the restrain portion413of the controller41. Thus, the restrain member51abuts selectively against the controller41, retraining motion of the controller41between the lock position and the release position. For restraining motion of the controller41, the restrain member51may be arranged directly on or about the route of the controller41. However, the restrain member51has its inherent elasticity. The location of the controller41can still be changed when user operates the activate portion harder. The restrain member51has elasticity and tendency to return to the initial position.

Please refer toFIG. 5andFIG. 6showing safety socket with no insertion of the plug. Accordingly, because of the appearance and the elasticity of the restrain member51, the restrain member51is generally located at the initial position. The restrain member51is located apart from the restrain portion413of the controller41. The engagement plate31pressed by the elastic member32is generally located at the first position. The engagement plate31presses on the extend portion412of the controller41. The controller41is positioned at the lock position.

Please refer toFIG. 7. When the plug inserts in the socket holes, the shell12inserts in the groove accompanied with a slight movement of the engagement plate31. However, the engagement plate31is still pressed by the elastic member32, and is still tilted to clip and press on the shell12. Therefore, insertion of the plug is allowed, but removal of the plug is resisted. In additionally, accompanied with the insertion, the shell12presses on the restrain member51, driving the restrain member51to the restrain position. Thus, the controller41is unable to rotate randomly.

Please refer toFIG. 8. When user tries to remove the plug, user can operate and press the activate portion411harder, overcoming elasticity of the restrain member51. Thus, the controller41is forced to rotate to the release position. Correspondingly, extend portion412presses and drives the engagement plate31toward the second position. The engagement plate31leaves and releases the shell12. Thus, user can draw the plug1out of the safety socket without resistance caused by the lock mechanism. Because of the elastic forces provided by the elastic member32and the restrain member51, the components of the safety socket are then returned to the positions as shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6after withdrawal of the plug. The safety socket is then prepared for continuous operation.

Additionally, in some situation, user may abandon withdrawal of the plug after the controller41is rotated to the release position. In this case, user can rotate the activate portion and the controller41in an opposite direction. With manual operation, the controller41can be rotated to return to the lock position without withdrawal of the plug. The engagement plate31engages the shell12, as shown inFIG. 7. The engagement plate31can be moved back to engage the shell12without removing the plug in advance.

According to the structure mentioned above, the safety socket includes the engagement plate which engages the shell of the plug for resisting removal of the plug. The engagement plate is then arranged within a periphery portion of the housing. The components of the safety socket are then arranged loose within easier spacing. Structure of the safety socket is simplified. Manufacturing and fabricating are facilitated, and durability and stability are improved.

Besides, refer to the operation condition mentioned above, the safety socket can be operated easily with single hand. Switching the controller and removing the plug can be achieved with single hand separately.

In addition, the controller can be switched for engaging and releasing the plug randomly without removing the plug in advance. Operation of the safety socket is simple and convenient.

Please refer toFIG. 9toFIG. 11. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the safety socket is roughly the same as the structure described above. Comparatively, the controller is provided with a restrain portion414which has an appearance different from an extension pole. The restrain portion414is formed as a sector as shown inFIG. 9. In addition, the restrain portion414is formed with a protruding rib415. The rib415is located at where the restrain portion414closes to the restrain member51. In other words, the rib415is located at a side of the restrain portion414approaching to the restrain member51. A protruding direction defined by the rib415is parallel to the shaft, as shown inFIG. 10. Correspondingly, the restrain member51is formed with a protrusion511at a side of the restrain member51approaching to the restrain portion414. Please refer toFIG. 11toFIG. 13. The restrain portion414abuts against the protrusion511of the restrain member51with the rib415. Motion of the controller41is then resisted by the restrain member51. However, as shown inFIG. 12andFIG. 13, with a suitable force of manual operation, user can still switch the controller41or the activate portion411back and forth. Thus, operation condition and effects as described in the first embodiment are also achieved in the second embodiment.

To conclude, the safety socket as described above has a simplified structure. Manufacturing and fabricating are facilitated, and durability and stability are improved. Also, operation of the safety socket is simple and convenient.