Abstract:
A replaceable plug module includes a plug seat, and a plug. The plug seat has a side face formed with a locking recess formed with a first catch plate and a second catch plate. The plug is provided with a first snapping portion combined with and rotatably mounted on the first catch plate of the plug seat and a second snapping portion combined with the second catch plate of the plug seat. Thus, the replaceable plug module can replace different plugs of different kinds and sizes, thereby enhancing the versatility of replaceable plug module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a replaceable plug module, and more particularly to a replaceable plug module that can replace different plugs of different kinds and sizes, thereby enhancing the versatility of replaceable plug module.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    An electric appliance usually includes a plug that is inserted into a socket so as to connect the electric power. However, the conventional plug has a fixed size, so that the conventional plug is only available for the socket of a fixed size, and cannot be available for sockets of different kinds and sizes, thereby decreasing the versatility of the plug. Thus, the user has to replace the plug so as to fit sockets of different kinds and sizes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional plug.  
           [0006]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a replaceable plug module that can replace different plugs of different kinds and sizes, thereby enhancing the versatility of replaceable plug module.  
           [0007]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a replaceable plug module, wherein the plug is mounted on or detached from the plug seat easily and conveniently by rotation of the plug, so that the plug can be replaced rapidly and exactly.  
           [0008]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide a replaceable plug module, wherein the plug is secured on the plug seat by the locking action of the snap hook of the first catch plate and the snap hook of the second catch plate of the plug seat, so that the plug is exactly combined with the plug seat rigidly and stably.  
           [0009]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a replaceable plug module, comprising a plug seat, and a plug, wherein:  
           [0010]    the plug seat has a side face formed with a locking recess, the locking recess of the plug seat has a wall formed with a flexible first catch plate and a flexible second catch plate located opposite to the first catch plate; and  
           [0011]    the plug is secured in the locking recess of the plug and is provided with a first snapping portion and a second snapping portion located opposite to the first snapping portion, the first snapping portion of the plug is combined with and rotatably mounted on the first catch plate of the plug seat, and the second snapping portion of the plug is combined with the second catch plate of the plug seat.  
           [0012]    Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a replaceable plug module in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a plug of the replaceable plug module in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another plug of the replaceable plug module in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a partially side plan cross-sectional assembly operation view of the replaceable plug module as shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the replaceable plug module as shown in FIG. 3 in assembly; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a partially side plan cross-sectional assembly view of a replaceable plug module in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a replaceable plug module in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plug seat  10 , and a plug  30  (see FIG. 1) or a plug  40  (see FIG. 2).  
         [0020]    The plug seat  10  has a side face  12  formed with a locking recess  14 . The locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10  has a bottom face  16  formed with two elastic connectors  18 . Each of the two elastic connectors  18  has a first end connected to a conductive connection (not shown) mounted in the plug seat  10  and a second end protruding outward from the bottom face  16  of the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 .  
         [0021]    The locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10  has a wall formed with a flexible first catch plate  22  and a flexible second catch plate  24  located opposite to the first catch plate  22 . The first catch plate  22  protrudes outward from the bottom face  16  of the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 . A gap  26  is formed between the first catch plate  22  and the wall of the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 , so that the first catch plate  22  has an elastic capability. The first catch plate  22  has an end portion formed with a snap hook  222 . The second catch plate  24  is mounted in an opening  28  formed in a side of the wall of the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 . The second catch plate  24  has an end portion formed with a snap hook  242 .  
         [0022]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the plug  30  has a first end having an end face  32  provided with two spaced protruding insertion posts  33  and a second end provided with a first snapping portion  34  and a second snapping portion  36  located opposite to the first snapping portion  34 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the first snapping portion  34  is formed with a recessed structure and the second snapping portion  36  is formed with a recessed structure. In addition, the second snapping portion  36  has a side formed with a shaft portion  37 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 2, the plug  40  has a first end having an end face  42  provided with two spaced protruding insertion posts  44  and a second end provided with a first snapping portion  44  and a second snapping portion  46  located opposite to the first snapping portion  44 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the first snapping portion  44  is formed with a recessed structure and the second snapping portion  46  is formed with a recessed structure. In addition, the second snapping portion  46  has a side formed with a shaft portion  47 .  
         [0024]    In assembly, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 1A, the second snapping portion  36  of the plug  30  is combined with the second catch plate  24  of the plug seat  10 , so that the snap hook  242  of the second catch plate  24  of the plug seat  10  is hooked on the shaft portion  37  of the second snapping portion  36  of the plug  30  as shown in FIG. 3. In such a manner, the snap hook  242  of the second catch plate  24  of the plug seat  10  co-operates with the shaft portion  37  of the second snapping portion  36  of the plug  30  to function as a rotation fulcrum. Thus, the plug  30  can be rotated, so that the plug  30  is inserted into the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 .  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 4, when the plug  30  is wholly inserted into the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 , the snap hook  222  of the first catch plate  22  of the plug seat  10  is snapped and locked on the first snapping portion  34  of the plug  30 , so that the plug  30  is entirely combined with the plug seat  10  rigidly and stably. At this time, each of the two insertion posts  33  of the plug  30  is electrically connected to a respective one of the two elastic connectors  18  of the plug seat  10 .  
         [0026]    In replacement of the plug  30 , the user can drive and pull the first catch plate  22  of the plug seat  10  outward, thereby detaching the snap hook  222  of the first catch plate  22  of the plug seat  10  from the first snapping portion  34  of the plug  30 . At this time, the plug  30  is pushed by the restoring force of the two elastic connectors  18  of the plug seat  10  to partially detach from the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10 . In such a manner, the snap hook  242  of the second catch plate  24  of the plug seat  10  co-operates with the shaft portion  37  of the second snapping portion  36  of the plug  30  to function as a rotation fulcrum. Thus, the plug  30  can be rotated, so that the plug  30  is detached from the locking recess  14  of the plug seat  10  for replacing another plug.  
         [0027]    Accordingly, the plug  30  is mounted on or detached from the plug seat  10  easily and conveniently by rotation of the plug  30 , so that the plug can be replaced rapidly and exactly. In addition, the plug  30  is secured on the plug seat  10  by the locking action of the snap hook  222  of the first catch plate  22  and the snap hook  242  of the second catch plate  24  of the plug seat  10 , so that the plug  30  is exactly combined with the plug seat  10  rigidly and stably.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 5, a replaceable plug module in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the second snapping portion  36  of the plug  30  is provided with a shaft  38  combined with the snap hook  242  of the second catch plate  24  of the plug seat  10 .  
         [0029]    While the preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the embodiment(s) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention.