Patent Publication Number: US-9905967-B2

Title: Socket outlet with expansion module

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a socket outlet, especially to a socket outlet capable of being expanded according to actual needs and being rotated with respect to the operating space. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A socket outlet is a combination structure in which a plurality of socket is arranged in parallel, and is usually applied in an extension cord. When a plurality of the sockets arranged on a conventional socket outlet is in use, plugs plugged in the sockets may interfere with each other and the operation convenience is not provided. Moreover, when the quantity of the sockets is not as many as required, an additional socket outlet has to be purchased, so that the economic benefits are not provided. 
     Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has devoted himself for improving the mentioned disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is to provide a socket outlet capable of being expanded according to actual needs and being rotated with respect to the operating space. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a socket outlet including a main module and an expansion module. An expansion socket is disposed on the main module, and a through hole, an inner annular groove surrounding the through hole, and an outer annular groove surrounding the inner annular groove are formed on the expansion socket, three electrodes are disposed on the expansion socket, and the electrodes are respectively extended into the through hole, the inner annular groove and the outer annular groove. An expansion plug is disposed on the expansion module; a conductive pin, an inner conductive ring surrounding the conductive pin, and an outer conductive ring surrounding the inner conductive ring are disposed on the expansion plug. The expansion plug is plugged in the expansion socket, the conductive pin is plugged in the through hole, the inner conductive ring is plugged in the inner annular groove, and the outer conductive ring is plugged in the outer annular groove. 
     Preferably, the main module includes an AC output socket electrically connected to the expansion plug, and the electrodes are respectively and electrically connected in parallel with the AC output socket. The main module can also include a DC output socket electrically connected to the expansion plug. 
     Preferably, the expansion module includes an AC output socket electrically connected to the expansion plug. The expansion module includes a DC output socket electrically connected to the expansion plug, and the DC output socket is a female USB terminal. The expansion module includes another expansion socket. A latch tenon is moveably disposed on the expansion module and formed with a buckle hole, the conductive pin is formed with a latch slot, so that the conductive pin is able to pass the buckle hole and an inner edge of the buckle hole is latched in the latch slot. A resilient member used for recovering the latch tenon is disposed between the latch tenon and the expansion socket. 
     Preferably, a latch tenon is moveably disposed on the main module and formed with a buckle hole, the conductive pin is formed with a latch slot, so that the conductive pin is able to pass the buckle hole and an inner edge of the buckle hole is latched in the latch slot. A resilient member used for recovering the latch tenon is disposed between the latch tenon and the expansion socket. The main module includes a switch electrically connected to the AC output socket and the expansion socket. 
     Preferably, the socket outlet further includes another expansion module plugged in another expansion plug of the expansion socket on the expansion module. 
     According to the socket outlet provided by the present invention, the main module allows the expansion plug of the expansion module to be plugged in by utilizing the expansion socket for the purpose of expansion. Moreover, the expansion module can be connected to another expansion module for the purpose of expansion. Furthermore, the expansion module and the connected main module or the other expansion module can be relatively rotated for the purpose of angle adjustment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a socket outlet according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view showing the socket outlet according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an expansion socket according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an expansion module according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view showing the expansion module according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view showing the expansion module according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective exploded view showing the expansion module according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing the socket outlet according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is another longitudinal cross sectional view showing the socket outlet according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the socket outlet being rotated according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is another schematic view showing the socket outlet being rotated according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the rotation of the socket outlet according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a dustproof cover of the socket outlet according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the socket outlet according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective exploded view showing the socket outlet according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is another perspective exploded view showing the socket outlet according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the socket outlet according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective exploded view showing the socket outlet according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 19  is another perspective exploded view showing the socket outlet according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a socket outlet including a main module  100  and an expansion module  200  connected to the main module  100 . 
     According to this embodiment, the main module  100  is preferably to be in a columnar status, a main circuit board  101  is disposed in the main module  100 , and the main circuit board  101  is connected to a public power, so that the public power can be inputted into the main module  100 . The main module  100  is provided with an AC output socket  110  exposed on a lateral surface of the main module  100  (what shall be addressed is that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned AC output socket; a DC output socket can also be adopted), the AC output socket  110  is electrically connected to the main circuit board  101 , and one end of the main module  100  is provided with an expansion socket  300  which is electrically connected to the main circuit board  101 . A switch  102  is disposed on the main module  100 , and the switch  102  is connected to the main circuit board  101  and electrically connected to the AC output socket  110  and the expansion socket  300 , so that the public power can be controlled for supplying or terminating the electric power to the AC output socket  110  and the expansion socket  300 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 . According to this embodiment, the expansion socket  300  is preferably to be formed as an insulation seat member made of plastic, a through hole  310 , an inner annular groove  320  surrounding the through hole  310 , and an outer annular groove  330  surrounding the inner annular groove  320  are formed on the expansion socket  300 , and at least one positioning slot  332  is formed on a wall of the outer annular groove  330 . Three electrodes  311 ,  321 ,  331  are disposed on the expansion socket  300 , and one end of each of the electrodes  311 ,  321 ,  331  is respectively extended into the through hole  310 , the inner annular groove  320  and the outer annular groove  330 . Another end of each of the electrodes  311 ,  321 ,  331  of the expansion socket  300  on the main module  100  is respectively connected to the main circuit board  101  so as to be electrically connected in parallel with the AC output socket  110  of the main module  100 . Similarly, another end of each electrode  311 ,  321 ,  331  of another expansion socket  300  on the expansion module  200  is respectively connected to an expansion circuit board  201  so as to be electrically connected in parallel with an AC output socket  210  of the expansion module  200  and an expansion plug  400 . 
     Please refer from  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 7 . According to this embodiment, the expansion module  200  is preferably in a columnar status, and the above-mentioned expansion circuit board  201  is disposed in the expansion module  200 . The expansion module  200  is provided with the above-mentioned AC output socket  210  which is exposed on a lateral surface of the expansion module  200 , two ends of the expansion module  200  are respectively provided with the above-mentioned expansion plug  400  and the above-mentioned expansion socket  300 , and the AC output sockets  110 ,  210 , the expansion plug  400  and the expansion socket  300  are respectively and electrically connected to the expansion circuit board  201  so as to be mutually and electrically connected in parallel. 
     According to this embodiment, the expansion plug  400  is preferably formed as an insulation seat member made of plastic, a conductive pin  410 , an inner conductive ring  420  surrounding the conductive pin  410 , and an outer conductive ring  430  surrounding the inner conductive ring  420  are disposed on the expansion plug  400 , and the conductive pin  410 , the inner conductive ring  420  and the outer conductive ring  430  are respectively and electrically connected to the expansion circuit board  201 . An outer annular wall  401  surrounding the outer conductive ring  430  is formed on the expansion plug  400 , and a plurality of positioning ribs  402  are outwardly protruded from the outer annular wall  401 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the expansion plug  400  is able to be plugged in the expansion socket  300  for being mutually and electrically connected. When the expansion plug  400  is plugged in the expansion socket  300 , the conductive pin  410  is plugged in the through hole  310  so as to be conducted with the electrode  311  extended into the through hole  310 , the inner conductive ring  420  is plugged in the inner annular groove  320  so as to be conducted with the electrode  321  extended into the inner annular groove  320 , and the outer conductive ring  430  is plugged in the outer annular groove  330  so as to be conducted with the electrode  331  extended into the outer annular groove  330 . 
     A latch tenon  340  is moveably disposed on the main module  100  and formed with a buckle hole  341 , the location of the buckle hole  341  is corresponding to the through hole  310  of the expansion socket  300  on the main module  100 , and a resilient member  350  used for recovering the latch tenon  340  is disposed between the latch tenon  340  and the expansion socket  300 . The resilient member  350  is abutted against the latch tenon  340  for enabling an inner edge of the buckle hole  341  to shield a part of the through hole  310 . A latch slot  411  in an annular status is formed on a lateral surface of the conductive pin  410 . When the conductive pin  410  is plugged in the through hole  310 , the conductive pin  410  is able to pass the buckle hole  341  and the inner edge of the buckle hole  341  is latched in the latch slot  411  thereby fastening the conductive pin  410 , so that the expansion socket  300  can be mutually fastened with the expansion plug  400 . When the expansion plug  400  is desired to be removed from the expansion socket  300 , the latch tenon  340  is pushed for enabling the inner edge of the buckle hole  341  to retract from the conductive pin  410 , thereby allowing the conductive pin  410  to be released from the buckle hole  341 . 
     Another latch tenon  340  is moveably disposed on the expansion module  200 , which is the same as the above mentioned, and the arrangement thereof is also the same as the above mentioned, which is corresponding to the expansion socket  300  on the expansion module  200 . 
     Referring from  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12 , the expansion module  200  is connected to the main module  100  by plugging the expansion plug  400  in the expansion socket  300 , and the AC output socket  110  of the main module  100  and the AC output socket  210  of the expansion module  200  are electrically connected in parallel by connecting the expansion socket  300  and the expansion plug  400 . Moreover, the conductive pin  410  is able to axially rotate in the through hole  310 , the inner conductive ring  420  is able to axially rotate in the inner annular groove  320 , and the outer conductive ring  430  is able to axially rotate in the outer annular groove  330 , so that the expansion plug  400  and the expansion socket  300  can relatively rotate for enabling the main module  100  and the expansion module  200  to relatively rotate. When the expansion plug  400  and the expansion socket  300  are relatively rotated, any of the positioning ribs  402  on the expansion plug  400  can be selectively positioned in any of the positioning slots  332  of the outer annular groove  330  for fixing a relative angle formed between the main module  100  and the expansion module  200 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 13 . When the expansion socket  300  is not in use, a dustproof cover  500  can be provided for covering and protecting, and the dustproof cover  500  includes a cover plate  510  covering the through hole  310 , the inner annular groove  320  and the outer annular groove  330  of the expansion socket  300 . A connection pin  520  and an arc-shaped piece  530  are protruded from a lateral surface of the cover plate  510 , and a latch slot  521  in an annular status is formed on a lateral surface of the connection pin  520 . When the connection pin  520  is plugged in the through hole  310  of the expansion socket  300 , the connection pin  520  is able to pass the buckle hole  341  of the latch tenon  340  and the inner edge of the buckle hole  341  is latched in the latch slot  521  thereby fastening the connection pin  520 , so that the dustproof cover  500  can be fastened on the expansion socket  300 . The arc-shaped piece  530  is plugged in the outer annular groove  330  and a positioning rib  531  is formed on a convex surface of the arc-shaped piece  530 . The positioning rib  531  is able to be connected to any of the positioning slots  332  in the outer annular groove  330 , so that the dustproof cover  500  is fastened and unable to be rotated. When the dustproof cover  500  is desired to be removed from the expansion socket  300 , the latch tenon  340  is pushed for enabling the inner edge of the buckle hole  341  to retract from the connection pin  520 , thereby allowing the connection pin  520  to be released from the buckle hole  341 . 
     Please refer from  FIG. 14  to  FIG. 16 , according to a second embodiment of the present invention, a socket outlet including a main module  100  and an expansion module  200 ′ connected to the main module  100 . The structure of the main module  100  is the same as the above mentioned, the structure of the expansion module  200 ′ is substantially as the same as the first embodiment, thus no further illustration is provided for the same structure. 
     The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the expansion module  200 ′ includes an AC output socket  210 ′ and a DC output socket  220 , and the DC output socket  220  is preferably to be a female USB terminal. The DC output socket  220  is preferably to be electrically connected to the expansion circuit board  201  in the expansion module  200 ′, the expansion plug  400  is electrically connected to the main module  100 , and the main module  100  is able to supply the public power to the expansion circuit board  201  through the expansion plug  400  on the main module  100  and the expansion socket  300  on expansion module  200 ′, so that the expansion circuit board  210  is able to the supply the AC power to the AC output socket  210 ′, and the DC power is able to be converted for being supplied to the DC output socket  220 . 
     Please refer from  FIG. 17  to  FIG. 19 , according to a third embodiment of the present invention, a socket outlet including a main module  100  and a plurality of expansion modules  200 . According to this embodiment, there are preferably two of the expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′, but what shall be addressed is that the scope of the present invention is limited to the quantity of the expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′. The expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′ are respectively and selectively connected to the main module  100 , and the two expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′ can be optionally connected with each other. 
     The main module  100  and the expansion module  200  connected to the main module  100  are the same as the first embodiment, therefore no further illustration is provided. An AC output socket  210 ′, a DC output socket  220  and an expansion plug  400  are disposed on the other expansion module  200 ′, the expansion plug  400  is plugged in the expansion socket  300  of the above-mentioned expansion module  200 , so that the two expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′ are connected with each other thereby enabling the two expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′ to be electrically connected and to be relatively rotated. As such, the main module  100  is able to supply the public power to the AC output sockets  110 ,  210 ,  210 ′ and the DC output socket  220 . The relative angle defined between the expansion module  200  and the connected main module  100  or the other expansion module  200 ′ can be fixed by positioning the positioning rib  402  in the positioning slot  332 . 
     According to the socket outlet provided by the present invention, the main module  100  allows the expansion plug  400  of any of the expansion modules  200 ,  200 ′ to be plugged in by utilizing the expansion socket  300 , so that the AC output sockets  210 ,  210 ′ or the DC output socket  220  can be expanded. Moreover, the expansion socket  300  on the expansion module  200  allows the expansion plug  400  on the other expansion module  200 ′ to be plugged in for the purpose of further expansion. Furthermore, the expansion module  200  and the connected main module  100  or the other expansion module  200 ′ can be relatively rotated for the purpose of angle adjustment. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.