Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a gas connector socket with at least one inlet port for connecting a locally fixated gas supply line, with at least one outlet port for connecting a gas connector plug, with a housing receiving the at least one outlet port, and with at least one cover located on the housing, wherein the cover has a front side visible from the outside, in which the technical object of preventing the penetration of foreign objects into the outlet port, and the access to the gas path without particular know-how, and providing a simple and very compact embodiment, is achieved by the cover having on its backside at least one locking element for interlocking the cover with an element connected to the housing and the locking element having an operating surface accessible from the outside for unlocking the cover.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a gas connector socket with at least one intake port for connecting a locally fixated gas supply line, with at least one outlet port for connecting a gas connector, with a housing receiving at least one outlet port and at least one cover located thereon, wherein the cover has a front side which is visible from the outside. 
     Gas connector sockets facilitate the connection and operation of mobile gas equipment, e.g. gas stoves, laundry driers, outdoor heaters, and outdoor grills. 
     General requirements for gas connector sockets include that the connection of a gas connector plug can be established and disengaged by the user in a safe manner as often as desired. 
     Furthermore, the regulations of testing institutes, e.g. DVGW-VP-635-1 of the German gas and water plumbing association are applicable, which specify the design of gas connector sockets, in which the insertion of a foreign object into the outlet port, or the access to the gas path is not possible without specific know-how. 
     The gas carrying part of the gas connector is thereby provided with known measures for allowing and preventing of the gas flow, e.g. gas flow monitors and/or thermal cut-off devices. Here typically various embodiments of valve bodies and other adjustment devices and sealing components are being used. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gas connector sockets of the above mentioned type are known e.g. from EP 1 342 030, wherein the gas connectors disclosed therein protect an outlet port through a slide element. The slide element is unlocked by means of the gas connector plug. With a sliding motion the slide element can be subsequently moved together with the gas connector plug into a position in which the joining of the outlet port and the gas connector plug is enabled. 
     In another embodiment, the protection of the outlet port is accomplished through two rotatable flaps provided in the housing of the gas connector. 
     Another embodiment of a gas connector socket is disclosed in DE 10 2004 028 039. The design of the gas connector, which is substantially identical with the above embodiment, is supplemented therein with a mechanical switch element, enabling the sliding of the slide element only in a switched-off state. This shall provide an additional safety element. 
     Gas connector sockets of the concealed and surface mounting type are known. Furthermore, the connection axis of the outlet port can have any connection angle. 
     In the above gas connector sockets it is disadvantageous that the avoidance of the insertion of foreign objects into the outlet port of the gas connector socket and of the access to the gas path without specific know-how can only be accomplished through elaborate embodiments comprising many and complicated components and through large embodiments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has the technical object to prevent the insertion of foreign objects into the outlet port and the access to the gas path without specific know-how and to provide a simple and very compact type of a gas connector socket. 
     According to the invention the technical object is accomplished by the cover having on its backside at least one locking element for interlocking the cover with an element connected to the housing and the locking element having an operating surface which is accessible from the outside for unlocking the cover. 
     According to the invention it was thus recognized that the arrangement of at least one locking element at the backside of the cover provides a simple and compact embodiment and fulfills the requirements of the technical object. 
     It is an advantage that by arranging at least one locking element on the backside of the cover and by the operating surface of the locking element being accessible from outside, i.e. from the front side of the cover, a combination of locking and covering is provided. 
     In its non-operated position, the locking element is in its locking position. Through operating the locking element via its operating surface, it is moved into its unlocked position. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cover has at least two locking elements. Thereby, the unlocking of the cover is further assured, since unlocking requires the operation of at least two operating surfaces, independent from each other. 
     Another embodiment is characterized in that the cover has a key contour on its front face, wherein the key contour is a recess adapted to the connector contour of the gas connector plug. The key contour has a respective pass-through towards the backside of the cover for a respective locking element. One respective operating surface of a locking element is located in the area of one respective pass-through, in particular in one respective pass-through of the key contour. 
     Thereby a further safeguard of the cover against unlocking is provided. In the above mentioned embodiment the operation of the locking element by means of the operating surface, in a particularly advantageous manner, can only be performed with difficulty, in particular not at all without the gas connector plug. The gas connector plug thus has the function of a key for unlocking the cover. 
     Furthermore, the locking element can be arranged on the cover by means of a support. Thereby, a simple and effective way of mounting the locking element on the cover is provided. 
     Furthermore, through a spring element located on the locking element for resetting the locking element, a possibility can be provided that the locking element reverses again into its locking position after being operated, thereby locking the cover. 
     In a particularly preferred manner, the spring element is integrally provided with the locking element. Thereby, the locking element and the spring element can be made from one piece in the same manufacturing step. 
     In one embodiment the element connected to the housing is a protrusion of the housing. Thereby, the cover can be interlocked with the housing itself. Thereby, a locking to the housing can be provided in a simple manner. 
     Furthermore, the element connected to the housing can be a protrusion at the outlet port. This is an additional possibility for facilitating the locking of the cover, wherein the protrusion can be provided directly in the manufacture of the outlet port, so that the housing does not have to be sized for the locking function. 
     Furthermore, the element connected to the housing can be a protrusion on a valve body located in the outlet port. Thereby, the cover can be unlocked on the one hand and on the other hand the valve body is secured through the cover in addition to a usual spring force in its gas cut-off position. 
     The cover can be provided in the unlocked position without a connection to the housing. The cover can also be connected to the housing, e.g. through a chain. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment the cover is connected to the housing through a bearing in a pivotable manner. Thereby, the availability of the cover for protecting the outlet port is assured at any time. 
     Eventually, the cover can be provided in a self-closing and/or self-locking manner through a spring element. Hereby, the cover can close and/or lock by itself when no gas connector plug is present. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Subsequently, specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawing, showing in: 
         FIG. 1  an embodiment of a gas connector socket with a locked and unlocked cover, 
         FIG. 2  a detailed view of the front- and backside of a cover according to the invention, 
         FIG. 3  a detailed view of an embodiment of locking elements and their function, 
         FIG. 4  a detailed view of a further embodiment of locking elements and their function, 
         FIG. 5  a detailed view of an alternative embodiment of locking elements and their function. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Initially, the objects shown in the figures are being described. Subsequently, the process for unlocking and locking the cover is described. 
     In  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a gas connector socket  1  with a locked and unlocked cover  11  is shown. 
       FIG. 1   a  shows the gas connector socket  1  with an inlet port  3  for connecting a locally fixated gas supply line, an outlet port  5  for connecting a gas connector plug  7 , a housing  9  receiving the outlet port  5 , and a cover  11  located on the housing  9  in its locked position, the cover  11  being provided with a front side  13  visible from the outside. 
     In particular, in the embodiment shown the cover  11  is pivotably connected to the housing  9  by means of a pivot  40  and is provided with a spring element  41  for automatically closing and/or locking of the cover  11 . 
     The gas connector plug  7  has a connector contour  25  and a sheet metal element  38 , wherein the sheet metal element  38  is located within the gas connector plug. The sheet metal element  38  only has to have a small thickness, e.g. a few millimeters, in particular 1 mm. Thereby, the gas can pass by the sheet metal element  38  without major losses, when the gas connector plug  7  is completely connected to the outlet port  5 . 
     Furthermore, the outlet port  5  has seals  6  for sealing relative to the gas connector plug  7 . 
     In  FIG. 1   b , the cover  11  is shown unlocked and pivoted open. The gas connector plug  7  is completely inserted into the outlet port  5 . The sheet metal element  38  presses onto the valve body  39 , so that the gas flow is opened and can flow past the sheet metal element  38 . The seals  6  then seal the gas connector  7  relative to the connection port  5 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a detailed view of the backside  15  and the front side  13  of the cover  11  is shown. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows, that the cover  11  has two locking elements  17  on its backside  15  for locking the cover  11 . The locking elements  17  have operating surfaces  21  accessible from the outside for unlocking the cover  11  as shown in  FIG. 2   b.    
     Furthermore,  FIG. 2   b  shows that the cover  11  has a key contour  23  on its front side  13 , wherein the key contour  23  is a recess adapted to the connection contour  25  of the gas connector plug  7 . The key contour  23  has two pass-throughs  27  towards the backside  15  of the cover  11 . 
     A respective operating surface  21  of a locking element  17  is located in the area of a respective pass-through  27 , in particular in a respective pass-through  27  of the key contour  23 . 
     Furthermore, each of the locking elements  17  has a support  29  and spring elements  31  formed integrally with the locking elements  17  for resetting the locking elements  17 . 
       FIGS. 3 through 5  show detailed views of various embodiments of the locking elements  17  and their function. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows that a protrusion  23  is located at the housing  9  for locking the cover  11 . For this purpose the locking elements  17  engage behind the protrusion  33 . 
       FIG. 4   a  shows an alternative wherein a protrusion  35  is located at the outlet port  5 , which is being used for locking the cover  11 , with the locking elements engaging behind the protrusion  35 . 
       FIG. 5   a  shows a further alternative, in which a protrusion  37  is located on a valve body  39  located in the outlet port  5 , which in turn, is used for locking the cover  11 . 
     Subsequently, the process of unlocking and locking the cover  11  shall be described with reference to the above mentioned figures. 
     Beginning with a locked state of the cover  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  3   a , the gas connector plug  7  is placed onto the cover  11  in the direction of the arrow A. Thereby, the connector contour  25  of the gas connector plug  7  reaches into the key contour  23  of the cover  11 . Thereby, the connector contour  25  is brought in contact with operating surfaces  21  of the locking elements  17 . 
       FIG. 3   b  shows that further motion of the gas connector plug  7  in the direction of the arrow A leads to the locking elements  17  moving around the axis of the support  29  in the direction of the arrow C. Thereby, the locking elements  17  are moved from their locking position and do not engage behind the housing protrusion  33  any more. Furthermore, the spring element  31  is being loaded. 
     The cover  11  is unlocked now and can be pivoted around the axis of the pivot  40 , thus releasing the outlet port  5  and loading the spring element  41 . 
     As soon as the gas connector plug  7  is removed from the key contour  23  of the cover  11 , the loaded spring element  31  leads to a motion of the locking elements  17  against the direction of the arrow C, and to a resetting of the locking elements  17  into their locking position. 
     The gas connector  7  can now be connected to the outlet port  5  by placing it onto the outlet port  5  again in the direction of the arrow A. 
     Initially the seals  6  then seal the gas connector plug  7  relative to the outlet port  5 . Only after establishing the seal, and further motion of the gas connector  7  in the direction of the arrow A, the sheet metal  38  located in the gas connector  7  presses onto the valve body  39 , thereby opening the gas path as shown in  FIG. 1   b.    
     A further embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4   b . When the gas connector  7  is moved in the direction of the arrow A into the key contour  23  of the cover  11 , the locking elements  17  rotate in the direction of the arrow D, so that they no longer engage behind the protrusion  35  at the outlet port  5 . Thereby, the cover  11  is unlocked and can release the connection port as described above. 
     A repositioning of the locking elements  17  in  FIG. 4   b  is again performed against the direction of the arrow D through the loaded spring elements  31 . 
     In  FIG. 5   b , an alternative embodiment of the locking elements  17  is shown. Here the locking elements  17  are moved in the direction of the arrow E through inserting the gas connector plug  7  into the key contour  23  in the direction of the arrow A, so that they do not engage behind the protrusion  37  in the valve body  39  any more. Again, the cover  11  is unlocked and the procedure can be performed as explained above. 
     In order to close the cover  11 , initially, the gas connector is removed from the outlet port, against the direction of arrow A. In doing so the sheet metal element  38  is initially removed from the valve body  39 , so that the valve body  39  interrupts the gas flow. This occurs before the seals  6  lose contact with the gas connector plug  7 . Thereafter, the gas connector plug  7  is moved further against the direction of the arrow A and completely removed from the gas connector socket  1 . 
     The cover  11  is then pivoted in the direction of its initial position shown in  FIG. 1   a  for covering the outlet port  5  by means of the loaded spring element  41 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   c , while closing the cover  11 , the locking elements  17  are being moved at the first contact with the housing  9  by means of a slant  18  in the direction of the arrow C, when the cover  11  moves in the direction of arrow B. Thereby, the spring elements  31  are being loaded. As soon as the cover  11  is in its final position, through the action of the loaded spring elements  31  the locking elements  17  engage behind the protrusion  33  of the housing  9  and thus effect locking of the cover  11 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   c  the locking of the cover  11  is performed in a similar manner, wherein a first contact with the outlet port  5  moves the locking elements  17  in the direction of the arrow D, when the cover  11  moves in direction of the arrow B. Subsequently, the loaded spring element  31  leads to engagement behind the protrusion  35 . 
     In the alternative shown in  FIG. 5   c  the locking elements  17  are moved in the direction of the arrow E through the first contact with the valve body  39 , while the cover  11  moves in the direction of the arrow B and, subsequently engages behind the protrusion  37 , induced by the loaded spring elements  31 . In this embodiment it is to be emphasized that the force required for moving the locking elements  17  in the direction of the arrow E is much less than the force required for moving the valve body  39  into a gas releasing position. 
     The invention is certainly not limited to the previously mentioned embodiments; in particular, through a selection of the materials of the housing and the cover, the gas connector can be adapted for various applications. For example, plastics, but also metals, can be used. Also, glass elements, e.g. for particularly decorative embodiments, can be used. 
     Furthermore, the gas connector socket can be supplemented with a further safety measure. For example, the cover can in an open state secure the gas connector in a position connected to the outlet port in order to avoid an unintentional disconnection of the gas connector plug. In particular the cover can automatically engage behind a protrusion at the gas connector plug, when the cover is provided in a self-closing manner through a spring element. 
     Depending on the requirements, the gas connector socket can be provided in a concealed or surface mounted version, wherein the outlet port can have any desired connection angle. In particular, different connection angles can be selected, depending on an angled or straight embodiment of the gas connector plug. 
     Furthermore, the cover can be provided with additional seals so that it can protect the interior of the housing against the intake of humidity and/or dust and/or dirt. Such an embodiment is therefore advantageous for the use of a gas connector socket outside of enclosed spaces or for industrial applications.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8