Patent Application
20220052497
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.
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.
The foregoing and other exemplary purposes, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in principle from the following detailed description of one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
The invention will now be described in detail through several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Please refer to
A first end of the first socket 10 defines six holes 111, a conductive element 15 is received in the first socket 10. A first end of the second socket 20 is formed with three conductive pins 25 that can be inserted into the six holes 111 and electrically contacts with the conductive element 15. The first socket 10 and the second socket 20 both define an outlet hole 16, 26 communicating with the inside of the sockets in their outer side walls or in a part near the outer side walls. Both the first socket 10 and the second socket 20 can 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 connector 40 capable 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 connector 40. 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 controller 70 is connected in series between the two. The controller 70 includes a control circuit used for outputting a control signal to one of the three conductive pins 25. The other two of the conductive pins 25 are used to connect positive and negative poles of the power supply.
Please refer to
The first socket 10 also includes seven pillars extending from the base plate 11 towards 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 pillar 181 and a second pillar 182, a third pillar 183, a fourth pillar 184, a fifth pillar 185, and a sixth pillar 186. Six through holes serving as the holes 111 are defined on the base plate 11 at positions corresponding to the first pillar to the sixth pillar. The holes 111 (pillars 181-186) 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 pillar 187, which extends from the base plate 11 toward the first side of the base plate, and is located between the fourth pillar 184 and the fifth pillar 185 and is closer to an outer side of the circle.
Four partitions (isolation panels) 188 are formed respectively between the first pillar 181 and the second pillar 182, between the second pillar 182 and the third pillar 183, between the fourth pillar 184 and the fifth pillar 185, and between the fifth pillar 185 and the sixth pillar 186. The four partitions 188 extend substantially along the circle where the six pillars 181 to 186 are located. A partition 189 is also formed between the third pillar 183 and the seventh pillar 187 to isolate the fourth pillar 184 and the outer wall 13, therefore a space between the fourth pillar 184 and the outer wall 13 is separated into two parts. In this embodiment, the two ends of the partitions 188 and 189 are 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 element 15 includes a first conductive tube 151, a second conductive tube 152, a third conductive tube 153, a fourth conductive tube 154, a fifth conductive tube 155 and a sixth conductive tube 156 respectively inserted into the first to sixth pillars 181 to 186. The first conductive tube 151 and the fourth conductive tube 154 are connected by a first conductive body 157, the second conductive tube 152 and the fifth conductive tube 155 are connected by a second conductive body 158, and the third conductive tube 153 and the sixth conductive tube 156 are connected by a third conductive body 159. The first conductive body 157, the second conductive body 158, and the third conductive body 159 are insulated and isolated by the partitions 188 and 189. Specifically, the first conductive body 157 is located in a channel defined by the annular inner wall 12, the sixth pillar 186, the fifth pillar 185 and the partition 188 between the sixth and the fifth pillars 186,185, and the fifth pillar 185, the fourth pillar 184, and the partition 188 between the fifth pillar 185 and the fourth pillar 184. A part of the second conductive body 158 is located in a channel defined by the inner wall 12 and the second pillar 182, the third pillar 183 and the partition 188 between the second pillar 182 and the third pillar 183, and a further part of the second conductive body 158 is located in a channel defined by the inner wall 12, the third pillar 183, and a part of the partition 189. The last part of the second conductive body 158 is located in a channel defined by the fourth pillar 184, the fifth pillar 185, the partition 188 between the fourth pillar 184 and the fifth pillar 185, and a part of the partition 189. A part of the third conductive body 159 is located in a channel defined by the annular outer wall 13 and the partition 189, and the other part is located in a channel defined by the annular outer wall 13, the fifth pillar 185, the sixth pillar 186 and the partition 188 between the fifth pillar 185 and the sixth pillar 186.
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 body 157 and the first conductive tube 151 are used as examples to describe the structures of the conductive bodies and the conductive tube in detail. In this embodiment, the first conductive body 151 is a metal wire or a long metal sheet, which is generally bent into an arc shape. Please refer to
In addition, a tube 143 is also extending outwardly (relative to the inside of the first socket) and perpendicularly from an inner ring edge of the cover plate 14. The tube 143 is 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 in
Please refer to
The second socket 20 also includes two insert pieces 27 extending from the second outer wall 23 towards a second side (in the direction indicated by the arrow B′ in the
In this embodiment, the two insert pieces 27 are distributed rotationally symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the second socket 20, and a part of the insert piece 27 that crosses the base plate 21 is generally triangular, and the end is arc-shaped. Correspondingly, the first socket 10 is formed with two receiving slots or avoiding space 171 for accommodating the insert pieces 27, 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 pieces 27 are 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 tube 243 is also extending outwardly (relative to the inside of the second socket) and perpendicularly from an inner ring edge of the second cover plate 24. The tube 243 is 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 pin 25 is wider, and one end is inserted into the through hole 211 from the outside of the second base plate 21, so that a part is exposed outside the second socket 20, but does not exceed the end of the insert pieces 27, and a part extends through the second pillars 28 and is fixed and electrically connected with the conductive wires.
In order to facilitate the connection of the first socket 10 and the second socket 20, a plurality of fasteners 121 extend from the inner wall 11 of the first socket 10 towards the cover plate 14, and the ends of the fasteners 121 can be buckled on the inner edge of the cover plate 14 so that the two are fixedly connected. Correspondingly, escape positions 144 are formed on the tube 143 of the cover plate 14 corresponding to the ends of the buckles 121. Similarly, the second socket 20 is also formed with fasteners 221 similar to the fasteners 121 and escape positions 244 similar to the escape positions 144.
In addition, the inner walls oft the first socket 10 and the second socket 20 are also formed with protrusions 123 and 223 protruding 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 socket 10 and the second socket 20 are plugged together: the insert pieces 27 are inserted into the corresponding escape positions 171, the conductive pins 25 are inserted into the insertion holes 111 and inserted into the claw-shaped ends of the corresponding conductive tubes. For electrical connection, the first socket 10 and the second socket 20 are 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 connector 40 shown in
In other embodiments, another group or groups of conductive wires with one end connected to an electrical connector 40 can also enter the receiving cavity of the second socket 20 from the outlet hole 26 to be electrically connected to the three conductive pins 25 respectively. Therefore, both the first socket 10 and the second socket 20 have electrical connectors 40. It is understandable that two or more electrical connectors 40 can be drawn from the first socket 10 and/or the second socket 20 as 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 holes 111 may 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 connector 40 may be led out from the second socket 20, and only the power plug 30 or 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 wall 13 and the second outer wall 23. The outlet holes can also be provided on the cover plate 14 and the second cover plate 24. 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 fasteners 121 and 221 can be omitted, as long as gaps communicating with the inside of the socket for draining liquid is formed on the inner wall 11 and the second inner wall 21, 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.
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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202021667403.9 | Aug 2020 | CN | national |
