1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric socket and more particularly, to an electric socket capable of securing a plug inserted therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
In everyday life, the application of plugs and sockets is very common. Typically, a conventional socket has an insulating main member, on which two or three apertures are provided, and electrodes therein associated with the apertures. A conventional plug has two or three prongs to be inserted into the apertures of the socket and contact the electrodes.
When the plug is inserted into the socket, the prongs will bend the electrodes that the electrodes may hold the prongs to restrict the plug on the socket. After a long time of use, the restriction will be less and less because of metal fatigue of electrodes therefore the plug will always loose from the old socket. In addition, it usually happens that we kick the wire and makes the plug loosing. If it were happened in a factory, it will shut down machines unexpectedly and make a huge damage.
To fix that problem, some electric sockets provide a function of securing the plug inserted therein. These kinds of electric sockets usually have complex securing structures and complex operating modes.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an electric socket, which may secure a plug inserted therein in a simple structure and in an easier operating mode.
To achieve this objective of the present invention, an electric socket of the present invention includes an insulating main member, at least a check securing device, and a release device. The insulating main member has apertures thereon and electrodes behind the apertures. The check securing device, which is provided in the insulating main member, has a suspended flexible section sloping toward a bottom end of the aperture, which has a free end thereof received in the aperture. When a plug has prongs inserted into the apertures, the prongs will bend the flexible section of the check securing device inwards, and an interference condition will be occurred between the prong and the flexible section when the plug is pulled out. The release device is provided on the insulating main member for manipulation. The release device may press the flexible section of the check securing device for releasing the interference condition between the prong and the flexible section.
Referring to
The insulating main member 10 has three apertures 12, 14 on a front side thereof, wherein the aperture 14 is ground. Three electrodes 16 are provided behind the apertures 12, 14 respectively to connect wires (not shown). The insulating main member 10 has a bore 18 on a top side thereof communicated with the apertures 12 and two L-shaped slots 20 under the bore 18 and between the apertures 12. A lid 22 is provided to close the bore 18, which has two holes 24 and a recess 26 between the holes 24.
The check securing devices 28 are two metal plates, each of which has a base section 30 and a flexible section 32. The base sections 30 of the check securing devices 28 are inserted into the L-shaped slots 20 of the insulating main member 10 to have the flexible sections 32 suspended. Free ends of the flexible sections 32 are received in the apertures 12 respectively. The flexible sections 32 slope toward inner ends of the apertures 12 to be bent inwards. The free ends of the flexible sections 32 are not smooth, which means the flexible sections 32 have rough free ends.
The release device 34 has a manipulative portion 36 and two arms 38 on a back side of the manipulative portion 36. Each of the arms 38 has a hook 40 and an inclined face 41 beside the hook 40. The arms 38 enters the insulating main member 10 via the holes 24 of the lid 22, and the manipulative portion 36 is left out of the insulating main member 10. The arms 38 are located right above the apertures 12 respectively and will enter the apertures 12 when the manipulative portion 36 is pressed. A spring 42 is provided between the release device 34 and the insulating main member 10 with opposite ends thereof received in a recess 44 on the back side of the manipulative portion 36 and the recess 26 of the lid 22.
As shown
If one needs to pull the plug 46 out, he/she has to press the release device 34 first. As shown in
In conclusion, the present invention provides the check securing devices 28 having the flexible sections 32 with specific sloping directions that the plug 46 only may be inserted into the socket but be pulled that the plug is secured therein to prevent it from being pulled out unexpectedly. To pull the plug out, it only has to press the release device. The present invention completes a simple structure and an easier operating mode for the electric socket capable of securing the plug inserted therein.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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97123403 A | Jun 2008 | TW | national |
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