This is a non-provisional application that claims priority to Chinese application number 202222522061.7, filing date Sep. 21, 2022, the entire contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector for use on a Christmas tree, wherein the electrical connector can be conveniently and rapidly assembled and disassembled in a safe manner.
Artificial Christmas trees have widely been used for celebrating Christmas. People have decorated artificial Christmas trees by using a wide variety of illuminating devices. Those illuminating devices may generate illumination of different colors and patterns. Conventional illuminating devices for Christmas tree, such as artificial Christmas tree may comprise a plurality of illuminators connected by flexible cables. The flexible cables may be attached on different branches of the Christmas tree so as to allow the entire Christmas tree to have illuminating effect.
As to the electrical connections of these illuminating devices, there exist broadly two types of connecting assembling. The first type of connecting assemblies usually comprises a first connector and a second electrical connector body detachably connected to each other. Each of the first connector and the second electrical connector body may be connected to a certain number of illuminators and is usually attached on the Christmas tree and exposed to ambient environment. The disadvantage of this type of connecting assemblies is that a user may accidentally come into contact with the electrical terminals provided on the first connector and the second electrical connector body and this poses electrical hazard to users who are decorating the Christmas tree or even to children who accidentally detach the first and the second electrical connector body due to curiosity.
The second type of connecting assemblies usually comprises a socket body having both a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The problem with this type of connecting assemblies is that it poses a substantial risk of electrical hazards. For example, of small metallic objects, such as small screw, are accidentally disposed in the socket body and come into contact with both the positive terminal and the negative terminal, short circuit may occur, and this may in turn cause fire from the socket body.
As a result, there is a need to develop an electrical connector which is safe and convenient for use in Christmas trees, such as artificial Christmas trees.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for use on a Christmas tree, wherein the electrical connector can be conveniently and rapidly assembled and disassembled in a safe manner.
In one aspect of the present invention, it provides an electrical connector for a Christmas tree having a hollow tube structure, comprising:
This summary presented above is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.
It should be appreciated that the terms “install”, “connect”, “couple”, and “mount” in the following description refer to the connecting relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention. For example, the connection can refer to permanent connection or detachable connection. Furthermore, “connected” may also mean direct connection or indirect connection, or connection through other auxiliary components. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual connection limitation of the elements of the present invention.
It should be appreciated that the terms “length”, “width”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, vertical”, “horizontal”, “upper”, “lower”, “exterior”, and “interior” in the following description refer to the orientation or positioning relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention without limiting the actual location or orientation of the present invention. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual location limitation of the elements of the present invention.
It should be appreciated that the terms “first”, “second”, “one”, “a”, and “an” in the following description refer to “at least one” or “one or more” in the embodiment. In particular, the term “a” in one embodiment may refer to “one” while in another embodiment may refer to “more than one”. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual numerical limitation of the elements of the present invention.
Referring to
The first electrical connector body 10, the second electrical connector body 20, the first outer connector 30, and the second outer connector 40 are coaxially arranged to form an elongated structure. The first electrical connector body 10 is detachably connected to the second electrical connector body 20. The first outer connector 30 is detachably connected to the first electrical connector body 10 at a position opposite to the second electrical connector body 20. Similarly, the second outer connector 40 is detachably connected to the second electrical connector body 20 at a position opposite to the first electrical connector body 10.
Thus, as shown in
The first electrical connector body 10 may be configured from electrical insulating material, such as plastic material, and may have a tubular structure having a receiving cavity 1029 formed therein. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first electrical connector body 10 further have a first opening 1031 and an end plate 112 formed on two ends thereof respectively, wherein a receiving cavity 1029 is formed in a space between the first opening 1031 and the end plate 112. Moreover, the first electrical connector body 10 further has a first connecting rim 111, in which the first outer connector 30 is detachably connected to the first electrical connector body 10 through the first connecting rim 111.
As shown in
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises a negative terminal connector 109 and a live terminal connector 110 mounted on the insulating isolation ring 101 at two opposite sides thereof. Thus, the negative terminal connector 109 and the live terminal connector 110 may be securely separated by the insulating isolation ring 101.
More specifically, the insulating isolation ring 101 may have a first guiding slot 1011 and a second guiding slot 1012 formed on an inner surface 1013 and an outer surface 1014 of the insulating isolation ring 101 at two opposite sides thereof respectively. The first guiding slot 1011 and the second guiding slot 1012 may extend on the insulating isolation ring 101 in the receiving cavity 1029 and reach the end plate 112. The end plate 112 may have a plurality of through holes 1121, 1122 formed thereon for communicating with the first guiding slot 1011 and the second guiding slot 1012 respectively.
As shown in
The live terminal connector 110 may have a second longitudinal portion 1101 and a second transverse portion 1102 to form an L-shaped structure, wherein the second longitudinal portion 1101 may be mounted on the second guiding slot 1012 and penetrate through the corresponding hole 1122, while the second transverse portion 1102 may also be mounted on an outer surface 1121 of the end plate 112.
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises an insulating protective ring 102 mounted in the receiving cavity 1029 at a position between the outer wall 11 of the first electrical connector body 10 and the insulating isolation ring 101. As shown in
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises a protection ring 103, an annular spring holder 104, and an annular negative terminal 105. Each of the protection ring 103, the annular spring holder 104 and the annular negative terminal 105 is configured as having a ring structure and is received in the first electrical connector body 10.
The protection ring 103 is configured from electrically insulating material and is mounted on a front surface of the insulating isolation ring 101 for preventing unwanted objects from accidentally entering to the receiving cavity 1029. The annular spring holder 104 is also configured from electrically insulating material and has a first positioning slot 1041 circumferentially formed thereon.
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises an insulating spring 108, wherein the annular spring holder 104 is provided adjacent to the protection ring 103 for securing a position of the insulating spring 108 through mounting one end of the insulating spring 108 in the first positioning slot 1041.
As shown in
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises a tubular ring 106 received in the insulating protective ring 102, wherein the annular negative terminal body 1051 is received in the tubular ring 106 so that the tubular ring 106 may protect the annular negative terminal body 1051. The tubular ring 106 and the annular negative terminal body 1051 are concentrically received in the insulating protective ring 102. The negative terminal legs 1052 of the annular negative terminal 105 are arranged to electrically connect to the second electrical connector body 20 through a connection hole 2107 formed thereon. The negative terminal legs 1052 are arranged to electrically connect to a negative terminal member 23 provided in the second electrical connector body 20.
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises an annular positive terminal 107 arranged to receive within the annular negative terminal body 1051. The annular positive terminal 107 comprises an annular positive terminal body 1071 and a plurality of live terminal legs 1072 extending from the annular positive terminal body 1071 also in a direction towards the second electrical connector body 20. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the annular negative terminal 105 and the annular positive terminal 107 are physically separated by the insulating spring 108 so as to prevent accidental contact and possible short circuit between the annular negative terminal 105 and the annular positive terminal 107. The insulating spring 108 is configured from electrically insulating material, such as plastic material or high-carbon steel material with insulating treatment. The annular positive terminal 107 is arranged to be electrically connect to the second electrical connector body 20 in such a manner that the annular positive terminal body 1071 may be connected to a connecting column 22 of the second electrical connector body 20, while the live terminal legs 1072 are arranged to penetrate through a connecting member 21 of the second electrical connector body 20 and electrically connect to a live terminal member 24 thereof.
The insulating spring 108 may be configured as a compression spring having one end portion mounted in the first positioning slot 1041 of the annular spring holder 104, and another end portion mounted in a second positioning slot 2109 of the second electrical connector body 20 when the first electrical connector body 10 is detachably attached to the second electrical connector body 20.
The first electrical connector body 10 further comprises a first negative terminal base 115, a first live terminal base 116, a first neutral terminal base 113, and a first connecting flange 114 provided on an outer side of the end plate 112, wherein the negative terminal connector 109 and the live terminal connector 110 are connected and supported on the first negative terminal base 115 and the first live terminal base 116 respectively.
Inside the receiving cavity 1029, the first longitudinal portion 1091 of the negative terminal connector 109 is arranged to bias against an inner surface of the annular negative terminal body 1051 of the annular negative terminal 105 so as to facilitate electrical connection between the negative terminal connector 109 and the annular negative terminal 105. On the other hand, the second longitudinal portion 1101 of the live terminal connector 110 is arranged to bias against an inner surface of the annular positive terminal body 1071 of the annular positive terminal 107 so as to facilitate electrical connection between the live terminal connector 110 and the annular positive terminal 107.
Referring to
The second electrical connector body 20 further comprises a second negative terminal base 2104, a second live terminal base 2105 and a second neutral terminal base 2106 provided on an inner side (the side facing the first electrical connector body 10) of the connecting member 21. Moreover, the connecting member 21 further comprises a second connecting flange 2102, and have two holes 2107, 2108 formed on the connecting member 21, wherein the negative terminal legs 1052 of the annular negative terminal 105 and the live terminal legs 1072 of the annular positive terminal 107 are arranged to penetrate through the holes 2107, 2108 for electrically connecting to the second electrical connector body 20. The second connecting flange 2102 is arranged to be connected to the second outer connector 40.
The second electrical connector body 20 further comprises the negative terminal member 23, a live terminal member 24 and a neutral terminal member 25 provided on the second negative terminal base 2104, the second live terminal base 2105 and the second neutral terminal base 2106 respectively. Each of the negative terminal member 23 and the live terminal member 24 are configured to be a panel-like structure. The negative terminal member 23 has a first terminal hole 231 and the live terminal member 24 has a second terminal hole 241, wherein the first terminal hole 231 and the second terminal hole 241 are positioned corresponding to the two holes 2107, 2108 of the connecting member 21 respectively.
Thus, the negative terminal legs 1052 of the annular negative terminal 105 and the live terminal legs 1072 of the annular positive terminal 107 are arranged to penetrate through the holes 2107, 2108 and connect to the first terminal hole 241 and the second terminal hole 251 respectively for electrically connecting the first electrical connector body 10 to the second electrical connector body 20.
The neutral terminal member 25 is configured as having a panel-like structure and is mounted on the second neutral terminal base 2106 and electrically connected to a neutral conductive column 26 of the second electrical connector body 20. It is worth mentioning that the negative terminal member 23, the live terminal member 24 and the neutral terminal member 25 are physically separated by at least one blocking panel 2103 so as to prevent short circuit between the negative terminal member 23, the live terminal member 24 and the neutral terminal member 25.
As shown in
As mentioned earlier, the connecting member 21 has a second positioning slot 2109 for securing a position of the insulating spring 108, and a third positioning slot 2110 indently formed thereon. Each of the second positioning slot 2109 and the third positioning slot 2110 has a circular cross section and may form along a circumferential direction of the connecting member 21, which also has a circular cross section when viewed from the direction of the first electrical connector body 10. Thus, the second positioning slot 2109 and the third positioning slot 2110 may concentrically formed on the connecting member 21. The third positioning slot 2110 is arranged to secure the position of the annular negative terminal 105.
Moreover, the connecting column 22 of the second electrical connector body 20 is integrally extended from the connecting member 21 in the direction of the first electrical connector body 10. The connecting column 22 further has a conductive hole 221 longitudinally formed thereon for receiving the neutral conductive column 26. The neutral conductive column 26 is arranged to extend between the connecting column 22, wherein one end of the neutral conductive column 26 is connected to the neutral terminal member 25, while another end of the neutral conductive column 26 is electrically connected to the power source.
The connecting column 22 further has a securing slot 222 for securing a position of the annular positive terminal 107. When the first electrical connector body 10 is detachably connected to the second electrical connector body 20, the annular positive terminal body 1071 is arranged to be secured by the securing slot 222 of the connecting column 22.
As shown in
Referring to
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first outer connector 30 may be configured to have a substantially tubular structure corresponding to that of the first electrical connector body 10. The first outer connector 30 has a first tubular body 30A and a second tubular body 30B. The first tubular body 30A and the second tubular body 30B are connected to form the substantially tubular structure of the first outer connector 30. The connection between the first tubular body 30A and the second tubular body 30B may be accomplished through screws and a first threaded hole 34 provided on the second tubular body 30B. The first outer connector 30 is arranged to be detachably mounted on the artificial Christmas tree through a first mounting slot 31 and a first mounting hole 32. The first outer connector 30 is connected to the first electrical connector body 10 through mounting on the first connecting flanges 114. Moreover, the first outer connector 30 has a first protective opening 301 and a third connecting rim 33 formed around the first protective opening 301, wherein the third connecting rim 33 is arranged to engage with the first connecting rim 111 when the first outer connector 30 is connected to the first electrical connector body 10.
Referring to
Referring to
The operation of the present invention is as follows: a user may first connect the first tubular body 30A to the second tubular body 30B to form an integral first outer connector 30. Similarly, the user may also connect the third tubular body 40A to the fourth tubular body 40B to form an integral second outer connector 40. After that, the first outer connector 30 may be connected to the first electrical connector body 10 through engaging the third connecting rim 33 with the first connecting rim 111. The second outer connector 40 may be connected to the second electrical connector body 20 through engaging the fourth connecting rim 43 with the second connecting rim 211 to form the electrical connector 100 of the present invention.
The electrical connector 100 of the present invention may be mounted in a tubular structure (such as a branch) of an artificial Christmas tree for supplying power to the relevant lighting devices. When some electrical components are out of order, a user may conveniently detach the relevant electrical connector 100 from the artificial Christmas tree and perform the necessary repair. After that the electrical connector 100 may be mounted back to the artificial Christmas tree.
The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention. validate
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202222522061.7 | Sep 2022 | CN | national |