Patent Application
20130267112
The present invention relates to a power connector assembly, and more particularly to a power connector assembly with an appliance plug and an adapter plug. The present invention relates to an adapter plug with a locking mechanism.
With increasing development of science and technology, power converters such as power adapters or chargers become indispensable electronic appliances for many kinds of electrical apparatuses. For example, by means of the power adapters, the utility power may be rectified and then converted into DC power for supplying power-receiving devices such as notebook computers. Alternatively, by means of the chargers, the converted DC power may charge the rechargeable batteries of the power-receiving devices such as mobile phones or digital cameras.
Generally, the power converter includes a plug for plugging into a power socket to receive utility power. Since the international business is well developed and the leisure life quality is much valued nowadays, people frequently go abroad for business or travel. When people go abroad, they usually carry the portable electronic products such as notebooks, mobile phones and digital cameras. However, since there are various kinds of socket standards in the world, the power converter is usually connected with an adapter plug having different forms of contact terminals in order to comply with different socket standards.
In the conventional power connector assembly 1, the two flat contact terminals 111 of the appliance plug 11 are inserted into the insertion holes 101 of the adapter plug 10. Consequently, the two flat contact terminals 111 are respectively and electrically connected with first ends of the two cylindrical contact terminals 102 of the adapter plug 10. In such way, the two flat contact terminals 111 of the appliance plug 11 are buried within the adapter plug 10, but the two cylindrical contact terminals 102 of the adapter plug 10 are exposed to be plugged into a corresponding socket (not shown). Although the conventional power connector assembly 1 is effective to change the plug type, there are still some drawbacks. For example, since there is no mechanism for securely combining the appliance plug 11 and the adapter plug 10 together, if a power cable 110 of the electronic appliance is accidently pulled by the user, the appliance plug 11 is possibly detached from the adapter plug 10. Under this circumstance, the power connection is possibly interrupted.
For solving the above drawbacks, another power connector assembly with engaging structures was disclosed. That is, the casing of the appliance plug and the casing of the adapter plug may be equipped with complementary engaging structures. Since the configurations of the appliance plug and the adapter plug become complicated, new molding tools are required to produce the appliance plug and the adapter plug. In other words, the process of fabricating the appliance plug and the adapter plug is time-consuming and the fabricating cost is increased. Moreover, the engaging structures of the appliance plug and the adapter plug are only able to securely combine the appliance plug and the adapter plug together. In a case that the user travels abroad, the appliance plug and the adapter plug have the engaging structures should be simultaneously carried. In other words, the process of carrying the specially designed appliance plug and the specially designed adapter plug is troublesome to the user.
The present invention provides a power connector assembly comprising an appliance plug and an adapter plug with a locking mechanism, thereby securely combining the appliance plug with the adapter plug and electrically connecting the contact terminals of the appliance plug and the adapter plug.
The present invention also provides an adapter plug with a locking mechanism. Due to the locking mechanism of the adapter plug, the appliance plug can be changed to the adapter plug complying with the socket standards of the travelled countries or regions without the need of installing the engaging structures on the casings of the appliance plug and the adapter plug. Consequently, the fabricating cost is reduced and the applications are widened.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power connector assembly. The power connector assembly includes an appliance plug and an adapter plug. The appliance plug has at least two first contact terminals, wherein each of the first contact terminals has a perforation. The adapter plug includes a casing, a switching element, at least two second contact terminals, and at least two locking elements. The switching element is partially exposed outside the casing. The second contact terminals are disposed within the casing. The locking elements are disposed within the casing, wherein each of the locking elements has a protrusion part. When the switching element is located at a first position, the protrusion part of the locking element is accommodated within the perforation of the corresponding first contact terminal, so that the locking element is in a locked state. In the locked state, the first contact terminal and the corresponding locking element are coupled with each other and the first contact terminal and the corresponding second contact terminal are electrically connected with each other.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adapter plug to be connected with an appliance plug. The appliance plug has at least two first contact terminals. Each of the first contact terminals has a perforation. The adapter plug includes a casing, at least two second contact terminals, and a locking mechanism. The second contact terminals are disposed within the casing. The locking mechanism includes a switching element, a guiding plate, and at least two locking elements. The switching element is partially exposed outside the casing. The guiding plate is disposed within the casing and connected with the switching element. The locking elements are disposed within the casing, wherein each of the locking elements has a protrusion part. When the switching element is located at a first position, the protrusion part of the locking element is accommodated within the perforation of the corresponding first contact terminal, so that the locking element is in a locked state. In the locked state, the first contact terminal and the corresponding locking element are coupled with each other and the first contact terminal and the corresponding second contact terminal are electrically connected with each other.
The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
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Hereinafter, the operations of the switching element 220 will be illustrated with reference to
In this embodiment, the locking element 202 comprises a main body 202a and a resilient arm 202b. In addition, a protrusion part 202c is located at a bending zone of the resilient arm 202b. Moreover, depending on the position of the switching element 220, the resilient arms 202b are shifted outwardly or inwardly (as shown in the direction of arrow), so that the protrusion part 202c of the resilient arm 202b is accommodated within or detached from the perforation 230 of the first contact terminal 23. In such way, the locking mechanism is alternatively in the locked state or the unlocked state.
Moreover, the adapter plug 20 further comprises a base 200. The third contact terminals 24 are penetrated through the base 200. Consequently, the inner parts 240 of the third contact terminals 24 are disposed and supported on the base 200.
In this embodiment, the adapter plug 20 further comprises a guiding plate 203 and an elastic element 204. The guiding plate 203 and the elastic element 204 are disposed within the casing 22 of the adapter plug 20. The guiding plate 203 is connected with the switching element 220. In addition, the guiding plate 203 has two rib parts 203a. The locations of the two locking elements 202 correspond to bilateral sides of the guiding plate 203. The resilient arm 202b is arranged beside a corresponding rib part 203a of the guiding plate 203. A first end of the elastic element 204 is fixed on the base 200. A second end of the elastic element 204 is fixed on the guiding plate 203. Consequently, during the process of moving the switching element 220 toward the second position B, the elastic element 204 is compressed in response to a pushing force exerted on the switching element 220. After the external force exerted on the switching element 220 is eliminated, elasticity of the elastic element 204 causes the guiding plate 203 to be moved toward the first position A, and thus the switching element 220 is returned to the first position A.
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From the above description, the power connector assembly comprises an appliance plug and an adapter plug with a locking mechanism. The switching element, the two locking elements and the guiding plate are collectively defined as the locking mechanism. When the first contact terminals of the appliance plug are inserted into the insertion holes of the adapter plug, the protrusion parts of the locking elements are accommodated within corresponding perforations of the first contact terminals. Consequently, the first contact terminals of the appliance plug are securely coupled with corresponding locking elements. Under this circumstance, the locking mechanism is in a locked state, and the first contact terminals of the appliance plug are electrically connected with corresponding second contact terminals of the adapter plug. Moreover, for allowing the locking mechanism to be in the unlocked state, the user may move the switching element to shift the locking element shift inwardly. Consequently, the first contact terminals are detached from the locking elements. Meanwhile, the appliance plug can be easily removed from the adapter plug.
Moreover, due to the locking mechanism of the adapter plug, the appliance plug can be changed to the adapter plug with desired contact terminals complying with the socket standards of the travelled countries or regions without the need of installing the engaging structures on the casings of the appliance plug and the adapter plug. Consequently, the fabricating cost is reduced and the applications are widened. Moreover, since the locking mechanism is normally in the locked state after the appliance plug is inserted into the adapter plug, the appliance plug and the adapter plug are securely combined together. Consequently, even if power cable of the electronic appliance is accidently pulled by the user, the possibility of detaching the appliance plug and the possibility of causing power interruption will be minimized, and the supplied power is more stable.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
