CN109417257B - Easy-to-operate travel conversion plug - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a travel switching plug, comprising a housing, a socket (16) and at least a first plug (34) of a first standard and a second plug (36) of a second standard, each plug being provided with a drive slide (22,24,26,28) which is located outside the housing via a slide (42) on the housing and is intended to slide the plug between a standby position, in which the plug is located substantially inside the housing, and a use position, in which the plug is located outside the housing and can be used; and the sliding grooves (42) are arranged adjacent to each other; the travel switch plug (10) has a sliding selector (44) with a sliding position for each plug, and the sliding selector (44) is connected with an operating button (20) outside the housing and has a latching element (49) located inside the housing, which, depending on the sliding position of the sliding selector (44), only allows a selected plug to be moved between a standby position and a use position, while the other plugs are blocked in the standby position by the latching element (49), characterized in that the sliding selector (44) is movable between the runners (42) and at least one sliding path between two adjacent sliding positions of the sliding selector is shorter than the distance between two adjacent runners (42).

Description

Easy-to-operate travel conversion plug

Technical Field

The invention relates to a travel switch plug, also referred to herein simply as a "travel switch". With this converter, a power plug of a certain (domestic) standard can be plugged into a power socket of a travel destination. For this purpose, the travel adaptor plug requires a first standard socket and another standard power plug. The present application relates more particularly to a travel conversion plug that can be inserted into at least first and second standard electrical outlets. In addition, a power plug of a first standard and a power plug of a second standard can be selected and used in the travel conversion plug.

Background

Travel conversion plugs or travel plugs of this type are increasingly being used during global travel and increased commerce. Accordingly, there is a need for a compact, easily portable travel conversion plug that is adaptable to several different standard power outlets.

Chinese patent application CN 101872911 a discloses a travel conversion plug having a substantially circular housing. The power plug is arranged in the shell and can be removed out of the shell. In this manner, at least three different types of power plugs may be used. The desired power plug may be selected upon rotation of the upper housing portion relative to the lower housing portion. The upper housing portion has an outwardly projecting drive slide. The drive slide may be caused to engage the respective power plug element. To do so, it is rotated to a position above the power plug, and when rotated to a position below the power plug, the power plug is removed from the housing.

The travel converter has many uses. However, mechanically rotating the upper housing portion relative to the lower housing portion requires a precise housing production process to allow low resistance rotational movement and to ensure that the drive slide can reliably engage the power plug elements at various housing locations. Furthermore, the circular shape itself is also a limitation. In many cases, for example, a block-shaped travel switch plug may be considered easier to transport. Also, on a round travel conversion plug, all of the optional power plug components are not visible from an angle.

Another travel switch is known from german patent DE 102011014920B 4, which is referred to as a "universal switch plug". In this travel converter, multiple sets of pins are provided in the outer housing. Each group of pins is connected with a control element, and each group of pins can be moved from the outside by the control elements. The control element is guided on the housing by a sliding groove. The control element is also guided using a baffle plate disposed within the outer housing. The barrier has a guide track and the control element can pass through a recess therein. The guide rail provides an upper end position and a lower end position. The flap is elastically prestressed so that the control element can be held firmly in the upper or lower end position. The control element and the corresponding pin set can be released from the end position and moved up or down, since in addition to activating the control element a selection lever (selector lever) is also provided on the outside. Pressing the selector lever moves the shutter against the spring force. In this way, the pins can be moved out of their upper or lower end positions by using the control elements.

In this embodiment, the external control element serves both to move the pin sets out of the first end position (standby position) into the second end position (use position) and to lock the pin sets in these positions. One disadvantage with this is that the selector lever must also be in an operating state during the movement of the set of pins using the control element. This prevents comfortable one-handed operation. The control element also takes up a lot of space on the plug surface, so that a design-guided configuration cannot be freely made and a compact construction cannot be achieved.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved travel conversion plug which avoids the deficiencies of the prior art. The travel converter should be cost-effective and reliable to manufacture, easy to transport and operate, and electrically very safe.

The travel conversion plug of the present invention has a housing that can have various shapes. For example, often blocks are practical for transportation. However, the travel conversion plug of the present invention operates in a manner that allows for a large degree of freedom in the choice of the shape of the housing. It is advantageous when the housing has at least one plane surface, but the way of functioning of the invention can also be adapted to curved housing surfaces. The housing may comprise one or more pieces. It has proven useful that the housing comprises two parts, in particular a lower housing part and an upper housing part. Which are connected to each other in a detachable manner, for example using mechanical means, it is useful to use screw connections.

The housing should have at least one receptacle. The socket is operatively disposed on the housing. The socket may have different shapes depending on the type of power plug (hereinafter simply "plug") to be inserted thereon. For example, if a Schuko plug is to be inserted into the socket, the socket has a substantially cylindrical recess and a female connector (female connector) for inserting the Schuko plug. For other types of plugs, it is not necessary to have a recess or groove. It is useful to have a flat upper housing face on which a plurality of female connectors (female contacts) can be provided. Typically, at least two female connectors should be provided, which form a pair of female connectors for receiving a standard plug. In order to be able to plug in a plurality of different standards, it is useful to provide a plurality of pairs of female connectors. It is also necessary if the plug also has a ground conductor and the socket is intended to provide an opportunity for grounding, typically a third female connector is provided, or a third connector is provided depending on the plug to be inserted.

The travel conversion plug should also have at least one plug of a first standard and a second plug of a second standard. (these plugs are also sometimes referred to as "plug-in pin sets"). The plug of the first standard may be, for example, an EU european plug, and the plug of the second standard may be an US american plug. These plugs may have two prongs, i.e., they are not grounded; alternatively, they may have three pins to provide a ground pin. Thus, the travel conversion plug of the present invention is suitable for use in more than one country.

Usefully, it is also generally necessary to make alternative use of the first plug and the second plug. The travel conversion plug may also include three or more plugs. Travel conversion plugs with three or four plugs have proven to be very useful. At least one of the plugs (but typically all of the plugs) is movable from a standby position (in which the plugs are substantially disposed within the housing) to a use position. In the position of use, the plug is disposed entirely or at least partially outside the housing. Frequently, the plug may be moved fully back into the housing when the plug is returned to the standby position. It is useful that the plug can be moved back into the housing far enough that it does not interfere with other plugs.

The first plug is connected with a driving slide block, and the driving slide block is used for moving the first plug from a standby position to a use position. The second plug is also connected to a drive slide for moving the second plug from the standby position into the use position. Thus, the travel conversion plug has at least a first drive slide and a second drive slide. The drive sliders can be effectively designed in a button-like manner so that they can be easily moved with one finger. In order to accommodate the drive slider, a slide groove may be provided on the housing. The runners can also be connected to each other to form a guide rail for the drive slide. Generally, it is useful to provide one runner for each drive slide and to arrange the runners parallel to each other.

A sliding selector is arranged on the travel conversion plug and can be moved to at least a first position and a second position. In its first position, the sliding selector releases the first plug; alternatively, in its second position, the sliding selector releases the second plug, whereby the first plug or the second plug can be moved alternatively into the position of use. For this purpose, the slide selector has a latching element.

In this manner, the sliding selector provides the travel conversion plug with the added advantage of practicality. It is not uncommon for travel conversion plugs to be brought to the same destination country multiple times. It is also common in a destination country to move a desired plug from a use position back to a standby position when it is not needed. It is therefore advantageous when the corresponding plug type can be adjusted on the sliding selector. Marking the sliding selector is very simple, making it clearly legible and adjustable in the destination country. Once the sliding selector is moved into position, only the corresponding plug can be moved into the use position. Usually, this means that only one drive slide can be moved.

Since the travel switch plugs are to be constructed in a compact manner, the drive sliders are usually located very close to one another. Therefore, it is easy to happen that, for example, fingers are not precisely placed on the drive sliders and the adjacent drive sliders are inadvertently moved at the same time. However, since the invention allows only one plug to be driven, and thus (usually) also only one drive slide, an inadvertently touched drive slide does not move (or it does not at least move the associated plug). This will make the operation of the travel conversion plug more fault tolerant.

However, providing a slide selector that can only release one plug and one drive slide also has important safety advantages. If more than one plug is removed at the same time, current will flow through those connections that are not used for this standard. This can damage the travel conversion plug and, in the worst case, the equipment connected thereto, and even cause injury to the user.

This is useful when the travel conversion plug has a slide slot in the housing. The drive slide can run in these slide grooves. A sliding groove can also be arranged on the sliding selector. These runners enable the slide to move while being guided. It therefore represents an advantageous and cost-effective mechanical solution. Since a plurality of drive sliders is usually provided on the travel switch pin, this is particularly advantageous if a plurality of drive sliders can be guided in the guide channel in a simple manner. In the context of the present invention, the drive slide must only cause movement of the plug, typically upward and downward movement. The drive slide does not have to lock the plugs in the use position, nor does it have to ensure that only one plug can be selected at a time. Since the drive slide in the context of the invention is only allowed to perform one function, it can be guided easily and reliably in the slide groove. For example, if the drive slide is spring loaded, it will often become less useful to guide it in a chute, since the slide will tend to tilt, will "hook" and, of course, will have more resistance.

In the context of the present invention, it is therefore useful when the slide selector is movable between the slide grooves and at least one drive path between two adjacent sliding positions of the slide selector is shorter than the distance between two adjacent slide grooves. It is often useful when the slide selector is movable exactly or substantially vertically between the slide channels. It is advantageous when the entire drive path between two adjacent slide positions of the slide selector is shorter than the distance between two adjacent slide slots. It is useful to arrange the slide selector at an acute angle to the direction perpendicular to the chute if the slide selector can still provide sufficient latching in the vertical direction. This situation is to be understood here as "substantially" vertical. The sliding path of the sliding selector, which is movable between the sliding slots, should not be limited by the sliding slots.

It is useful when the plug has engagement projections for engaging on the catch elements, and the catch elements comprise a recess for each engagement projection, through which recess the engagement projection can be moved into a certain sliding position of the sliding selector. In doing so, in the context of the present invention, the distance between two adjacent grooves may be shorter than the distance between adjacent engaging projections.

The latching elements can be designed as comb-like strips with alternately arranged grooves and latching projections. This makes it possible to produce a compact blocking element that is reliable in operation. It may also be useful when the cartridge contains one more projection than recess.

In a particularly compact conversion plug, the clamping strip can be arranged so as to be movable substantially perpendicular to the sliding groove. In doing so, at least one engagement tab may be connected to a corresponding plug by a guide arm.

The plug can be moved into the use position using the drive slide. For safe use of travel conversion plugs, it is important that the plug remain in the use position even when inserted into an electrical outlet against pressure. In the system of the invention, a stop or locking element can be provided to ensure that the plugs remain in the use position and prevent them from doing so. The locking element can block at least one plug of the travel conversion plug; the locking element may also effectively block a plurality or all of the plugs in the use position.

The locking element may be designed as a separate component from the sliding selector. Alternatively, the locking element may also be a component associated with the sliding selector. This embodiment as a separate component potentially has manufacturing advantages. The sliding selector is a component that does not have to transmit or experience large forces. However, by its own nature, the locking element must exert sufficient force to hold each standard plug in the use position.

For similar reasons, it is useful when the locking element is also a separate component from the drive slider. In this case, the locking element is to be understood as a separate component when it has at least one component which is not part of the slide selector or drive slider. In general, it is useful when all the components of the locking element are designed to be independent of both the components of the slide selector and the components of the drive slider.

It is useful when the locking element is connected to a release button which is arranged outside the housing and which is actuated in a release direction. Such a release button allows an intuitive and safe release of the locking element when moving a plug from the use position back to the standby position. Such designs are safer and more reliable than those that rely on some movement of the drive slide, or slide selector, or even the plug itself, to release the plug. So that the release button is not inadvertently actuated, it may also be provided with an alarm indicator or be designed with a warning color, for example red. The release button may be part of the housing, for example, when the part of the housing can be pressed down due to a suitable design. In general, it is useful to provide a recess in the housing and to provide the release button in this recess as a separate part from the housing. Usefully, the release button may be disposed opposite the slide selector and/or the drive slider.

It is useful to elastically prestress (typically: spring-biased) the locking element (if provided) against the release direction. The elastic prestressing of the locking element makes it possible to reliably snap into the locked state as soon as the plug is brought into the use position. It is also advantageous mechanically when the spring acts exactly against the release direction.

An effective embodiment of the (optional) locking element is that the locking element has at least one locking leg, and that the locking leg has a sliding surface and a locking projection. On which sliding surface the element connected to a moved plug can slide. The element can then be snapped over the locking projection to lock the plug connected to the element.

Such travel conversion plugs are useful: at least one of the plugs has a sliding projection or is mechanically firmly connected to such a sliding projection, and the sliding projection runs on the sliding surface and can assume a locked state on the locking projection (if provided).

Such travel conversion plugs are also useful: the locking mechanism has a plurality of locking legs, for example 2, 3 or 4 locking legs. The number of locking legs is exactly the same as the number of plugs. It is also useful and sufficient when the number of locking legs is less than the number of plugs.

In the latter case in particular, it is useful when a sliding projection is connected to each of the at least two plugs, both sliding projections running on the same locking leg of the locking element. Since the two sliding projections run on the same locking leg, this means that the two sliding projections run on the same sliding surface and on the same locking projection (on which the two sliding projections can assume the locked state). Since the two plugs on the travel conversion plug are not moved simultaneously into the use position, the sliding projection can alternatively assume this locked state on the locking projection. However, if two sliding projections, for example two sliding projections of adjacent plugs, share one locking leg of suitable dimensions, the number of locking legs can be reduced, whereby the travel conversion plug can be constructed more compactly.

In the context of the present invention, the sliding selector may be provided in any suitable form. Generally, it should mechanically allow only one plug movement and inhibit the other plug movement. Usefully, the slide selector is operable on the drive sliders, each drive slider being associated with a particular plug. But is also useful when the sliding selector acts on another element connected to the plug.

The slide selector may have a slide selector body that may be disposed inside the travel conversion plug housing. It is also useful to provide a recess in the housing which allows the sliding selector to be operated. For example, an actuation button (hereinafter also referred to as a "sliding selector button") may be used through the recess. The slide selector body can also be arranged outside the housing, for which purpose the drive slide is acted upon outside the housing, or for which purpose the drive slide is acted upon internally by means of a through-opening.

At least one or all of the plugs may be connected to an engagement element which cooperates with the sliding selector to prevent movement of the plug into the in-use position. Usefully, the engaging element can be designed as a projection or essentially as a projection. Movement of the engagement element may be prevented by a catch element of the slide selector, such as a catch strip, catch projection or the like. The tabs are effectively arranged in series such that the tabs form a comb-like snap strip. Depending on the position of the selection element, it is also possible not to prevent the movement of the coupling element, but to allow it to pass through. For this purpose, the latching element can advantageously have a plurality of recesses through which the engaging elements can pass. For example, a series of protrusions and recesses may be provided on the sliding selector.

As already explained, it is advantageous when the position of the selection element can no longer be changed as soon as the plug is moved into the position of use. To this end, a latching element may be provided. The latch element is operatively disposed on or associated with the slide selector. The latch element and the slide selector may be a unitary component or at least one integral component connected.

It is useful to have a latching element for a first functional element cooperating with the first plug and for a second functional element cooperating with the second plug. In order to make the manufacture of the latching element simple and inexpensive, it is useful when the first and second functional elements are constructed in the same way. The first functional element and the second functional element may both be made from identical components or similar component parts.

It is particularly useful when the latch element has a finger which can engage in a receiving element firmly connected to the housing. Usefully, the functional element comprises a finger form. The latch elements may also have projections or bumps instead of fingers. The receiving element may be configured, for example, as a protrusion or recess on a latch guide. The receiving element can also be configured as a recess or hole in the housing or in a component connected to the housing.

It is useful when the latching element comprises a spring element. The latching element may even be formed entirely by a spring element, for example by a flat spring (or leaf spring). Such a spring may be used to elastically pre-stress the fingers of the latch element. The direction of the spring force is directed towards said receiving element on the housing. As long as all the plugs are in the standby position, the springs are prevented from protruding into the corresponding receiving elements.

It is advantageous when a finger of the latching element is pressed into a recess immediately towards the spring force as soon as the plug is moved into the position of use.

It is useful when the spring element of the latching element resiliently preloads its finger in the direction of the receiving element for receiving the finger and being connected to the housing. Then, as long as the plug is in the standby position, the fingers can be effectively prevented from engaging in the corresponding receiving elements using elements firmly connected to the plug. This is useful, for example, when the component of the drive slide undertakes this work. For example, the drive slide may be connected to the slide surface which slides over the fingers when the drive slide is moved to the use position, but which releases the fingers to allow the fingers assigned to the drive slide to fall into the recesses assigned to the fingers when the drive slide is in the use position.

Other features and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from the following drawings and their associated description. The features of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and their associated description. However, these features may also be included in other combinations of the inventive subject matter. Thus, each feature disclosed is also to be understood as being disclosed in technically reasonable combinations with other features. The partial illustrations are somewhat simplified and schematic.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a travel conversion plug in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the same perspective of the travel conversion plug of the exemplary embodiment with the European style plug on the travel conversion plug moved to the use position;

fig. 3 illustrates this exemplary embodiment from another perspective, with the euro-style plug moved to the use position;

FIG. 4 shows this exemplary embodiment from below;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of selected cooperating components;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the components of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another side view of the components of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows the cooperating components of a larger selection from the perspective of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two other cooperating components;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the two cooperating components;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the cooperating components of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the components of FIGS. 9-11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of selected cooperating components of a travel plug in an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plurality of selected components;

fig. 15 is a top view of the component of fig. 14.

Description of reference numerals:

10-travel converter/travel converter plug;

12-an upper housing part; 14-lower housing part

16-a socket; 18-a female connector;

18A-UK English female connector pairs; 18B-AUS Australian female connector pair;

18C-US american female connector pairs; a female connector of an 18D-UK British ground pin;

20-operating buttons of sliding selectors; 22-a first drive slide;

24-a second drive slide; 26-a third drive slide;

28-fourth drive slide;

30-European style plug; 32-a plug body;

34-a contact pin; 36-contact pins;

36A-UK British contact pins; 36B-AUS Australian contact pin;

36C-US american feelers; 36D-UK British ground terminals;

38-a fuse insert; 40-a release button;

42-a chute; 44-sliding selector body/sliding selector

46-a recess to receive a release button; 48-bulge;

49-a cassette;

50-a guide arm; 52-bonding elements/bumps;

54-a groove; 55-notch (for receiving finger)

56-a latching element; 57-connecting clips;

58-fingers;

59-a through hole to receive a connector clip; 60-pressure bearing surface;

62-locking guide groove; 64-a groove;

66-a support base; 68-arrows indicating the direction of movement.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the travel conversion plug of the present invention, shown in a standby state but not yet in a use position. Instead, all plugs are in the standby position, i.e. all located within the housing.

The most basic components of the travel conversion plug 10 will first be described. The travel conversion plug has a housing consisting of anupper housing part 12 and alower housing part 14. Thesocket 16 is located on top of the travel conversion plug so that it is located in the region of theupper housing portion 12. Thereceptacle 16 has a plurality offemale connectors 18. Aslide selection button 20 is provided on the front surface of thetravel conversion plug 10. Each drive slider can be selected and released by sliding theselection button 20. Afirst driving slider 22, asecond driving slider 24, athird driving slider 26 and afourth driving slider 28 are provided below theslide selection button 20.

Fig. 2 shows the travel conversion plug from the same perspective. However, in this travel conversion plug, one of the plugs is moved to the use position. Thus, the slideselect button 20 is located at the left end of its slide path. In this position, the left actuating slide, i.e. thefirst actuating slide 22, is released and theactuating slide 22 is moved from the upper position into the lower position. Thereby, theeuropean style plug 30 is downwardly projected. The European-style plug has aplug body 32, and afirst contact pin 34A and asecond contact pin 34B. In this manner, the travel conversion plug 10 may be inserted into a power outlet that conforms to european standards. A female connector pair on top of the travel conversion plug may then be used which allows for the insertion of plugs which do not comply with european standards. Specifically, the female connector pairs are UK englishfemale connector pair 18A, AUS australianfemale connector pair 18B, das US americanfemale connector pair 18C, andconnector 18D for UK english ground pin.

Fig. 3 shows the same plug from another perspective. The plug is in the same position as in figure 2, i.e. the euro-style plug is moved to the in-use position. As can be seen from the bottom of the housing, further contact pins 36 (i.e. other standard contact pins) are provided. Additionally, afuse insert 38 is provided on the bottom. The insert is closed by the visible cover and a coin, for example, can be used to rotate the slot in the cover to remove the cover and replace the fuse.

In addition, a release button 40 (not visible in the front view) is provided on the housing side. The release button is received in the housing recess. More specifically, notches are provided on both theupper housing portion 12 and thelower housing portion 14, and these together surround therelease button 40. Pressing the release button returns the pushed-down plug (in this case, the euro-style plug 30) into the housing. However, when the release button is not actuated, the plug is not pressed back into the housing, so that this does not happen inadvertently when the plug is plugged into an electrical outlet.

Fig. 4 shows the bottom of the same travel conversion plug, from which other details can be seen more precisely, and will therefore be described in more detail in connection with this figure. The bottom view shows that the drive sliders 22-28 and the slidingselection button 20 do not protrude far beyond the lateral housing surface. The engineering design of the present invention allows for a compact and easy to use arrangement in which the drive sliders are very close to each other. Theslide selection buttons 20 are slightly higher than the drive slide and therefore protrude slightly further than them.

The contact pins 34 of the euro plug are guided on theplug body 32 and the contact pins of other standard plugs are guided out of the bottom of the housing without providing an additional plug body. Every two contact pins (namely a pair of contact pins) are used for being plugged into power sockets of different national standards. Thecontact foot pair 36A is used in the UK, hereinafter also referred to as UK english contact foot;contact pin pair 36B is used in australia, hereinafter also referred to as AUS australian contact pin pair; theantenna pair 36C is used in the united states and is also referred to as a US american antenna pair hereinafter. Aground terminal 36D is also provided which is used in the UK and is therefore also known as UK english ground terminal, with which grounding can be achieved. However, in general, such a contact may also be provided when no ground terminal is available. In that case, this connector is the first pin (opening pin) for insertion into the UK english power socket, which makes it possible to insert two further connectors.

It can be seen that therelease button 40 is located just opposite the drive slide and the slide selection button. In the context of the present invention, it is quite useful to arrange the slide selection button and the complete drive slider on one housing side. It is also generally useful to have therelease button 40 disposed opposite thereto for safe and intuitive operation.

Fig. 5 illustrates selected cooperating components of the travel conversion plug in an exemplary embodiment in perspective view, showing thelower housing portion 14. Aplug body 32 belonging to the euro-style plug is placed below the housing. Thefirst drive slide 22 is shown in a lower position corresponding to the position of theplug body 32. On its front face, the housing has aslide groove 42. It can be seen that there are four adjacently disposedslide slots 42, each of which can receive a drive slide. However, for ease of understanding, only thefirst drive ram 22 is depicted. The slidingselector body 44 is seen to be located above the chute with therecess 46 for receiving the release button opposite the slidingselector body 44.

Furthermore, the sliding selector body is shown in its position when used in a full travel conversion plug, but no means are shown to hold it in this position. This simplified depiction is also for ease of understanding. It is useful to locate theslide selector body 44 above the drive slide, i.e. opposite the bottom of the housing from which the contact pins can be guided and moved to the use position.

Fig. 6 shows the components depicted in fig. 5 substantially from a side view, again depicting thelower housing portion 14 and the slidingselector body 44. The slidingselector body 44 is again shown in its position held by other components (not shown). Also shown is asecond drive ram 24 adjacent thefirst drive ram 22. Thefirst drive slide 22 is shown in the lower position, i.e. the position corresponding to the use position of the plug, and thesecond drive slide 24 is shown in the upper position, i.e. the position corresponding to the standby position.

In this view, it can be seen that the back of the sliding selector body 44 (which faces the interior of the travel conversion plug) has adetent 48. It can also be seen that the first drive slide is connected to aguide arm 50. Theguide arm 50 may additionally be supported by components not shown, while ensuring that the position and movement of thedrive slide 22 is not limited solely by theslide groove 42. However, it is generally sufficient to guide the drive slide only in the slide groove. The upper end of theguide arm 50 has acoupling projection 52.

So that theengagement projection 52 can be engaged with thesnap projection 48 so that the downward movement of thesecond drive slider 24 is suppressed.

In another side view, fig. 7 shows the cooperation of the known components of fig. 5 and 6. In fig. 7, thelower housing portion 14 and slidingselector body 44 are again visible in their proper position in the complete travel conversion plug. The back of theslide selector body 44 engages theguide arm 50 of the second drive slide. On its back side, the sliding selector body has a plurality of tabs, 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D and 48E. Between each snap projection is a channel in the form of a groove (grooves 54A, 54B, 54C and 54D). Although in the position shown in the figures, thedetent 48C engages the engagement projection of theguide arm 50, when the slide selector body is in another position, the engagement projection of theguide arm 50 no longer engages the detent. Conversely, removal of the slidingselector body 44 causes thedetent 48 of the guide arm to be positioned over a recess. From this position, the guide arm, and thus the entire drive slide, can be moved downwards towards the use position.

FIG. 8 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, but in this figure, an additional component is depicted. Depicted again is thelower housing portion 14, thesecond drive slide 24 and theslide selector body 44. As already explained above, the drive slide 24 (as well as the other drive slides) has aguide arm 50. At its end, theguide arm 50 has anengagement projection 52 which can be brought into engagement with thecatch 48.

In addition to the components already shown in fig. 6 and 7, a latchingelement 56 is also depicted in this view. Thelatch element 56 has substantially the shape of a leaf spring which fits inside the sliding selector body 44 (the side facing the guide arm). At its upper end, thelatch element 56 has afinger 58 that projects out of the top of the slideselect body 44. The latch member also has apressure face 60 that also includes a height (elevation).

Thelatch element 56 operates as follows. When thedrive slide 24 is in the upper position shown, the engagement lugs 52 apply pressure against the pressure faces 60. When theslide selector body 44 is in place, moving the drive slide downward, the engagement projection 52 (or, if desired, another member of the guide arm 50) no longer presses against the bearingsurface 60. Thefinger 58 is elastically prestressed so as to move toward the center of the travel conversion plug (i.e., to the left in fig. 8) due to the spring force.

This spring force is effective once no more pressure is exerted onpressure bearing face 60. Thefinger 58 will move to the latched position. In this latched position, the fingers may engage an element fixedly connected in position with the housing, which element may be generally described as a finger receiving element. This causes the slidingselector body 44 to also be held in a fixed position relative to the housing.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the slidingselector body 44 and the latch element 56 (or, more precisely, thefinger 58 thereof). The latchingelement 56 may be manufactured, for example, from a bent leaf spring. The upper end of the slidingselector body 44 has a recess. Thefingers 58 of thelatch element 56 may be inserted through the four notches shown. Firstly, this ensures that the latchingelement 56 and the slidingselector body 44 are also well connected to one another in the upper region; secondly, these notches make it possible for the fourfingers 58A,58B,58C and 58D of the latchingelement 56 to move back and forth between a latching position and a selection position (or standby position).

Fig. 10 is another perspective view of theslide selector body 44 andlatch element 56, from which again thefingers 58 and their manner of operation can be readily seen. Thelatch element 56 should be mechanically securely connected to the slidingselector body 44. To this end, the slidingselector body 44 may have a recess that facilitates an insertion or snap-fit connection between the slidingselector body 44 and thelatch element 56. This portion of the content is visible from the lower portion of the slidingselector body 44.

Fig. 11 is an oblique view from below of the self-slidingselector body 44 andlatch element 56, with thesnap projections 48A, 48B, 48C and 48D clearly visible in this view.Recesses 54A, 54B, 54C and 54D are visible between the snap projections. The groove not only allows theengagement tab 52 of theguide arm 50 to pass through, but also allows thelatch element 56 to be operatively connected to the slidingselector body 44.

Thelatch element 56 has four legs which form the functional element of the latch element and includesfingers 58A,58B,58C and 58D at its upper end. These leg-like functional elements may pass through the passage 54 and thereby provide a simple secure connection between thelatch element 56 and the slidingselector body 44. In this view, it can be seen that thelatch element 56 has a connection clip at its lower end, more precisely threeconnection clips 57A, 57B and 57C. The three connection clips may be received in throughholes 59 provided in the slidingselector body 44.

Arecess 55 capable of receiving the finger is provided opposite the three throughholes 59 in an upper region of the slidingselector body 44. These notches on the slidingselector body 44 allow thelatch element 56 to be simply and securely connected to the slidingselector body 44. The latching element can therefore be produced in its entirety from a metal plate, preferably from a leaf spring.

It can also be easily seen in this view that the fivecams 48 form a comb-shapedcassette 49.

Fig. 12 shows the same components in a top view. From this top view it can be seen that thefingers 58 are very close to each other, as are the channels. The depicted length B describes the entire length traversed by the channel. Thus, length B is from the left end offirst channel 54A to the right end ofchannel 54D. Dimensional comparisons relating to other components are seen in the following figures.

Fig. 13 illustrates the cooperative relationship between thelatch member 56 and theupper housing portion 12 in a bottom view directed from thelower housing portion 14 to the bottom of theupper housing portion 12 so that thefemale connector 18 can be seen. Thelatch element 56 abuts the front housing wall; in the functional travel switch plug, it is also held by the slidingselector body 44, however, for visual simplification, the slidingselector body 44 is not depicted here.

Thefingers 58A,58B,58C and 58D of thelatch element 56 abut the housing upper side. All fingers are shown in the standby position. As soon as the drive slide associated with the finger and the corresponding plug are moved into the use position, the finger is moved into the latching position. To lock the finger in the latched position, a lockingguide slot 62 is provided in the underside of the housing. The locking guide groove has a groove. In the embodiment shown here, the groove is separated from the adjacent groove by bars (bars). Thelock guide groove 62 has four grooves in total: groove 64A,groove 64B,groove 64C, and groove 64D.

Other different forms of locking guide slots may also be useful; generally, the locking guide slots should have finger receiving elements that are securely positioned relative to the housing. As soon as thefinger 58 enters its associated recess 64, thelatch element 56 assumes a securely positioned state relative to the housing. Whereby the latch element is no longer movable with the slidingselector body 44; this up and down movement in the direction of the view is blocked.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of selected components from which the carrier leg of each of the contact pins can be seen. In particular, asupport base 66A for the american feeler can be seen, thissupport base 66A being connected to theguide arm 50A. Adjacent to thesupport base 66A is asupport base 66B for an australian contact pin, which is connected to theguide arm 50B. Adjacent to thesupport base 66B, asupport base 66C for a english contact foot can be seen, which is connected to theguide arm 50C. Adjacent to thesupport base 66C, asupport base 66D can be seen, which is connected to theguide arm 50D and is responsible for moving the euro-plug.

As can be seen, the release of theguide arm 50 depends on the position of the slidingselector body 44, which can be adjusted from the outside using the slidingselection button 20.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the components depicted in FIG. 14. Hereinafter, directional information such as left, right, up, and down refers to the depiction in fig. 15. From this figure, theguide arm 50 and the slidingselector body 44 can again be seen. Also visible aretabs 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D and 48E which form comb-like bands 49 inside the slidingselector body 44. Between each snap-inprojection 48 there is a groove 54 which allows the guide arm, more precisely the engagement element (not visible in this figure) of the guide arm, to pass through. The respective grooves are thegrooves 54A, 54B, 54C, and 54D.

In the position of the slidingselector body 44 shown, theguide arm 50D for the euro plug is movable up and down. This movement is caused using a first drive slide 22 (not visible in this figure) connected to theguide arm 50D. Theother guide arms 50A, 50B, 50C engage the comb-shapedcard strip 49 by their respective engagement projections.

Guide arm 50A is stopped bycatch 48A,guide arm 50B is stopped bycatch 48B, and guidearm 50C is stopped bycatch 48C. In the position of the slidingselector body 44 shown, thedetent 48E does not engage theguide arm 50D.

Guide arm 50 passes through segment a, which extends from the center ofguide arm 50A to the center ofguide arm 50D. Segment a also corresponds to the length of the central passage of the drive slide. The groove 54 can be seen through a shorter segment, segment B (see fig. 12), which extends from the left end of thefirst channel 54A to the right end of thefourth channel 54D. In the context of the present invention, segment B spanning the length of the channel may be shorter than 50% or 80% of segment a through which the center of the drive slide passes.

To select another plug, first, the euro-style plug 30 is slid to thelower housing portion 14 using thedrive slide 22. Theengagement projection 52 of theguide arm 50D is then moved upwardly through therecess 54D of theclip 49. Another plug is then selected by sliding the slidingselector body 44 in the direction of arrow 68 by sliding theselection button 20. Thecatch 48E thus secures theguide arm 50D of thedrive slide 22 and releases theguide arm 50 of the other plug depending on the position of theslide selector body 44 or the cassette 70 with the recess 54.

The groove 54 of the cartridge 70 is arranged with respect to theengagement projection 52 of theguide arm 50 according to a mathematical principle similar to the vernier principle (Nonius principal). The distance between two adjacent grooves 54 is the same for all grooves 54. Likewise, the distance between two adjacent bonding bumps 52 is the same for all of the bonding bumps 52. However, the distance between two adjacent recesses 54 is shorter than the distance between twoadjacent engagement projections 52 or guide arms. In other words, the distance between twoadjacent cams 48 is shorter than the distance between twoadjacent guide arms 50 or drivesliders 22,24,26, 28.

With this arrangement, when sliding theslide selector body 44 in the direction of arrow 68, first, the right end of thesnap projection 48C is slid to the left of theguide arm 50C or to the left of theengagement projection 52 of theguide arm 50C, theguide arm 50C is released. Theguide arm 50C andengagement tab 52 may then be moved downward through thegroove 54C. This position of theslide selector body 44 is reached starting from the position in fig. 15 at the slide segment B1.

If theslide selector body 44 is now slid further in the direction of arrow 68, theguide arm 50C is captured by thecatch 48D. The plug of theguide arm 50C can no longer be removed from the housing. Likewise, guidearm 50D remains secured by engagement ofsnap 48E. As soon as the right end of thecatch 48B is moved to the left of theguide arm 50B, theguide arm 50B is released and can slide down through therecess 54B together with theengagement projection 52. This position is reached after displacement of segment B2 from the position of the slidingselector body 44 in fig. 15, segment B2 being a second segment longer than the first segment B1.

Accordingly, whenslide selector body 44 is moved by segment B3, the right end ofsnap tab 48A will be located to the left ofguide arm 50A. Theguide arm 50A can now be slid down through thegroove 54A while allother guide arms 50B, 50C and 50D are captured by thecapture projections 48C, 48D and 48E. Thus, each of thecatches 48 is at least partially disposed in the path of movement of the capturedguide arm 50. Therefore, in order to select another plug, it is most necessary to move the slidingselector body 44 by the section B3 by means of the slidingselector 20. Segment B3 is a third segment that is longer than the second segment.

A space-saving design is possible to a certain extent because the countersunk projections (imaging cams) do not completely overlap the snap-in projection when they engage the snap-in projection. It has been shown that a reliable blocking state can be achieved even with partial overlapping of the projections, although only a sufficient overlap length is used.

In this manner, the slidingselector 20 may achieve a significantly shorter drive path than a conventional cartridge having only one recess. With only one recess, to select a plug withguide arm 50A, the slidingselector 20 must be moved away from the position shown in fig. 15 for displaying the selection of a plug withguide arm 50D. This segment a is equal to the distance between theguide arm 50D of thefirst drive slider 22 and theguide arm 50A of the fourth drive slider and is significantly longer than the aforementioned segment B3. Also for theother guide arms 50C and 50B, the sections B1 and B2 as drive paths are shorter than with a snap strip having only one groove.

The present design may make the travel switch more convenient to operate and more compact in construction because the slidingselector 20 need only move segments that are much shorter than segment a, which in the depiction of fig. 15 corresponds to segment B3. In the context of the present invention, the longest necessary displacement of the slide selector may be less than 30%, 50% or 80% of the segment a spanned by the drive slide center.

In the manner described in general terms and more particularly in the drawings, it is possible to produce a travel converter which is very comfortable to operate and in which operating errors hardly occur. It is interesting, however, that the travel converter is inexpensive to produce and can be produced inexpensively and reliably even in cases where large tolerances must be allowed in mass production.

Claims (10)

1. Travel conversion plug (10) having a housing, a socket (16) and at least a first plug (34) of a first standard and a second plug (36) of a second standard, wherein each plug is provided with a drive slide (22,24,26,28) which is located outside the housing via a slide (42) on the housing and serves for moving the plug between a standby position, in which the plug is located substantially inside the housing, and a use position, in which the plug can be used outside the housing, and the slide (42) are arranged adjacent to one another; wherein the travel conversion plug (10) has a slide selector (44) for the slide position of each plug, the slide selector (44) being connected to an operating button (20) outside the housing and having a blocking element located inside the housing and allowing only the selected plug to move between a standby position and a use position depending on the slide position of the slide selector (44), while the other plugs are blocked in the standby position by the blocking element, characterized in that: the slide selector (44) being movable between the runners (42) and at least one sliding path between two adjacent sliding positions of the slide selector being shorter than the distance between two adjacent runners (42);

each plug has an engagement lug (52) for engaging on the catch element and the catch element comprises a recess (54) for each engagement lug (52), the engagement lug (52) being movable by the recess (54) into a certain sliding position of the sliding selector (44); the clamping and stopping elements comprise comb-shaped clamping belts with grooves (54) and clamping protrusions (48) which are alternately arranged;

the comb-shaped card belt comprises one more card projection (48) than groove (54); the comb-shaped clamping belt can move basically vertical to the sliding groove (42).

2. The travel conversion plug (10) of claim 1, wherein the distance between two adjacent recesses (54) is shorter than the distance between adjacent engagement projections (52) provided for the recesses.

3. The travel conversion plug (10) of any of claims 1-2, wherein at least one engagement tab (52) is connected to a corresponding plug by a guide arm (50).

4. The travel conversion plug (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the conversion plug is further provided with a latch element (56), the latch element (56) inhibiting movement of the slide selector (44) between the slide positions after the first plug (34) or second plug (36) is moved to the use position.

5. The travel conversion plug (10) of claim 4, characterized in that the latching element (56) has a first functional element for cooperation with the first plug (34) and a second functional element for cooperation with the second plug (36).

6. Travel conversion plug (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the latching element (56) has a finger (58), which finger (58) can be engaged in a receiving element which is firmly connected to the housing.

7. The travel conversion plug (10) of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the latching element (56) comprises a spring element.

8. The travel conversion plug (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the conversion plug is further provided with a locking element that blocks at least the first plug (34) or the second plug (36) in a use position.

9. The travel conversion plug (10) of claim 8, wherein the locking element is coupled to a release button (40) disposed outside the housing.

10. Travel conversion plug (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the locking element is designed as a separate component from the sliding selector (44).

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