Comfortably operated travel plug adapter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a travel plug adapter, which will also be referred to herein as a travel adapter, for short. Using such an adapter it is possible to insert power plugs of a certain (domestic) standard into the outlets present at the travel destination. The present invention relates in particular to a travel plug adapter (10), which has a housing, a plug receptacle (16), and at least a first plug (38, 84) of a first standard and a second plug (28, 86) of a second standard, wherein each plug is assigned an actuation slider (22, 24), which is guided outwardly through a slide slot (42) of the housing and is designed to displace the plug between a standby position, in which the plug is disposed substantially inside the housing, and a usage position, in which the plug is usably disposed outside the housing, and wherein the first plug (38, 84) is assigned a first blocking element (106A), such that displacement of the first plug (38, 84) between the standby position and the usage position is blocked when the movement of the first blocking element (106A) is blocked, and wherein the second plug (28, 86) is assigned a second blocking element (106B), such that the displacement of the second plug (28, 86) between the standby position and the usage position is blocked when the movement of the second blocking element (106B) is blocked, characterised in that at least one blocking slide (100A) is also provided, which in a first position releases the path of the first blocking element (106A) and in a second position blocks the path of the first blocking element (106A), wherein the second blocking element (106B) acts on the position of the blocking slide (100A).

Claims

1. A travel plug adapter (10), which has a housing, a plug receptacle (16), and at least a first plug (38, 84) of a first standard and a second plug (28, 86) of a second standard, wherein each plug is assigned an actuation slider (22, 24), which is guided outwardly through a slide slot of the housing and is designed to displace the plug between a standby position, in which the plug is disposed substantially inside the housing, and a usage position, in which the plug is usably disposed outside the housing, and wherein the first plug (38, 84) is assigned a first blocking element (106A), such that displacement of the first plug (38, 84) between the standby position and the usage position is blocked when the movement of the first blocking element (106A) is blocked, and wherein the second plug (28, 86) is assigned a second blocking element (106B), such that the displacement of the second plug (28, 86) between the standby position and the usage position is blocked when the movement of the second blocking element (106B) is blocked, characterised in that at least one blocking slide (100A) is also provided, which in a first position releases the path of the first blocking element (106A) and in a second position blocks the path of the first blocking element (106A), wherein the second blocking element (106B) acts on the position of the blocking slide (100A).

2. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one blocking slide (100A) is guided on a displacement track (92).

3. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one blocking slide (106A) is resiliently pre-stressed towards an end of the displacement track (92).

4. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, wherein the length of the displacement track (92) is selected such that only one blocking element at any time can engage in a gap between blocking slides (100).

5. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one blocking slide (100A) is arranged above the slide slots.

6. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which the at least one blocking slide (100A) is arranged behind the slide slots.

7. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which at least one first blocking slide of a first length and a second blocking slide of a second length, which is greater than the first length, are used.

8. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which the blocking elements are fixedly connected to a guide element of a plug.

9. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which the blocking elements (106) are formed as separate components which can cooperate with an element of the plug guide (50, 54, 56, 118).

10. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 9, in which the blocking elements are formed as movable levers.

11. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 10, in which the blocking elements are formed as tiltable levers (106).

12. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 11, in which the tiltable levers (106) have a cam (110) which can engage in an engagement part (112) of a guide element of a plug.

13. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 1, in which a locking element is provided that arrests at least the first plug (38, 84) or the second plug (28, 86) in the usage position.

14. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 13, in which the locking element is connected to a release button (20) provided outside on the housing.

15. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, in which the at least one blocking slide (106A) is resiliently pre-stressed towards an end of the displacement track (92).

16. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, wherein the length of the displacement track (92) is selected such that only one blocking element at any time can engage in a gap between blocking slides (100).

17. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, in which the at least one blocking slide (100A) is arranged above the slide slots.

18. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, in which the at least one blocking slide (100A) is arranged behind the slide slots.

19. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, in which at least one first blocking slide of a first length and a second blocking slide of a second length, which is greater than the first length, are used.

20. The travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 2, in which the blocking elements are fixedly connected to a guide element of a plug.

Description

(1) Additional features, but also advantages, of the invention, result from the drawings in the following and the associated description. Features of the invention are described in the figures and associated descriptions in combination. These features may, however, also be included by an inventive subject matter in other combinations. Each disclosed feature should thus also be considered to be disclosed in technically reasonable combinations with other features. Some of the figures are have been slightly simplified and are diagrammatic.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive travel plug adapter;

(3) FIG. 2 provides a representation, from a similar perspective, of the exemplary embodiment of the travel plug adapter in which the US plug has been moved to the usage position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of the travel plug adapter according to FIG. 2 in which the underside is visible,

(5) FIG. 4 is a corresponding perspective representation of the travel plug from FIG. 3 in which the Schuko plug has been transferred into the use position,

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective elevation of selected cooperating components of the travel plug,

(7) FIG. 6 is a similar perspective elevation of selected cooperating components;

(8) FIG. 7 shows, in selected cooperating components, an embodiment of a locking mechanism,

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective elevation of selected cooperating components of another embodiment of the locking mechanism,

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates the components from FIG. 8 in a different perspective

(11) FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of an inventive travel plug adapter 10 that is ready for use, but is not yet in the usage position. Instead, all of the plugs are in the standby position, i.e., in the housing.

(12) In the following, first the most essential elements of the travel plug adapter 10 shall be described. The travel plug adapter has a housing that consists of an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 14. The upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 14 together form the main plug housing. Disposed on the top side of the travel adapter plug, and thus in the area of the upper housing part 12, is the plug receptacle 16. The latter has a plurality of female connectors 18. More specifically, these are the female connector pair 18A for receiving current-conducting UK contact pins, the female connector pair 18B for receiving current-conducting AU contact pins, the female connector pair 18C for receiving current-conducting US contact pins, the connector 18D for receiving a UK grounding pin, and the connector 18E for receiving a US grounding pin or AU grounding pin.

(13) The release button 20 is also provided on the housing side. Said release button serves to lock and release actuation elements. On the housing front side there are provided the first actuation slider 22, by means of which the US contacts can be slid out, the second actuation slider 24, by means of which the AU contacts can be slid out, and the third actuation slider 26, by means of which a Schuko plug can be slid out.

(14) FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the exemplary embodiment of the travel plug adapter according to the invention in which the actuation slider 22 has been transferred into its lower position. The contact pins for the US plug 28 protrude from the housing accordingly. The US plug 28 comprises two current-conducting contact pins (the pins 30A and 30B) and also a grounding pin 32. In the illustrated position the travel plug can be inserted into an outlet according to the US standard. This standard does not require a plug body to be used. The housing underside of the travel plug adapter 10 then lies flush on the flat surface of the plug according to the US standard.

(15) In FIG. 3 the same travel plug is illustrated from a different perspective. Here, it can be clearly seen that the underside 34 is planar. However, a multiplicity of openings 36 and elements are provided on this underside. The openings 36A and 36B are provided for current-conducting Schuko contact pins. The openings 36C and 36D are provided for current-conducting AU contact pins. The opening 38 is provided for an additional grounding pin. The opening 38 is provided together with the openings 36A and 36B in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. In addition to this plug body, a securing insert 46 is also provided.

(16) FIG. 4 provides a representation, from the same perspective, of the travel plug adapter according to the invention in which the Schuko plug has been moved to the usage position. The third actuation slider 26 has been brought into its lower position, accordingly. The plug body 40 of the Schuko plug protrudes beyond the underside 34 of the housing. The current-conducting contact pins 42A and 42B of the Schuko plug in turn protrude from the Schuko plug. In accordance with the standard, grounding contacts 44 are disposed on the sides of the plug body.

(17) FIG. 5 is a perspective elevation of selected cooperating components of the travel plug 10. With the upper housing part removed, it is possible to see into the inside of the plug, i.e. substantially those components that are received by the lower housing part 14 can be seen. It should also be noted that not all components necessary for the function of the plug are illustrated. For the sake of clarity, a selection has been made.

(18) The plug body 40 of the Schuko plug can be seen. In this, there are provided the openings 36A and 36B for the current-conducting contact pins of the Schuko plug. The opening 36E, which is provided for a grounding contact pin, can also be seen. In this representation a further opening can also be seenthe opening 56 for the grounding pin of the AU plug.

(19) The current-conducting contact pins 30A and 30B for the US plug are also illustrated. These are in their standby position, i.e. are retracted into the housing. The first actuation slider 22 is in the upper position, accordingly. The actuation slider 22 can be held in this position by the locking mechanism 48.

(20) The actuation slider 22 moves the supporting bar 50. The contact pins 30A and 30B are fixed to this supporting bar 50. The supporting bar 50 travels downward accordingly as the first actuation slider 22 is displaced in the direction of the base of the housing. In so doing, the contact pins 30A and 30B are guided in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. The Schuko plug thus provides a guide for contact pins of another standard.

(21) FIG. 6 is a similar perspective representation of a similar selection of cooperating components. Here, as key difference from FIG. 5, the supporting bar 52 for the AU plug can also be seen. The supporting bar 52 is connected to the actuation slider 24. The supporting bar 52 has three bar ends, the bar ends 54A, 54B and 54C, which merge in the region 54. The bar ends 54A and 54B support the current-conducting contacts of the AU plug. They guide these contacts mechanically from the (shown) standby position into the usage position. The bar end 54C guides the AU grounding pin. The grounding pin is thus transferred from the (shown) standby position into the usage position through the opening 56 visible in FIG. 5.

(22) An arrangement in which the current-conducting pins are guided outside the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug is thus selected for the AU plug, in contrast to the grounding pin within the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug. By contrast, the current-conducting contact pins for the US plug are guided within the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. Both solutions allow an advantageous and space-saving arrangement. Different solutions can be selected for different plugs.

(23) FIG. 7 is a perspective elevation of selected cooperating components of the travel plug 10. A first supporting frame 60, which as guide element supports and guides various contact pins (not denoted in greater detail), is illustrated. A second supporting frame, which similarly guides a plurality of contact pins, is also illustrated. A third supporting frame 64 is also illustrated. The supporting frames 60 and 62 are illustrated in an upper position, i.e. in a position which corresponds to their standby position. The third supporting frame 64 is illustrated in a position displaced downwardly, which corresponds to the usage position. The supporting frame 60 is connected to the actuation element 66. The rest of the supporting frames are connected similarly to actuation elements, however these are not visible from this perspective. In addition, the supporting frames are connected to head pieces, specifically the supporting frame 60 is connected to the head piece 68A, the supporting frame 62 is connected to the head piece 68B, and the supporting frame 64 is connected to the head piece 68C.

(24) Three blocking slides are also provided, i.e. the blocking slides 70A, 70B, and 70C. These blocking slides run on the displacement track 72. This displacement track 72 extends between a first end 74 and a second end 76. At the two ends, delimitation elements are provided, which delimit the running of the blocking slides at both ends of the displacement track 72. In the first end piece 74, a coil spring can also be provided (not shown), which exerts pressure on the blocking slide 70C so that this is pre-stressed towards the second end piece 76 of the displacement track 72. The pressure is transferred from the blocking slide 70C to the blocking slides 70B and 70A, such that all blocking slides are resiliently pre-stressed towards the second end piece 76 of the displacement track 72.

(25) The usable length of the displacement track 72, i.e. the length between the first end piece 74 and the second end piece 76, is slightly longer than the sum of the lengths of the blocking slides 70A, 70B and 70C. A gap 78 can thus be formed between the blocking slides 70. A head part of a supporting frame can engage in this gap. In the plug position of FIG. 7, the head part 68C engages in the gap 78 between the blocking slide 70B and the blocking slide 70C. The head part 68C can be moved through the gap, such that it reaches the shown lower position, which corresponds to the usage position of the plug assigned to the supporting frame 64. In this position, however, the head piece 68C fully fills out the available length on the displacement track 72 together with the blocking slides 70A, 70B and 70C. Consequently, there is no longer a gap or any play allowing the head parts 68A and 68B to enter into engagement with the blocking slidesin other words there is no longer any space for a second gap, which would allow the passage of another head part.

(26) In this way, a locking mechanism 58 can thus be created, which ensures that just one plug at any time is transferred into its usage position. The blocking slides can be provided at the edges with a bevel 80. This allows the easy passage of a head piece 68. Correspondingly, the head pieces 68 can have a tapered point in the form of a cutting end 82 at their lower edge. This also facilitates the insertion of the head piece 68 into a gap between the blocking slides 80. However, the usable length of the displacement track 72 should in any case be dimensioned such that, in spite of such insertion and passage aids, not more than one head piece 68 can be transferred into the usage position. On the whole, a simple and precisely functioning mechanism can thus be created, which makes the additional provision of a sliding selector superfluous. The mechanism also ensures that the actuation elements each assume a clear standby position or usage position. The user is never in doubt as to which state a plug is currently in. Travel plug adapters from the prior art, by contrast, sometimes allow a partial transfer of plugs in the direction of the standby position, for example when blockers only engage late in the slide slots.

(27) FIG. 8 shows a perspective elevation of selected components, on the basis of which an embodiment of a locking mechanism that is expedient within the scope of the present invention can be identified. Three actuation elements are illustrated in the form of a first actuation slider 84 for a US plug, in the form of a second actuation slider 86 for a UK plug, and in the form of a third actuation slider 88 for an AU plug. Of course, the illustrated locking mechanism 90 can also cooperate with other plugs, for example the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. The locking mechanism 90 in turn comprises a displacement track 92 as an element. This displacement track 92 extends between the first end piece 94 and the second end piece 96. A coil spring 98 is provided bearing against the first end piece 94 and is suitable for pre-stressing the various blocking slides towards the second end piece 96 of the displacement track 92 in a resilient manner.

(28) The coil spring 98 is arranged in the first blocking slide 100A. It also acts (conveyed via this slide) on the second blocking slide 100B and on the adjacent third blocking slide 100C. The blocking slides are each provided with guide cheeks, i.e. the guide cheeks 102A, 102B and 102C. Bevels are also provided at the ends of the blocking slides, i.e. the bevels 104A, 104B, and 104C.

(29) Rocker levers are arranged above the displacement track 92. Each actuation element and thus plug is assigned its own rocker lever. The rocker lever 106A is assigned to the actuation element 84, the rocker lever 106B is assigned to the actuation element 86, and the rocker lever 106C is assigned to the actuation element 88. The rocker levers rotate about an axis of rotation (not illustrated) below the displacement track 92. The axes of rotation run substantially parallel to the displacement track 92. Each rocker lever has a control finger 108 formed in one part therewith. For the sake of clarity, this has only been indicated in greater detail for the rocker lever 106C. A blocking cam 110 is provided opposite the control finger 108. The blocking cam can enter into engagement with the associated actuation element and can fix this in the standby position. The mechanics effective here will be explained in greater detail in conjunction with the next drawing.

(30) What can be seen from this representation is that the rocker lever 106C is in a lower position. In this position, the control finger 108 is directly above the displacement track 92. In this position, the control finger can pass only when there is a suitable gap between the blocking slide 100C and the second end piece 96. The control finger 108 engages in this gap. The guide cheek 102C and the bevel 104C ensure that, as the rocker lever 106C moves, the control finger 108 can dip reliably into this gap. The gap is dimensioned such that, once the control finger has dipped into said gap, a displacement of the blocking slides 100A, 100B or 100C is no longer possible. The same is also true similarly for the control fingers of the other rocker levers.

(31) When the rocker lever 106C is transferred into its upper position, which corresponds to the standby position of the actuation slider 88, in which the control finger 108 is disposed above the blocking slide 100C, there is space to displace all three blocking slides. Accordingly, the rocker lever 106B, which is assigned to the actuation slider 86, could then be transferred into a lower position. Here, its control lever, guided by the guide cheek 102B and the bevel 104B, would slide the blocking slide 110C away to the right towards the second end piece 96. However, this would be possible due to the fact that a gap is available there on account of the corresponding position of the rocker lever 106C.

(32) FIG. 9 shows, from a different perspective, the selected components illustrated in FIG. 8 of an embodiment and again the actuation sliders 84, 86 and 88. The actuation sliders 84 and 86 and the corresponding plugs are in the standby position. The actuation slider 88 and the corresponding plugs are in the usage position. Only the parts essential for describing the operating principle of the rocker lever have been indicated. For the rocker lever 106C, it can be seen that the blocking cam 110C can engage with a corresponding engagement part 112C on the actuation slider 88. Such an engagement part can be embodied generally expediently as a groove. A counter cam 114C is additionally provided on the actuation slider. When the actuation slider is transferred into its upper position corresponding to the standby position, the counter cam 114C presses against the pressure surface 116C on the rocker lever 106C. This causes the rocker lever 106C to be moved back into its upper position. Here, the blocking cam 110C engages with the engagement part 112C. A form-fitting connection is thus established, which holds the actuation slider 88 in the upper position. The rocker lever could also be spring-loaded in order to securely hold the position independently of the position of a blocking slide. However, as soon as the blocking slide 100C is displaced and the position of the rocker lever 106C is fixed via the control finger 108, the actuation slider 88 is held securely and fixedly in its upper position.

(33) The securing of the upper position can be clearly seen for the actuation slider 86. Here, the blocking cam 1108 is fixedly connected to the engagement part 112B of the actuation slider 86. In addition, the counter cam 114B is engaged with the rocker lever. The blocking slide 100C prevents the control lever 108B and therefore the rocker lever 106B as a whole from being able to be moved downwardly.

(34) In this perspective illustration it can also be clearly seen that the fixing in the region of the blocking cam 110C can securely fix all elements of the plug. Only when the rocker lever releases the engagement part 112 can the supporting bar 118 for the AU plug be moved downwardly. This supporting bar guides both the current-conducting contacts 120A and 120B and also the grounding contact 122 reliably downwardly and upwardly again.

(35) In the manner described generally, and described more specifically in the drawings, a travel adapter may be produced that is very comfortable to operate, but in which almost no operating errors are to be expected. Interestingly, the travel adapter is nevertheless inexpensive to produce and may also be produced inexpensively and reliably even if greater fault tolerances must be permitted during mass production.

REFERENCE LIST

(36) 10 Travel adapter/travel plug adapter 12 Upper housing part 14 Lower housing part 16 Plug receptacle 18 Female connector 18A UK female connector pair 18B AUS female connector pair 18C US female connector pair 18D Female connector for UK grounding pin 18E US grounding pin 20 Release button 22 First actuation slider 24 Second actuation slider 26 Third actuation slider 28 US plug 30 Current-conducting contact pins (US plug) 32 Grounding pin (US plug) 34 Plug body (Schuko plug) 36 Openings 36A Opening of current-conducting contacts (Schuko) 36B Opening of current-conducting contacts (Schuko) 36C Opening of current-conducting contacts (US) 36D Opening of current-conducting contacts (US) 36E Opening of further grounding contact 38 Schuko plug 40 Schuko plug body 42 Current-conducting contacts of Schuko plug 44 Grounding contact of Schuko plug 46 Fuse compartment 48 Locking mechanism 50 Supporting bar US 52 Opening of grounding pin 54 Supporting bar AU 56 Supporting bar ends AU 58 Locking mechanism 60 First supporting frameguide element 62 Second supporting frameguide element 64 Third supporting frameguide element 66 Actuation element 68 Head piece 70 Blocking slide 72 Displacement track 74 First end piece of displacement track 76 Second end piece of displacement track 78 Gap 80 Bevel on blocking slide 82 Cutting end 84 Actuation element US 86 Actuation element UK 88 Actuation element AU 90 Locking mechanism 92 Displacement track 94 First end piece 96 Second end piece 98 Coil spring 100 Blocking slide 102 Guide cheek 104 Bevel 106 Rocker lever 108 Control finger 110 Blocking cam 112 Blocking cam engagement part 114 Counter cam 116 Pressure surface 118 Supporting bar AU 120 Current-conducting contacts AU 122 Grounding contact AU