Abstract
The invention regards a plug comprising a housing, a number of connectors and a selector outlet having a movable selector part whereby the configuration of the connectors may be changed when the selector part is moved. The housing may have a triangular cross section defined by a first side A, a second side B and a third side C and where the number of connectors allows for connection of two or more electrical circuits. The invention also relates to a system of plugs and a method of producing the same.
Claims
1. A plug for allowing connection to an additional plug for connecting different types and numbers of electric circuits, comprising: a plug housing having a first end; a first plug part supported by the housing towards the first end and defined by a first plurality of electrical connectors, wherein the electrical connectors are formed as female or male connectors; and a selector part movably supported by the plug housing towards the first end and accommodating a second plurality of electrical connectors, the second plurality of electrical connectors formed as female or male connectors, at least a part of the second plurality of electrical connectors defining a second plug part; wherein the first plug part together with the second plug part provides for connection to the additional plug, and wherein there are more than one positional configurations of the second plug part relative to the first plug part due to the movement of the selector part.
2. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the plus housing is selected from the group consisting of a rectangular housing, a triangular housing, and a circular housing.
3. The plug according to claim 2, wherein the plug housing has a triangular cross section defined by a side A, a side B and a side C, wherein the length of side A=the length of side B.
4. The plug according to claim 3, wherein the side A is 1.5-4.5 cm.
5. The plug according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the three surfaces defined by side A, B or C, respectively, comprises a guiding part.
6. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the total number of electrical connectors is 9 or 11.
7. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connectors are dali+−, L1+N, L2+N, L3+N, PE or dali+−, dali2+−, L1+N, L2+N, L3+N, PE.
8. The plug according to claim 1, wherein PE ground is in the center of the selector part and shared between the circuits.
9. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the plug housing comprises a second end arranged with male or female connectors.
10. The plug according claim 1, wherein the plug is connected to another plug by a cable thus forming an extension.
11. The plug according to claim 1, further comprising a first and/or second lock parts.
12. The according to claim 1, wherein the plug is waterproof.
13. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the plug housing comprises a second end arranged with a cable.
14. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the plug housing is an equilateral triangle.
15. An assembly of two or more plugs, wherein the plugs are plugs according to claim 1.
16. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the selector part is rotationally arranged in the plug housing, whereby the positional configuration of the electrical connectors is changed when the selector part is rotated.
17. The plug according to claim 1, further comprising an additional selector part accommodating a plurality of electrical connectors, the plurality of electrical connectors including the first plurality of electrical connectors, wherein the additional selector part is movably arranged in the plug housing.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will in the following be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting to the invention.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a triangular female plug according to the present invention
(3) FIG. 2 shows a triangular male plug according to the present invention
(4) FIG. 3 shows an extension according to the present invention
(5) FIG. 4 shows a distributor according to the present invention
(6) FIG. 5 shows a rail according to the present invention
(7) FIG. 6 shows a rail with distributors and extensions according to the present invention
(8) FIG. 7 shows a coded triangular plug according to the present invention
(9) FIG. 8 shows a triangular plug according to the present invention with a sleeve
(10) FIGS. 9 and 10 show plugs according to the present invention with corresponding guiding means
(11) FIGS. 11 and 12 show plugs according to the present invention with corresponding lock means
(12) FIG. 13a, 13b, 13c show exemplary different embodiments of plugs according to the present invention,
(13) FIGS. 14a and 14b show truncated plugs matching a triangular plug
(14) FIG. 15 shows a distributor plug with two selector outlets
(15) FIG. 16 shows a distributor plug with a single selector outlet
(16) FIG. 17 shows a selector output with two separate circular selector parts
(17) FIG. 18 shows a selector output with two concentric selector parts
(18) FIG. 19 shows two embodiments of plugs matching a selector outlet, and
(19) FIGS. 20 and 21 shows two further embodiments of plugs matching a selector outlet.
(20) FIGS. 22a and 22d show an assembled system of two triangular plugs
(21) FIGS. 22b and 22c show two triangular plugs used to form an assembled system
(22) FIG. 23a shows a triangular housing for a plug
(23) FIGS. 23b and 23c show a selector outlet for a plug
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(24) FIG. 1 shows a triangular plug 1 according to the present invention. The plug comprises a housing 2 having three sides A, B and C and side surfaces 2a, 2b, 2c. In the present embodiment the sides A and B have the same length and are longer than the side C.
(25) The housing has a first end 5 wherein eleven connectors 3 are arranged. Opposing the first end 5 is second end 6 wherein a cable 7 is attached. The cable 7 connects to the connectors inside the housing. The first, second and third surface extend between the first 5 and second end 6. In the present the example the plug is a she plug where each of the connectors 3 are holes for receiving pins from a corresponding male plug.
(26) The connectors are stacked in a pattern following the triangular shape of the first end 5 i.e. follow the triangular cross section of the plug. Hereby is provided a quite compact plug where the space of the first end is fully utilized to provide several electric circuits arranged in a pattern which is simple and which makes it easy to determine which connector belongs to which electric circuit.
(27) In this shown embodiment the connectors are: a,b=L1,N; c,d=L2,N; e,g L3,N; f=ground; h,i=dali1+, dali1−; j,k dali2+, dali2−.
(28) FIG. 2 shows a male plug with pin connectors 8. This plug is shown without a connected cable 7.
(29) FIG. 3 shows two plugs 1 connected by a cable 7 thus forming a connector 9. Depending on the intended use the plugs can be female and/or male plugs as well as the length of the cable can vary.
(30) FIG. 4 shows a distributor plug 10. In this embodiment the distance between the first 5 and second end 6 are long enough to allow eleven connectors 3 to be arranged on the first surface 2a forming an outlet 11 thereby allowing a device or a plug to be attached not only at each of the first 5 and second end 6 but also at each of the surfaces 2a and/or 2b (not shown).
(31) FIG. 5 shows a rail 12. The rail is formed as an elongated element with a simple U shape formed by two side walls 12a and a bottom 12b. Along the middle of the bottom attachment means 13a, b, c, d are distributed spaced apart by a distance d. 13a is in the form of a partly circular protrusion. 13b is in form of a rectangular protrusion. 13c is in the form of a circular indentation and 13d is in the form of a protruding hook shape for slideably receiving e.g. a distributor (not shown).
(32) In FIG. 6 two distributors 10 have been attached to attachment means 13 in a rail 12. The distributors are attached by engaging the attachment means 13 with corresponding means (not shown) in the distributors 10. The distributors are connected by connectors 9 thereby forming and array of connected distributors to which different installations such as spots, speakers, ventilations etc can be connected.
(33) The setup of FIG. 6 can for example advantageously be used where numerous devices are to be installed across a loft or panel where each device requires electrical connection and even requires different current which can be provided by the novel present plug.
(34) FIG. 7 shows a plug which is coded e.g. colour coded by mark 14. Coding of the plugs can advantageously be used where not all connectors (a-f) are connected to e.g. the cable 7 inside the housing of the plug.
(35) FIG. 8 shows a plug where a circumferential collar 15 is arranged around the first end 5. This collar 15 can e.g. be used to guide the engagement with another plug. If the collar is made of a e.g. rubber or silicone the collar may help avoid moisture entering the area between two plugs.
(36) FIGS. 9 and 10 shows plugs with corresponding guiding parts here in the form of an elongated protrusion 16 on one for sliding into groove 17 on another plug. In the present embodiments the elongated protrusion 16 is on the female plug and the groove 17 is in the male plug however this can also be the other way around.
(37) The guiding parts 16, 17 are used to assist the connection of the two plugs even further than what is achieved by the triangular structure alone. I.e. it may help that the two plugs are inserted in a way which may further prevent bending of the connectors.
(38) In FIG. 9 the plug has sides extending further than the first end 5 thus forming a circumferential sleeve 18. This sleeve can have a function the same or similar to the collar 15 of FIG. 8. However the sleeve here is an integrated part of the plug whereas the collar 15 can be a detachable part of the plug.
(39) FIGS. 11 and 12 shows plugs with corresponding first 19 and second 20 lock means for locking the two plugs releasably together to avoid accidental disconnection. The first lock part is 19 a hole in the sleeve 18 which will be engaged by a knob 21 on the second lock means 20 when the two plugs are connected. The second lock means has the shape of a flap 22 which can be pressed inwards to allow engagement and disengagement of the two lock parts.
(40) The plug in FIG. 12 is a distributor plug with two outlets 11 on one side (the side not shown can have similar or other outlets). In this embodiment the outputs 11 has eleven and five female connectors. The connectors 8 in the first end 5 are eleven male connectors 8.
(41) FIG. 13a, 13b, 13c show different embodiments of female plugs according to the present invention. In FIG. 13a the third side C is significantly longer than sides A and B and the connectors 3 are here flat and elongated holes for receiving corresponding male pins in matching plugs. In FIG. 13b the sides A and B are significantly longer than side C. In FIG. 13c the sides A; B; C have the same length and the corners 23 are truncated.
(42) FIGS. 14a and 14b show different types of truncated plugs matching other types of plugs according to the present invention (indicated by dotted lines). A truncated plug as 24a and 24b can clearly be arranged to fit in one position only of another plug (dotted line). However, this can also be the case for 24c where the width of the plug can be chosen to allow precise positioning.
(43) FIG. 15 shows a distributor plug with two selector outlets 25a. The selector outlets each comprise a first selector part 26 (having two pairs of dali connectors) and a second selector part 27 having (three pairs of 230V connectors). In the present arrangement the first and second selector part are discs which can be moved more specifically rotated to change the configuration of the outlet 25a. A matching plug 24d has five pin connectors 8 which in the present configuration of first and second selector part of the left outlet in distributor plug will connect to Dali2+− and to L1, N1, PE. If the first selector part is rotated 90 deg counter clockwise the plug 24d will engage Dali1+− and L1, N1, PE. Similarly if second selector part is rotated 50 deg the plug 24d will engage Dali2+− and L2, N2, PE.
(44) This way the selector outlets 25a allows the user to configure the connectors, by turning the first and second selector part, to select which connectors 3 will engage with the matching plug 24d. I.e. this way the special selector output enables a user to choose which of the several circuits in the distributor plug will be connected to a device attached to the plug 24d.
(45) FIG. 16 shows a distributor plug with an alternative selector outlet 25b wherein the first 26 and second 27 selector part are arranged as two concentric circles.
(46) FIG. 17 shows an alternative outlet with a first 26 and second 27 selector part arranged to allow a user to select which five of the eleven connectors 3 will engage with matching connectors 8 in male plug 24e.
(47) As in FIG. 15 the first and second selector part are a small circular rotatable part with two dali connector pairs and a larger circular rotatable part with three 230V/400V connector pairs and a common ground PE respectively.
(48) In FIG. 17 the matching male plug is a rectangular narrow plug with a row of five pin connectors 8. Dx+ and Dx− are for connecting to one of the two dali pairs of the first selector part 26 and Lx, PE, Nx is for connecting to PE and one of the 230V/400V connector pairs of the second selector part 27.
(49) Depending on the position of the first selector part 26 Dx will be either D1 or D2 (i.e. dali 1 or dali 2). Depending on the position of the second selector part 27 Lx,Nx will be either L1,N1 or L2,N2 or L3,N3.
(50) FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of a selector outlet wherein the first and second selector part are arranged as two concentric rotatable parts. In this embodiment the second selector part 27 has four pairs of 230V/400V connectors L1,N1 L2,N2 L3,N3 L4,N4. A common ground PE is arranged in the centre. The first selector part 26 has two pairs of dali connectors dali1+− and dali2+−. I.e. this sector outlet comprises thirteen connectors.
(51) The selector outlets of FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 can be arranged in triangular plugs as described herein or in other types of plugs 28 with another geometry. Generally the selector outlet can advantageously be used in plugs with several circuits wherein only one or a subset of the total electrical circuits needs to be connected to a device or other plug.
(52) FIG. 19 shows a triangular and a truncated triangular embodiment of plugs with five pin connectors for engaging in a selector outlet as e.g. in FIG. 15 or FIG. 17.
(53) FIG. 20 shows a circular male plug 24h with five pins 8 connectors. FIG. 21 shows a circular male plug 24i with three pin connectors 8. Both plugs can engage with e.g. selector outlets with concentric selector parts as in FIG. 16 and FIG. 18.
(54) FIGS. 22a and 22d show an assembled system of two triangular plugs consisting of two triangular plugs as shown in FIGS. 22b and 22c. FIG. 22c shows a configuration wherein the different connectors are female and rotationally arranged. The connectors are rotatable between three different positions, such that the selector has three pairs of connectors, i.e. a pair of L1+1, a pair of L2+1 and pair of L3+1. FIG. 22b shows a male plug, however the pins are not shown. The housing is an equilateral triangle but it could be scalene.
(55) FIG. 23a shows a triangular housing for a plug, wherein a selector output with one selector part as shown in cross section in FIG. 23c and in perspective in 23b can be inserted. The selector part is rotationally arranged and is shown with female connectors. The housing is an equilateral triangle but it could be scalene.
(56) The above figures each show different features of the present invention which features can be combined in various ways. E.g. the sleeve 18 or collar 15 can form part of male plugs, distributors and/or extensions. Similarly guides, locks, connectors of different shape/size and truncated corners can form part of the various embodiments.
(57) Thus according to the present invention is provided a plug which can be arranged in numerous ways, male and/or female, as an extension and a distributor providing a new type of plugs enabling the connection of a multitude of electric circuits by one compact plug. The plugs can be arranged to connect different types and numbers of electric circuits as well as they can be arranged to provide a very intuitive orientation of the plugs ensuring correct and fast connection of two plugs.
