[0001] The object of the present invention is a safety device for electrical sockets, particularly
suitable for multistandard sockets, i.e. suitable for receiving different types of
plugs, on the basis of the standards of the various countries.
[0002] A safety device for electrical sockets has to allow the insertion of the relative
plug in the cells of the socket in order to perform the electrical connection, but
has to prevent the access to these cells, and therefore to the live electrical contacts,
by foreign bodies, for example if a punch is inserted in one of the cells of the socket.
[0003] For this purpose shutters placed in the body of the socket are used, so as to occlude
normally the holes of access to the contact terminals, and to move, in contrast to
the action of elastic means, to allow the insertion of the pins of a plug.
[0004] An "unbalanced" force which acts on the shutter, such as might be for example that
of a foreign body inserted in one of the holes of access of the socket, does not succeed
in producing the displacement of the shutter, which remains as protection of the underlying
electrical contacts.
[0005] Existing shutters are normally made in a single part and designed for the single
standards of electrical sockets.
[0006] In the case of multistandard sockets which, in addition to having the phase and neutral
cells of various configuration, have the earth cell varyingly arranged along the midline
of the previous ones, known shutters cannot normally be used in that they would go
to occupy part of the central area of the socket, not allowing the insertion of the
earth pin of the various standards.
[0007] FR - 2.826.787 A1 describes a shutter system for electrical sockets, suitable for being placed between
a body of containment of the electrical contacts of the socket and a cover having
a pair of openings of access to said electrical contacts, wherein the shutter is made
up of a structure divided into two parts along a plane passing through the midline
joining said pair of openings of access to the electrical contacts. The two parts
of shutter are hooked one to the other, slide between each other and oscillate on
an axis of fulcrum belonging to the same structure of the shutter, placed on a median
plane orthogonal to the aforesaid plane passing through the midline of said pair of
openings. With such an arrangement of parts it is not possible to keep the area between
the two openings clear for the insertion of the earth pin of various standards of
sockets.
[0008] US 7857640 B1 discloses a safety structure for an electrical socket, having two separate shutters
which occlude the phase and neutral holes of the socket. The shutters cannot be actuated
for having access to the electrical contacts of the socket unless a latching element
is manually shifted in an open position.
A manual operation is also requested for returning the latching element in the closed
position. The embodiment of figures 6A through 6D provides a return structure which
allows the latching element to automatically return to the closed position.
[0009] FR 2784807 A1 discloses an electrical socket with a safety
device as disclosed in the preamble of independent claim 1 and
comprising a shutter made up of two sections of flaps which are constrained one with respect
to the other and can oscillate around a fulcrum belonging to the same structure of
the shutter. The shutter structure oscillates on a plate which does not allow insertion
of an earth pin.
[0010] The object of the invention is that of eliminating or at least reducing the disadvantages
of the prior art.
[0011] In particular an object of the invention is that of providing a safety device for
electrical sockets which is extremely reliable and of simple design.
[0012] Another object of the invention is that of providing such a safety device which is
particularly suitable for multistandard sockets.
[0013] These and other objects are achieved by the safety device according to the invention
which has the features of the annexed independent claim 1.
[0014] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed by the dependent claims.
[0015] The safety device according to the invention comprises a support base, an oscillating
body and a pair of shutters completely unrestrained one from the other, suitable for
occluding the holes of access of the phase and neutral cells.
[0016] Both the support base and the oscillating body have a plurality of holes varyingly
shaped according to the various standards of sockets.
[0017] More particularly, conveniently, a pair of symmetrical holes are provided, shaped
in such a way as to accommodate the phase and neutral pins of different standards
and a wide central window for the different earth pins.
[0018] The single shutters are placed in such a way as to leave completely clear the central
zone of the socket, so as to allow the free access of the different standards of earth
pins.
[0019] The shutters have a shape with plane inclined in the direction of insertion of the
pins, in such a way that the latter cause the displacement thereof in contrast to
the action of elastic means.
[0020] If a thrust force is exerted only on one of the two shutters, such as might be the
case wherein a foreign body is inserted in one of the holes corresponding to the phase
or neutral cells, the oscillating body oscillates around its median axis and the displacement
of the shutters is prevented by a projection present on the support base and on a
cover respectively.
[0021] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed
description, referred to one of its embodiments purely by way of a non-limiting example
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a multiple power socket incorporating
the safety device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a blown-up view of the components of the safety device;
Figure 3 is a view of the safety device assembled;
Figure 4 is a sectioned view of the safety device of Figure 3 provided with cover,
taken along line IV-IV;
Figure 5 is a partial sectioned view taken along line V-V of Fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a section like that of Figure 4, with the inclined oscillating body which
prevents the displacement of the shutters;
Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of the safety device according to the invention,
with the oscillating body inclined;
Figure 8 is a fictitious schematic view, with the shutters seen from below inside
the cover in order to show the projections for blocking their displacement when the
oscillating body is inclined;
Figures 9 and 12 are schematic views showing various types of plugs which can couple
with the multistandard socket provided with the safety device according to the invention.
[0022] Referring to these drawings, and for the time being in particular to Figure 1, reference
numeral 1 denotes a multistandard socket provided with the safety device according
to the invention which will be described in detail herein below.
[0023] The socket 1 comprises substantially a body 10, wherein are housed the electrical
contacts and the cells suitable for receiving the jacks or pins of various plugs,
and a cover 20 carrying means 27 for the assembly of the socket 1 in frames of support
of modular electrical apparatuses. More particularly the socket 1 occupies two modules
of these series of modular electrical apparatuses.
[0024] The safety device according to the invention, denoted by reference numeral 30, is
illustrated in particular in Figures 2 and 3 and is placed inside the body 10, and
closed above by the cover 20.
[0025] It comprises a support base 40, an oscillating body 50 and a pair of shutters 60
which are separated and unrestrained one in relation to the other.
[0026] Both the support base 40 and the oscillating body 50 have, adjacent to one of their
sides, a respective pair of openings 41, 51, in this case with a substantially rectangular
shape, placed aligned one with the other. Below these openings the cells of the phase
and neutral terminals of various standards are positioned, not shown in the drawings
for reasons of clarity and because considered in themselves known.
[0027] In the central part of the base 40 and of the oscillating body 50, between the abovementioned
pairs of openings 41, 51, and perpendicularly to the side adjacent to which they are
placed, a respective elongated opening 42, 52 is provided, extending practically between
two opposite sides of the aforesaid elements.
[0028] Below said elongated openings 42, 52, also arranged aligned one with the other, the
cells of the earth terminals of various standards of the socket are positioned.
[0029] Correspondingly a pair of openings 21 are formed in the cover 20, placed aligned
with the aforementioned openings 41, 51, and shaped in such a way as to be able to
accommodate pins of the various standards of plugs, and an elongated opening 22, aligned
with the aforementioned openings 42, 52, shaped in such a way as to be able to accommodate
the earth pins of the various standards of plugs.
[0030] The oscillating body 50 has two opposite sides 53 with a cusp shape, which rest centrally
at corresponding opposite sides 43 of the support base 40, so as to be able to oscillate
around an axis X-X (see in particular Figure 7) passing through the midline of said
elongated openings 42 - 52: said axis of oscillation
X-X of the oscillating body 50 is thus placed centrally between said shutters 60.
[0031] The shutters 60 are placed on the oscillating body 50 to cover the underlying holes
51, where they are pushed by respective springs 61 placed around corresponding stems
62 and acting between them and respective small contrast walls 54 provided on the
oscillating body and provided with respective holes 55 wherein the aforementioned
stems 62 slide.
[0032] The shutters 60 have a wedge shape, with an inclined upper wall 63 turned towards
a respective shaped opening 21 above of the cover 20.
[0033] On the support base 40, behind the aforementioned openings 41, two small projections
46 are provided, placed aligned with corresponding holes 56 formed in the oscillating
body 50 behind the aforementioned openings 51: said pair of projections 46 are provided
adjacent to said pair of openings 41.
[0034] The projections 46 arrive at a lower level than the openings 56 when the oscillating
body 50 is perfectly plane, yet are suitable for inserting in these openings when
the oscillating body is made to oscillate in one direction or in the other.
Two further projections 26 are provided inside the cover 20 (see in particular Figure
8), arriving at a higher level than the shutters 60 when the oscillating body 50 is
in a perfectly horizontal position yet interfering with these shutters when the oscillating
body is made to oscillate in one direction or in the other, as will be explained in
greater detail herein below.
[0035] The sections of Figures 4 and 5 show schematically the proper functioning of the
safety device according to the invention when a plug is inserted in the socket 1.
[0036] In Figure 4 the two side arrows indicate the insertion of the phase and neutral pins
in the pair of shaped openings 21 of the cover 20, below which the shutters 60 are
placed, while the central arrow indicates the direction of insertion of the earth
pin in the central opening 22 of the cover, which freely communicates with the underlying
openings 52, 42, respectively of the oscillating body 50 and of the support base 40.
[0037] The action of symmetrical thrust exerted by the pins of the plug on the two shutters
60 means that the oscillating body 50 is maintained in a perfectly horizontal position.
At the same time said pins acting on the inclined planes 63 of the shutters 60, as
the vertical arrow in Figure 5 schematises, produce the backward movement of the shutters,
as indicated by the horizontal arrow in Figure 5, in contrast to the action of said
springs 61.
[0038] Figures 9 to 12 illustrate schematically different types of plugs, whose phase and
neutral pins, differently shaped, determine a proper functioning of the safety device
30 according to the invention, applied to the multistandard socket 1 illustrated in
Figure 1.
[0039] Should an attempt be made to insert a foreign body in only one of the openings 21
formed in the cover 20, as schematically shown by the vertical arrow in the section
of Figure 6, the unbalanced force acting on only one of the shutters 60 produces an
oscillation of the oscillating body 50, as schematically shown by the curved arrow
in Figure 6.
[0040] This oscillation means that a projection 46 provided on the support base 40 penetrates
the corresponding hole 56 of the oscillating body, on the side wherein the latter
is inclined downwards, going to interfere with the corresponding shutter 60, preventing
the backward movement thereof.
[0041] At the same time the other shutter 60, placed on the side wherein the oscillating
body is inclined upwards, goes to interfere with the corresponding projection 26 formed
inside the cover 20, and is prevented from moving backwards.
[0042] Therefore access to the underlying live terminals of the phase and neutral pins is
avoided, should an attempt be made to insert in the holes of the socket objects different
from the electrical plugs of the standards which it can accommodate.
[0043] The fact of having provided two separate shutters 60, each one normally occluding
the respective opening 21, allows the possibility of having the central area of the
socket completely free in order to be able to accommodate earth terminals of plugs
of the various standards, ensuring in any case safety thanks to the oscillation of
the oscillating body 50 should an attempt be made to insert a foreign body in the
holes of the socket.
[0044] From what is disclosed the advantages of the safety device according to the invention
appear clear, which however must not be considered limited to the embodiment previously
described and illustrated purely by way of an example, the scope of the invention
being determined only by the annexed claims.
1. Safety device (30) for electrical sockets (1), designed to be interposed between
a body (10) for containing electrical contacts of the socket and
a cover (20) having at least one pair of openings (21) for access to phase and neutral
electrical contacts of the socket,
said safety system (30) comprising
- a pair of shutter elements (60) movable between
a position of occlusion of said pair of openings (21) to prevent the access to said
electrical contacts and
a position spaced apart from said pair of openings (21) to allow the insertion of
pins of an electrical plug therein and
- elastic means (61) which push said shutters (60) in their occlusion position,
said shutters (60) being placed on a separate oscillating body (50) having two opposite
sides (53) with a cusp shape, which rest centrally at corresponding opposite sides
(43) of an underlying support base (40),
said oscillating body (50) being able to oscillate around an axis X-X when a thrust
force is exerted on only one of these shutters (60) through one of said openings (21)
of the cover (20),
said safety device being
characterised in that
said shutters (60) are separated by a free central area so as to be unrestrained one
in relation to the other, each one normally occluding a respective opening (21),
said axis of oscillation X-X of the oscillating body (50) being placed centrally between
said shutters (60) and passing through the midline of an elongated opening (52) provided
in said oscillating body (50),
a pair of openings (51,41) are provided in the oscillating body (50) and in the underlying
support base (40) respectively, aligned one with the other and with said openings
(21) of the cover (20)
on said support base (40) a pair of projections (46) are provided adjacent to said
pair of openings (41), aligned with corresponding holes (56) provided in the oscillating
body (50), such that when the oscillating body (50) is in an inclined position, one
of said projections (46) penetrates a corresponding hole (56) and interferes with
the corresponding shutter (60) avoiding the displacement thereof
a pair of projections (26) are provided inside said cover (20) adjacent to said openings
(21), designed to interfere with a respective shutter (60) preventing displacement
thereof.
2. Safety device according to claim 1, wherein said shutters (60) have a wedge body with
an inclined upper wall (63) turned towards said openings (21) of the cover (20).
3. Safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shutters
(60) have a respective stem (62) and said elastic means (61) are springs placed around
said stems and acting between the corresponding shutter and a fixed abutment (54)
provided with a hole (55) for the sliding of said stem (62).
4. Safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that centrally to said support base (40) between said pair of openings (41), an elongated
opening (42) is provided, aligned with said elongated opening (52) provided in the
oscillating body (50) and with a corresponding elongated opening (22) provided in
the cover (20), said elongated opening (22) having such a configuration to receive
earth pins of plugs of various standards.
5. Electrical socket (1) provided with a safety device (30) according to any one of the
preceding claims.
1. Sicherheitsvorrichtung (30) für Steckdosen (1), die dazu gestaltet ist, zwischen
einem Körper (10) zur Aufnahme von elektrischen Kontakten der Steckdose und
einer Abdeckung (20) mit mindestens einem Paar von Öffnungen (21) für den Zugang zu
elektrischen Phasen- und Neutralkontakten der Steckdose zwischengeschaltet zu sein,
das Sicherheitssystem (30) aufweisend:
- ein Paar von Verschlusselementen (60), die zwischen
einer Position des Verschlusses des Paares von Öffnungen (21), um den Zugang zu den
elektrischen Kontakten zu verhindern, und
einer Position, die von dem Paar von Öffnungen (21) beabstandet ist, um das Einsetzen
von Stiften eines elektrischen Steckers darin und zu ermöglichen, bewegbar sind,
- elastische Mittel (61), die die Verschlüsse (60) in deren Verschlussposition drücken,
wobei die Verschlüsse (60) auf einem separaten Schwingkörper (50) angeordnet sind,
der zwei gegenüberliegende Seiten (53) mit einer Höckerform aufweist, die mittig an
entsprechenden gegenüberliegenden Seiten (43) einer darunterliegenden Stützbasis (40)
aufliegen,
wobei der Schwingkörper (50) um eine Achse X-X schwingen kann, wenn eine Schubkraft
auf eine dieser Verschlüsse (60) durch eine der Öffnungen (21) der Abdeckung (20)
ausgeübt wird,
wobei die Sicherheitsvorrichtung dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass
die Verschlüsse (60) durch einen freien zentralen Bereich getrennt sind, so dass sie
in Bezug auf den anderen nicht beschränkt sind, wobei jeder üblicherweise eine jeweilige
Öffnung (21) verschließt,
die Schwingachse X-X des Schwingkörpers (50) mittig zwischen den Verschlüssen (60)
angeordnet ist und durch die Mittellinie einer in dem Schwingkörper (50) vorgesehenen
langgestreckten Öffnung (52) verläuft,
ein Paar von Öffnungen (51, 41) in dem Schwingkörper (50) bzw. in der darunterliegenden
Stützbasis (40) vorgesehen ist, die eine mit der anderen und mit den Öffnungen (21)
des Deckels (20) ausgerichtet sind,
auf der Stützbasis (40) ein Paar von Vorsprüngen (46) benachbart zu dem Paar von Öffnungen
(41) vorgesehen ist, die mit entsprechenden Löchern (56) ausgerichtet sind, die in
dem Schwingkörper (50) vorgesehen sind, so dass, wenn der Schwingkörper (50) in einer
geneigten Position ist, einer der Vorsprünge (46) ein entsprechendes Loch (56) durchdringt
und in den entsprechenden Verschluss (60) eingreift, wodurch dessen Verschiebung vermieden
wird,
ein Paar von Vorsprüngen (26) innerhalb der Abdeckung (20) benachbart zu den Öffnungen
(21) vorgesehen ist, die dazu gestaltet sind, in einen jeweiligen Verschluss (60)
einzugreifen, so dass eine Verschiebung davon verhindert wird.
2. Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Verschlüsse (60) einen Keilkörper
mit einer zu den Öffnungen (21) der Abdeckung (20) hin gerichteten geneigten oberen
Wand (63) aufweisen.
3. Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Verschlüsse
(60) einen jeweiligen Schaft (62) aufweisen, und die elastischen Mittel (61) Federn
sind, die um die Schäfte herum angeordnet sind und zwischen dem entsprechenden Verschluss
und einem festen Anschlag (54) agieren, der mit einem Loch (55) zum Gleiten des Schaftes
(62) versehen ist.
4. Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mittig zu der Stützbasis (40) zwischen dem Paar von Öffnungen (41) eine langgestreckte
Öffnung (42) vorgesehen ist, die mit der langgestreckten Öffnung (52), die in dem
Schwingkörper (50) vorgesehen ist, und mit einer entsprechenden langgestreckten Öffnung
(22), die in der Abdeckung (20) vorgesehen ist, ausgerichtet ist, wobei die langgestreckte
Öffnung (22) eine Konfiguration aufweist derart, um Erdungsstifte von Steckern verschiedener
Standards aufzunehmen.
5. Elektrische Steckdose (1), die mit einer Sicherheitsvorrichtung (30) nach einem der
vorhergehenden Ansprüche ausgestattet ist.
1. Dispositif de sécurité (30) pour prises électriques (1), conçu pour être intercalé
entre
un corps (10) pour contenir des contacts électriques de la prise et
un couvercle (20) ayant au moins une paire d'ouvertures (21) pour l'accès à des contacts
électriques de phase et de neutre de la prise,
ledit dispositif de sécurité (30) comprenant :
- une paire d'éléments d'obturation (60) mobiles entre
une position d'occlusion de ladite paire d'ouvertures (21) pour empêcher l'accès auxdits
contacts électriques et
une position espacée par rapport à ladite paire d'ouvertures (21) pour permettre l'insertion
dans celles-ci de broches d'une fiche électrique et
- des moyens élastiques (61) qui poussent lesdits obturateurs (60) dans leur position
d'occlusion,
lesdits obturateurs (60) étant placés sur un corps oscillant (50) séparé ayant deux
côtés opposés (53) avec une forme en cuspide, lesquels reposent centralement au niveau
de côtés opposés (43) correspondants d'une base de support sous-jacente (40),
ledit corps oscillant (50) étant capable d'osciller autour d'un axe X-X lorsqu'une
force de poussée s'exerce sur seulement l'un de ces obturateurs (60) à travers l'une
desdites ouvertures (21) du couvercle (20),
ledit dispositif de sécurité
se caractérisant en ce que
lesdits obturateurs (60) sont séparés par une zone centrale libre de manière à être
non réfrénés l'un par rapport à l'autre, chacun fermant normalement une ouverture
respective (21),
ledit axe d'oscillation X-X du corps oscillant (50) étant placé centralement entre
lesdits obturateurs (60) et passant par la ligne médiane d'une ouverture allongée
(52) fournie dans ledit corps oscillant (50),
une paire d'ouvertures (51, 41) étant fournies respectivement dans le corps oscillant
(50) et dans la base de support sous-jacente (40), en alignement les unes avec les
autres et avec lesdites ouvertures (21) du couvercle (20),
sur ladite base de support (40), une paire de saillies (46) étant fournies de manière
adjacente à ladite paire d'ouvertures (41), en alignement avec des trous (56) correspondants
fournis dans le corps oscillant (50) de manière à ce que, lorsque le corps oscillant
(50) est dans une position inclinée, l'une desdites saillies (46) pénètre dans un
trou (56) correspondant et interfère avec l'obturateur (60) correspondant pour éviter
le déplacement de celui-ci,
une paire de saillies (26) étant fournies à l'intérieur dudit couvercle (20) de façon
adjacente auxdites ouvertures (21), conçues pour interférer avec un obturateur (60)
respectif en empêchant le déplacement de celui-ci.
2. Dispositif de sécurité selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits obturateurs (60)
ont un corps en coin avec une paroi supérieure inclinée (63) tournée vers lesdites
ouvertures (21) du couvercle (20).
3. Dispositif de sécurité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans
lequel lesdits obturateurs (60) ont une tige (62) respective et lesdits moyens élastiques
(61) étant des ressorts placés autour desdites tiges et agissant entre l'obturateur
correspondant et une butée fixe (54) dotée d'un trou (55) pour le coulissement de
ladite tige (62).
4. Dispositif de sécurité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que, centralement à ladite base de support (40) entre ladite paire d'ouvertures (41),
une ouverture allongée (42) est fournie, en alignement avec ladite ouverture allongée
(52) fournie dans le corps oscillant (50) et avec une ouverture allongée (22) correspondante
fournie dans le couvercle (20), ladite ouverture allongée (22) ayant une configuration
de manière à recevoir des broches de terre de fiches à standards variés.
5. Prise électrique (1) dotée d'un dispositif de sécurité (30) selon l'une quelconque
des revendications précédentes.