Technical Field

This invention relates to a distributor of electrical energy between connectors. Background Art

It is well known that, in order to electrically connect two electrical connectors (e.g., the type of standard connectors arranged at the ends of the electrical cables) distributors are used provided with a plastic containment body and with an input portion, to which an input connector is connectable, and one or more output portions, to which one or more output connectors are connectable.

Two or more input poles are usually housed in the input portion, i.e. metal contacts intended to come into contact with the metal contacts housed in the input connector.

Similarly, two or more output poles are housed in the output portions, i.e. metal contacts intended to come into contact with the metal contacts housed in the output connectors.

The input poles and the output poles may have different shapes and sizes: for example, they can comprise a pin (in the case of a male pole) or a socket (in the case of a female pole).

To connect the input poles to the output poles, the distributors of known type are provided with a series of metal bars located inside the containment body.

The end of each metal bar connects to a pole and has a different shape depending on the nature of the pole with which it is joined.

These known distributors do have some drawbacks.

The bars made of metal material used for the distribution of energy must be e.g. positioned inside the containment body and the assembly operation is not always easy and simple.

To complicate the assembly operations also contributes the need to provide for the union of the metal bars with the poles present in the input portions and in the output portions.

Furthermore, the dimensions of the containment body must be such as to allow the housing of the metal bars and the manoeuvres necessary to carry out the assembly, these sometimes being excessive compared to the real needs of the device.

Moreover, the distributors of known type do not allow modulating in any way the current passing between the input poles and the output poles, thus limiting the possible fields of application.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a distributor of electrical energy between connectors that is particularly practical and easy to assemble, particularly with regard to the wiring of poles and of the other metal parts intended for the transmission and distribution of electrical current.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a distributor of electrical energy between connectors that is particularly small in size.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a distributor of electrical energy between connectors that can be used in different fields of application, however in a greater number than the distributors of known type.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a distributor of electrical energy between connectors that allows overcoming the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and cost effective solution.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present invention having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a distributor of electrical energy between connectors, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the distributor according to the invention in an assembly configuration;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the distributor according to the invention; Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the printed circuit and of the poles provided by the distributor according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the distributor according to the invention in an assembly configuration.

Fmbodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a distributor of electrical energy between connectors.

The distributor 1 comprises one containment body 2 made of an electrically insulating material comprising at least one input portion 3 and at least one output portion 4.

The electrically insulating material of which the containment body 2 is made is a plastic material.

The input portion 3 usefully comprises a hollow female housing seat, while the output portion 4 comprises a convex male member; alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the input portion 3 comprises a male convex member and the output portion 4 comprises a female housing seat, or wherein both the input portion 3 and the output portion 4 comprise male convex members or female housing seats.

The distributor 1 comprises at least two input poles 5, made of an electrically conductive material, arranged at the input portion 3, and at least two output poles 6, made of an electrically conductive material, arranged at the output portion 4.

The electrically conductive material of which the input poles 5 and the output poles 6 are made is a metal material.

Advantageously, each of the input poles 5 comprises a male pin, while each of the output poles 6 comprises a female socket; alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the input poles 5 comprise female sockets and the output poles 6 comprise male pins, or a combination of the two.

In the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the distributor 1 is provided with two input poles 5 in the input portion 3 and with two output poles 6 in the output portion 4; alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the input poles 5 and the output poles 6 are present in a different number.

The number of the input poles 5 and of the output poles 6 is usefully comprised between 2 and 5.

The distributor 1 comprises at least one printed circuit 7, which is arranged inside the containment body 2.

The printed circuit 7 is associated with the input poles 5 and with the output poles 6, and is adapted to distribute the electrical energy between the input poles 5 and the output poles 6.

The printed circuit 7 has a substantially plate-like conformation and extends over a lying plane 8, while the input poles 5 and the output poles 6 have an elongated conformation and extend along directions substantially orthogonal to the lying plane 8.

The containment body 2 usefully comprises a central portion 9 with which the input portion 3 and the output portion 4 are associated.

The central portion 9 can be made in different ways, but it should be possible to introduce the printed circuit 7 inside it; therefore it must be made up of at least two parts that can be interlocked together to form a single body piece.

The central portion 9 has at least two protrusions, in which the input portion 3 and the output portion 4 can be inserted by interlocking.

The central portion 9 has a substantially plate-like conformation and extends on a plane substantially parallel to the lying plane 8.

The input portion 3 and the output portion 4 extend along a direction substantially orthogonal to the lying plane 8.

Basically, the directions orthogonal to the lying plane 8, along which the input portion 3, the output portion 4, the input poles 5 and the output poles 6 extend, define the directions along which the connectors are connected to the distributor

1.

Advantageously, in the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the containment body 2 comprises one input portion 3 and three output portions 4, which are arranged in the space as follows. The input portion 3 and one of the output portions 4 extend from the central portion 9 and are aligned with each other along a first axis 10 substantially orthogonal to the lying plane 8.

The other two output portions 4 extend from the central portion 9 and are aligned with each other along a second axis 11 substantially parallel to the first axis 10.

The central portion 9, the input portion 3 and the output portions 4 are practically arranged in an H pattern.

The printed circuit 7 comprises at least one electronic component which is adapted to modulate the input current and the voltage between the input poles 5 and the output poles 6; this way the printed circuit 7 allows the distributor 1 to operate both in alternating current and in direct current.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the printed circuit 7 is free of electronic components; this way, the transmission of alternating current between the input poles 5 and the output poles 6 is permitted without any modulation of the input current and voltage.

The printed circuit 7 usefully comprises at least one luminous source 12 which is adapted to light up in the event of the electrical energy being distributed between the input poles 5 and the output poles 6, through the printed circuit 7.

In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, there are two luminous sources 12 and, in particular, they are made up of LEDs.

In addition, the printed circuit 7 comprises at least one light guide 13 having at least one light receiving portion 14, arranged in the proximity of the luminous sources 12 inside the containment body 2, and one light emitting portion 15, arranged outside the containment body 2.

The light emitted by the luminous source 12 is conveyed from the light receiving portion 14 to the light emitting portion 15.

The central portion 9 has at least one opening at the light emitting portion 15, to allow the light emitting portion 15 to emerge outside the containment body 2. The presence of the luminous sources 12 allows understanding when the distributor 1 is in operation; in fact, when the distributor 1 is not energized and the electrical energy is not distributed between the input poles 5 and the output poles 6, then the luminous sources 12 remain off while, when the distributor 1 is connected to the input connector and to the output connector and the electrical energy is distributed between the input poles 5 and the output poles 6, then the luminous sources 12 switch on and the light they emit is visible from the outside since it is conveyed by the light guide 13 as far as the light emitting portion 15.