Description PLUG AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a plug and socket assembly, and more particularly, to a plug and socket assembly, which are configured to switch power supply by rotating the plug relative to the socket assembly. Background Art

[2] Common power plug assemblies, which are connector devices for supplying power to a variety of electrical and electronic equipment, are generally classified into a wall- buried type in which an outlet is configured to receive one or more plugs to then be buried into a wall, and a multi-tap type in which multiple plug assemblies are connected to power supply as separate single units before independently being used.

[3] In such conventional power plug assemblies, outlets sometime pose safety hazards due to inadvertent plugging of a conductor into an insertion hole of a plug port in an unplugged state. In addition, when a plug of electrical or electronic equipment is engaged with the outlet, dark current may be generated, resulting in unwanted power consumption.

[4] To address these problems, several attempts have been made, and as one among them, a new outlet has been developed, as disclosed in Korean Patent Registration Nos. 10-0327529 and 10-0367420.

[5] In addition, Korean Patent Published Application No. 2005-0026182 discloses a multi-port outlet. The disclosed multi-port outlet includes a body having a plurality of independent outlets arranged therein, and a control switch box having a plurality of control switches for controlling power supply of each of the independent outlets.

[6] In the conventional outlet or multi-port outlet having switches installed therein, it is necessary to install a separate switch, which is inconvenient and cumbersome. Also, since the plug may be unintentionally dislodged from the outlet due to external shock applied to the plug in a state in which a plug and an outlet are connected to each other, a consistently reliable power supply cannot be ensured. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Solution

[7] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plug and socket assembly, which is configured to switch power supply by rotating the plug relative to the socket assembly.

[8] It is another object of the present invention to provide a plug and socket assembly, which can prevent a plug from being dislodged from an outlet in power-on state.

[9] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a plug and socket assembly, which can switch power supply by installing an adapter for switching power supply.

[10] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plug and socket assembly comprising: a plug having a pair of connection lead pins spaced apart a predetermined gap from each other and a grounding terminal; and an outlet including a housing having at least one plug insertion hole, first and second connection terminals installed on a bottom portion of the plug insertion hole along rotation tracks of the plug while the plug is rotated, first and second power applying units installed in the first and second connection terminals, and engaged with the pair of connection lead pins transferred by the rotation of the plug to enable power supply and disengaged from the pair of connection lead pins to interrupt power supply, a rotation member inserted into the plug insertion hole so as to be rotated relative to the housing and having coupling holes formed at locations corresponding to the connection lead pins, and a cover member combined with the housing and preventing the rotation member from deviating from the plug insertion hole.

[11] In the present invention, the first and second power applying units are installed corresponding to the first and second connection terminals such that the first and second power applying units are engaged with or disengaged from the connection lead pins according to rotation of the plug.

[12] Alternatively, to achieve the above object of the present invention, there is provided a plug and socket assembly comprising: a plug having a pair of connection lead pins spaced apart a predetermined gap from each other and a grounding terminal; an outlet including a plug combining portion; and an adapter inserted into the plug combining portion of the outlet and including an adapter body having a plug insertion hole, first and second connection terminals installed on a bottom portion of the plug insertion hole along rotation tracks of the plug while the plug is rotated, first and second power applying units installed in the first and second connection terminals, and engaged with the pair of connection lead pins transferred by the rotation of the plug to enable power supply and disengaged from the pair of connection lead pins to interrupt power supply, lead pins extending downwardly with respect to the adapter body and electrically connected to the first and second connection terminals, a rotation member inserted into the plug insertion hole so as to be rotated relative to the adapter body and having coupling holes formed at locations corresponding to the connection lead pins, and a cover member combined with the adapter body and preventing the rotation member from deviating from the plug insertion hole.

[13] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outlet including a plug combining portion; and a plug including a rotator having a pair

of connection lead pins installed on a rotator rotatably installed on the plug body, the pair of connection lead pins having a lead terminal portion inserted into the outlet and a lead terminal portion protruding inwardly with respect to the plug body, first and second connection terminals installed inside a housing of the plug along rotation tracks of the plug while the plug is rotated, first and second power applying units installed in the first and second connection terminals, and engaged with the pair of connection lead pins transferred by the rotation of the plug to enable power supply. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plug and socket assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[15] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a plug and an outlet shown in FIG. 1 are connected to each other;

[16] FIG. 3 illustrates that first and second connection terminals are engaged with or disengaged from connection lead pins;

[17] FIG. 4 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plug and socket assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a plug and an outlet shown in FIG. 4 are connected to each other;

[19] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a plug and socket assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and

[20] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a plug and an outlet shown in FIG. 6 are connected to each other. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[21] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[22] The present invention is directed to a plug and socket assembly, which is configured to switch power supply by rotating the plug relative to the outlet assembly and a plug and outlet assembly according to a preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[23] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the plug and socket assembly 10 includes a plug 20 connected to an electrical wire as a medium for supplying power to various kinds of electric or electronic products, and an outlet 30 having a plug insertion hole 31 and switching means operating according to rotation of the plug 20 engaged with the plug insertion hole 31.

[24] The plug 20 includes a pair of connection lead pins 22 installed on a front face of a plug body 21 in parallel with each other and connected with an electrical wire, and a ground terminal 23 installed on an outer face of the plug body 21. However, the

ground terminal 23 is not limited to the illustrated example.

[25] The plug 20, which includes the switching means for switching power as the plug

20 rotates, comprises a housing 32 having at least one plug insertion hole 31. A bottom plate 33 that hermetically seals a bottom portion of the plug insertion hole 31 is combined with a bottom surface of the housing 32. First and second connection terminals 34 and 35 are installed on the bottom plate 33 forming a bottom portion of the plug insertion hole 31 along rotation tracks of the plug 20 while the plug 20 is rotated. The first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 include first and second power applying units 36 and 37, respectively, which are engaged with the pair of connection lead pins 22 transferred by the rotation of the plug 20 to enable power supply and are disengaged from the pair of connection lead pins 22 to interrupt power supply. The first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 include fixing units 34a and 35a extending therefrom, and the fixing units 34a and 35a are fixed on the bottom plate 33 by means of set screw 34b. The first and second power applying units 36 and 37 respectively installed on the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 include projecting terminals 36a and 37a extending upwardly from opposite sides of the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 and surrounding opposite sides of the connection lead pins 22, respectively. Here, when the plug 20 is connected to the outlet 30, ends of the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20 connected to the projecting terminals 36a and 37a are not connected to the housing of the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35. This is because power supply should be interrupted when the connection lead pins 22 are disengaged from the projecting terminals 36a and 37a according to the rotation of the plug 20, without being limited to the illustrated example. For example, instead of formation of the projecting terminals 36a and 37a, insulation layers may be formed at a predetermined distance from each of the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35, so that the ends of the connection lead pins 22 are selectively connected to the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 to enable power supply or interrupt power supply. The first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 are installed on the bottom plate 33 and may be connected to lead plates 38 connected to a power supply wire (not shown) for power supply.

[26] Meanwhile, a step difference is created on an inner circumferential surface of the plug insertion hole 31, and a rotation member 39 whose edge is supported on a stepped portion is rotatably installed on the stepped portion. Coupling holes 39a into which the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20 are inserted are formed on the rotation member 39. In addition, a cover member 40 for preventing the rotation member 39 from deviating from the plug insertion hole 31 is installed on the housing 32. The cover member 40 has an insertion hole 41 into which the plug 20 is inserted. A diameter of

the insertion hole 41 is preferably smaller than that of a recess 39b formed on the rotation member 39.

[27] The plug and socket assembly 10 further include grounding means 50 grounded to the grounding terminal 23 of the plug 20. The grounding means 50 is fixed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotation member 39. The grounding means 50 includes a first grounding terminal member 51 and a second grounding terminal member 52. The first grounding terminal member 51 has a grounding portion 51a connected to the grounding terminal 23 when outlet 30 is combined with the plug 20, and an extending portion 51b extending downwardly from the grounding portion 51a. The second ground terminal member 52 is ring-shaped and is installed at a stepped portion 32a of the housing 32 corresponding to the edge of the bottom surface of the rotation member 39 so as to contact the extending portion 51b of the first grounding terminal member 51. Preferably, the second ground terminal member 52 is grounded to an external terminal (not shown) and the extending portion 51b rotates in a state in which it is grounded to the second ground terminal member 52 when the rotation member 39 rotates.

[28] In addition, the plug and socket assembly 10 further includes plug dislodgement preventing means 60 for preventing the plug 20 from being dislodged therefrom when power is applied to the plug 20 inserted into the outlet insertion hole 31. The plug dislodgement preventing means 60 includes a support protrusion 61 installed on its outer circumferential surface, and one or more coupling grooves 62 formed at the edge of the insertion hole 41 of the cover member 40 so as to allow the plug 20 and the outlet 30 to be assembled. Here, a position of the insertion hole 41 may correspond to the position into which the support protrusion 61 can be inserted in a state in which the connection lead pins 22 and the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 are disengaged from each other.

[29] The outlet 30 may further include an illumination lamp 70 turned on or off according to power supply or power interruption when the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 are connected to or disconnected from the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20.

[30] Although not shown in the drawing, the illumination lamp 70 is connected to a connection lead pin having one port connected to the first connection terminal 34 and the other port connected to the second connection terminal 35. The illumination lamp 70 is short-circuited when the second connection terminal 35 is disengaged from the connection lead pin.

[31] In order to apply power to the aforementioned plug and outlet assembly 10, the plug

20 and the outlet 30 are first combined with each other. In other words, the plug 20 and the outlet 30 are combined such that the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20 are

inserted into the plug insertion hole 31 of the outlet 30, that is, a coupling hole 39a formed on a recess 39b of the rotation member 39, through insertion holes 41 of the cover member 40. In this process, the support protrusion 61 installed on the outer circumferential surface of the plug 20 is inserted into the coupling groove 62 formed on the cover member 40, and the grounding terminal 23 is grounded to the grounding portion 51a of the first ground terminal member 51.

[32] In this state, when the plug 20 is rotated in such a manner as shown in FIG. 3, the plug 20 and the rotation member 39 rotate, connection lead pins 22 protruding from the bottom surface of the rotation member 39 are engaged with the first and second power applying units 36 and 37 of the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35, thereby enabling power supply. At this time, the illumination lamp 70 provided on the housing 32 is turned on, and the extending portion 51b of the first grounding terminal member 51 moves while maintaining a state in which it is grounded to the second grounding terminal member 51.

[33] As described above, in a power-on state, the support protrusion 61 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the plug 20 can prevent the plug 20 from being dislodged from the outlet 30 by locking the plug 20 on the edge of the insertion hole 41 provided on the cover member 40.

[34] On the other hand, in order to interrupt power supply from the outlet 30 to the plug

20, the plug 20 is rotated relative to the outlet 30. By doing so, the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20 are disengaged from the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35, so that power supplied from the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 to the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20 is interrupted. Here, the connection lead pins 22 disengaged from the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 are disposed between the first and second power applying units 36 and 37. If power supply is interrupted in such a manner, the illumination lamp 70 is turned off.

[35] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a plug and socket assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which components each having the same function for describing the previous embodiment are respectively identified by the same reference numerals.

[36] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug and socket assembly includes a plug 20 having a pair of connection lead pins 22 spaced apart a predetermined gap from each other and a grounding terminal 23; an outlet 80 having a plug combining portion 81; and an adapter 90 combined with the plug combining portion 81 and formed in a plug insertion hole 31.

[37] The outlet 80 may be utilized in a wall-buried type in which an outlet is configured to receive one or more plugs to then be buried into a wall, and a multi-tap type in which multiple plug assemblies are connected to power supply as separate single units

before independently being used.

[38] The adapter 90 combined with the plug combining portion 81 of the outlet 80 includes an adapter body 92 having a plug insertion hole 91, and a bottom cap 94 combined with the adapter body 92.

[39] On a bottom portion of the plug insertion hole 91, that is, on the bottom cap 94, are provided first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 installed along rotation tracks of the connection lead pins 22 while the plug 20 is rotated, and first and second power applying units 36 and 37 installed on the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 to enable power supply when they are engaged with the connection lead pins 22 transferred according to rotation of the plug 20 and to interrupt power supply when they are disengaged from the connection lead pins 22. The bottom cap 94 includes a pair of lead pins 95 electrically connected with the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 and combined with the outlet 80. Internal edges of the lead pins 95, which directly contact the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35, are electrically connected thereto, and may be connected to separate lead terminals (not shown).

[40] In addition, the plug and outlet assembly may include a rotation member 39 and a cover member 93. The rotation member 39 is inserted into the plug insertion hole 91 and installed so as to be rotated relative to the adapter body 92. The rotation member 39 has coupling holes 39a formed at locations corresponding to the connection lead pins 22. The cover member 93 is coupled to the adapter body 92 and prevents the rotation member 39 from deviating from the plug insertion hole 91.

[41] The adapter body 92 includes an illumination lamp 70 turned on or off as the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 are engaged with or disengaged from the connection lead pins 22. The adapter body 92 further includes grounding means 50 grounded to the grounding terminal 23 of the plug 20, and plug dislodgement preventing means 60 for preventing plug 20 from being dislodged from the adapter body 92 when power is applied to the plug 20 and the cover member 93 of the adapter body 92. Since the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35, the grounding means 50 and the plug dislodgement preventing means 60 have the same structures as those illustrated in the previous embodiment, and a repetitive explanation thereof will not be given.

[42] The plug dislodgement preventing means 60 includes a support protrusion 61 installed on its outer circumferential surface, and one or more coupling grooves 62 formed at the edge of the insertion hole 41 of the cover member 40 so as to allow the plug 20 and the outlet 30 to be assembled. Here, a position of the insertion hole 41 may correspond to the position into which the support protrusion 61 can be inserted in a state in which the connection lead pins 22 and the first and second connection

terminals 34 and 35 are disengaged from each other.

[43] In the aforementioned the plug and outlet assembly, in a state in which power is supplied to the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 the plug 20 is combined with the outlet 80 by combining a lead pin 95 of the adapter 90 with the outlet 80 through an insertion hole provided in the cover member 93 and rotating the combined body of the plug 20 and the outlet 80, thereby switching power supply to the connection lead pins 22 of the plug 20, like in the previous embodiment.

[44] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a plug and socket assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which components each having the same function for describing the previous embodiment are respectively identified by the same reference numerals.

[45] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the plug and socket assembly includes an outlet 80 having a plug insertion portion 81, and a plug 110 combined to a plug insertion portion 81 and capable of switch power supply to the outlet 80 by being rotated relative to the plug 110.

[46] The plug 110 has a pair of connection lead pins 113 installed on a rotator 112 rotatably installed on a plug body 111. Each of the pair of connection lead pins 113 has lead terminal portions 113a and 113b. The lead terminal portion 113a is inserted into the outlet 80, and the lead terminal portion 113b protrudes inwardly with respect to the plug body 111. A fixing member 114 is installed inside the plug body 111 corresponding to each of the connection lead pins 113. The fixing member 114 has first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 installed along rotation tracks of the lead terminal portion 113b. The first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 have first and second power applying units 36 and 37 installed at a predetermined gap to be engaged therewith or disengaged therefrom according to rotation of the rotator 112, respectively. Here, the first and second power applying units 36 and 37 are configured such that they are engaged with ends of the connection lead pins 113 and disengaged from the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 to interrupt power supply, like in the previous embodiment.

[47] In addition, the outlet 80 may further include an illumination lamp 70 turned on or off as power is supplied from the outlet 30 to the plug 110. Since the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35, and the illumination lamp 70 have the same technical structures as those illustrated in the previous embodiment, and a repetitive explanation thereof will not be given.

[48] As described above, in the aforementioned plug and socket assembly, in a state in which the plug 20 is combined with the outlet 80 so that power is supplied to the connection lead pins 113, the plug body 111 is rotated relative to the outlet 80. By doing so, as the plug body rotates, the lead terminal portions 113b of the connection

lead pins 113 are engaged with the first and second power applying units 36 and 37 of the first and second connection terminals 34 and 35 fixed on the fixing member 114, thereby enabling power supply.

[49] In order to interrupt power supply from the outlet 80 to the plug 110, the plug body

111 is further rotated, to allow the connection terminal portion 113b to be disengaged from the first, second power applying unit 36, 37, so that the connection terminal portion 113b is disposed at a space between the first and second power applying units 36 and, as shown in FIG. 7. As described above, the plug and outlet assembly according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention can switch power supply without separating the plug 110 from the outlet 80. Industrial Applicability

[50] As described above, according to the present invention, power supply can be switched by rotating a plug relative to an outlet, thereby eliminating inconvenience associated with engaging/disengaging the plug with/from the outlet to switch power supply. In addition, according to the present invention, power supply or power interruption can be detected when rotating the plug relative to the outlet.

[51] While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the present invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description.

[52] It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as falling within the true scope of the invention.