CHO, Hyun-Wook (11 Inu housing, 197-11 Bugae 2-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-100, KR)
CHO, Hyun-Seok (11 Inu housing, 197-11 Bugae 2-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-100, KR)
SEO, Geum-Yeob (11 Inu housing, 197-11 Bugae 2-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-100, KR)
KIM, Joung-Hyun (Na-dong 105, Gaya Apt.409-1, Gogang 2-dong, Bucheon-si, Ojeong-gu, Gyeonggido 421-191, KR)
CHO, Hyun-Wook (11 Inu housing, 197-11 Bugae 2-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-100, KR)
CHO, Hyun-Seok (11 Inu housing, 197-11 Bugae 2-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-100, KR)
SEO, Geum-Yeob (11 Inu housing, 197-11 Bugae 2-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon 403-100, KR)
KIM, Joung-Hyun (Na-dong 105, Gaya Apt.409-1, Gogang 2-dong, Bucheon-si, Ojeong-gu, Gyeonggido 421-191, KR)
| Claims
[1] A miniature timer comprising: a drive motor for applying a power supply of a power terminal provided in one side of a case; and motor gears installed around the center of a fixing pin of the one side of the case, the motor gears being rotated by the drive motor, and a plurality of bi-layered gears provided in the motor gears, wherein a plurality of the bi-layered gears installed around the center of the fixing pin are sequentially provided in the other side of the case to be engaged with the motor gear, and a rotation axis engaged to rotate is provided onto a plurality of the gears, wherein a cam is provide in the rotation axis, and installed so that a plurality of the bi-layered gears sequentially provided are sequentially engaged with the cam, thereby rotating at a reduced speed, and wherein a lever is provided in one side of the upper case so that it is contacted with the cam, thereby providing a controlling member for controlling the switching of a power supply.
[2] The miniature timer according to claim 1, wherein the cam has stepped double grooves or triangular grooves formed in one side of the case, and the cam has a protrusion formed in an ON/OFF point position of a front timer.
[3] The miniature timer according to claim 1, wherein the cam has a positional fixation projection formed thereon and a position fixing rib formed inside the upper case, and therefore the cam is prevented from rotating since the positional fixation projection is hang over a position fixing rib of the upper case while rotating the cam.
[4] The miniature timer according to claim 1, wherein the controlling member includes a switching terminal having a lever attached thereto to be in contact with the cam, and a contact point formed in an end thereof; a contact terminal coupled to an outer side of the switching terminal to supply a power supply to a drive motor; and a power terminal formed in the other side of the switching terminal.
[5] The miniature timer according to claim 1, wherein the controlling member has a micro switch provided with a lever button to be in contact with the cam, and the micro switch includes a switching terminal, a contact terminal and a drive lead.
[6] The miniature timer according to claim 1, wherein the cam is provided so that it is coaxially engaged with a final gear that is engaged with a plurality of the bi- layered gears, wherein the final gear has an internal gear formed in an inner side thereof, and a shaft pin formed in a central region thereof, and wherein a plurality of guide ribs are formed in the rotation axis into which the shaft pin is inserted, a plurality of the guide ribs being protruded outward to a lower side thereof and bent to be in contact with the internal gear.
[7] A miniature timer comprising: a bobbin coil installed in one side in which a fixing plate is coupled to a lower case to supply a power supply of a power terminal, a motor having motor gears installed around the center of a fixing pin installed in one side of the fixing plate, and a second gear, a fourth gear, a sixth gear and an eighth gear installed on the motor and formed of two layers; a first gear installed in the other side of the fixing plate to be engaged with the motor gear, the first gear being formed of two layers and having a backlashing preventing plate installed in a lower portion on the basis of the fixing pin, and a third gear, a fifth gear and a seventh gear sequentially installed onto the first gear, wherein a final gear having leaf springs installed in upper/lower portions thereof and a cam having grooves formed therein are installed in the rotation axis; the first gear, the second gear, the eighth gear and the seventh gear are sequentially installed so that the first gear is engaged with the second gear and the eighth gear is engaged with the seventh gear, thereby to rotated at a reduced speed; a final gear is installed in the eighth gear so that the final gear is engaged with the eighth gear; the rotation axis is installed so that it is protruded upward through a hole of the upper case coupled to the lower case; a lever is attached to the terminal supporting unit in the one side of the upper case to be in contact with the cam, and a switching terminal having the contact point coupled thereto is installed in an end of the upper case, and a contact terminal having a contact point formed therein is installed in an outer side of switching terminal, the contact point being coupled to one side of the bobbin coil through a wire; a resistor is installed in a wire between the bobbin coil and the contact terminal; and a power terminal is installed in one side of the contact terminal to constitute a controlling member, and a terminal unit case is installed to surround the controlling member of the upper case.
[8] A miniature timer comprising: a final gear engaged with the drive motor at a reduced speed in the inner part of timer case; a cam having grooves formed in one side thereof; and a controlling member for controlling a power supply through the operation of the cam, wherein a rotary lever having a guide plate installed in an upper portion thereof is provided, the guide plate being in contact with the cam and disposed in the groove, wherein the controlling member has a shift lever disposed to slide into upper/ lower slide grooves that are formed in an intermediate plate so that a front end is in contact with the rotary lever and the other side end is in contact with a central region of the switching terminal, wherein the switching terminal has a contact point formed in an end of one side thereof, wherein terminal cases are provided in both sides of the contact point, the terminal cases having a contact terminal installed therein, and the contact terminal having a first contact point and a second contact point formed therein, wherein a drive lead that is connected/disconnected to/from the power supply according to the movement of the switching terminal is provided, and wherein a handling lever protruded upward in one side of the terminal case is protruded upward through a lever hole of the timer case to move left and right and the contact point of the switching terminal is selectively installed so that it is selectively in contact with n first contact point and a second contact point of the contact terminal.
[9] The miniature timer according to claim 8, wherein a guide protrusion is installed in an internal surface of the intermediate plate of the terminal case so that the guide protrusion is fit into a rail groove of the intermediate plate to slide left and right.
[10] The miniature timer according to claim 8, wherein a guide groove is formed in a transverse direction so that a front end and a central region of the other side are fit into the intermediate plate to slide, the front end being protruded toward one side so that the front end is in contact with the rotary lever.
[11] The miniature timer according to claim 8, wherein the switching terminals are installed in an upper end and a lower end of the intermediate plate of the controlling member, and installed so that power supplies of upper/lower power coupling terminals are shut off and connected at the same time through the operation of the shift lever.
[12] A miniature timer comprising a plurality of gears, a final gear and a rotation axis, all of which are installed in an inner part of timer case, wherein a rotary lever fixed in a transverse direction is provided in the rotation axis, wherein a mounting groove in which a controlling member is anchored is formed in one side of the timer case, wherein a seesaw switch and a controlling member are provided, the seesaw switch being inserted into the mounting groove to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise on the center of an upper central hinge to turn on or off a power supply, and the controlling member being composed of two contact terminals formed in one side that is spaced apart from two switching terminals so that they are spaced apart in a middle region of the lower end, and wherein power supplies of the two switching terminals are installed so that they are turned on or off at the same time by rotating the rotary lever of the rotation axis and pushing one side or the other side of the seesaw switch of the controlling member to operate clockwise and counterclockwise.
[13] The miniature timer according to claim 12, wherein the seesaw switch has ribs formed prior or posterior to a lower central region, and a switching lever is installed so that it is in contact with upper ends of the two switching terminals to turn on or off the two contact terminals in one side thereof and a spring is installed between the rib and the switching lever.
[14] A miniature timer comprising a plurality of gears, a final gear and a rotation axis, all of which are installed in an inner part of a timer case, wherein a cam is provided to be fixed in the rotation axis, the cam having a hole formed therein and the hole having some region cut therefrom, wherein the timer case has a mounting groove formed in one side thereof, the mounting groove in which a controlling member is anchored, wherein slide grooves are formed in both side walls of the mounting groove in a transverse direction, wherein a push switch and a controlling member are provided, the push switch turning on or off a power supply in a slide rib and an upper central region of the both sides so that it is inserted and fixed in slide grooves formed in both side walls of the mounting groove, and the controlling member being composed of a switching terminal formed in a position spaced apart in a lower portion and two contact terminals formed spaced apart from the switching terminal in one side thereof, and wherein power supplies of the two switching terminals are installed so that they are turned on and off by the cam of the rotation axis at the same time without pushing a push switch of the controlling member.
[15] The miniature timer according to claim 14, wherein a position fixing rib is installed in an outside of the lower end of the push switch, and an axial shank is installed in a central region, a supporting projection is formed in a lower portion of the axial shank, a spring is installed between the supporting projection and the bottom surface to support the axial shank, and a terminal pushing plate is installed so that it pushes an upper portion of the contact terminal before/after the lower end of the position fixing rib.
[16] A miniature timer comprising a cam interlockedly rotated by the driving member in timer case; and an input power supply of the controlling member provided so that it control the switching using a rotary lever that interlockedly rotates along an irregular circumferential surface of the cam, wherein the controlling member includes a switching terminal, a contact terminal and a drive lead, the switching terminal is provided so that it apply an input power supply, the contact terminal is provided so that the terminal lever of the switching terminal moves by means of the rotary lever to control the switching, and the drive lead is provided so that is coupled to the terminal lever that is pushed by the rotary lever to apply an input power supply to the drive motor of the driving member, and wherein the cam is engaged with the drive motor of the driving member and rotated at a reduced speed to coaxially rotate with a cam- axial gear, a circumferential surface of the cam is formed of a spherical surface, an inner anchoring groove, and an intermediate groove with a bi-layered circular arc shape, and the spherical surface is provided to push the terminal lever along with the rotary lever while coming in contact with an edge portion of the guide plate of the rotary lever, and comes in contact with the guide plate of the rotary lever not to push the terminal lever into the intermediate groove using the rotary lever.
[17] The miniature timer according to claim 16, wherein the controlling member comprises a terminal case for fixing the switching terminal, the contact terminal and the drive lead, and an intermediate height of the terminal case comprises an intermediate plate of a plate shape, and the rotary lever has a plate groove portion, which is a cutting groove, to insert the intermediate plate.
[18] The miniature timer according to claim 16, wherein the controlling member comprises a bipolar switching terminal and a bipolar contact terminal formed on/ below the intermediate plate, respectively, and the rotary lever comprises an upper push portion and a lower push portion for pushing the upper and lower switching terminal upward the intermediate plate, and the upper push portion and the lower push portion are formed in a protrusion form.
[19] The miniature timer according to claim 16, wherein the controlling member has a contact point of the switching terminal and a contact point of the contact terminal arranged therein, and comprises a terminal case provided to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction of the timer case, and the timer case comprises a handling lever that reciprocate in a longitudinal direction through a lever hole formed in an upper surface thereof, thereby transporting the terminal case.
[20] The miniature timer according to claim 16, wherein the timer case comprises a bolting wing portion having a screw hole formed therein for bolt coupling, or a coupling rib formed in one side thereof for rib coupling, and a cap-shaped round formed in an upper fringe thereof.
[21] A power plug comprising a miniature timer, wherein the power plug comprise a lower body 5622 and an upper body 5621, a pair of contact terminals 5613a and 5613b are protruded in a lower end of the lower body 5622, and ground terminals 5613c is installed in both sides of the lower body 5622, a timer mounting groove is formed on the lower body 5622, and three grooves 5615a, 5615b and 5615c are formed at a constant distance on a bottom and power code wires 562a and 562b of the mounting groove, respectively, coupling terminals constituting power terminal contact units 5616a, 5616b and 5616c are inserted and fixed into the grooves 5615a, 5615b and 5615c, power code wires 562a and 562b are coupled to the power terminal contact units 5616a and 5616b, and coupled respectively to the switching terminals 542 and power terminal 545 when the miniature timer is mounted on the mounting groove, wherein an end of the coupling terminal of the power terminal contact unit 5616c is coupled to the contact terminal 5613a, and an end of the coupling terminal of the power terminal contact unit 5616b is coupled to the contact terminal 5613b, and the power code grounding conductor 562c is coupled to the ground terminal 5613c, and the upper body has a hole 5623 formed therein to dispose the rotation axis 5343 of the miniature timer in a central region thereof, and a timer control knob 5626 is installed in the rotation axis 5343 from which the hole 5623 of the upper body 5621 protrudes upward.
[22] The power plug according to claim 21, wherein the power terminal contact units
5616a, 5616b and 5616c has U grooves formed thereon so that they are inserted and coupled respectively to a switching terminal 542, a power terminal 545 and a contact terminal 544 using a metal.
[23] A power plug comprising a lower body and an upper body, wherein a pair of contact terminals 5613a and 5613b are protruded in a lower end of the lower body and a ground terminal 5613c is installed in the lower end of the lower body, a timer mounting groove is formed on the lower end of the lower body, and three grooves 5615a, 5615b and 5615c are formed at a constant distance on power code wires 562a and 562b formed in one side of the mounting groove, coupling terminals constituting power terminal contact units 5616a, 5616b and 5616c are inserted and fixed into the grooves 5615a, 5615b and 5615c, power lines 562a and 562b are coupled to the power terminal contact units 5616a and 5616b, and a switching terminal 5631 and a power terminal 5633 are coupled to the power terminal contact units 5616a and 5616b when the miniature timer is mounted in the mounting groove, an end of the coupling terminal of the power terminal contact unit 5616c is coupled to the contact terminal 5613a, and an end of the coupling terminal of the power terminal contact unit 5616b is coupled to the contact terminal 5613b, and the power code grounding conductor 14c is coupled to the ground terminal 12c, a hole is formed to dispose the rotation axis 5343 of the miniature timer in a central region of the upper body, and a control knob is provided in the rotation axis from which the hole of the upper body protrudes upward, a button 5634 and a micro switch 563 having a switching terminal, a contact terminal and a power terminal are installed in an upper portion of the upper motor case, and a hanging projection 5636 is provided in the middle of the button 5634 to drive the micro switch 563, and a lever is installed through the hole of the upper body so that an inclined plate is disposed on the hanging projection 5636, the inclined plate rotating left or right by the lever 5635 and allowing a button to move up and down.
[24] A power plug comprising a lower body and an upper body, wherein a pair of contact terminals 6613a and 6613b are protruded in a lower end of the lower body and a ground terminal 6613c is installed in the lower end of the lower body, a timer mounting groove is formed on the lower end of the lower body, and four grooves 6615a, 6615b, 6615c and 6615d are formed in a power code wire which is one side of the mounting groove, power terminal contact units 6616a, 6616b, 6616c and 6616d are inserted and fix into the grooves 6615a, 6615b, 6615c and 6615d, power code wires 662a and 662b are coupled to the power terminal contact units 6616c and 6616d, the power terminal contact units 6616a and 6616b are coupled respectively to the code contact terminals 6613a and 6613b through the coupling terminals, the power code grounding conductor 662c is coupled to the ground terminal 6613c, the power terminal contact units 6616a and 6616b are coupled to the switching terminals 642a and 642b of the miniature timer when the miniature timer is mounted on the timer mounting groove, the contact terminals 644a and 644b of the timer are in contact with the power terminal contact units 6616c and 6616d, the upper body has a hole formed to dispose the rotation axis 6343 of the miniature timer in a central region thereof, and a timer control knob is installed in the rotation axis 6343 that is protruded upward through the hole of the upper body.
[25] The power plug according to claim 24, wherein the miniature timer comprises a controlling member engaged with a drive motor of the driving member to rotate a cam; and a rotary lever having a guide plate installed therein, the guide plate being disposed in the groove of the cam, wherein the controlling member has a front end contacted with the rotary lever and the other side end contacted with a central region of the switching terminal, and a shift lever is installed in upper/lower slide grooves formed in an intermediate plate to slide the shift lever, a terminal case is provided to form contact terminals that includes a first contact point and second contact point formed in both sides of the switching terminal contact point of the controlling member, and a handling lever protruded upward to one side of the terminal case is protruded upward to the upper timer case, and the contact point of the switching terminal is selectively installed so that the contact point is in selective contact with the first contact point and the second contact point of the contact terminal.
[26] The miniature timer according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein one side of the timer case 10 comprises a plurality of terminals 42 electrically coupled to the controlling member; a rotation axis 43 that is coaxially rotated with the cam, wherein a regulating rib 26 having a setting display unit 24 is coaxially coupled to the rotation axis 43; and a coupling rib 17 protruded toward the both side walls of the timer case 10 with an elastic force. |
Description
SMALL-SIZED TIMER AND ELECTRIC POWER PLUG WITH
SMALL-SIZED TIMER
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a miniature timer, more particularly to a miniature timer capable of applying to a variety of products by miniaturizing a driving member of the miniature timer, and a power plug having the same. Background Art
[2] In general, a timer is formed of an interlocking unit composed of a driving member and gears; and controlling members, which has a structure in which timer switching is controlled by setting a time in a manner where the time is delayed by reducing a rotary speed according to the reduction gear ratio to the rotations of a motor. In this case, the timer is complicated and increased in numbers since many gears should be installed, which leads to the increased volume of the timer.
[3] Also, a power plug of the timer has problems that electric power is wasted and the power plug is heated since the power plug is not removed from a power wall socket even if the electronic equipment is not used. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[4] Accordingly, the present invention is designed to solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a miniature timer capable of minimizing a timer to mount the timer onto a variety of products.
[5] Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide a miniature timer capable of making a small-sized timer to improve reliability in setting and practicing a presetting time of the miniature timer used for the final products and to improve its structure by installing a variety of reduction gears in a longitudinal direction.
[6] As described above, it is possible to save electricity wasted from a power plug provided in the miniature timer according to the present invention, and automatically shut off a power supply to protect electronic/electric products.
Technical Solution
[7] In order to accomplish the above object, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a miniature time including a bobbin coil installed in one side in which a fixing plate is coupled to a lower case to supply a power supply of a power terminal, a motor having motor gears installed around the center of a fixing pin installed in one side of the fixing plate, and a second gear, a fourth gear, a sixth gear and an eighth gear installed on the motor and formed of two layers; and a first gear
installed in the other side of the fixing plate to be engaged with the motor gear, the first gear being formed of two layers and having a backlashing preventing plate installed in a lower portion on the basis of the fixing pin, and a third gear, a fifth gear and a seventh gear sequentially installed onto the first gear, wherein a final gear having leaf springs installed in upper/lower portions thereof and a cam having grooves formed therein are installed in the rotation axis; the first gear, the second gear, the eighth gear and the seventh gear are sequentially installed so that the first gear is engaged with the second gear and the eighth gear is engaged with the seventh gear, thereby to rotated at a reduced speed; a final gear is installed in the eighth gear so that the final gear is engaged with the eighth gear; the rotation axis is installed so that it is protruded upward through a hole of the upper case coupled to the lower case; a lever is coupled to a terminal supporting unit formed on one side of the upper case so that it can be in contact with the cam, and the end of the upper case includes an electric contact terminal having a contact point coupled thereto, a lead coupled to one side of the bobbin coil formed in the outside of the electric contact terminal using a wire, and ter minal having a first contact point and a second contact point formed in both sides of the contact point; and a terminal unit having a power terminal installed in one side of the contact point is provided in the upper case, and a terminal unit case is installed to surround the terminal unit of the upper case. [8]
Advantageous Effects
[9] As described above, the miniature timer according to the present invention may be useful to minimize a timer to mount the timer onto a variety of products, improve reliability in setting and practicing a presetting time of the miniature timer used for the final products, and improve its structure by installing a variety of reduction gears in a longitudinal direction.
[10] Also, the miniature timer according to the present invention may be useful to save electricity wasted from a power plug provided in the miniature timer and protect electronic/electric products. Brief Description of the Drawings
[11] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
[12] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a miniature timer according to the present invention.
[13] FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views showing the miniature timer according to the present invention.
[14] FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing that gears of the miniature timer according to the present invention are coupled to each other.
[15] FIGS. 6 to 8 are plane cross-sectional views showing another exemplary embodiments of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [16] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a final gear and a cap according to another exemplary embodiment in the miniature timer according to the present invention. [17] FIGS. 10 and 11 are constitutional diagrams showing that another case is coupled to the miniature timer according to the present invention. [18] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of still another exemplary embodiment in the miniature timer according to the present invention. [19] FIG. 13 is a circuit block diagram showing another exemplary embodiment of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [20] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a power switch unit of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [21] FIGS. 15 to 18 are plane cross-sectional views showing the miniature timer according to the present invention. [22] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing that terminals are respectively installed on and below the power switch unit of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [23] FIGS. 20 and 21 are cross-sectional view showing that two power coupling terminals are installed in one power switch unit of the miniature timer according to the present invention.
[24] FIGS. 22 and 23 are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view respectively showing a power switch unit of a miniature timer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [25] FIG. 24 is a plane view showing a timer having the power switch unit according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention installed therein. [26] FIGS. 25 and 26 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled constitutional diagram showing the power switch unit of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [27] FIGS. 27 to 29 are constitutional diagrams showing a switch terminal of the power switch unit is operated by the miniature timer according to the present invention. [28] FIGS. 30 and 31 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled constitutional diagram respectively showing a power switch unit of a miniature timer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [29] FIGS. 32 to 34 are constitutional diagrams showing that a switch terminal of the power switch unit is operated by the miniature timer according to still another
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [30] FIGS. 35 and 36 are perspective views showing one exemplary embodiment of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [31] FIG. 37 is a bottom perspective view showing that a lower case of the miniature timer according to the present invention is opened. [32] FIG. 38 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a driving member of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [33] FIGS. 39 to 41 are a perspective view showing a driving unit and a cam when the lower case of the miniature timer according to the present invention is opened, a perspective view showing a fifth lever, and a perspective view showing a terminal case, respectively. [34] FIG. 42 is a circuit block diagram showing the miniature timer according to the present invention. [35] FIGS. 43 to 46 are operational illustrative views showing the operation of the miniature timer according to the present invention. [36] FIGS. 47 and 48 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled constitutional diagram respectively showing a power plug provided with the miniature timer according to the present invention. [37] FIG. 49 is an assembled cross-sectional view showing a power plug provided with the miniature timer according to the present invention. [38] FIG. 50 is a plane constitutional diagram showing that an upper case of the power plug provided with miniature timer according to the present invention is separated from the lower case. [39] FIG. 51 is a plane constitutional diagram showing that an upper case of the power plug provided with the miniature timer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is separated from the lower case. [40] FIG. 52 is an assembled cross-sectional view showing a power plug provided with the miniature timer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [41] FIG. 53 is a plane constitutional diagram showing the upper case as shown FIG. 52 is separated from the lower case. [42] FIGS. 54 and 55 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled constitutional diagram showing the power plug provided with the miniature timer according to the present invention. [43] FIG. 56 is an assembled cross-sectional view showing the power plug provided with the miniature timer according to the present invention. [44] FIGS. 57 and 58 are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the power switch unit of the miniature timer according to the present
invention.
[45] FIGS. 59 to 62 are plane operational illustrative views showing that the upper case of the power plug provided with the miniature timer according to the present invention is separated from the lower case.
[46] FIGS. 63 and 64 are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the power switch unit of the miniature timer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[47] FIGS. 65 and 66 are plane operational illustrative views showing that the upper case of the power plug provided with the miniature timer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is separated from the lower case. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[48] The present invention relates to a timer for controlling switching of a power supply supplied to electric/electronic apparatuses in which a miniature timer according to the present invention is mounted, wherein a drive motor is provided in an inner part of the miniature timer, the drive motor being small to improve a rotary reduction ratio, thereby stabilizing operation of the timer, and a small timer being provided to facilitate its installation into any of electric/electronic apparatuses.
[49] As shown in FIG. 1, a basic circuit configuration of the timer is that a power supply is inputted into an input terminal ("in" in FIG. 1 and supplied to electric/electronic apparatuses through an output terminal ("out" in FIG. 1 via the miniature timer (T) according to the present invention.
[50] The miniature timer (T) according to the present invention, as configured thus, is switched by the drive motor (M), and a power supply is supplied and shut off by means of the drive motor (M) in addition to the switching controlling operation. In particular, a rotatory force is applied to a controller of the miniature timer (T) when the number of rotations by the drive motor (M) is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the drive motor (M) and its speed-reducing members.
[51] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, including "a miniature timer first example" (Example 1-1 for controlling switching of the miniature timer (T) with single polarity, "a miniature timer second example" (Example 1-2 for controlling switching of the miniature timer (T) with dual polarity, "a miniature timer third example" (Example 1-3 which is a combination of power controlling members, "a miniature timer fourth example" (Example 1-4 used to improve functions of the power controlling members, and "a power plug first example (Example 2- 1 " for a power plug applied to the miniature timer for controlling the switching of the miniature timer (T) with single polarity and "a power plug second example" (Example 2-2 for a power plug applied to the miniature timer for controlling
the switching of the miniature timer (T) with dual polarity. [52] [53] Example 1-1. Unipolar Miniature Timer
[54] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the miniature timer (T) according to the present invention is a miniature timer (T) in which a timer case 110 composed of an upper case 111 and a lower case 112 constitutes an outer body, and includes a driving member for operating a timer, a controlling member for controlling switching of a power supply through the operation of the driving member, and a cam and a lever for transferring the operation of the driving member to the controlling member. Therefore, a drive motor (M) and controlling members of the driving member 120 is installed inside the timer case, a bobbin coil 121 is installed in one side having a power case 112 and a fixing plate 112' coupled thereto together with the drive motor of the driving member, wherein a power supply of the power terminal 145 is applied to one side terminal of the bobbin coil 121. And, the other side terminal of the bobbin coil 121 is coupled to the controlling member to control the switching of the power supply so as to control the supply of a power to the bobbin coil 121, thereby controlling the switching of a power supply of the drive motor (M) coupled to the bobbin coil 121. Also, an output of the rotation axis of the drive motor (M) includes a reduction gear member including a plurality of reduction gears to reduce the number of rotations.
[55] A plurality of the reduction gears formed on the driving side will be described in detail.
[56] That is to say, a drive motor (M) having a motor gear 132 installed around the center of the fixing pin 131 is installed in one side of the fixing plate 112', and a second gear 1311, a fourth gear 1312, a sixth gear 1313 and an eighth gear 1314, all of which are formed of two layers, are installed on the drive motor (M), as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.
[57] A first gear 1331 formed of two layers having a backlashing preventing plate 1331' installed in a lower end of the other side around the center of the fixing pin 133 to engage with the motor gear 132, and a third gear 1332, a fifth gear 1333, and a seventh gear 1334 are sequentially installed in the first gear 1331. A rotation axis 1343 is installed in the fixing pin 133 formed on the seventh gear 1334, and the rotation axis 1343 has a final gear 1335 and a cam 134, and the final gear 1335 and the cam 134 may be installed in upper/lower portion of the rotation axis 1343.
[58] The first gear 1331 and the second gear 1311 are sequentially engaged with the gears, and the eighth gear 1314 is installed in the seventh gear 1334 so that it can be engaged with the seventh gear 1334 at a reduced speed. The final gear 1335 is engaged with the eighth gear 1314, and the rotation axis 1343 is installed so that it can be protruded upward through the hole 1112 of the upper case 111 coupled to the lower
case 112.
[59] The number of rotations outputted from the drive motor (M) are reduced in the final gear by the reduction gear members, and the reduction gears are for example a combination of eight gear including the first gear to eighth gear. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, a suitable number of gears may be provided according to the combination ratio of the gears, and the size of the gears, etc. Therefore, it is apparent that one cycle of the final number of rotations of the cam 134 takes 30 seconds, 1, 10 and 30 minutes, 1, 12 and 24 hours. Therefore, the first gear to eighth gear are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, the time of the timer may be widely varied by controlling the gear ratio, number and size of the gears. As described above, the present invention is characterized in that reduction gear members are provided to decrease the size of the drive motor and reduce the number of rotations of the drive motor. The drive motor and the reduction gear members are similarly applied to the following Examples, as well as Example 1-1 of the miniature timer according to the present invention.
[60] Similarly, the driving member of the miniature timer according to the present invention is basically described in this Example 1-1, and includes a resistor and a coil for driving a motor, and a reduction gear member coupled using a plurality of gears, but the present invention is not limited thereto. However, if they are a drive motor and a driving member capable of being adjusted according to the time defined by the cam, they are applicable to Example 1-1 to Example 2-2 of the present invention. That is to say, the driving member may include a reduction motor, step motor, etc., which are controlled by a controller or a microcontroller for driving a motor.
[61] And, the controlling member 140 includes a terminal supporting unit 141 provided in one side of the upper case 111, and the terminal supporting unit 141 includes a switching terminal 142, a drive lead 143 and a contact terminal 144. Therefore, the switching terminal 142 include a lever 1421 contacted with the cam 134 and has a contact point 1422 formed in an end thereof, and a driving rib 143 is disposed in an outer sider spaced from the switching terminal 142 and coupled to one side of the bobbin coil 121 using a wire. And, the contact terminal 144 has a first contact point 1441 and a second contact point 1442 formed integrally in both sides of the contact point 1422 of the switching terminal 142, and the contact point 1422 is then in electric contact with the first contact point 1441 and the second contact point 1442. Also, a power terminal 145 is installed in one side of the terminal supporting unit 141 to constitute a controlling member 140, and a terminal unit cover 1411 is provided to surround the controlling member 140 of the upper case 111.
[62] And, a circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134 includes an intermediate groove
1346 formed with a bi-layered circular arc shape in one side of the spherical surface 1345; and an anchoring groove 1347 formed with a triangular arc shape in an inner side of the spherical surface 1345, and a projected end protrusion 1348 is formed in a timer on/off position disposed in the front end of the intermediate groove 1346.
[63] A positional fixation projection 1349 is formed on the cam 134 and hang over a position fixing rib 1113 formed in an inner side of the upper case 111, and the cam 134 does not rotate since a positional fixation projection 1349 is hang over the position fixing rib 1113 of the upper case 111 in rotating the cam 134.
[64] And, a resistor 122 is coupled to the wire by with the drive lead 143 and the bobbin coil 121 are coupled.
[65] The rotation axis 1343 according to the present invention is a rotation axis of the cam 134 in which a control knob for setting a timer time (a handle for setting a time) 123 may be installed on the rotation axis 1343 (as shown in FIG. 4) to set a time of the timer.
[66] Referring to the operation of the miniature timer (T) as configured thus, the cam
134 rotates if the timer time setting control knob 123 attached to the rotation axis 1343 is rotated, and an edge portion of the lever 1421 of the switching terminal 142 is escaped from the bi-layered stepped intermediate groove 1346 toward a projected end protrusion 1348, and then contacted with a spherical surface 1345 of the circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134. At this time, a contact point 1422 of the switching terminal 142 are disconnected from a first contact point 1441 of the contact terminal 144, as shown in FIG. 6, and then electrically connected with a second contact point 1442 of the drive lead 143. Then, a user further rotates the control knob 123 to be a timer set time so as to set a timer. From this time, the timer operates. At this time, electricity flows in the bobbin coil 121 through the wire of the drive lead 143 via the resistor 122.
[67] Then, if a power supply is supplied from the bobbin coil 121 to the drive motor (M) to drive the drive motor (M), the motor gear 132 and reduction gears are rotated together by the drive motor (M), and the cam 134 is then rotated at a reduced number of rotations. That is to say, the first gear 1331 is rotated by the drive motor (M) since it is engaged with the motor gear 132, a small gear of the first gear 1331 is engaged with a large gear of the second gear 1311 to rotate the second gear 1311, the third gear 1332 engaged with the second gear 1311 is rotated, and the cam 134 of the rotation axis 1343 is rotated at a reduce speed since rotations of the cam 134 are reduced through a fourth gear 1312, a fifth gear 1333, a sixth gear 1313, a seventh gear 1334 and an eighth gear 1314, all of which are continuously coupled by gears and a final gear 1335 is rotated at a reduced speed.
[68] As described above, if a time is set by the control knob 123 by rotating the cam 134,
a lever 1421 that is in contact with a circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134 pass by the projected end protrusion 1348 disposed in the timer on/off transition position of the cam 134, and the lever 1421 automatically moves to a position of the intermediate groove 1346 of the cam 134. At this time, a contact point 1422 of the switching terminal 142 is electrically disconnected from the second contact point 1442 of the contact terminal 144 since the other side of the contact point 1422 becomes a rotating central point and rotates, and the switching terminal 142 is not electrically connected with the contact terminal 144. Then, if the cam 134 is further rotated, the lever 1421 is disposed in an inner side of the final anchoring groove 1347 of the stepped cam 134. In this case, the contact point 1422 of the switching terminal 142 is in contact with the first contact point 1441 of the contact terminal 144 again to allow an electric current of the switching terminal 142 to flow in the contact terminal 144.
[69] The, the switching terminal 142 and the drive lead 143 are disconnected to each other while the lever 1421 of the switching terminal 142 passes by the projected end protrusion 1348 of the cam 134 and is disposed in a circular arc shape of the intermediate groove 1346, and therefore the miniature timer (T) is not operated since a power supply is not supplied to the drive motor (M). Also, the switching terminal 142 and the drive lead 143 are disconnected from each other since the lever 1421 of the switching terminal 142 is translocated from the intermediate groove 1346 into the triangular anchoring groove 1347.
[70] And, the cam 134 rotates against the rotation axis 1343, and the positional fixation projection 1349 formed on the cam 134 is in contact with the position fixing rib 1113 of the upper case 111 to fix the cam 134, thereby preventing the rotation of the cam 134.
[71] FIG. 7 showing another embodiment of the miniature timer (T) according to the present invention as configured thus is slightly different from FIGS. 2 and 6 in aspect of some components of the controlling member 140 and the cam 134, and then the components of the controlling member 140 and the cam 134 will be described in detail.
[72] That is to say, the entire configuration of the timer case 110 and the driving member
120 are similar to those described above. The timer case 110 and the driving member 120 are interlocked with the drive motor (M) and the reduction gear members, and the circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134 that is coaxially rotated with the rotation axis 1343 is formed of a spherical surface 1345 and a triangular anchoring groove 1347, and therefore the circular arc shape of the intermediate groove 1346 is not provided in the above-mentioned embodiment.
[73] And, the controlling member 140 has a terminal supporting unit 141 formed inside in one side of the upper case 111, and the terminal supporting unit 141 includes a switching terminal 142, a contact terminal 144 and a power terminal 145.
[74] Then, the switching terminal 142 has a lever 1421 contacted with the cam 134 and a contact point 1422 formed in an end thereof, and the contact terminal 144 is disposed in the outside of the switching terminal 142 and coupled to one side of the bobbin coil 121, and the contact point 1443 is coupled to an end of the bobbin coil 121. And, the power terminal 145 provided in one side of the bobbin coil 121 is coupled to the other side of the bobbin coil 121 using a wire.
[75] For the miniature timer (T) as described above, if the control knob for setting a timer time attached to the rotation axis is rotated, the cam 134 is rotated, the lever 1421 of the switching terminal 142 is escaped from the triangular anchoring groove 1347, passes by the projected end protrusion 1348 of the cam 134 and contacts with the spherical surface 1345 of the circumferential surface 1344. At this time, the contact point 1422 of the switching terminal 142 is electrically connected with the contact point 1443 of the contact terminal 144. Then, a user further rotates the control knob to be a timer set time so as to set a timer. From this time, the timer operates. At this time, electricity flows in the bobbin coil 121 through the wire of the contact terminal 144 via the resistor 122.
[76] Accordingly, the number of rotations are reduced according to each of the reduction ratios if the first gear 1331 to the eighth gear 1314 are engagedly rotated by means of the motor gears 132 in the drive motor (M) to which a power supply is supplied from the bobbin coil 121. As described above, a plurality of the reduction gears are coupled by gear to rotate the eighth gear 1314 at a reduced speed, and therefore the final gear 1335 is rotated at a reduced speed, and finally the cam 134 is rotated at a reduced speed.
[77] If the time is set by the rotation of the cam 134 as described above, the lever 1421, which is in contact with the spherical surface 1345 of the circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134, passes by the projected end protrusion 1348 which is the timer on/off position of the cam 134, and translocates into a position of the triangular anchoring groove 1347 of the cam 134.
[78] Then, the contact point 1422 of the switching terminal 142 is electrically disconnected from the contact point 1443 of the contact terminal 144, and the switching terminal 142 is electrically disconnected from the contact terminal 144. Then, the timer is not operated since a power supply is not supplied to the drive motor (M).
[79] FIG. 8 showing still another embodiment of the miniature timer (T) according to the present invention as configured thus is slightly different from FIGS. 2 and 7 in aspect of some components of the controlling member 140, and then the components of the controlling member 140 will be described in detail.
[80] Therefore, the driving member 120 and the reduction gear members is similar to the configuration of the above embodiment.
[81] Also, one case that the circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134 is formed of the outermost spherical surface 1345 and the triangular anchoring groove 1347 is described herein.
[82] And, the terminal supporting unit 141 of the controlling member 140 provided in one side of the upper case 111 includes a micro switch 146 installed therein, the micro switch 146 being contacted with the circumferential surface 1344 of the cam 134. Also, the micro switch 146 includes a switching terminal 1462, a drive terminal 1463 and a contact terminal 1464, all of which are installed in the micro switch 146. And, the drive terminal 1463 and one side of the bobbin coil 121 are coupled to each other using a wire, and a power terminal 145 is installed in one side of the micro switch 146, and coupled to the other side of the bobbin coil 121 to provide a controlling member 140. The other configurations may be the same as those of the above embodiment.
[83] For the miniature timer (T) according to the present invention as configured thus, if the control knob for setting a timer time of the rotation axis is rotated to rotate the cam 134, a lever button 1461 attached to the micro switch 146 is escaped from the triangular anchoring groove 1347, and contacted with the spherical surface 1345 of the circumferential surface 1344 of the projected end protrusion 1348 of the cam 134. At this time, a contact point of the switching terminal 1462 is electrically connected with the contact terminal 1464 when the lever button 1461 of the micro switch 146 is pushed down, and a contact point of the switching terminal 1462 is also electrically connected with a contact point of the drive terminal 1463. Then, a user further rotates the control knob to be a timer set time so as to set a timer. From this time, the timer operates. At this time, electricity flows in the bobbin coil 121 through the wire of the drive terminal 1463 via the resistor.
[84] Then, if a power supply is supplied from the bobbin coil 121 to the drive motor (M) to drive the drive motor (M), the motor gear 132 and reduction gears are rotated together by the drive motor (M), and the final gear 1335 and the cam 134 are rotated at a reduced number of rotations. Accordingly, the lever button 1461 contacted with the spherical surface 1345 of the cam 134 passes by the projected end protrusion 1348 in the timer on/off position of the cam 134 and is disposed in the triangular anchoring groove 1347 by the rotation of the cam 134. At this time, the lever button 1461 is protruded outward from the micro switch 146, and a contact point of the switching terminal 1462 of the micro switch 146 is disconnected from a contact point of the contact terminal 1464 and an contact point of the drive terminal 1463, and therefore the timer is not operated since the contact point of the switching terminal 1462 is not electrically connected with the contact terminal 1464 and the drive terminal 1463.
[85] The above-mentioned embodiment shows that the switching terminal of the micro switch is electrically connected with the contact terminal and the drive terminal when
the lever button is pushed down. Therefore, if the lever button is pushed down unlike the circuit configuration of the micro switch 146, the switching terminal is isolated from the contact termina tegrally with the contact terminal 544, and one side of the switching terminal 542 is coupled to one side of the bobbin coil 521 and the resistor 522. Also, the power terminal 545 provided in one side of the power plug (P) is coupled to the other side of the bobbin coil 521 using a wire.
[86] Accordingly, the power supply supplied through the code contact terminals 5613a and 5613b is supplied to the power code wires 562a and 562b, and the switching terminal 542 is electrically connected or disconnected to/from the contact terminal 544 coupled to the code contact terminal 5613a by the lever 5421 of the switching terminal 542 that is disposed in the circumferential surface of the cam 534 and the anchoring groove 5347 by means of the operation of the driving member.
[87] And, still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be descried in detail with reference to FIGS. 52 and 53, as follows.
[88] That is to say, a micro switch is provided in the controlling member, and the micro switch is provided to control a switching operation using a control knob coupled to the rotation axis 5343.
[89] More particularly, in the case of the power plug (P) according to the present invention, a switching terminal 5631, a power terminal 5633 and a contact terminal 5632 of the micro switch 563 are in contact with power terminal contact units 5616a, 5616b and 5616c of the power plug (P), respectively. And, a power terminal contact unit 5616a is coupled to the power code wire 562a, and a power terminal contact unit 5616b is coupled to the power code wire 562b, and also coupled to the code contact terminal 5613b of the power plug (P). Also, the power terminal contact unit 5616c is coupled to the code contact terminal 5613a of the power plug (P).
[90] And, the upper body 5621 has a hole 5623 formed in a central region thereof, wherein a rotation axis 5343 of the miniature timer (T) is disposed in the hole 5623, and a hole of a button 5634 is formed in one side thereof, and a hole of a lever 5635 is formed in an upper portion thereof. Also, one side of the upper motor case 511 includes a button 5634 formed in an upper portion thereof, and a micro switch 563 including a switching terminal 5631, a power terminal 5633 and a contact terminal 5632 is installed in one side of the button 5634, and a hanging projection 5636 is installed in an intermediate region of the button 5634 to operate the micro switch 563, and a button 5634 and a lever 5635 are protruded upward through a hole of the upper body 5621 to dispose an inclined plate 5637 in an upper portion of the hanging projection 5636, the inclined plate 5637 rotating left/right by the lever 5635 and enabling a button to move up and down, and the switching terminal 5631 is coupled to one side of the bobbin coil 521 through the resistor 522 using a wire, and the power
terminal 5633 is coupled to the other side of the bobbin coil 521 using a wire.
[91] As a result, if a plurality of operation pins 5626', which is installed in a control knob
5626 for setting a timer time attached to the rotation axis 5343, moves downward at the set time and the control knob 5626 is rotated into the set time of the timer, a button 5634 of the micro switch 563 is pushed down by the operation pin 5626', and a switching terminal 5631 and a contact terminal 5632 of the micro switch 563 are coupled to each other, and electricity flows in the bobbin coil 521 through the resistor 522 using a wire. At this time, the timer is operated, and the power supply supplied to the code contact terminal 5613a flows in the electrical equipment through the power code wire 562a, thereby operating the electrical equipment.
[92] If the set time is over under the above-mentioned condition, a rotating operation pin
5626' of the timer control knob 5626 is escaped from the button 5634 of the micro switch 563, and the button 5634 moves upward, and a power supply is shut off to the electronic equipment since the micro switch 563 is not operated.
[93] As described above, as the timer is turned off, the power plug is in an Off state, and therefore the timer operates for a time set for the electronic products by the user.
[94]
[95] Example 2-2. Power Plug Using Bipolar Miniature Timer
[96] Example 2-2 shows a power plug using a unipolar or bipolar miniature timer as described in Example 1-1 to Example 1-4. Therefore, one exemplary embodiment of the power plug (P) using the unipolar miniature timer (T) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 54 to 66, as follows.
[97] Also, a configuration of inputting/outputting a power supply may be described in detail, compared to the technical construction of Example 2-1 which is one embodiment of the power plug using a unipolar miniature timer. And, a configuration of a drive motor and reduction gear members of a driving member, which is a main characteristic of the miniature timer (T) according to the present invention, may be similar to that of the driving member according to various embodiments as described above. In particular, the basic configuration is basically described in Example 1-2 showing the bipolar miniature timer, and therefore components that are not described particularly may be applied as the technical construction as described in the previous other embodiments.
[98] That is to say, the power plug (P) according to the present invention includes a lower body 6622 and an upper body 6621, and a pair of code contact terminals 6613a and 6613b are protruded outward in a lower en of the lower body 6622, and a ground terminals 6613c are installed in both sides of the lower body 6622, a timer mounting groove 6614 is formed in an upper portion of the lower body 6622, and four groove s6615a, 6615b, 6615c and 6615d are formed respectively in power code wires 662a
and 662b formed in one side of the mounting groove 6614.
[99] Power terminal contact units 6616a, 6616b, 6616c and 6616d are inserted and fixed into the grooves 6615a, 6615b, 6615c and 6615d, and the power code wires 662a and 662b are coupled to the power terminal contact units 6616c and 6616d, the code contact terminals 6613a and 6613b are coupled respectively to the power terminal contact units 6616a and 6616b through the coupling terminals 6617a and 6617b, and the power code grounding conductor 662c is coupled to the ground terminal 6613c. The switching terminals 642a and 642b of the timer are in contact with the power terminal contact unit 6616a and 6616b when the miniature timer (T) is installed in the timer mounting groove 6614, and the contact terminals 644a and 644b of the timer are in contact with the power terminal contact units 6616c and 6616d.
[100] The upper body 6621 has a hole 6623 formed therein to dispose a rotation axis 6343 of the miniature timer (T) in a central region thereof, and a fixing bolt 6625 for coupling a bolt hole 6624 is coupled to a bolt hole 6624 formed in both side upper portions thereof, an upper body 6621 and a lower body 6622 having a lever hole 6627 formed therein are coupled to one side thereof, and a timer control knob 6626 is installed in the rotation axis 6343 that is protruded upward through the hole 6623 of the upper body 6621.
[101] The power terminal contact unit 6616a, 6616b, 6616c and 6616d has a U groove formed in an upper portion thereof so that they can be inserted and contacted with the switching terminals 642a and 642b and the contact terminals 644a and 644b using a metal, respectively.
[102] The miniature timer (T) includes a bobbin coil 621 for applying a power supply to one side to which the lower case 612 and the fixing plate 612' are coupled, and a drive motor (M) has a motor gear 632 installed around the center of the fixing pin formed in one side of the fixing plate 612', and a second gear 6311, fourth gear 6312, sixth gear 6313 and an eighth gear 6314, all of which are formed of two layers, are installed on the drive motor (M).
[103] A bi-layered first gear 6331 having a backlashing preventing plate installed in a lower end thereof is installed in the other side around the center of the fixing pin to be engaged with the motor gear 632, and a third gear 6332, a fifth gear 6333 and a seventh gear 6334 are sequentially installed onto the first gear 6331, and a rotation axis 6343 is installed in an upper fixing pin of the seventh gear 6334.
[104] A final gear 6335 and a cam 634 having a leaf spring installed in upper/lower portions thereof are installed in the rotation axis 6343, the second gear 6311 is engaged with the first gear 6331, the eighth gear 6314 6311 is then engaged with the seventh gear 6334 to rotate at a reduced speed, and the final gear 6335 is engaged with the eighth gear 6314.
[105] The rotation axis 6343 is protruded upward through a hole of the upper motor case
611, and a mounting groove 6614 having a controlling member 640 anchored therein is formed in one side of the upper motor case 611 to be in contact with the cam 634. there is provided a rotary lever 651 having a guide plate 652 installed therein, the guide plate 652 being in contact with a surface of the cam 634 and disposed in the anchoring groove 6347.
[106] A front end of the controlling member 640 is in contact with the rotary lever 651, and a shift lever 647 is installed to slide into upper/lower slide grooves 6461 that are formed in the intermediate plate 646 so that the other side end of the controlling member 640 can be in contact with the upper/lower switching terminals 642a and 642b and a central region. The shift lever 647 includes a front end 6471 protruded toward one side thereof to be in contact with the rotary lever 651 ; and a guide groove 6472 formed in a transverse direction so that the other side central region can be fit into the intermediate plate 646 to slide.
[107] A switching terminal 642a is formed in an upper end of the intermediate plate 646 of the controlling member 640, and contact points 6422a and 6422b are formed in both sides of one side end of the switching terminal 642a, and a contact terminal 642 having a first contact point 6441 and a second contact point 6442 formed in both sides of the contact points 6422a and 6422b is fixed in the terminal case 648.
[108] A switching terminal 642b is installed in a lower end of the intermediate plate 646 of the controlling member 640, and a contact terminal 644b having a first contact point and a second contact point formed in both sides of the contact point 6422b of the switching terminal 642b is installed in a lower portion of the intermediate plate of the terminal case 648, and therefore it is possible to disconnect and connect a power supply of the contact terminal 644a and 644b from/to the upper/lower switching terminals 642a and 642b at the same time.
[109] The handling lever 6481 protruded upward to one side of the terminal case 648 is protruded upward to the lever hole 6627 of the upper body 6621 through the lever hole 6114 of the upper timer case 611, and the handling lever 6481 moves left and right so that the contact point 6422a and 6422b of the switching terminal 642a and 642b can selectively be in contact with a first contact point 6441 and a second contact point 6442 of the contact terminals 644a and 644b.
[110] A guide protrusion 6483 is installed in an internal surface of the intermediate plate
6482 of the terminal case 648 so that it can be fit into a rail groove 6462 of the intermediate plate 646 to slide, and a guide groove 6484 is installed in an external surface of the intermediate plate 6482 at a constant distance, and a semicircular leaf spring 6401 is installed in an inner surface of the controlling member 640 to guide the leaf spring 6401 into the guide groove 6484. A buffering protrusion 6402 is formed in
left/right internal surfaces of the controlling member 640 having the terminal case 648 installed therein.
[I l l] The shift lever 647 includes a front end 6471 protruded to one side thereof to be in contact with the rotary lever 651 ; and a guide groove 6472 formed in a transverse direction so that the other side central region is fit into the intermediate plate 646 to sli de.
[112] A drive lead 643 is installed to connect/disconnect a power supply to/from an outer side of the switching terminal 642a through the movement of the switching terminal 642a, and the drive lead 643 is coupled to the bobbin coil 621 using a wire.
[113] The switching terminals 642a and 642b may include a nickel-iron alloy so at to detach a contact point of the terminals if a temperature increase suddenly.
[114] As shown in FIGS. 59 and 60, if a time is set by the control knob 6626 using the rotation axis 6343 of the timer, the shift lever 647 moves by the rotary lever 651 with the operation of the cam 634, and the second contact points 6442 of the contact terminals 644a and 644b are in contact with the contact points 6422a of the upper/ lower switching terminals 642a and 642b at the same time. Then, if the set time is over, the guide plate 652 of the rotary lever 651 is inserted into the anchoring groove 6347 of the cam 6343, and the switching terminals 642a and 642b return to a normal state. Here, the contact point 6422a is disconnected from the second contact point 6442 of the contact terminals 644a and 644b, and two power supplies may be shut off at the same time if the set time is over after setting a time in he timer.
[115] As shown in FIGS. 61 and 62, if the terminal case 648 is moved to one side by the handling lever 6481, and a time is set using the rotation axis 6343 of the timer, the shift lever 647 moves by the rotary lever 651 with the operation of the cam 634, and the first contact point 6441 of the contact terminal 644a and 644b is disconnected from the contact point 6422b of the switching terminal 642a and 642b. Then, if the set time is over, the guide plate 652 of the rotary lever 651 is inserted into the anchoring groove 6347 of the cam 634 to return the switching terminals 642a and 642b to a normal state, and the contact point 6422b is in contact with the first contact point 6441 of the contact terminals 644a and 644b. In this case, if the set time is over after setting a time in the timer, two power supplies may be switched from an Off state to an On state. Accordingly, two power supplies of the switching terminals 642a and 642b and the contact terminals 644a and 644b may be disconnected/connected from/to the controlling member 640 at the same time.
[116] A control knob 6626 for setting a time to a range from 0 to 24 hours in the timer is installed in an upper portion of the rotation axis 6343 of the present invention. And, the handling lever 6481 of the terminal case 648 has a separate lever installed through the lever hole 6114 of the upper timer case 611.
[117] Referring to the operation of the power plug, when a time is set and the set time is over as shown in FIGS. 61 and 62, the guide protrusion 6483 formed in the in termediate plate 6482 of the terminal case 648 slides along a rail groove 6462 formed in the intermediate plate 646 if one side handling lever 6481 of the terminal case 648 is pulled outward to switch a power supply from an Off state to an On state. At this time, a semicircular leaf spring 6401 installed inside the controlling member 640 which is its other side is escaped from the guide groove 6484 formed in an external surface of the intermediate plate 6482 at a constant distance, and the terminal case 648 moves left, and the leaf spring 6401 is then disposed in the guide groove 6484, and the terminal case 648 is fixed. At this time, a front end of the terminal case 648 is closed attached to the buffering protrusion 6402 formed inside the controlling member 640. At this time, the first contact point 6441 and the second contact point 6442 of the contact terminal 644a are fixed in the terminal case 648, and the first contact point 6441 and the second contact point 6442 move left as much as the terminal case 648 moves, as shown in FIG. 61.
[118] If a time is set under the condition of FIG. 61 in the miniature timer (T) by rotating a control knob 6626 for setting a timer time attached to the rotation axis 6343, the cam 634 is rotated as shown in FIG. 62, and the guide plate 652 of the rotary lever 651 is escaped from the triangular anchoring groove 6347, and contacted with a circumferential surface of the cam 634. At this time, the rotary lever 651 pushes the shift lever 647, and the shift lever move left along the slide groove 6461 of the intermediate plate 646 to push the switching terminals 642a and 642b. Then, the contact point 6422 is disconnected from the first contact point 6441 of the contact terminal 644a and 644b, and therefore a power supply of the switching terminal 642a and 642b is shut off from the contact terminal 644a and 644b.
[119] At the same time, when the switching terminal 642a is pushed left, the drive lead
643 in contact with the intermediate contact point portion to apply a power supply to a bobbin coil of the timer coupled to a wire through the switching terminal 222a via the lead 225. From this time, the timer operates, and the final gear is rotated by the reduction gears to rotate the cam 634.
[120] If the above-mentioned cam 634 is rotated to set a time and the set time is over, the guide plate 652 of the rotational lever 651, which is in contact with a circumferential surface of the cam 634, moves to a position of the triangular anchoring groove 6347 of the cam 634, as shown in FIG. 61.
[121] At this time, the contact point 6422 is electrically connected with the first contact point 6441 of the contact terminals 644a and 644b by means of a restoring force of the switching terminals 642a and 642b, and therefore two power supplies is connected with the contact terminals 644a and 644b rather than the switching terminals 642a and
642b, thereby allowing electricity to flow.
[122] At the same time, the switching terminal 642a returns to a normal state, and the drive lead 643 is disconnected from the intermediate contact point portion, and therefore the power supply is not electrically connected with the drive lead 643 through the switching terminal 642a, and the timer dose not operates.
[123] If the set time is over after setting a time in the timer as described above, two power supplies are switched from an Off state to an On state at the same time.
[124] As the terminal case 648 installed in the controlling member 640 of the timer slides left or right by the power ON/OFF apparatus using the timer as described above, two power supplies may be switched from an On state to an Off state if the set time is over after setting a time in the timer, and two power supplies may be switched from an Off state to an On state if the set time is over after setting a time in the timer.
[125] FIGS. 63 to 66 show still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, as follows. Accordingly, the above exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the code contact terminals 6613a and 6613b supplied with a power supply remains coupled to the power terminal contact units 6616a and 6616b, but the following embodiment shows that the code contact terminal 6613a and 6613b should be coupled to the power terminal contact unit 6616c and 6616d. That is to say, the coupling of the input power supply may be set suitably according to the circuit configuration of the equipment to be designed.
[126] And, the configurations of the driving member and the controlling member in the previous embodiments are applied to this embodiment in the same manner. However, a terminal case 648 is not separately provided in the controlling member 640 in this embodiment, and therefore a switching terminal, a contact terminal and a drive lead are fixed without any movement.
[127] Accordingly, one side of the timer 200 includes a mounting groove 216 having a power switch unit 220 anchored in one side thereof; and a rotary lever 213 having a guide plate 214 installed in an upper side thereof, the guide plate 214 being in contact with a surface of the cam 275 and disposed in the groove 212. And, the power switch unit 220 includes a shift lever 215 slid in the upper/lower slide grooves 221b formed in the intermediate plate 221a so that a front end can be in contact with the rotary lever 213 and the other side end can be in contact with a central region of the power coupling terminals 222a, 222b; a contact point 222c formed in one side end of the power coupling terminal 222a installed in an upper portion of the intermediate plate 221a; a power supply contact terminal 231a having a first contact point 232a formed in one side of the contact point 222c; a contact point 222c formed in one side end of the power coupling terminal 222b installed in a lower portion of the intermediate plate
221a of the power switch unit 220; and a power supply contact terminal 231b installed in the intermediate plate 221a and having a first contact point 232a formed in one side of the contact point 222c. Therefore, a power supply may be disconnected/connected from/to the upper/lower power coupling terminals 221a, 222b at the same time.
[128] A lead 225 is installed in a left side of the central region of the power coupling terminal 222a so that power supply can be disconnected/connected with the movement of the power coupling terminal 222a, and the lead 225 is coupled to the bobbin coil 263 using a wire.
[129] If the set time is over after setting a time in the timer as shown in FIGS. 65 and 66, a time is set under a condition as shown in FIG. 65 by rotating a control knob 6626 for setting a timer time attached to the rotation axis 6343 of the miniature timer (T) so s to switch a power supply from an On state to an Off state, and the cam 634 is then rotated as shown in FIG. 66, and the guide plate 652 of the rotary lever 651 is escaped from the triangular anchoring groove 6347 to be in contact with a circumferential surface of the cam 634. At this time, the rotary lever 651 pushes the shift lever 647, and the shift lever moves along the slide groove 6461 of the intermediate plate 646 to push the switching terminals 642a and 642b, and the contact point 6422a is then electrically connected with the second contact point 6442 of the contact terminals 644a and 644b.
[130] At the same time, the switching terminal 642a is in contact with the drive lead 643 of the intermediate contact point portion while being pushed left, and a power supply applied to the code contact terminal 6613a and the power terminal contact unit 6616a is then applied through the switching terminal 642a via the drive lead 225, and finally applied to the bobbin coil of the timer coupled through the wire.
[131] From this time, the timer operates and the final gear is then rotated by the reduction gears to rotate the cam 634.
[132] If the cam 634 is rotated and the set time is over as described above, the guide plate
652 of the rotational lever 651, which is in contact with a circumferential surface of the cam 634, moves to a position of the stepped intermediate groove 6346 of the cam 634, as shown in FIG. 65.
[133] At this time, the contact point 6422a is electrically disconnected from the second contact point 6442 of the contact terminal 644a and 644b by a restoring force of the switching terminals 642a and 642b, and the contact terminal 644a and 644b is not electrically connected with the switching terminals 642a and 642b.
[134] At the same time, the switching terminal 642a returns to a normal state, and the drive lead 643 is disconnected from the intermediate contact point portion to shut off a power supply. Then, the timer does not operate. Accordingly, if the set time is over after setting a time in the timer as described above, the power supply is switched from an On state to an Off state.
[135] As the timer is stopped as described above, the power supply is switched to an Off state, and therefore, the timer may be operated as much as a user sets for the electronic products.
[136] Then, if the user slightly rotates a control knob of the timer, the guide plate 652 of the rotational lever 651 is anchored into the anchoring groove 6347 from the stepped intermediate groove 6346 of the cam 634, and the contact point 6422 is then electrically connected with the first contact point 6441 of the contact terminal 644a and 644b by a restoring force of the switching terminals 642a and 642b. In this case, the contact terminals 644a and 644b is electrically connected with the switching terminals 642a and 642b to maintain an On state permanently.
[137] Example 2-1 and Example 2-2 for the power plug according to the present invention are illustrated compared to some of the embodiments of the miniature timer according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that other embodiments of the above-mentioned miniature timer may be applicable herein. And, it is also apparent that a settling structure of the miniature timer as described later may be applied to embodiments of the electronic/electric equipment including the miniature timer of Example 1-1 to Example 1-4 and the power plug of Example 2- 1 and Example 2-2.
[138] More particularly, the miniature timer in the present invention may be mounted to the electronic/electric equipment in various manners, as shown in FIG. 67.
[139] That is to say, the miniature timer (T) includes a plurality of terminal 42 electrically coupled to the controlling member formed in one side of the timer case 10, and also has a rotation axis 43 coaxially rotated to the cam, and therefore a regulating rib 26 presenting a setting display unit 24 is coaxially coupled to the rotation axis 43. And, coupling ribs 17 protruded outward with an elastic force is provided in both side walls of the timer case 10. And, if the terminal case is provided in the controlling member, a handling lever 1681 is further provided in an upper portion of the miniature timer (T) to allow the terminal case to move.
[140] A code contact terminal 3 is formed in a lower portion of the power plug (P) having the miniature timer coupled thereto, a timer mounting groove 4 is formed in an upper portion of the power plug (P), and a plurality of terminal grooves are formed in a side direction of a code line of the timer mounting groove 4 to be in contact with terminals of the miniature timer (T).
[141] Also, a rib groove 2 into which the coupling rib 17 of the miniature timer (T) is inserted and coupled is formed in an inner side wall of the timer mounting groove 4 of the power plug (P).
[142] Accordingly, the miniature timer (T) having a settling round 18 and a coupling rib
17 formed therein is pushed to be inserted and coupled into the timer mounting groove
4 of the power plug (P). And, the regulating rib 26 is fit and coupled to the rotation axis 43 of the miniature timer (T).
[143] For the power plug (P) and the miniature timer (T), a time is set in the timer by rotating the regulating rib 27. As shown in FIG. 67, the regulating rib 27 may be made of transparent materials to see the top of the inside settling round 18, and a time display unit 19 displaying a time is provided in the top surface of the settling round 18. Accordingly, the setting display unit 24 of the regulating rib 27 is rotated to return to a position of the set time of the time display unit 19 displayed in the settling round 18 which is the timer case 10 of the timer body, thereby confirming the indication of the set time to set a time in an easy manner. Then, the switching is controlled through the operations of the controlling member and the driving member as described in the above embodiments, and therefore a power supply is electrically disconnected or connected in the power plug (P) through the operation of the miniature timer (T).
[144] In addition, the regulating rib 27 is made of transparent materials as shown in FIG.
67, and therefore a time may be freely set by seeing the indications of the time display unit 19 of the settling round 18 exhibiting the time. Therefore, the regulating rib 27 is made of transparent materials and a time display unit displaying a set time is displayed in a surface of the regulating rib. On the contrary, it is apparent that a setting display unit for displaying a set time may be displayed in a top surface of the settling round. In the same manner, the time display unit for displaying a time may be displayed in one side between the power plug and the regulating rib, and a setting display unit for indicating a time may be displayed in the other side between the power plug and the regulating rib.
[145] And, it is seen that the time display unit is displayed in a rod shape as shown in
FIG. 67, but it is apparent that various time display methods such as Arabic numerals, Roman numerals and the like may be used to display a time.
[146] As described above, although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes might be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.