Electrical connectors – Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-04
2002-06-04
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
C439S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398566
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to an electric plug connector, and more particularly to a foldable electric plug connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, an electric plug connector includes an enclosure means, a pair of connection plugs and an electric circuit contained inside the enclosure means. The connection plugs are used to make an electrical connection between an external power source and a circuit contained inside the enclosure means. Certainly, the design of the structure of the enclosure means and the layout of the circuit are used to meet the requirement of the application of the electric plug connector. In other words, the structures of the enclosure means and the layouts of the circuit are quite different for different electric devices, e.g. adaptor, charger or shaver. According to the prior art, the connection plugs are disposed fixedly on one side of the enclosure means. However, when the electric plug connector is not in use, it is easy for the user to be hurt by the electric plug connector if the user is not careful enough. Moreover, because of fixing of the electric plug connector, an extra space is required for disposing the electric plug connector on the enclosure means. Thus, at present, a lot of researches devote to developing a foldable electric plug for solving the problems as described above. FIGS.
1
(
a
) and
1
(
b
) respectively illustrate an assembled structure and a cross-sectional view of a traditional foldable electric plug connector. Such a foldable electric plug connector includes an enclosure means
10
, a pair of external connection plugs
11
, a pair of internal connection pins
12
and a rotatable transverse rod
13
. The enclosure means
10
further includes a concave storage confinement
101
disposed near the top edge of the enclosure means
10
. The holes
111
disposed on the external connection plugs
11
and the holes
121
disposed on the internal connection pins
12
are used for the tenons
131
being inserted thereinto such that the external connection plugs
11
, the internal connection pins
12
and the rotatable transverse rod can be stably coupled together. The right and the left side walls of the concave storage confinement
101
respectively includes a spring receptacle
1011
therein for containing a spring
1012
. The two ends of the spring
1012
respectively contact with a side of the spring receptacle
1011
and a fixing element
1013
. Because of the resilient force of the spring
1012
, after the external connection plugs
11
are completely unfolded from the concave storage confinement
12
with simultaneous rotation of the rotatable transverse rod
13
, the fixing element
1013
can be engaged with a cavity
1014
of the external connection plug
11
. Certainly, thereafter, the external connection plugs
11
can be plugged into an external power supply source for making an electrical connection between the external power supply source and a circuit contained inside the enclosure means
10
.
In spite of that a foldable electric plug connector is developed, such a traditional foldable electric plug connector still has some drawbacks described as follows.
1. Besides an enclosure means
10
, a pair of external connection plugs
11
, a pair of internal connection pins
12
and a rotatable transverse rod
13
, a pair of springs
1012
and a pair of fixing elements
1013
are required for assembling the foldable electric plug connector, that is to say, ten elements are required for assembling the foldable electric plug connector and the manufacturing cost of the foldable electric plug connector would be raised.
2. The process for assembling the foldable electric plug connector is complicated.
3. The external connection plugs
11
and the internal connection pins
12
are easily detached from the tenon
131
.
Accordingly, it is attempted by the present applicant to overcome the above-described problems encountered in the prior arts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable electric plug connector for lowing the manufacturing cost thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable electric plug connector for easily being assembled.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable electric plug connector with less elements for saving the required laboring.
According to the present invention, the foldable electric plug connector includes an enclosure means having a concave storage confinement disposed thereon for storing a pair of external connection plugs, wherein the concave storage confinement includes an engaging opening formed on the lower portion thereof and two inserting openings formed on two opposite sides of the lower portion, an engaging means extending outwardly from the engaging opening for engaging with a rotatable transverse rod, an immobile connection means including a pair of internal connection pins, wherein the internal connection pins are respectively inserted into the inserting openings for electrically contacting with an electric circuit contained inside the enclosure means, and a foldable connection means including the pair of external connection plugs for being plugged into a power supply, wherein the external connection plugs are respectively pivotally connected to the internal connection pins, wherein the rotatable transverse rod is disposed between the two connecting points of the pair of internal connection pins and the pair of external connection plugs.
Preferably, the enclosure means is made of insulating material.
Preferably, engaging means is integrally formed with the enclosure means and in the shape of an arc. Preferably, one end of the engaging means further includes a protruding member.
Preferably, the rotatable transverse rod further includes a plurality of engaging members, corresponding to the protruding member, for securely engaging with the protruding member in position without movements.
Preferably, each external connection plug is pivotally connected to the respective internal connection pin via a rivet.
Preferably, each external connection plug further includes a semicircular head at one end thereof.
Preferably, the rotatable transverse rod further includes a pair of reception members formed at both ends thereof for receiving the semicircular heads.
Preferably, the immobile connection means further includes a pair of hooking members disposed on the pair of internal connection pins for immobilizing the internal connection pins on the enclosure means when the internal connection pins are inserted into the inserting openings.
The present invention may best be understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 5401178 (1995-03-01), Liu
Delta Electronics , Inc.
Ta Tho D.
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