Electrical connectors – Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-15
2001-12-04
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
C439S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power plug assemblies and, more specifically, to a power plug assembly which houses a plug in such a manner as to be lifted up when plugged into an AC outlet.
2. Description of the Background Art
A well known conventional type power plug assembly is one of which includes a plug which is lifted up, by 90 degrees, to be plugged into an AC outlet before use. The plug is arranged in a pivotally movable fashion in the body of assembly, and housed therein when not in use.
In such a conventional power plug assembly, a plug base and the body are arranged so that play therebetween is reduced. Friction is generated between the plug base and the body to hold the plug in a state ready to be plugged into the AC outlet. This is done to reduce the number of components of the assembly and to simplify the structure thereof. Some of the conventional power plug assemblies include engagement mechanisms for each of the plug base and the body which are partially made of resin. When the plug is pivotally moved to some extent, those two engagement mechanisms engage each other with the help of the elasticity of the resin, thus enabling the plug to be held and to remain in a plugged-in state with the AC outlet.
In the conventional power plug assembly, the plug is held in the plugged-in state due to friction generated between the plug base and the body, or the elasticity of the resin of the engagement mechanisms. In this manner, however, the plug (terminal) remains exposed from the body after use, and the plug needs to be manually pushed back into the body. If the plug is not pivotally moved enough to be housed back in the body, the plug still remains exposed, thus resulting in malfunction if something bumps against the plug.
For the power plug assembly that utilizes the elasticity of the resin for engagement, if the plug is lifted-up and pushed-back too often, the resin part may gradually wear out, and finally may not stay in a desired position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, a power plug assembly of the present invention comprises: a plug formed in one piece with a pair of terminals to be inserted into the AC outlet, and made of insulating material; a case which has a space for retaining the plug in a pivotally movable manner for a predetermined angular range, exposing the terminals when the plug pivotally moves, and housing the terminals when not in use; and a first resilient member housed in the case, and always biasing the plug in a direction to be housed. The power plug assembly further comprises: a first engagement part formed in the plug; a second engagement part to be engaged with the first engagement part when the plug is pivotally moved to a predetermined angle forced against the first resilient member; an engagement operation part for engaging the second engagement part with the first engagement part; and a second resilient member for always biasing the engagement operation part in a direction to release engagement.
When the plug is pivotally moved to the predetermined angle, a user operates the engagement operation part in a manner to produce a force against the resilience of the second resilient member so that the first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other and the plug is retained in a state ready for plug-in to the AC outlet. When the user releases the engagement operation part, the plug is automatically housed in the space due to resilience of the first resilient member.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5135406 (1992-08-01), Ishikawa
patent: 5220152 (1993-06-01), Doran
patent: 5713746 (1998-02-01), Wu
patent: 5967807 (1999-10-01), Wu
patent: 6062880 (2000-05-01), Skuza
patent: 6179633 (2001-01-01), Inada
Inada Katsutoshi
Uemura Kazuki
Yoneyama Kazuo
Nintendo Co. Ltd.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
LandOfFree
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