Electrical outlet with protective cover

• US 20010024894A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KID Systeme GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: KID Systeme GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Krick, Hans-Juergen, Mosebach, Dieter, Brey, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 6,425,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/137
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4534 Laterally sliding shutter

Abstract

An electrical outlet has socket openings for insertion of contact pins of an electrical plug therein, a closure element that selectively closes or opens the socket openings, and a latching element that selectively latches or unlatches the closure element. The closure element slides perpendicularly to the insertion axis. The latching element includes a latching pawl that is flexibly deflectable parallel to the insertion axis, between a latched position for engaging the closure element and an unlatched position for releasing the closure element. An unlatching pin of an adapter is inserted to deflect the latching pawl to disengage it from the closure element. This unlocks the receptacle for use. Then the contact pins of the plug may be inserted through holes in the adapter and into the socket openings to press sloping surfaces of the closure element to slide the closure element to the open position.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet arrangement including an electrical outlet that comprises:

a housing having at least two socket openings adapted to receive contact pins of an electrical plug inserted therein extending along an insertion axis;

electrical contacts arranged in said housing respectively in alignment with said socket openings parallel to said insertion axis;

a closure element that is slidably arranged in said housing on a plane extending substantially perpendicularly to said insertion axis between said socket openings and said electrical contacts so that said closure element is slidable along said plane between a closed position in which said closure element blocks respective insertion paths extending from said socket openings to said electrical contacts and an open position in which said closure element does not block said insertion paths, wherein said closure element includes at least one sloping surface that is positioned in at least one of said insertion paths facing toward at least one of said socket openings when said closure element is in said closed position, and wherein said closure element further includes a catch structure; and

a latching element including a latching pawl arranged in said housing, wherein said latching pawl is movable in a direction substantially parallel to said insertion axis between a latched position in which said latching pawl engages said catch structure of said closure element and prevents a sliding displacement of said closure element from said closed position to said open position, and an unlatched position in which said latching pawl is disengaged from said catch structure and does not prevent said sliding displacement of said closure element.

2. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, wherein said latching element further includes a mounting element that is fixedly secured in said housing and a connector web that connects said latching pawl to said mounting element, and wherein at least one of said connector web and said latching pawl is elastically flexibly deflectable in said direction substantially parallel to said insertion axis to provide said latching pawl being movable in said direction substantially parallel to said insertion axis.

3. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, wherein said latching element further includes a mounting element that is slidably arranged in a groove in said housing extending substantially parallel to said insertion axis, and a connector web connecting said latching pawl to said mounting element so that said latching element is slidable to provide said latching pawl being movable in said direction substantially parallel to said insertion axis.

4. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, wherein said electrical outlet further comprises a first compression spring arranged in said housing and bearing against a portion of said latching element so as to spring-bias said latching pawl toward said latched position.

5. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, wherein said closure element is one single unitary piece that blocks said respective insertion paths of both of said at least two socket openings.

6. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, wherein said closure element comprises an elongated guide body that is slidingly received in a groove extending substantially perpendicularly to said insertion axis in said housing, and two closure arms extending longitudinally from said guide body respectively at two opposite sides thereof, wherein said catch structure is provided on said guide body, and wherein said at least one sloping surface includes two sloping surfaces that are respectively provided on said two closure arms.

7. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, wherein said closure element is slidingly received in a groove in said housing extending substantially perpendicularly to said insertion axis, such that said closure element is linearly slidable along said groove.

8. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, further comprising a second spring arranged in said housing and bearing against said closure element so as to spring-bias said closure element toward said closed position.

9. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 1

, further including an adapter mounted on said electrical outlet, wherein said adapter comprises an adapter body and an unlatching pin protruding from said adapter body, said housing of said electrical outlet further has an unlatching pin hole therein allowing access to said latching element, and said adapter is arranged with said unlatching pin inserted into said unlatching pin hole and pressing against a portion of said latching element so as to displace said latching pawl from said latched position to said unlatched position and hold said latching pawl in said unlatched position.

10. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 9

, wherein said latching element further includes a mounting element that is fixedly secured in said housing and a connector web that connects said latching pawl to said mounting element, wherein said connector web is elastically flexibly deflectable in said direction substantially parallel to said insertion axis to provide said latching pawl being movable in said direction substantially parallel 9 to said insertion axis, and wherein a free end of said unlatching pin protruding away from said adapter body bears against said connector web so as to flexibly deflect said connector web and thereby displace said latching pawl in said direction substantially parallel to said insertion axis from said latched position to said unlatched position and hold said latching pawl in said unlatched position.

11. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 9

, wherein said housing includes an external receptacle floor, said socket openings and said unlatching pin hole are arranged adjacent to one another in said receptacle floor, and respective hole axes of said socket openings and said unlatching pin hole extend parallel to each other and define said insertion axis.

12. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 11

, wherein said adapter body is arranged at least partially overlapping said receptacle floor and has contact pin holes therein respectively in registration with said socket openings.

13. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 12

, further including an electrical plug comprising a plug body and at least two electrical contact pins protruding from said plug body, wherein said plug body is arranged against said adapter body with said contact pins respectively inserted through said contact pin holes of said adapter body and said socket openings of said electrical outlet, such that said contact pins have pushed against said at least one sloping surface of said closure element and caused said closure element to slide from said closed position to said open position, and said contact pins extend respectively further along said insertion paths into contact with said electrical contacts of said electrical outlet.

14. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 12

, wherein said adapter body is a flat planar disk-shaped body, and said unlatching pin protrudes perpendicularly from said disk-shaped body.

15. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 14

, wherein said housing defines an externally open receptacle recess with a bottom bounded by said receptacle floor, said disk-shaped body is arranged in contact with and extending along said receptacle floor, and said disk-shaped body has a plan shape matching a contour shape of said receptacle floor.

16. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 14

, wherein said adapter further comprises a pin stub protruding perpendicularly from said disk-shaped body on an opposite side thereof from said unlatching pin.

17. The electrical outlet arrangement according to

claim 9

, further including an aircraft passenger seat, wherein said electrical outlet is installed in, on or directly adjacent to said passenger seat.