SOCKET, A PLUG, AND AN ASSEMBLY

• US 20120295456A1
• Filed: 05/15/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Logistics Asia Pte. Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Severac, Didier
• Granted Patent: US 8,951,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/136
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2408 Modular blocks H01R9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

A plug and socket assembly comprising (i) a socket that includes a mating means disposed thereon, and an electrical contact on the socket, and (ii) a plug that includes a matching means for mating with the mating means disposed on the socket, and a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to the electrical contact on the socket. The matching means is configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode. When in the compatible mode, the matching means allows the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the matching means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal.

Claims

1. A socket for coupling electrically to a plug, the socket comprising:

a mating means disposed on the socket for mating with a matching means on the plug, said mating means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and

an electrical contact on the socket for coupling electrically to a conducting terminal of the plug,

wherein when in the compatible mode, the mating means allows the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the mating means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal.

2. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mating means and the electrical contact are disposed on a same surface of the socket.

3. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein (i) the mating means comprises an abutment and the matching means comprises a recess and/or (ii) the mating means comprises a recess and the matching means comprises an abutment.

4. The socket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the abutment is electrically non-conductive.

5. The socket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the abutment is positionally slidable between the compatible mode and the incompatible mode.

6. The socket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the abutment is reversibly securable at predetermined positions.

7. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mating means comprises a recess and the matching means comprises an abutment, and the mating means is reversibly sealable to be positionable in the compatible mode or in the incompatible mode.

8. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conducting terminal of the plug comprises a plurality of conducting terminals, and wherein the electrical contact on the socket comprises a plurality of electrical contacts on the socket for electrically coupling to the plurality of conducting terminals of the plug to establish electrical connections therebetween when in the compatible mode.

9. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket is a relay socket.

10. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug is a relay plug.

11. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein when in use in the compatible mode, a voltage rating configuration of the socket matches or is compatible to a voltage rating configuration of the plug.

12. The socket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the abutment is slidable on a guide disposed on the surface of the socket.

13. The socket as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide comprises a retaining means for reversibly securing the abutment at at least one of the predetermined positions.

14. The socket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the abutment comprises a flange portion;

and wherein the retaining means comprises a slot for releasably engaging the flange portion of the abutment at the at least one of the predetermined positions.

15. The socket as claimed in any one of claim 6, wherein the incompatible mode comprises at least two different predetermined positions at which the mating means is positionable.

16. The socket as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an indicating means for visually indicating to a user the different predetermined positions at which the mating means is positionable.

17. The socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mating means is disposed on a socket housing of the socket.

18. A socket housing for a socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket housing comprises the mating means disposed thereron.

22. A plug and socket assembly comprising at least one of a socket as claimed in claim 1, and a plug as claimed in claim 19 for coupling to the socket.

23. The plug and socket assembly of claim 22, wherein the plug and socket assembly is a relay plug and relay socket assembly.

19. A plug for coupling electrically to a socket, the plug comprising:

a matching means on the plug for mating with a mating means disposed on the socket; and

a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to an electrical contact on the socket,

wherein when in the compatible mode, the matching means allows the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the matching means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal.

20. A plug and socket assembly comprising:

a socket comprising a mating means disposed thereon, said mating means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and

an electrical contact on the socket; and

a plug comprising a matching means for mating with the mating means disposed on the socket; and

a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to the electrical contact on the socket,

wherein when in the compatible mode, the mating means allows the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the mating means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal.

21. A plug and socket assembly comprising:

a socket comprising a mating means disposed thereon; and

an electrical contact on the socket, and

a plug comprising a matching means for mating with the mating means disposed on the socket, said matching means configured to be adjustable between a compatible mode and an incompatible mode; and

a conducting terminal for coupling electrically to the electrical contact on the socket,

wherein when in the compatible mode, the matching means allows the electrical contact to contact the conducting terminal, and when in the incompatible mode, the matching means substantially prevents the electrical contact from contacting the conducting terminal.