Fastener for all-purpose power supply sockets

• US 6,261,109 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Daniel, Liu, Chia-Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/286,883
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/146, 439/147, 439/142, 439/174
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A fastener for all-purpose power supplies sockets includes a socket and at least one plug engageable with the socket. The socket has a latch cavity in a lateral wall. The plug has a moveable fastening member that has a first button engaging with a latch bar. The latch bar has a latch head engageable with the latch cavity and a latch tail engageable with a spring strip. The latch head may engage with the latch cavity automatically when the plug is inserted in the socket to form a secure engagement and coupling. Upon moving the first button sideward, the latch head will be disengaged with the latch cavity to enable the plug to move away from the socket easily.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

a socket having a casing with a receptacle therein and an insert inside the receptacle;

the receptacle including a rear wall, a bottom wall and two side walls for forming a top opening;

the rear wall having a latch cavity formed therein;

the insert located on the bottom wall and electrically coupling with a power cable through the bottom wall; and

at least one plug having a power source end engageable with an external power source and a body engageable with the receptacle for the power source end to be electrically coupling with the insert;

the body having a fastening member which includes a movable first button located above a top of the body, a latch bar engaged with a bottom of the first button, a latch head located at one end of the latch bar and engageable with the latch cavity, a latch tail located at another end of the latch bar, a spring mounting extending from the rear wall, and a spring strip mounted at one end thereof on the spring mounting and another end thereof engageable with the latch tail;

wherein the latch head engages the latch cavity when the plug is inserted into the socket; and

upon moving the first button against the spring strip, the latch head disengaging with the latch cavity so that the plug may be moved out of the socket.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch cavity is of a wedge shape.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the socket has a transverse top bar for preventing an external object from dropping into the receptacle or making contact with the insert.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a conversion plug having one end engageable with the insert to form an electrical connection and another end thereof forming a conversion socket for coupling with the external power source.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert has an insert body which has a pair of terminals located at a top thereof and two lateral ends pivotally engaged with the socket, the insert body further having a plural number of angular recesses symmetrically formed on a front side and a rear side thereof, the angular recesses being engageable with a positioning bulge located on the rear wall of the socket at the shortest space distance from the insert body.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the rear wall further has a non-closed loop through-wall groove formed around the positioning bulge to form an elastic arm for engaging elastically with one of the angular recesses when the insert is turned in the socket.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the non-closed loop through-wall groove is a U-shaped groove.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert has an insert body which has a pair of terminals located at a top thereof and two lateral ends pivotally engaged with the socket, the insert body further having a plural number of angular bulges symmetrically formed on a front side and a rear side thereof, the angular bulges being engageable with a positioning recess located on the rear wall of the socket at the shortest space distance from the insert body.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the rear wall further has an non-closed loop through groove formed around the positioning recess to form an elastic arm for engaging elastically with one of the angular bulges when the insert is turned in the socket.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the non-closed loop through groove is a U-shaped groove.

11. An assembly, comprising:

a socket having a casing with a receptacle therein and an insert located inside the receptacle;

the receptacle formed by a rear wall, a bottom wall and two side walls for having a top opening;

the insert further having an insert body pivotally mounted between the two side walls and spaced from the rear wall;

the insert body having terminals vertically located on a top thereof and an angular means symmetrically located on a front and a rear side thereof;

the angular means being engageable with a positioning means located on the rear wall when the insert is turned;

the rear wall further has a non-closed loop through groove formed around the positioning means to form an elastic arm for engaging elastically with the angular means when the insert is turned in the socket; and

at least one plug having a power source end engageable with an external power source and another end engageable with the insert to form an electric connection.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the non-closed loop through groove is a U-shaped groove.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the positioning means and the angular means are respectively a positioning bulge and an angular recess.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the positioning means and the angular means are respectively a positioning recess and angular bulges.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the non-closed loop through groove is a U-shaped groove.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the socket has a conversion plug that has a first end engageable with the insert to form an electrical connection and a second end forming a conversion socket coupled with the first end and engageable with an external power source.