A converter

Abstract

The present invention discloses a converter, including a shell and a plurality of plug assemblies, each of which includes a pin and a button connected to the pin. The converter also includes a bracket arranged in the shell, a central axis installed on the bracket, and a plurality of limit assemblies. Each plug assembly is equipped with a limit assembly, each limit assembly includes a rack connected to the button, a gear installed on the central axis and meshing with the rack, and a slider arranged on the central axis and cooperating with the gear. The gear rotates to push the slider cooperating with it or the slider adjacent to it to move along the central axis. When the button is in the first position, the sliders and gears respectively located at both ends of the central axis are pressed against the bracket. The present invention can achieve that during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the shell through the meshing of the rack and the gear, the matching of the gear and the slider, and the up and down movement of the rack driven by the button. The structure is simple and easy to produce and assemble.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of plugs and sockets, and more particularly to a converter capable of switching plugs and sockets of different specifications. Background Art

[0002] Since the plug and socket systems among most countries in the world are not unified, traveling between countries is always inconvenient. In order to conveniently use the plug devices of one's own country during international travel, converters that can switch plugs and sockets of different specifications at any time have emerged, which are applicable to the socket systems of different countries. However, due to safety and regulatory standards requirements, only one plug can be pushed out and fixed at a time when using such travel converters with multiple pins.

[0003] Patent ZL028153774 discloses a power plug that has sockets for one or more standard plugs on one side, and a plurality of plug contacts of different standards on the opposite side can be moved out to an effective position. These plug contacts can be moved out through operating pins in a sliding slot, and the sliding slots of the plug contacts that are not moved out are covered by a brake body, so that only a single plug contact can be moved out. A safety body that fixes the plug contact in the effective position prevents the forward-moved plug contact from accidentally moving back. The solution introduced in Patent ZL028153774 or similar solutions, a design similar to a slider will cause the product structure to be loose, and there will be a lot of abnormal noises when shaking the product, giving the impression that the product is unreliable, of poor quality, and appears cheap and not high-class.

[0004] Patent CN111969350A discloses a grounded and simple travel conversion plug, which has a housing, a socket (16), and at least a first plug (38) of a first standard and a second plug (28) of a second standard. Each plug is assigned a driving slider (22, 24, 26), and the driving slider is guided externally through a chute on the housing. The driving slider is designed to move the plug between a standby position and a use position. In the standby position, the plug is basically placed inside the housing, and in the use position, the plug is placed outside the housing for use. The first plug includes a plug body (40), a first contact pin (42A), and a second contact pin (42B). In the use position, the plug body, the first contact pin, and the second contact pin are placed outside the housing for use. In the standby position, the plug body, the first contact pin, and the second contact pin are placed inside the housing. The second plug includes a third contact pin (30A) and a fourth contact pin (30B), and the third contact pin and the fourth contact pin are also guided inside the plug body of the first plug. Similar designs in Patent CN111969350 will lead to a very complex product design, too many internal components, high requirements for mold accuracy, difficult processing and assembly, high product development costs, long cycle times, and also lead to product unreliability, frequent jamming, problems such as the plug pins being unable to be pushed out, seriously affecting the user experience of consumers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The features and advantages of the present invention are partly stated in the following description, or will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practicing the present invention.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a converter, which realizes that only one of multiple plug pins can be pushed out and fixed during the use of the converter through a simple structure.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is as follows: A converter includes a housing and multiple plug components. Each plug component includes a plug pin and a button connected to the plug pin. The button has a first position for placing the plug pin outside the housing and a second position for placing the plug pin inside the housing. The converter is characterized in that the converter further includes a bracket provided inside the housing, a central shaft installed on the bracket, and multiple limiting components. Each plug component is configured with a limiting component. Each limiting component includes a rack connected to the button, a gear installed on the central shaft and meshing with the rack, and a slider provided on the central shaft and cooperating with the gear. The rotation of the gear pushes the slider cooperating with it or the adjacent slider to move along the central shaft. When the button is in the first position, the sliders and gears located at both ends of the central shaft respectively abut against the bracket.

[0008] A first inclined surface disposed circumferentially is provided on a first end surface at one end of the gear. The first inclined surface has a height difference from the first end surface in the axial direction of the central axis. The end of the first inclined surface is connected to a first plane. A second inclined surface disposed circumferentially is provided on a second end surface at one end of the slider. The second inclined surface has a height difference from the second end surface in the axial direction of the central axis. The end of the second inclined surface is connected to a second plane. The first inclined surface cooperates with the second inclined surface, and when the button is in the first position, the first plane and the second plane are in contact with each other.

[0009] A first inclined surface disposed circumferentially is provided on a first end surface at one end of the gear. The first inclined surface has a height difference from the first end surface in the axial direction of the central axis. A second inclined surface disposed circumferentially is provided on a second end surface at one end of the slider. The second inclined surface has a height difference from the second end surface in the axial direction of the central axis. The first inclined surface cooperates with the second inclined surface, and when the button is in the first position, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are in contact with each other.

[0010] A boss is provided on the slider, and a guide groove is provided on the bracket. The boss is disposed in the guide groove.

[0011] The bracket includes a mounting plate and baffles provided on both sides of the mounting plate. Both ends of the central axis are respectively mounted on the baffles on both sides. When the button is in the first position, the slider at one end of the central axis is in tight contact with one baffle, and the gear at the other end of the central axis is in tight contact with the other baffle.

[0012] A boss is provided on the slider, and a guide groove is provided on the mounting plate. The boss is disposed in the guide groove.

[0013] The length of the central axis is equal to the length of the rack.

[0014] Each plug assembly further includes a connecting block. The button is mounted on the connecting block, and the pin is mounted on the connecting block.

[0015] A slot is provided on the connecting block, and one end of the rack is mounted in the slot.

[0016] The connecting block includes a first connecting block and a second connecting block. The first connecting block and the second connecting block are fixedly connected. The button is integrally formed at the end of the first connecting block, and the pin is mounted on the second connecting block.

[0017] In the present invention, when the button of a certain plug component is in the first position, the sliders and gears located at the left and right ends of the central axis are respectively pressed against the bracket. Since they are already pressed tightly, if the buttons of other plug components are toggled at this time, the gears cannot rotate anymore, the sliders cannot move anymore, and the buttons of other plug components are limited and cannot move downward. As a result, the plugs in other plug components cannot move downward and be placed outside the housing. In this way, during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the housing. Through the meshing of the rack and the gear, the cooperation between the gear and the slider, and by driving the rack to move up and down with the button, it can be achieved that during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the housing. Its structure is simple and is conducive to production and assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with examples. The advantages and implementation manners of the present invention will become more obvious. The content shown in the accompanying drawings is only used for the explanation of the present invention and does not constitute any limitation to the present invention in any sense. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 is the external structure diagram of the converter in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is the internal structure of the converter in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 3 is the internal structure of the converter in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0022] Figure 4 is the structure of the bracket, central axis, gear and slider assembled together in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 5 is the structure of the bracket, central axis, gear and slider separated in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 6 is the structure of the bracket, central axis, gear and slider separated in the embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 7 is the structure diagram of the gear in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 8 is the side view of the gear in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 9 is the structure diagram of the slider in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 10is a side view of a slider in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 11 is a structural diagram of the button of the intermediate plug assembly in the embodiment of the present invention when it is in the use position;

[0030] Figure 12 It is a structural diagram of the assembly of the bracket, the middle shaft, the gear and the slider when the button of the intermediate plug assembly in the embodiment of the present invention is in the use position;

[0031] Figure 13 It is a structural diagram of the bracket, the middle shaft, the gear and the slider separated when the button of the intermediate plug assembly in the embodiment of the present invention is in the use position;

[0032] Figure 14 is a structural diagram of a connection block in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 15 is a structural diagram of the disassembled connection block in an embodiment of the present invention. Specific implementation method

[0034] If Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the converter proposed in the embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 100 and a plurality of plug assemblies, each of which includes a button 201 and a pin 202. The button 201 is connected to the pin 202. The button 201 is located outside the housing and can move up and down on the housing. When the button 201 is turned, the pin 202 moves up and down, so that the pin 202 is placed outside or inside the housing.

[0035] Button 201 has a first position and a second position. The first position is the use position, and the second position is the initial position. In the use position, button 201 is located at the lower part of the housing, and in the initial position, button 201 is located at the upper part of the housing. When button 201 is in the first position, pin 202 is placed outside housing 100, and when button 201 is in the second position, pin 202 is placed inside the housing. When button 201 is in the first position, button 201 will be restricted and stuck. The existing conventional technology can be used for button 201 to be restricted and stuck, so that it cannot move up by itself and needs to be moved up by hand.

[0036] If Figures 2 to 6 As shown, the converter also includes a bracket 203, a central axis 204 and a plurality of limit assemblies. The bracket 203 is fixed in the housing, the central axis 204 is mounted on the bracket 203, and each plug assembly is configured with a limit assembly, that is, each plug assembly is limited by a corresponding limit assembly to limit the button in the plug assembly from moving downward, thereby limiting the plug from being outside the housing.

[0037] ​Each limiting component includes a rack 205, a gear 206 and a slider 207. The rack 205 is connected to the button 201. The gear 206 is mounted on the central shaft 204 and meshes with the rack 205. The up-and-down movement of the button 201 drives the up-and-down movement of the rack 205, thereby driving the gear 206 to rotate on the central shaft 204. The slider 207 is mounted on the central shaft 204 and is in contact and cooperation with the gear. The rotation of the gear 206 pushes the slider 207 that cooperates with it or the adjacent slider (the slider in other limiting components) to move along the central shaft. When the button 201 is in the first position, the sliders and gears located at the left and right ends of the central shaft 204 respectively are in tight contact with the bracket 203.

[0038] When the button of a certain plug component is in the first position, it will cause the sliders and gears located at the left and right ends of the central shaft to be in tight contact with the bracket. Since they are already in tight contact, if the button of other plug components is toggled at this time, the gear cannot rotate anymore, the slider cannot move anymore, and the buttons of other plug components are limited and cannot move downward, so that the plugs in other plug components cannot move down outside the housing. In this way, during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the housing. And in the present invention, through the meshing of the rack and the gear, the cooperation between the gear and the slider, and by driving the rack to move up and down by the button, it can be achieved that during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the housing. Its structure is simple and is conducive to production and assembly; the pins are pushed out smoothly, the parts move smoothly, and there is no abnormal noise when the product is shaken.

[0039] As Figures 5 to 10 shown, in this embodiment, in order to achieve the effect that the gear will push the slider to move when rotating, the structures of the gear 206 and the slider 207 are set as follows.

[0040] A first inclined surface 2062 arranged circumferentially is provided on the first end surface 2061 at one end of the gear 206 (the first end surface is perpendicular to the axial direction of the central shaft), and there is a height difference between the first inclined surface 2062 and the first end surface 2061 in the axial direction of the central shaft. This height difference gradually increases from the front end 20621 (the end connected to the first end surface 2061) to the end 20622 of the first inclined surface 2062. The first inclined surface is provided on a circumferential part. In this embodiment, the first inclined surface is arranged around the central shaft. The end 20622 of the first inclined surface 2062 is connected to a first flat surface 2063. The first flat surface 2063 is arranged circumferentially. The first flat surface 2063 is parallel to the first end surface 2061, so that there is a height difference between the first flat surface 2063 and the first end surface 2061 in the axial direction of the central shaft. A first vertical surface 2065 is formed between the first flat surface 2063 and the first end surface 2061. A first mounting through hole 2064 is provided in the middle of the gear 206, and the gear 206 is mounted on the central shaft through the first mounting through hole 2064.

[0041] The second end face 2071 at one end of the slider 207 (the second end face is perpendicular to the axial direction of the central axis) is provided with a second inclined surface 2072 arranged circumferentially, and there is a height difference between the second inclined surface 2072 and the second end face 2071 in the axial direction of the central axis. This height difference gradually increases from the front end 20721 (the end connected to the second end face 2071) to the end 20722 of the second inclined surface 2072. The second inclined surface is arranged on a circumferential part. In this embodiment, the second inclined surface is arranged around the central axis. The end of the second inclined surface 2072 is connected to the second plane 2073. The second plane 2073 is arranged circumferentially. The second plane 2073 is parallel to the second end face 2071, so that there is a height difference between the second plane 2073 and the second end face 2071 in the axial direction of the central axis, and a second vertical surface 2075 is formed between the second plane 2073 and the second end face 2071. A second mounting through hole 2074 is provided in the middle of the slider 207, and the slider 207 is mounted on the central axis through the second mounting through hole 2074.

[0042] When the button is in the initial position, the first end face 2061 on the gear is in contact with the second plane 2073 on the slider, the first inclined surface 2062 on the gear is in contact with the second inclined surface 2072 on the slider, the first plane 2063 on the gear is in contact with the second end face 2071 on the slider, and the first vertical surface 2065 on the gear is in contact with the second vertical surface 2075 on the slider, so that the gear 206 is in contact with the slider 207.

[0043] The bracket 203 includes a mounting plate 2031 and baffles 2032 provided on the left and right sides of the mounting plate 2031. Both ends of the central axis 204 are mounted on the baffles 2032 on the left and right sides. When the button is in the first position, the slider at the left end of the central axis abuts against the left baffle 2032, and the gear at the right end of the central axis abuts against the right baffle 2032.

[0044] In order to limit the rotation of the slider 207, a boss 2076 is provided on the slider 207, and a guide groove 2033 is provided on the mounting plate 2031. The boss 2076 is arranged in the guide groove 2033, so that the slider 207 can only move left and right along the central axis and cannot rotate.

[0045] As Figure 2 and Figure 4 shown, when the button is in the initial position, the gears 206 in each plug assembly are in contact with the slider 207, and the gears 206 in adjacent two plug assemblies are in contact with the slider 207. At this time, there is a moving distance H between the slider 207 at the left end of the central axis and the left baffle, and the gear 206 at the right end of the central axis is in contact with the right baffle.

[0046] In this embodiment, there are a total of three plug assemblies, a total of three gears, three sliders and three racks. The three sliders and three gears are alternately mounted on the bracket from left to right.

[0047] Taking the example of the plug of the middle plug assembly protruding out of the housing, at the initial position, the button is located at the upper part of the housing. When the button is toggled and moves downward, it drives the rack to move downward. The downward movement of the rack drives the gear to rotate clockwise (viewed from left to right), thereby driving the first inclined plane on the gear to rotate. The rotation of the first inclined plane will squeeze the second inclined plane on the slider to the left. Since the slider can only move on the central axis and there is a moving distance H, when the first inclined plane squeezes the second inclined plane to the left, it will push the slider in the middle plug assembly to move to the left, and further push the slider at the left end of the central axis to move to the left until the button moves down to the lower part of the housing and is restricted. The pins of the middle plug assembly move out of the housing. At this time, the slider at the left end of the central axis will abut against the left baffle of the bracket, and the gear at the right end of the central axis will abut against the right baffle (refer to Figure 4 and Figure 11 and Figure 12 ), so that the gears in other plug assemblies cannot rotate any more, the sliders cannot move any more, and thus the pins in other plug assemblies cannot move down out of the housing.

[0048] As Figures 11 to 13 shown, in the use position, the button 201 is located at the lower part of the housing. At this time, the button is restricted and thus cannot move upward by itself and needs to be toggled by hand to move upward. At this time, the slider 207 at the left end of the central axis will abut against the left baffle 2032 of the bracket, and the gear 206 at the right end of the central axis will abut against the right baffle 2032 of the bracket. The position of the first plane 2063 of the gear 206 of the middle plug assembly rotates from the initial position at the lower part of the gear to the upper part of the gear, so as to abut against the second plane of the slider. Between the slider 207 and the baffle, between the gear 206 and the baffle, and between the adjacent slider 207 and the gear 206 are all jammed and there is no moving distance. In this way, the gears in other plug assemblies are jammed and the sliders have no moving distance, so that the gears in other plug assemblies cannot rotate any more, the sliders cannot move any more, and the buttons in other plug assemblies are limited and cannot move downward, so that the plugs in other plug assemblies cannot move down and protrude out of the housing. In this way, during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the housing.

[0049] If the other pins need to move out of the housing, the button of the middle plug assembly needs to be moved upward to the initial position first, and then the button of the other plug assembly is toggled.

[0050] In this embodiment, the length of the central axis is equal to the length of the rack.

[0051] As Figure 14 and Figure 15As shown, each plug assembly further includes a connection block, the button is mounted on the connection block, and the pin is mounted on the connection block. In this embodiment, the connection block includes a first connection block 301 and a second connection block 302. The first connection block 301 and the second connection block 302 are fixedly connected. The button 201 is integrally formed at the end of the first connection block 301, and the pin is mounted on the second connection block 302. A chute cooperating with the button is provided on the housing to facilitate the up and down movement of the button.

[0052] A slot 303 is provided on the second connection block 302, and the lower end of the rack 205 is mounted in the slot 303.

[0053] In another embodiment, the first end face (the first end face is perpendicular to the axial direction of the central axis) of one end of the gear is provided with a first inclined surface arranged circumferentially, and the first inclined surface has a height difference with the first end face in the axial direction of the central axis. The first inclined surface is arranged on a circumferential part. In this embodiment, the first inclined surface is arranged around the central axis. The second end face (the second end face is perpendicular to the axial direction of the central axis) of one end of the slider is provided with a second inclined surface arranged circumferentially, and the second inclined surface has a height difference with the second end face in the axial direction of the central axis. The second inclined surface is arranged on a circumferential part. In this embodiment, the second inclined surface is arranged around the central axis. When the button is in the first position, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are in contact. At this time, the slider at the left end of the central axis will be in tight contact with the baffle on the left side of the bracket, and the gear at the right end of the central axis will be in tight contact with the baffle on the right side of the bracket. As a result, the gears in other plug assemblies cannot rotate anymore, the slider cannot move anymore, and the buttons of other plug assemblies are limited and cannot move downward. Thus, the plugs in other plug assemblies cannot move down outside the housing. In this way, during the use of the converter, only one plug can be pushed out and placed outside the housing.

[0054] In the present invention, the specifications of the rack match the corresponding gears.

[0055] To meet the requirements of different lengths of the pins protruding from the housing, the moving distance of the slider can be adjusted by changing the slope of the inclined surface, and then the length of the pins protruding from the housing can be changed. When the slope of the inclined surface increases, the squeezing distance is shorter, and the length of the pins protruding from the housing is shorter; when the slope decreases, the squeezing distance is longer, and the length of the pins protruding from the housing is longer.

[0056] To meet the requirements of different lengths of the pins protruding from the housing, it can also be solved by changing the size of the gear. The larger the gear, the longer the length of the inclined surface under the condition that the slope of the inclined surface remains unchanged, and the longer the length of the pins protruding from the housing; the smaller the gear, the shorter the length of the inclined surface under the condition that the slope of the inclined surface remains unchanged, and the shorter the length of the pins protruding from the housing.

[0057] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various variant embodiments without departing from the scope and essence of the present invention. For example, features shown or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to obtain yet another embodiment. The above are only the preferred and feasible embodiments of the present invention, and thus do not limit the scope of the rights of the present invention. Any equivalent changes made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention are included within the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. A converter, comprising a housing and a plurality of plug assemblies, each of the plug assemblies comprising a pin and a button connected to the pin, the button having a first position for placing the pin outside the housing and a second position for placing the pin inside the housing, characterized in that: The converter also includes a bracket arranged in the housing, a central axis mounted on the bracket, and a plurality of limit assemblies, each plug assembly is equipped with a limit assembly, each limit assembly includes a rack connected to the button, a gear mounted on the central axis and meshing with the rack, and a slider arranged on the central axis and matched with the gear, the gear rotates to push the slider matched with it or the slider adjacent to it to move along the central axis, and when the button is in the first position, the sliders and gears respectively located at both ends of the central axis are pressed against the bracket; A first bevel arranged around the circumference is provided on a first end surface of one end of the gear, the first bevel and the first end surface have a height difference in the axial direction of the central axis, and the end of the first bevel is connected to a first plane; a second bevel arranged around the circumference is provided on a second end surface of one end of the slider, the second bevel and the second end surface have a height difference in the axial direction of the central axis, the end of the second bevel is connected to a second plane, the first bevel cooperates with the second bevel, and the first plane and the second plane are against each other when the button is in the first position; The first end surface of one end of the gear is provided with a first inclined surface arranged around the circumference, and the first inclined surface and the first end surface have a height difference in the axial direction of the central axis; the second end surface of one end of the slider is provided with a second inclined surface arranged around the circumference, and the second inclined surface and the second end surface have a height difference in the axial direction of the central axis; the first inclined surface cooperates with the second inclined surface, and the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface abut against each other when the button is in the first position; The slider is provided with a boss, the bracket is provided with a guide groove, and the boss is arranged in the guide groove; The bracket includes a mounting plate and baffles arranged on both sides of the mounting plate, and the two ends of the central axis are respectively mounted on the baffles on both sides. When the button is in the first position, the slider at one end of the central axis is pressed against the baffle on one side, and the gear at the other end of the central axis is pressed against the baffle on the other side.

2. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that The sliding block is provided with a boss, the mounting plate is provided with a guide groove, and the boss is arranged in the guide groove.

3. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that The length of the central shaft is equal to the length of the rack.

4. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that Each plug assembly further includes a connection block, the button is mounted on the connection block, and the pins are mounted on the connection block.

5. The converter according to claim 4, characterized in that The connecting block is provided with a slot, and one end of the rack is installed in the slot.

6. The converter according to claim 4, characterized in that The connection block comprises a first connection block and a second connection block, the first connection block and the second connection block are fixedly connected, the button is integrally formed at an end of the first connection block, and the pin is mounted on the second connection block.

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