Protective structure and socket applied thereto

Abstract

The application provides a protective structure and a socket applied by the same. The protective structure comprises an outer shell, a first shell and a second shell connected to each other, a first reinforcing rib position arranged on the inner side of the first shell, and a second reinforcing rib position arranged on the inner side of the second shell. A sealing part is arranged to seal and connect the first reinforcing rib position and the second reinforcing rib position. The protective structure adopts a double protective layer, wherein the outer shell serves as the first protective layer and can be used to protect against water flow with strong impact force and high pressure, the sealing part and the reinforcing rib position serve as the second protective layer and can be used to protect against small substances such as water droplets and water vapor, and the first protective layer can protect the second protective layer from external impact deformation, thereby improving the overall protection effect. The protective structure is simple in process, low in cost, convenient to maintain and capable of meeting the high-level protection requirements of users.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of protection technology, and in particular to a protective structure and a socket in which it is applied. Background Technology

[0002] Existing outdoor protective products, such as outdoor sockets and measuring instruments, typically achieve waterproof and dustproof performance using adhesive or ultrasonic welding sealing technology, or by using rubber rings for partial sealing. However, adhesive or ultrasonic welding sealing is complex, costly, and difficult to repair; while partial sealing with rubber rings may not meet users' high-level waterproof requirements, posing a risk of product damage due to insufficient waterproof and dustproof performance. Some existing technologies propose a socket where various components are assembled and then sealed with sealant at the joints to ensure a tight seal. However, the sealant may fail after prolonged use, causing a sharp decline in the socket's waterproof and dustproof performance, posing a safety hazard. Furthermore, this type of socket involves numerous manufacturing steps, resulting in low production efficiency and inconvenience for repair and replacement. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems and deficiencies, the present invention aims to provide a protective structure and its application socket that meet users' higher-level protection requirements while reducing manufacturing difficulty and cost, and facilitating maintenance and replacement.

[0004] Based on this, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a protective structure is provided, comprising: an outer shell, the outer shell comprising a first shell and a second shell connected to each other, the first shell having a first reinforcing rib on its inner side, and the second shell having a second reinforcing rib on its inner side; a sealing portion, the sealing portion being disposed between the first reinforcing rib and the second reinforcing rib for sealingly connecting the first reinforcing rib and the second reinforcing rib; a third shell, the third shell being connected to the first shell and the second shell, the third shell having a third reinforcing rib on its inner side; the sealing portion being a three-dimensional sealing ring, comprising a first sealing body and a second sealing body; the first sealing body sealingly connecting the first reinforcing rib and the second reinforcing rib; the second sealing body sealingly connecting the first reinforcing rib and the third reinforcing rib, and the second sealing body sealingly connecting the second reinforcing rib and the third reinforcing rib.

[0005] The protective structure of this embodiment adopts a double protective layer. The outer shell serves as the first protective layer, which can be used to protect against water flow with strong impact and high pressure. The sealing part and reinforcing ribs serve as the second protective layer, which can be used to protect against water droplets, water vapor and other small substances. Furthermore, the first protective layer can protect the second protective layer from external impact deformation, thereby improving the overall protective effect.

[0006] In one embodiment of this invention, the sealing portion is connected to the first reinforcing rib and / or the second reinforcing rib via matching protrusions and grooves.

[0007] In one embodiment of this implementation, the protective structure is applied to an electrical product, which includes an electrical connector that is electrically connected to the outside. The third housing is provided with a compartmentalized structure for isolating and protecting the electrical connector.

[0008] In one embodiment of this implementation, the compartment structure includes an isolation section and a sealing section. The isolation section includes multiple isolated spaces, and the sealing section seals and protects the isolation section.

[0009] In one embodiment of this implementation, the electrical product is a socket, and the compartment structure is used to isolate the socket pieces.

[0010] In one embodiment of this invention, the protective structure further includes a first flip cover and a second flip cover that are pinned to the first housing and the second housing, respectively.

[0011] In one embodiment of this implementation, the first flip cover and the second flip cover are respectively connected to the first housing and the second housing via pin connectors with knurled surfaces.

[0012] In one embodiment of this invention, the outer casing is provided with a button, and a silicone button pad is provided below the button. The button is sealed by pressing a silicone pressure plate onto the silicone button pad and locking it with screws.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a socket is provided that includes the protective structure described above.

[0014] The socket of this embodiment adopts a protective structure with a double protective layer. The outer shell serves as the first protective layer, which can be used to protect against water flow with strong impact and high pressure. The sealing part and reinforcing ribs serve as the second protective layer, which can be used to protect against water droplets, water vapor and other small substances. In addition, the first protective layer can protect the second protective layer from external impact deformation, improve the overall protection effect, and make the socket suitable for outdoor environments with high waterproof and dustproof requirements. Moreover, the manufacturing process is simple and easy to maintain. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following preferred embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of an outdoor socket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of an outdoor socket in one of its working states.

[0018] Figure 3(a) is Figure 1 The diagram shows a longitudinal cross-sectional structure of an outdoor socket.

[0019] Figure 3(b) is an enlarged structural diagram of part A of the outdoor socket shown in Figure 3(a).

[0020] Figure 4 As shown Figure 1 The diagram shows the internal structure of the outdoor socket.

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the three-dimensional sealing ring of the outdoor socket.

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structural design of the base assembly of the outdoor socket.

[0023] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the base of the outdoor socket. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The implementation and use of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of particular ways of implementing and using the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The expressions used in describing the various components, such as top, bottom, left, right, top, and bottom, are not absolute but relative. These expressions are appropriate when the various components are arranged as shown in the figures, but they change accordingly when the positions of the components in the figures change.

[0025] One embodiment of the present invention provides a protective structure with excellent waterproof and dustproof performance, suitable for various types of outdoor waterproof products, especially electronic products such as outdoor sockets, outdoor instruments, etc. The following description uses an outdoor socket as an example to illustrate the protective structure in detail. However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to applications in sockets, but can also be applied to other products with high protective performance requirements.

[0026] like Figures 1-7 As shown, one embodiment of the present invention proposes an outdoor socket with a novel protective structure, wherein, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the outdoor socket. Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows a structural schematic of an outdoor socket in one working state. Figure 3(a) is... Figure 1Figure 3(a) shows a longitudinal cross-sectional structural diagram of an outdoor socket. Figure 3(b) is an enlarged structural diagram of part A of the outdoor socket shown in Figure 3(a). Figure 4 As shown Figure 1 The diagram shown illustrates the internal structure of the outdoor socket. Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shown illustrates the structure of the three-dimensional sealing ring of the outdoor socket. Figure 6 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the base assembly of the outdoor socket. Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the base of the outdoor socket.

[0027] The outdoor socket 100 includes an outer shell, which comprises a first housing 11 and a second housing 12 connected to each other. The inner side of the first housing 11 has a first reinforcing rib 111, and the inner side of the second housing 12 has a second reinforcing rib 121. The outdoor socket 100 also includes a sealing part 13, which is disposed between the first reinforcing rib 111 and the second reinforcing rib 121, for sealingly connecting the first reinforcing rib 111 and the second reinforcing rib 121. This embodiment proposes a double-layer protective structure, wherein the outer shell serves as the first protective layer (outer protective layer), which can be used to protect against water flows with strong impact and high pressure; the sealing part and the reinforcing ribs serve as the second protective layer (inner protective layer), providing strong sealing and protecting against water droplets, water vapor, and other small substances; furthermore, the first protective layer can protect the second protective layer from external impact deformation, improving the overall protective effect.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the sealing part 13 is connected to the first reinforcing rib 111 and / or the second reinforcing rib 121 via matching protrusions and grooves, which can effectively prevent product deformation due to excessive compression of the sealing part and avoid waterproofing failure. Specifically, the sealing part 13 may be connected only to the first reinforcing rib 111 via matching protrusions and grooves; or it may be connected only to the second reinforcing rib 121 via matching protrusions and grooves; or it may be connected to both the first reinforcing rib 111 and the second reinforcing rib 121 via matching protrusions and grooves. Optionally, a protrusion may be provided on the sealing part 13, and correspondingly, a groove adapted to the protrusion may be provided on the first reinforcing rib 111 and / or the second reinforcing rib 121; or, a groove may be provided on the sealing part 13, and a protrusion adapted to the groove may be provided on the first reinforcing rib 111 and / or the second reinforcing rib 121. The position, specific structure, and size of the protrusions or grooves can be adjusted according to actual application requirements, and this embodiment does not impose specific limitations on them.

[0029] In some examples, as shown in Figure 3(b), which is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the connection between the sealing part 13 and the first reinforcing rib 111 and the second reinforcing rib 121, the second reinforcing rib 121 has a groove 1211, and the sealing part 13 has a protrusion 1311. The protrusion direction of the protrusion 1311 is perpendicular to the plane where it is sealed. The groove 1211 and the protrusion 1311 are connected to each other, thereby preventing the product from deforming due to excessive compression of the sealing part. In some examples, the protrusion 1311 is an arc-shaped protrusion, which is simple to process and helps to improve the sealing performance at the connection with the groove.

[0030] In some examples, the outdoor socket 100 includes a base assembly 14, which includes a base body 141 (i.e., the third housing of the protective structure) and a socket piece 142. The base body 141 is connected to the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, and a third reinforcing rib (not shown) is provided on the inner side of the base body 141. Figure 5 As shown, the sealing part 13 is a three-dimensional sealing ring, which includes a first sealing body 132 and a second sealing body 133. The first sealing body 132 seals and connects the first reinforcing rib 111 and the second reinforcing rib 121, and the second sealing body 133 seals and connects the first reinforcing rib 111 and the third reinforcing rib, as well as the second reinforcing rib 121 and the third reinforcing rib.

[0031] In other examples, the inner side of the base body 141 does not have reinforcing ribs, but instead has a groove 1411. The second sealing body 133 is embedded in the groove 1411 and compresses to seal with the ribs of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 to achieve good waterproof performance. In some examples, the base body 141 and the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are sealed by an annular sealing body 133 embedded in the annular groove of the base body 141 and compressing with the ribs of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 to achieve waterproof sealing.

[0032] This embodiment preferably uses a three-dimensional sealing ring. Compared to the use of O-rings or rectangular sealing rings in the prior art, the three-dimensional sealing ring can ensure the continuity of the waterproof layer, facilitate assembly, reduce the assembly error rate and save assembly time, and avoid the problem of waterproof failure due to insufficient processing precision when multiple sealing rings are used together. The figure illustrates a three-dimensional sealing ring 13 including a U-shaped sealing body 132 and an annular sealing body 133. However, the shape of the three-dimensional sealing ring 13, the number of sealing bodies, and their angles can be flexibly adjusted according to the needs of the product. For example, the planes containing the first sealing body 132 and the second sealing body 133 can be perpendicular to each other, or they can be at an angle of 45 degrees, 60 degrees, etc. The three-dimensional sealing ring 13 can also include a third sealing body and a fourth sealing body. The sealing body can be a V-ring, a U-ring, an O-ring, a rectangular sealing ring, a Y-ring, etc.

[0033] The outdoor socket 100 also includes an electrical connector for electrical connection to the outside, namely a socket piece 142. The base body 141 has a corresponding socket. The figure shows a three-hole socket as an example, but it should be noted that the outdoor socket can also be a two-hole socket, a USB socket, or any other type or hybrid socket.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the base body 141 is provided with a compartmentalized structure 143 (i.e., a socket piece compartment) for isolating and protecting each socket piece. Specifically, the compartmentalized structure 143 includes an isolation section 1431 and a sealing section 1432. The isolation section 1431 includes multiple isolated spaces that isolate each socket piece from the others, and the sealing section 1432 seals and protects the isolation section 1431 (e.g., by sealing with a pressure plate and sealant). This embodiment uses a compartmentalized structure to isolate the front-end neutral, live, and ground wires, preventing water ingress at the front end from causing a short circuit; the rear end is sealed with a pressure plate to prevent water from entering the circuit board assembly, thus avoiding product damage. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the isolation section 1431 of this compartmentalized structure divides the socket cavity into three mutually isolated spaces (space B, space C, and space D). This compartmentalized structure 1431 isolates the N-pole (neutral), L-pole (live), and grounding plates within the socket plates, thus preventing water ingress during plugging and unplugging and causing a short circuit between the live and neutral wires, resulting in electric shock. In some examples, the socket plates do not include a grounding plate; in this case, the isolation section 1431 provides isolation spaces only for the neutral and live wire socket plates. By isolating the N-pole and L-pole plates, it also prevents water ingress during plugging and unplugging and causing a short circuit between the live and neutral wires. It is worth noting that this compartmentalized structure is not only suitable for sockets with socket plates but also for any electrical product with electrical connections where there is a risk of short circuit due to water ingress. Its working principle is the same as that of a socket: by providing mutually isolated spaces for each electrical connection and sealing these spaces, waterproof and dustproof performance is achieved.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the outdoor socket 100 further includes a first flip cover 15 and a second flip cover 16. The first flip cover 15 and the second flip cover 16 are respectively pin-connected to the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. Preferably, the first flip cover 15 and the second flip cover 16 are interconnected to the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 via knurled pin connectors 17. The knurling on the surface of the pin connector 17 increases friction at the connection point, preventing the pin connector (e.g., a pin) from falling off, and provides damping for the flip cover, allowing it to remain in any position. Furthermore, this knurled structure is simple to manufacture and has low production costs.

[0036] In some examples, the first flip cover 15 and the second flip cover 16 are connected by a snap fastener 18. The first flip cover 15 and the second flip cover 16 include a cable inlet 19, with silicone waterproof plugs 20 positioned above and below the cable inlet 19. During use of the outdoor socket 100, the first flip cover 15 and the second flip cover 16 are opened by opening the snap fastener 18, the plug is inserted into the base assembly 14, and then the first flip cover 15 and the second flip cover 16 are closed by closing the snap fastener 18. The plug cable passes through the cable inlet 19 to the outside. In this example, the base assembly 14, the first housing 11, and the second housing 12 form a first protective cavity, and the first flip cover 15, the second flip cover 16, and the base assembly 14 form a second protective cavity. Important components of the product, such as the circuit board assembly 26 and the socket piece 142, are installed within the first protective cavity.

[0037] In some examples, the second housing has a button 21 (such as a socket switch button, a Wi-Fi switch button, an indicator light switch button, etc.), and a silicone button pad 22 is provided below the button 21. A silicone pressure plate 23 is pressed onto the silicone button pad 22 and locked with screws to achieve a seal at the button. In some examples, the first housing 11, the second housing 12, the first flip cover 15, and the second flip cover 16 together form the outer shell of the outdoor socket, and all its corners are designed as curved surfaces to improve the user experience.

[0038] While this invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes, additions, or deletions can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A protective structure, comprising: The outer shell includes a first shell and a second shell connected to each other. The inner side of the first shell is provided with a first reinforcing rib, and the inner side of the second shell is provided with a second reinforcing rib. A sealing part is disposed between the first reinforcing rib and the second reinforcing rib for sealingly connecting the first reinforcing rib and the second reinforcing rib. A receiving groove is formed on the sealing part corresponding to the second reinforcing rib, and the second reinforcing rib is inserted into the receiving groove and sealed to the sealing part. The third housing is connected to the first housing and the second housing to form a first protective cavity. An electrical connector for electrical connection to the outside is provided in the first protective cavity. The inner side of the third housing is provided with a third reinforcing rib. The sealing part is a three-dimensional sealing ring, which includes a first sealing body and a second sealing body; the first sealing body seals and connects the first reinforcing rib and the second reinforcing rib; the second sealing body seals and connects the first reinforcing rib and the third reinforcing rib; and the second sealing body seals and connects the second reinforcing rib and the third reinforcing rib. The protective structure also includes a first flip cover and a second flip cover that are pinned to the first housing and the second housing respectively. When the plug is connected to the electrical connector, the first flip cover and the second flip cover are closed, and the first flip cover, the second flip cover and the third housing form a second protective cavity, wherein the first protective cavity and the second protective cavity are arranged adjacent to each other.

2. The protective structure according to claim 1, wherein, The sealing part is connected to the first reinforcing rib and / or the second reinforcing rib via matching protrusions and grooves.

3. The protective structure according to claim 1, applied to electrical products, wherein the third housing is provided with a compartmentalized structure for isolating and protecting the electrical connectors.

4. The protective structure according to claim 3, wherein the compartmentalized structure includes an isolation section and a sealing section, the isolation section includes multiple isolated spaces, and the sealing section seals and protects the isolation section.

5. The protective structure according to claim 3, wherein the electrical product is a socket, the electrical connector is a socket piece, and the compartment structure is used to isolate the socket piece.

6. The protective structure according to claim 1, wherein, The first flip cover and the second flip cover include a cable inlet hole, and a waterproof plug is provided at the cable inlet hole. When the first flip cover and the second flip cover are closed, the cable of the plug is connected to the outside through the cable inlet hole.

7. The protective structure according to claim 1, wherein the first flip cover and the second flip cover are respectively connected to the first housing and the second housing via knurled pin connectors.

8. The protective structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell is provided with a button, and a silicone button pad is provided below the button, and the button is sealed by pressing a silicone pressure plate onto the silicone button pad and locking it with screws.

9. The protective structure according to claim 1, wherein, The first flip cover and the second flip cover are connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

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