foot socket

Abstract

The application discloses a ground socket and relates to the technical field of sockets. The ground socket comprises a bottom box, a surface cover and a hinge assembly. The bottom box is hollow inside, and an opening is arranged in the top wall of the bottom box and communicates with the inside of the bottom box. The surface cover is overlapped on the top wall of the bottom box, and a part of the surface cover extends into the inside of the bottom box through the opening and abuts against the inner side wall of the bottom box to seal the opening. The hinge assembly is arranged in the inside of the bottom box, and the two ends of the hinge assembly are connected with the bottom box and the surface cover respectively, and the hinge assembly is configured to provide a driving force for opening the surface cover. The ground socket disclosed by the application has good waterproof performance, and the opening operation of the surface cover is also labor-saving.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of socket technology, specifically to a floor socket. Background Technology

[0002] Floor sockets, also called floor outlets, are typically recessed into the floor or similar locations. To use them, the cover of the floor socket needs to be opened to expose the internal socket module, which usually has sockets for supplying power to electrical equipment.

[0003] The cover of a floor socket is usually opened and closed manually. In related technologies, in order to ensure the sealing and waterproof effect of the cover opening and closing, the cover is usually designed to be relatively heavy, and some floor sockets even have a tensioning mechanism to make the cover fit even tighter against the bottom box, which may make the cover difficult to open. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, this application provides a floor socket that is not only highly waterproof, but also makes opening the cover easier.

[0005] The specific technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0006] This application provides a floor socket, which includes a base box, a front cover, and a hinge assembly;

[0007] The bottom box is hollow inside, and the top wall has an opening that communicates with the interior.

[0008] The cover overlaps the top wall of the bottom box, and a portion of the cover extends into the interior of the bottom box through the opening and abuts against the inner side wall of the bottom box to seal the opening;

[0009] The hinge assembly is located inside the base box, with its two ends connected to the base box and the front cover, respectively. The hinge assembly is configured to provide a driving force to open the front cover.

[0010] Optionally, the driving force provided by the hinge assembly is less than the sum of the locking force and the weight of the cover, wherein the locking force is the maximum static friction force between the cover and the base box when the cover abuts against the inner wall of the base box.

[0011] Optionally, the hinge assembly includes a link subassembly and a power subassembly. The two ends of the link subassembly are connected to the base box and the cover, respectively. The power subassembly is mounted on the link subassembly and provides the driving force.

[0012] Optionally, the link subassembly includes a connector, a connector head, a first link, and a second link.

[0013] The connecting seat is fixed to the bottom box, and the connecting head is fixed to the top cover;

[0014] One end of the first connecting rod is hinged to the connecting seat via a first hinge shaft, and the other end of the first connecting rod is hinged to the connecting head via a second hinge shaft;

[0015] One end of the second connecting rod is hinged to the connecting seat via a third hinge shaft, and the other end of the second connecting rod is hinged to the connecting head via a fourth hinge shaft.

[0016] Optionally, the power sub-assembly includes a torsion spring, the coil of which is fixed relative to the connecting seat, the first and second spring arms of which exert elastic force on the connecting seat and the connecting head respectively, and the angle between the first and second spring arms gradually increases as the cover opens from the closed state.

[0017] Wherein, the included angle between the first spring arm and the second spring arm is always less than the original angle of the torsion spring, the original angle being the included angle between the first spring arm and the second spring arm when the torsion spring is in an unloaded state.

[0018] Optionally, the coil of the torsion spring is mounted on the third hinge shaft, or on the connecting seat; and / or,

[0019] The first arm of the torsion spring abuts against the connecting seat, or against the first hinge shaft; and / or,

[0020] The second spring arm of the torsion spring abuts against the connector, or against the second connecting rod, or against the first connecting rod, or against the second hinge shaft, or against the fourth hinge shaft.

[0021] Optionally, the second link is a frame structure with an opening facing the first link, and the third hinge shaft and the fourth hinge shaft are spaced apart from the upper frame wall of the second link, wherein the upper frame wall is a frame wall opposite to the opening of the second link;

[0022] The coil of the torsion spring is sleeved on the third hinge shaft, the second spring arm of the torsion spring abuts against the second connecting rod, and the end of the second spring arm away from the coil passes through the gap between the upper frame wall of the second connecting rod and the fourth hinge shaft.

[0023] Optionally, the second spring arm has a bent portion that bends away from the first hinge axis, the bent portion abutting against the upper frame wall of the second link.

[0024] Optionally, the bottom box includes a box body and an annular seal, the box body having the opening, the annular seal being fixed at the opening and having an interference fit with the cover.

[0025] Optionally, the annular seal includes a support plate and a sealing ring;

[0026] The support plate has an L-shaped cross-section and includes a bent and connected horizontal plate and a vertical plate. The horizontal plate overlaps the edge of the opening of the box body, and the vertical plate extends into the interior of the box body through the opening and fits against the inner wall of the box body.

[0027] The sealing ring is connected to at least a portion of the surface of the horizontal plate facing the cover, and to at least a portion of the surface of the vertical plate facing the cover.

[0028] Optionally, the sealing ring wraps around the horizontal plate and covers at least a portion of the surface of the vertical plate facing the cover; wherein a portion of the sealing ring is sandwiched between the horizontal plate and the box body.

[0029] Optionally, the cover includes a cover body and a cable outlet cover. The cover body is provided with a cable outlet, and the cable outlet cover is located inside the cable outlet and is rotatably or detachably connected to the cover body to cover or expose the cable outlet.

[0030] When the cable outlet cover covers the cable outlet, there is a sealed contact between the cable outlet cover and the cover body.

[0031] The socket provided in this embodiment uses a hinge assembly to connect the base box and the front cover. The hinge assembly provides a driving force to open the front cover. When the front cover is closed, i.e., when it is closed at the opening of the base box, the side of the front cover abuts against the inner wall of the base box, and there is friction between them, preventing the front cover from opening automatically. This achieves a seal on the opening and provides a good waterproof effect. When the user wants to open the front cover from the closed state, the hinge assembly provides a driving force, so the user does not need to apply too much pulling force to open the front cover, which is relatively effortless. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a floor socket on the ground according to an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of opening the cover of a floor socket from a closed state, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a floor socket provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a floor socket provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hinge assembly provided in this application when the faceplate is in the closed state and at the maximum opening angle;

[0038] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of a hinge assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a torsion spring provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional structure of the hinge assembly provided in this application embodiment when the cover is in the closed state, and a schematic diagram of the opening angle of the torsion spring;

[0041] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional structure of the hinge assembly provided in this application when the cover is at its maximum opening angle, and a schematic diagram of the torsion spring opening angle;

[0042] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of a bottom box provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an annular seal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a bottom box provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 13 This is an exploded view of a faceplate with the cable outlet closed, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0046] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a faceplate when the cable outlet cover is opened, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0047] Figure label:

[0048] 1. Base box; 11. Top wall; 12. Opening; 13. Inner side wall; 14. Box body; 15. Annular seal; 151. Support plate; 1511. Horizontal plate; 1512. Vertical plate; 1513. Mounting hole; 152. Sealing ring; 1521. Clearance notch; 1522. Cable harness section;

[0049] 2. Faceplate; 21. Cover body; 211. Cable outlet; 212. Groove; 22. Cable outlet cover; 23. Cable outlet seal;

[0050] 3. Hinge assembly; 31. Link sub-assembly; 311. Connecting seat; 312. Connector head; 313. First link; 314. Second link; 3141. Upper frame wall; 315. First hinge axis; 316. Second hinge axis; 317. Third hinge axis; 318. Fourth hinge axis; 32. Power sub-assembly; 321. Spring ring; 322. First spring arm; 323. Second spring arm; 3231. Bending part;

[0051] 4. Functional components;

[0052] 5. Ground.

[0053] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0054] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0055] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0056] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0057] This application provides a ground socket, such as Figure 1 As shown, the floor socket is typically recessed into the ground 5 or a similar location. For example, a mounting recess 212 is provided in the ground 5, and the floor socket is installed within this mounting recess 212.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown in the embodiment of this application, the floor socket includes a base box 1 and a cover 2. The base box 1 is a hollow cavity structure, and an opening 12 is provided on the top wall 11 of the base box 1, through which the interior of the base box 1 communicates with the outside. The cover 2 is installed at the opening 12 of the base box 1. The cover 2 has a closed state that can cover the opening 12, and the cover 2 can be opened to expose the opening 12. Figure 2 The image shows, from top to bottom, the process of the cover 2 gradually opening from the closed state to the maximum opening angle.

[0059] In this embodiment of the application, when the cover 2 is in the closed state, a part of the cover 2 overlaps the top wall 11 of the bottom box 1, and the other part of the cover 2 extends into the interior of the bottom box 1 through the opening 12 and abuts against the inner side wall 13 of the bottom box 1, thereby achieving a seal on the opening 12.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, the foot socket provided in this embodiment of the application also includes a hinge assembly 3, which is located inside the bottom box 1, and the two ends of the hinge assembly 3 are respectively connected to the bottom box 1 and the cover 2. The hinge assembly 3 can provide a driving force to open the cover 2.

[0061] The socket provided in this application embodiment has a closed cover 2. When the cover 2 is closed, the side of the cover 2 is in close contact with the inner wall 13 of the base box 1, and there is a large static friction between them, making it impossible for the cover 2 to open automatically. Therefore, the solution in this application embodiment can keep the cover 2 in a closed state with a simple structure. At the same time, since the cover 2 and the base box 1 are in close contact, there is no gap between the contact surfaces of the cover 2 and the base box 1, which achieves a seal on the opening 12 and provides a good waterproof effect. Moreover, since the cover 2 and the top wall 11 of the base box 1 are overlapped, there is also no gap between the contact surfaces of the cover 2 and the top wall 11 of the base box 1 under the weight of the cover 2 itself. This further increases the sealing contact area around the opening 12, better preventing the intrusion of external moisture and further enhancing the waterproof effect.

[0062] When a user wants to open the cover 2 from the closed state, the hinge assembly 3 provides a driving force to open the cover 2, so the user does not need to use a lot of force to pull the cover 2 open. Therefore, compared with the solutions in related technologies, the cover 2 of the foot socket provided in this application embodiment can be opened more easily and the opening operation is also less strenuous.

[0063] Furthermore, since the hinge assembly 3 always provides the driving force to open the cover 2, the hinge assembly 3 can also provide a closing buffer for the cover 2 during the closing process, thereby preventing the open cover 2 from pinching fingers or other situations during the closing process.

[0064] It should be understood that, as Figure 2 As shown, the socket provided in this embodiment of the application also includes a functional component 4, which is, for example, a socket module, and is usually installed inside the bottom box 1. When the cover 2 is closed, the opening 12 of the bottom box 1 is covered, and the functional component 4 cannot be seen or used; after the cover 2 is opened, the functional component 4 is exposed, and the user can plug the power plug into the functional component 4 to obtain power.

[0065] In some embodiments, the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 is less than the sum of the locking force and the weight of the cover 2, wherein the locking force is the maximum static friction force between the cover 2 and the base box 1 when the cover 2 abuts against the inner sidewall 13 of the base box 1.

[0066] In this way, it can be ensured that the cover 2 cannot open automatically when the side of the cover 2 abuts against the inner wall 13 of the bottom box 1; when the user pulls the cover 2 to open it to the position where it is no longer in contact with the inner wall 13 of the bottom box 1, the hinge assembly 3 can drive the cover 2 to open automatically to the maximum opening angle, so the opening process of the cover 2 is more convenient and effortless.

[0067] Optionally, the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 is equivalent to the target force that can counteract the gravitational influence of the cover 2. "Equivalent" means that the driving force is approximately equal to the target force; that is, the driving force can be slightly greater than, equal to, or slightly less than the target force. In this case, the driving force can approximately counteract the gravitational influence of the cover 2, so that the user only needs to apply a small pulling force or no pulling force to open the cover 2.

[0068] It should be understood that since the movement of the cover 2 relative to the base box 1 is a combination of lifting and flipping, the driving force is actually a composite force consisting of torsional force and lifting force, and its direction is changing. The direction of the pulling force applied by the user when opening the cover 2 is also changing. Therefore, when the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 can counteract the influence of the weight of the cover 2, the pulling force required by the user is very small, making the opening process of the cover 2 very easy.

[0069] It should be noted that in some cases, due to aesthetic requirements for the installation of floor sockets in environments such as wood floors and tiled floors, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the cover 2 has a groove 212, in which the ground material of the ground environment 5 where the floor socket is located is installed, such as floor tiles or floor bricks. After the ground material is installed, it will... Figure 1 As shown. In this case, "the weight of the cover 2" refers to the sum of the weight of the cover 2 and the weight of the ground material installed in the groove 212.

[0070] Furthermore, it should be noted that in some embodiments of this application, the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 may be an elastic force. The magnitude of the elastic force can change as the hinge assembly 3 moves, for example, it gradually decreases as the cover 2 is opened. In this case, the "driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be understood as the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 when the cover 2 is in the closed state, at which time the elastic force provided by the hinge assembly 3 is usually at its maximum.

[0071] The structure of the hinge assembly 3 will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In some embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the hinge assembly 3 includes a link subassembly 31 and a power subassembly 32. The two ends of the link subassembly 31 are connected to the base box 1 and the cover 2, respectively. The power subassembly 32 is mounted on the link subassembly 31 and provides driving force.

[0072] Figure 5 The left side shows the structural state of the hinge assembly 3 when the cover 2 is in the closed state; Figure 5 The right side shows the structural state of the hinge assembly 3 when the cover 2 is in the closed state. It should be noted that in the foot socket provided in this application embodiment, when the cover 2 is actuated to open from the closed state, the hinge assembly 3 acts on the cover 2 to lift the cover 2 while driving the cover 2 to flip. Therefore, after the cover 2 is actuated in the closed state, it exhibits a compound movement of lifting relative to the bottom box 1 while flipping.

[0073] Optionally, the aforementioned composite motion of the faceplate 2 is driven by the linkage assembly 31, and the motion of the linkage assembly 31 is driven by the power sub-assembly 32. Optionally, the power sub-assembly 32 can be an elastic component such as a torsion spring or a coil spring, or a power component such as a motor.

[0074] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 6As shown, the linkage subassembly 31 is a four-bar linkage mechanism, including a connecting seat 311, a connecting head 312, a first connecting rod 313, and a second connecting rod 314. The connecting seat 311 is fixed to the base box 1, and the connecting head 312 is fixed to the cover 2. One end of the first connecting rod 313 is hinged to the connecting seat 311 via a first hinge shaft 315, and the other end of the first connecting rod 313 is hinged to the connecting head 312 via a second hinge shaft 316. One end of the second connecting rod 314 is hinged to the connecting seat 311 via a third hinge shaft 317, and the other end of the second connecting rod 314 is hinged to the connecting head 312 via a fourth hinge shaft 318.

[0075] In the above four-bar linkage, the first hinge shaft 315 and the third hinge shaft 317 are fixed hinge shafts with their positions fixed relative to the base box 1, while the second hinge shaft 316 and the fourth hinge shaft 318 are movable hinge shafts with their positions variable relative to the base box 1. In one example, hinge holes are provided at corresponding positions on the connecting seat 311, the connecting head 312, the first connecting rod 313, and the second connecting rod 314. The first hinge shaft 315, the second hinge shaft 316, the third hinge shaft 317, and the fourth hinge shaft 318 pass through the corresponding hinge holes, and the connecting seat 311, the connecting head 312, the first connecting rod 313, and the second connecting rod 314 are hinged and assembled in the manner described above.

[0076] In some examples, the connector 311 has a first fixing hole, and the base box 1 has a second fixing hole. A screw passes through the first and second fixing holes to fix the connector 311 and the base box 1 together. The connector 312 has a third fixing hole, and the cover 2 has a fourth fixing hole. Another screw passes through the third and fourth fixing holes to fix the connector 312 and the cover 2 together.

[0077] During the process of opening the cover 2 from the closed state to the maximum opening angle, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the fourth hinge axis 318 rotates relative to the second hinge axis 316 about a first direction and relative to the third hinge axis 317 about a second direction; the second hinge axis 316 rotates relative to the fourth hinge axis 318 about a first direction and relative to the first hinge axis 315 about a second direction. The first and second directions are respectively one of clockwise and the other of counterclockwise directions. During the process of the cover 2 closing from its maximum opening angle to its closed state, the fourth hinge axis 318 rotates relative to the second hinge axis 316 about a second direction and relative to the third hinge axis 317 about a first direction; the second hinge axis 316 rotates relative to the fourth hinge axis 318 about a second direction and relative to the first hinge axis 315 about a first direction. Therefore, during the opening and closing of the cover 2, the relative positions of the third hinge axis 317 and the fourth hinge axis 318 change, thus achieving the flipping of the cover 2. Figure 8 and Figure 9 Taking the example shown, the first direction is counterclockwise, and the second direction is clockwise.

[0078] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 8 As shown, when the cover 2 is in the closed state, the fourth hinge shaft 318 abuts against the first connecting rod 313, thus preventing the fourth hinge shaft 318 from continuing to move, thereby stabilizing the cover 2 in the closed state. Figure 9 As shown, when the cover 2 is at its maximum opening angle, the second hinge shaft 316 abuts against the second connecting rod 314, so the second hinge shaft 316 cannot continue to move, thus stabilizing the cover 2 at its maximum opening angle.

[0079] In some embodiments of this application, the power sub-component 32 may be as follows: Figure 7 The torsion spring shown.

[0080] See Figure 8 and Figure 9 The coil 321 of the torsion spring is fixed relative to the connecting seat 311. The first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 of the torsion spring exert elastic force on the connecting seat 311 and the connecting head 312, respectively. As the cover 2 opens from the closed state, the included angle between the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 gradually increases. The included angle between the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 is always less than the original angle of the torsion spring, which is the included angle between the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 when the torsion spring is in an unloaded state.

[0081] In this embodiment, the torsion spring is always in an elastic deformation state, that is, the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 of the torsion spring always apply an elastic force to the outside. Figure 8 and Figure 9 Taking the shown perspective as an example, the spring force of the first spring arm 322 is tangentially in the counterclockwise direction, and the spring force of the second spring arm 323 is tangentially in the clockwise direction. That is, the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 of the torsion spring tend to move in the direction that increases the angle α between them, thus driving the cover 2 to open.

[0082] Typically, the coil 321 of the torsion spring is fixed to ensure the effectiveness, stability, and reliability of the mechanism. In this case, the coil 321 of the torsion spring can be directly mounted on the connecting seat 311, for example, the connecting seat 311 is provided with a fixing post (not shown in the figure), and the coil 321 is sleeved on the fixing post; or, the coil 321 of the torsion spring can be mounted on one of the fixed hinge shafts, for example, sleeved on the first hinge shaft 315 or the third hinge shaft 317.

[0083] Furthermore, since the cover 2 of the foot socket is movable while the base box 1 is fixed, the assembly method of the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 of the torsion spring is related to this. The first spring arm 322 can abut against the connecting seat 311; or it can abut against another fixed hinge axis, such as the third hinge axis 317 or the first hinge axis 315. Generally, the first spring arm 322 and the second spring arm 323 are located on either side of the center point of the spring coil 321. Therefore, in one example, the spring coil 321 can be fitted onto the third hinge axis 317, so that the first spring arm 322 abuts against the first hinge axis 315.

[0084] The second spring arm 323 of the torsion spring is movable relative to the first spring arm 322. It can abut against the connector 312; or it can abut against any movable hinge shaft, such as the second hinge shaft 316 or the fourth hinge shaft 318; or it can abut against the first link 313 or the second link 314, for example, against a portion of the first link 313 away from the first hinge shaft 315, or against a portion of the second link 314 away from the third hinge shaft 317. When the second spring arm 323 abuts against the first link 313 or the second link 314, the abutment position should be far from the hinged engagement position between the link and the fixed hinge shaft, thereby preventing the elastic force applied by the second spring arm 323 to the link from failing.

[0085] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the second link 314 is a frame structure facing the opening 12 of the first link 313. The third hinge shaft 317 and the fourth hinge shaft 318 are spaced apart from the upper frame wall 3141 of the second link 314. The upper frame wall 3141 is a frame wall opposite to the opening 12 of the second link 314. The spring coil 321 of the torsion spring is sleeved on the third hinge shaft 317. The second spring arm 323 of the torsion spring abuts against the second link 314, and the end of the second spring arm 323 away from the spring coil 321 passes through the gap between the upper frame wall 3141 of the second link 314 and the fourth hinge shaft 318.

[0086] With this configuration, the upper frame wall 3141 of the second link 314 and the fourth hinge shaft 318 can be used to assemble and position the second spring arm 323. At the same time, the upper frame wall 3141 and the fourth hinge shaft 318 can also restrict the position of the second spring arm 323, preventing the second spring arm 323 from disassembling from the second link 314 during movement.

[0087] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9As shown, the second spring arm 323 has a bent portion 3231 that bends away from the first hinge axis 315, and the bent portion 3231 abuts against the upper frame wall 3141 of the second connecting rod 314.

[0088] like Figure 8 As shown, when the cover 2 is in the closed state, the third hinge shaft 317 and the fourth hinge shaft 318 are basically on the same horizontal line. If the second spring arm 323 is straight, then when assembling the torsion spring, the free end of the second spring arm 323 needs to pass through the gap between the upper frame wall 3141 and the fourth hinge shaft 318 and abut against the upper frame wall 3141. This results in the second spring arm 323 being a single-sided, single-point contact assembly, which is not stable and reliable for the motion mechanism. Moreover, the straight second spring arm 323 is also prone to interference with the first connecting rod 313 during movement. In this embodiment, by designing the second spring arm 323 with a bent portion 3231, on the one hand, the second spring arm 323 can abut against the upper frame wall 3141 through the bent portion 3231, and abut against the fourth hinge shaft 318 through its free end. Therefore, the second spring arm 323 is a double-sided, multi-point contact assembly, which is relatively more stable and reliable. On the other hand, the bending part 3231 can also avoid the first link 313 during the movement of the hinge assembly 3, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of the mechanism.

[0089] The structure of the base box 1 and the cover 2 will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In some embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 10 As shown, the bottom box 1 includes a box body 14 and an annular seal 15. The box body 14 has an opening 12, and the annular seal 15 is fixed at the opening and is interference-fitted with the cover 2.

[0090] The annular seal 15, located at the opening of the box body 14, serves two purposes: firstly, it provides a tight seal between the box body 14 and the cover 2, achieving waterproofing; secondly, it uses an interference fit to lock the cover 2 in place, preventing it from disengaging from the box body 14 under the drive of the hinge assembly 3, thus ensuring the cover 2 remains closed. Therefore, this embodiment achieves both waterproofing and locking functions using a very simple annular seal 15.

[0091] In some embodiments, such as Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, the annular seal 15 includes a support plate 151 and a sealing ring 152; the support plate 151 has an L-shaped cross section and includes a bent and connected horizontal plate 1511 and a vertical plate 1512. The horizontal plate 1511 overlaps the edge of the opening 12 of the box body 14, and the vertical plate 1512 extends into the interior of the box body 14 through the opening 12 and fits against the inner wall of the box body 14; the sealing ring 152 is connected to at least a portion of the surface of the horizontal plate 1511 facing the cover 2 and at least a portion of the surface of the vertical plate 1512 facing the cover 2.

[0092] The sealing ring 152 used in this embodiment has an L-shaped cross-section. When the cover 2 is closed, the sealing ring 152 will be in close contact with the two side walls of the cover 2, thereby extending the intrusion path of external moisture into the box body 14. Compared with the sealing rings with rectangular or circular cross-sections commonly used in the art, the sealing and waterproofing effect achieved by the sealing ring 152 provided in this embodiment is obviously better.

[0093] The sealing ring 152 is typically made of a soft, elastic material, such as silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, fluororubber, or EPDM rubber. However, precisely because the sealing ring 152 is made of a relatively soft material, it is not easy to assemble onto the box body 14, resulting in low installation efficiency. Therefore, in this embodiment, a support plate 151 is also provided as a rigid support structure for the sealing ring 152, so that the support plate 151 can be rigidly connected to the box body 14 during the installation of the sealing ring 152, thereby improving the installation efficiency of the sealing ring 152. Accordingly, the cross-section of the support plate 151 is L-shaped.

[0094] Optionally, the support plate 151 and the sealing ring 152 can be connected by means of bonding, screw connection, riveting, or other methods, or by processes such as injection molding, printing, or 3D printing. Among these, for the sake of cost and connection reliability, injection molding can be preferred to connect the support plate 151 and the sealing ring 152.

[0095] In some embodiments, the support plate 151 and the box body 14 can be connected by means of bonding, screw connection, riveting, welding, etc. Among these, for the sake of cost and connection reliability, screws or rivets can be preferred for connection.

[0096] like Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown, when the support plate 151 and the base box 14 are connected by screws or rivets, mounting holes are provided at corresponding positions on the support plate 151 and the base box 14. Any screw or rivet passes through the mounting hole 1513 on the support plate 151 and the mounting hole on the base box 14 in sequence to fasten them together. The sealing ring 152 connected to the support plate 151 has a clearance notch 1521 at a position corresponding to the mounting hole 1513 on the support plate 151, with the mounting hole 1513 exposed in the clearance notch 1521.

[0097] In this way, it is possible to avoid the gap between the cover 2 and the sealing ring 152 caused by the screws or rivets installed in the mounting hole 1513 protruding from the inside of the bottom box 1 relative to the sealing ring 152, thereby preventing the sealing ring 152 from failing in its waterproof and locking functions; it is also possible to prevent the screws or rivets installed in the mounting hole 1513 from protruding too much from the inside of the bottom box 1 and obstructing the cover 2 from closing.

[0098] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, the sealing ring 152 wraps around the horizontal plate 1511 and covers at least a portion of the surface of the vertical plate 1512 facing the cover 2; wherein, a portion of the sealing ring 152 is sandwiched between the horizontal plate 1511 and the box body 14.

[0099] Since both the box body 14 and the support plate 151 are rigid structures, gaps can easily form at their connecting surfaces, allowing external moisture to potentially enter the interior of the box body 14. By sandwiching a portion of the sealing ring 152 between the horizontal plate 1511 and the box body 14, this moisture intrusion path can be blocked, preventing external moisture from entering through the connecting surfaces of the box body 14 and the support plate 151, thus further enhancing the waterproof effect.

[0100] In some embodiments of this application, such as Figure 13 As shown, the cover 2 includes a cover body 21 and a cable outlet cover 22. The cover body 21 has a cable outlet 211. When the power plug of an external electrical device is plugged into the functional component 4 of the ground socket, the power cord connected to the power plug can pass through the cable outlet 211. The cable outlet cover 22 is located inside the cable outlet 211 and is rotatably or detachably connected to the cover body 21 to cover or expose the cable outlet 211. When the cable outlet cover 22 covers the cable outlet 211, there is a sealed contact between the cable outlet cover 22 and the cover body 21.

[0101] External moisture and dust may also enter the interior of the bottom box 1 through the outlet 211. Therefore, when the ground socket is not in use, that is, when no power plug is plugged into the functional component 4, the outlet cover 22 can be used to cover the outlet 211. Since the outlet cover 22 and the cover body 21 are in sealed contact at this time, it can prevent external moisture and dust from entering the interior of the bottom box 1.

[0102] Optional, such as Figure 11 As shown, the sealing ring 152 has a cable harness portion 1522 formed at the position corresponding to the cable outlet 211. The cable harness portion 1522 has at least one cable harness hole for securing the position of the power cord connected to the power plug plugged into the functional component 4. The cable harness portion 1522 is integrally formed with the other parts of the sealing ring 152.

[0103] In some embodiments, see continue to see Figure 13 The cover 2 also includes a cable outlet seal 23, at least a portion of which is located inside the cable outlet 211 and between the cover body 21 and the cable outlet cover 22. It is used to seal the gap generated during the rotation of the cable outlet cover 22 relative to the cover body 21, especially to seal the gap between the cable outlet cover 22 and the cover body 21 when the cable outlet cover 22 covers the cable outlet 211, thereby preventing external water or dust from entering the interior of the bottom box 1.

[0104] In one example, the shape of the outlet seal 23 is adapted to the shape of the outlet 211. For example, if the outlet 211 is circumferentially closed, the outlet seal 23 has a closed annular structure; if one side of the outlet 211 is open, the outlet seal 23 has a U-shaped structure.

[0105] In another example, one side of the outlet 211 extends to the edge of the cover 21, forming an open side. The cover 21 and the outlet cover 22 can be rotatably connected via a shaft hole fitting, with the shaft hole fitting located away from the open side of the outlet 211. The outlet seal 23 can be strip-shaped, with at least a portion of the seal located between the cover 21 and the outlet cover 22 on the side away from the open side of the outlet 211.

[0106] In some embodiments of this application, the outer surface of the cable outlet cover 22 may also be covered with a soft material layer. When the cable outlet cover 22 covers the cable outlet 211, the soft material layer on the outside of the cable outlet cover 22 is press-fitted with the cover body 21 to achieve a seal. The soft material layer may be, for example, a rubber layer, a silicone layer, etc.

[0107] In summary, such as Figure 2As shown, when the floor socket provided in this embodiment is not in use, the cover 2 is in a closed state, that is, it is closed on the bottom box 1, and the cable outlet cover 22 on the cover 2 is located in the position of covering the cable outlet 211. When the floor socket needs to be used, the user can manually lift the cable outlet cover 22, and then lift the cable outlet cover 22 upward to pull the cover 2. The pulling force and the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 work together to make the cover 2 overcome the friction between it and the annular seal 15, lift and flip it until it is no longer in contact with the annular seal 15. Then, under the action of the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3, the user only needs to apply a small pulling force to open the cover 2 (or if the driving force provided by the hinge assembly 3 is greater than the weight of the cover 2, the cover 2 will open automatically without the user applying any pulling force).

[0108] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only.

[0109] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A type of floor socket, characterized in that, The foot socket includes a base box (1), a cover (2), and a hinge assembly (3); The bottom box (1) is hollow inside, and the top wall (11) is provided with an opening (12) that communicates with the interior; The cover (2) overlaps the top wall (11) of the bottom box (1), and a part of the cover (2) extends into the interior of the bottom box (1) through the opening (12) and abuts against the inner side wall (13) of the bottom box (1) to seal the opening (12). The hinge assembly (3) is located inside the base box (1), and its two ends are connected to the base box (1) and the cover (2) respectively. The hinge assembly (3) is configured to provide a driving force to open the cover (2).

2. The floor socket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving force provided by the hinge assembly (3) is less than the sum of the locking force and the weight of the cover (2), wherein the locking force is the maximum static friction force between the cover (2) and the base box (1) when the cover (2) abuts against the inner sidewall (13) of the base box (1).

3. The floor socket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The hinge assembly (3) includes a link subassembly (31) and a power subassembly (32). The two ends of the link subassembly (31) are connected to the base box (1) and the cover (2) respectively. The power subassembly (32) is mounted on the link subassembly (31) and provides the driving force.

4. The floor socket according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting rod sub-assembly (31) includes a connecting seat (311), a connecting head (312), a first connecting rod (313), and a second connecting rod (314); The connecting seat (311) is fixed to the bottom box (1), and the connecting head (312) is fixed to the face cover (2); One end of the first connecting rod (313) is hinged to the connecting seat (311) via the first hinge shaft (315), and the other end of the first connecting rod (313) is hinged to the connecting head (312) via the second hinge shaft (316). One end of the second link (314) is hinged to the connecting seat (311) via the third hinge shaft (317), and the other end of the second link (314) is hinged to the connector (312) via the fourth hinge shaft (318).

5. The floor socket according to claim 4, characterized in that, The power sub-assembly (32) includes a torsion spring, the coil (321) of which is fixed relative to the connecting seat (311). The first spring arm (322) and the second spring arm (323) of the torsion spring exert elastic force on the connecting seat (311) and the connecting head (312) respectively. During the process of opening the cover (2) from the closed state, the included angle between the first spring arm (322) and the second spring arm (323) gradually increases. Wherein, the included angle between the first spring arm (322) and the second spring arm (323) is always less than the original angle of the torsion spring, wherein the original angle is the included angle between the first spring arm (322) and the second spring arm (323) when the torsion spring is in an unloaded state.

6. The floor socket according to claim 5, characterized in that, The coil (321) of the torsion spring is mounted on the third hinge shaft (317) or on the connecting seat (311); and / or, The first spring arm (322) of the torsion spring abuts against the connecting seat (311) or against the first hinge shaft (315); and / or, The second spring arm (323) of the torsion spring abuts against the connector (312), or against the second connecting rod (314), or against the first connecting rod (313), or against the second hinge shaft (316), or against the fourth hinge shaft (318).

7. The floor socket according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The second link (314) is a frame structure with an opening (12) facing the first link (313). The third hinge shaft (317) and the fourth hinge shaft (318) are spaced apart from the upper frame wall (3141) of the second link (314). The upper frame wall (3141) is a frame wall opposite to the opening (12) of the second link (314). The spring coil (321) of the torsion spring is sleeved on the third hinge shaft (317), the second spring arm (323) of the torsion spring abuts against the second connecting rod (314), and the end of the second spring arm (323) away from the spring coil (321) passes through the gap between the upper frame wall (3141) of the second connecting rod (314) and the fourth hinge shaft (318).

8. The floor socket according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second spring arm (323) has a bent portion (3231) that bends away from the first hinge axis (315), the bent portion (3231) abutting against the upper frame wall (3141) of the second link (314).

9. The floor socket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bottom box (1) includes a box body (14) and an annular seal (15). The box body (14) has the opening (12). The annular seal (15) is fixed at the opening (12) and is press-fitted with the cover (2).

10. The floor socket according to claim 9, characterized in that, The annular seal (15) includes a support plate (151) and a sealing ring (152); The support plate (151) has an L-shaped cross section and includes a bent and connected horizontal plate (1511) and a vertical plate (1512). The horizontal plate (1511) overlaps the edge of the opening (12) of the box body (14), and the vertical plate (1512) extends into the interior of the box body (14) through the opening (12) and fits against the inner wall of the box body (14). The sealing ring (152) is connected to at least a portion of the surface of the horizontal plate (1511) facing the cover (2) and to at least a portion of the surface of the vertical plate (1512) facing the cover (2).

11. The floor socket according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sealing ring (152) wraps around the horizontal plate (1511) and covers at least a portion of the surface of the vertical plate (1512) facing the cover (2); wherein a portion of the sealing ring (152) is sandwiched between the horizontal plate (1511) and the box body (14).

12. The floor socket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cover (2) includes a cover body (21) and a cable outlet cover (22). The cover body (21) is provided with a cable outlet (211). The cable outlet cover (22) is located inside the cable outlet (211) and is rotatably or detachably connected to the cover body (21) to cover or expose the cable outlet (211). When the cable outlet cover (22) covers the cable outlet (211), the cable outlet cover (22) and the cover body (21) are in sealed contact.

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