SAFELY GROUNDABLE TRAVEL PLUG ADAPTER

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a travel plug adapter, also referred to herein as a travel plug for short. With the aid of such an adapter, power plugs of a specific (domestic) standard can be plugged into the sockets available at the travel destination. To do this, the travel plug adapter requires a plug receptacle of the first standard and a power plug of a different standard. More specifically, the present invention relates to travel plug adapters that allow plugging into sockets of at least a first and a second standard. For this purpose, power plugs of a first and a second standard can be used alternatively with the travel plug adapter. Background of the invention

[0002] Travel plug adapters or travel plugs of this type are becoming increasingly popular in times of increasing global travel and business activity. Therefore, there is a need for compact, easily transportable travel plug adapters that are compatible with sockets of several different standards.

[0003] Chinese patent application CN 101872911 A discloses a travel plug adapter with a substantially circular housing. Power plugs are housed inside the housing, which can be selected and pushed out of the housing. This allows for the use of at least three different power plug types. The desired power plug is selected by rotating the upper housing section relative to the lower housing section. The upper housing section has a single outwardly projecting actuating slide. This actuating slide can be engaged with various power plug elements. The power plug elements are arranged side by side. To do this, it is rotated into a position above the power plug, which is pushed out from the bottom of the housing.

[0004] The German patent DE 10 2011 014 920 B4 discloses another travel plug, referred to as a universal plug adapter. This travel plug has several sets of pins housed in an outer housing. Each set of pins is connected to an operating element, which can be moved from the outside. The operating elements are guided through sliding slots in the housing. The operating elements are also guided by a locking plate located within the outer housing. This locking plate has a guide through whose recesses the operating elements can move. The guide provides an upper and a lower end position. The locking plate is spring-loaded so that an operating element can be held firmly in the upper or lower end position.The control panel, and thus the corresponding set of pins, can be released from their end positions and moved up or down by operating a selector lever located outside the control panels. Pressing this selector lever moves the locking plate against the spring force. This allows the pins to be moved from their upper or lower end positions using the control panels.

[0005] WO 2009 / 152629 A1 discloses a travel plug adapter according to the preamble of claim 1 with an intermediate plug set. The intermediate plug set comprises an AU plug contact. This has a ground pin, which is connected to another ground contact via a pickup. CN 204966898 U discloses another travel plug adapter that provides contact pins and grounding pins of various standards.

[0006] In this solution, the external operating parts are used both to move the pin sets from a first end position, a standby position, to a second end position, a use position, and to lock the pin sets in these positions.

[0007] For both plug adapters in these disclosures, as well as for other commercially available plug adapters, high electrical safety is essential. Reliable grounding of the plug adapter plays a particularly important role. The plug adapters are usually grounded when a selected plug is fully inserted into its operating position. However, it is conceivable that an electrical contact harmful to the user could occur earlier.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved travel plug adapter. The travel adapter should be inexpensive and reliable to manufacture, easy to transport and operate, and offer a high level of electrical safety.

[0009] This object is achieved by an adapter according to independent claim 1. Despite its very compact design, the travel adapter according to the invention avoids being earthed only in the use position and neither in the standby position nor in transition positions between the standby position and the use position.

[0010] The travel plug adapter according to the invention has a housing that can have various shapes. For example, a cuboid shape is generally practical for transport. However, the mechanism of the travel plug adapter is designed so that the housing shape can be selected largely freely. It is advantageous if the housing has at least one flat side, but the mechanism can also be adapted to curved housing surfaces. The housing can be constructed in one piece or in multiple parts. It has proven expedient to construct the housing in two parts, namely with a lower housing part and an upper housing part. Both can be detachably connected to one another, for example by mechanical means, expediently by a screw connection.

[0011] The housing should have at least one plug receptacle. This is expediently provided on the top of the housing. Depending on the type of mains plug to be accommodated (hereinafter referred to as "plug"), the plug receptacle can have various shapes. For example, if a Schuko plug is to be accommodated, the plug receptacle will have a substantially cylindrical recess and, above this, contact sockets for receiving the contact pins of the Schuko plug. For other plug types, a recess or groove is not required. It may be expedient to provide a flat top of the housing in which several contact sockets are provided. As a rule, at least two contact sockets should be provided, forming a contact socket pair for receiving a plug of one standard. It may be expedient to provide several contact socket pairs in order to be able to accommodate several plugs of different standards.If the plugs also have earth conductors and the plug receptacle is intended to provide the possibility of earthing, it is usually necessary to provide a third contact socket or a third contact for each plug to be accommodated.

[0012] The travel plug adapter can further comprise at least one plug of a first standard and a second plug of a second standard. (Such plugs are occasionally also referred to as pin sets.) The plug of the first standard can be, for example, a Euro or Schuko plug, and the plug of the second standard can be a US plug. The plugs can be two-pin, i.e., ungrounded, or three-pin, allowing for the provision of an earthing pole. This travel plug adapter is therefore suitable for use in more than one country. It is expedient, and usually necessary, for the first plug and the second plug to be used alternately.

[0013] Plugs conforming to many standards have a plug body that extends into the socket, the shape of which is determined by the socket's shape. Schuko plugs, for example, have such a plug body. This plug body has a cylindrical basic shape with two protruding grooves and two indentations. The grooves determine the orientation of the plug body required by the standard. Grounding contacts can be provided in the indentations. Two contact pins protrude from the bottom of the plug body of the Schuko plug. When the plug is in use, these are the current-carrying contacts, i.e., the positive and negative poles.

[0014] A Euro plug also has a plug body that is inserted into a socket and whose shape is determined at least in part by the shape of the socket. Similarly, plugs for Switzerland and Italy have plug bodies. The plug bodies of a Swiss plug and an Italian plug are similar. Both have three contact pins at the front. The outer contact pins form the positive and negative poles. The middle contact pin is for earthing. In the Italian plug, it is centrally located between the contact pins for the positive and negative poles. In the Swiss plug, it is offset from the line of these two contact pins.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the term "plug body" is intended to describe the part of a plug that is inserted into the socket and whose shape is at least substantially determined by the socket's standard. Above the plug body, there is usually another part of the plug housing, referred to herein as the plug main housing. The plug main housing serves as cable routing; recessed grips or the like are often also provided. Unlike the plug body, the plug main housing is not determined by the shape of the socket.

[0016] Plugs of other standards do not require a plug body. The corresponding sockets have a generally flat top surface, which only has sockets for contact pins. These sockets are usually circular or slotted. Plugs that do not have a plug body, but only have contact pins protruding from a plug housing, are suitable for the corresponding sockets.

[0017] The travel plug adapter can also include three or more plugs. Travel plug adapters with three or four plugs have proven to be very practical. At least one of the plugs, but usually all of the plugs, can be moved from a standby position, in which the plug is essentially inside the housing, into a use position. In the use position, the plug is completely or at least partially outside the housing and can be used. It is often possible for the plug to be moved completely back into the housing when returning to the standby position. It is practical if the plug can be moved back into the housing at least far enough that it does not get in the way of other plugs.

[0018] A travel plug adapter according to the present invention should have a first plug, which comprises a plug body and a grounding contact. This first plug could therefore be, for example, a Schuko plug with a plug body of the known cylindrical shape and two contact pins, which serve as the positive and negative poles. In the use position, both the plug body and the first and second contact pins are arranged outside the housing for use. The plug body protrudes from the housing and the first and second contact pins, in turn, protrude from the plug body. In the standby position, the two contact pins are retracted into the plug body and the plug body itself is retracted into the housing. The first plug can of course also be a plug of a different standard.

[0019] The travel plug adapter according to the present invention can further comprise a second plug of a different standard, which in turn has a third contact pin and a fourth contact pin. The second plug can also have a ground contact. The second plug can thus be moved into the use position by protruding the third contact pin and the fourth contact pin from the plug body of the first plug. These can then be inserted into a socket of a suitable standard without this plug body.

[0020] According to the present invention, the ground contact receptacle is to be connected to the first ground contact both in the use position and in transitional positions between the standby position and the use position. It is expedient if the ground contact receptacle is also connected to the ground contact in the standby position.

[0021] These measures provide additional safety when using the travel plug adapter and also convey this feeling to the user. Especially when the user is confronted with unfamiliar plugs and pins, incorrect operation can easily occur. It is also conceivable that an earth pin is partially retracted into the housing before the travel plug adapter is completely removed from a power outlet. This could create dangerous situations that can be avoided by the electrical connection of the earth contacts according to the present invention.

[0022] According to the present invention, the earth contact receptacle is connected to the first earth contact (or to other earth contacts) by a movable contact clamp. Such a contact clamp is expediently made of metal. It can have a fixed end that is mechanically connected to a conductor. It can also have a movable end that is mechanically movably connected to a conductor. In either case, both the fixed end and the movable end are electrically connected to the conductor. This conductor can be the earth contact or the earth contact receptacle, or a conductor arranged between the earth contact and the earth contact receptacle.

[0023] It may be useful to connect the movable end to the first ground contact in a mechanically movable manner. The ground contact can then be guided through the movable end of the contact clamp or along it. This is particularly useful if the ground contact is in the form of a pin or pin, for example, a cylindrical pin or a flat pin.

[0024] It may also be useful to mechanically connect the ground contact to the contact clamp at its fixed end. This fixed connection allows the contact clamp to move with the ground contact when it is moved from its standby position to the use position.

[0025] According to the present invention, at least one or more contact rails are provided within the travel plug adapter. These contact rails can be arranged electrically, but also mechanically, between the earth contact receptacle and the earth contact. Such a contact rail is well suited for use with a contact clamp. On the one hand, the contact clamp is guided along the contact rail, i.e. in particular, its movable end is guided past the contact rail. It is often particularly useful if the movable end of the contact clamp engages around the contact rail. For this purpose, the movable end of the contact clamp can have two opposing contact jaws that can clamp around the contact rail. It can also be expedient if the fixed end of a contact clamp is connected to the contact rail.The contact rail can then hold the contact clamp in a desired favorable position at the fixed end.

[0026] According to the present invention, the contact rail is mechanically connected to the earth contact receptacle (in addition to the electrical connection).

[0027] The contact bar is then mechanically held by the earthing contact. This is particularly advantageous for the earthing contact of a Schuko plug. This mechanical connection allows for a compact plug design while simultaneously ensuring secure and, preferably, direct contact between the earthing contact and the contact bar.

[0028] Because the earth contact of a Schuko plug encloses the cylindrical plug housing in accordance with the German standard, they are mechanically particularly stable. Such an earth contact is conveniently (and usually) designed as an earth contact track. Tilting is virtually impossible, particularly in the plane defined by the opposing earth contacts, so mechanical play only occurs perpendicular to this plane. In a compact travel plug with many movable parts, there is little surface area available for anchoring components. It is therefore advisable to use the earth contact of a Schuko plug to anchor at least one contact rail. It may also be advisable to use the earth contact of a Schuko plug to anchor at least two or all of the provided contact rails.

[0029] It is advisable if the contact rails are connected to the earth contact of a Schuko plug with one end face. It is advisable to screw the contact rails to the earth contact of a Schuko plug. This creates a stable mechanical connection which is detachable and can also serve for electrical current conduction. It is therefore advisable to screw them together using an electrically conductive screw. It is therefore also advisable to provide a blind hole and a thread in the end face of the contact rail(s). This blind hole can accommodate a screw. This connection can be made so strong and secure that only one connection is required on one side of a contact rail, preferably only on one end face. Contact rails with a round cross-section are held particularly satisfactorily by screwing.

[0030] A travel plug adapter is particularly useful in which, in addition to the first plug, a second plug of a second standard is provided, which is also assigned an actuating element which is designed to move the second plug between a standby position in which the second plug is located substantially inside the housing and a use position in which the second plug is located outside the housing in a usable manner, and a second earth contact is assigned to the second plug.

[0031] When using two plugs, it is advisable to connect the ground contact of the first plug to the fixed end of a first contact clamp, and the ground contact of the second plug to the movable end of the second contact clamp. This allows for a particularly compact design of the travel plug adapter.

[0032] A travel plug adapter with at least a first and a second plug is also useful, with the first plug having a ground contact and the contact clamp connected to the ground contact with its movable end, and the second plug having a ground contact connected to the fixed end of the same contact clamp. It is particularly useful if a common contact bar is provided for both plugs. Accordingly, it is useful if the ground contact of the second plug runs along the contact bar with the movable end of a contact clamp.

[0033] It is also particularly useful for connectors to be guided along sliding slots in the housing. This guide facilitates the guidance of contact clamps, especially along contact rails. This also applies to the provision of guide slots inside the connector. Such guide slots can also be provided in connector bodies.

[0034] It is also particularly expedient if the travel plug adapter is mechanically designed in such a way that one of the plugs, for example the first plug, has a plug body and the plug body has guide slots. A guide slot can be provided for a support element of a second plug. Such a support element can be, for example, a support beam that guides contact pins of the second plug. The provision of such a guide slot allows the support element to be guided deep into the plug body of the first plug, thus enabling precise mechanical guidance of the contact pins it carries. The guidance is particularly precise if such a guide slot and a sliding slot in the plug housing are arranged in mutually parallel planes. This arrangement allows the support element to be guided by two slots, thus providing very secure and precise mechanical guidance.

[0035] This guide not only offers mechanical advantages but also serves to increase electrical safety. Since the displacement path of the corresponding support element is precisely predetermined, jamming or damage to the electrical cables required in this area can be largely avoided.

[0036] It may be useful for the second plug to have a ground contact positioned at a distance from the plug body of the first plug. Such a ground contact is not located on the outside of the plug body, but is typically located a few millimeters apart (2 to 10 mm). For example, the ground contact can be provided in the form of a third contact pin positioned parallel to the positive and negative contact pins. Reliable grounding is particularly important for a travel plug adapter with such a compact design.

[0037] The travel plug adapter can have more than just the first and second plugs; travel plug adapters with three or four plugs are often practical. For example, a third plug can be provided, with at least one contact located in the plug body of the first plug. It is conceivable, for example, that the ground contact of the third plug is located in the plug body of the first plug. It would also be conceivable for two current-carrying contacts of the third plug (positive and negative poles) to be located in the plug body of the first plug.

[0038] In such an arrangement, the safe grounding of the travel plug adapter is very important.

[0039] It is also useful if the travel plug adapter is designed so that the second and third plugs have the same polarity. This creates the same poles on one side of the plug's center plane, for example, the positive pole on the left and the negative pole on the right. The center plane divides the plug down the middle between the live poles, or at least the live poles of the second and third plugs. This allows for easy and safe wiring of the plug. In principle, it is easy to use the travel plug adapter in positions rotated 180° to each other. However, it is often advantageous to mechanically restrict this use so that the travel plug adapter can only be used in one fixed position and then to select the polarity based on this position.

[0040] It is possible to equip a travel plug according to the invention with a selection slider, in which a respective sliding position is provided for each plug. The selection slider is connected to an operating button provided on the outside of the housing. Depending on the sliding position of the selection slider, only the selected plug can be moved between the standby position and the use position. Such a selection slider can comprise a locking element by which other plugs are locked in the standby position.

[0041] Alternatively, a selection slider can be omitted. This type of travel plug adapter therefore does not have a selection slider in addition to the operating sliders. This is particularly useful when a different mechanism than the selection slider prevents the simultaneous operation of more than one operating slider.

[0042] Within the scope of the present invention, it is also expedient to provide a locking element that locks at least the first plug or the second plug in the use position. This locking element is expediently connected to a release button provided on the outside of the housing. It can be spring-loaded against the release direction. The provision of a locking element is particularly expedient so that plugs are reliably held in the use position. Because, for example, the first and second, as well as the third and fourth contact pins, can have different lengths, a slight displacement from the use position might not be immediately noticed, but can be reliably prevented with the locking element.

[0043] It is advisable for the travel plug adapter housing to have sliding slots or similar recesses. The actuating elements or sliders can slide in these sliding slots. An additional sliding slot can also be provided for the selection slider. Sliding slots allow the movement of a slider while simultaneously guiding it. They therefore represent an advantageous and cost-effective mechanical solution. Since several actuating elements or sliders are usually provided on the travel plug adapter, it is particularly advantageous if these can be easily guided in sliding slots.

[0044] The optional locking element can be designed as a separate component from the selector slide. Alternatively, the locking element can also be a component connected to the selector slide. Designing it as a separate component potentially offers manufacturing advantages. The selector slide is a component that does not have to transmit or withstand large forces. However, by its very nature, the locking element must reliably exert enough force to securely hold a connector of any standard in the operating position.

[0045] For similar reasons, it is expedient for the locking element to be a separate component from the actuating slides. The locking element is considered a separate component if it has at least one component that is not also part of the selection slide or an actuating slide. As a general rule, it is expedient for all components of the locking element to be designed separately from the components of the selection slide and the actuating slides.

[0046] It is useful if the (optional) locking element is connected to a release button, which is provided on the outside of the housing and can be operated in a release direction. Such a release button allows the locking element to be released intuitively and safely when a plug is to be moved back from the use position to the ready position. This design appears safer and more reliable than designs in which certain movements of the actuation slide or the selection slide, or even the plug itself, lead to the plug being released. To prevent the release button from being activated accidentally, it can also be provided with warning labels or designed in a warning color, such as red. The release button can be part of the housing, for example if a suitable design allows part of the housing to be depressed.As a rule, it is advisable to provide a recess in the housing and to position the release button in this recess as a separate part from the housing. The release button can be conveniently positioned opposite the selection slide and / or the actuation slides.

[0047] It is advisable if the locking element is spring-loaded against the release direction, if necessary. The spring-loaded locking element allows the connectors to reliably engage automatically in a locking position as soon as the connectors are in the usable position. It is mechanically advantageous if the springs act exactly opposite to the release direction.

[0048] A practical design of an (optional) locking element is one in which the locking element has at least one locking rib, and this locking rib has a sliding surface and a locking projection. An element connected to a moving plug can slide along the sliding surface. This element can then lock into the locking projection, thus locking the plug connected to the element.

[0049] A travel plug adapter is useful in which at least one plug has a sliding nose or is mechanically firmly connected to one and the sliding nose runs on the sliding surface and can, if necessary, assume a locking position on a locking projection.

[0050] A travel plug adapter with a locking mechanism featuring a plurality of locking tabs, such as two, three, or four, is also useful. The number of locking tabs can be as large as the number of plugs. It may also be practical and sufficient if the number of locking tabs is fewer than the number of plugs.

[0051] Especially in the latter case, it is useful if at least two plugs are each connected to a sliding lug, and both sliding lugs run on the same locking rib of the locking element. Since both sliding lugs run on the same locking rib, both sliding lugs run on the same sliding surface and on the same locking projection, where both sliding lugs can assume a locking position. Since two plugs on the travel plug adapter are not intended to be moved into the use position at the same time, the sliding lugs alternatively assume this locking position on the locking projection. However, by having two sliding lugs, for example two sliding lugs on adjacent plugs, share a suitably dimensioned locking rib, the number of locking ribs can be reduced, making the travel plug adapter even more compact.

[0052] Further features, as well as advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following drawings and the accompanying description. In the figures and the accompanying descriptions, features of the invention are described in combination. However, these features can also be encompassed by an inventive subject matter in other combinations. Each disclosed feature is therefore also to be considered as disclosed in technically reasonable combinations with other features. Some of the figures are slightly simplified and schematic. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a travel plug adapter according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a similar perspective view of the embodiment of the travel plug adapter in which the US plug has been transferred into the use position, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the travel plug adapter according to Fig. 2, in which the underside is visible, Fig.4 shows in a corresponding perspective view the travel plug from Fig. 3 , in which the Schuko plug has been transferred into the use position. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of selected interacting components of the travel plug. Fig. 6 shows a similar perspective view of selected interacting components, with a further support frame for an AU plug becoming visible. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of selected interacting components, in particular the housing of the Schuko plug. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of selected interacting components, in particular contact pins, of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0053] Fig. 1shows a perspective view of a travel plug adapter 10 according to the invention, which is ready for use but not yet in the operating position. Rather, all plugs are in the standby position, ie, in the housing.

[0054] Only the most essential elements of the travel plug adapter 10 are described below. The travel plug adapter has a housing consisting of an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 14. The upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 14 together form the main plug housing. Located on the top side of the travel plug adapter, and thus in the area of ​​the upper housing part 12, is the plug receptacle 16. This has a plurality of contact sockets 18. Specifically, these are the socket pair 18A for accommodating current-carrying UK contact pins, the socket pair 18B for accommodating current-carrying AU contact pins, the socket pair 18C for accommodating current-carrying US contact pins, the socket 18D for accommodating a UK earth pin, and the socket 18E for accommodating a US earth pin or AU earth pin. In a corresponding manner, a receptacle for contact pins according to the Schuko standard and appropriate earthing can also be provided.Such earthing is in . Fig. 8 shown.

[0055] The release button 20 is also provided on the side of the housing. It is used to lock and release the actuating elements. The front of the housing features the first actuating slide 22, which extends the US contacts, the second actuating slide 24, which extends the AU contacts, and the third actuating slide 26, which extends a Schuko plug.

[0056] Fig. 2shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the travel plug adapter according to the invention, in which the actuating slide 22 has been moved to its lower position. Accordingly, the contact pins for the US plug 28 protrude from the housing. The US plug 28 comprises two current-conducting contact pins, pins 30A and 30B, as well as a grounding pin 32. In the position shown, the travel plug can be inserted into a US standard outlet. This standard does not require the use of a plug body. The housing underside of the travel plug adapter 10 then rests flush with the flat surface of the US standard plug.

[0057] In Fig. 3The same travel plug is shown from a slightly different perspective. Here, it is clearly visible that the underside 34 is flat. However, this underside contains a plurality of openings 36 and elements. Openings 36A and 36B are provided for conductive Schuko contact pins. Openings 36C and 36D are provided for conductive AU contact pins. Opening 38 is provided for an additional earth pin. Opening 38, along with openings 36A and 36B, is provided in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. A fuse insert 46 is also provided next to this plug body.

[0058] Fig. 4shows, from the same perspective, the travel plug adapter according to the invention, with the Schuko plug moved into the use position. Accordingly, the third actuating slide 26 has been moved to its lower position. The plug body 40 of the Schuko plug protrudes above the underside 34 of the housing. The current-carrying contact pins 42A and 42B of the Schuko plug, in turn, protrude from this. In accordance with the standard, ground contacts 44 are located on the sides of the plug body.

[0059] Fig. 5 This shows a perspective view of selected interacting components of the travel plug 10. With the upper housing section removed, the view is directed into the interior of the plug, revealing primarily the components housed in the lower housing section 14. It should also be noted that not all components required for the plug's function are shown. A selection has been made for the sake of clarity.

[0060] The plug body 40 of the Schuko plug is visible. This contains openings 36A and 36B for the current-conducting contact pins of the Schuko plug. Also visible is opening 36E, which is intended for a ground contact pin. Another opening is also visible in this illustration: opening 56 for the ground pin of the AU plug.

[0061] Also shown are the conductive contact pins 30A and 30B for the US plug. These are in their ready position, i.e., retracted into the housing. Accordingly, the first actuating slide 22 is in the upper position. The actuating slide 22 can be held in this position by the locking mechanism 48.

[0062] The actuating slide 22 moves the support beam 50. The contact pins 30A and 30B are suspended from this support beam 50. Accordingly, when the first actuating slide 22 is moved toward the bottom of the housing, the support beam 50 moves downward. The contact pins 30A and 30B are guided in the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. The Schuko plug thus provides a guide for contact pins of a different standard.

[0063] Fig. 6 shows a similar perspective view of a similar selection of interacting components. The main difference to Fig. 5The support beam 52 for the AU plug is also visible here. The support beam 52 is connected to the actuating slide 24. The support beam 52 has three beam ends, the beam ends 54A, 54B and 54C, which converge in the area 54. The beam ends 54A and 54B support the current-conducting contacts of the AU plug. They mechanically guide these contacts from the (illustrated) ready position to the use position. The beam end 54C guides the AU earth pin. The earth pin is thus moved from the (illustrated) ready position by the Fig. 5 visible opening 56 is moved into the use position.

[0064] For the AU plug, an arrangement was chosen in which the current-carrying pins are routed outside the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug, while the grounding pin is routed inside the plug housing 40 of the Schuko plug. In contrast, the current-carrying contact pins for the US plug are routed inside the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. Both solutions allow for an advantageous and space-saving arrangement. Different solutions can be selected for different plugs.

[0065] Fig. 7shows a perspective view of other selected interacting components of the travel plug adapter embodiment. The actuating slide 22 for the US plug and the actuating slide 26 for the EU plug (designed as a Schuko plug) are visible here. The support arm 50 is connected to the actuating slide 22. The support arm 50 guides the earth pin 32, which is moved outside the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. The support arm 50, on the other hand, guides the current-conducting contacts of the US plug within the plug body 40 of the Schuko plug. Accordingly, a guide slot 58 is provided in the plug body 40. This guide slot 58 allows the support bar 50 to engage deeply into the plug body 40, thus enabling secure mechanical guidance of the US contact pins.

[0066] Fig. 8shows a perspective view of selected interacting components of an embodiment according to the present invention. Shown are a variety of contact pins for plugs of different standards. The corresponding contact pins can be used in a travel plug adapter according to the preceding illustrations. However, their mechanical arrangement differs slightly from that of the previously shown embodiment.

[0067] The contact pins are in turn guided on the support frame 60. More specifically, the support frame 60A, which carries the contact pins for a plug for Australia, and the support frame 60B, which carries the contact pins for a plug for the USA, are designated. The current-carrying contact 62 for Australia and the earth contact 64 for Australia are located on the support frame 60A. The earth contact for the USA is located on the support frame 60B (the current-carrying contacts for the USA are not visible in this illustration; some contact pins have also been omitted for clarity). However, the earth contact 68 for the UK plug is shown.

[0068] The earth contact track 70 serves as the earth contact for a Schuko plug. According to the design of Fig. 1 Of course, another type of earth contact would also be possible, such as a socket similar to the sockets 18D or 18E shown there.

[0069] The ground contact track is connected to a first contact rail 72 and a second contact rail 74. (They can also be referred to as contact strips.) The connection is electrically conductive, but the connection is also designed so that the first contact rail 72 and the second contact rail 74 are mechanically held by the ground contact track 70 for the Schuko plug.

[0070] The electrical contact can be transferred from the first contact bar 72 to the AU ground contact 64. The first contact clamp 76 is used for this purpose. The second contact clamp is used to transfer the electrical contact from the second contact bar 74 to the UK ground contact 68. The electrical contact is transferred from the second contact bar 74 to the US ground contact 66 via the third contact clamp 80.

[0071] The contact clips each have a movable end 82 and a fixed end 84. The movable end is referred to as "movable" with regard to its relative movement to the ground contact or the contact rail. In individual cases, it is stationary within the housing. The movable end 82 of the first contact clip 76 is movable relative to the first contact rail 72. With its two contact jaws 86A and 86B, the movable end 82 can slide along the first contact rail 72, thereby maintaining electrical contact. This sliding occurs while the ground contact 64 slides downward when the corresponding plug is transferred from the (shown) ready position to the use position. Generally, within the scope of the present invention, it is expedient to provide two opposing contact jaws at both ends of a contact clip, but especially at its movable end.

[0072] The fixed end 84 is firmly connected to the ground contact 64. It could be connected directly to this contact, but in this case it is connected to the ground contact 64 via the ground contact holder 88. The ground contact holder 88 thus holds the ground contact 64. The fixed end 84 of the first contact clamp 76 is, as can be seen, screwed to the ground contact holder 88.

[0073] A different solution was chosen for the US ground contact 66. This can also be moved from the illustrated standby position to a use position by sliding the support frame 60B downward (in this illustration, away from the ground contact track 70). The cylindrical ground contact 66 is moved by the stationary third contact clamp 80. The third contact clamp 80 is stationary because its fixed end 84 is firmly connected to the end of the second contact strip 74.

[0074] The movable end 82 of the second contact strip 74 can also be expediently designed with two opposing contact jaws. Passing the ground contact through such contact jaws is particularly useful for cylindrical contact pins. The term "movable end" refers to the third contact clamp 80 with regard to the relative movement of this end to the ground pin. In general, it is also expedient to attach the fixed end of a contact clamp to the end of a contact strip, for example, by screwing it.

[0075] The UK earth contact 68 is also connected to the earth contact track 70 via the second contact strip 74. In this case, the connection is made via the second contact clamp 78, whose fixed end 84 is fixedly connected (and in this case also without an earth contact holder) to the earth contact 68. A screw connection again serves as a generally expedient connection. The movable end 82 of the second contact clamp 78 is moved along the second contact strip 74 when the earth contact 68 is transferred to its (lower) use position. Consequently, the second contact strip 74 carries two contact clamps. This is generally a useful concept within the scope of the present invention. It is also expedient within the scope of the present invention if the movable end of a first contact clamp (here the clamp 78) and the fixed end of a second contact clamp (here the clamp 80) are connected to a contact pin.

[0076] In the manner described in general terms and more specifically in the drawings, a travel adapter can be manufactured that is very convenient to use, yet operating errors are unlikely. Interestingly, the travel adapter can still be manufactured inexpensively in this way and can also be manufactured inexpensively and reliably, even if larger error tolerances must be allowed for in mass production. List of reference symbols

[0077] 10 Travel plug / travel plug adapter 12 Upper housing section 14 Lower housing section 16 Plug receptacle 18 Contact socket 18 A UK socket pair 18 B US socket pair 18 C US socket pair 18 D Socket for UK earth pin 18 EU US earth pin 20 Release button 22 First operating slide 24 Second operating slide 26 Third operating slide 28 US plug 30 Conductive contact pins (US plug) 32 Earth pin (US plug) 34 Plug body (Schuko plug) 36 Openings 36 A Opening for conductive contacts (Schuko) 36 B Opening for conductive contacts (Schuko) 36 C Opening for conductive contacts (US) 36 D Opening for conductive contacts (US) 36E Opening for additional earth contact 38 Schuko plug 40 Schuko plug body 42 Current-carrying contacts Schuko plug 44 Earth contact Schuko plug 46 Fuse compartment 48 Locking mechanism 50 Supporting beam US 52 Earth pin opening 54 Supporting beam AU 56 Supporting beam ends AU 58 Guide slot 60 Supporting frame 62 Current-carrying contact AU 64 Earth contact AU 66 Earth contact US 68 Earth contact UK 70 Earth contact track Schuko 72 First contact strip74Second contact strip 76First contact clamp 78Second contact clamp 80Third contact clamp 82Movable end 84Fixed end 86Contact jaws 88Earth contact holder

Claims

1. Travel plug adapter (10), which has a housing and a plug receptacle according to the Schuko standard, which has a first earth contact receptacle (70) and has at least one first plug (28, 38) of a first standard, the first plug (28, 38) being assigned an actuating element (26), which is designed for displacing the first plug (28, 38) between a ready position, in which the first plug (28, 38) is located substantially inside the housing, and a usable position, in which the first plug (28, 38) is located usably outside the housing, and the first plug (28, 38) is located substantially inside the housing, in which the first plug (28, 38) is located substantially inside the housing, and a use position in which the first plug (28, 38) is located usably outside the housing, and the first plug (28, 38) is assigned a first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) which can be electrically connected to the earth contact receptacle (70), wherein the earth contact receptacle (70) is connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) both in the usable position and in transitional positions between the ready position and the usable position, wherein the electrical contact between the earth contact receptacle (70) and the earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) is mediated by at least one contact rail (72, 74), characterised in that the at least one contact rail (72, 74) is connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) by means of at least one contact rail (72, 74), in that the at least one contact rail (72, 74) is mechanically connected to the earth contact receptacle (70) and there is direct contact between the earth contact receptacle (70) and the at least one contact rail (72, 74) and in which the connection of the earth contact receptacle (70) to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) is effected by a movable contact clip (76, 78, 80).

2. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first earth contact receptacle (18D, 18E, 70) is also connected to the first earth contact (44) in the standby position.

3. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact clip (76, 78, 80) has a fixed end (84) which is mechanically fixedly connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) or to the contact rail (72, 74) and has a movable end (82) which is mechanically movably connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68) or to the contact rail (72, 74).

4. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the movable end (82) is mechanically movably connected to the first earth contact (32, 44, 64, 66, 68).

5. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first earth contact is designed as a cylindrical pin.

6. The travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first earth contact (44) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the contact clip (76, 78, 80).

7. Travel plug adapter (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the movable end (82) of the contact clip (76, 78, 80) is guided on the contact rail (72, 74).

8. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least the first contact rail (72) and a second contact rail (74) are mechanically connected to the earth contact receptacle (70)9. Travel plug adapter (10) according to one of claims 3 to 8, in which furthermore a second plug (28) of a second standard is provided, which is also assigned an actuating element (24) which is designed for displacing the second plug (28) between a ready position, in which the second plug (28) is located essentially inside the housing, and a usable position, in which the second plug (28) is located usably outside the housing, and a second earth contact (32) is assigned to the second plug,10. A travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first earth contact (44) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the first contact clip (76) and the second earth contact (66) of the second plug (28) is connected to the movable end (82) of a second contact clip (80).

11. Travel plug adapter (10) according to claim 9 to 10, wherein the contact clip (80) is connected by its movable end (82) to the first earth contact (66), and wherein the second earth contact (68) is connected to the fixed end (84) of the contact clip (80).

12. Travel plug adapter (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at the second earth contact (68) of the second plug (28) the movable end (82) runs on a second contact rail (74).