Electrical socket for a toy construction

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical socket (2) injection-molded from a styrene copolymer for a construction toy (1), comprising a base body (10) arranged in a space with a longitudinal direction (4), a transverse direction (5) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4), and a vertical direction (6) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4) and transverse to the transverse direction (5), with a plug receptacle (12) extending into the base body in the longitudinal direction (4), which is bounded in the transverse direction (5) by a left side wall (14) and a right side wall (16) opposite the left side wall (14), and in the vertical direction (5) by a base (18) and a ceiling (20) opposite the base (18), wherein an electrical contact (22) for contacting a plug (3) that can be inserted into the plug receptacle (12) in the longitudinal direction (4) is arranged on the base (18), and both the ceiling (20) and the side walls (14, 16) are designed for friction-fit contact of the plug (3),characterized in that each side wall (14, 16) has at least one recess (26) extending in or against the transverse direction (5), each of which extends in the longitudinal direction (4) over the entire connector receptacle (12), wherein each side wall (14, 16) has at least one further recess (26) which extends in the longitudinal direction (4) over the entire connector receptacle (12), wherein on each side wall (14, 16) the recess (26) and the further recess (26) each have a recess width (28), and wherein the sum of the two recess widths (28) is between 25% and 80%, particularly preferably between 40% and 70%, of the height (30) of the side wall (14, 16) in the vertical direction (6), and wherein the surface roughness of each side wall (14, 16) outside the recesses (26) is less than 5 µm as measured according to ISO 25178-7:2020 is...

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical socket for a construction toy according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] An electrical socket outlet according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from CN 101 986 473 A.

[0003] From WO 2016 / 177 823 A1, an electrical socket for a construction toy is known, comprising a base body arranged in a space with a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and transverse to the transverse direction, with a plug receptacle extending longitudinally into the base body, which is bounded in the transverse direction by a left side wall and a right side wall opposite the left side wall and in the vertical direction by a base and a ceiling opposite the base, wherein an electrical contact is arranged on the base for contacting a plug that can be inserted longitudinally into the plug receptacle and both the ceiling and the side walls are designed for frictional contact of the plug.

[0004] The purpose of the invention is to improve the known electrical socket.

[0005] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. According to one aspect of the invention, an electrical socket for a construction toy, injection-molded from a styrene copolymer, comprises a base body arranged in a space with a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal and transverse directions, with a plug receptacle extending longitudinally into the base body, which is bounded in the transverse direction by a left side wall and a right side wall opposite the left side wall, and in the vertical direction by a base and a ceiling opposite the base.wherein an electrical contact for contacting a plug that can be inserted longitudinally into the plug receptacle is arranged on the bottom and both the top and the side walls are designed for friction-fit contact of the plug, characterized in that each side wall has at least one recess extending in or against the transverse direction, each of which extends longitudinally over the entire plug receptacle, wherein each side wall has at least one further recess, each of which extends longitudinally over the entire plug receptacle,wherein on each side wall the recess and the further recess each have a recess width and wherein the sum of the two recess widths is between 25% and 80%, particularly preferably between 40% and 70%, of the height of the side wall in the vertical direction and wherein a surface roughness of each side wall outside the recesses is less than 5 µm, preferably between 0.2 µm and 2 µm as measured according to ISO 25178-7:2020.

[0006] The ISO 25178-7:2020 "Geometric product specification (GPS) - Surface finish: Part 7: Surface texture" was published in 2020 and replaces the previous editions of the standard, including ISO 25178-2:2012, which specifically relates to the characterization of surface textures.

[0007] The design of the electrical socket is based on the consideration that, due to the positive-locking connection and the associated undercuts, it is not only comparatively complex to manufacture, but also requires slides during injection molding, which increases the cost of the mold. Furthermore, the friction surface between the plug and socket is utilized across its entire area, which inherently poses a risk of electrostatic charges and can lead to unintentional sparking or electrostatic discharges that could damage the electrical components in the construction toy.

[0008] The socket in question addresses the idea of ​​reducing the friction surface through indentations, thereby reducing the risk of electrostatic charges and thus unintentional sparking or electrostatic discharges.

[0009] The friction surfaces have the positive side effect of enabling a detachable, non-form-locking connection, in which the connecting partners can be separated again under a predetermined force. Less stringent tolerances are required for this frictional connection because the friction surfaces are raised compared to the remaining side wall and can thus compensate for tolerances.

[0010] Furthermore, styrene copolymers are thermoplastic polymers characterized by high hardness, strength, and stiffness. These properties make them an ideal material for manufacturing the friction strips in the specified socket. The friction strips can hold the plug securely and firmly in the socket, thus preventing it from unintentionally slipping out. However, if the tensile force exceeds a certain threshold force, for example, 5 N to 10 N, the friction strips allow the plug connection to be released.

[0011] The hardness and strength of styrene copolymers ensure that the friction strips are resistant to wear and tear. The frictional force between the friction strips and the connector can be maintained over a longer period without the friction strips wearing down or becoming damaged. In this way, the connector's holding force is maintained for an extended period, yet it can still be removed at any time with the aforementioned threshold force.

[0012] The hardness of styrene copolymers also contributes to the friction strips being more resistant to scratches and damage caused by contaminants between the plug and the socket. These contaminants are trapped by the recesses, which act as refuge areas, allowing the friction strips to last longer and thus maintaining the plug's holding force over a longer period.

[0013] In this way, a detachable plug connection can be achieved, but the plug connection can still be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

[0014] In a further development of the specified socket, the recess and the additional recess on each side wall are arranged at opposite ends of the side wall when viewed vertically. This allows burrs or other manufacturing-related irregularities on the plug, which regularly occur on its edges, to be accommodated in the recesses.

[0015] In a further development of the specified socket, the recess width of both recesses on each side wall is the same. This ensures that, on the one hand, the frictional contact surface is centered on the side walls, and on the other hand, that the side walls are mirror-symmetrical, thus guaranteeing optimal, flush fit of the plug in the socket.

[0016] In a further development of the specified socket, the two recesses on each side wall form a longitudinally extending projection which is rectangular in a longitudinally viewed cross-section, whereby the friction surface on the projection is flat and the plug can be easily inserted into the socket.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the specified socket, each recess has a depth of between 0.1% and 10%, preferably 0.5% to 5%, and particularly preferably 1% to 2% of the height of the side wall in the vertical direction. This achieves optimal effectiveness of the recesses without requiring the socket itself to be geometrically oversized.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the specified socket, the electrical contact is spring-mounted in the vertical direction, thus enabling the socket to press the plug against the ceiling. This further optimizes the frictional connection and holds the plug more securely in the socket. Furthermore, the contact pressure against the ceiling can be adjusted via the elasticity of the spring-mounted electrical contact.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, an electrical plug connection comprises one of the specified electrical sockets and a plug held in the socket, which rests against the left side wall, the right side wall and the ceiling of the socket and has an electrical contact on a bottom surface facing the socket, which is connected to the electrical contact of the socket.

[0020] In a further development of the specified electrical connector, the connector is bounded laterally by a left side surface facing the left side wall and a right side surface facing the right side wall, and vertically by the base surface and a top surface opposite the base surface, with transition areas between the side surfaces and the top surface being rounded. This minimizes burr formation and increases the aforementioned clearance spaces.

[0021] The properties, features, and advantages of this invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer in the context of the following description of the

[0022] Examples of embodiments, which are explained in more detail in connection with the drawing. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a toy building block with electrical sockets, where a plug is inserted into an electrical socket, Fig. 2 An exploded view of an electrical connector consisting of one of the electrical sockets and a plug, as found in Fig. 1 are shown, and Fig. 3 the exploded view of the electrical connector of the Fig. 2 from a different perspective.

[0023] The figures use identical technical elements with the same reference symbols and describe them only once. The figures are purely schematic and, above all, do not represent the actual geometric relationships.

[0024] It will be on Fig. 1 Reference is made to a perspective view of a toy building block 1 for a construction toy with electrical sockets 2, wherein a plug 3 is inserted into an electrical socket 2 injection molded from a styrene copolymer in the form of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

[0025] The toy building block 1 is arranged in a space defined by a longitudinal direction 4, a transverse direction 5 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 4, and a vertical direction 6 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 4 and perpendicular to the transverse direction 5. With regard to the toy building block 1, the definition of these directions may seem somewhat confusing; however, these directions refer to the electrical sockets 2, which will be discussed in detail later.

[0026] The toy building block 1 comprises a building block body 7 on whose upper side, viewed in the transverse direction 5, eight studs 8 are held.

[0027] Studs 8 can be inserted into stud recesses on the underside, viewed in the transverse direction 5, of a toy building block identical in construction to toy building block 1. This insertion principle is known in the field of construction toys from various prior publications, such as GB 673,857 and CH 362 354 A, and will not be described further here.

[0028] The electrical sockets 2 are held in an interior of the toy building block 1 that is not visible, and which is open at the locations of the electrical sockets 2 via access openings 9.

[0029] The electrical socket 2 and the plug 3 are described below using the following: Figs. 2 and 3 described in detail, each showing an exploded view of the electrical connector from one of the electrical sockets 2 and the plug 3 from different perspectives, as they are in Fig. 1 can be seen.

[0030] The electrical socket 2 comprises a base body 10 with a plug receptacle 12 extending in the longitudinal direction 4 into the base body 10, which is bounded in the transverse direction 5 by a left side wall 14 and a right side wall 16 opposite the left side wall 14 and in the vertical direction 6 by a base 18 and a ceiling 20 opposite the base 18.

[0031] Four electrical contacts 22 are arranged on the base 18 for contacting the plug 3, which can be inserted longitudinally 4 into the plug receptacle 2. For connecting the contacts 22, for example to an electrical circuit or the like, the electrical socket 2 on the rear side of the base body, viewed in the longitudinal direction 4, includes an electrical connection point 24 for each electrical contact 22, via which the respective electrical contact 22 can be connected to the electrical circuit.

[0032] In the base body 10 of the electrical socket 2, both the top 20 and the side walls 14, 16 are designed for frictional contact with the plug 3. Frictional contact, also called force-fit contact, is understood to be a connection in which a normal force acts on the respective surface 14, 16, 20 and the corresponding mating surface of the plug 3, thus preventing mutual displacement between the electrical socket 2 and the plug 3, as long as a counterforce caused by the resulting static friction is not exceeded. This counterforce, necessary to break the connection between the plug 3 and the electrical socket 2, can be influenced, among other things, by a suitable choice of material and surface finish at the contact point.The frictional connection, and thus the magnitude of the counterforce required to release the connection, can also be influenced by a spring-loaded mounting of the electrical contacts 22. The greater the stiffness of the electrical contacts 22, the higher the previously mentioned normal force with which the plug 3 is pressed against the ceiling 20.

[0033] In the electrical socket 2, the left side wall 14 has two recesses 26 extending in the transverse direction 5 and in the longitudinal direction 4 over the entire plug receptacle 12. Parallel to these, the right side wall 16 has two recesses 26 extending in the opposite direction 5 and also in the longitudinal direction 4 over the entire plug receptacle 12. The recesses 26 are located on opposite end faces of each side wall 14, 16 when viewed in the vertical direction 6.

[0034] Each recess 26 has a width 28 as seen in the height direction 6, while each side wall 14, 16 has a total height 30 as seen in the height direction 6. These geometric dimensions are in Fig. 2 For the sake of clarity, only the right side wall 16 is shown, but the same applies analogously to the left side wall 14. In the electrical socket, the recess widths 28 are specifically chosen and satisfy the condition that the sum of the two recess widths 28 on each side wall 14, 16 is between 25% and 80%, preferably between 40% and 70%, of the total height 30 of the respective side wall 30 in the vertical direction 6. The recess widths 28 of both recesses 26 on each side wall 14, 16 are the same, resulting in a mirror-symmetrical design of both side walls 14, 16 when viewed in the transverse direction 5.

[0035] The two recesses 26 on each side wall 14, 16 form a projection 32 extending in the longitudinal direction 4, which in Fig. 2 For clarity, only the left side wall 14 is marked with a reference numeral. Each of these projections 32 has a rectangular cross-section when viewed in the longitudinal direction, so that the surface of the respective projection 32 can be optimally used as a friction surface or friction strip. The friction strip on each side wall 14, 16 has a surface roughness of less than 5 µm as measured according to ISO 25178-7:2020, preferably between 0.2 µm and 2 µm as measured according to ISO 25178-7:2020.

[0036] The recesses 26 on the left side wall 14 each have a depth of 34 when viewed in the transverse direction 5, while the recesses 26 on the right side wall 16 each have a depth of 34 opposite to the transverse direction 5. Of these depths 34, in Fig. 2For the sake of clarity, only one depth 34 on the left side wall 14 is designated with a reference numeral. Each depth 34 is between 0.1% and 10%, preferably 0.5% to 5%, particularly preferably 1% to 2% of the total height 30 of the respective side wall 14, 16.

[0037] Furthermore, connection pins 36 are formed on an outer side of the base body 10 of the electrical socket 2, via which the electrical socket 2 can be attached to the interior of the toy building block 1, for example by gluing.

[0038] The connector 3 has an insertion pin 38, which, viewed in the longitudinal direction 4, is held at the front of a retaining body 40. Viewed in the longitudinal direction 4, the retaining body 40 has a receiving space 42 at its rear for inserting an electrical ribbon cable (not shown). The basic design of this receiving space 42 and its opening to the outside are well known from US 11,217,937 B2 and will not be explained further here.

[0039] The insertion pin 38 of the connector 3 is bounded in the transverse direction 5 by the left side surface 44 and a right side surface 46, while in the vertical direction 6 it is bounded by a bottom surface 48 and a top surface 50 opposite the bottom surface 48. Four slots 52 extending in the longitudinal direction 4 are recessed into the bottom surface 48, in which electrical mating contacts 54 are held. These electrical mating contacts 54 lead into the aforementioned receiving space 42 and can be electrically connected to the ribbon cable that can be received therein.

[0040] In the longitudinal direction 4, the insertion pin 38 is bounded by an end face 56. The transition areas 58 between all boundary surfaces 44, 46, 48, 50, 56 of the insertion pin 38 are rounded.

[0041] To connect the plug 3 to the electrical socket 2, the insertion pin 38 is inserted into the plug receptacle 12. The transition areas 58 facing the end face 56 can be used to guide the insertion pin 38 into the plug receptacle 12. When inserted, at least the left side surface 44 of the insertion pin 38 rests against the left side wall 14 of the plug receptacle 12, and the right side surface 46 of the insertion pin 38 rests against the right side wall 16 of the plug receptacle 12. The plug 3 is then pressed longitudinally 4 against the electrical socket 2. In this process, one electrical contact 22 of the electrical socket 2 comes into contact with a corresponding electrical contact 54 of the plug 3. Due to the spring-loaded mounting of the electrical contacts 22, these press the insertion pin 38 with its cover surface 50 against the top 20 of the plug receptacle 12, so that the frictional connection described above is established.

[0042] To release the connection, the insertion pin 38 of the plug 3 is pulled out of the plug receptacle 12 of the electrical socket 2 in the opposite direction to the longitudinal direction 4.

Claims

1. Electrical socket (2) for a construction toy (1), comprising a basic body (10) arranged in a space with a longitudinal direction (4), a transverse direction (5) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4), and a height direction (6) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4) and transverse to the transverse direction (5), the basic body (10) having a plug receptacle (12) extending into the basic body in the longitudinal direction (4), which plug receptacle (12) is bounded in the transverse direction (5) by a left side wall (14) and a right side wall (16) opposite the left side wall (14), and in the height direction (6) by a base (18) and a cover (20) opposite the base (18), wherein an electrical contact (22) for contacting a plug (3) insertable into the plug receptacle (12) in the longitudinal direction (4) is arranged on the base (18), and both the cover (20) and the side walls (14, 16) are designed for frictional contacting of the plug (3), wherein each side wall (14, 16) has at least one recess (26) extending in or respectively counter to the transverse direction (5), each recess extending in the longitudinal direction (4) over the entire plug receptacle (12), wherein each side wall (14, 16) has at least one further recess (26), each further recess extending in the longitudinal direction (4) over the entire plug receptacle (12), wherein on each side wall (14, 16) the recess (26) and the further recess (26) each have a recess width (28), and characterized in that the electrical socket is injection-molded from a styrene copolymer and the sum of the two recess widths (28) is between 25% and 80%, particularly preferably between 40% and 70%, of the height (30) of the side wall (14, 16) in the height direction (6), wherein the surface roughness of each side wall (14, 16) outside the recesses (26) is less than 5 µm measured according to ISO 25178-7:2020.

2. Electrical socket (2) according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness of each side wall (14, 16) outside the recesses (26) is between 0.2 µm and 2 µm measured according to ISO 25178-7:2020.

3. Electrical socket (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess (26) and the further recess (26) on each side wall (14, 16), viewed in the height direction (6), are arranged at opposite end sides of the respective side wall (14, 16).

4. Electrical socket (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the styrene copolymer is a terpolymer, preferably acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene.

5. Electrical socket (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the recess width (28) of both recesses (26) on each side wall (14, 16) is the same.

6. Electrical socket (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the two recesses (26) on each side wall (14, 16) form a projection (32) extending in the longitudinal direction (4), which is rectangular in cross-section viewed in the longitudinal direction (4).

7. Electrical socket (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each recess (26) has a depth (34) which is between 0.1% and 10%, preferably 0.5% to 5%, particularly preferably 1% to 2%, of the height (30) of the side wall (14, 16) in the height direction (6).

8. Electrical socket (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contact (22) is resiliently mounted in the height direction (6).

9. Electrical plug connection (2, 3), comprising an electrical socket (2) according to any of the preceding claims and a plug (3) held in the socket (2), which plug (3) bears against the left side wall (14), the right side wall (16), and the cover (20) of the socket (3), and which plug has, on a bottom surface (48) directed toward the base (18) of the socket, an electrical counter-contact (54) which is connected to the electrical contact (22) of the socket (2).

10. Electrical plug connection (2, 3) according to claim 9, wherein the plug (3) is bounded in the transverse direction (5) by a left side surface (44) directed toward the left side wall (14) and a right side surface (46) directed toward the right side wall (16), and in the height direction (6) by the bottom surface (48) and a cover surface (50) opposite the bottom surface (48), wherein transition regions (58) between the side surfaces (46) and the cover surface (50) are rounded.

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