Electrical socket comprising a moveable plunger

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical socket comprising: - a cylindrical wall (310) surrounding a cavity (300); - a plunger (600) that is translatably moveable relative to the cylindrical wall; - a central post (400) that is translatably moveable, jointly with the plunger, along the axis of the cavity and capable of pivoting about this axis (X) between an axial sliding position and a locking position, which central post has a rear portion (402A) designed to rest on a front portion (324) of the bottom (320) of the cavity so as to be blocked in a high axial position when in the angular locking position. At least one of the rear portions of the central post and at least one of the front portions of the bottom wall have a sloped surface so as to be able to slide over one another in order to move the central pillar from its locking position to its sliding position when the plunger is urged downwards.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title of the invention: Electrical socket comprising a movable piston

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical outlets.

[0004] It relates more particularly to an electrical outlet comprising:

[0005] - a cylindrical wall of a well,

[0006] - a piston closing the section of this well, movable in translation relative to said cylindrical wall, comprising at least two orifices,

[0007] - a central upright movable in translation along the axis of the well, together with the piston, said central upright being adapted to pivot around the axis of the well between an axial sliding angular position and an angular locking position,

[0008] - the central upright comprising a rear part adapted to bear on a front part of a bottom wall of the well to lock in a high axial position when the central upright is in the angular locking position.

[0009] The invention allows the production of electrical sockets of any standard, in particular electrical sockets conforming to the standard with lateral earth contacts or to the Franco-Belgian standard.

[0010] An electrical socket as mentioned above is already known from document FR2967830 belonging to the applicants. A disadvantage of the electrical socket described in this document lies in the fact that the central post locked in the high axial position, when it is in the angular locking position, cannot be unlocked to be able to push the piston without first pivoting it from its angular locking position to its angular axial sliding position.

[0011] Therefore, a frontal impact or strong pressure on the piston when the central post is locked in the high position risks damaging the said central post because it cannot slide backwards and risks deforming the bottom of the well.

[0012] Document KR20210123060 further discloses an electrical socket comprising a piston movable in translation in a well and a central post adapted to be moved in translation together with the piston, in which the central post is adapted to be locked in a low axial position. This electrical socket does not overcome the drawback stated above. In order to overcome this drawback, the present invention proposes an electrical socket as defined in the introduction in which the locking of the central post in the high axial position is disengageable in the event of a frontal impact occurring on the piston.

[0013] More particularly, the invention proposes an electrical socket in which there is provided, at least on one of said rear parts of the central upright and front of the bottom wall, an inclined surface so that said rear and front parts are adapted to slide over each other to move the central upright from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position when the piston receives a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall of the well.

[0014] Thus, when an impact occurs on the front face of the piston of the electrical socket according to the invention, the cooperation of the rear part of the central post and the front part of the bottom wall of the well of the electrical socket allows the central post and the piston to move back into the well, which considerably reduces the risk of breakage of the central post.

[0015] Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of the electrical socket according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are the following:

[0016] - it comprises a shutter mounted at a front end of the central upright, this shutter being adapted to rotate freely relative to the central upright between a position for closing said orifices of the piston and a position for opening said orifices;

[0017] - the shutter is housed at the rear of the piston, in a cassette;

[0018] - said inclined surface makes a non-zero angle with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the well, said inclined surface moving away from the piston in the direction of pivoting of the central upright from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position;

[0019] - said rear part of the central upright comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the central upright;

[0020] - the central upright comprises at least one longitudinal rib extending in projection from its external face and of which a rear end face forms said rear part of the central upright;

[0021] - a part of the grip located at the front of the central upright comprises at least one ramp inclined towards the rear and said central upright comprises at least one front part adapted to slide on said ramp to move from its angular sliding position to its angular locking position;

[0022] - each ramp is provided on the rear face of a bottom wall of the cassette;

[0023] - said longitudinal rib has a front end face which forms said front part of the central upright; - each inclined ramp extends at a slope less than the slope at which said inclined surface of one of the rear parts of the central upright and front of the bottom wall of the well extends;

[0024] - said central upright is rotationally linked to the shutter in its angular locking position;

[0025] - said bottom wall of the well comprises a central opening through which said central upright is adapted to slide when it is in the angular sliding position;

[0026] - a return means permanently forces the central upright towards the high axial position in which the piston extends close to the front edge of said cylindrical wall;

[0027] - said return means is a compression spring housed at least partly inside the central upright and interposed between the latter and a base of the electrical socket.

[0028] The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented.

[0029] In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded schematic view of an electrical socket according to the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of Figure 1 assembled, Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of Figure 2 in which a connection plug is being inserted, the pins of the plug being inserted into the socket without the piston being withdrawn, Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of Figure 2, with a portion torn away, Figure 5 is an enlarged schematic view of area A of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the electrical socket of Figure 2 in which the piston is subjected to a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall of the well, Figure 7 is an enlarged schematic view of area B of Figure 6,Figure 8 is a schematic front perspective view of the bottom of the well of the electrical socket of Figure 1, Figure 9 is an enlarged schematic view of area C of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a schematic top view of a central area of ​​the bottom wall of the well of the electrical socket of Figure 1 with the central post in its angular sliding position, Figure 11 is a schematic top view of a part of the electrical socket of Figure 1, shown without the piston, in which the shutter has pivoted to free access to the connection terminals, Figure 12 is a schematic side view of a part of the electrical socket of Figure 1, comprising the piston, the shutter and the cassette containing the shutter, as well as the central post, Figure 13 is an enlarged schematic view of area D of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a schematic perspective view of the central post of the electrical socket of Figure 1,Figure 15 is an enlarged schematic view of area E of Figure 14, seen from a different angle, Figure 16 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 15, showing a possible variation of the shape of the central post, and Figure 17 is a schematic sectional view of the electrical outlet of Figure 2.,

[0030] In the following description, by convention, the term "front" will designate the side of the electrical outlet facing a user when it is in the use position, while the term "rear" will designate the opposite side of this electrical outlet.

[0031] As a preliminary point, it will be noted that, from one figure to another, the identical or similar elements of the different embodiments of the invention will be referenced by the same reference signs and will not be described each time.

[0032] In Figures 1 to 15 and 17, a preferred embodiment of an electrical outlet 700 according to the invention is shown.

[0033] This electrical socket 700 has a well 300 adapted to receive an electrical plug 800 for connecting this plug to the electrical network (see figure 3).

[0034] The electrical outlet 700 may be embedded in any wall (not shown) or protrude from such a wall. Alternatively, it may be an electrical outlet of the extension cord type or a multi-socket block. The principle of the invention described below is then not modified.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, 6, and 17, the electrical socket 700 has a generally cylindrical shape. It comprises a base 100 on which is attached, at the front, the well 300 adapted to receive the body of the electrical plug 800 (Figures 2 and 3).

[0036] The base 100 and the well 300 are made of insulating material, for example by molding a plastic material.

[0037] The base 100 has a complex shape, inscribed in a cylinder. It is closed at the rear by a bottom wall 120 from which rises a generally cylindrical side wall 110 (figure 1). This base 100 is open at the front.

[0038] The well 300 comprises a cylindrical wall 310 which delimits an interior space for insertion of the body of the electrical plug 800 and a bottom wall 320 which closes this interior space at the rear. The cylindrical wall 310 extends along a longitudinal axis X defining the direction of insertion of the electrical plug 800 into the well (figures 1, 2 and 4). The interior space of the well 300 opens at the front by a circular opening 310A through which the body of the electrical plug 800 is inserted into the well (figures 1 and 8). The bottom wall 320 of the well 300 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X (figure 4).

[0039] The well 300 is mounted on the side wall 110 of the base 100, at the front thereof (figures 2, 3, 4 and 6).

[0040] For this purpose, the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 is extended, towards the rear, by two diametrically opposed tabs 330 provided with snap-on mounting means adapted to cooperate with complementary means provided in the side wall 110 of the base 100 (figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6).

[0041] More particularly, each tab 330 here comprises two windows 331 in each of which a hooking tooth 112 is hooked, projecting from the side wall 110 of the base 100 to secure the base 100 and the well 300 (figures 1 to 3).

[0042] The cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 has an external face 311A ​​which extends at least partially in the extension of an external face 111 of the side wall 110 of the base 100 (figures 2 and 3).

[0043] The circular front opening 310A of the well 300 is bordered by a rim 312 which projects from the external face 311A ​​of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 (figures 1 and 8).

[0044] This cylindrical wall 310 carries two lateral uprights 340 provided face to face, extending in projection from an internal face 311B of this cylindrical wall 310 parallel to the longitudinal axis X thereof (figure 1). Each side upright 340 has a central groove 342 which opens at a front end of the side upright 340 (located near the circular front opening 310A of the well 300) and which separates two parallel legs of said side upright 340. Mounting ribs are provided on the back of the legs of each side upright 340 (i.e. on a face facing the internal face 311B of the cylindrical wall 310) intended to fit into slots 314 provided correspondingly in said cylindrical wall 310. The slots 314 are visible in FIG. 8 which shows the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 not equipped with said side uprights 340.

[0045] The side posts 340 are diametrically opposed in the well 300 of the electrical outlet 700 and are adapted to guide the sliding of the electrical plug 800 in the well 300 of the electrical outlet 700 during its insertion.

[0046] The base 100 houses the electrical contact elements 200 making it possible to connect to the electrical network the electrical contact elements of the electrical plug 800 inserted in the well 300 of the electrical socket 700.

[0047] These electrical contact elements 200 comprise three connection terminals (figure 1).

[0048] A phase terminal 210 and a neutral terminal 210 are provided (figure 1) as well as an earth terminal 220, each being intended to be electrically connected to an electrical conductor coming from the network.

[0049] Each of the three connection terminals comprises a contact part with the electrical contact elements of the electrical plug 800 and a connection part to the electrical network.

[0050] Each phase 210 and neutral 210 terminal housed in the base 110 has a receiving socket 211 adapted to receive one of the phase and neutral pins of the electrical plug 800 (figures 1 and 8). This receiving socket constitutes the contact part of each terminal.

[0051] As shown more particularly in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 closes the base 100 at the front. It comprises two circular openings 321 located opposite the receiving cells 211 of the phase 210 and neutral 210 terminals housed in the base 100.

[0052] The earth terminal 220 shown in the figures here comprises a metal blade folded into a U forming a lyre, shown in figure 1 and which constitutes its contact part.

[0053] The lyre 220 has two lateral branches 221 which rise from a central base 222 (figure 1).

[0054] The bottom wall 320 of the well 300 comprises two diametrically opposed peripheral cutouts 322 for the passage of the lateral branches 221 of this lyre 220 (figure 8).

[0055] The internal face 311B of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 comprises two recesses 313 (figures 1 and 8) which join towards the rear the cutouts 322 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. The two recesses 313 are diametrically opposed according to a diameter oriented at 90 degrees relative to the diameter according to which the lateral uprights 340 are positioned. They house a part of each lateral branch 221 of the lyre 220, another part of which projects into the interior space of the well 300 of the electrical socket 700.

[0056] The base 222 of the lyre 220 is housed in the base 100, against the rear face of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.

[0057] Each phase 210, neutral 210 and earth 220 terminal housed in the base 100 also includes an automatic connector 212, 224 for connecting the electrical conductor coming from the network. Each automatic connector is accessible through an orifice in the bottom wall 120 of the base 100 (not visible in the attached figures).

[0058] Alternatively, the earth terminal could comply with another standard, for example the Franco-Belgian standard.

[0059] When the electrical plug 800 is inserted into the electrical outlet 700, the pins of this plug pass through the circular openings 321 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 and enter the receiving cells 211 of the phase 210 and neutral 210 terminals. The earth contact elements of the electrical plug also come into contact with the lateral branches 221 of the lyre 220.

[0060] The electrical outlet 700 also comprises a piston 600 which closes the section of the interior space of the well 300 and which is mounted to move in translation relative to said cylindrical wall 310 along the longitudinal axis X thereof, between two extreme positions (figures 1, 4, 6 and 17).

[0061] This piston 600 has a main wall 601 of generally circular outline.

[0062] The outline of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 here comprises two diametrically opposed cutouts 603 for the passage of the lateral branches 221 of the lyre 220 as well as two pairs of notches 605 at right angles adapted to the passage of the legs of the lateral uprights 340 during the translation of the piston 600 (figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6).

[0063] Alternatively, if the electrical outlet complies with the Franco-Belgian standard, the piston includes, in place of the 603 cutouts, an opening allowing an earth pin to pass through.

[0064] The main wall 601 of the piston 600 comprises two circular orifices 604 whose centers are aligned with a diameter of this main wall 601. The dimensions and positions of these circular orifices 604 are adapted to the passage of the pins of the electrical plug 800 inserted into the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 (figures 1 to 4 and 6).

[0065] The main wall 601 of the piston 600 is partially surrounded by a falling wall 602 oriented towards the rear of the electrical socket 700 (figures 1 to 4 and 6, 17). This falling wall 602 is applied against the internal face 311B of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 and participates in the translational guidance of the piston 600 along this cylindrical wall 310.

[0066] In one of the two extreme positions of the piston 600, hereinafter called the depressed position (not shown), the piston 600 extends back from the front edge of the cylindrical wall 310, close to the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.

[0067] In this depressed position, the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 extend opposite and close to the circular openings 321 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. The pins of the electrical plug 800 pass through the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 as well as the circular openings 321 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 to be inserted into the receiving sockets 211 of the phase 210 and neutral 210 terminals housed in the base 100.

[0068] In the other extreme position, hereinafter called the waiting position and shown in FIG. 2, the piston 600 extends close to the front edge of said cylindrical wall 310.

[0069] More precisely, in the waiting position, the front face of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 is flush with the front face of the rim 312 which runs along the front edge of the cylindrical wall 310.

[0070] In this waiting position, the piston 600 closes the majority of the circular front opening 310A of the well 300 and closes the well 300 to prevent access to the electrical contact elements 200 housed in the electrical socket 700.

[0071] The piston 600 further comprises sliding means 606, 607 in the well 300, adapted to slide in complementary guide means 341, 342 provided in the lateral uprights 340 (figure 1).

[0072] The sliding means 606, 607 of the piston 600 comprise two pairs of studs 607 carried by the falling wall 602 of the piston 600. These studs 607 are positioned in line with the notches 605 provided in the contour of the main wall 601 of the piston 600. They also comprise two diametrically opposed cooperation tabs 606, each formed by one of the pairs of notches 605 at right angles made in the contour of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 and adapted to the passage of the lateral uprights 340 (figures 1 to 4, 6 and 12).

[0073] The guide means 341, 342 of each lateral upright 340 comprise two grooves 341 formed in a hollow in the internal face of the two legs of the lateral upright 340, in which the corresponding studs 607 of the piston 600 are adapted to slide. They also comprise the central groove 342 of the lateral upright 340 in which one of the cooperation tabs 606 of the piston 600 is adapted to slide.

[0074] The front end wall of each groove 341 of the legs of the side uprights 340 forms a stop wall against which the corresponding studs 607 of the piston 600 come to bear so as to limit the translational movement of the piston 600 towards the front of the electrical socket 700.

[0075] The bottoms of the central grooves 342 of the lateral uprights 340 also form stops against which the corresponding cooperation tabs 606 of the piston 600 bear so as to limit the translational movement of the piston 600 towards the rear of the electrical socket 700.

[0076] The piston 600 slides in the well together with a central upright 400 whose longitudinal axis XI coincides with the longitudinal axis X of the cylindrical wall 310 of the well 300.

[0077] The central upright 400 is adapted to slide axially in two facing grooves 323A (figures 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10) between a high axial position corresponding to the waiting position of the piston 600 and a low axial position corresponding to the depressed position of the piston 600.

[0078] In the high axial position (Figures 2, 3, 4 and 17), the central post 400 is also adapted to pivot about the longitudinal axis X between an angular sliding position in which it is adapted to slide in the grooves 323A and an angular locking position in which the sliding of said central post 400 is blocked so as to maintain the piston 600 in its waiting position. This pivoting is accompanied by a small amplitude axial translation movement, as explained later. The central post 400 comprises a rear portion (located near its rear end 404) adapted to bear on a front portion of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 to lock in the high axial position when the central post 400 is in the angular locking position.

[0079] In its low axial position (not shown), the central upright 400 is engaged in the grooves 323A which prevent any pivoting of the central upright 400 around the longitudinal axis X. It then remains in its angular sliding position.

[0080] This operation is made possible thanks to the particular structure of the central upright 400, which has a section that is at least partially non-circular and thanks to the shape of the front part 324 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 which cooperates with the central upright 400.

[0081] Remarkably, there is provided, at least on one of said rear and front parts of the central upright 400 and of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300, an inclined surface so that said rear and front parts of the central upright 400 and of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 are adapted to slide on each other to move the central upright 400 from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position when the piston 600 receives a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall of the well.

[0082] The locking of the central upright 400 in its high axial position, corresponding to the waiting position of the piston 600, is therefore advantageously disengageable, independently of the insertion of the electrical plug 800 into the electrical socket 700, by simply pressing the piston 600 towards the rear of the socket, according to a predetermined minimum force.

[0083] The central upright 400 comprises a cylindrical body 401 with a front end 403 and a rear end 404. This cylindrical body 401 is provided with two longitudinal ribs 402, hereinafter called fins 402 (figure 16), which extend in a diametrically opposite manner, projecting from the external face of this cylindrical body 401.

[0084] These fins 402 extend in length along two generatrices of the cylindrical body 401 over a determined portion of said cylindrical body 401.

[0085] Each of the fins 402 therefore has a rear end face 402A located near the rear end 404 of the central upright 400 and a front end face 402B located near the front end 403 of said central upright 400.

[0086] The central upright 400 slides through a central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. The edge of this central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 here forms the two grooves 323A in which the fins 402 of the central upright 400 slide (figures 8 and 9).

[0087] The central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 has a contour adapted to the passage of the fins 402 of the central upright 400 when the latter is in its angular sliding position, as shown in FIG. 10. When it slides, the central upright 400 also passes through an opening 223 of similar shape formed in the base 222 of the lyre 220 (see FIG. 1).

[0088] When the central upright 400 is in the high axial position and pivots around the longitudinal axis X, it moves away from this angular sliding position and the fins 402 are no longer arranged opposite the grooves 323A of the central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. Each fin has a rear part adapted to bear on said front part of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 to block the sliding of the central upright 400 towards the rear of the electrical socket 700. The central upright 400 is then in its angular locking position. More precisely, in this angular locking position, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 extends opposite a support portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300. Each support portion 324 is located at the edge of the central opening 323 of the bottom wall.

[0089] 320 from well 300.

[0090] The position of the fins 402 of the central upright 400 in the angular locking position is shown schematically in dotted lines in Figure 10.

[0091] In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 15 and 17, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 as well as each bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 are inclined relative to the longitudinal axis X, XI (see Figures 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 15). The rear end face 402A of each fin 402 slides on the corresponding bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 when a displacement force towards the bottom of the well is applied to the piston 600 while the latter is in the waiting position (Figures 8 and 9).

[0092] Each inclined surface, here the rear end face 402A of each fin 402, and each front portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320, makes a non-zero angle with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400 (Figures 9, 14, 15). In addition, each inclined surface 402A, 324 moves away from the piston 600 in the pivoting direction (shown by the arrow F in Figure 12) of the central upright 400 from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position. The rear end faces 402A of the fins 402 and the bearing portions 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 generally have the same inclination. This has the advantage of increasing the contact between these faces. Since the pressure is distributed over a larger surface area, the risk of wear on these faces is limited.

[0093] The rear end face 402A of each fin 402 is substantially planar. Each bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 has a helical shape which connects the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 to the corresponding groove 323A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.

[0094] When a displacement force towards the bottom of the well is applied to the piston 600, in particular in the absence of insertion of an electrical plug 800 into the electrical socket 700, the piston 600 moves back very slightly, until the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 comes into contact with the corresponding bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 (FIGS. 6 and 7). If the displacement force exceeds a certain threshold, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 slides on the corresponding bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300, which causes the central upright 400 to pivot about the longitudinal axis X from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position. The central upright 400 can then slide towards the rear of the electrical outlet 700.

[0095] Thus, when an impact occurs on the piston 600, the central upright 400 pivots thanks to the cooperation of the inclined surfaces provided on the rear part of the central upright 400 and on the front part of the bottom wall of the well 300. This makes it possible to avoid damage to the central upright 400 in such a situation.

[0096] There are also provided return means 450 which permanently return the central upright 400 to its upper axial position.

[0097] Here, these return means comprise a compression spring 450 housed at least partially inside the hollow cylindrical body 401 of the central upright 400 (figure 1).

[0098] This compression spring 450 is interposed between a wall linked to the base 100 and an internal face of the central upright 400.

[0099] In the example shown in the attached figures, the wall connected to the base 100 against which the compression spring 450 is supported belongs to an element 121 attached to the base 100 (figures 1 and 17). This element 121 is attached to the bottom wall 120 of the base 100 to close a central housing 122 (figure 17) of the base 100 delimited by internal partitions 123 of this base 100.

[0100] The housing 122 partially houses the central upright 400 in its low axial position.

[0101] When the piston 600 is in its depressed position, the compression spring 450 is compressed inside the central post 400 in its low axial position.

[0102] When the displacement force exerted on the piston 600 (with or without insertion of an electrical plug 800 into the electrical outlet) is released, the compression spring 450 relaxes and pushes the central post 400 toward the front of the electrical outlet 700.

[0103] The central post 400 slides towards the front of the socket and pushes the piston 600 towards its waiting position (figure 17). The compression spring 450 relaxes while remaining partially housed in the cylindrical body 401 of the central post 400. A rear portion of the compression spring 450 remains housed in the housing 122 of the base 100.

[0104] In order to return the central upright 400 to its angular locking position, the electrical socket 700 further comprises means for guiding the central upright 400 from its angular sliding position to its angular locking position when the central upright 400 slides towards the front of the socket. These guiding means comprise at least one ramp 502 (figures 12 and 13) provided on a part 500 of the socket located at the front of the central upright 400. Each ramp 502 is inclined towards the rear.

[0105] The central upright 400 correspondingly comprises a front part adapted to slide on each ramp to move from its angular sliding position to its angular locking position.

[0106] The guide means preferably comprise two ramps 502 diametrically opposite relative to the central upright 400. The central upright 400 comprises the two front end faces 402B of the two fins 402 adapted to slide on these ramps 502 (figure 14).

[0107] Each of these ramps 502 is thus adapted to cooperate with each of the front end faces 402B of the fins 402 to pivot the central upright 400 from its angular sliding position to its angular locking position.

[0108] In practice, when the central upright 400 slides towards the front of the electrical outlet, the front end face 402B of each fin 402 comes into abutment on the corresponding ramp 502. The piston 600 is then in its waiting position. As shown in Figures 12 and 14, the front end face 402B of each fin 402 is a flat surface which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400. Each front end face 402B presses on the corresponding ramp 502 along one of its edges and slides on the ramp 502 (Figure 13).

[0109] The action of the fins 402 on the ramps 502 makes it possible to release the rear end of each fin 402 from the grooves 323A of the central opening 323 of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 and the upright 400 can pivot. The front end face 402B of each corresponding fin 402 then slides on the ramp 502. The central upright 400 pivots accordingly from its sliding angular position to its locking angular position.

[0110] Each ramp extends at a slope less than the slope at which the said inclined surface of one of the rear and front parts of the central upright and the bottom wall of the well extends.

[0111] More specifically, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 and each bearing portion 324 of the front face 320A of the bottom wall 320 of the well 300 are inclined with a slope greater than that of the ramps 502. In this way, when pressing on the front face of the piston 600, the rear end face 402A of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 slides on a slope greater than that of each ramp 502. This allows the fins 402 to pass below the ramps 502, without the latter interacting with the fins 402 of the central upright 400.

[0112] A shutter 510 is also provided mounted at the front end 403 of the central upright 400 (Figure 11). The shutter 510 is in the form of a separate part from the central upright 400. This shutter 510 is arranged at the rear of the piston 600 and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X (Figures 1 and 11).

[0113] It is adapted to rotate around the longitudinal axis X, between a position of closing the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 in which it prohibits access to the phase and neutral terminals, and a position of opening of said circular orifices 604 in which it authorizes this access (figure 11).

[0114] For this, the shutter 510 is mounted in a housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400 which will be described in more detail later. The shutter 510 further comprises drive means 511 adapted to cooperate with the free ends of the pins of the electrical plug 800 introduced through the circular orifices 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600, to move the shutter 510 from its closed position to its open position (figure 11).

[0115] These drive means are in the form of inclined sides 511 on which slide the free ends of the pins of the electrical plug 800, inserted into the electrical socket 700.

[0116] More specifically, here, the shutter 510 is housed in a cassette 500 mounted at the rear of the piston 600.

[0117] The piston 600, the shutter 510, the cassette 500 and the central upright 400 are thus integral in translation in the well 300 of the electrical socket 700 (figure 1). The translation of the piston 600 towards the rear of the electrical socket 700 is moreover limited by the stop of the cassette 500 against the bottom wall 320 of the well 300.

[0118] The cassette 500 is in the form of a parallelepiped closed on the front face by the main wall 601 of the piston 600.

[0119] This cassette 500 comprises a bottom wall 501 surrounded by a side wall 507 rising perpendicular to this bottom 501 (figures 1 and 11). Teeth 503 provided projecting from the side wall 507 of the cassette 500 allow the piston 600 to be snap-fitted onto this side wall 507 of the cassette 500 (figure 1). The ramps 502 are provided on the rear face of this bottom wall 501 and they border a central orifice of the bottom wall 501.

[0120] The bottom wall 501 of the cassette 500 has holes 506 allowing the pins of the electrical plug 800 to pass through when the shutter 510 is in its open position. The front end 403 of the central upright 400 passes through the central hole in the bottom wall 501 (Figures 1 and 11).

[0121] A partition 504 of the cassette 500 rises from the front face of the bottom wall 501, at the edge of the central orifice, to guide the rotation of the shutter 510 and the end of the upright 400 (figure 1). Two internal partitions 505 of the cassette 500 form stop partitions limiting the rotation of the shutter 510 (figure 11).

[0122] Means are also provided for returning the shutter 510 to its closed position, which permanently act on the shutter 510.

[0123] These return means here comprise a compression spring 520 (figure 11) interposed between a lateral part of the shutter 510 and the lateral wall 507 of the cassette 500.

[0124] One end of the compression spring 520 is here housed in a housing 521 of the cassette 500. The other end of the spring 520 is threaded onto a pin of the shutter 510.

[0125] The shutter 510 comprises a central bar 512 which is received in the housing 403A provided at the front end 403 of the central upright 400 for mounting thereon.

[0126] The shutter 510 is here free to rotate relative to the central upright 400 when the latter is in its angular sliding position, whether the central upright 400 is otherwise in a high or low axial position.

[0127] On the other hand, as will be explained in more detail below, the shutter 510 is rotationally linked to the central upright 400 when the latter is in its angular locking position.

[0128] This is made possible by the particular shape of the housing 403A which receives the central bar 512 of the shutter 510. A clearance is in fact provided between this central bar 512 and the edge of the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400.

[0129] More precisely, the housing 403A is in the form of a groove extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400 and opening at its front end.

[0130] This groove 403A has a central part of section smaller than the section of the rest of the groove 403A. Consequently, this central part of the groove 403A closely frames, with a clearance, the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 so that it can rotate around the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400.

[0131] The remainder of the groove 403A gradually widens from this central part towards the periphery of the central upright 400, so as to delimit an angular sector in which the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 can pivot (figure 11).

[0132] Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the central post 400 and the shutter 510 when the central post 400 is in its angular locking position. The central bar 512 of the shutter 510 is then in contact with a portion of the edge of the housing 403A which is located on the side towards which the central bar 512 rotates when the shutter 510 passes from its closing position to its opening position.

[0133] Thus, during rotation in this direction, the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 pushes the edge of the housing 403A and causes the central upright 400 to pivot.

[0134] The shutter 510 and the central upright 400 are then linked in rotation.

[0135] The shape of the housing 403A of the central upright 400 is provided so that this rotation brings the central upright 400 into its angular sliding position.

[0136] To do this, the front end face 402B of each fin 402 of the central upright 400 slides along each ramp 502 provided at the rear of the cassette 500. The movement of the central upright 400 is therefore helical (see figure 3) because each ramp 502 imposes a slight translational movement towards the rear when the front end face 402B of each fin 402 slides along each ramp 502.

[0137] In its locking position, the simple pivoting of the central upright 400, not driven by pressure on the piston or by the pivoting of the shutter when the free ends of the pins of the electrical plug are inserted into the socket, is therefore blocked in one direction by each ramp 502 and in the other direction by the stop of the edge of the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400 against the central bar 512 of the shutter 510, itself blocked by the stop against one of the internal partitions 505 of the cassette 500.

[0138] In the angular sliding position of the central upright 400, when the shutter 510 is in its open position, a clearance is present between the central bar 512 of the shutter 510 and the edge of the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400. This clearance allows the shutter 510 to rotate from its open position to its closed position (figure 11).

[0139] Consequently, if the pins of the electrical plug 800 do not hold the shutter 510 in its open position, the latter is returned to its closed position by the compression spring 520. The central bar 512 of the shutter 510 pivots in the housing 403A of the front end 403 of the central upright 400.

[0140] The rotational movement of the shutter 510 then does not cause any movement of the central upright 400.

[0141] The central upright 400 cannot therefore prevent the rotation of the shutter 510. Thus, in particular, the shutter 510 is free to return to its closing position, even if the central upright 400 is in its low axial position in which it is not free to pivot.

[0142] The body of the electrical plug 800 advantageously comprises an external lateral face of geometry complementary to that of the interior space of the well 300 of the electrical socket 700, and its introduction into the well 300 is guided by the central grooves 342 of the lateral uprights 340.

[0143] In practice, when the piston 600 is in its waiting position, the central upright 400 is in its high axial position and in its angular locking position and the shutter 510 is in its closing position.

[0144] The introduction of the pins of the electrical plug 800 into the circular openings 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600 causes the shutter 510 to rotate from its closed position to its open position by the action of the free ends of said pins on the inclined sides 511 of this shutter 510.

[0145] Rotation of the shutter 510 causes the central post 400 to pivot from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position.

[0146] The piston 600 and the central post 400 then slide in the well 300 under the pressure of the electrical plug 800 until the piston 600 is placed in its depressed position. The central post 400 is then in its low axial position, still in the angular sliding position.

[0147] The electrical plug 800 is inserted into the socket and its pins are then connected to the electrical terminals 210 of the electrical socket 700.

[0148] In an abnormal operating situation, if the piston 600 is held in its depressed position, while the electrical plug 800 is removed, the shutter 510 is then free to rotate about the longitudinal axis X.

[0149] The action of the spring 520 on the shutter 510 immediately returns the latter to its shutter position, as soon as the pins of the electrical plug 800 are extracted from the circular openings 604 of the main wall 601 of the piston 600.

[0150] Access to the socket connection terminals is thus prevented in this situation and the electrical safety of the electrical socket is reinforced.

[0151] If the piston 600 is then released, the central upright 400 slides forward under the action of the compression spring 450 described previously, and returns the piston 600 to its waiting position.

[0152] The central upright 400 then slides on the ramps 502 provided at the rear of the cassette 500 and is returned to its angular locking position. The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown, but those skilled in the art will be able to provide any variation in accordance with its spirit.

[0153] Alternatively, it can be envisaged that only each bearing part of the front face of the bottom wall of the well of the electrical socket is inclined: the rear end face 402'A of each fin 402 then extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XI of the central upright 400, as shown in FIG. 16. An edge of each rear end face 402'A bears on each inclined bearing part of the front face of the bottom wall of the well to slide on it.

[0154] As a further variant, it is possible to envisage that only the rear part of the central upright is inclined: the rear end face of each fin then has an inclined rear face, which slides on an edge of each straight support part of the front face of the bottom wall of the socket well.

Claims

Demands 1. Electrical outlet (700) comprising: - a cylindrical wall (310) of a well (300), - a piston (600) closing the section of this well (300), movable in translation relative to said cylindrical wall (310), comprising at least two orifices (604), - a central upright (400) that can be moved in translation along the axis of the well (300), in conjunction with the piston (600), said central upright (400) being adapted to pivot around the axis (X) of the well between an angular position of axial sliding and an angular locking position, - the central upright (400) having a rear part (402A), adapted to bear against a front part (324) of a bottom wall (320) of the well to lock in a high axial position when the central upright (400) is in the angular locking position, characterized in that at least one of said rear parts (402A) of the central upright (400) and front part (324) of the bottom wall (320) is provided with an inclined surface such that said rear and front parts (402A, 324) are adapted to slide on each other to move the central upright (400) from its angular locking position to its angular sliding position when the piston (600) receives a displacement force directed towards the bottom wall (320) of the well.

2. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a shutter (510) mounted at a front end of the central post (400), this shutter (510) being adapted to rotate freely relative to the central post (400) between a position of closure of said orifices (604) of the piston (600) and an open position of said orifices.

3. Electrical socket (700) according to claim 2, wherein the shutter (510) is housed at the rear of the piston (600), in a cassette (500).

4. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inclined surface makes a non-zero angle with a plane perpendicular to the axis (X) of the well (300), said inclined surface moving away from the piston (600) in the direction of pivoting of the central upright (400) from its locking angular position to its sliding angular position.

5. Electrical socket (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said rear part (402' A) of the central post (400) has a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (XI) of the central post (400). An electrical outlet (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central upright (400) has at least one longitudinal rib (402) projecting from its outer face and a rear end face of which forms said rear portion (402A) of the central upright (400). An electrical outlet (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a portion (500) of the outlet located at the front of the central upright (400) has at least one ramp (502) inclined rearward, and said central upright (400) has at least one front portion (402B) adapted to slide on said ramp (502) to move from its sliding angular position to its locking angular position. An electrical outlet (700) according to claims 3 and 7, wherein each ramp (502) is provided on the rear face of a bottom wall (501) of the cassette (500).Electrical outlet (700) according to claims 6 and 7, wherein said longitudinal rib (402) has a front end face that forms said front portion (402B) of the central post (400). Electrical outlet (700) according to claim 7 and 8, wherein each inclined ramp (502) extends along a slope less steep than the slope along which said inclined surface extends from one of the rear portions (402A) of the central post (400) and front portion (324) of the bottom wall (320). Electrical outlet (700) according to claim 2, wherein said central post (400) is rotationally linked to the shutter (510) in its locking angular position. Electrical outlet (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom wall (320) of the well (300) has a central opening (323) through which said central upright (400) is adapted to slide when it is in the angular sliding position.An electrical outlet (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a return means (450) permanently forces the central upright (400) towards the upper axial position in which the piston (600) extends near the front edge of said cylindrical wall (310). An electrical outlet (700) according to claim 13, wherein said return means (450) is a compression spring (450) housed at least partially inside the central upright (400) and interposed between it and the bottom wall (320) of the electrical outlet (700).

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