Front element for a plug and plug

Abstract

The invention relates to a front element (700) for a power outlet comprising: - an insertion well (200) - a trim piece (220) attached to one end of the insertion well - a piston (300) which closes a section of the insertion well and which is movable in translation within the insertion well - a shutter (500) movable in rotation between a closed position in which it blocks the piston in a standby position in the front opening of the insertion well and an open position in which it allows the piston to move in translation within the insertion well, - disengageable locking means (560) adapted to block the shutter in translation when it is in the closed position and which comprise two stop surfaces (511), - a return spring (650) for the shutter in the closed position.According to the invention, the front element comprises a barrel (600) closed at the rear by a bottom (610) and opening at the front into the insertion well, the barrel receives a foot (510) of the obturator when it is at the bottom of the insertion well, the return spring being interposed between the bottom of the barrel and the obturator, the locking means comprise two bosses (550) projecting into the insertion well, the stop surfaces being adapted to come to rest on said bosses when the obturator is in the closed position, the head of the obturator has two recessed housings (530) shaped to receive the bosses.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to power outlets.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a front element for a power outlet comprising: a side wall and a bottom wall which define a socket for inserting an electrical plug, the socket rising around a central axis from the bottom wall towards a front opening, a trim piece attached to one end of said side wall, opposite said bottom wall, such that a front face of the trim piece borders the front opening of the socket, a piston which closes a section of the socket, the piston being movable in the socket along said central axis between a standby position in which a front face of the piston extends into the front opening of the socket flush with the front face of the trim piece and a working position in which it is pushed to the bottom of the socket, the piston comprising two openings for the insertion of two prongs of the electrical plug,a T-shaped obturator with a generally cylindrical base centered on said central axis and a head comprising two wings extending perpendicularly on either side of the base, the head being positioned immediately below the piston, the obturator being movable: ¤ in rotation around the central axis of the insertion well between a closed position in which it blocks the piston in the standby position and in which the wings are positioned over the two openings of the piston to block access to the insertion well and an open position in which it allows the translation of the piston between its standby position and its operating position and in which the wings move away from the two openings of the piston, and, ¤ in translation along the central axis of the insertion well, when it is placed in the open position,between a high position in which the foot extends mostly into the insertion well and a low position in which the head is placed at the bottom of the insertion well, disengageable locking means adapted to block the shutter in translation when it is in the closed position and which include two stop surfaces placed on the foot of the shutter, opposite the head of the shutter, and a spring to return the shutter to the closed position.

[0003] The invention also relates to a power outlet comprising such a front element mounted in the front part of a base housing electrical connection elements in a rear part.

[0004] The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the realization of a power outlet to the German standard comprising a movable piston which is locked in its high standby position.

[0005] Documents FR2967829 and FR2967830, belonging to the applicants, describe a front element, as mentioned in the introduction, which is part of a German standard power outlet. This front element features, in particular, a movable piston within the insertion well, positioned between a standby position at the top of the well, flush with the cover plate, and an operating position at the bottom of the well. The piston is held in this upper position by a shutter, which can be disengaged by the prongs of the electrical plug inserted into the well, thus increasing the safety of the power outlet. The front element also includes a return spring to return the piston to the standby position when the electrical plug is removed from the well.

[0006] However, in the arrangements according to documents FR2967829 and FR2967830, the front element presents a functional whole inseparable from the base (housing the connection terminals of the electrical plug) on ​​which it is mounted since the return spring of the shutter is interposed between a bottom wall of a rear part of the base and a part of the shutter.

[0007] However, a need has arisen for modular power outlets, also called modular sockets, in which the part forming the insertion hole can be detached from the base. Indeed, various types of cover plates and plungers are now available, often in different colors. It frequently happens that users want to change the cover plate and plunger of a power outlet already connected to the electrical grid, for example, to match a new wall paint color. Detaching the part forming the insertion hole from the base is also advantageous for replacing or repairing certain defective components of the insertion hole.

[0008] In the field of modular power outlets, document FR2978876, belonging to the applicants, describes a front element with a movable piston that has a shaft integral with the insertion well and houses the return spring. However, this front element is only suitable for manufacturing power outlets conforming to the Franco-Belgian standard, in which the insertion well has a shallower depth than that of the German standard.

[0009] Compared to the aforementioned prior art, the present invention proposes a new front element for a modular power outlet according to the German standard, with a mobile piston that locks in a disengageable manner in the high standby position.

[0010] More specifically, according to the invention, a front element for a power outlet is proposed according to claim 1.

[0011] In the front element according to the invention, thanks to the shaft being integral with the bottom wall of the insertion well, the shutter and the spring are also integral with the insertion well, in that they are held relative to the insertion well even when the front element is not mounted in the base of a power outlet. The front element thus comprises, independently of the base, all the mechanical elements allowing the piston to move between its standby and operating positions and to lock the piston in the standby position.

[0012] The front element then forms a functional unit that is independent and easily detachable from the base.

[0013] Furthermore, in the front element according to the invention, the projecting bosses on the bottom wall of the insertion well allow the action of the stop surfaces to be shifted towards the front of the front element. Indeed, thanks to the bosses, the stop surfaces do not rest directly on the bottom wall of the insertion well to prevent the shutter from moving in translation when it is in the closed position. These stop surfaces are thus positioned on the base of the shutter so that they reach the bottom of the shaft in which the shutter base is engaged when the piston is pushed to the bottom of the insertion well of the front element. This takes into account the German standard, according to which the depth of the socket insertion well, and therefore the piston stroke, has a greater value than that of the Franco-Belgian standard for a limited total embedment depth of the socket.

[0014] The recessed housings of the front element according to the invention finally allow complete piston penetration despite the presence of the bosses.

[0015] Other features of the front element according to the invention are stated in claims 2 to 12.

[0016] The invention also provides a power outlet according to claim 13.

[0017] The description that follows, with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0018] Regarding the attached drawings: There figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a power outlet according to the invention, The figure 2 is a perspective view of the power outlet of the figure 1 , in which the piston is blocked at the hubcap in a standby position, The figure 3 is a perspective view with a partial removal of the power outlet from the figure 2 , There figure 4 is a view of the power outlet similar to that of the figure 3 , in which the piston is pushed to the bottom of the insertion well in a working position, The figure 5 is a perspective view with a partial removal of the front element according to the invention in which the piston is blocked in the standby position, The figure 6 is a detailed view of zone I of the figure 5 , There figure 7 is a view of the front element similar to that of the figure 5 in which the piston is pushed halfway into the insertion well, between the standby position and the operating position, The figure 8 is a view of the front element similar to that of the figure 5 , in which the piston is in the operating position, and The figure 9 is a detailed view of zone II of the figure 8 .

[0019] By convention, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used in relation to the direction of the user's gaze when facing the power outlet mounted in a wall. Thus, the front of an element will refer to the side of that element facing the user, and the rear will refer to the opposite side.

[0020] The terms "inside or internal" and "outside or external" will be used in reference to the socket itself, to designate respectively the side of an element facing towards the center of the socket and the side of an element facing outwards from that socket.

[0021] On the figures 1 à 4 We have shown a 700V socket, described as modular in that it comprises a front element and a rear element that are structurally and functionally independent of each other, assembled or working together to form a functional unit. Advantageously, in a modular socket, each element must independently ensure the electrical safety of a user so that the user can safely access and / or operate said element.

[0022] This is a 700 power outlet conforming to the German standard.

[0023] The 700 power outlet has a 100 base belonging to the rear element of the modular outlet.

[0024] This base 100 is made of insulating material, for example by molding a plastic material.

[0025] As shown by figure 1 The base 100 has a generally parallelepiped shape. This base 100 is open at the front. It comprises a back wall 101 bordered by a side wall 102 having four faces, two opposite in pair, which rise from the back wall 101, substantially perpendicular to it.

[0026] The base 100 houses a cover 110 ( figures 1 , 3 And 4 ), made of insulating material, which forms an intermediate wall dividing the interior space of the base 100 into two parts: a front part 100A and a rear part 100B.

[0027] The hood 110 is here arranged against a shoulder 103 of the side wall 102 located at the boundary between the rear part 100B and the front part 100A of the base 100 ( figure 3 ).

[0028] The rear part 100B is an enclosed space extending between the bottom wall 101 of the base 100 and the cover 110 ( figures 3 And 4) while the front part 100A is an open space that extends between the hood 110 and a front opening 104 of the base 100.

[0029] As shown by figure 1 , the hood 110 is formed by a plate whose front face 110A is generally flat and extends substantially parallel to the bottom wall 101 of the base 100.

[0030] The cover 110 includes fastening means, typically snap-fit ​​means, designed to cooperate with additional fastening means on the base 100 to prevent any forward movement of the cover 110. Since the cover 110 also rests on the shoulder 103, any rearward movement of this cover 110 is also prevented.

[0031] The front portion 100A of the socket 100 includes means for mounting this socket 100 in an electrical switchgear mechanism support (not shown). This support typically takes the form of a frame or housing with a central opening through which the socket 100 passes.

[0032] More specifically, the base 100 includes a walkway 120 running along the edge of the front opening 104 of the base 100, slightly set back from it, and latching means 121 provided in its side wall 102 ( figures 1 And 2 ). These locking means 121 are more particularly provided on the external face of two parallel opposite sides of the lateral wall 102 of the base 100.

[0033] When the sidewalk 120 rests against a front face of the support, forming a receiving wall for the sidewalk 120, the snap-on means 121 engage with the rear of the support. The support can then be applied against the wall in which the power outlet 700 is intended to be mounted.

[0034] The base 100 has, between a rear face 120A of the sidewalk 120 and an external face 101A of the back wall 101 of the base 100, a setback depth determined in accordance with the German standard. In this case, the setback depth is 32 mm.

[0035] The base 100 houses in its rear part 100B electrical contact elements allowing the electrical plug inserted in the power outlet to be connected to the power supply network.

[0036] These electrical contact elements include three connection terminals.

[0037] A phase connection terminal 130 and a neutral connection terminal 131 are provided. These are self-connecting terminals, each consisting of a metal strip forming a receiving recess and a connection section with a connecting tab against which a connecting spring blade is pressed. An electrical conductor from the power supply carrying the phase or neutral current is intended to be connected to the phase or neutral terminal by being pinched between the connecting spring blade and the connecting tab of the corresponding terminal.

[0038] The receiving recesses for the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals have openings located opposite two circular orifices 111 in the cover 110 which are intended to be passed through by the phase and neutral pins of the corresponding electrical plug when the plug is inserted into the power outlet 700 so that the pins of this plug enter into said receiving recesses.

[0039] A grounding terminal is also planned, electrically connected to an electrical conductor of the network connected to ground.

[0040] This earthing terminal also includes a connection part with a connecting tab and a spring-loaded connecting blade applied to said connecting tab. It further includes, here, a U-shaped metal blade forming a lyre 132, shown in the figures 1 And 4 , connected to said connection tab. The 700 power outlet shown on the figures 1 à 4 It is indeed a 700V power outlet according to a German standard with lateral earth contacts. The 132mm yoke is conventionally obtained by cutting and bending a metal strip.

[0041] This lyre 132 comprises two lateral arms 132A extending along the inner face of two parallel opposite panels of the lateral wall 102 of the base 100 (these are the panels carrying said ratcheting means 121), in the front part 100A of this base 100, and a central arm 132B which connects the lateral arms 132A ( figure 1 ) and which is linked to the connection part. The lateral arms 132A of the 132 yoke have elastic properties. The curved shape of each lateral arm, towards the inside of the 700 power outlet, causes said lateral arms to press against complementary contact areas of the electrical plug when the latter is inserted into the power outlet.

[0042] Openings 140 are planned in a rear part of a section of the side wall 102 of the base 100 ( figure 1 ) in which the bare cores of the phase, neutral, and earth electrical conductors from the supply network are engaged to be connected to the connection parts of the phase, neutral, and earth terminals. The base 100 also carries three disconnection levers 141 ( figures 1 , 3 And 4 ), in insulating material, through which one can act on the spring blades of the connection terminals to release the bare cores of the electrical conductors.

[0043] Advantageously, to ensure the electrical safety of the rear element of the power outlet 700, a flap 150 is provided housed in the rear part 100B of the base 100, under the cover 110.

[0044] The 150 shutter is made in one piece by molding an insulating plastic material.

[0045] This flap 150 is mounted freely in translation between a closing position in which it closes the orifices 111 of the hood 110 and a release position in which it releases the passage through these orifices 111.

[0046] The translational movement of the shutter 150 between its closed position and its open position, which occurs along an axis perpendicular to a central axis A1 of the base 100, is achieved by inserting the pins of the electrical plug, inserted into the power outlet 700, through the openings 111 in the cover 110. This translational movement is carried out against an elastic return mechanism that continuously pushes the shutter 150 into its closed position. This elastic return mechanism is a V-shaped spring 160, which is compressed between the shutter 150 and an inner portion of the base 100.

[0047] As depicted on the figure 1 The flap 150 has a U-shaped form, the two arms 152 of which form sealing panels for the openings 111 of the cover 110. In the closed position, the two arms 152 are interposed between the openings 111 of the cover 110 and the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals, as shown in the figure 3 .

[0048] For its movement from its closed position to its released position when the electrical plug is inserted into the power outlet 700, the shutter 150 includes, at the free end of each of its arms 152, an inclined plane 152A ( figure 1 ). Each inclined plane 152A allows the end of one of the pins of the electrical plug to be supported when it is inserted through one of the holes 111 in the cover 110.

[0049] The angle of the inclined planes 152A is designed so that when the prongs of the electrical plug are inserted through the openings 111 in the cover 110 and press against these inclined planes 152A, they cause the flap 150 to retract to its release position. This then allows the prongs free access to the receiving recesses of the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals of the power outlet 700.

[0050] As shown by figures 2 à 4 , the front element 710 of the power outlet 700 is mounted from the front in the base 100.

[0051] Advantageously, as already mentioned, this element prior to 710 is structurally and functionally independent of base 100.

[0052] It includes a 200 insertion well for inserting the electrical plug.

[0053] The insertion well 200 is housed in the front part 100A of the base 100 (see figures 3 And 4 ).

[0054] As shown in particular by figures 4 et 5 The insertion well 200 is more specifically delimited by a bottom wall 201 and a side wall 202. The side wall 202 of the insertion well 200, here generally cylindrical in revolution, is centered around the central axis A1. The insertion well 200 is open at the front and closed at the rear by the bottom wall 201. The central axis A1 corresponds to an insertion axis of the electrical plug in the insertion well 200. The bottom wall 201 and side wall 202 of the insertion well 200 are part of a single piece made of an insulating material.

[0055] The insertion shaft 200 here has a depth determined in accordance with the German standard.

[0056] As shown by figure 3 The bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 has two openings 210 for the passage of the pins of the electrical plug to the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals. These two openings 210 are positioned in correspondence with the two orifices 111 of the cover 110. The pins of the electrical plug which pass through the openings 210 of the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 are then inserted through the orifices 111 of the cover 110 which give access to the receiving recesses of the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals.

[0057] As shown by figure 5 The bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 has two peripheral cutouts 211 in its peripheral edge for the passage of the two lateral arms 132A of the lyre 132. The bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 is arranged against the cover 110 separating the front 100A and rear 100B parts of the base 100 ( figure 3 ).

[0058] The inner face 202A of the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200 also has two diametrically opposed rectangular grooves 203 ( figures 4 And 7 ) through which the lateral branches 132A of the lyre 132 protrude inside the insertion well 200.

[0059] The side wall 202 of the insertion well 200 also includes mounting means in the base 100. These mounting means here include two teeth 204 ( figure 1 ) projecting from the external face 202B side wall 202 of the insertion well 200, arranged oppositely with respect to the central axis A1 and adapted to hook onto corresponding hooking areas provided in the side wall 102 of the base 100.

[0060] The front element 710 also includes a trim piece 220 attached to a front end 202C of the side wall 202 of the insertion well ( figures 4 And 8), opposite the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200.

[0061] The trim piece 220 is in the form of a plate 221 with a flat front face 221A and a flat rear face 221B. The plate 221 has a circular opening in its center, centered on the central axis A1. The plate 221 has a square outer contour, but it could also have a circular or rectangular outer contour.

[0062] The central opening of the plate 221 is bordered by a cylindrical inner wall 222 which extends towards the rear of the plate 221, over a short height along the central axis A1. The outer contour of the plate 221 is bordered by a peripheral outer wall 223 which also extends towards the rear of the plate 221, over a short height along the central axis A1, opposite the cylindrical inner wall 222. The cylindrical inner wall 222, the peripheral outer wall 223 and the rear face 221B of the plate 221 define a groove 226 which opens towards the rear of the plate 221.

[0063] As shown by figure 1 , plate 221 also has four mounting tabs 225 which extend from the rear face 221B of plate 221, towards the rear perpendicular to it. These mounting tabs 225 are positioned at the four cardinal points around the cylindrical inner wall 222. They extend rearward from the free edge 222C of the cylindrical inner wall 222. Each mounting tab 225 has at its free end, on its inner face facing the center of the central opening of the plate 221, a tooth 225A for attaching the trim piece 220 to the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200. The mounting tabs 225 of the trim piece 220 are adapted to be engaged between the outer face 202B and flanges 206 of the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200 so as to hook the teeth 225A onto protruding edges 206A of the outer face 202B of said side wall 202.The said mounting brackets 225 are held in place, attached to the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200, by means of the flanges 206 which press them against said side wall 202.

[0064] When the trim ring 220 is attached to the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200, the central opening of the trim ring 220 forms the front opening 200A of the insertion well of the front element 710 and therefore of the power outlet 700 and the front face 221A of the trim ring 220 forms the front face of the front element 710 of the power outlet 700.

[0065] Finally, when the front element 710 is mounted in the base 100, the rear groove 226 of the trim 220 accommodates a front edge 102A of the side wall 102 of the base 100, and the free edge of the peripheral outer wall 223 of the trim 220 rests on the front face of the curb 120 of the base 100 (see figures 2 et 3 ).

[0066] Alternatively, the trim and the side wall of the insertion well can be formed from a single piece.

[0067] The front element 710 of the power outlet 700 further includes a piston 300 which closes, i.e., seals, a section of the insertion well 200. This piston 300 is translationally movable in the insertion well 200, along the central axis A1. Here, "closing a section of the insertion well" means that, regardless of its position in the insertion well 200, the piston 300 extends across the insertion well 200, in contact with the side wall 202 and parallel to the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200.

[0068] As shown by figure 1 This piston 300 has a main wall 301 with a generally circular contour. The contour of the main wall 301 of the piston 300 has two diametrically opposed cutouts 303 for the passage of the lateral arms 132A of the lyre 132. The front face 301A of the main wall extends here in a plane perpendicular to the central axis A1.

[0069] The main wall 301 is partially surrounded by a drop wall 302 oriented towards the rear of the power outlet 700 ( figures 1 , 5 And 7This drop wall 302 bears against the inner face 202A of the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200 and guides the sliding of the piston 300 along this side wall 202. The drop wall 302 has four projecting claws 306, evenly spaced around the drop wall 302, adapted to retain the piston 300 in the insertion well 200. These claws 306 have retaining surfaces adapted to lock against the free rear edge 222C of the cylindrical inner wall 222 of the trim piece 220 when the piston 300 reaches the end of its stroke in the upper position in the insertion well 200 (see figure 4 These claws 306 thus prevent any further forward movement of the piston 300 when they are in contact with the trim piece 220. The side wall 202 of the insertion well 200 has grooves 205 adapted to allow the passage of the claws 306 when the piston 300 is moved (see figures 4, 5 And 7 ).

[0070] As shown by figure 1 , the piston 300 also includes two pairs of diametrically opposed lugs 305 extending along the central axis A1, from the peripheral edge of the main wall 301 of the piston 300 towards the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200. These pairs of lugs 305 are designed to slide in translation within guide grooves of lateral uprights 400 ( figures 1 , 4 And 7 ) supported by the inner face 202A of the side wall 202 of the insertion well 200. The side uprights 400 have an elongated U shape, the two arms 410 of the U defining a guide groove for the legs 305 of the piston 300, which prevents the main wall 301 of the piston 300 from tilting relative to the central axis A1.

[0071] The main wall 301 of the piston 300 also has two circular openings 304 ( figures 1 à 5 , 7 And 8) whose dimensions and positions are adapted to the passage of the pins of the electrical plug inserted into the insertion well 202 of the power outlet 700.

[0072] The piston 300 is particularly mobile only in translation along the central axis A1 of the insertion well 200 between two extreme positions.

[0073] In one of these extreme positions, depicted on the figures 4 And 8 , hereafter referred to as the operating position, the piston 300 extends as far as possible from the front opening 200A of the insertion well 220. In other words, in the operating position, the piston 300 is fully pushed to the bottom of the insertion well 200.

[0074] In the other extreme position, represented on the figures 2, 3 And 5, hereafter called the waiting position, the piston 300 extends into the front opening 200A of the insertion well 200. In other words, the piston 300 is fully retracted to the top of the insertion well 200.

[0075] More specifically, in the standby position, the front face 301A of the main wall 301 of the piston 300 extends flush with the front face 221A of the plate 221 of the cover 220, as shown in the figures 2, 3 And 5 Put another way, in its waiting position, the front face 301A of the main wall 301 of the piston 300 then extends in the same plane as the front face 221A of the plate 221 of the trim 220, or with an offset of less than one tenth of a millimeter.

[0076] In this standby position, the piston 300 completely blocks the insertion well 200 and thus limits access to the connection terminals 130, 131, 132.

[0077] Regardless of the position of the piston 300, the openings 304 of the piston 300 are constantly positioned to the right, i.e. aligned along an axis parallel to the central axis A1, of the openings 210 of the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 and of the orifices 111 of the hood 110. This alignment allows the pins of the electrical plug inserted in the insertion well 200 to access, through the openings 304 of the piston 300, the receiving recesses of the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals.

[0078] Piston 300 works in cooperation with a shutter 500 which belongs to the front element 710.

[0079] As shown by figure 1 The shutter 500 has a T-shaped form with a tubular foot 510 whose axis coincides with the central axis A1, surmounted by a substantially flat plate extending in a plane orthogonal to this central axis A1 and forming a head 520 of the shutter 500. As shown in the figure 5 The foot 510 of the shutter 500 is essentially a hollow cylinder having a free rear end 510A opposite the head 520, which closes the other end. In particular, it has a cylindrical wall 513 extending around the central axis A1.

[0080] The shutter 500 comprises, more specifically, two wings 521, 522 formed by the two ends of its head 520. The two wings 521, 522 extend on either side of the foot 510 (see figure 5 ).

[0081] The head 520 of the obturator 500 is positioned immediately below the piston 300 ( figures 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 And 8 ). As will be described later, the head 520 of the obturator 500 is positioned immediately under the piston 300 regardless of the position of the piston 300 since it is constrained against the piston 300 by a return spring 650.

[0082] The 500 shutter is mobile following two combined movements.

[0083] The 500 shutter is firstly mobile in rotation around the central axis A1 between a closed position and an open position.

[0084] In the closed position ( figures 2, 3 And 5 ), the obturator 500 allows the openings 304 of the piston 300 to be closed from the rear.

[0085] Indeed, the wings 521, 522 are arranged relative to each other in such a way that, in the closed position, they are positioned directly above the two openings 304 of the piston 300 to block access to the insertion well 200 ( figures 3 And 5 ). The wings 521, 522 are then respectively aligned with the openings 304 of the piston 300 and the orifices 111 of the hood 110 ( figure 3 ). Thus, by being interposed between the openings 304 of the piston 300 and the orifices 111 of the hood 110, they prevent access to the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals.

[0086] Conversely, in the open position ( figures 4 , 7 And 8 ), the shutter 500 allows access to the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals. To allow access to these terminals 130, 131, the shutter 500 pivots around the central axis A1 until its wings 521, 522 move away from the two openings 304 of the piston 300 to free the passage to the orifices 111 of the hood 110 and the mouths of the receiving recesses of the phase 130 and neutral 131 connection terminals.

[0087] As the figure 3 , for its rotational drive from its closed position to its open position when the electrical plug is engaged in the power socket 700, the shutter 500 has on its two wings 521, 522 two inclined faces 523, 524.

[0088] These two inclined faces 523, 524 are located on the wings 552, 553 in such a way that they are positioned directly below the openings 304 of the piston 300, when the obturator 500 is in the closed position.

[0089] The two inclined faces 523, 524 are arranged on either side of the central axis A1 and each opens onto one of the longitudinal edges 520B of the head 520 of the shutter 500. The inclination of these inclined faces 523, 524 is provided such that, when the pins of the electrical plug are engaged through the openings 304 of the piston 300 and press on these inclined faces 523, 524, they cause the shutter 500 to rotate towards its open position, which allows these pins to freely access the insertion well 200.

[0090] When in the open position, the 500 shutter is also translationally movable, along the central axis A1, between a high position (see figure 3 ), in which its foot 510 extends mostly into the insertion shaft 200, and a low position (see figure 4 ), in which the head 520 is placed at the bottom of the insertion well 200. By "mostly" means that more than 80% of the length of the foot 510 (along the central axis A1) then extends into the insertion well 200.

[0091] This translational mobility of the obturator 500 allows it to follow the stroke of the piston 300 between its extreme waiting and operating positions.

[0092] The upper position of the shutter 500 corresponds to the waiting position of the piston 300, the piston 300 then extending flush with the front face 221A of the trim 220.

[0093] The lower position of the obturator 500 corresponds to the operating position of the piston 300, the piston 300 being then completely pushed to the bottom of the insertion well 200. Thus, in the lower position, the head 520 of the obturator 500 is in contact with the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200.

[0094] The movement of the obturator 500 from its upper position to its lower position is caused by the insertion of the electrical plug into the insertion well 200 which pushes the piston 300 from its waiting position to its operating position at the bottom of the insertion well 200.

[0095] The raising of the shutter 500 from its lower position to its upper position, which also raises the piston 300 to its standby position, is ensured by the return spring 650. This raising occurs automatically when the electrical plug is removed from the insertion well 200. The return spring 650 is engaged inside the tubular foot 510 of the shutter 500. It is partially engaged in the foot 510 when the shutter 500 is in the upper position ( figure 5 ) and fully engaged in the 510 foot when the 500 shutter is in the down position ( figure 8 ).

[0096] Remarkably, the front element 710 includes a barrel 600 integral with the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200. When the piston 300 is pushed down, and therefore the obturator 500 moves from its upper position to its lower position, the foot 510 of the obturator 500 engages in the barrel 600.

[0097] As shown by figure 7 The barrel 600 is closed at the rear by a base 610 and opens at the front through an opening 600A into the insertion well 200. To receive the foot 510 of the shutter 500, the barrel 600 is positioned under the base wall 201 of the insertion well 200 and is centered on the central axis A1. The barrel 600 is generally tubular. Its internal diameter is equal, within clearance, to the external diameter of the cylindrical wall 513 of the foot 510 of the shutter 500 so that said foot 510 fits, within clearance, into the barrel 600 when the shutter 500 is in the lowered position.

[0098] The bottom 610 of the drum 600 has two end openings 611 ( figures 5 And 7 ) for the passage of the rear free end 510A of the foot 510 of the shutter 500, which here has two diametrically opposed extensions that slightly protrude from said base 610, towards the rear, when the shutter 500 is in the lowered position, as shown on the figure 8 Here, these two end openings 611 also extend onto the side wall 630 of the shaft 600 along the central axis A1. The bottom wall 101 of the base 100 also has two openings (not shown) corresponding to the end openings 611 of the bottom 610 of the shaft 600.

[0099] The barrel 600 has a height, that is to say a length measured along the central axis A1 between the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 and its bottom 610, which allows it to receive, with minimal clearance, the entire foot 510 of the obturator 500 when it is in the lower position, that is to say the entire foot 510 except for the rear free end 510A of the foot 510 protruding from the barrel 600. By receiving the entire foot 510 of the obturator "with minimal clearance" means that 90% of the length of the foot is housed in the barrel 600 in the lower position.

[0100] When the front element 710 is mounted in the base 100, the shaft 600 extends into the rear part 100B of the base 100 ( figures 3 And 4 ), its height must therefore also be compatible with that of the rear part 100B of the base 100. Once placed in the rear part 100B of the base 100, the bottom 610 of the shaft 600 is here in contact with the bottom wall 101 of the base 100. The shaft 600 passes through the cover 110 which has a central recess 112 for this purpose ( figure 1 ) for the passage of the 600 drum during the assembly of the 700 power outlet.

[0101] Thanks to the barrel 600, the obturator 500 is guided in rotation and translation relative to the insertion well 200 along the central axis A1.

[0102] Indeed, it allows, on the one hand, the 500 shutter to be guided in rotation around the central axis A1 since, as shown by the figure 6 The rear free end 510A of the 510 foot is engaged in the 600 barrel even when the 500 shutter is in the raised position. As shown in the figure 9 In addition, the obturator 500 is also guided in rotation by an element 307 projecting from the rear face 301B of the main wall 301 of the piston 300 which is engaged in a central recess 525 of the head 520 of the obturator 500.

[0103] On the other hand, the 600 barrel also allows the 500 shutter to be guided in translation (when it is in the open position).

[0104] For this purpose, it has two elongated openings forming two guide grooves 620 in which ribs 512 provided on the foot 510 of the shutter 500 slide when the latter is in translation ( figures 4 , 6 , 8 et 9 ).

[0105] These guide grooves 620, here two in number, are provided in the side wall 630 of the shaft 600 which they pass through completely. They extend in opposite directions, parallel to the central axis A1. They are closed at the rear at the level of the bottom 610 of the shaft 600 by a rear end portion 631 of the side wall 630 of the shaft 600 and open at the front into central cutouts 212 provided in the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 on the edge of the mouth 600A of the shaft 600.

[0106] In addition, the two ribs 512 are positioned projecting from the cylindrical wall 513 of the foot 510, along two diametrically opposed generatrices ( figures 5 And 6The two ribs 512 extend parallel to the central axis A1 and have rectangular cross-sections. The ribs 512 extend straight along the foot 510 of the shutter 500 from its head 520 to its rear free end. Each rib 512 has a rear end face 512A extending near the rear free end 510A of the foot 510, orthogonally to the central axis A1.

[0107] The ribs 512 of the foot 510 of the shutter 500 are oriented such that, when the shutter 500 has pivoted into the open position, they are located in the axis of the central cutouts 212 ( figures 3 And 6 ) made in the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200, so that they can engage there and thus release the piston 300's sinking mobility.

[0108] The guide grooves 620 are long enough to allow the ribs 512 to slide freely within them, without being blocked by the rear end portion 631 of the side wall 630 of the barrel 600 when the shutter 500 reaches the lowered position. The ribs 512 come into contact here with the rear end portion 631 of the side wall 630 of the barrel 600 when the shutter 500 reaches the lowered position ( figure 8 ). The guide grooves 620 also have rectangular cross sections adapted to those of the ribs 512 of the foot 510 of the shutter 500.

[0109] The barrel 600 also helps to retain the return spring 650. The return spring 650 is in fact interposed between the bottom 610 of the barrel 600 and the part of the rear face 520C of the head 520 of the shutter 500 which closes the front end of the foot 510 of the shutter 500.

[0110] The return spring 650 is thus secured to the insertion well 200, which means that, when the front element 710 is removed from the base 100, the return spring 650 remains interposed between components of the front element 710, namely the shutter 500 and the barrel 600.

[0111] The return spring 650 is advantageously a compression and torsion spring, which allows it to return the shutter 500 to the closed position when the electrical plug is extracted from the insertion well 200.

[0112] In compression, the return spring 650 acts to maintain the head 520 of the obturator 500, and more particularly a front face 520A of said head 520, against the rear face 301B of the main wall 301 of the piston 300 ( figure 5 ) and thus return piston 300 to the standby position when no force is exerted on it.

[0113] To act in torsion, the ends 651, 652 of this return spring 650 ( figure 1 ) are also respectively blocked in rotation around the central axis A1 relative to the shutter 500 and relative to the barrel 600.

[0114] For this purpose, they are folded to extend along a diameter of the return spring 650. Correspondingly, the bottom 610 of the barrel 600 and the part of the rear face 520C of the head 520 of the shutter 500 each have two ribs (not shown) which delimit between them a groove to receive the corresponding end 651, 652 of the return spring 650.

[0115] This return spring 650 then acts in torsion around the central axis A1, to return the shutter 500 to the closed position when no force is exerted on it.

[0116] When the piston 300 is in its actuation position at the bottom of the insertion well 200, the return spring 650 is compressed inside the foot 510 of the obturator 500.

[0117] Thus, since the barrel 600 holds the return spring 650, the front element 710 of the power socket 700 comprises, by itself, all the mechanisms enabling the piston 300 to move within the insertion well 200. The power socket 700 is therefore modular in the sense that the front element 710 can be detached from the base 100 while still securely holding all its component parts together. The shutter 500 itself provides electrical safety for the front element 710.

[0118] Advantageously, the front element 710 also includes disengageable locking means 560 adapted to block the shutter 500 in translation when it is in the closed position.

[0119] Thus, in the closed position, the obturator 500 is locked in the upper position, which advantageously allows, thanks to the arrangement of the obturator 500 immediately under the piston 300, the piston 300 to be locked in the standby position.

[0120] The locking means 560 can be disengaged solely by moving the shutter 500 from its closed position to its open position.

[0121] These locking means 560 prevent a simple press on the piston 300 from pushing it backwards when the shutter 500 is still in the closed position.

[0122] In this case, these locking means 560 are formed on the one hand by stop surfaces 511, here two in number, belonging to the ribs 512 of the foot 510 of the obturator 500 and by bosses 550, also two in number, projecting from the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 ( figures 3 And 6 ).

[0123] As shown by figure 6 , each stop surface 511 corresponds more particularly to a peripheral lateral portion of one of the rear end faces 512A of the ribs 512 of the foot 510 of the shutter 500. The stop surfaces 511 therefore extend here orthogonally to the central axis A1.

[0124] As shown by figure 6 , the bosses 550 are positioned along the edge of the mouth 600A of the shaft 600 in the insertion well 200, in a diametrically opposite manner.

[0125] As the figure 6 Each boss 550 is positioned to correspond with one of the two stop surfaces 511 so that, in the closed position, the stop surfaces 511 are placed on the bosses 550. Alternatively, the stop surfaces could very slightly overhang the bosses. Thus, at the slightest pressure on the piston 300, the stop surfaces 511 come into contact with the bosses 550, which locks the piston 300.

[0126] Each boss 550 more specifically presents a bearing face 550A ( figure 6 ), intended to receive one of the two abutment surfaces 511, which extends (like the abutment surfaces 511) orthogonally to the central axis A1 of the insertion well 200. This ensures effective locking of the abutment surfaces 511 on the bearing faces 550A of the bosses 550.

[0127] As shown by figure 6 Each boss 550 generally has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, rising along the central axis A1 from the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200 to its bearing face 550A, which thus defines its front end. Each boss 550, however, has an inclined face 550B extending from its bearing face 550A towards the central cut 212 made in the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200 for the passage of its associated rib 512, the inclined face 550B being transverse to the central axis A1. In this case, each inclined face 550B forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the central axis A1 of the insertion well 200. These inclined faces 550B facilitate the upward movement of the obturator 500 into the closed position. Apart from the inclined faces 550B, the bosses 550 have cross-sections with a shape substantially identical to that of the ribs 512 of the base 510 of the obturator 500.The bosses 550 here come from formation with the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200.

[0128] The height of the bosses 550 is such that the piston 300 is effectively locked in the raised position flush with the front face 221A of the trim 220, even though the ribs 512 extend at a distance from the free end 510A of the foot 510. The bosses 550 effectively allow the support of the ribs 512 (when the shutter is in the closed position) to be raised towards the front opening 200A of the front element 710.

[0129] Thanks to the bosses 550, it is possible to lock the piston 300 in the standby position even though the ribs 512, which delimit the stop surfaces 511, extend at a distance from the free end 510A of the foot 510 of the obturator 500. Without these bosses 550, the obturator 500 would be blocked by the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200, and would therefore not be blocked flush with the trim 220, the height of the ribs 512 being limited by the presence of the bottom 610 of the barrel 600 (holding the return spring 650) and by the depth available to house the barrel 600 in the rear part 100B of the base 100.

[0130] The height of the bosses, along the central axis A1, between the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200 and their bearing surface 550A, is for example between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

[0131] As the figure 9 , when the shutter 500 is in the lower position, the bosses 550 are advantageously housed in recessed housings 530 provided in the head 520 of the shutter 500.

[0132] Remarkably, each recessed housing 530 is indeed shaped to accommodate a boss 550 projecting from the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200. Thus, the rear face 520C of the head 520 of the obturator 500 conforms to the shape of the bottom wall 201 of the insertion shaft 200 ( figures 4 , 8 et 9 ), which allows a maximum piston depth of 300 into the insertion well 200.

[0133] Thanks to the recessed housings 530, it is possible to achieve a piston stroke of 17.8 mm between its two extreme positions of standby and use, in order to correspond to the German standard.

[0134] As shown on the figures 4 And 8Each recessed housing 530 is here an opening that passes through one of the wings 521, 522 of the head 520 of the shutter 500. The recessed housings 530 here have a rectangular section adapted to that of the bosses 550. Of course, these recessed housings could be closed-bottomed recesses that open only onto the rear face of the shutter head.

[0135] Furthermore, as the figure 8 The inclined faces 523, 524 of the wings 521, 522 of the obturator 500 generate additional thicknesses on the rear face 520C of the head 520 of the obturator 500. In order to prevent the wings 521, 522 of the obturator 500 from interfering with said bottom wall 201 and limiting the sinking of the piston 300 when the head 520 of the obturator 500 is pressed against the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200, the openings 210 of this bottom wall 201 are enlarged to accommodate said additional thicknesses.

[0136] The front element 710 also includes stop means (not shown) for blocking the rotation of the obturator 500 in the closed position. In other words, these stop means prevent the obturator 500 from leaving its closed position (as opposed to its open position). These stop means, against which the longitudinal edges 520B of the head 520 of the obturator 500 bear, are projecting from the rear face 301B of the main wall 301 of the piston 300.

[0137] We can now describe the movements of the different components of the power outlet 700 when an electrical plug is inserted into the insertion well 200 of this power outlet 700.

[0138] Initially, as shown by the figures 3 And 5 , piston 300 is held in standby position by return spring 650.

[0139] The shutter 500, which is held in the closed position by the return spring 650, then prevents dust particles from entering the power socket 700 and prevents a simple press on the piston 300 from causing it to sink into the insertion well 200.

[0140] The movable flap 150 is held in the closed position by the spring blade 160.

[0141] Then, when a user inserts an electrical plug into the socket 700, the prongs of this plug pass through the openings 304 of the piston 300 and bear against the inclined faces 523, 524 of the shutter 500, causing the latter to pivot. The ribs 512 of the shutter 500 then align with the central cutouts 212 of the bottom wall 201 of the insertion well 200 and the guide grooves 620 of the barrel 600.

[0142] The electrical plug then penetrates deeper into the insertion well 200. Such an intermediate position is shown in figure 7 The electrical plug progresses in the insertion well 200 until its pins pass through the holes 111 of the cover 110 and come to rest against the inclined faces 152A of the movable flap 150, which causes the movable flap 150 to translate towards the release position.

[0143] The electrical plug is then free to engage to the bottom of the insertion well 200 so that the base of the electrical plug holds the piston 300 in the operating position ( figures 4 , 8 et 9 ). The pins of the electrical plug engage in the phase connection terminals 130 and neutral 131.

[0144] Removing the electrical plug from the socket 700 causes the reverse movement of the various components of this socket 700, thanks in particular to the return spring 650 and the spring blade 160.

[0145] The invention is not limited to the embodiment described and represented and any variant conforming to the attached claims could be envisaged.

Claims

1. Front element (710) for a power outlet (700), comprising: - a side wall (202) and a bottom wall (201) which define an insertion well (200) for an electrical plug, the insertion well (200) rising around a central axis (A1) from the bottom wall (201) towards a front opening (200A), - a trim piece (220) attached to one end (202C) of said side wall (202), opposite said bottom wall (201), so that a front face (221A) of the trim piece (220) borders the front opening (200A) of the insertion well (200), - a piston (300) which closes a section of the insertion well (200),the piston (300) being movable in the insertion well (200) along said central axis (A1) between a standby position in which a front face (301A) of the piston (300) extends into the front opening (200A) of the insertion well (200) flush with the front face (221A) of the trim piece (220) and an operating position in which it is pushed to the bottom of the insertion well (200), the piston (300) comprising two openings (304) for the insertion of two pins of the electrical plug, - a T-shaped shutter (500) with a generally cylindrical foot (510) centered on said central axis (A1) and a head (520) comprising two wings (521, 522) extending perpendicularly and on either side of the foot (510), the head (520) being positioned immediately below the piston (300),The obturator (500) being movable: ¤ in rotation around the central axis (A1) of the insertion well (200) between a closed position in which it locks the piston (300) in the standby position and in which the wings (521, 522) are positioned over the two openings (304) of the piston (300) to block access to the insertion well (200) and an open position in which it allows the piston (300) to translate between its standby position and its operating position and in which the wings (521, 522) move away from the two openings (304) of the piston (300), and, ¤ in translation along the central axis (A1) of the insertion well (200), when it is in the open position, between a high position in which the foot (510) extends mostly into the insertion well (200) and a low position in which the head (520) is placed at the bottom of the insertion well (200),- disengageable locking means (560) adapted to lock the shutter (500) in translation when it is in the closed position and which comprise two stop surfaces (511) placed on the foot (510) of the shutter (500), opposite the head (520) of the shutter (500), and - a return spring (650) of the shutter (500) in the closed position, , characterized in that the front element (710) comprises a shaft (600) of a predetermined height, closed at the rear by a bottom (610) and opening at the front into the insertion well (200), the shaft (600) being integral with the bottom wall (201) of the insertion well (200) and being placed under said bottom wall (201), centered on the central axis (A1) to receive, within clearance, the entire foot (510) of the shutter (500) when it is in the lowered position, the return spring (650) being interposed between the bottom of the shaft (600) and the shutter (500), in thatThe locking means (560) comprise two bosses (550), positioned corresponding to the stop surfaces (511), said bosses (550) projecting into the insertion well (200) from the bottom wall (201), the stop surfaces (511) being adapted to come into contact with said bosses (550) when the obturator (500) is in the closed position, and in that the head (520) of the obturator (500) has two recessed housings (530), each of the recessed housings (530) being shaped to accommodate one of the two bosses (550) when the obturator (500) is in the lower position so that the head (520) extends against the bottom wall (201) of the insertion well (200).

2. Front element (710) according to claim 1, in which the recessed housings (530) are provided on a rear face (520C), facing the bottom wall (201) of the insertion well (200), of each of the wings (521, 522) of the head (520) of the obturator (500).

3. Front element (710) according to claim 2, wherein the recessed housings (530) are openings (304) which pass through said wings (521, 522) of the head (520) of the shutter (500).

4. Front element (710) according to claim 2, wherein the recessed housings (530) are closed-bottom recesses which open only onto the rear faces (520C) of said wings (521, 522) of the head (520) of the shutter (500).

5. Front element (710) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the bosses (550) are positioned along the edge of the mouth (600A) of the shaft (600), in a diametrically opposite manner.

6. Front element (710) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the bosses (550) have a height, along the central axis (A1) of the insertion well (200), of between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

7. Front element (710) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each boss (550) has a bearing face (550A) of the abutment surfaces (511) when the obturator (500) is in the closed position, said bearing face (550A) extending perpendicularly to the central axis (A1) of the insertion well (200).

8. Front element (710) according to claim 7, in which each boss (550) has an inclined face (550B) which extends from said bearing face (550A) to a cutout (212) made in the bottom wall (201) of the insertion well (200), said inclined face (550B) being transverse to the central axis (A1) of the insertion well (200).

9. Front element (710) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the foot (510) of the shutter (500) comprises two ribs (512), each rib (512) having a rear end face (512A) forming one of the two stop surfaces (511), the ribs (512) extending straight along the foot (510) of the shutter (500) from the head (520) of the shutter (500) to the stop surfaces (511).

10. Front element (710) according to claim 9, in which the barrel (600) comprises two elongated openings forming guide grooves (620) in which said ribs (512) slide when the shutter (500) is translated between its upper position and its lower position.

11. Front element (710) according to claims 1 to 10, in which the foot (510) of the shutter (500) forms a hollow cylinder open at a free end (510A) turned towards the bottom of the barrel (600), the hollow cylinder housing said spring (650), wedged between the bottom of the barrel (600) and the closed bottom of said hollow cylinder.

12. Front element (710) according to claims 1 to 11, wherein the shutter (500) is a single piece.

13. Power outlet (700) comprising a base (100) having a rear portion (110B), closed at the rear by a back panel (101), housing phase (130) and neutral (131) connection terminals, and a front portion (100A), open at the front, in which a front element (710) is mounted according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the insertion well (200) of the front element (710) having a depth determined in accordance with the German standard, the shaft (600) of the front element (710) being housed in the rear portion (100B) of the base (100), the rear (100B) and front (100A) portions of the base (100) being separated by an insulating closing panel (110) provided with two openings (111) through which the prongs of an electrical plug inserted in the well insertion (200) of the front element (710) access said connection terminals (130, 131), the wings (521,522) of the shutter (500) of the front element (710) being positioned opposite said orifices (111) when the shutter (500) is in the closed position and away from said orifices (111) when the shutter (500) is in the open position, the front opening (104) of the front part (100A) of the base being bordered by a sidewalk (120) having a rear face (120A) intended to rest on a receiving wall, the base (100) having, between the rear face (120A) of said sidewalk (120) and the external face (101A) of the bottom wall (101) of the rear part (100B) of the base (100), a recess depth determined in accordance with the standard of a German socket.

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