Protective door device for socket and socket

Abstract

A protective door device for a socket and a socket are provided. The protective door device includes: a housing; a rotating bracket arranged in the housing and including two end portions respectively corresponding to two plug holes of the socket, the rotating bracket being adapted to rotate from a release position to one of two locking positions in a rotation direction during insertion of an object into a single-sided plug hole of the two plug holes; a pair of protective door assemblies respectively arranged at the two end portions of the rotating bracket, each protective door assembly including: a sliding block slidably coupled to the rotating bracket and being adapted to slide from a protective position to an avoidance position when the rotating bracket is in the release position; and a pair of limiting assemblies arranged adjacent to a pair of sliding blocks of the protective door assemblies, respectively.

Description

FIELD

[0001] Example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of electrical equipment, and in particular, to a protective door device for a socket and a socket.BACKGROUND

[0002] A direct current socket is an interface for connecting a direct current power source to an electrical equipment, typically for power supply and charging purposes. Unlike an alternating current socket, a direct current socket directly provides a constant current and is widely used in electric tools, electric vehicle charging, LED lighting, and other low-voltage electrical devices.

[0003] However, an arrangement of plug holes and an internal structure of the direct current socket differs significantly from that of the alternating current socket, thereby placing higher requirements on design of a protective door of the direct current socket.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a protective door device for a socket is provided. The protective door device includes: a housing; a rotating bracket arranged in the housing and including two end portions respectively corresponding to two plug holes of the socket, the rotating bracket being adapted to rotate from a release position to one of two locking positions in a rotation direction during insertion of an object into a single-sided plug hole of the two plug holes; a pair of protective door assemblies respectively arranged at the two end portions of the rotating bracket, each of the pair of protective door assemblies including: a sliding block arranged corresponding to the single-sided plug hole and slidably coupled to the rotating bracket, the sliding block being adapted to slide from a protective position shielding an electrode contact of the socket to an avoidance position exposing the electrode contact under push of a plug inserted into the two plug holes when the rotating bracket is in the release position; and a pair of limiting assemblies coupled to the housing and arranged adjacent to a pair of sliding blocks of the pair of protective door assemblies, respectively, so as to limit sliding of the sliding blocks to the avoidance position when the rotating bracket is in the locking position.

[0005] In some embodiments, each of the pair of limiting assemblies includes: a first limiting rib arranged on a first side of the sliding block in the rotation direction and coupled to the housing, so as to contact with the sliding block to limit the sliding block from sliding toward the avoidance position when the rotating bracket is in a first locking position of the two locking positions; and a second limiting rib arranged on a second side of the sliding block opposite to the first side in the rotation direction and coupled to the housing, so as to contact with the sliding block to limit the sliding block from sliding toward the avoidance position when the rotating bracket is in a second locking position of the two locking positions.

[0006] In some embodiments, the rotating bracket further includes: a pair of accommodating grooves respectively formed at the two end portions of the rotating bracket to respectively accommodate a pair of sliding blocks of the pair of protective door assemblies, and to allow the sliding blocks to slide in the accommodating grooves in extending directions of the accommodating grooves.

[0007] In some embodiments, a predetermined non-zero angle is formed between respective extending directions of the pair of accommodating grooves.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sliding block includes: an abutment slope obliquely formed at an end of the sliding block facing the plug hole, so as to contact with the plug to cause the sliding block to slide along the accommodating groove during insertion of the plug into the plug hole.

[0009] In some embodiments, the protective door assembly further includes: an elastic member arranged on a side of the sliding block away from the abutment slope and adapted to provide an elastic force to the sliding block for returning to the protective position.

[0010] In some embodiments, one end of the elastic member is coupled to the sliding block, and the other end of the elastic member is coupled to the housing, so as to be compressed at least during rotation of the rotating bracket in the rotation direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, the housing includes a pair of swinging projections, and the rotating bracket includes a fixing groove coupled to the pair of swinging projections such that the rotating bracket rotates about an axis connecting the pair of swinging projections.

[0012] The rotating bracket is arranged between the plug holes and the electrode contacts of the socket, and sliding blocks are respectively arranged at two end portions of the rotating bracket. Therefore, the sliding blocks may act as a barrier between the plug holes and the electrode contacts. If the object is inserted into a single-sided plug hole of the pair of plug holes of the socket, at this point, the insertion of the object will cause an imbalance in forces applied to the two end portions of the rotating bracket, so that the rotating bracket rotates from the release position to the locking position. Furthermore, the limiting rib contacts with the sliding block and limits the sliding block to slide toward the avoidance position. In this way, the sliding block may act as a barrier between the plug hole and the electrode contact, so that the electrode contact is protected, and the safety of the socket during use is improved.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a socket is provided. The socket includes: a casing; a panel coupled to the casing and including at least one pair of plug holes; at least one pair of electrode contacts arranged in the casing and respectively corresponding to the at least one pair of plug holes; and the protective door device according to first aspect of the present disclosure arranged between the panel and the at least one pair of electrode contacts.

[0014] In some embodiments, length directions of cross sections of the pair of plug holes are perpendicular to each other.

[0015] It should be understood that content described in this content section is not intended to limit key features or important features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will be readily understood from the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a socket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an internal structure of a socket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a protective door device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a socket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a rotating bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. While certain embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that the disclosure may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as limited to embodiments set forth herein, but rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are only used for example, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0018] It should be noted that the titles of any of the sections / subsections provided herein are not limiting. Various embodiments are described herein throughout, and any type of embodiment may be included under any section / subsection. Furthermore, embodiments described in any section / subsection may be combined in any manner with any other embodiments described in the same section / subsection and / or different sections / subsections.

[0019] In the description of embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "including" and similar terms thereof should be understood as open-ended inclusion, that is, "including but not limited to". The term "based on" should be understood to be "based at least in part on". The terms "an embodiment" or "the embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment". The term "some embodiments" should be understood as "at least some embodiments". Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below. The terms "first", "second", etc., may refer to different or identical objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below.

[0020] In the description of embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "protective position" means that the sliding block is arranged between a plug hole and an electrode contact of the socket, and at least partially shields the electrode contact, so as to block a foreign matter (i.e., an object) from being inserted into the plug hole and contacting with the electrode contact. The term "avoidance position" means that the sliding block slides relative to the rotating bracket from the protective position so as to expose the electrode contact, so as to facilitate contact and electrical connection between the pin of the plug and the electrode contact during coupling of the plug to the socket.

[0021] In the description of embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "locking position" means that, during insertion of the object into the single-sided plug hole of the socket, the rotating bracket is pushed by the object to rotate to a position where the limiting assembly at least partially overlaps with sliding path of the sliding block, and in the locking position, due to interaction between the limiting assembly and the sliding block, the sliding block remains in the protective position and cannot slide to the avoidance position. The term "release position" means a position where the rotating bracket rotates to a position where the limiting assembly is spaced apart from the sliding path of the sliding block by a predetermined distance, so that the sliding block is able to contact with the pin of the plug during coupling of the plug to the socket, and slide to the avoidance position so as to expose the electrode contact under push of the pin.

[0022] As mentioned briefly above, the arrangement of the plug holes in the direct current socket and the internal structure of the socket differs significantly from that of the alternating current socket. For example, arrangement directions of a positive electrode plug hole and a negative electrode plug hole of the direct current socket are perpendicular to each other (that is, a length direction of a cross section perpendicular to an axis of the positive electrode plug hole is perpendicular to a length direction of a cross section perpendicular to an axis of the negative electrode plug hole). Therefore, a protective door structure of traditional alternating current socket is difficult to apply to a direct current socket. In addition, some existing protective door structures of direct current sockets also have disadvantages such as poor protective performance.

[0023] In order to solve or at least partially solve the above problems or other potential problems existing in the traditional technology, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a protective door device and a socket. The rotating bracket is arranged between the plug holes and the electrode contacts of the socket, and sliding blocks are respectively arranged at two end portions of the rotating bracket. Therefore, the sliding blocks may act as a barrier between the plug holes and the electrode contacts. If the object is inserted into a single-sided plug hole of the pair of plug holes of the socket, at this point, the insertion of the object will cause an imbalance in forces applied to the two end portions of the rotating bracket, so that the rotating bracket rotates from the release position to the locking position. Furthermore, a limiting rib contacts with the sliding block and limits the sliding block to slide toward the avoidance position. In this way, the sliding block may act as a barrier between the plug hole and the electrode contact, so that the electrode contact is protected, and the safety of the socket during use is improved.

[0024] When the direct current plug is inserted into the plug holes, a positive electrode pin and a negative electrode pin of the plug are respectively inserted into a positive electrode plug hole and a negative electrode plug hole of the socket, the positive electrode pin and the negative electrode pin are respectively pressed on the two sliding blocks at the two ends of the rotating bracket , at this point, the rotating bracket remains in the release position due to being in a state of force balance, and the sliding block pushed by the positive electrode (or negative electrode) pin slides to the avoidance position so as to expose the electrode contact. Therefore, the direct current plug is normally connected to the direct current socket.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a socket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an internal structure of a socket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a socket 3 generally includes a casing 1, a panel 2 coupled to the casing 1, at least one pair of electrode contacts arranged in the casing 1, and a protective door device arranged between the panel 2 and the at least one pair of electrode contacts. A pair of plug holes 21 of the socket 3 are suitable for insertion of a pair of pins 31 of the plug respectively, and in this case, the protective door device can yield to the pair of pins 31, thereby enabling the pins 31 to contact with electrode contacts of the socket 3. If an object is inserted into a single-sided plug hole 21 of the socket 3, the protective door device acts to prevent the object from contacting with the electrode contact, thereby ensuring power safety. Hereinafter, how the protective door device prevents the object from contacting with the electrode contact will be described in detail.

[0026] In some embodiments, arrangement directions of the pair of plug holes 21 are perpendicular to each other. Specifically, in the pair of plug holes 21, a length direction of a cross section perpendicular to an axis of a positive electrode plug hole 21 is perpendicular to a length direction of a cross section perpendicular to an axis of a negative electrode plug hole 21. In this way, the positive electrode plug hole 21 of the socket 3 may be accurately coupled to the positive electrode pin 31 of the plug, and the negative electrode plug hole 21 of the socket 3 may be accurately coupled to the negative electrode pin 31 of the plug, thereby ensuring the power safety.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a protective door device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a socket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the protective door device includes a housing 4 coupled to the casing 1 of the socket 3, a rotating bracket 5 arranged in the socket 3, a pair of protective door assemblies 6 respectively arranged at two end portions 53 of the rotating bracket 5, and a pair of limiting assemblies respectively arranged adjacent to the pair of protective door assemblies 6.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an overall structure of a rotating bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the rotating bracket 5 is arranged in the housing 4, and the two end portions 53 of the rotating bracket 5 are respectively disposed corresponding to the pair of plug holes 21 of the socket 3. For example, two end portions 53 of the rotating bracket 5 may each be at least partially aligned with a corresponding single-sided plug hole. The rotating bracket 5 can rotate in a rotating direction from a release position to any one of two locking positions. For example, when an object or foreign matter is inserted into only one of the pair of plug holes 21, the rotating bracket 5 may rotate from the release position to a first locking position in a forward direction (e.g., clockwise) of the rotation direction. Correspondingly, when an object or foreign matter is inserted into only the other one plug hole, the rotating bracket 5 may rotate from the release position to a second locking position opposite to the first locking position in a reverse direction (e.g., counterclockwise) of the rotation direction, thereby effectively preventing the object from contacting with an internal circuit when the object is inserted into the single-sided plug hole 21.

[0029] In some embodiments, the housing 4 includes a pair of swinging projections 41 arranged on a side of the rotating bracket 5 away from the panel 2 and extending toward the rotating bracket 5. The rotating bracket 5 is provided with a fixing groove 52, and the fixing groove 52 is arranged on a side of the rotating bracket 5 away from the panel 2. The pair of swinging projections 41 are adapted to be at least partially received in the fixing groove 52, and end points of the swinging projections 41 abut against a bottom wall of the fixing groove 52. In this way, the rotating bracket 5 may rotate about an arrangement direction of the pair of swinging projections 41 (i.e., an axis of the pair of swinging projections 41) between the release position and the locking positions by taking the end points of the pair of swinging projections 41 as the fulcrum.

[0030] The pair of sliding blocks 61 are slidably coupled to the two end portions 53 of the rotating bracket 5, respectively, and arranged between the plug holes 21 and the electrode contacts, so that the sliding blocks 61 may shield the electrode contacts. When the rotating bracket 5 is in the release position, the sliding blocks 61 may slide from the protective position shielding the electrode contacts to the avoidance position exposing the electrode contacts under push of the pins 31, thereby facilitating the connection between the pins 31 and the electrode contacts.

[0031] In some embodiments, the rotating bracket 5 further includes a pair of accommodating grooves 51, and the pair of accommodating grooves 51 are respectively arranged at two end portions 53 of the rotating bracket 5, and are adapted to accommodate the sliding blocks 61 and allow the sliding blocks 61 to slide in the accommodating grooves 51 in extending directions of the accommodating grooves 51. In some embodiments, a predetermined angle is formed between respective extending directions of the pair of accommodating grooves 51. For example, the respective extending directions of the pair of accommodating grooves 51 may be perpendicular to each other. That is, the pair of sliding blocks 61 may slide relative to the rotating bracket 5 in directions perpendicular to each other in respective accommodating grooves 51. In some other embodiments, the pair of accommodating grooves 51 of the rotating bracket 5 may extend in the same or opposite directions.

[0032] The limiting assemblies are adapted to contact with the corresponding sliding block 61 during the rotation of the rotating bracket 5 to the locking position, thereby limiting the sliding of the sliding block 61 to the avoidance position. In some embodiments, each of the pair of limiting assemblies includes a first limiting rib 7 and a second limiting rib 8 arranged at two sides of the sliding block 61 in the rotation direction. Specifically, the first limiting rib 7 is arranged on a first side of the sliding block 61 in the rotation direction (for example, a forward rotation direction), and after the rotating bracket 5 rotates to the locking position in the forward rotation direction due to push of the object inserted in the single-sided plug hole 21, the first limiting rib 7 at least partially overlaps with the sliding path of the sliding block 61 sliding from the protective position to the avoidance position, so that the first limiting rib 7 may limit the sliding block 61 to slide to the avoidance position. Similarly, the second limiting rib 8 is arranged on a second side of the sliding block 61 in the rotation direction (for example, a reverse rotation direction), and after the rotating bracket 5 rotates to the locking position in the reverse rotation direction under push of the object inserted into the single-sided plug hole 21, the second limiting rib 8 at least partially overlaps with the sliding path of the sliding block 61 sliding from the protective position to the avoidance position, and limits the sliding block 61 to slide to the avoidance position. In this way, after the sliding block 61 is stopped by the first limiting rib 7 (or the second limiting rib 8), the sliding block 61 may shield a side of the electrode contact facing the plug hole 21 and prevent the object from contacting with the electrode contact, thereby ensuring power safety. If the plug is coupled to the socket 3, pins are simultaneously inserted into the two plug holes 21 of the socket 3, and at this point, the rotating bracket 5 is in a force-balanced state and remains in the release position. The sliding blocks 61 may slide toward the avoidance position under push of the pins 31. Therefore, the sliding blocks 61 expose the electrode contacts, thereby facilitating coupling of the pins 31 to the electrode contacts.

[0033] In some embodiments, the sliding block 61 includes an abutment slope 611, and the abutment slope 611 is obliquely formed at an end of the sliding block 61 facing the plug hole 21. When the pin 31 of the plug is inserted into the plug hole 21, the abutment slope 611 contacts with the pin 31, and a pushing force for pushing the sliding block 61 to slide is decomposed from a pressure applied by the pin 31 to the abutment slope 611. Thus, the sliding block 61 can slide to the avoidance position.

[0034] In some embodiments, the protective door assembly 6 further includes an elastic member 62, the elastic member 62 is arranged at an end of the sliding block 61 away from the abutment slope 611, and the elastic member 62 is adapted to be compressed during sliding of the sliding block 61 to the avoidance position, so as to provide an elastic force to the sliding block 61 for returning to the protective position. When the plug is decoupled from the socket 3, the pin 31 is withdrawn from the plug hole 21, and the elastic member 62 may push the sliding block 61 to return to the protective position and re-shield the electrode contact. In some embodiments, the elastic member 62 may be a spring or any suitable elastic material.

[0035] In some embodiments, one end of the elastic member 62 is coupled to the sliding block 61, and the other end of the elastic member 62 is coupled to the housing 4, so that when the rotating bracket 5 rotates from the release position to the locking position, the elastic member 62 can be compressed, and after the two end portions 53 of the rotating bracket 5 return to a state of force balance, the rotating bracket 5 may return to the release position under the action of the elastic member 62.

[0036] Implementations of the present disclosure have been described above, and the above description is illustrative, not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed implementations. Many modifications and alterations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the illustrated implementations. The selection of terms as used herein is intended to best explain the principles of various implementations, practical applications or improvements to technology in the market, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand various implementations disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A protective door device for a socket, characterized by comprising: a housing (4); a rotating bracket (5) arranged in the housing (4) and comprising two end portions (53) respectively corresponding to two plug holes (21) of the socket (3), the rotating bracket (5) being adapted to rotate from a release position to one of two locking positions in a rotation direction during insertion of an object into a single-sided plug hole (21) of the two plug holes (21); a pair of protective door assemblies (6) respectively arranged at the two end portions (53) of the rotating bracket (5), each of the pair of protective door assemblies (6) comprising: a sliding block (61) arranged corresponding to the single-sided plug hole (21) and slidably coupled to the rotating bracket (5), the sliding block (61) being adapted to slide from a protective position shielding an electrode contact of the socket (3) to an avoidance position exposing the electrode contact under push of a plug inserted into the two plug holes (21) when the rotating bracket (5) is in the release position; and a pair of limiting assemblies coupled to the housing (4) and arranged adjacent to a pair of sliding blocks (61) of the pair of protective door assemblies (6), respectively, so as to limit sliding of the sliding blocks (61) to the avoidance position when the rotating bracket (5) is in the locking position.

2. The protective door device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the pair of limiting assemblies comprises: a first limiting rib (7) arranged on a first side of the sliding block (61) in the rotation direction and coupled to the housing (4), so as to contact with the sliding block (61) to limit the sliding block (61) from sliding toward the avoidance position when the rotating bracket (5) is in a first locking position of the two locking positions; and a second limiting rib (8) arranged on a second side of the sliding block (61) opposite to the first side in the rotation direction and coupled to the housing (4), so as to contact with the sliding block (61) to limit the sliding block (61) from sliding toward the avoidance position when the rotating bracket (5) is in a second locking position of the two locking positions.

3. The protective door device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotating bracket (5) further comprises: a pair of accommodating grooves (51) respectively formed at the two end portions (53) of the rotating bracket (5) to respectively accommodate a pair of sliding blocks (61) of the pair of protective door assemblies (6), and to allow the sliding blocks (61) to slide in the accommodating grooves (51) in extending directions of the accommodating grooves (51).

4. The protective door device according to claim 3, characterized in that a predetermined non-zero angle is formed between respective extending directions of the pair of accommodating grooves (51).

5. The protective door device according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the sliding block (61) comprises: an abutment slope (611) obliquely formed at an end of the sliding block (61) facing the plug hole (21), so as to contact with the plug to cause the sliding block (61) to slide along the accommodating groove (51) during insertion of the plug into the plug hole (21).

6. The protective door device according to claim 5, characterized in that the protective door assembly (6) further comprises: an elastic member (62) arranged on a side of the sliding block (61) away from the abutment slope (611) and adapted to provide an elastic force to the sliding block (61) for returning to the protective position.

7. The protective door device according to claim 6, characterized in that one end of the elastic member (62) is coupled to the sliding block (61), and the other end of the elastic member (62) is coupled to the housing (4), so as to be compressed at least during rotation of the rotating bracket (5) in the rotation direction.

8. The protective door device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (4) comprises a pair of swinging projections (41), and the rotating bracket (5) includes a fixing groove (52) coupled to the pair of swinging projections (41) such that the rotating bracket (5) rotates about an axis connecting the pair of swinging projections (41).

9. A socket, characterized by comprising: a casing (1); a panel (2) coupled to the casing (1) and comprising at least one pair of plug holes (21); at least one pair of electrode contacts arranged in the casing (1) and respectively corresponding to the at least one pair of plug holes (21); and the protective door device according to any of claims 1 to 8 arranged between the panel (2) and the at least one pair of electrode contacts.

10. The socket according to claim 9, characterized in that length directions of cross sections of the pair of plug holes (21) are perpendicular to each other.

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