Surge protection board built-in plug

Abstract

We offer a compact plug with a built-in surge protection board. [Solution] The surge protection plug 100 includes a pair of first plug blades 11 and second plug blades 12, a first terminal 41 with one end connected to the first plug blade 11 and the other end connected to the electric wire L, a second terminal 41 with one end connected to the second plug blade 12 and the other end connected to the electric wire L, a surge protection board 30 connected between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 and having a varistor 31, and a main body case 21 housing the surge protection board 30, the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42. The surge protection board 30 is interposed between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 and is positioned in the space between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plug with a built-in lightning surge protection board.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a plug with a built-in lightning surge protection board that is inserted into a power outlet (plug socket) connected to indoor wiring and used.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventional plugs required a case of a certain size for the purpose of securing an internal space for building in a lightning surge protection board. However, there has been a demand from consumers for a compact plug even with a built-in lightning surge protection board.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a compact plug with a built-in lightning surge protection board.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The means for solving the above problems are as follows. (1) A surge-protected plug with a built-in surge protection board according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of first and second plug blades, a first terminal having one end connected to the first plug blade and the other end connected to a wire, a second terminal having one end connected to the second plug blade and the other end connected to the wire, a surge-protection board connected between the first and second terminals, and a main body case housing the surge-protection board, the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the surge-protection board is interposed between the first and second terminals and arranged in the space between the first and second terminals. (2) In the above (1), the surge protection substrate may be supported by the first terminal and the second terminal inside the first terminal and the second terminal via a first conductive fitting and a second conductive fitting that protrude from one side of the substrate. (3) In (2) above, the first conductive fitting may sandwich the first terminal, and the second conductive fitting may sandwich the second terminal. (4) In (1) or (2) above, the main body case has a base portion and a cover portion that faces the base portion and fits into the base portion, and the base portion and the cover portion may have partitions that seal the substrate groove for housing the surge protection substrate. (5) In (1) or (2) above, a wire case is provided that covers a part of the main body case and fits with the main body case, and the main body case may have an exposed portion that faces the surge protection board and is exposed to the outside air. (6) In (5) above, the exposed surface of the exposed portion perpendicular to the thickness direction and the outer surface of the wire case perpendicular to the thickness direction may be flush. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a compact plug with a built-in surge protection board can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a plug with a built-in surge protection board. [Figure 2]This is a perspective view showing the power cord case and main body case cover of a surge protection circuit board-integrated plug with the surge protection circuit board removed. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing a surge protection circuit board-integrated plug with the wire casing removed. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the terminals and surge protection board as a single unit. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the details of the connection between the projection formed on the terminal and the tip of the first conductive metal fitting erected on the surge protection substrate. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Embodiment) The surge protection board-integrated plug 100 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each figure, X, Y, and Z indicate the front view, side view (along the central axis of the axial rivet 60), and plan view (thickness direction), respectively. In the front view, the front side may be referred to as the front and the back side as the rear. In the plan view, the top side may be referred to as the top and the bottom side as the bottom. The plan view may be referred to as the vertical and the side view as the horizontal.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of the surge protection board-integrated plug 100. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 with the wire case 22 and the cover portion 21C of the main body case 21 removed. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 with the wire case 22 removed. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the terminal 40 and the surge protection board 30 as a unit. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the details of the connection between the projection 40P formed on the terminal 40 and the tip 30P of the first conductive metal fitting 32 erected on the surge protection board 30.

[0011] (Plug with built-in surge protection board) As shown in Figure 1, the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 according to this embodiment is a connector that electrically connects indoor wiring such as AC power wiring to an electric wire L that carries electricity to electronic equipment. The board-integrated plug 100 can be used by plugging it into a power outlet (plug receptacle) that is connected to indoor wiring such as AC power wiring and embedded in the wall. The surge protection board-integrated plug 100 can be used as a so-called swing plug, with the wire L side swingable when the plug blades 10 are inserted into the power outlet.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 comprises a plug blade 10 that is inserted into a power outlet and a case 20 that houses the end Le of the electric wire L.

[0013] The plug blade 10 (also called a plug blade) consists of a pair of first plug blades 11 and second plug blades 12. The first plug blade 11 and second plug blades 12 extend in one direction, spaced apart from each other and substantially parallel to one another. The first plug blade 11 and second plug blade 12 may be made of brass, for example. The first plug blade 11 and second plug blade 12 may be equipped with a tracking-resistant sleeve made of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) as appropriate. The plug blade 10 may be integrally molded with the holder 50.

[0014] The holder 50, together with the plug blade 10, is rotatable about the central axis of the shaft rivet 60 relative to the case 20 which houses the surge protection substrate 30 and the terminal 40. The holder 50 may consist of a rotation support part 51 that encloses the shaft rivet 60 and a plug blade mounting part 52 to which the plug blade 10 is attached. The holder 50 may be made of urea resin. The shaft rivet 60 may be made of brass.

[0015] (case) As shown in Figure 1, the case 20 includes a main case 21 that houses the surge protection board 30 and terminals 40, and a wire case 22 that covers the wire L.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the main body case 21 has a base portion 21B and a cover portion 21C that faces the base portion 21B and fits into the base portion 21B. The base portion 21B and the cover portion 21C are fitted together by fitting a protrusion formed on one into a groove formed on the other as appropriate. The base portion 21B and the cover portion 21C may have the same shape or structure. And, in a state where the base portion 21B and the cover portion 21C are fitted to each other, the main body case 21 secures a space for accommodating the lightning protection surge substrate 30 and the terminal 40 inside.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the base portion 21B and the cover portion 21C each have a terminal groove 211 for accommodating the terminal 40 and a substrate groove 212 for accommodating the lightning protection surge substrate 30. The terminal groove 211 is provided adjacent to the outer shell of the main body case 21. The substrate groove 212 is provided adjacent to the terminal groove 211 via a partition wall 213 inside the terminal groove 211. The base portion 21B and the cover portion 21C each have a partition wall 213 for sealing the substrate groove 212 for accommodating the lightning protection surge substrate 30 between the terminal groove 211 and the substrate groove 212. The partition wall 213 of the base portion 21B and the partition wall 213 of the cover portion 21C are in a state of being abutted against each other to seal the substrate groove 212. Thereby, when the wire case 22 is injection-molded, the molding resin of the wire case 22 can be prevented from entering the substrate groove 212, and the rigidity of the lightning protection surge substrate built-in insertion plug 100 can be ensured.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body case 21 has an exposed portion 21X that faces the lightning protection surge substrate 30 and is exposed to the outside air. Further, the exposed portion 21X is disposed at a position facing the lightning protection surge substrate 30 and overlaps the lightning protection surge substrate 30 in plan view. Therefore, the dimension in the thickness direction Z that can be the maximum dimension portion in the thickness direction Z when the lightning protection surge substrate 30 is disposed can be minimized, and the heat generated from the lightning protection surge substrate 30 can be easily radiated to the outside air.

[0019] The wire case 22 covers the wire connection part 40C through which the end Le of the wire L is inserted, and a part of the main case 21. The wire case 22 covers a part of the wire L and a part of the main case 21. The wire case 22 does not cover the entire main case 21, but covers only a part of it, and the exposed part 21X of the main case 21 that is not covered by the wire case 22 is exposed to the outside air. This makes it possible to reduce the thickness Z dimension of the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 and improve heat dissipation.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the exposed surface 21S perpendicular to the thickness direction Z in the exposed portion 21X and the outer surface 22S perpendicular to the thickness direction Z in the wire case 22 may be flush (aligned without misalignment or on the same plane). This allows the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 to have a clean appearance and be slim and compact.

[0021] The wire case 22 is fitted into the main case 21. The wire case 22 may be integrated with the main case 21 by injection molding (insert molding) with the main case 21 placed in the mold as an insert part.

[0022] (Terminals) Terminal 40 electrically connects the plug blade 10 and the electric wire L. Terminal 40 is made of brass, for example. Terminal 40 is housed in a terminal groove 211 of the main body case 21. The terminal groove 211 is provided adjacent to the outer shell of the main body case 21. Terminal 40 has a first terminal 41 and a second terminal 42. The first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 may be the same shape. One end of the first terminal 41 is connected to the first plug blade and the other end is connected to the electric wire L (the end Le of the electric wire L). One end of the second terminal 42 is connected to the second plug blade and the other end is connected to the electric wire L (the end Le of the electric wire L).

[0023] As shown in Figure 2 or Figure 4, terminal 40 is positioned outside the surge protection substrate 30 in a side view, and its central portion is bent outward to avoid the surge protection substrate 30. This increases the rigidity of terminal 40 itself and allows terminal 40 and surge protection substrate 30 to be compactly housed within the main case 21.

[0024] Terminal 40 engages with the shaft rivet 60 by inserting the shaft rivet 60 into a coupling hole formed in terminal 40 and then pressing and plastically deforming the end of the shaft rivet 60. Similarly, plug blade 10 engages with the shaft rivet 60 by inserting the shaft rivet 60 into a coupling hole formed in plug blade 10 and then pressing and plastically deforming the end of the shaft rivet 60. As a result, terminal 40 and plug blade 10 are electrically connected so that they can rotate freely around the shaft rivet 60. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, terminal 40 and plug blade 10 can be unitized.

[0025] Terminal 40 has a projection 40P that protrudes toward the first conductive fitting 32 or the second conductive fitting 33 erected on the surge protector 30. This makes it easier to connect the projection 40P to the first conductive fitting 32 or the second conductive fitting 33 by utilizing the space inside terminal 40 (the space between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42, which is the space on the surge protector substrate 30), thereby making the entire surge protector substrate-integrated plug 100, including the case 20, compact while firmly connecting terminal 40 and the surge protector 30 electrically and structurally.

[0026] (Lightning surge protection board) The surge protection board 30 is a device that suppresses overcurrent or overvoltage caused by lightning surges, etc. The surge protection board 30 is connected between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 and has a varistor 31. Here, the surge protection board 30 is interposed between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 and is located in the space between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42. This allows the terminals 40 and the surge protection board 30 to be compactly housed in the space within the main body case 21. Thus, a compact surge protection board-integrated plug 100 can be provided.

[0027] In detail, the surge protection board 30 is supported by the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 on the inside of the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 (the side where the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 face each other, the center side of the surge protection board 30) via the first conductive fittings 32 and the second conductive fittings 33 that protrude from one side of the board. This allows the surge protection board 30 to be protected from external forces by the terminals 40 while being firmly and stably supported by the terminals 40, even with the terminals 40 positioned on the outside. As shown in Figure 4, the unitized surge protection board 30 and terminals 40 can be housed in the main body case 21 with the unit floating above the inner wall of the main body case 21. Thus, the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 can be made compact while maintaining heat dissipation and durability.

[0028] The first conductive fitting 32 may clamp the first terminal 41. Similarly, the second conductive fitting 33 may clamp the second terminal 42. This allows for a structurally and electrically secure connection between the terminal 40 and the surge protection board 30. Alternatively, the first conductive fitting 32 may elastically clamp the first terminal 41. Similarly, the second conductive fitting 33 may elastically clamp the second terminal 42. This allows the first terminal 41 or the second terminal 42 to be biased by the first conductive fitting 32 or the second conductive fitting 33. Thus, the terminal 40 and the surge protection board 30 can be structurally and electrically more securely connected, and assembly of the terminal 40 and the surge protection board 30 into a unit can be made easier.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the first conductive fitting 32 or the second conductive fitting 33 may have branched tips 30P. Preferably, the tips 30P face the projection 40P formed on the terminal 40. This makes it easier to grip the terminal 40 with the branched tips 30P. The branched tips 30P may be branched in the front view direction X, or in the thickness direction Z, or both may be combined. This allows the surge protection substrate 30 to be firmly held with respect to the terminal 40 from multiple directions. On the side of the branched tips 30P facing the surge protection substrate 30 in the thickness direction Z, the distance between them may increase as they approach the surge protection substrate 30. As a result, when the surge protection board 30 is slid along the thickness direction Z with the terminal 40 fitted into the main case 21, the guide piece of the tip 30P guides the projection 40P to the correct position, allowing the tip 30P to connect to the projection 40P, thus making it easier to assemble the main case 21, terminal 40, and surge protection board 30.

[0030] As described above, the surge protection board-integrated plug 100 according to this embodiment comprises a pair of first plug blades 11 and second plug blades 12, a first terminal 41 with one end connected to the first plug blade 11 and the other end connected to the electric wire L, and a second terminal 41 with one end connected to the second plug blade 12 and the other end connected to the electric wire L, a surge protection board 30 connected between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 and having a varistor 31, and a main body case 21 that houses the surge protection board 30, the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42. The surge protection board 30 is interposed between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 and is located in the space between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42. This allows the terminals 40 and the surge protection board 30 to be compactly housed in the space within the main body case 21. Thus, a compact surge protection board-integrated plug 100 can be provided.

[0031] It should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0032] Furthermore, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Also, the above-described modifications may be combined as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 100 Surge Protection Plug with Built-in Circuit Board 10 Bung blade 20 cases 21 Main unit case 211 Terminal groove 212 substrate grooves 213 Bulkhead 21B Base section 21C Cover 21S exposed surface 21X exposed area 22 Wire Cases 22S outer surface 30 Surge protection board 30P tip 31 Barista 40 terminals 40P protrusion 40C wire connection 50 holders 51 Rotating support part 52 Plug blade mounting section 60 swivel rivets L electric wire Le end

Claims

1. A pair of first and second plug blades, A first terminal having one end connected to the first plug blade and the other end connected to an electric wire, and a second terminal having one end connected to the second plug blade and the other end connected to the electric wire, A surge protection board connected between the first terminal and the second terminal, The system comprises the surge protection board, the first terminal and the second terminal, and a main body case. The surge protection board is interposed between the first terminal and the second terminal and positioned in the space between the first terminal and the second terminal. A plug with a built-in surge protection board.

2. The surge protection substrate is supported by the first and second terminals inside the first and second terminals via first and second conductive fittings protruding from one side. A plug with a built-in surge protection board as described in claim 1.

3. The first conductive fitting sandwiches the first terminal, The second conductive fitting sandwiches the second terminal A plug with a built-in surge protection board as described in claim 2.

4. The main body case has a base portion and a cover portion that faces the base portion and fits into the base portion. The base portion and the cover portion have partition walls that seal the substrate grooves that house the surge protection substrate. A plug with a built-in surge protection board according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. It comprises a wire case that covers a part of the main body case and fits into the main body case, The main body case has an exposed portion that faces the surge protection board and is exposed to the outside air. A plug with a built-in surge protection board according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The exposed surface perpendicular to the thickness direction in the exposed portion and the outer surface perpendicular to the thickness direction in the wire case are flush. A plug with a built-in surge protection board as described in claim 5.

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