The socket unit within the extension cable and the extension cable having the socket unit.

Abstract

A socket unit within an extension cord and an extension cord having the socket unit are disclosed. The socket unit comprises: a circuit board, a first socket clip, a second socket clip, and a relay. The circuit board has a first AC power contact, a second AC power contact, a first DC power contact, and a second DC power contact. The relay has a first control terminal, a second control terminal, a first conduction terminal, and a second conduction terminal. When the first control terminal and the first DC power contact are electrically connected to a switch, the relay conducts when the switch is switched to ON, thereby connecting the first and second socket clips to AC power; when the switch is switched to OFF, the relay does not conduct, thereby de-connecting the first and second socket clips to AC power.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to extension lines, and in particular to a socket unit within an extension line and an extension line having the socket unit. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Extension cords, also known as multi-socket sockets, are common electrical appliances in homes. Currently known extension cords are those with multiple sockets, each with a manual switch. These extension cords have a simple structure and are very common.

[0003] However, currently known extension lines do not have an internal electronic switch (e.g., a relay) to perform circuit switching. If an electronic switch is used internally, the user is not limited to manual switching when switching. Even if a touch switch is used, the electronic switch can still perform circuit switching.

[0004] Therefore, how to enable extension lines to use electronically controlled switches and give users more switching options in addition to manual switching has become the problem that this case aims to solve.

[0005] Furthermore, current extension cords are designed with multiple sets of sockets connected together, rather than individual sockets that can be spliced ​​together as units or modules. As a result, for extension cords with different numbers of sockets, the existing technology requires that each socket be constructed independently, rather than being spliced ​​together. This is one of the problems that this case aims to solve. [Summary of the Invention]

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a socket unit within an extension line, which exists in the form of a unit or module and can be connected in parallel in multiple units to meet various quantity requirements.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a socket unit in an extension cord that can use an electronically controlled switch such as a relay, thereby allowing the user to switch by touch in addition to manual switching.

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention proposes a socket unit within an extension cord, which is used to be installed within an extension cord. The extension cord contains an AC-to-DC unit and a switch. The socket unit within the extension cord includes: a circuit board having a first AC power contact, a second AC power contact, a first DC power contact, and a second DC power contact. The first and second AC power contacts are electrically connected to AC power, and the first and second DC power contacts are electrically connected to a positive voltage terminal and a ground terminal of the AC-to-DC unit for outputting DC power; a first socket clip and a second socket clip, disposed on the circuit board, wherein the first socket clip is electrically connected to the first AC power contact; and a relay having a first control terminal, a second control terminal, a first conduction terminal, and a second conduction terminal. A control terminal is electrically connected to or not electrically connected to the switch, and a second control terminal is electrically connected to the second DC contact. The first conducting terminal is electrically connected to the second AC contact, and the second conducting terminal is electrically connected to the second socket clamp. When the first control terminal and the first DC contact are electrically connected to the switch, when the switch is switched to the ON position, the first and second control terminals are energized by the positive voltage terminal and the ground terminal of the AC-to-DC unit, thereby connecting the first conducting terminal and the second conducting terminal. The first and second socket clamps are then electrically connected to the first and second AC contacts, respectively. When the switch is switched to the OFF position, no DC current flows through the first and second control terminals, the first and second conducting terminals are not energized, and the second AC contact is not energized by the second socket clamp.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention can exist in the form of units or modules, and multiple units can be connected in parallel to meet various quantity requirements. In addition, the present invention can also use electronically controlled switches such as relays, thus giving users the option of switching via touch control in addition to manual switching.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a socket unit in an extension line that is compatible with existing conventional manual switches for switching.

[0011] To achieve another of the aforementioned objectives, the present invention further provides the circuit board with a first switching wire and a second switching wire. The first switching wire has two ends, one end of which is electrically connected to the second AC contact, and the other end is used to be electrically connected or not electrically connected to the switch. The second switching wire has two ends, one end of which is electrically connected to the second socket clamp, and the other end is used to be electrically connected or not electrically connected to the switch. When the first and second switching wires are electrically connected to the switch, the first control terminal and the first DC contact are not electrically connected to the switch. When the first and second switching wires are not electrically connected to the switch, the first control terminal and the first DC contact are electrically connected to the switch. In this way, the present invention can be compatible with existing conventional manual switches for switching.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes an extension line having the socket unit, which accommodates a plurality of the aforementioned socket units.

Implementation Method

[0013] To illustrate the technical features of the present invention in detail, the following preferred embodiments are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the present invention describes a socket unit 10 within an extension cord through a first preferred embodiment. This socket unit 10 is installed within an extension cord 41. The extension cord 41 contains an AC-to-DC unit 42, which is electrically connected to AC mains power and converts the AC power to DC power before outputting it. The extension cord 41 has a switch 44 corresponding to the socket unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as the socket unit 10). The socket unit 10 mainly consists of a circuit board 11, a first socket clip 21, a second socket clip 23, and a relay 31, wherein:

[0015] The AC to DC unit 42 has a positive voltage terminal 421 for outputting DC power and a ground terminal 422.

[0016] The circuit board 11 has a first AC power contact 12, a second AC power contact 14, a first DC power contact 16 and a second DC power contact 18. The first and second AC power contacts 12 and 14 are used to electrically connect to the AC power supply, and the first and second DC power contacts 16 and 18 are electrically connected to the positive voltage terminal 421 and the ground terminal 422.

[0017] The first and second socket clips 21 and 23 are disposed on the circuit board 11, and the first socket clip 21 is electrically connected to the first mains contact 12.

[0018] The relay 31 has a first control terminal 32, a second control terminal 34, a first conduction terminal 36 and a second conduction terminal 38. The first control terminal 32 is electrically connected to or not electrically connected to the first DC contact 16 and the switch 44. The second control terminal 34 is electrically connected to the second DC contact 18. The first conduction terminal 36 is electrically connected to the second AC contact 14 and the second conduction terminal 38 is electrically connected to the second socket clip 23.

[0019] Wherein, when the first control terminal 32 and the first DC contact 16 are electrically connected to the switch 44, when the switch 44 is switched to the on state, the first and second control terminals 32, 34 are connected to the positive voltage terminal 421 and the ground terminal 422 of the AC to DC unit 42 and are energized, so that the first conducting terminal 36 and the second conducting terminal 38 are connected, and the first and second socket clips 21, 23 are respectively electrically connected to the first and second mains contacts 12, 14, so that a plug 99 (shown in FIG3) can be plugged into the first and second socket clips 21, 23 to obtain mains power; when the switch 44 is switched to the off state, the first and second control terminals 32, 34 do not carry DC power, the first and second conducting terminals 36, 38 are not connected, the second mains contact 14 is not connected to the second socket clip 23, and the plug 99 cannot obtain mains power at this time.

[0020] In this first embodiment, the switch 44 is a touch switch, and the operation of the touch switch will be described below. The implementation of using a manual switch is similar, so it will not be described in detail.

[0021] The structure of the first embodiment has been described above. The operation state of the first embodiment will be described next.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, when in use, the user only needs to touch the switch 44 to make the first and second socket clips 21, 23 electrically connected to the mains power or not electrically connected to the mains power, and the plug 99 inserted into the first and second socket clips 21, 23 can use or not use the mains power, which is extremely easy to operate.

[0023] As can be seen from the above, the socket unit 10 disclosed in this first embodiment exists in the form of a unit or module. A single socket unit 10 can achieve the effect of switching between using and not using mains power.

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, when multiple socket units 10 are connected in parallel, the first and second mains contacts 12, 14 of each socket unit 10 are electrically connected, which can be adapted to various socket number requirements on the extension cord. In addition, this first embodiment can also use an electronically controlled switch such as a relay 31, thereby allowing users to have a touch-controlled switching option in addition to manual switching.

[0025] As shown in FIG5, the present invention describes a socket unit 10' in an extension line through a second preferred embodiment, which is generally the same as the aforementioned first embodiment, except that:

[0026] In this second embodiment, the circuit board 11' further includes a first switching wire 191' and a second switching wire 192'. The first switching wire 191' has two ends, one end of which is electrically connected to the second mains contact 14', and the other end is used to electrically connect or not electrically connect to the switch 44'. The second switching wire 192' has two ends, one end of which is electrically connected to the second socket clip 23', and the other end is used to electrically connect or not electrically connect to the switch 44'. When the first and second switching wires 191' and 192' are electrically connected to the switch 44', the first control terminal 32' and the first DC contact 16' are not electrically connected to the switch 44', as shown in Figure 5; when the first and second switching wires 191' and 192' are not electrically connected to the switch 44', the first control terminal 32' and the first DC contact 16' are electrically connected to the switch 44', as shown in Figure 1.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in FIG6, in actual implementation, the first and second switching wires 191' and 192' are integrated into a terminal plug 91', which is used to insert into a terminal socket 95' provided on the circuit board 11', and is provided on the circuit board 11' in a pluggable manner. As shown in FIG5 and FIG6, the first control terminal 32' and the first DC contact 16' are integrated into another terminal socket 96', and can be provided on the circuit board 11' in the same pluggable manner as the switch 44'.

[0028] This second embodiment mainly provides manufacturers with different options. When the manufacturer wants to use the relay 31 as the main switching method in the first embodiment, the first control terminal 32' and the first DC contact 16' are electrically connected to the switch 44', thus completing the state of the first embodiment. In the aforementioned plug-in and plug-out relationship of the terminal plug and terminal socket, it is only necessary to insert the terminal plug 91' corresponding to the first and second switching wires 191', 192' into the corresponding terminal socket 96'. When the manufacturer wants to use the traditional manual switch switching method, the first and second switching wires 191', 192' can be set differently, and the first control terminal 32' and the first DC contact 16' are not electrically connected to the switch 44'. In terms of operation, the operator only needs to unplug the terminal plug 91' and insert it into the corresponding terminal socket 95'.

[0029] This second embodiment allows the manufacturer to choose between a relay-based switching method or a traditional manual switch switching method, which is quite convenient for the manufacturer.

[0030] The remaining structures and effects of this second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and will not be repeated hereafter.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the present invention describes an extension line 60 (hereinafter referred to as extension line 60) having the socket unit described in the first embodiment, which is mainly composed of a housing 61, an AC to DC unit 65, multiple switches 71, and multiple socket units 81 (hereinafter referred to as socket units 81) described in the first embodiment, wherein:

[0032] The AC to DC unit 65 is located inside the housing 61.

[0033] The complex switch 71 is located in the housing 61.

[0034] In the plurality of socket units 81, the first and second mains contacts of each pair of socket units 81 (see Figure 1 of the first embodiment) are electrically connected to each other. In the figure, the parallel connection is represented by the wiring 89 of a plurality of two-terminal plugs. The plurality of switches 71 and the plurality of socket units 81 are configured in a one-to-one manner.

[0035] This third embodiment discloses that the housing 61 can accommodate the plurality of socket units 81, which, when connected in parallel, constitute an extension line 60 as generally understood by the user.

[0036] The remaining structures and effects of this third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and will not be repeated hereafter.

[0037] The above description is merely the content illustrated by the embodiments of the present invention, and cannot be used to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Any simple changes or equivalent implementations made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention and the contents of the patent specification should be covered by the scope of the patent application of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0038] Figure 1 is a circuit block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is an operational schematic diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is an assembly schematic diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a circuit block diagram of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A socket unit within an extension cord, configured to be installed within an extension cord having an AC-to-DC unit for connection to mains power, and the extension cord having a switch, the socket unit comprising: a circuit board having a first mains contact, a second mains contact, a first DC contact, and a second DC contact, the first and second mains contacts being electrically connected to mains power, and the first and second DC contacts being electrically connected to a positive voltage terminal and a ground terminal of the AC-to-DC unit for outputting DC power; A first socket clip and a second socket clip are disposed on the circuit board, wherein the first socket clip is electrically connected to the first AC contact; and a relay has a first control terminal, a second control terminal, a first conducting terminal, and a second conducting terminal, wherein the first control terminal is electrically connected to or not electrically connected to the first DC contact, the second control terminal is electrically connected to the second DC contact, the first conducting terminal is electrically connected to the second AC contact, and the second conducting terminal is electrically connected to the second socket clip; wherein... When the first control terminal and the first DC contact are electrically connected to the switch, when the switch is switched to the ON position, the first and second control terminals are energized by the positive voltage terminal and the ground terminal of the AC to DC unit, thereby connecting the first conducting terminal and the second conducting terminal. The first and second socket clips are then electrically connected to the first and second AC contacts, respectively. When the switch is switched to the OFF position, no DC current flows through the first and second control terminals, the first and second conducting terminals are not energized, and the second AC contact is not energized by the second socket clip. The circuit board further includes a first switching wire and a second switching wire. The first switching wire has two ends, one end of which is electrically connected to the second AC contact, and the other end is used to electrically connect or not electrically connect to the switch. The second switching wire has two ends, one end of which is electrically connected to the second socket clamp, and the other end is used to electrically connect or not electrically connect to the switch. When the first and second switching wires are electrically connected to the switch, the first control terminal and the first DC contact are not electrically connected to the switch. When the first and second switching wires are not electrically connected to the switch, the first control terminal and the first DC contact are electrically connected to the switch.

2. The socket unit within the extension line as described in claim 1, wherein: The switch can be selected from a touch switch or a manual switch.

3. The socket unit within the extension line as described in claim 1, wherein: The first and second switching wires are installed on the circuit board by means of plugging and unplugging terminal plugs and terminal sockets; the connection between the first control terminal and the first DC contact and the switch is also installed on the circuit board by means of plugging and unplugging terminal plugs and terminal sockets.

4. An extension line having the socket unit of claim 1, comprising: a housing; an AC-to-DC unit disposed within the housing; a plurality of switches disposed within the housing; and a plurality of socket units as described in claim 1, wherein the first and second AC contacts of every pair of socket units are electrically connected to each other; wherein, The multiple switches and the multiple socket units are configured in a one-to-one manner; wherein, the circuit board further comprises a first switching wire and a second switching wire, the first switching wire having two ends, one end being electrically connected to the second AC contact, and the other end being electrically or non-electrically connected to the switch, the second switching wire having two ends, one end being electrically connected to the second socket clip, and the other end being electrically or non-electrically connected to the switch; when the first and second switching wires are electrically connected to the switch, the first control terminal and the first DC contact are not electrically connected to the switch; when the first and second switching wires are not electrically connected to the switch, the first control terminal and the first DC contact are electrically connected to the switch.

5. The extension line according to claim 4, wherein: Each switch can be selected from a touch switch or a manual switch.

6. The extension line according to claim 4, wherein: The first and second switching wires are installed on the circuit board by means of plugging and unplugging terminal plugs and terminal sockets; the connection between the first control terminal and the first DC contact and the switch is also installed on the circuit board by means of plugging and unplugging terminal plugs and terminal sockets.

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