Coupling device and coupling block

Abstract

This coupling device includes first and second coupling elements. The first coupling element has a plug member that is movable between a retracted position and an engagement position and moves to the engagement position when subjected to a magnetic force from the outside. The second coupling element, which is coupled to the first coupling element, has a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to the first coupling element, and an engaging member having formed therein an opening for engaging with the plug member of the first coupling element. When the first and second coupling elements approach each other, the plug member of the first coupling element is subjected to a magnetic force from the outside exerted by the magnetic member of the second coupling element, and moves to the engagement position to engage with the opening in the engaging member of the second coupling element.

Description

Coupling device and coupling block

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device and a connecting block.

[0002] As a connecting device for connecting a pair of blocks to be connected to each other, an example in which a convex plug is inserted into a concave connector and fixed is known.

[0003] Conventional connecting devices require the plug and connector to be aligned before connecting, as in the example above. Furthermore, there are cases where the blocks cannot be connected due to differences in male and female sex. Also, depending on the shape of the plug and connector, there is a specific insertion direction, and a pair of connecting blocks can be connected if a specific face is aligned upwards, but cannot be connected if they are facing in opposite directions. In other words, the orientation of the blocks when connecting may be restricted.

[0004] However, there are cases where you want to connect blocks without looking at them, and there are also cases where you want to allow free combination of blocks depending on the application or purpose. There is also a demand for freedom in the orientation of the blocks when connecting them.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a connecting device that can facilitate the connecting operation, and a connecting block that uses the same.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention that solves the problems of the above-mentioned conventional examples is a coupling device including first and second coupling elements, wherein the first coupling element is a plug member that is movable between a retracted position and an engagement position, and has the plug member that moves to the engagement position in response to an external magnetic force, and the second coupling element coupled to the first coupling element has a magnetic member that applies a magnetic field to the first coupling element and an engagement member having an opening that engages with the plug member of the first coupling element, and when the first and second coupling elements approach each other, the plug member of the first coupling element receives an external magnetic force from the magnetic member of the second coupling element and moves to the engagement position, engaging with the opening of the engagement member provided in the second coupling element.

[0007] According to the present invention, the connecting operation can be easily performed.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a connecting block according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the operation of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an overview of an example of the operation of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a surface member of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing another example of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a connection release mechanism of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an example of a use of a connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description and drawings, the size of each part, the size ratio of each part, and the like are examples unless otherwise specified, and are not limited to the examples in the following description, etc.

[0010] As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a coupling device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention couples objects to be coupled together. In one example of this embodiment, the coupling device 10 couples a pair of blocks 1a, 1b as coupling blocks. The coupling device 10 also includes a plug body 100 as a coupling element. In a further example of this embodiment, the coupling device 10 may include a receptacle body 200 as another coupling element, or the plug body 100 may be configured to also function as the receptacle body 200. Below, an example including the plug body 100 and the receptacle body 200 as coupling elements will first be described.

[0011] In one example of this embodiment, a block 1 abuts against another block 1 with their parallel surfaces in contact, and the blocks are connected by these surfaces. In the following example, blocks 1a and 1b have a frame body 11 formed of cubic pillars, and face members are fitted and fixed to each face of this frame body 11. In this example of the present embodiment, a plug body 100 including a face member is disposed on at least one of the six faces of block 1a. Furthermore, a receptacle body 200 including a face member is disposed on at least one face of another block 1b.

[0012] The surface member fitted into the frame 11 may further include input means such as buttons and joysticks, as well as a camera, microphone, speaker, force feedback device, etc. In this example, in order to transmit and receive instructions, operations, and input content between devices such as the input means and an external information processing device (such as a home game console), the frame 11 may house a circuit unit including a processor including a CPU and memory, etc., and a communication unit such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). These components are omitted from FIG. 1 for the convenience of illustrating the plug body 100 and the receptacle body 200. Also, only the surface portion of the receptacle body 200 is shown to clarify its location.

[0013] In the following, the normal direction to the face of block 1 is defined as the Z axis, the axis parallel to the floor when block 1 is placed on the floor is defined as the X axis, and the axis perpendicular to the floor (the direction of gravity) is defined as the Y axis. The positive directions of the X axis and Y axes are defined as the right direction as viewed from the face, the opposite direction to gravity as viewed from the Y axis, and the direction from the face toward the inside of block 1 as viewed from the Z axis.

[0014] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the plug body 100 includes a plurality of plug members 101, a plug holder 102, magnetic members 103, a magnetic member holder 104, and a surface member 105. For the sake of explanation, Fig. 2 shows each part through the surface member 105. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example of the plug body 100. The plug body 100 is fixed to a frame body 11.

[0015] The plug member 101 is a plate-like member having a substantially L-shaped surface and a hook portion 1011 as an engaging portion at one end, a connecting shaft 1012 is inserted into a connecting shaft hole 1012H provided at the other end, and a rotating shaft 1013 that passes through the plug member 101 is disposed through a rotating shaft hole 1013H at a position between the hook portion 1011 and the connecting shaft 1012. Here, to ensure a secure engagement, the tip 1011E of the hook portion 1011 may be bent inward (toward the connecting shaft 1012) to form a claw 1011N.

[0016] In the example of Figure 2, in order to show the relationship between the plug member 101 and the plug holder 102, and between the plug member 101 and the magnetic holder 104, one plug member 101 is shown attached to the plug holder 102 and one to the magnetic holder 104.

[0017] The plug holder 102 has a surface H parallel to the surface of the surface member 105, and includes a holder main body 1021 fixed to and supported by a columnar body or the like (not shown) on the surface member 105, and a plug support portion 1022 erected from the holder main body 1021 in the direction of the surface member 105. The plug holder 102 also has a through hole 1023 formed therein for supporting the magnetic material holder 104. In the example of Fig. 2, the through hole 1023 is a polygonal (e.g., rectangular) opening and restricts rotation of the magnetic material holder 104 around the Z axis.

[0018] 2, a pair of plug support portions 1022 are provided for each plug member 101. In one example of the present embodiment, the corresponding plug member 101 is disposed between the pair of plug support portions 1022, and both ends of the rotation shaft 1013 of this plug member 101 are rotatably supported.

[0019] This configuration allows the plug member 101 to rotate around the rotation axis 1013, and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the hook portion 1011 moves between a first position (P: retracted position) retracted inward from within the plane member 105 and a second position (Q: engaged position) protruding from the plane member 105. Figure 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a portion of the plug body 100 as viewed from the X-axis direction, and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the plug body 100.

[0020] The magnetic body 103 is a magnet that is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the surface member 105 (Z-axis direction). In this embodiment, the magnetic body 103 may be, for example, a permanent magnet that is magnetized in the Z-axis direction. In this example, the magnetic body 103 is arranged with its north pole facing the surface member 105.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the magnetic body holder 104 supports the magnetic body 103 movably between a first position (p) relatively close to the surface member 105 and a second position (q) relatively far from the surface member 105. As an example, the magnetic body holder 104 includes a columnar support shaft 1041. The support shaft 1041 may have a cylindrical portion 1041C on the surface member 105 side and a rectangular columnar portion 1041B on the side away from the surface member 105 that is inserted into a rectangular through-hole formed in the center of the plug holder 102. However, this is merely an example, and the entire support shaft 1041 may be cylindrical or polygonal. The support shaft 1041 is inserted into the through-hole 1023 of the plug holder 102, passes through the through-hole 1023, and is pivotally supported by the through-hole 1023 for movement in the Z-axis direction. The magnetic material holder 104 may restrict rotation of the support shaft 1041 around the Z axis by erecting a columnar member on the inner surface of the block 1 of the surface member 105 and abutting the side surfaces of the support shafts 1041C and 1041B. However, in this example, as already described, the rectangular columnar portion 1041B of the support shaft 1041 is inserted into the rectangular through-hole 1023, so that rotation of the support shaft 1041 around the Z axis is restricted.

[0022] The magnetic material 103 is fixed to the end face of the support shaft 1041 on the side of the surface member 105. Furthermore, support pillars 1043 are formed on the surface of the support shaft 1041 of the magnetic material holder 104 (the surface of the cylindrical portion 1041C) in correspondence with each plug member 101, to engage with and support the connecting shaft 1012 of each plug member 101.

[0023] When configured in this manner, as illustrated schematically in Figure 4, when an externally applied magnetic field causes the magnetic body 103 to move from a first position (p) to a second position (q) together with the support shaft 1041 of the magnetic body holder 104, the connecting shaft 1012 of the plug member 101 engaged with the support pillar 1043 formed on the outer periphery of the support shaft 1041 moves in the positive direction of the Z axis, and each plug member 101 rotates around its respective rotation axis 1013, moving from a retracted position (P) where each hook portion 1011 does not protrude from the face member 105 to an engagement position (Q) where the hook portion 1011 protrudes from the face member 105.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the face member 105 is a member that forms the face of the block 1, and a metal plate 1051 is fixed to the center of its outer surface. Furthermore, a passage hole 1052 is formed at a position corresponding to the hook portion 1011 of each plug member 101, allowing the hook portion 1011 to pass through. Considering that the mating block 1 to be connected may also include a plug body 100, as will be described later, FIG. 5 shows an example in which an insertion hole 1053 is also formed to allow the hook portion 1011 of the mating block 1 to pass through. However, if only connecting to a mating block 1 having a receptacle body 200 is required, this insertion hole 1053 is not necessarily required. Furthermore, in reality, fasteners for fixing the face member 105 to the frame body 11 would be arranged around the periphery, but these are omitted from FIG. 5 for the purpose of illustrating the connecting operation.

[0025] The metal plate 1051 of the surface member 105 is made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron, and does not need to be a magnet. When no magnetic field is applied from outside the surface member 105, the magnetic material 103 attracts the metal plate 1051 of this surface member, and when the magnetic material 103 has its north pole facing outward, the inner surface of this metal plate 1051 (hereinafter referred to as the target metal plate when it is necessary to distinguish between them) is magnetized as the south pole and the outer surface as the north pole, and is urged to move to the first position (p) in Figure 4.

[0026] Furthermore, when a magnetic field that exerts a force stronger than this biasing force on the magnetic body 103 is applied from the outside of the plane member 105, the magnetic body 103 will move from the first position (p) to the second position (q) due to the influence of this magnetic field, as described above. That is, when a magnet whose outer surface is magnetized to the north pole (for example, the magnetic body 202 of the receptacle body 200, hereinafter referred to as the mating magnet) is placed adjacent to the magnet (for example, the receptacle body 200 is placed adjacent to the plane member 105), the magnetic field will bias the magnetic body 103 to move from the first position (p) to the second position (q).

[0027] 6, receptacle body 200 includes a surface member 201 and a magnetic body 202. When block 1a having plug body 100 and block 1b having receptacle body 200 are connected, surface member 201 of receptacle body 200 is disposed opposite surface member 105 of plug body 100.

[0028] This plane member 201 is formed with an insertion port 2011, which is an opening that receives the entry of the plug member 101 of the plug body 100 that protrudes through the plane member 105. When the plug member 101 enters through this insertion port 2011, the hook portion 1011 of the plug member 101 engages, and the plane members 105 and 201 are fixed in a state of abutting against each other.

[0029] The magnetic body 202 is similar to the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 and includes a magnet magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the surface member 201 (the Z-axis direction). This magnetic body 202 may be, for example, a permanent magnet magnetized in the Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, the magnetic body 202 is fixed to the center portion 2012 of the surface member 201 with its north pole facing the outside of the block 1. This polarity is such that when the magnetic body 202 and the plug body 100 are opposed to each other, they are biased in directions away from each other. In other words, when the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 is arranged with its north pole facing the surface member 105, the magnetic body 202 is arranged with its north pole facing the surface member 201, and when the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 is arranged with its south pole facing the surface member 105, the magnetic body 202 is arranged with its south pole facing the surface member 201.

[0030] [Operation of this embodiment] An example of coupling device 10 of this embodiment has the above configuration and operates as follows: In the following description, plug body 100 and receptacle body 200 are arranged so that their surface members 105, 201 form one surface of block 1. For example, if block 1 is cubic, this surface member 105, 201 is fitted and fixed into frame body 11, which is a cubic pillar body.

[0031] In block 1a having plug body 100, as long as the surface member 201 of receptacle body 200 of block 1b is not close to the surface on which the surface member 105 is arranged, the magnetic body 103 of plug body 100 is attracted to the metal plate 1051 arranged on the surface member 105, and therefore the magnetic body 103 of plug body 100 is maintained in the first position (p) illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 together with the magnetic body holder 104.

[0032] At this time, the connecting shaft 1012 of each plug member 101 engaged with the magnetic material holder 104 is moved in the negative direction of the Z axis, and the hook portion 1011 of each plug member 101 is positioned in the retracted position (P), and is retracted within the block 1a without protruding from the surface member 105.

[0033] Here, when the surface of the surface member 201 of the receptacle body 200 of block 1b is brought close to (substantially in contact with) the surface of the surface member 105 of the plug body 100 of block 1a, the magnetic body 202 of the receptacle body 200 and the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 repel each other, and the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 moves together with the magnetic body holder 104 from the first position (p) illustrated in Figure 4 to the second position (q).

[0034] This is because the force (biasing force) of attraction between the magnetic body 103 and the metal plate 1051 is weaker than the magnetic force of the magnetic field that the magnetic body 202 of the receptacle body 200 exerts on the magnetic body 103 .

[0035] Then, the connecting shaft 1012 of each plug member 101 engaged with the magnetic material holder 104 is moved in the positive direction of the Z axis, and each plug member 101 rotates around its respective rotation axis 1013, causing the hook portion 1011 to move to the engagement position (Q), protrude from the face member 105, and enter and engage with the insertion port 2011 of the face member 201 of the opposing receptacle body 200.

[0036] Thus, according to this embodiment, even without closely watching the blocks 1 to be connected, by bringing the planar members 105 and 201 into contact with each other, the plug member 101 can be protruded and engaged by the action of the magnetic bodies 103 and 202 provided on the plug body 100 and the receptacle body 200. Furthermore, once engaged, the protruding state of the plug member 101 is maintained by the action of the magnetic bodies 103 and 202, so the engaged state is not easily released.

[0037] [Releasing the Engaged State] To release the coupling device 10 of this embodiment from the above-described engaged state, the magnetic body holder 104 of the plug body 100 is moved to the first position (p). When the magnetic body holder 104 is moved from the engaged state from the second position (q) to the first position (p) against the repulsive force (a force due to the magnetic field that tries to move the magnetic body 103 in a direction away from the planar member 105) acting on the magnetic body 103, each plug member 101 rotates around the rotation axis 1013, and the hook portion 1011 retracts to the retracted position (P), thereby releasing the engagement.

[0038] In one example of this embodiment, to move the magnetic holder 104 of the plug body 100 to the first position (p), a slider 601 may be provided that pushes the inner end 1041E of the support shaft 1041 that penetrates the plug holder 102 in the negative direction of the Z axis, as illustrated in FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b). FIG. 7 is an explanatory side view of a coupling release mechanism according to one example of this embodiment, with some components omitted for clarity. The slider 601 is restricted in its movement direction so that it moves only in the Z axis direction, for example, by a guide extending from the frame 11. Various well-known methods can be used for this restriction. The slider 601 is also connected to the inner end 604E of the push button 604 via a link 602. In this example, the slider 601, the link 602, and the push button 604 constitute the coupling release means of the present invention.

[0039] The push button 604 can be pushed through an opening 610P formed in a surface 610 adjacent to the surface on which the surface member 105 of the plug body 100 is disposed.

[0040] When the push button 604 is pressed inward from the surface 610 side into the block 1, its inner end 604E moves inward, moving the slider 601 in the negative direction of the Z axis via the link 602. The slider 601 then contacts the inner end 1041E of the support shaft 1041, further pushing the support shaft 1041 in the negative direction of the Z axis (toward the surface member 105) (FIG. 7(b)). This moves the magnetic body holder 104 to the first position (p), and the engagement by the plug member 101 is released.

[0041] The push button 604 may be biased by an elastic body such as a spring in a direction that resists the pushing direction. In this example, when the user stops pushing the push button 604, the push button 604 returns to its original position (the position it was in before the user performed the operation).

[0042] The release mechanism 600 including the slider 601, link 602, and push button 604 may be provided for each plug body 100. For example, when a plug body 100 is arranged on each of the four faces of the cubic block 1 adjacent to the face 610, a release mechanism 600 may be provided for each plug body 100. Alternatively, the slider 601 and link 602 corresponding to each plug body 100 may be connected to one push button 604 so that when one push button 604 is pressed, the engaged state of each plug body 100 is released all at once.

[0043] Note that the disengagement means using the release mechanism 600 is one example of this embodiment, and the coupling release means may be realized by moving the magnetic material holder 104 of the plug body 100 to the first position (p) in a different manner. For example, the plug body 100 may be provided with a linear actuator that moves the magnetic material holder 104. In this example, the plug body 100 may be provided with a processor that operates according to a program and a communication unit such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the processor may drive the linear actuator to move the magnetic material holder 104 to the first position (p) in accordance with instructions received from outside via the communication unit, thereby disengaging the engagement state.

[0044] In yet another example, magnetic body 103 (or magnetic body 202) may be configured as an electromagnet, and the polarity of magnetic body 103, 202 of either plug body 100 or receptacle body 200 may be temporarily reversed. In this case, magnetic body holder 104 is also moved to the first position (p), thereby disengaging the engagement state.

[0045] [Example in which plug body also functions as receptacle body] In the explanation up to this point, the connecting device 10 has been described as one of the blocks 1 (block 1a) that are connected to each other having a plug body 100 and the other block 1b having a receptacle body 200, but the plug body 100 may also function as the receptacle body 200.

[0046] In this case, for example, the plug members 101 are arranged around the center of the plane member 105 with their longitudinal directions facing in an angle direction of 360·i / N−α (i=1, 2, ... N, and α is, for example, 0≦α<(180 / N) degrees, where N is the number of plug members 101 provided in one plug body 100), with the direction parallel to the X-axis being 0 degrees.

[0047] In this example, the face member 105 also functions as the face member 201 of the receptacle body 200. That is, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the face member 105 in this example has a passage opening 1052 formed around its center for allowing the plug member 101 to protrude, the passage opening 1052 having a longitudinal direction of 360·i / N−α (i = 1, 2, ... N) with the direction parallel to the X axis being 0 degrees, and an insertion opening 1053 having a longitudinal direction of 360·i / N + α (i = 1, 2, ... N) with the direction parallel to the X axis being 0 degrees, for receiving and engaging the plug member 101 protruding from the opposing face member 105. Note that Fig. 5 shows an example where N = 4, and α = 22.5 degrees.

[0048] In this example, as long as the surface member 105 of each block 1 is not in close proximity to the surface on which the surface member 105 of the other block 1 to which it is to be connected, the magnetic material 103 of the plug body 100 is attracted to the metal plate 1051 arranged on the surface member 105, and the magnetic material 103 of the plug body 100 is maintained in the first position (p) illustrated in Figure 4 together with the magnetic material holder 104.

[0049] At this time, the connecting shaft 1012 of each plug member 101 engaged with the magnetic material holder 104 is moved in the negative direction of the Z axis, and the hook portion 1011 of each plug member 101 is positioned in the retracted position (P), and is retracted within the block 1 without protruding from the surface member 105.

[0050] Here, when the surface of the surface member 105 of the plug body 100 of one block 1a is brought close to the surface of the surface member 105 of the plug body 100 of the other block 1b to be connected, the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 of block 1b and the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 of block 1a repel each other (i.e., both magnetic bodies 103 function as magnetic bodies 202 of the receptacle body 200), and inside both blocks 1a and 1b, the magnetic body 103 of the plug body 100 moves from the first position (p) illustrated in Figure 4 to the second position (q) together with the magnetic body holder 104.

[0051] Then, within each block 1a, 1b, the connecting shaft 1012 of each plug member 101 engaged with the magnetic material holder 104 is moved in the positive direction of the Z axis, and the plug member 101 rotates around its respective rotation axis 1013, causing the hook portion 1011 to move to the engagement position (Q), protrude from each face member 105, and enter and engage with the insertion port 2011 provided in the face member 105 of the opposing block 1.

[0052] In this example, the same method as in the example already described can be used to release the engagement state.

[0053] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the example of this embodiment, when the connecting surfaces of the blocks or the like to be connected are brought close enough to almost touch each other, the magnetic bodies in the connecting device repel each other and move, and the plug member, which is linked to this movement, protrudes from the connecting surface and enters and engages with the connecting surface of the other block, thereby connecting the blocks. This allows connection without having to pay close attention to the connecting position, and since it is also possible for the plug members to protrude from both sides, free combinations are allowed without having to consider whether they are male or female, making the connecting operation easier.

[0054] [Application Example] Coupling device 10 of this embodiment can be used, for example, to couple a power plug to an outlet from which unintentional removal must be prevented. In this example, as shown in Figure 8, receptacle body 200 is disposed on the outlet 800 side, and plug body 100 is disposed with the surface of power plug 810 that abuts against outlet 800 as surface member 105.

[0055] In this example, when power plug 810 is inserted into outlet 800, the magnetic field of magnetic material 202 on the receptacle body 200 side causes magnetic material 103 and magnetic material holder 104 in plug body 100 on the power plug 810 side to move in a direction away from outlet 800, and plug member 101 (the retracted position is shown by a dashed line in Figure 8) moves to the engagement position, protrudes from face member 105, and engages with and is fixed to receptacle body 200 on the outlet 800 side.

[0056] Furthermore, the block 1 according to the present embodiment may house a circuit section such as a processor, as already mentioned above, in addition to the connection between an outlet and a plug.

[0057] In this way, when the circuit unit is built in, the block 1 may adopt a method of disengaging the engagement state when connected by driving the linear actuator using a processor in accordance with instructions received from outside via the communication unit to move the magnetic holder 104 to the first position (p).

[0058] In this way, for example, if a game controller is formed by connecting multiple blocks 1 each having an operating element to one another and a game is played while communicating with an information processing device, when a certain situation occurs in the game, such as losing a match, the information processing device can instruct the processor of each block 1 to activate the linear actuator, which will uncouple the controller and return it to its individual blocks 1, making it possible to create the effect of the controller breaking apart into pieces.

[0059] [Communication Between Blocks] In the present embodiment, the plug member 101 included in the plug body 100 may function as a signal path for communication between the mutually engaged blocks 1. In this example, the plug member 101 is made of an insulator, and a conductor wire serving as a signal line is passed through the plug member 101 and connected to a terminal (a conductor surface of a metal plate or the like) disposed at the tip of the plug member 101 (tip 1011E of the hook portion 1011).

[0060] In this example, a terminal biased by a spring or the like, or a terminal such as a fixed metal plate, is arranged at the position where the tip 1011E of the plug member 101 engages in the insertion port 1053 of the receiving receptacle body 200 (or plug body 100), and is electrically connected to the conductor wire passing through the plug member 101.

[0061] In this example, the circuit sections included in each block 1 are electrically connected to each other through the conductor lines and terminals, enabling communication.

[0062] 1 Block, 10 Connection device, 11 Frame body, 100 Plug body, 101 Plug member, 102 Plug holder, 103 Magnetic body, 104 Magnetic body holder, 105 Planar member, 200 Receptacle body, 201 Planar member, 202 Magnetic body, 203 Magnetic body holder, 600 Release mechanism, 601, 603 Hinge, 602 Link, 604 Push button, 800 Outlet, 810 Power plug, 1011 Hook portion, 1012 Connecting shaft, 1013 Rotating shaft, 1021 Holder main body, 1022 Plug support portion, 1023 Through hole, 1041 Support shaft, 1043 Support column, 1051 Metal plate, 1052 Passage hole, 1053 Insertion hole, 2011 Insertion hole, 2012 Metal plate, 2021 Support shaft, 2023 Support body.

Claims

1. A coupling device including first and second coupling elements, wherein the first coupling element has a plug member that is movable between a retracted position and an engaged position, and that moves to the engaged position in response to an external magnetic force, and the second coupling element coupled to the first coupling element has a magnetic member that applies a magnetic field to the first coupling element, and an engaging member having an opening that engages with the plug member of the first coupling element, wherein when the first and second coupling elements come close to each other, the plug member of the first coupling element moves to the engaged position in response to the external magnetic force exerted by the magnetic member of the second coupling element, and engages with the opening of the engaging member provided on the second coupling element.

2. A coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the plug member of the first coupling element is biased in the direction of the retracted position by a force weaker than the magnetic force of the magnetic field applied by the magnetic member of the second coupling element.

3. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug member of the first coupling element is supported rotatably around a support shaft, an engagement portion is formed at one end relative to this support shaft, and a movable portion that can be moved by external magnetic force is connected to the other end via a coupling shaft, and movement of the movable portion causes the plug member to rotate around the support shaft, moving the plug member from the retracted position to the engaging position.

4. A coupling device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a coupling release means for moving the movable part against the magnetic force, and when the movable part moves against the magnetic force, the plug member rotates around the support shaft, moving the plug member to the retracted position.

5. A coupling block comprising a first block having a first coupling element and a second block having a second coupling element, wherein the first coupling element is a plug member movable between a retracted position and an engagement position, the plug member receiving an external magnetic force to move to the engagement position, and the second coupling element coupled to the first coupling element has a magnetic member that applies a magnetic field to the first coupling element and an engagement member having an opening formed therein that engages with the plug member of the first coupling element, wherein when the first and second coupling elements come close to each other, the plug member of the first coupling element receives an external magnetic force from the magnetic member of the second coupling element and moves to the engagement position, engaging with the opening of the engagement member provided on the second coupling element to couple the first and second coupling elements together.

6. A connecting block having a first connecting element connectable to a connecting block having a second connecting element, wherein the first connecting element is a plug member that is movable between a retracted position and an engaged position, and that moves to the engaged position in response to an external magnetic force.

7. A connecting block having a second connecting element connectable to a connecting block having a first connecting element, wherein the second connecting element connected to the first connecting element has: a magnetic member that applies a magnetic field to the first connecting element; and an engaging member having an opening that engages with a plug member of the first connecting element.

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