Adapter for Euro connector

The invention relates to an adapter for connecting at least a European plug to a flush or surface-proof socket or a portable electrical outlet.

Electrical products and consumers are increasingly with European plugs equipped in accordance with DIN EN 50075, particularly in those Cases in which a protective conductor is not required. At the Inserting such a plug into a conventional Europe Earthed socket must of comparatively smaller European plugs relatively far inserted into the power receptacle in be to plug it can. The handling is the Inserting and removing the plug because of the accessibility impaired. In addition, there is often an undesirable Touch from the protective conductor and the associated risks of injury. it is also known, a two- or Dreifachstecker with Euro plug deck in such a safety socket insert, one for each Euro plug Outlet collar is provided as protection against contact. there the Euro sockets with their collar adjacent parallel with Orientation provided whereby the insertion or pulling a plug, for example, the average Plug in three juxtaposed adapter sockets is as cumbersome. A further disadvantage is the relatively large manufacturing expenditure of such previously known adapters at least two separate housing parts, pins and formed on the pins to be mounted contact springs are.

With the invention is a novel adapter of the aforementioned Genus are created, the advantages of a cost Preparation with a handling relief connects.

This object is said in claim 1 resolved features. Preferred features, the invention provides the educate advantageous are the downstream protection claims refer to.

According to the invention is thus for the connection of at least one, preferably up to three insulated devices or Consumers with Europe connectors according to DIN EN 50075 on a flush or surface-grounded outlet or to a portable Earthed socket according to DIN 49440 a Plastic backshell made available, the plug portion a, preferably as shaped plug according to DIN 49406 form R, and a flat collarless terminal portion, wherein the terminal portion after insertion of the adapter at least the insertion of flush or surface-proof socket or portable safety socket covers.

The terminal portion forms for insertion of the European plugs the outlet side and is preferred as a square plate formed whose size is a touch dangerous Plug prevents a euro plug and thus the protective function of conventional outlet collar accepts.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention are the Connector portion and the terminal portion formed integrally and secured to each other, preferably via film hinges. This results in a cost-effective production of Plastic housing.

According to another embodiment of the invention has the Terminal portion includes a raised area where socket openings for or European plugs are formed, preferably the raised area with a spherical cap apart tilted away flats for socket opening Couples is trained. This measure results advantageously a free access to each plugged or einzusteckendem European plugs, since the tilted away from each other Arrangements of the outer outlets easy entry and allow unplugging.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention has the terminal portion outside of the raised region with the mutually tilted away flats for socket opening Couples a peripheral on the edge, the ball cap contour of a with a larger radius, preferably about five times the radius, as of the raised region follows. At the same time it is also advantageous if the connecting section designed as a square plate with rounded corners is. This results in a visually appealing flat design with no outlet collar with square through the Training an advantageous cover the insertion opening the safety socket is achieved, even in the Non-use may remain in the socket without optically disturbing act. Further, the thus-configured adapter fits well to under normal market flush-mounted switch programs or Outlet covers.

A further advantage in terms of cost and installation-friendly design of the inventive adapter is reached when in the plug portion has two plug pins arranged with each integrally formed contact springs are preferably each pin of brass plate is rolled.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying Drawings explained in more detail. Show it:<dl tsize="9"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>a perspective view of a first embodiment an adapter according to the invention obliquely from above;</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>a perspective view of the adapter of Figure 1 obliquely from below;</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>a plan view of the adapter of Figure 1;</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>a side view of the adapter according to Figure 3 in the Leaf level of the left seen;</dd><dt>figure 5</dt><dd>a side view of the adapter of Figure 3 in the Leaf level as seen from above;</dd><dt>figure 6</dt><dd>a perspective view of the one-piece plug housing without pins and contact springs;</dd><dt>figure 7</dt><dd>a perspective oblique view from below of the one-piece plug housing according to Figure 6;</dd><dt>figure 8</dt><dd>a perspective view of a plug pin with integrally formed contact spring;</dd><dt>figure 9</dt><dd>a plan view of the connector portion of FIG 8th; and</dd><dt>figure 10</dt><dd>a view of the male portion of FIG 9 seen in the leaf level from the top; and</dd><dt>figure 11</dt><dd>a side view of the male portion of FIG 9 seen in the leaf level from the right.</dd></dl>

In the figures 1 to 5 are various views of an exemplary embodiment an adapter 10 of the invention shown, the different for the connection of three not shown Europe connectors is provided.

The adapter has a plug housing made of plastic, which has a flat collarless terminal portion 11 and a connector portion 12 comprises that, as described in connection of Figures 6 and 7, in one piece with living hinges 13 and 14 are joined to form a hinged enclosure.

The connector portion 12 is a contoured plug according to DIN 49406 R form prepared and fit in all conventional flush or Surface-type socket outlets or in portable Power outlets according to DIN 49404th The plug part 12 are pins 15 and 16 fixedly disposed, the brass plate are rolled and each has a molded triple contact spring 17 have for einzusteckende plug of Euro plugs, as indicated in the Figures 8 to eleventh

With the plug portion 12 of the connecting section 11 is at 18 and 19 screwed or riveted, see Figure 7. Alternatively, can both sections even after inserting the plug pins 15 and 16 together with contact springs 17 also welded or be glued.

The terminal portion 11 has, seen from above (see Figure 3), an approximately square in plan with rounded corners, wherein in the terminal portion, a central raised spherical cap-shaped area 20 is formed, in the total three mutually inclined away flats 21 to 23 with socket opening pairs 24 to 26 for insertion of the plug are formed of Euro plugs. The arrangement is such made that the flattened portion 22 to vertically Axes of the plug 15 or 16 extends, and the flattenings 21 and 23 together form an obtuse angle of about 140 °. The flats 23 and 21 are symmetrical about the plane arranged by the connector 15 or 16 and the axis of symmetry the socket opening pair 25 runs. With 27 and 28 are spherical cap portions designated laterally from flattenings 21 to 23 are arranged.

The laterally inclined flats 21 and 23 go into a circumferential edge 29 about which has a circumferential chamfer and also follows the contour of a spherical cap, the radius in the illustrated embodiments, about 200 mm is, while the radius of the spherical cap portions 27, 28 in the illustrated embodiment is about 46 mm.

Details of the plastic housing forming part of the Connector portion and the terminal portion are shown in Figures 6 and 7, in particular tube-shaped receptacles 30 and 31 for the connector pins 15 and 16 and tubular rear projections 32 and 33 and 34 and 35 on which the contact spring 17 is arranged and for guiding purposes, the front ends the plug pins of Euro Connector occur.