The present disclosure relates to a socket for accessories in vehicles, and
5 more particularly, to a socket, and assembly method thereof, for providing a power
source to connect various portable electrical/electronic devices and/or charging
devices in vehicles or automobiles.
BACKGROUND
10 Automobiles are generally provided with one or more power sockets to provide
a power source for various types of electronic devices or items. These power outlets
are adapted to receive the accessory plugs of portable electrical/electronic devices
and/or charging devices.
Although, the existing power outlets can be used to recharge the batteries of
15 portable electronic devices without any difficulty, however, the assembly of the
sockets due to having a greater number of parts is observed as a difficult process.
Further, the unreliable fastening and loose routing of the fuse wire in the socket
may not protect the socket from vibration and mechanical load. In the existing
socket design, the fuse wire was crimped at both ends with the terminals.
20 The remaining length of wire was uncovered/free and there was a chance of
wire damage due to any external mechanical load on the wire. The terminal to be
used for wire crimping were nut fastened in the center area only, So there was a risk
of terminal looseness or less rigidity.
Thus, there is a need for an improved accessories socket that has fewer parts,
25 and is easy to assemble, has enhanced crimping terminal reliability, and provides
protection against vibration and mechanical load.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a
30 simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the
invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive
3
concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the
invention.
In a first aspect, the present disclosure describes an improved accessories
socket for providing a power source to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle.
5 The socket includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end having
openings, and a fuse unit having a distal end having one or more electrical
connectors, and a proximal end connecting the electrical connectors to one or more
connectors in a vehicle. The fuse wire is configured with the proximal end of the
housing at the distal end. The fuse unit includes a connector CP and a fuse wire.
10 The connector CP includes a connector having a distal end and a proximal end with
one or more fixtures, a ground terminal, a positive terminal having one or more first
fixtures at a proximal end, and a bridge terminal having one or more second fixtures
at a proximal end. The fuse wire is routed below the fixtures for protecting the fuse
wire from vibration and external mechanical load. The ground terminal, the positive
15 terminal, and the bridge terminal are configured to be inserted within the connector.
The distal end of the connector makes the electrical connectors of the fuse unit. The
housing is sized to fit directly into the opening in the vehicle’s standard electrical
panel. Further, the electrical connectors of the fuse unit are releasably connectable
to an electrical wiring harness of the vehicle.
20
In another aspect, the present disclosure describes a process for assembling
an improved accessories socket for providing a power source to recharge an
electronic device in a vehicle. The process includes the step of forming a connector
CP by inserting a ground terminal, a positive terminal, and a bridge terminal within
25 a connector having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the connector
has one or more fixtures at the proximal end of the connector. The positive terminal
has one or more first fixtures at a proximal end, and, similarly, the bridge terminal
has one or more second fixtures at a proximal end. The process further includes the
step of crimping the terminals of a fuse wire through the first and the second fixtures
30 of the connector CP, for restricting the movement of the fuse wire. The fuse wire is
routed below the fixtures for protecting the fuse wire from vibration and external
4
mechanical load. The process, furthermore, includes the step of riveting the distal
end of the fuse unit with a proximal end of a housing. The distal end of the connector
makes one or more electrical connectors of a fuse unit.
5 To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a
more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is
appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention
and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be
10 described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
15 These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will
become better understood when the following detailed description is read with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like
parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
20 Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a socket for providing a power source
to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
Figure 1a illustrates an isometric view of a socket for providing a power
source to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of
25 the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a process for assembling a socket
of Figure 1/1a, for providing a power source to recharge an electronic device in a
vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2a illustrates a schematic diagram of a process of crimping the
30 terminals of a fuse wire with a connector in a socket of Figure 1, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
5
Figure 2b illustrates an isometric view of a socket of Figure 1, having the
crimped terminals of a fuse wire with a connector of the socket, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of a socket of Figure 1, having one or
5 more water through openings in the lateral surface of the housing of the socket,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 4 illustrates a socket of Figure 1 while mounting in a vehicle and in
use with a recharging plug, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
10 Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are
illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale.
For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent
steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention.
Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of
15 the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols,
and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to
understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the
drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art having the benefit of the description herein.
20
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings
25 and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such
alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being
contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the
30 invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled
6
in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples
provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none”
5 or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more
than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of
“some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology
and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some
embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be
10 construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their
equivalents in any way.
For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,”
“consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or
15 restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more
features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken
to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements,
unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but
not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”
20
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only
once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements”
or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms
“one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none
25 of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language
including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more
element is required.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or
30 scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly
understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.
7
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood
that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features
and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been
5 described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which
the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfill the requirements
of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first
10 embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one
embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,”
“other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”,
“additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the
same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features
15 and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be
found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may
be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one
or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a
single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the
20 context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided
separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features
and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively
be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
25 Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some
embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to
the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized
in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in
the description below.
30
8
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to a socket for accessories in vehicles, and
5 more particularly, to a socket, and assembly method thereof, for providing a power
source to connect various portable electrical/electronic devices and/or charging
devices in vehicles or automobiles.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a socket (100) for providing a power
10 source to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure. The socket (100) is an improved accessories socket for
providing a power source to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle. The socket
(100) may include a housing (102) and a fuse unit (106). The housing (102) has a
proximal end (102b) and a distal end (102a). The housing (102), further, has
15 openings through the proximal (102b) and distal ends (102a). The fuse unit (106)
has a distal end (106a) having one or more electrical connectors and a proximal end
(106b) connecting the electrical connectors to one or more electrical connectors in
the vehicle. The distal end (106a) of the fuse unit (106) is configured with the
proximal end (102b) of the housing (102).
20 The fuse unit (106) includes a connector CP (110) and a fuse wire (112). The
connector CP (110) includes a connector (120) having a distal end and a proximal
end. The connectors CP (110), further, includes a ground terminal (114), a positive
terminal (116), and a bridge terminal (118). The proximal end of the connector CP
(110) is designed to include one or more fixtures (122). The proximal end of the
25 positive terminal (116) is designed to include one or more first fixtures. Similarly,
the proximal end of the bridge terminal (118) is designed to include one or more
second fixtures.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the fuse wire (112) is
routed below the fixtures (122) for protecting the fuse wire (112) from vibration
30 and external mechanical load. The ground terminal (114), the positive terminal
9
(116), and the bridge terminal (118) are configured to be inserted within the
connector (120).
Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the distal end
of the connector (120) makes the electrical connectors of the fuse unit (106). The
5 housing (102) is sized to fit directly into an opening (now shown) in the vehicle’s
standard electrical panel. Further, the electrical connectors of the fuse unit (106)
are releasably connectable to an electrical wiring harness of the vehicle, as
described in a later part of this disclosure in conjunction with Figure 4.
Figure 1a illustrates an isometric view of an assembled socket (100) of
10 Figure 1, for providing a power source to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the socket (100)
illustrated in Figures 1 & 1a, may further include a river isolator (104) of a
predetermined dimension configured to be housed inside the housing (102) at the
15 proximal end. The river isolator (104) may include a distal end (104a) and a
proximal end (104b). The distal end of the fuse unit (106) may be riveted to the
proximal end (102a) of the housing (102) using a rivet (108).
In the exemplary embodiments, the housing (102) and the river isolator (104)
may be made of electrically insulating material.
20 According to a further embodiment, the socket (100) shown in Figures 1 and
1a, may include a shoulder for abutting against the vehicle’s electrical panel when
the housing (102) is inserted into the opening in the vehicle’s electrical panel.
In an example embodiment, the electrical connectors of the fuse unit (106)
may be received in corresponding openings in the distal end of the housing (102).
25 In a further example embodiment, wherein the lateral surface of the housing
(102) may include one or more water through openings (130) near the proximal end
of the housing (102).
In furthermore example embodiment, the ground, positive, and bridge
terminals (114, 116, 118) may be formed using an insert molding process.
10
In a still further exemplary embodiment, the first and the second fixtures of
the terminals may be configured for crimping the terminals of the fuse wire (112)
in order to restrict the movement of the fuse wire (112).
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a process for assembling a socket
5 of Figure 1/1a, for providing a power source to recharge an electronic device in a
vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The process may
include the steps of forming a connector CP (110), crimping the terminals of a fuse
wire (112), and riveting the fuse unit (106) with the housing (102).
According to the process of the present invention, the connector CP (110)
10 may be formed by inserting a ground terminal (114), a positive terminal (116), and
a bridge terminal (118) within a connector (120). As also described in conjunction
with Figure 1, the connector (120) may have a distal end and a proximal end. The
proximal end of the connector (120) may include one or more fixtures (122).
Similarly, as also described in conjunction with Figure 1, the proximal end of the
15 positive terminal (116) may include one or more first fixtures. Further, the proximal
end of the bridge terminal (118) may include one or more second fixtures;
The step of crimping the terminals of a fuse wire (112) with the connector CP
(110) is performed through a crimping tool. The crimping tool crimps the fuse wire
(112) with the first and the second fixtures of the connector CP (110). Further, the
20 crimping of the fuse wire (112) restricts the movement of the fuse wire (112).
Before the crimping of the fuse wire (112) with the first and second fixtures, the
fuse wire (112) is routed below the fixtures (122) for protecting the fuse wire (112)
from vibration and external mechanical load. The crimping step and its impact, are
described in detail in a later part of this disclosure in conjunction with Figures 2a
25 and 2b.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the step of riveting
may rivet the distal end of the fuse unit (106) with a proximal end of a housing
(102). As also described in conjunction with Figure 1, the fuse unit (106) and the
housing (102) may be riveted using a rivet (108).
11
According to the embodiment of the present invention, and as also described
earlier, the distal end of the connector (120) makes the electrical connectors of the
fuse unit (106).
Figure 2a illustrates a schematic diagram of a process of crimping the
5 terminals of a fuse wire with a connector in a socket of Figure 1, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. The step of crimping the fuse wire (112) may
include the steps of placing the connector cp (110) in the fixtures of the connector
(120), placing the fuse wire (112) in the connector CP (110), and crimping the
terminals of the fuse wire (112) through the first and the second fixtures of the
10 connector (120) of the connector CP (110), using a crimping tool. The fuse wire
(112) is supported from the fixtures of the connector (120) restricting the
movement.
Figure 2b illustrates an isometric view of a socket of Figure 1, having the
crimped terminals of a fuse wire (112) with a connector (120) of the socket (100),
15 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the fuse wire
(112) is routed below the fixtures of the connector CP (110). Further, the terminals
inserted in the connector (120) are insert moulded type, formed by the insert
moulding process, as well known in the art.
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of a socket of Figure 1, having one or
20 more water through openings (130) in the lateral surface of the housing of the
socket, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the
lateral surface of the housing (102) of the socket (100) may include one or more
water through openings (130) near the proximal end of the housing (102). As it can
be easily understood, the openings (130) may let out the incoming water, if any,
25 inside the hosing (102) of the socket to protect from the water.
In a further embodiment, a cut feature may be provided in the rivet isolator
(104), to guide the water to drain away to protect the socket (100) from water
stagnation. The cut feature of the rivet isolator (104) may align with the opening
(130) of the housing (102).
30 Figure 4 illustrates a socket of Figure 1 while mounting in a vehicle and in
use with a recharging plug, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
12
As illustrated, and as also described earlier hereinabove, the socket (100) is sized
to fit directly into the opening in the vehicle’s standard electrical panel (200). The
electrical connectors of the fuse unit (106) may be releasably connectable to an
electrical wiring harness of the vehicle. Further, the housing (102) of the socket
5 (100) may include a shoulder for abutting against the vehicle’s electrical panel
(200) when the socket’s housing (102) is inserted into the opening in the vehicle’s
electrical panel (200). As also illustrated, a charging plug (300) may be plugged in
the socket (100) through the housing (102) of the socket (100) to get the power
source available through the socket (100). The charging plug (300) maybe, but not
10 limited to, a mobile charger.
As the electrical connection of the terminals of the socket with the electrical
system of the electrical panel (200) of the vehicle, and, the electrical connection of
the charging plug (300) with the socket (100), are well known in the art, therefore,
descriptions of such connection are not provided herein, for the brevity of the
15 present disclosure.
The major advantages of the technical solutions proposed by the present
disclosure include the fact that (1) the socket (100) includes a lesser number of
parts, (2) the socket (100) is easy to assemble at least due to the lesser number of
parts, (3) the water through structure protects the socket (100) from damage due to
20 water, (4) crimping terminal reliability enhanced as the assembling process changes
from fastening to insert moulded type, (5) the terminals due to formed by insert
moulding process are more rigid, and (6) the fuse wire routing change in the
assembly protects the socket (100) against vibration and mechanical load.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter,
25 any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent
to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in
order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the
forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a
30 single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple
13
functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

We Claim:
1. An improved accessories socket (100) for providing a power source to
recharge an electronic device in a vehicle, the socket (100) comprising:
a housing (102) having a proximal end and a distal end having openings;
5 and
a fuse unit (106) having a distal end (106a) having one or more electrical
connectors and a proximal end (106b) connecting the electrical connectors
to one or more connectors in the vehicle, configured with the proximal end
(102b) of the housing (102) at the distal end (106a), the fuse unit (106)
10 comprising a connector CP (110) and a fuse wire (112), the connector CP
(110) comprising a connector (120) having a distal end and a proximal end
with one or more fixtures (122), a ground terminal (114), a positive terminal
(116) having one or more first fixtures at a proximal end, and a bridge
terminal (118) having one or more second fixtures at a proximal end,
15 wherein the fuse wire (112) is routed below the fixtures (122) for protecting
the fuse wire (112) from vibration and external mechanical load,
wherein the ground terminal (114), the positive terminal (116), and the
bridge terminal (118) are configured to be inserted within the connector
(120), the distal end of the connector (120) making the electrical connectors
20 of the fuse unit (106), and
wherein the housing (102) is sized to fit directly into an opening in the
vehicle’s standard electrical panel, the electrical connectors of the fuse unit
(106) releasably connectable to an electrical wiring harness of the vehicle.
2. The socket (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a river isolator (104)
25 having a predetermined dimension configured to be housed inside the
housing (102) at the proximal end, wherein the river isolator (104) having a
distal end (104a) and a proximal end (104b), and wherein the distal end of
the fuse unit (106) is riveted to the proximal end of the housing using a rivet,
and wherein a cut feature is provided in the rivet isolator (104) to guide the
30 water to drain away to protect the socket (100) from water stagnation.
.
15
3. The socket (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a shoulder for abutting
against the vehicle’s electrical panel when the housing (102) is inserted into
the opening in the vehicle’s electrical panel.
4. The socket (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connectors of
5 the fuse unit (106) are received in corresponding openings in the distal end
of the housing (102).
5. The socket (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral surface of the
housing (102) comprises one or more water through openings (130) near the
proximal end of the housing (102).
10 6. The socket (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground, positive, and
bridge terminals (114, 116, 118) are formed by an insert moulding process.
7. The socket (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second
fixtures are configured for crimping the terminals of the fuse wire (112) for
restricting the movement of the fuse wire (112).
15 8. A process for assembling an improved accessories socket (100) for
providing a power source to recharge an electronic device in a vehicle, the
process comprising:
forming a connector CP (110) by inserting a ground terminal (114), a
positive terminal (116), and a bridge terminal (118) within a connector (120)
20 having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the connector (120)
having one or more fixtures (122) at a proximal end of the connector (120),
the positive terminal (116) having one or more first fixtures at a proximal
end, and the bridge terminal (118) having one or more second fixtures at a
proximal end;
25 crimping the terminals of a fuse wire (112) through the first and the second
fixtures of the connector (120) of the connector CP (110), for restricting the
movement of the fuse wire (112), wherein the fuse wire (112) is routed
below the fixtures (122) for protecting the fuse wire (112) from vibration
and external mechanical load; and
30 riveting the distal end of the fuse unit (106) with a proximal end of a housing
(102),
16
wherein the distal end of the connector (120) making one or more electrical
connectors of a fuse unit (106).
9. The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the crimping the terminals of a
fuse wire (112) through the first and the second fixtures of the connector
5 (120) of the connector CP (110), comprising:
placing the connector cp (110) in the fixtures of the connector (120);
placing the fuse wire (112) in the connector CP (110), wherein the
fuse wire (112) is supported from the fixtures of the connector (120)
restricting the movement; and
10 crimping the terminals of the fuse wire (112) through the first and
the second fixtures of the connector (120) of the connector CP (110),
using a crimping tool.
10. The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein an insert molding process is used
to form the ground terminal (114), the positive terminal (116), and the
15 bridge terminal (118).