UNIVERSAL BATTERY CHARGER AND/OR POWER ADAPTOR

• US 20070278996A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modern Sense Limited
• Original Assignee: Modern Sense Limited
• Inventors: So, Kam
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A universal power adapter has a choice of configurations for use in different countries and with different items of electronic equipment. A plug base for pivot connection with the adapter body has conducting pins for connection with an electrical socket and corresponding electrical terminals connected electrically to the pins. A rotational safety cover is provided to shield the electrical terminals and avoid unintentional contact. The cover has openings permitting access to the terminals when the cover is rotated. The body has a lug for engaging the cover to rotate the cover when the body is secured rotatably to the base. A power cord extends from the body to a mating socket and detachable adaptor tips. A voltage selector switch for selecting voltage has a semi light transmissive indicator disk with a light beneath the disk indicating the selected output voltage and operational status of the adapter.

Claims

1. A universal power adapter, for use in countries having main power outlet pin/socket patterns that allow no alternative plug-insertion orientations, comprising:

a base having conducting pins for connection with an electrical power socket, electrical terminals which correspond to each of the conducting pins and are connected electrically thereto, a rotational safety cover located to shield the electrical terminals and having openings for permitting access to the terminals when the cover is rotated, and engagable pivot connection features, and

a body having engager pivot connecting features for co-operating with the engagable pivot connection features of the base to secure the body rotatably to the base, the body having rotator features for rotating the safety cover and electrical contacts configured to engage with the terminals of the base when the body and base are so secured.

2. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the conducting pins extend from one side of the base for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket and the electrical terminals are located on the other side of the base.

3. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the base has extending therefrom a power cord at a remote end of which is located a plug having the conducting pins for connection with an electrical power socket and wherein the electrical terminals are connected electrically to each of the conducting pins via individual conductors in the power card.

4. The universal power adapter of claim 3 wherein the base further includes an inverter for transforming a direct current power supply to the conducting pins into an alternating current supply at the electrical terminals.

5. The universal power adapter of claim 3 wherein the plug is of a type for use with an aircraft or automotive power supply.

6. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the rotator features comprises a lug for engaging the safety cover to cause it to rotate when the body is secured rotatably to the base.

7. The universal power adapter of claim 1 wherein the safety cover includes a lock to prevent inadvertent rotating of the safety cover when the body is not being secured rotatably to the base.

8. The universal power adapter of claim 7 wherein the lock comprises an aperture in the cover and a resiliently deformable tab on the base that locates within the aperture to prevent rotational movement of the cover.

9. The universal power adapter of claim 8 wherein the rotator features comprises a lug for insertion into the safety cover aperture when the base and body are mated for securing the body to the base such that the lug displaces the tab and engages the safety cover to cause it to rotate when the body is secured rotatably to the base.

10. The universal power adapter of claim 1 further including a removable cover for concealing the electrical contacts of the body, the removably cover including engagable pivot connection features for rotatably connecting with the body and a battery-operated portable electric light.

11. A base for a universal power adaptor having a body having electrical contacts and engager pivot connecting features for securing the body rotatably to the base, the base comprising,

conducting pins extending from one side of the base for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket,

electrical terminals located on an opposite other side of the base and which correspond to each of the conducting pins and are connected electrically thereto,

a rotational safety cover located to shield the electrical terminals and having openings for permitting access to the terminals when the cover is rotated, and

engagable pivot connection features for co-operating with the engager pivot connecting features of the body to secure the body rotatably to the base such that the electrical contacts of the base engage with the electrical terminals of the body when the body and base are so secured.

12. The base of claim 11 wherein the safety cover includes a lock to prevent inadvertent rotating of the safety cover when the body is not being secured rotatably to the base.

13. The base of claim 12 wherein the lock comprises an aperture in the cover and a resiliently deformable tab on the base that locates within the aperture to prevent rotational movement of the cover.

14. A universal power adapter for use with different electrical appliances, the adapter comprising an adaptor body connectable with an electrical power system and a power cord extending from the body to a mating socket and a detachable adaptor tip at a remote end of the cord:

the mating socket comprising;

a connector body attached to the remote end of the power cord and having pin sockets in an end opposite the power cord,

electrical terminals located in the pin sockets that are connected electrically to the power adaptor via conductors in the power cord,

a locking collar rotateably located on the connector body and having a bayonet catch member on an internal wall,

the detachable adaptor tip comprising;

an adaptor body having an electrical appliances connector at a first end and pin terminals at an opposite end for insertion into the pin sockets, wherein the electrical appliances connector is connected electrically to the pin terminals, and

a locking lug on the adaptor body that is engageable with the bayonet catch member upon rotation of the locking collar to detachably secure the adaptor tip to the mating socket.

15. The universal power adapter of claim 14 wherein the bayonet catch comprises a circumferentially extending tab and an axial lip at an end of the tab, the locking lug engaging the axial lip upon a full rotation of the locking collar to secure the adaptor tip to the mating socket.

16. The universal power adapter of claim 14 wherein the connector body includes a mating collar for mating with the adaptor body upon insertion of the pin terminals into the pin sockets.

17. The universal power adapter of claim 14 wherein the mating collar surrounds the pin sockets on the end opposite the power cord.

18. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further comprising semi-circumferential band with disjoined ends about the connector body and a projection on the locking collar that is in situ located between the disjoined ends of the band to restrain rotational motion of the locking collar on the connector body.

19. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further comprising a retaining ring on the connector body and a corresponding retaining tab on the locking collar cooperating with the retaining ring for securing the locking collar to the connector body.

20. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further comprising an aperture in the adaptor body and a corresponding pin on the connector body for insertion into the aperture when the pin terminals and pin sockets cooperate in a correct orientation.

21. The universal power adapter of claim 14 further including at least one further power cord connected with the body and at least one further mating socket and detachable adaptor tips located at a remote end of the further power cord.

22. The universal power adapter of claim 21 wherein the mating socket has a selectable output voltage and the further mating socket has a fixed output voltage.

24. The universal power adapter of claim 22 wherein the illumination source is connected to the converter electronics and is controlled in illumination states indicating operational states of the converter electronics.

23. A universal power adapter, for use in countries having main electrical pin/socket patterns that allow no alternative plug-insertion orientations, comprising:

a base having conducting pins extending from one side thereof for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket, electrical terminals located on the other side of the base and which correspond to each of the conducting pins and are connected electrically thereto and engagable pivot connection features, and

a body having engager pivot connecting features for co-operating with the engagable pivot connection features of the base to secure the body rotatably to the base and electrical contacts configured to engage with the terminals of the base when the body and base are so secured, and

power converter electronics located in the base and connected to a voltage selector switch having an externally viewable portion for viewing a selected voltage, the viewable portion comprising a semi light transmissive indicator disk having voltage markings thereon and an illumination source located beneath the disk to illuminate it from behind.