Host With Multiple Sequential Adapters for Multiple Consumer Electronic Devices

• US 20080165474A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kendall, James W., McCoy, Richard A., Viswanathan, Ameresh
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A modular system having multiple adapters for providing service to consumer electronic devices, at least one adapter being capable of being coupled to host to receive an electrical service and at least another adapter being capable of being coupled to the at least one adapter to receive an electrical service.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A modular system comprising:

a host; and

multiple adapters, each configured to couple with a respective consumer electronic device, with at least one of the multiple adapters capable of being removably coupled to the host to receive mechanical support and at least a first electrical service from the host, and at least another of the multiple adapters capable of being capable of being coupled to the at least one of the multiple adapter to receive mechanical support and at least a second service from the first adapter.

38. The modular system of claim 37, wherein the host is an appliance having a primary function of conducting a useful cycle of operation.

39. The modular system of claim 38, wherein the host is a refrigerator having a service interface providing the at least one service.

40. The modular system of claim 37, wherein at least one of the multiple adapters provides an electrical service to its respective consumer electronic device when coupled with its respective consumer electronic device.

41. The modular system of claim 37, wherein at least one of the multiple adapters provides at least one service different from the at least one service provided by the host.

42. The modular system of claim 37, wherein the host comprises a standardized service interface that couples with at least one of the multiple adapters to supply the at least a first service to their consumer electronic device.

43. The modular system of claim 42, wherein the multiple adapters are arranged in a suspended configuration generally below the standardized service interface.

44. The modular system of claim 37, wherein the host comprises a docking module projecting from the wall and the service interface is provided on the docking module.

45. The modular system of claim 37, wherein at least one service comprises a wireless electrical service.

46. A modular system comprising:

a host having a standardized host service interface;

a first consumer electronic devices having a first standardized device service interface;

a second consumer electronic devices having a second standardized device service interface

a first adapter having a first adapter interface capable of coupling with the standardized host interface of the host and communicate at least a first electrical service between the first adapter and the host, a second adapter interface capable of coupling with the first standardized device service interface of the first consumer electronic device and communicate at least a second electrical service between the first adapter and the first consumer electronic device, and a standardized host interface;

a second adapter having a third adapter interface capable of coupling with the standardized host interface of the first adapter and communicate at least a third electrical service between the first adapter and the second adapter, a second adapter interface capable of coupling with the second standardized device service interface of the second consumer electronic device and communicate at least a fourth electrical service between the second adapter and the second consumer electronic device.

47. The modular system of claim 46 wherein the first standardized device interface and the second standardized device interface are each different from the standardized host interface.

48. The modular system of claim 46, wherein the additional adapters are sequentially coupled to the host.

49. The modular system of claim 46, wherein the first adapter is removably mechanically coupled to the host, the second adapter is removably mechanically coupled to the first adapter, and each of the electronic devices is removably mechanically coupled to at least one of the adapters.

50. The modular system of claim 46 wherein the host comprises an appliance performing a useful cycle of operation.

51. The modular system of claim 46, wherein the standardized host service interface is removable from the appliance.

52. The modular system of claim 46, wherein the standardized host service interface is integral with the appliance.

53. The modular system of claim 46 wherein the host is a wall-mountable module communicating the at least a first electrical service.

54. The modular system of claim 46 wherein the host supplies art least one electrical service to the second adapter.

55. The modular system of claim 46, wherein said at least one electrical service comprises a wireless electrical service.

56. A modular system for connecting multiple consumer electronic devices, each having a standardized device service interface to a host having a standardized host service interface different from both of the standardized device service interfaces of the consumer electronic devices, the modular system comprising:

multiple adapters comprising a corresponding adapter for each of the multiple consumer electronic devices to couple the standardized device service interface of the corresponding consumer electronic device to the standardized host service interface of the host such that a mechanical communication service and at least a first electrical service can be supplied between the host and the corresponding consumer electronic device, at least one of the multiple adapters comprising a standardized host interface capable of coupling with at least one other of the multiple adapters such that mechanical communication service and at least a second electrical service can be supplied between the at least one of the multiple adapters and the at least one other of the multiple adapters.

57. The modular system of claim 56, wherein the at least one service supplied between the multiple adapters is at least one of different from and the same as the at least one service supplied between the host and the multiple consumer electronic devices.

58. The modular system of claim 56 wherein the at least a first electrical service and the at least a second electrical service comprise at least one identical electrical service.

59. The modular system of claim 56 wherein the at least one of the electrical services comprises a power service and a data service.

60. The modular system of claim 56, wherein at least two of the multiple adapters in a stacked relationship.

61. The modular system of claim 56 wherein the second adapter is removably mechanically coupled to the first adapter.

62. The modular system of claim 56 wherein the consumer electronic devices are removably mechanically coupled to the adapters.

63. The modular system of claim 56, wherein the first adapter is removably mechanically coupled to the host.

64. The modular system of claim 56, wherein at least one service comprises a wireless electrical service.