DUCK HEAD CONNECTOR

• US 20130078867A1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volex Incorporated (Volex Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Volex Incorporated (Volex Group PLC)
• Inventors: ChongYu, Gong, GengYang, Liu, Toh, Mui Lian Jessica
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,352 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/565 Torsion-relieving
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a duck head connector comprised of a connector for connecting to a power adapter and an electric plug that swivels about the face of the side of the plug, where flexible insulated wires connect the prongs of the electric plug with the contacts of the connector. The flexible insulated wires rotate together with the plug, with the length and shape of the wires enabling the wires to wrap around each other without becoming tangled. In an alternative embodiment, a pair of spring contacts connects the prongs of the electric plug with a pair of stationary half-ring contacts. The spring contacts swivel along the inner surface of the half-ring contacts when the plug rotates. Flexible insulated wires connect the stationary half-ring contacts to the contacts of the connector.

Claims

1. A duck head connector, comprising:

a housing;

a connector for connection to a power adapter, the connector positioned on a first side of the housing, the connector having a first contact and a second contact;

an electric plug positioned on a rotating face of a second side of the housing, the electric plug including a first prong and a second prong, the electric plug rotating about the second side within a range of rotation;

a first flexible insulated wire housed in the housing, the first flexible insulated wire connecting the first prong with the first contact; and

a second flexible insulated wire housed in the housing, the second flexible insulated wire connecting the second prong with the second contact, the first flexible insulated wire and the second insulated wire rotating with the electric plug when the electric plug is rotated while maintaining the connection between the first prong and the first contact and between the second prong and the second contact.

2. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially rectangular box shaped and the first side is substantially opposite the second side.

3. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the first flexible insulated wire and the second flexible insulated wire have a substantially meandering shape.

4. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric plug further comprises a bottom portion positioned at an end of the plug opposite the first prong and the second prong, the bottom portion including one or more latches positioned along a circumference of the bottom portion, wherein the housing further comprises one or more locking features formed on the inside of the housing and along the periphery of the second side, the one or more latches engaging the one or more locking features for securing the electric plug to one or more positions within the range of rotation.

5. The duck head connector as recited in claim 4, wherein the housing further comprises one or more stoppers formed on the inside of the housing and along the periphery of the second side, the one or more stoppers restricting rotation of the electric plug to the range of rotation.

6. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric plug further comprises a grounding prong.

7. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is a C7 connector and the electric plug is selected from the group consisting of a Type A, a Type B, a Type C, a Type D, a Type E, a Type F, a Type G, a Type H, a Type I, a Type J, a Type K, a Type L, and a Type M.

8. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric plug further comprises a bottom portion positioned at an end of the plug opposite the first prong and the second prong, the bottom portion including one or more latches positioned along a circumference of the bottom portion, further comprising a substantially rectangular latch plate positioned inside the housing and adjacent the second side, the latch plate forming a latch plate opening fitting the bottom portion and having one or more locking features formed along the circumference of the latch plate opening, the one or more latches engaging the one or more locking features and securing the electric plug to a position within the range of rotation.

9. The duck head connector as recited in claim 8, further comprising an inner housing positioned on the inside of the housing, the inner housing including a base and two or more arms extending from the first side to the second side, the base securing the first contact and the second contact, and the two or more arms supporting the latch plate.

10. The duck head connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising an inner housing positioned on the inside of the housing, the inner housing including a base and two or more arms extending from the first side to the second side, the base securing the first contact and the second contact, and the two or more arms supporting the electric plug.

11. A duck head connector, comprising:

a housing;

a connector for connection to a power adapter, the connector positioned on a first side of the housing, the connector having a first contact and a second contact;

an electric plug positioned on a rotating face of a second side of the housing, the electric plug including a first prong and a second prong, the electric plug rotating about the second side within a range of rotation;

a first spring contact fastened to the first prong and housed within the housing;

a second spring contact fastened to the second prong and housed within the housing;

a first half-ring contact being substantially curve shaped and housed within the housing, the first spring contact swiveling along an inner surface of the first half-ring contact and maintaining a connection with the first half-ring contact as the electric plug rotates;

a second half-ring contact being substantially curve shaped and housed within the housing, the second spring contact swiveling along an inner surface of the second half-ring contact and maintaining a connection with the second half-ring contact as the electric plug rotates;

a first flexible insulated wire housed in the housing, the first flexible insulated wire connecting the first half-ring contact to the first contact; and

a second flexible insulated wire housed in the housing, the second flexible insulated wire connecting the second half-ring contact to the second contact, wherein the first half-ring contact, the second half-ring contact, the first flexible insulated wire, and the second flexible insulated wire remain stationary as the electric plug rotates and as the first spring contact and the second spring contact swivel along the inner surface of the first half-ring contact and the inner surface of the second half-ring contact.

12. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the housing is substantially rectangular box shaped and the first side is substantially opposite the second side.

13. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the first flexible insulated wire and the second flexible insulated wire have a substantially meandering shape.

14. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the electric plug further comprises a bottom portion positioned at an end of the plug opposite the first prong and the second prong, the bottom portion including one or more latches positioned along a circumference of the bottom portion, wherein the housing further comprises one or more locking features formed on the inside of the housing and along the periphery of the second side, the one or more latches engaging the one or more locking features for securing the electric plug to a position within the range of rotation.

15. The duck head connector as recited in claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises one or more stoppers formed on the inside of the housing and along the periphery of the second side, the one or more stoppers restricting rotation of the electric plug to the range of rotation.

16. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the electric plug further comprises a grounding prong.

17. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the connector is a C7 and the electric plug is selected from the group consisting of a Type A, a Type B, a Type C, a Type D, a Type E, a Type F, a Type G, a Type H, a Type I, a Type J, a Type K, a Type L, and a Type M.

18. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, wherein the electric plug further comprises a bottom portion positioned at an end of the plug opposite the first prong and the second prong, the bottom portion including one or more latches positioned along a circumference of the bottom portion, further comprising a substantially rectangular latch plate positioned inside the housing and adjacent the second side, the latch plate forming a latch plate opening fitting the bottom portion and having one or more locking features formed along the circumference of the latch plate opening, the one or more latches engaging the one or more locking features and securing the electric plug to a position within the range of rotation.

19. The duck head connector as recited in claim 18, further comprising an inner housing positioned on the inside of the housing, the inner housing including a base and two or more arms extending from the first side to the second side, the base securing the first contact and the second contact, and the two or more arms supporting the latch plate.

20. The duck head connector as recited in claim 11, further comprising an inner housing positioned on the inside of the housing, the inner housing including a base and two or more arms extending from the first side to the second side, the base securing the first contact and the second contact, and the two or more arms supporting the electric plug.

21. A duck head connector, comprising:

a housing;

a connector for connecting to a power adapter, the connector positioned on a first side of the housing, the connector having a first contact and a second contact;

a first removable electric plug positioned on a rotating face of a second side of the housing, the second side forming an opening fitting a bottom portion of the first removable electric plug, the first removable electric plug including a first prong, a second prong, a first spring contact fastened to the first prong, and a second spring contact fastened to the second prong, the first removable electric plug rotating about the second side within a range of rotation, wherein the bottom portion of the first removable plug is configured to lock with the opening of the second side, wherein the first prong and the second prong are arranged within the first electric plug according to a first type of the first removable electric plug;

a first half-ring contact being substantially curve shaped and housed within the housing, the first spring contact swiveling along an inner surface of the first half-ring contact and maintaining a connection with the first half-ring contact as the first removable electric plug rotates;

a second half-ring contact being substantially curve shaped and housed within the housing, the second spring contact swiveling along an inner surface of the second half-ring contact and maintaining a connection with the second half-ring contact as the first removable electric plug rotates;

a first flexible insulated wire housed in the housing, the first flexible insulated wire connecting the first half-ring contact to the first contact;

a second flexible insulated wire housed in the housing, the second flexible insulated wire connecting the second half-ring contact to the second contact, wherein the first half-ring contact, the second half-ring contact, the first flexible insulated wire, and the second flexible insulated wire remain stationary as the first removable electric plug rotates and as the first spring contact and the second spring contact swivel along the inner surface of the first half-ring contact and the inner surface of the second half-ring contact; and

a second removable electric plug including a third prong, a fourth prong, a third spring contact fastened to the third prong, a fourth spring contact fastened to the fourth prong, and a bottom portion of the second removable electric plug configured to lock with the opening of the second side, wherein the third prong and the fourth prong are arranged within the second removable electric plug according to a second type of the second removable electric plug, wherein the first removable electric plug is configured to be unlocked from the opening of the second side and replaced by the second removable electric plug, wherein the third spring contact and the fourth spring contact swivel along the inner surface of the first half-ring contact and the inner surface of the second half-ring contact as the second removable electric plug rotates.