POWER ADAPTER CORD HAVING LOCKING CONNECTOR

• US 20130196530A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheatham, Thomas Reid, Green, Barry John, Taylor, Gary Andrew, Hartweg, Robert O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• 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 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629

Abstract

A power adapter cord for providing electrical power to an electronic item of merchandise from an external source of electrical power includes a cable containing at least one conductor and having a connector at one end configured to lock into a corresponding connector of a power input port provided on the item of merchandise. The connector and the corresponding connector define a mechanical and electrical connection having a connector extraction force greater than the connector extraction force of a standard connector of the same type. Accordingly, the connector prevents accidental or malicious removal of the connector from the power input port and/or discourages theft of the item of merchandise because the connector cannot be forcibly removed without damaging the corresponding connector and thereby rendering the item of merchandise inoperable. In exemplary embodiments, the connector is a modified micro-USB plug.

Claims

1. A power adapter cord for electrically coupling an electronic item of merchandise to an external source of electrical power, comprising:

a cable containing at least one conductor for providing an electrical power signal to the electronic item of merchandise from the external source of power, the cable having a first connector at one end configured to engage a corresponding connector of a power input port provided on the electronic item of merchandise in a mechanical and electrical connection;

wherein the first connector defines a mechanical and electrical connection with the corresponding connector having a connector extraction force that is greater than the connector extraction force of a mechanical and electrical connection defined by a standard connector of the same type.

2. A power adapter cord according to claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a modified micro-USB plug and the corresponding connector comprises a standard micro-USB jack.

3. A power adapter cord according to claim 2, wherein the modified micro-USB plug comprises a male conducting portion having a pair of longitudinally-extending slots formed therein and a corresponding pair of flexible locking latches disposed within the pair of slots and biased outwardly from a surface of the male conducting portion.

4. A power adapter cord according to claim 3, wherein the locking latches are biased further outwardly from the surface of the male conducting portion than the locking latches of a standard micro-USB plug.

5. A power adapter cord according to claim 3, wherein the locking latches extend further outwardly from the surface of the male conducting portion than the locking latches of a standard micro-USB plug.

6. A power adapter cord according to claim 3, wherein the locking latches define top surfaces for engaging with a corresponding latching finger of the standard micro-USB jack that are sharper than the top surfaces of the locking latches of a standard micro-USB plug.

7. A power adapter cord according to claim 3, wherein the male conducting portion has a pair of openings formed therein configured to receive a special tool to depress the locking latches inwardly so that the modified micro-USB plug can be readily removed from the standard micro-USB jack.

8. A power adapter cord according to claim 7, wherein the special tool comprises a pair of prongs corresponding to the pair of openings formed in the male conducting portion.

9. A power adapter cord according to claim 3, wherein the locking latches are cantilevered to the first connector and wherein the bending stiffness of the locking latches is greater than the bending stiffness of the locking latches of a standard micro-USB plug.

10. A power adapter cord according to claim 9, wherein the material of the locking latches of the modified micro-USB plug is different than the material of the locking latches of a standard micro-USB plug.

11. A power adapter cord according to claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional geometry of the locking latches of the modified micro-USB plug is different than the cross-section geometry of the locking latches of a standard micro-USB plug.

12. A power adapter cord according to claim 2, wherein the connector extraction force is greater than about 26 N (5.85 lbs-force).

13. A power adapter cord according to claim 2, wherein the connector extraction force is greater than about 26 N (5.85 lbs-force) and less than about 40 N (9.0 lbs-force).

14. A power adapter cord according to claim 2, wherein the connector extraction force is between about 30 N (6.75 lbs-force) and about 40 N (9.0 lbs-force).

15. A power adapter cord according to claim 2, wherein the connector extraction force is between about 30 N (6.75 lbs-force) and about 35 N (7.875 lbs-force).

16. A power adapter cord according to claim 1, wherein the first connector further comprises a locking insert for locking the first connector into the power input port to thereby prevent the power adapter cord from being detached from the electronic item of merchandise.

17. A power adapter cord according to claim 16, wherein the first connector has a longitudinally-extending opening and wherein the locking insert comprises a retaining pin that is inserted into the opening to prevent a standard micro-USB plug from being disengaged from a standard micro-USB jack.

18. A power adapter cord according to claim 1, wherein the connector extraction force defined by the mechanical and electrical connection between the first connector of the power adapter cord and the corresponding connector of the power input port is sufficient to prevent accidental or malicious removal of the first connector from the power input port.

19. A power adapter cord according to claim 1, wherein the connector extraction force defined by the mechanical and electrical connection between the first connector of the power adapter cord and the corresponding connector of the power input port is sufficient to prevent the first connector from being removed from the power input port without damaging the corresponding connector.

20. A power adapter cord according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is locked into the power input port so that the power adapter cord cannot be detached from the electronic item of merchandise without damaging the first connector or the corresponding connector.