Plug-in power supply adapter with components in the strain relief member

• US 5,243,510 A
• Filed: 09/10/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information Systems Limited (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cheney, Paul S. II
• Primary Examiner(s): BEHA JR, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US07/896,900
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 336/92, 336/107, 320/2, 363/126, 363/146, 439/447, 439/620, 439/909, 174/135
• US Class Current: 363/146
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply

Abstract

An improved power supply adapter is provided for plug-in connection to a standard AC power supply receptacle, and to provide a DC voltage to an associated electronic instrument. The power supply adapter comprises a relatively compact case having an end face with a plurality of conductive prongs protruding therefrom for plug-in connection to an AC receptacle, such as one socket of a standard duplex or quad wall outlet or the like. An AC adapter assembly is mounted within the adapter case with the components of the AC adapter assembly arranged generally in-line between the conductive prongs and a power cord adapted for connection to the associated electronic instrument. This in-line geometry permits the adapter case to have a relatively narrow width and low profile height conforming with a single electrical socket, whereby plug-in connection of the adapter to an electrical socket does not obstruct access to adjacent sockets. In addition, in a preferred form, the adapter case further includes a mounting clip for convenient removable connection to the associated electronic instrument when the power supply adapter is not in use.

Claims

1. An electrical power supply adapter for plug-in connection to an electrical socket connected to an AC power supply, said electrical power supply adapter comprising:

an adapter case having a proximal end and a distal end;

a strain relief fitting tapered from a larger distal end to a smaller proximal end, said distal end of said strain relief fitting being mechanically connected to and extending from said proximal end of said adapter case, said adapter case and said strain relief fitting together comprising an adapter housing having distal and proximal opposite ends, said adapter housing being relatively longer between said distal and proximal ends than it is wide;

a plurality of conductive prongs extending from said distal end of said adapter housing for plug-in connection to the electrical socket connected to the AC power supply;

a DC power cord extending from said proximal end of said adapter housing; and

an AC adapter electrical assembly having a plurality of electrical components mounted within said adapter housing in an arrangement disposed generally proximally with respect to said prongs, said AC adapter electrical assembly having an AC electrical input which is electrically connected to at least two of said plurality of conductive prongs, said AC adapter having at least one relatively large component located in said adapter case and at least two smaller components located in said strain relief fitting, said two smaller components thus being disposed proximally with respect to said at least one larger component, said AC adapter electrical assembly having a DC output which is electrically connected to said DC power cord.

2. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein said two smaller components are located at said proximal end of said strain relief fitting.

3. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one larger component comprises:

a transformer located within said adapter housing generally adjacent to said distal end thereof, said transformer being electrically connected to two of said plurality of conductive prongs.

4. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 3, wherein said two smaller components comprise:

at least one filter capacitor; and

a rectifier, said filter capacitor and said rectifier being electrically connected between said transformer and said DC power cord.

5. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 4, wherein said filter capacitor and said rectifier are located within said adapter housing generally adjacent to said proximal end thereof.

6. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting clip located on a side of said adapter housing.

7. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting clip is formed integrally with said adapter housing.

8. An electrical power supply adapter for plug-in connection to an electrical socket connected to an AC power supply, said electrical power supply adapter comprising:

first and second adapter housing members each having a distal end and a proximal opposite end, said first adapter housing member having a first cavity disposed therein and said second adapter housing member having a second cavity disposed therein;

an intermediate member disposed between said proximal end of said first adapter housing member and said distal end of said second adapter housing member, said first and second adapter housing members and said intermediate member together comprising an adapter member, said adapter member being relatively longer between said distal end of said first adapter housing member and said proximal end of said second adapter housing member than it is wide, said adapter member being generally tapered from a larger size at said distal end of said first adapter housing member to a smaller size at said proximal end of said second adapter housing member;

a plurality of conductive prongs extending from said distal end of said first adapter housing member for plug-in connection to the electrical socket connected to the AC power supply;

a DC power cord extending from said proximal end of said second adapter housing member;

a transformer located inside said first cavity in said first adapter housing member, said transformer being electrically connected to two of said conductive prongs; and

a filter capacitor and a rectifier located inside said second cavity in said second adapter housing member, said filter capacitor and said rectifier being electrically connected to said transformer, said filter capacitor and said rectifier also being electrically connected to said DC power cord.

9. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 8, wherein said adapter member is flexible.

10. An electrical power supply adapter as defined in claim 8, additionally comprising:

a clip located on said first adapter housing member for removably mounting said electrical power supply adapter onto a device with which said electrical power supply adapter is to be used.

11. A method of making an electrical power supply adapter for plug-in connection to an electrical socket connected to an AC power supply, said method comprising:

supplying an adapter case having a proximal end and a distal end;

mechanically connecting a strain relief fitting tapered from a larger distal end to a smaller proximal end at said distal end thereof to said proximal end of said adapter case, said adapter case and said strain relief fitting together comprising an adapter housing having distal and proximal opposite ends, said adapter housing being relatively longer between said distal and proximal ends than it is wide;

mounting a plurality of conductive prongs in extending fashion from said distal end of said adapter housing for plug-in connection to the electrical socket connected to the AC power supply;

extending a DC power cord from said proximal end of said adapter housing; and

installing an AC adapter electrical assembly having a plurality of electrical components within said adapter housing in an arrangement disposed generally proximally with respect to said prongs, said AC adapter electrical assembly having an AC electrical input which is electrically connected to at least two of said plurality of conductive prongs, said AC adapter having at least one relatively large component located in said adapter case and at least two smaller components located in said strain relief fitting, said two smaller components thus being disposed proximally with respect to said at least one larger component, said AC adapter electrical assembly having a DC output which is electrically connected to said DC power cord.