Vehicle accessory power take-off system including phono/RCA type plug and jack for use with cigarette lighter plug/jack

• US 5,714,805 A
• Filed: 02/28/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beverly R. Teeples, Brian J. Lobaugh, Karen Lobaugh, Robert H. Lobaugh, Vivian E. Kalal
• Original Assignee: Beverly R. Teeples, Brian J. Lobaugh, Karen Lobaugh, Robert H. Lobaugh, Vivian E. Kalal
• Inventors: Lobaugh, Jack L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/608,182
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 307/43, 320/2, 280/DIG. 14, 219/262, 219/267, 219/268, 219/202, 219/211, 180/53.5, 180/53.6, 439/34-36, 439/638, 439/651, 439/639, 439/652, 439/668, 439/669
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• 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

Abstract

A system or method of providing a plurality of power take-offs or power interfaces for low amperage electrical portable work and entertainment devices, including 6 or 12 volt direct current devices directed in particular to the power take-off in automotive vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, boats and airplanes, providing power to portable work and entertainment devices such as portable televisions, cellular telephones, computers and other such devices. The improved system or method provides a plurality of receptacles, an electrical connector of a size which is more convenient than the connector accommodated by the vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle, and which is of such structural integrity as to resist deterioration or breaking of wiring. The improvement is particularly directed to the elimination, replacement or substitution of the presently existing standard cigarette lighter receptacle and thus the elimination of the size-linked encumbrance of existing cigarette lighter electrical connections. The facility by which the desired increase in the number and location versatility of receptacles per vehicle can be provided is by allowing the size of the plug and receptacle interface to be reduced though the employment of phono-type plug and jack (RCA plug and jack) electrical connectors in replacement of the present cigarette lighter or pseudo cigarette lighter receptacles and connectors.

Claims

1. A Vehicle Accessory Power Take-Off System Including Phono/RCA Type Plug And Jack For Use With Cigarette Lighter Plug/Jack comprising an apparatus for improvement in interfacing low amperage electrically powered portable work and entertainment devices, including, but not limited to, 6 or 12 volt direct current devices, used in and about automotive vehicles and the improvement being further directed to the elimination, replacement or substitution of the presently existing standard cigarette lighter receptacle and its companion plug and thus the elimination of the size-linked encumbrance of existing cigarette lighter electrical connections and further comprising:

A. a plurality of electrical receptacles and

B. an electrical connector to be received by the electrical receptacles with the electrical connector of a size which is more convenient than a connector accommodated by a motor vehicle standard cigarette lighter receptacle and which is of such structural integrity as to resist deterioration or breaking of wiring;

C. the plurality of electrical receptacles per vehicle is facilitated by reducing the size of the electrical connector and receptacle interface through the employment of phono-type plug and jack electrical connectors in replacement of the present standard automotive vehicle cigarette lighter/electrical connectors;

D. the phono-type plug and jack electrical connectors are RCA plugs and jacks;

E. a vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter 1 is received into a vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter receptacle 32 in mechanical and electrical continuity with a vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter receptacle attachment and ground contact case 50;

said vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter receptacle attachment and ground contact case 50 is secured in a vehicle dashboard;

F. a vehicle accessory power take-off/faux element head 59 is received into and in mechanical and electrical continuity with a standard automotive cigarette lighter receptacle;

said standard automotive cigarette lighter receptacle secured in a vehicle dashboard;

G. a quick connect phono type plug 74;

receptacle means in the vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter 1 to receive in mechanical and electrical continuity the quick connect phono type plug 74;

H. an after market multi-receptacle junction box 100 having a plurality of phono plug connectors 102;

the phono plug connectors 102 providing receptacle means to receive in mechanical and electrical continuity the quick connect phono type plug 74;

I. quick connect phono type plugs 74 adapted to provide electrical power to portable work and entertainment devices such as portable televisions, cellular telephones, computers and other such devices for use in and about automotive vehicles;

said quick connect phono type plugs 74 to be received by means including phono plug connectors 102.

2. A Vehicle Accessory Power Take-Off System Including Phono/RCA Type Plug And Jack For Use With Cigarette Lighter Plug/Jack comprising:

A. a combination phono-jack type power take-off and cigarette lighter with a receptacle of special design providing for the continued presence of a functioning vehicle cigarette lighter combined with a power take-off feature to provide electrical power to a variety of electrically powered devices used in and about automotive vehicles;

B. a vehicle accessory power take-off/faux element head 59 received into and maintained in mechanical and electrical continuity with a standard vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle with means to provide electrical power to a variety of electrically powered devices used in and about automotive vehicles;

C. a quick-connect phono-type plug 74 which is electrically and mechanically received by the combination phono-jack type power take-off and cigarette lighter or the vehicle accessory power take-off/faux element head 59;

the quick-connect phono-type plug 74 is adapted to the power cord of portable electrical or electronic devices by the consumer or original manufacturer in replacement of or as an alternative to the presently used cigarette lighter-type electrical connector for electrically powered devices used in and about an automotive vehicle;

D. a self-fused, multi-receptacle junction box, which can be mounted as an after-market installation within an automotive vehicle, providing a plurality of phono plug connectors 102 receiving the quick-connect phono-type plug 74;

said multi-receptacle junction box connected to the vehicle'"'"'s power supply via an extension cord connection to the combination phono-jack type power take-off and cigarette lighter or connected directly to the electrical system of the vehicle.

3. A Vehicle Accessory Power Take-Off System Including Phono/RCA Type Plug And Jack For Use With Cigarette Lighter Plug/Jack comprising an apparatus for improvement in interfacing low amperage electrically powered portable work and entertainment devices, including, but not limited to, 6 or 12 volt direct current devices, used in and about automotive vehicles and the improvement being further directed to the elimination, replacement or substitution of the presently existing standard cigarette lighter receptacle and its companion plug and thus the elimination of the size-linked encumbrance of existing cigarette lighter electrical connections and further comprising:

A. a plurality of electrical receptacles and

B. an electrical connector to be received by the electrical receptacles with the electrical connector of a size which is more convenient than a connector accommodated by a motor vehicle standard cigarette lighter receptacle and which is of such structural integrity as to resist deterioration or breaking of wiring;

C. the plurality of electrical receptacles per vehicle is facilitated by reducing the size of the electrical connector and receptacle interface through the employment of phono-type plug and jack electrical connectors in replacement of the present standard automotive vehicle cigarette lighter/electrical connectors;

D. the phono-type plug and jack electrical connectors are RCA plugs and jacks;

E. a vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter 1 is received into a vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter receptacle 32 in mechanical and electrical continuity with a vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter receptacle attachment and ground contact case 50;

said vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter receptacle attachment and ground contact case 50 is secured in a vehicle dashboard;

F. a vehicle accessory power take-off/faux element head 59 is received into and in mechanical and electrical continuity with a standard automotive cigarette lighter receptacle;

said standard automotive cigarette lighter receptacle secured in a vehicle dashboard;

G. a quick connect phono type plug 74;

receptacle means in the vehicle accessory power take-off/cigarette lighter 1 to receive in mechanical and electrical continuity the quick connect phono type plug 74;

H. an original equipment multi-receptacle junction box 100A having a plurality of phono plug connectors 102;

the phono plug connectors 102 providing receptacle means to receive in mechanical and electrical continuity the quick connect phono type plug 74;

I. quick connect phono type plugs 74 adapted to provide electrical power to portable work and entertainment devices such as portable televisions, cellular telephones, computers and other such devices for use in and about automotive vehicles;

said quick connect phono type plugs 74 to be received by means including phono plug connectors 102.

4. A Vehicle Accessory Power Take-Off System Including Phono/RCA Type Plug And Jack For Use With Cigarette Lighter Plug/Jack comprising:

A. a combination phono-jack type power take-off and cigarette lighter with a receptacle of special design providing for the continued presence of a functioning vehicle cigarette lighter combined with a power take-off feature to provide electrical power to a variety of electrically powered devices used in and about automotive vehicles;

B. a vehicle accessory power take-off/faux element head 59 received into and maintained in mechanical and electrical continuity with a standard vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle with means to provide electrical power to a variety of electrically powered devices used in and about automotive vehicles;

C. a quick-connect phono-type plug 74 which is electrically and mechanically received by the combination phono-jack type power take-off and cigarette lighter or the vehicle accessory power take-off/faux element head 59;

the quick-connect phono-type plug 74 is adapted to the power cord of portable electrical or electronic devices by the consumer or original manufacturer in replacement of or as an alternative to the presently used cigarette lighter-type electrical connector for electrically powered devices used in and about an automotive vehicle;

D. a multi-receptacle non self-fused junction box, installed by a vehicle manufacturer as a part of the vehicle original equipment receiving electrical power from the electrical system of the vehicle and providing a plurality of phono plug connectors 102 receiving the quick-connect phono-type plug 74.