Universal, voltage variable, safety enhanced electric connector

• US 6,111,772 A
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chiu-San Lee, Su-Chen Shen
• Original Assignee: Chiu-Shan Lee, Li S S Chen
• Inventors: Li, S. S. Chen, Lee, Chiu-Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/342,196
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 439/651, 439/652, 439/717, 439/928, 439/956, 363/146, 363/142, 363/143, 363/100, 323/318
• US Class Current: 363/146
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88

Abstract

A universal, voltage variable, safety enhanced electric connector system is provided. Each connector in the system includes a housing, an electric plug and receptacle disposed at opposite side walls of the housing, and power supply circuit means disposed within the housing and connected between the electric plug and receptacle. The power supply circuit means includes a voltage transformer for converting an input power supply voltage into high and low voltage AC power supplies. It also includes the rectifier for converting AC power supply voltage into DC power supply voltage, as well as an AC voltage regulator, a DC voltage regulator and a DC output jack coupled to the rectifier. At least one insertion slot corresponding to one of the transformer voltage outputs in formed on a left side wall of the housing with a pair of metal contact plates provided therein. At least one metal blade is disposed and a right side wall of the housing for corresponding engagement with an insertion slot in another connector formed in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of electric connectors may be interconnected by inserting the electric plug of one to the electric receptacle of another and at least one metal blade of one connector to at least one insertion slot of another, such that the AC power supply voltage is at one connector is conveyed to other.

Claims

1. A universal connector system comprising:

a plurality of detachably connected electric connectors, each said electric connector including;

(a) a housing having front and back wall portions and a side wall portion extending therebetween, said sidewall portion having a plurality of sections;

(b) at least one electric plug coupled disposed at a first section of said housing side wall portion;

(c) power supply circuit means disposed within said housing and coupled to said electric plug;

(d) at least one electric receptacle disposed at a second section of said housing side wall portion;

said electric receptacle being configured to matingly engage said electric plug of another said electric connector;

(e) at least one metal blade disposed at said first section of said housing side wall portion; and

,

(f) at least a first pair of spaced metal contact plates disposed within a first insertion slot formed in said second section of said housing side wall, said first pair of metal contact plates electrically coupling said electric receptacle to said power supply circuit means responsive to the engagement thereof by one said metal blade of another said electric connector;

at least one of said electric connectors further including in said power supply circuit means thereof a voltage transformer for converting an input signal received through said electric plug to a plurality of predetermined power supply output voltage signals;

at least one of said electric connectors further including;

a first voltage regulator control disposed on said housing for selectively adjusting said voltage transformer; and

, at least a second pair of spaced metal contact plates disposed within a second insertion slot formed in said second section of said housing side wall, said second pair of metal contact plates electrically coupling said electric receptacle to said power supply circuit means responsive to the engagement thereof by one said metal blade of another said electric connector;

whereby said electric receptacle of at least one of said electric connectors is selectively coupled to said power supply circuit means to receive therefrom one of said predetermined power supply output voltage signals.

2. The universal connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said electric connectors further includes:

(a) a rectifier in said power supply circuit means thereof for electrically rectifying the input signal received through said electric plug from an AC signal to a DC signal;

(b) a second voltage regulator control disposed on said housing for selectively adjusting said rectifier; and

,

(c) a DC output jack disposed on said housing receiving the DC signal from said rectifier.

3. The universal connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined power supply output voltage signals at said voltage transformer of at least one of said electric connectors include a low voltage AC signal and a high voltage AC signal.

4. The universal connector system as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one of said first pair of metal contact plates of at least one of said electric connectors receives said low voltage AC signal of said voltage transformer;

and, at least one of said second pair of metal contact plates thereof receives said high voltage AC signal of said voltage transformer.

5. The universal connector system as recited in claim 4, wherein at least one of said electric connectors includes a pair of said metal blades disposed at said first section of said housing thereof, said metal blades being configured for respective engagement of said first and second pairs of metal contact plates of another said electric connector.

6. The universal connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein said metal blade is retractably coupled to said housing.

7. The universal connector system as recited in claim 6, wherein said metal blade is coupled to said housing in pivotally displaceable manner.

8. The universal connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one said electric connector further comprises a plurality of auxiliary connection members disposed on said housing.

9. The universal connector system as recited in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary connection members include a second electric receptacle disposed at said front wall of said housing for receiving from said voltage transformer one of said predetermined power supply output voltage signals.

10. The universal connector system as recited in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary connection members include a pair of spaced metal frames disposed within a pair of electric plug insertion holes formed in said front wall of said housing for receiving from said voltage transformer one of said predetermined power supply output voltage signals.

11. The universal connector system as recited in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary connection members include coaxial cable signal connector means disposed at said front wall of said housing.

12. The universal connector system as recited in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary connection members include telephone signal module jack means disposed at said front wall of said housing.

13. The universal connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one said electric connector further comprises:

(a) positive, negative, and ground metal contacts disposed within a recessed track formed in said back wall portion of said housing for collectively receiving from said voltage transformer one of said predetermined power supply output voltage signals; and

,

(b) a plug plate detachably engaging said recessed track and coupled to said positive, negative, and ground metal contacts.

14. The universal connector system as recited in claim 1, wherein each said electric connector further comprises:

(a) an elongate coupling hole formed in said side wall portion of said housing; and

,

(b) a pair of elongate coupling plates disposed on said side wall portion of said housing, said coupling plates being configured to lockingly engage said coupling hole of another said electric connector.