Detachable power supply apparatus

• US 6,267,602 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation IP Holding Co.
• Original Assignee: Kinetics Group Limited (Sovereign Capital Limited Partnership II)
• Inventors: Mendelson, Lewis A., Wooderson, Blaise M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US09/609,579
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/38, 439/40, 439/374, 439/680, 439/954, 337/394, 337/392, 337/382, 337/398, 337/383, 337/384
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7137 with thermal interrupter H01R13/7132 takes precedence

Abstract

A detachable power supply apparatus for use with electrical appliances including removable temperature control devices includes a mounting panel on the temperature control device to which an electrical connector on a power supply cord is magnetically and electrically coupled. The mounting panel includes a ferrous contact plate attached to an outer surface thereof between a pair of conductive pins. The power supply cord includes a female electrical receptacle with a magnet subassembly attached at or near an outer surface thereof. The receptacle may be removably coupled to the mounting panel by positioning the receptacle outer surface adjacent the mounting panel contact plate. The magnet subassembly is designed to allow the receptacle to withstand a preselected tensile or pulling force and a preselected shearing or lateral force.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus for a moveable electric appliance, comprising:

a) a temperature control device removably securable to the moveable electric appliance and having a panel connected thereto, said panel having a first mount surface and a first electrical terminal; and

b) a power supply cord having a receptacle connected thereto, said receptacle having a second electrical terminal in removable electrical contact with said first electrical terminal and a second mount surface removably magnetically attached to said first mount surface;

wherein said receptacle tips out of said panel when a force is applied to said cord.

2. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cord is connected to said electrical receptacle at a location spaced from said second mounting surface.

3. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle rotates out of said panel when said force is applied to said cord.

4. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second mount surface is magnetically attached to said first mount surface by a preselected magnetic force less than the force necessary to move the appliance on the surface on which the appliance is supported.

5. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel is connected to a top of the electrical control.

6. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel is connected to a side of the electrical control.

7. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel is connected to a rear end of the electrical control.

8. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when said force is greater than the force necessary to move the appliance with respect to a surface on which said appliance is supported, the appliance does not move.

9. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when said external force greater than the force necessary to move the appliance is applied to said power supply cord, said first and second mount surfaces detach, said first electrical terminal is removed from contact with said second electrical terminal, and the appliance does not move with respect to the surface on which it is supported.

10. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panel is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the surface on which the appliance is supported when the temperature control device is connected to the appliance.

11. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force is not transmitted to said second mount surface perpendicular thereto.

12. A detachable power supply apparatus for an appliance, the power supply apparatus comprising:

a) a temperature control device removably securable to the appliance and having a panel connected thereto, said panel having a first mount surface and a pair of electrical terminals, said first mount surface extending at an angle between generally horizontal and vertical alignment and said electrical terminals extending generally perpendicular to said first mount surface;

b) a power supply cord having a relatively rigid receptacle secured at a first end of a length of flexible electrical cord;

a second mount surface formed on an outer face of said rigid receptacle and a pair of terminal receiving bores extending into said rigid receptacle from said outer face thereof for receiving said electrical terminals;

said terminal receiving bores having a diameter which is sufficiently larger than an outer diameter of said terminals to permit said receptacle to pivot away from said terminals without interference from said terminals;

c) a magnetized member attached to one of the first mount surface of the panel or the second mount surface of the rigid receptacle, and a ferrous contact attached to the other of the first or second mount surface for removably magnetically and electrically coupling the power supply cord to the appliance.

13. The power supply apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said electrical cord is connected to a second face of said receptacle, and wherein said second face does not extend in parallel alignment with said outer face of said receptacle.

14. A detachable power supply apparatus for an appliance, the power supply apparatus comprising:

a) a temperature control device removably securable to the appliance and having a temperature probe extending outwardly therefrom and insertable into said appliance along a probe axis;

said temperature control device having a mounting panel and a first electrical terminal; and

b) a power supply cord having a receptacle, said receptacle having an outer surface and a second electrical terminal;

said outer surface of said power supply cord being removably magnetically coupled to said mounting panel such that said second electrical terminal extends in removable electrical contact with said first electrical terminal;

wherein

c) said receptacle is shaped and said mounting panel is oriented such that the application of a force to said power supply cord in a direction parallel to said probe axis creates a moment of rotation on said receptacle relative to said panel facilitating separation of said receptacle from said mounting panel.

15. A coupling apparatus that facilitates the removal of the receptacle of a power supply cord from a removable temperature control device of an electric appliance when an external force or disturbance is applied to the power supply cord, the coupling apparatus comprising:

a) a temperature control device removably securable to said appliance and having a first electrical terminal and a mount;

b) a power supply cord having a receptacle secured at an end thereof, said receptacle having;

i) a second electrical terminal in removable electrical contact with said first electric terminal, and

ii) a panel in removable magnetic contact with said mount, said panel being oriented with respect to said power supply cord such that, when a force is applied to said power supply cord, a moment of rotation is created on said panel to facilitate the removal of said panel from said mount and the disconnection of said first and second electrical terminals.

16. A detachable power supply apparatus for an appliance comprising:

a) a temperature control device removably securable to the appliance, the temperature control device including a temperature probe extending outwardly from said temperature control device and insertable into said appliance along a probe axis, the temperature control device having a mounting panel connected thereto and a first electrical terminal comprising a conductive pin, said conductive pin having an axis extending in nonparallel alignment with said probe axis; and

b) a power supply cord having a receptacle, said receptacle having an outer face with a pin receiving bore formed therein and with a second electrical terminal positioned in said bore;

c) a magnetized member attached to one of the temperature control device mounting panel or the receptacle outer face, and a ferrous contact attached to the other of the temperature control device mounting panel or the receptacle outer face for removably magnetically coupling the power supply cord to the temperature control device and removably electrically coupling the conductive pin to the second electrical terminal.