Connector elements including protective member for preventing connection to certain connector elements

• US 6,974,342 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyeon, Hae Moon
• Application Number:
  US10/837,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 439/170, 439221-224, 439/679, 439/177, 439/217, 439/518, 439/681, 439/175, 439/166, 439/956
• US Class Current: 439/222
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/70 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

An electrical device includes a power supply that is switchable between a first mode and a second mode. The power supply includes a first connector element of the power supply, the first connector element being one of a male and a female connector element for mating with a corresponding second connector element, the second connector element being one of a female and a male connector element, respectively. The power supply also includes a guard member disposed on the first connector element, the guard member being movable between a first position in which the first connector element is adapted to mate with any corresponding second connector elements and the power supply is in the first mode and a second position in which the first connector element is only adapted to mate with specially configured second connector elements and the power supply is in the second mode. The electrical device also includes electrical equipment powered through the power supply.

Claims

1. A power supply arrangement for an electrical device, comprising:

a power supply that is switchable between a first mode and a second mode;

a first connector element of the power supply, the first connector element being one of a male and a female connector element for mating with a corresponding second connector element, the second connector element being one of a female and a male connector element, respectively; and

a guard member disposed on the first connector element, the guard member being movable between a first position in which the first connector element is adapted to mate with any corresponding second connector elements and the power supply is in the first mode and a second position in which the first connector element is only adapted to mate with specially configured second connector elements and the power supply is in the second mode.

2. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a switch for switching the power supply between the first mode and the second mode, the guard member being movable between the first and the second positions upon moving the switch between first and second switch positions corresponding to the first and second modes.

3. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the guard member includes a protrusion that blocks a portion of the first connector element.

4. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first connector element includes a female connector element and the second connector element includes a male connector element, and wherein the second connector element is specially configured by providing a recessed area to receive the protrusion.

5. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first connector element includes a male connector element and the second connector element includes a female connector element, and wherein the second connector element is specially configured by providing a recessed area to receive the protrusion.

6. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guard member includes a protrusion that blocks a portion of the first connector element.

7. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first mode is a 220V mode, and the second mode is a 110V mode.

8. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the specially configured second connector element includes a 110V power cord.

9. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein the guard member includes a protrusion that blocks a portion of the first connector element.

10. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second connector element is specially configured by providing a recessed area to receive the protrusion.

11. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first mode is a first voltage mode, and the second mode is a second voltage mode lower than the first voltage mode.

12. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein the specially configured second connector element includes a power cord for use at the voltage of the second voltage mode.

13. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second position of the guard member is characterized by a portion of the guard member engaging the second connector element when the first connector element and the second connector element are in a mated condition, and the first position of the guard member is characterized by the guard member being free of any engagement with the second connector element when the first connector element and the second connector element are in a mated condition.

14. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guard member is movable in a substantially linear movement between the first position and the second position.

15. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guard member is slidable between the first position and the second position.

16. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, additionally comprising a switch having a ridge extending outwardly for being engaged by fingers of a user to move the guard member.

17. The power supply arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first connector element defines a socket, and

wherein the guard member reduces an area of the socket when the guard member is moved from the first position to the second position.

18. An electrical device, comprising:

a power supply that is switchable between a first mode and a second mode, the power supply including;

a first connector element, the first connector element being a female connector element defining a socket;

a corresponding second connector element, the second connector element being a male connector element for being removably insertable into the socket of the female connector element for mating with the first connector element; and

a guard member disposed on the first connector element, the guard member being movable between a first position in which the first connector element is adapted to mate with any corresponding second connector elements and the power supply is in the first mode and a second position in which the first connector element is only adapted to mate with specially configured second connector elements and the power supply is in the second mode;

wherein at least a portion of the guard member extends into the socket of the first connector element when the guard member is in the second position of the guard member and no portion of the guard member extends into the socket of the first connector element when the guard member is in the first position of the guard member; and

electrical equipment powered through the power supply.

19. A connector element assembly, comprising:

a connector element, the connector element being one of a wale and a female connector element for mating with a corresponding mating connector element, the mating connector element being one of a female and a male connector element, respectively; and

a guard member disposed on the connector element, the guard member being movable in a substantially linear movement between a first position in which the connector element is adapted to mate with any corresponding mating connector elements and a second position in which the connector element is only adapted to mate with specially configured mating connector elements.

20. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein the guard member is associated with a switch and is movable between the first and the second positions upon moving the switch between first and second switch positions.

21. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein the guard member includes a protrusion that blocks a portion of the connector element.

22. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein the connector element includes a female connector element and the mating connector element includes a male connector element, and wherein the mating connector element is specially configured by providing a recessed area to receive the protrusion.

23. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein the connector element includes a male connector element and the mating connector element includes a female connector element, and wherein the mating connector element is specially configured by providing a recessed area to receive the protrusion.

24. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein the guard member includes a protrusion that blocks a portion of the connector element.

25. A connector element assembly, comprising:

a connector element, the connector element being one of a male and a female connector element for mating with a corresponding mating connector element, the mating connector element being one of a female and a male connector element, respectively; and

a configuration on the connector element for cooperating with a guard member disposed on the mating connector element, the configuration permitting the connector element to mate with the mating connector element, the guard member preventing the mating connector element from mating with connector elements not having the configuration;

wherein the guard member includes a protrusion that, when the guard member is in a blocking position, blocks a portion of the mating connector element to prevent the mating connector element from mating with connector elements not having the configuration, and wherein the protrusion, when the guard member is in a non-blocking position, does not block the portion of the mating connector element to permit the mating connector element to mate with connector elements not having the configuration.

26. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 25, wherein the mating connector element includes a power cord.

27. The connector element assembly as set forth in claim 25, wherein the configuration includes a recess.