Cigarette lighter adapter device that interfaces with an external device via a port interface

• US 7,338,328 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vector Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krieger, Michael, Ellsworth, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US11/395,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 439/668
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0054 using cigarette lighter
• 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 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A CLA device comprises a CLA plug that is insertable into an external CLA socket, for example, a DC CLA socket inside a vehicle. The CLA device has a housing coupled to the CLA plug, for example, by integration or via a tethered wire, with the housing having a support surface. A port interface connector in the CLA device engages with a complementary port interface connector of an external device at a cantilevered support point when the external device is attached to the CLA device.

Claims

1. A CLA device that is attachable to an external device, comprising:

a CLA plug for insertion into a CLA socket;

an inverter electrically coupled to the CLA plug for converting an external DC voltage to an AC output voltage at an AC outlet;

a radio frequency transmitter receiving electrical power via the CLA plug for transmitting an input audio signal to an external receiver;

a port interface electrically coupled to the CLA plug that energizes an attached external device; and

a resource device that exchanges stored data with the external device via the port interface, said exchange of data comprising inputting data into the resource device and outputting data from the resource device.

2. The CLA device of claim 1, wherein the resource device functions as at least one of a USB Host controller device, an imaging device, a storage device, an audio device, and a video device.

3. The CLA device of claim 2, wherein the radio frequency transmitter comprises at least one of an FM transmitter and an S-band Transmitter.

4. The CLA device of claim 2, further comprising a CLA socket for providing a DC output.