Power adapter

• US 7,581,992 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Lynn, Hung, Frank, Liu, Calvin Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US10/917,024
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 439/501, 439/502, 439/651, 439/650, 439/653, 439/929, 320/111, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 439/651
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/22 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/70 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved techniques for connecting an electrical device to an external power source. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electrical device is disclosed having various types of connections to a power source. The connections may also provide power transformation.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an electrical device having at least one terminal adapted to provide a path for electrical power to the electrical device;

two or more power connectors adapted to be selectively coupled to the at least one terminal of the electrical device, wherein only one of the power connectors at a time is selectively coupled to provide a path for electrical power from an external power supply to the electrical device, and

wherein each of the power connectors includes a power converter and/or a power transformer, with the power converter and/or power transformer disposed substantially within a perimeter of the electrical device when the power connector is coupled to the at least one terminal of the electrical device, with each of the power connectors comprising;

at least one power terminal adapted to couple to the corresponding terminal of the electrical device; and

at least one electrical prong adapted to couple to the external power supply;

wherein a first one of the power connectors is adapted to selectively couple to the at least one terminal of the electrical device, with the at least one electrical prong of the first power connector protruding substantially perpendicularly from a side of the electrical device when the first power connector is coupled to the at least one terminal of the electrical device, and with the at least one electrical prong adapted to plug directly into an electrical outlet of the external power supply; and

wherein a second one of the power connectors is adapted to selectively couple to the at least one terminal of the electrical device and further comprises an electrical cord adapted to couple the at least one electrical prong to the at least one power terminal, with the at least one electrical prong adapted to plug directly into an electrical outlet of the external power supply via the electrical cord.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the power connectors further comprises a raised portion to provide a user of the electrical device an area to apply pressure to the power connector to aid in coupling the power connector to the electrical device or decoupling the power connector from the electrical device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical prong for one of the power connectors comprises two or three electrical prongs adapted to be inserted into an electrical outlet of the external power supply, and wherein the electrical cord and the at least one power terminal of the second power connector are aligned substantially parallel to the side of the electrical device when the second power connector is coupled to the at least one terminal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one terminal comprises two terminals, the at least one power terminal comprises two corresponding power terminals, and the at least one electrical prong comprises two electrical prongs to provide the path for electrical power from the external power supply to the electrical device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first one of the power connectors is adapted to support the electrical device when the at least one electrical prong of the power connector is coupled to the external power supply.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first one of the power connectors suspends the electrical device above the floor when the at least one electrical prong of the power connector is coupled to a power outlet of the external power supply, and wherein the electrical device further comprises a latch and the first power connector further comprises an indentation, with the latch and corresponding indentation securing the first power connector to the electrical device when the first power connector is coupled to the electrical device.

7. A plurality of power connectors for selectively coupling one at a time to an electrical device, the power connectors comprising:

a first power connector having a plurality of first electrical prongs for coupling to a power supply and a plurality of first power terminals for coupling to corresponding terminals of the electrical device, wherein the first power connector includes a power converter and/or a power transformer, with the power converter and/or power transformer disposed substantially within a perimeter of the electrical device when the first power connector is coupled to the corresponding terminals of the electrical device, with the first electrical prongs protruding substantially perpendicularly from a side of the electrical device when the first power connector is coupled to the corresponding terminals of the electrical device, and wherein the first power connector supports the electrical device while the first power connector is coupled to the power supply; and

a second power connector having an electrical cord and a plurality of second electrical prongs for coupling to the power supply via the electrical cord, the second power connector further having a plurality of second power terminals for coupling to the electrical cord and to the corresponding terminals of the electrical device, wherein the second power connector includes a power converter and/or a power transformer, with the power converter and/or power transformer disposed substantially within a perimeter of the electrical device when the second power connector is coupled to the corresponding terminals of the electrical device, wherein the first power connector or the second power connector is selectively coupled to the electrical device.

8. The power connectors of claim 7, wherein each of the power connectors further comprises a raised portion to provide a user of the electrical device an area to apply pressure to the power connector to aid in coupling the power connector to the electrical device or decoupling the power connector from the electrical device.

9. The power connectors of claim 7, wherein the first electrical prongs and the second electrical prongs are adapted to plug into an electrical outlet of the power supply, and wherein the electrical cord and the second power terminals of the second power connector are aligned substantially parallel to the side of the electrical device when the second power connector is coupled to the corresponding terminals of the electrical device.

10. The power connectors of claim 7, wherein the first power connector is adapted to support the electrical device above a surface area below the electrical device when the first electrical prongs are inserted into an electrical outlet of the power supply.

11. A method of providing power from a power supply to an electrical device, the method comprising:

providing two or more power adapters adapted to selectively couple to the electrical device and provide a path for power from the power supply to the electrical device, wherein each of the power adapters includes a power converter and/or a power transformer, with the power converter and/or power transformer disposed substantially within a perimeter of the electrical device when the power adapter is coupled to the electrical device, wherein a first one of the power adapters couples the electrical device directly to the power supply via one or more electrical prongs which protrude substantially perpendicularly from a side of the electrical device when the first power adapter is coupled to the electrical device, and a second one of the power adapters has an electrical cord with a plug and one or more electrical prongs to couple the electrical device to the power supply;

selecting which of the power adapters to couple to the electrical device;

coupling the selected power adapter to the electrical device; and

coupling the selected power adapter, which is coupled to the electrical device, to the power supply.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing power conversion for the electrical device via the selected power adapter, and wherein each of the power adapters further comprises a raised portion to provide a user of the electrical device an area to apply pressure to the power adapter to aid in the coupling of the selected power adapter to the electrical device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first one of the power adapters, when coupled to an electrical wall outlet of the power supply, supports the electrical device and suspends the electrical device above a surface that is below the electrical wall outlet.

14. A system comprising:

an electrical device having at least one terminal for providing a path for electrical power to the electrical device; and

means for selectively coupling the at least one terminal of the electrical device to an external power supply, wherein the coupling means comprises at least a first coupling means and a second coupling means which are selectively coupled one at a time to the at least one terminal of the electrical device, the first coupling means adapted to directly couple the at least one terminal of the electrical device to an electrical outlet of the external power supply and suspend the electrical device from the electrical outlet, the second coupling means adapted to couple the at least one terminal to the electrical outlet which is distant from the electrical device,

wherein the first coupling means and the second coupling means each includes means for transforming and/or converting the power provided by the external power supply, with the transforming and/or converting means disposed substantially within a perimeter of the electrical device when the first coupling means or the second coupling means is selectively coupled to the at least one terminal of the electrical device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first and second coupling means each further comprises a raised portion to provide a user of the electrical device an area to apply pressure to aid in coupling the first coupling means or the second coupling means to the electrical device or decoupling the first coupling means or the second coupling means from the electrical device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first coupling means suspends the electrical device from the electrical outlet and above a surface below the electrical outlet of the external power supply.