Vertical adapters and vertical device for mounting to a horizontal service interface

• US 7,843,697 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McCoy, Richard A., Leclear, Douglas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne; Jean F
• Application Number:
  US12/120,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728, 361685-686, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/728
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A vertical device for mounting to a host having a horizontal surface with an upwardly oriented host service interface providing a mechanical service and at least one electrical service as well as an adapter for mounting a vertical device to a host of this type. The device or adapter has a main body with a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extending generally downwardly from the horizontal portion. A device service interface extends downwardly from the horizontal portion for engagement with the host service interface. At least one functionality is provided on the vertical portion of the vertical device or the adapter.

Claims

1. A vertical device for mounting to a host having a horizontal surface juxtaposed to a vertical surface, with an upwardly oriented host service interface on the horizontal surface providing a mechanical service and an electrical service, the vertical device comprising:

an L-shaped main body comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extending generally downwardly from the horizontal portion;

a downwardly extending device service interface on the horizontal portion for removably coupling with the host service interface to provide the mechanical service and the electrical service from the host to the vertical device; and

at least one functionality disposed on the vertical portion of the main body;

wherein when the device service interface mechanically couples with the host service interface, the horizontal portion overlies the horizontal surface and the vertical portion overlies the vertical surface, and the electrical service is provided from the host to the vertical device.

2. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the vertical portion further comprises an electronic device.

3. The vertical device of claim 2 wherein the electronic device receives the electric service from the host service interface.

4. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the vertical portion further comprises a holder capable of removably holding a portable device.

5. The vertical device of claim 4 wherein the holder is oriented for receiving the portable device in a direction away from the device service interface.

6. The vertical device of claim 4 wherein the portable device comprises a consumer electronic device and further wherein the consumer electronic device receives the electric service from the host service interface.

7. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the vertical portion further comprises at least one of a user interface for controlling the operation of the vertical device, a user interface for controlling the operation of a consumer electronic device, user interface for controlling the operation of the host, a microphone, a video camera, a still camera, video display, a touch screen, a keypad, control knobs and control buttons.

8. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the device service interface comprises a downwardly facing plug for electrical coupling with the host and aligned fasteners on either side of the plug for mechanical coupling with the host.

9. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the horizontal portion is removably coupled to the vertical portion.

10. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the host service interface comprises a recess in the horizontal surface and further wherein the device service interface comprises a connector extending into the recess when coupled with the host service interface.

11. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one functionality is selected from a speaker, a user interface, a display projection, a media manager, a whiteboard, physical storage, application software hosting, communications routing, power storage, microphone, data storage, a consumer electronic device, a mechanical service, an electrical service and a data service.

12. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the device service interface comprises at least one anchor for mechanical coupling with the host.

13. The vertical device of claim 1 wherein the host service interface provides the electrical service wirelessly, and the device service interface comprises a wireless interface for communicating with the host service interface to receive the electrical service wirelessly.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the electrical service is selected from one of power communication and data communication.

15. A portable electrical device for mounting to a host having a horizontal surface juxtaposed to a vertical surface, a recess provided in the horizontal surface, and an upwardly oriented host service interface disposed in the recess and providing a mechanical service, multiple electrical services including at least an electrical power service and an electrical data service, the portable electrical device comprising:

a device main body comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extending generally downwardly from the horizontal portion;

a device service interface extending downwardly from the horizontal portion and comprising a connector for insertion into the recess to removably couple with the host service interface and receive the mechanical service and at least one of the multiple electrical services from the host service interface; and

at least one functionality disposed on the vertical portion of the main body;

wherein when the device service interface mechanically couples with the host service interface, the horizontal portion overlies the horizontal surface and the vertical portion overlies the vertical surface, and the at least one of the multiple electrical services is provided from the host to the portable electrical device.

16. The portable electrical device of claim 15 further comprising a user interface disposed on the vertical portion of the main body.

17. The portable electrical device of claim 15 wherein the device service interface comprises a downwardly facing plug for electrically coupling with the host and aligned fasteners on either side of the plug for mechanically coupling with the host.

18. The portable electrical device of claim 15 wherein the at least one functionality is selected from a speaker, a user interface, a display projection, a media manager, a whiteboard, physical storage, application software hosting, communications routing, power storage, microphone, data storage, and a consumer electronic device.

19. The portable electrical device of claim 15 wherein the host service interface provides at least one of the multiple electrical services wirelessly, and the device service interface comprises a wireless interface for communicating with the host service interface to receive the at least one of the multiple electrical services wirelessly.

20. The portable electrical device of claim 15 wherein when the device service interface mechanically couples with the host service interface, both of the electrical power and electrical data services are provided from the host to the portable electrical device.

21. An adapter for mounting a portable device having a standardized device service interface to a host having a horizontal surface juxtaposed to a vertical surface, with an upwardly oriented host service interface on the horizontal surface providing at least one electrical service and at least one mechanical support service, the adapter comprising:

an L-shaped main body comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extending generally downwardly from the horizontal portion;

a first adapter service interface on the horizontal portion for coupling with the host service interface and receiving the at least one electrical service and the at least one mechanical support service; and

at least one component that enables a service to be supplied between the host and the portable device;

wherein when the first adapter service interface mechanically couples with the host service interface, the horizontal portion overlies the horizontal surface and the vertical portion overlies the vertical surface, and the at least one electrical service is provided from the host to the adapter.

22. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the host service interface provides the electrical service wirelessly, and the device service interface comprises a wireless interface for communicating with the host service interface to receive the electrical service wirelessly.

23. The adapter of claim 22, wherein the electrical service is selected from one of power communication and data communication.

24. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the standardized device service interface comprises an upwardly oriented connector and further wherein the first adapter service interface further comprises a downwardly oriented connector engageable with the upwardly oriented connector for coupling the adapter to the portable device.

25. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the horizontal portion is removably coupled to the vertical portion.

26. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the first adapter service interface comprises a downwardly facing plug for electrically coupling with the host service interface and aligned fasteners on either side of the plug for mechanically coupling with the host service interface.

27. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the portable device comprises a consumer electronic device and further wherein the consumer electronic device receives the at least one electrical service from the host service interface.

28. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the at least one electrical service comprises at least one of a power service and a data service.

29. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the at least one electrical service is provided wirelessly.

30. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the host service interface comprises a recess in the horizontal surface and wherein the first adapter service interface comprises a downwardly extending plug for at least partially extending into the recess for coupling the adapter to the host.

31. The adapter of claim 30 wherein the standardized device service interface comprises a first connector at least partially disposed in a recess on the portable device, and further wherein the first adapter service interface further comprises a second connector engageable with the first connector for coupling the adapter to the portable device.

32. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the vertical portion of the main body comprises at least one of a user interface for controlling the operation of the adapter, a user interface for controlling the operation of the portable device, a user interface for controlling the operation of the host, an electronic device receiving the at least one electrical service from the host service interface, a microphone, a video camera, a still camera, a video display, a touch screen, a keypad, control knobs, control buttons, a speaker, a display projection, a media manager, a whiteboard, physical storage, application software hosting, communications routing, power storage, a microphone, data storage, a consumer electronic device, a mechanical service, an electrical service and a data service.

33. The adapter of claim 21 wherein the at least one component enables the supply of at least two services to the portable device.

34. The adapter of claim 21, further comprising a second adapter service interface configured to communicate at least one service with one of the host service interface, a device service interface, and the first adapter service interface.