Host with multiple sequential adapters for multiple consumer electronic devices

• US 7,871,300 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Viswanathan, Ameresh, Kendall, James W., McCoy, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne; Jean F
• Application Number:
  US11/619,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/374, 361/686, 361/683, 361680-681
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• 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 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A modular system having multiple adapters for providing service to consumer electronic devices, at least one adapter being capable of being coupled to host to receive an electrical service and at least another adapter being, capable of being coupled to the at least one adapter to receive an electrical service.

Claims

1. A modular system for use with a first consumer electronic device having a first standardized device service interface and a second consumer electronic device having a second standardized device service interface, the modular system comprising:

a host having a standardized host service interface;

a first adapter comprising;

a first adapter interface coupling with the standardized host service interface to directly mount the first adapter on the host and to communicate a first electrical service between the first adapter and the host; and

a second adapter interface coupling with the first standardized device service interface to directly mount the first consumer electronic device on the second adapter and to communicate a second electrical service between the first adapter and the first consumer electronic device; and

a second adapter comprising;

a third adapter interface coupling with the first adapter to directly mount the second adapter on the first adapter and to communicate a third electrical service between the first adapter and the second adapter; and

a fourth adapter interface coupling with the second standardized device service interface to directly mount the second consumer electronic device on the second adapter and to communicate a fourth electrical service between the second adapter and the second consumer electronic device.

2. The modular system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth electrical services comprises a wireless electrical service.

3. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the host is an appliance having a primary function of conducting a useful cycle of operation.

4. The modular system of claim 3, wherein the host is a refrigerator and the standardized host service interface provides the first electrical service.

5. The modular system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second adapters provides an electrical service to its respective consumer electronic device when coupled with its respective consumer electronic device.

6. The modular system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second adapters provides at least one service different from the first electrical service.

7. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the first and second adapters are arranged in a suspended configuration generally below the standardized host service interface.

8. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the host comprises a docking module projecting from a wall, and the standardized host service interface is provided on the docking module.

9. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical service comprises a wireless electrical service.

10. A modular system comprising:

a host having a standardized host service interface;

a first consumer electronic device having a first standardized device service interface;

a second consumer electronic device having a second standardized device service interface;

a first adapter comprising;

a first adapter interface coupling with the standardized host service interface to directly mount the first adapter on the host and to communicate a first electrical service between the first adapter and the host, and

a second adapter interface coupling with the first standardized device service interface to directly mount the first consumer electronic device on the first adapter and to communicate a second electrical service between the first adapter and the first consumer electronic device; and

a second adapter comprising;

a third adapter interface coupling with the first adapter to directly mount the second adapter on the first adapter and to communicate a third electrical service between the first adapter and the second adapter, and

a fourth adapter interface coupling with the second standardized device service interface to directly mount the second consumer electronic device on the second adapter and to communicate at least a fourth electrical service between the second adapter and the second consumer electronic device.

11. The modular system of claim 10 wherein the first standardized device service interface and the second standardized device service interface are each incompatible with the standardized host service interface.

12. The modular system of claim 10, wherein the first and second adapters are sequentially coupled to the host.

13. The modular system of claim 10, wherein the first adapter is removably mechanically coupled to the host, the second adapter is removably mechanically coupled to the first adapter, the first consumer electronic device is removably mechanically coupled to the first adapter, and the second consumer electronic device is removably mechanically coupled to the second adapter.

14. The modular system of claim 10 wherein the host comprises an appliance performing a useful cycle of operation.

15. The modular system of claim 14, wherein the standardized host service interface is removable from the appliance.

16. The modular system of claim 14, wherein the standardized host service interface is integral with the appliance.

17. The modular system of claim 10 wherein the host is a wall-mountable module communicating the first electrical service.

18. The modular system of claim 10 wherein the host supplies at least one electrical service to the second adapter.

19. The modular system of claim 10, wherein at least one electrical service comprises a wireless electrical service.

20. A modular system for connecting a host having a standardized host service interface with a first consumer electronic device having a first standardized device service interface and a second consumer electronic device having a second standardized device service interface, the modular system comprising:

a first adapter comprising;

a first adapter interface coupling with the standardized host service interface to directly mount the first adapter on the host and to communicate a first electrical service between the first adapter and the host; and

a second adapter interface coupling with the first standardized device service interface to directly mount the first consumer electronic device on the second adapter and to communicate a second electrical service between the first adapter and the first consumer electronic device; and

a second adapter comprising;

a third adapter interface coupling with the first adapter to directly mount the second adapter on the first adapter and to communicate a third electrical service between the first adapter and the second adapter; and

a fourth adapter interface coupling with the second standardized device service interface to directly mount the second consumer electronic device on the second adapter and to communicate a fourth electrical service between the second adapter and the second consumer electronic device.

21. The modular system of claim 20, wherein the third electrical service is different from the first electrical service.

22. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the third electrical service and the first electrical service comprise an identical electrical service.

23. The modular system of claim 20 wherein at least one of the first and third electrical services comprises a power service and a data service.

24. The modular system of claim 20, wherein the first and second adapters are in a stacked relationship.

25. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the second adapters is removably mechanically coupled to the first adapters.

26. The modular system of claim 20 wherein each of the first and second consumer electronic devices is removably mechanically coupled to the corresponding one of the first and second adapters.

27. The modular system of claim 20, wherein the first adapters is removably mechanically coupled to the host.

28. The modular system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the electrical services comprises a wireless electrical service.

29. A modular system comprising:

an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation;

a first adapter coupling a first consumer electronic device to the appliance and comprising at least a first component and a second component, which are operably coupled to supply at least a first electrical service between the appliance and the first consumer electronic device; and

a second adapter, different from the first adapter, simultaneously coupling a second consumer electronic device to the appliance and comprising at least a first component and a second component, which are operably coupled to supply at least a second electrical service between the appliance and the second consumer electronic device;

wherein the first adapter and the second adapter share the same first component.

30. The modular system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first and second electrical services comprises a power service and a data service.

31. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the appliance comprises a standardized service interface that couples with the first adapter and the second adapter to supply the first and second electrical services between the appliance and the respective first and second consumer electronic devices.

32. The modular system of claim 31, wherein the standardized service interface further provides a mechanical support to the first and second adapters.

33. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the appliance comprises a heating appliance.

34. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the appliance comprises a cooling appliance.

35. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the appliance comprises a cleaning appliance.

36. The modular system of claim 29 wherein the appliance comprises a drying appliance.

37. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the first and second electrical services are different categories of the same electrical service.

38. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the appliance provides at least one additional service to at least one of the first and second adapters.

39. The modular system of claim 29, wherein the first and second components supply a mechanical communication service between the appliance and the respective first and second consumer electronic devices.

40. The modular system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first and second adapters couples the respective first and second consumer electronic device adjacent to a vertical surface of the appliance.