Electrical connector and method of manufacturing same

• US 8,469,730 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Garb, Jeffrey W., Wadsworth, John F., Mori, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/852,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 439/107, 439/116, 439/166, 439/173, 439/217, 439/222, 439/223, 439/518, 439/536, 439/956
• US Class Current: 439/173
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

An apparatus configured to provide electrical power received from at least a first electrical outlet or a second electrical outlet is disclosed. The apparatus can include: (a) a housing; (b) at least two electrical outlets at the housing; (c) an electrical coupler at least partially enclosed by the housing and electrically coupled to the at least two third electrical outlets; (d) a first prong adapter configured to removably couple to the electrical coupler and the first electrical outlet; and (e) a second prong adapter configured to removably couple to the electrical coupler and the second electrical outlet. Other embodiments are described herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to provide electrical power received from at least a first electrical outlet and a second electrical outlet, the first electrical outlet configured to provide first electrical power with a first voltage, the second electrical outlet configured to provide second electrical power with a second voltage different than the first voltage, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

at least two third electrical outlets at the housing;

an electrical coupler at least partially enclosed by the housing and electrically coupled to the at least two third electrical outlets;

a first prong adapter configured to removably couple to the electrical coupler and the first electrical outlet;

a second prong adapter configured to removably couple to the electrical coupler and the second electrical outlet;

a first surge protector circuit electrically coupled between the electrical coupler and the at least two third electrical outlets; and

a second surge protector circuit,

wherein;

the first prong adapter is configured to receive the first electrical power with the first voltage from the first electrical outlet when the first prong adapter is coupled to the first electrical outlet;

the second prong adapter is configured to receive the second electrical power with the second voltage from the second electrical outlet when the second prong adapter is coupled to the second electrical outlet;

the electrical coupler is electrically coupled to the at least two third electrical outlets such that when the first prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler and the first electrical outlet, the at least two third electrical outlets receive the first electrical power with the first voltage;

the electrical coupler is further electrically coupled to the at least two third electrical outlets such that when the second prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler and the second electrical outlet, the at least two third electrical outlets receive the second electrical power with the second voltage;

the first surge protector circuit is configured to protect against voltage surges above a first surge voltage;

the second surge protector circuit in combination with the first surge protector circuit is configured to protect against voltage surges above a second surge voltage; and

the second surge voltage is less than the first surge voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second surge protector circuit is located in the first prong adapter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a first part of the second surge protector circuit is located in the first prong adapter; and

a second part of the second surge protector circuit is located in the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first surge voltage is approximately 700 volts; and

the second surge voltage is approximately 400 volts.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second surge protector circuit comprises;

one or more metal oxide varistors; and

one or more fuses.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second prong adapter is devoid of any surge protector circuits.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first surge protector circuit comprises;

one or more metal oxide varistors; and

one or more fuses.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third prong adapter configured to removably couple to the electrical coupler and a fourth electrical outlet,

wherein;

the third prong adapter is configured to receive a third electrical power with a third voltage from the fourth electrical outlet when the third prong adapter is coupled to the fourth electrical outlet; and

the electrical coupler is further electrically coupled to the at least two third electrical outlets such that when the third prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler and the third prong adapter is further coupled to the fourth electrical outlet, the at least two third electrical outlets receive the third electrical power with the third voltage.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first prong adapter is configured to provide 120 volt alternating current to the electrical coupler;

the first electrical outlet is configured to provide the 120 volt alternating current when the first prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler;

the second prong adapter is configured to provide 230 volt alternating current to the electrical coupler; and

the second electrical outlet is configured to provide the 120 volt alternating current when the second prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least two third electrical outlets comprise United States-style electrical outlets;

the first prong adapter comprises a United States-style electrical plug; and

the second prong adapter comprises a United Kingdom-style electrical outlet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more electrical connectors; and

a power converter electrically coupled to the electrical coupler and configured to provide a substantially constant direct current to the one or more electrical connectors.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the electrical coupler comprises a rotation coupler;

the first prong adapter is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the housing when the first prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler; and

the second prong adapter is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the housing when the second prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the electrical coupler is rotatable relative to the housing.

2. An electrical power adapter comprising:

a housing with an interior cavity;

two or more electrical outlets accessible through the housing;

a first surge protection module at least partially located in the interior cavity of the housing and electrically coupled to the two or more electrical outlets;

an electrical attachment mechanism at the housing and electrically coupled to the first surge protection module; and

two or more prong devices configured to removably couple to the electrical attachment mechanism,

wherein;

at least a first one of the two or more prong devices comprise at least part of a second surge protection module;

each of the two or more prong devices comprises an electrical plug;

the electrical plug of each of the two or more prong devices are configured to couple to a different country-style electrical outlet

the first surge protection module is configured to protect against voltage spikes above a first spike voltage;

the second surge protection module in combination with the first surge protection module is configured to protect against voltage spikes above a second spike voltage; and

the second spike voltage is less than the first spike voltage.

17. The electrical power adapter of claim 2, wherein:

each of the two or more electrical outlets comprise United States-style electrical outlets; and

a first electrical plug of the two or more prong devices comprises a United States-style plug.

18. The electrical power adapter of claim 17, wherein:

a second electrical plug of the two or more prong devices comprises a second country-style plug; and

the second country-style plug is different from the United States-style plug.

19. The electrical power adapter of claim 2, wherein:

at least a second one of the two or more prong devices is devoid of any surge protection modules.

20. The electrical power adapter of claim 2, wherein:

the electrical attachment mechanism comprises a rotation coupler;

a first one of the two or more prong devices is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the housing when the first one of the two or more prong devices is coupled to the electrical attachment mechanism; and

a second one of the two or more prong devices is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the housing when the second one of the two or more prong devices is coupled to the electrical attachment mechanism.

21. The electrical power adapter of claim 2, wherein:

the at least the first one of the two or more prong devices is configured to provide 120 volt alternating current to the electrical attachment mechanism;

the two or more electrical outlets are configured to provide the 120 volt alternating current when the at least a first one of the two or more prong devices is coupled to the electrical attachment mechanism;

at least a second one of the two or more prong devices is configured to provide 230 volt alternating current to the electrical attachment mechanism; and

the two or more electrical outlets are configured to provide the 120 volt alternating current when the at least the second one of the two or more prong devices is coupled to the electrical attachment mechanism.

3. A method of providing an electrical device configured to couple to a first electrical outlet and a second electrical outlet, the first electrical outlet configured to provide first electrical power with a first voltage, the second electrical outlet configured to provide second electrical power with a second voltage, the method comprising:

providing a first prong adapter configured to removably couple to the first electrical outlet;

providing a second prong adapter configured to removably couple to the second electrical outlet;

providing at least two third electrical outlets;

providing an electrical coupler configured to removably couple to the first prong adapter and the second prong adapter;

providing a first surge protection module electrically coupled between the electrical coupler and the at least two third electrical outlets and is configured to protect against voltage surges above a first surge voltage; and

electrically coupling the electrical coupler to the at least two third electrical outlets such that when the first prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler and the first electrical outlet, the at least two third electrical outlets receive the first electrical power with the first voltage, and that when the second prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler and the second electrical outlet, the at least two third electrical outlets receive the second electrical power with the second voltage

wherein;

providing the first prong adapter comprises;

providing the first prong adapter comprising at least part of a second surge protection module, the second surge protection module in combination with the first surge protection module is configured to protect against voltage surges above a second surge voltage; and

the second surge voltage is lower than the first surge voltage.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein:

providing the first prong adapter comprises;

providing the first prong adapter such that the first prong adapter is configured to provide 120 volt alternating current to the electrical coupler;

providing the second prong adapter comprises;

providing the second prong adapter such that the second prong adapter is configured to provide 230 volt alternating current to the electrical coupler.

22. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the first surge protection module is configured to protect against 700 volt and higher surges, but not protect against 450 volt surges; and

the second surge protection module is configured to protect against 400 volt and higher surges.

23. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a third prong adapter configured to removably couple to a third electrical outlet,

wherein;

electrically coupling the electrical coupler comprises;

electrically coupling the electrical coupler to the at least two third electrical outlets such that when the third prong adapter is coupled to the electrical coupler and the third electrical outlet, the at least two third electrical outlets receive a third electrical power with a third voltage.

24. The method of claim 3, wherein:

providing the second prong adapter comprises;

providing the second prong adapter devoid of any surge protection modules.

25. The method of claim 3, wherein:

providing the first prong adapter comprises;

providing the first prong adapter comprising a United States-style plug; and

providing the second prong adapter comprises;

providing the second prong adapter comprising a second country-style plug; and

the second country-style plug is different than the United States-style plug.