Slim C5/C6 coupler
First Claim
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1. A power inlet for an electric connector, comprising:
- a housing having a front side and a back side with a recessed cavity formed within the housing starting from an opening in a surface of said front side, wherein said recessed cavity has a first substantially circular portion on a first side, a second substantially circular portion on a second side, a substantially indented channel connecting said first and second substantially circular portions, and an elongated trench recessed in a sidewall of said substantially indented channel;
a live pin having a first end protruding out of said housing into said first substantially circular portion, wherein said live pin has a substantially cylindrical shape;
a neutral pin having a first end protruding out of said housing into said second substantially circular portion, wherein said neutral pin has a substantially cylindrical shape; and
an earth spring having a first end protruding out of said housing into said elongated trench, wherein a portion of said first end of said earth spring is exposed in said trench and is configured to not contact a surface of said trench when deflected by an earth pin of a mating connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments relate to a C5/C6 coupler having a substantially equivalent shape and size as a C7/C8 coupler. Embodiments relate to a power supply cord that provides an earth connection to the cord. Still more particularly, embodiments relate to a slim inlet that provides a make-first-and-break-last earth connection and prevents incompatible cords, different type of connectors, from being connected to the slim inlet.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A power inlet for an electric connector, comprising:
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a housing having a front side and a back side with a recessed cavity formed within the housing starting from an opening in a surface of said front side, wherein said recessed cavity has a first substantially circular portion on a first side, a second substantially circular portion on a second side, a substantially indented channel connecting said first and second substantially circular portions, and an elongated trench recessed in a sidewall of said substantially indented channel; a live pin having a first end protruding out of said housing into said first substantially circular portion, wherein said live pin has a substantially cylindrical shape; a neutral pin having a first end protruding out of said housing into said second substantially circular portion, wherein said neutral pin has a substantially cylindrical shape; and an earth spring having a first end protruding out of said housing into said elongated trench, wherein a portion of said first end of said earth spring is exposed in said trench and is configured to not contact a surface of said trench when deflected by an earth pin of a mating connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A C6 power inlet, comprising:
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a housing having a size substantially equivalent to a size of a standard C8 power inlet and a shape substantially equivalent to a shape of the standard C8 power inlet, the housing forming a recessed cavity having a first cylindrical opening, a second cylindrical opening, and a trench formed along a bottom of a longitudinal axis of the housing and positioned between the first cylindrical opening and the second cylindrical opening; a live pin enclosed within the first cylindrical opening and protruding out of a back plane of said housing; a neutral pin enclosed within the second cylindrical opening and protruding out of the back plane of said housing; and a cantilevered earth spring positioned in the trench, a first end of the earth spring forming a hook portion raised above the trench and protruding beyond the live pin and the neutral pin, wherein the hook portion is reflectable and configured to reduce an impact angle between the earth spring and an earth pin contact of a C5 connector and facilitate a make-first-and-break-last earth contact with the earth pin contact. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A power inlet for an electric connector, comprising:
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a live pin; a neutral pin; a housing enclosing the live pin and the neutral pin, the housing having a front side and a back side with a recessed cavity formed within the housing starting from an opening in a surface of said front side, the housing including an elongated trench formed between the live pin and the neutral pin and recessed along a bottom plane of the housing; and an earth spring having a first end protruding out of said housing into said elongated trench, wherein a portion of said first end of said earth spring is exposed in said trench, a hook portion of said earth spring extending out from said first end of said earth spring distal from said housing and bending under said first end of said earth spring, wherein said hook portion of said earth spring further includes a raised portion of said earth pin that juts out from said trench.
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Specification