Multi-prong power tip adaptor

• US 8,821,199 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Original Assignee: Targus Group International Incorporated (Targus International LLC)
• Inventors: Sandoval, Arthur G., Chern, Wenson, Chen, Guangqun Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US13/557,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20140030936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 439825-826, 439842-843, 439851-857, 439/862, 439/675, 439/861, 439/63, 439/578, 439/581
• US Class Current: 439/866
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/052 co-operating with sockets having a circular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/11 Resilient sockets carrying separate resilient parts H01R13/15
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

Consolidated power tips allow a power adaptor to be connected to disparately sized input ports of electronic devices. The consolidated power tips may be sized to balance insertion and pull-out forces for the disparately sized input ports. Deformable members may be added to the consolidated power tips for more desirable insertion and pull-out forces and improved electrical contact. For input ports with different electrical requirements, a mode selector may be added to the consolidated power tip to select between the electrical requirements of the different input ports. The consolidated power tips may be combined into a multi-prong power tip. The multi-prong power tip allows users to interface with a large number of disparate devices without changing power tips.

Claims

1. A multi-interface power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with variably sized input ports of electronic devices, the multi-interface power tip comprising:

a housing;

a first device interface having a first size and shape to electrically couple a power adaptor to an input port of an electronic device, the first device interface at least partially disposed within the housing, the first device interface comprising;

a first electrical contact, and

a second electrical contact insulated from the first electrical contact; and

a second device interface having a second size and shape to electrically couple the power adaptor to a first plurality of variably sized input ports of a corresponding first plurality of electronic devices, the second device interface at least partially disposed within the housing,

wherein the second device interface comprises one or more deformable members, and

wherein the second device interface is offset from the first device interface.

2. The multi-prong power tip of claim 1, wherein the second size and shape of the second device interface create a frictional engagement between the second device interface and the first plurality of variably sized input ports,

wherein the frictional engagement of the second device interface with the first plurality of variably sized input ports provides a threshold pull resistance, and

wherein the frictional engagement of the second device interface with the first plurality of variably sized input ports provides less than a threshold insertion resistance.

3. The multi-prong power tip of claim 1, further comprising a mode selector to select an output mode.

4. The multi-prong power tip of claim 3, wherein the mode selector is a button.

5. The multi-prong power tip of claim 1, wherein power is provided to only one of the first device interface and the second device interface at a time.

6. The multi-prong power tip of claim 5, further comprising a mode selector to select which of the first device interface and the second device interface is powered.

7. The multi-prong power tip of claim 1, further comprising a third device interface having a third size and shape to electrically couple the power adaptor to a second plurality of variably sized input ports of a corresponding second plurality electronic devices, wherein the third device interface is offset from the first and second device interfaces.

8. The multi-prong power tip of claim 7, wherein the first, second, and third device interfaces lie within a single plane.

9. The multi-prong power tip of claim 7, wherein an angle between the first and second device interfaces is 90 degrees, and an angle between the second and third device interfaces is 90 degrees.

10. The multi-prong power tip of claim 7, wherein the third device interface comprises one or more deformable members.

11. The multi-prong power tip of claim 1, further comprising a permanent affixment to the power adaptor.

12. The multi-prong power tip of claim 1, further comprising removable covers over the first device interface and second device interface.

13. A multi-interface power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with variably sized input ports of electronic devices, the multi-interface power tip comprising:

a housing;

a first device interface having a first size and shape to electrically couple a power adaptor to an input port of an electronic device, the first device interface at least partially disposed within the housing; and

a second device interface at least partially disposed within the housing, the second device interface comprising;

a first electrical contact; and

a second electrical contact insulated from the first electrical contact,

wherein a second size and shape of the first and second electrical contacts create a frictional engagement between the second device interface and a first plurality of variably sized input ports,

wherein the frictional engagement of the second device interface with the first plurality of variably sized input ports provides a threshold pull resistance,

wherein the frictional engagement of the second device interface with the first plurality of variably sized input ports provides less than a threshold insertion resistance,

wherein at least one of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact comprises one or more deformable members, and

wherein the second device interface is offset from the first device interface.

14. The multi-prong power tip of claim 13, further comprising a mode selector to select an output mode.

15. The multi-prong power tip of claim 14, wherein the mode selector is a button.

16. The multi-prong power tip of claim 13, wherein power is provided to only one of the first device interface and the second device interface at a time.

17. The multi-prong power tip of claim 16, further comprising a mode selector to select which of the first device and the second device interface is powered.

18. The multi-prong power tip of claim 13, further comprising a third device interface having a third size and shape to electrically couple the power adaptor to a second plurality of variably sized input ports, wherein the first, second, and third device interfaces lie within a single plane.

19. The multi-prong power tip of claim 13, wherein an angle between the first and second device interfaces is 90 degrees.

20. The multi-prong power tip of claim 13, further comprising a permanent affixment to the power adaptor.

21. The multi-prong power tip of claim 13, further comprising removable covers on the first device interface and second device interface.

22. A multi-interface power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with a plurality of variably sized input ports of a plurality electronic devices, the multi-interface power tip comprising:

a housing;

two or more device interfaces at least partially disposed within the housing, the two or more device interfaces to electrically couple a power adaptor to the plurality of variably sized input ports of the plurality of electronic devices, each device interface comprising;

a first electrical contact; and

a second electrical contact insulated from the first electrical contact,

wherein at least one of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact comprises one or more deformable members, and

wherein the two or more device interfaces are offset from each other.