Compact car charger

• US 8,988,040 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navajo Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Navajo Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Levy, Gordon, Shan, Ming, Martin, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US13/490,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/111, 320/114, 439/620.21, 439/620.31, 439/668
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A car charger plug is slidably mounted within a body of the compact car charger. The car charger plug is lockable in a fully retracted position and lockable in a fully extended position, so as to maintain its compact size when not in use, and provide a secure connection with a car charge port when desired.

Claims

1. A car charger comprising

a body, and

a car charger plug have side mounted electrical contacts,

said car charger plug being slidably mounted between two terminal positions, a first terminal position of the two terminal positions locating the car charger plug and the electrical contacts inside said body in a fully retracted locked position and a second terminal position of the two terminal positions locating the car charging plug and the electrical contacts located out of the body in a fully extended locked position,

the car charger plug and the electrical contacts being freely slidable between the two terminal positions until reaching the fully extended locked position where the electrical contacts are completely exposed and accessible for use or the fully retracted locked position where the electrical contacts are entirely contained in the body and inaccessible for use.

2. The car charger according to claim 1, wherein a slide switch moves the car charger plug between the extended locked position and the retracted locked position.

3. The car charger according to claim 2, wherein the slide switch moves along a slide path recessed in an exterior of said body.

4. The car charger according to claim 3, wherein the slide path includes a slide track, said slide switch extends through said slide track into an interior of said body.

5. The car charger according to claim 2, wherein said slide switch is biased away from said body by a spring located inside said body.

6. The car charger according to claim 5, wherein said slide switch includes an exterior plate portion located on an exterior of said body, said exterior plate portion being connected to an interior plate portion located in an interior of said body, said spring engages said interior plate portion.

7. The car charger according to claim 6, wherein said interior plate portion slides along the interior of said body between two spaced recessed portions interconnected by a raised portion.

8. The car charger according to claim 7, wherein said two spaced recessed portions lock said car charger plug in the extended position and the retracted position by positioning of said interior plate portion in said spaced recessed portions.

9. The car charger according to claim 1, wherein said body includes a USB port.

10. The car charger according to claim 9, wherein said body includes pivotable AC plug prongs.

11. A ear charger comprising

a body having an opening at one end, and

a car charger plug having side mounted electrical contacts,

the car charger plug being slidably mounted between two terminal positions, a first terminal position of the two terminal positions locating the car charger plug and the electrical contacts inside said body to move into said body through said opening in a fully retracted locked position and a second terminal position of the two terminal positions locating the car charging plug and the electrical contacts moved out of the body through said opening in a fully extended locked position,

the car charger and contacts being freely slidable between the two terminal positions until reaching the fully extended locked position where the electrical contacts are completely exposed and accessible for use or the fully retracted locked position where the electrical contacts are entirely contained in the body and inaccessible for use.

12. The car charger according to claim 11, wherein said car charger plug has exterior surfaces shaped complementary to said opening in said body to stabilize sliding of the car charger plug into and out of said body and said opening in said body includes recesses to accommodate the passage therethrough of the electrical contacts.

13. The car charger according to claim 12, wherein said car charger plug and said body include complementary ribs and grooves interfitting with each other.

14. The car charger according to claim 11, wherein a slide switch moves the car charger plug between the extended locked position and the retracted locked position.

15. The car charger according to claim 12, wherein the slide switch moves along a slide path recessed in an exterior of said body.

16. The car charger according to claim 13, wherein the slide path includes a slide track, said slide switch extends through said slide track into an interior of said body.

17. The car charger according to claim 14, wherein said slide switch is biased away from said body by a spring located inside said body.

18. The car charger according to claim 17, wherein said slide switch includes an exterior plate portion located on an exterior of said body, said exterior plate portion being connected to an interior plate portion located in an interior of said body, said spring engages said interior plate portion.

19. The car charger according to claim 18, wherein said interior plate portion slides along the interior of said body between two spaced recessed portions interconnected by a raised portion.

20. The car charger according to claim 19, wherein said two spaced recessed portions lock said car charger plug in the extended position and the retracted position by positioning of said interior plate portion in said spaced recessed portions.