Magnetically actuated AC power connector

• US 9,225,126 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lab 498 Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MagnoPlug Products Inc.
• Inventors: Janfada, Arash, Topping, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US13/859,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 438/39, 438/188, 200/51.09
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts

Abstract

An apparatus for electrically connecting a power source to an electrical device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first component and a second component. The first component has a substantially planar contoured first face comprising a ferromagnetic plate, a first set of contacts electrically connectable to a power source, two power switches and a magnetically actuated sensor controlling the switches. The second component has a substantially planar contoured second face complementary to the first face comprising a magnet and a second set of electrically conductive contacts electrically connectable to a device. Connecting the first and second faces, results in the first and second pair of contacts electrically coupling and establishes an electrical path between the power source and the device, and connects the components by magnetic attractive force which actuates the power switches and initiates power to the device. The apparatus further comprises a safety circuit for preventing electric shock.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrically connecting a power source to an electrical device, comprising:

a first component having a substantially planar first face, said first face comprising a first set of 3 electrical pad contacts, one for each;

hot, neutral, and ground connected to said power source;

a second component having a substantially planar second face complementary to said first face, said second face comprising a second set of 3 electrical pad contacts, one for each;

hot, neutral, and around connected to said electrical device;

wherein each of said first set of electrical contacts comprises a first plate portion immovably fixed on said first face;

wherein each of said second set of electrical contacts comprises a second plate portion immovably fixed on said second face;

wherein said first plate portions of said first set of electrical contacts are disposed in a triangular fashion to define a first triangle on said first face;

wherein said second plate portions of said second set of electrical contacts are disposed in a triangular fashion to define a second triangle on said second face such that said first triangle and said second triangle are congruent to each other; and

wherein a shape of said first face and a shape of said second face are complementary to each other so that, when said first component is attached to said second component, said first plate portions of said first set of electrical contacts are brought in direct contact with said second plate portions of said second set of electrical contacts, respectively, at vertices of said first and second triangles, thereby electronically coupling said first set of electrical contacts to said second set of electrical contacts to establish an electrical path between said power source and said electrical device; and

wherein said first component comprises a ferromagnetic element and said second component comprises a magnetic element, whereby said electrical path is established upon magnetically coupling said ferromagnetic element to said magnetic element,

wherein said ferromagnetic element and said magnetic element are installed at predetermined locations in said first component and said second component, respectively, such that said first component can only be attached to said second component in a predetermined orientation, where said predetermined orientation ensures said electrical path to be established,

wherein said first face of said first component has a raised portion, said ferromagnetic element being installed on the raise portion at substantially a central location of the first triangle on said first face, and

wherein said second face of said second component has a lowered portion that is to be intermeshed with said raised portion of said first face of said first component, said magnetic element being installed on the lowered portion at substantially a central location of the second triangle on said second face.

2. An apparatus for electrically connecting a power source to an electrical device, comprising:

a first component having a substantially planar first face, said first face comprising a first set of 3 electrical pad contacts, one for each;

hot, neutral, and ground connected to said power source;

a second component having a substantially planar second face complementary to said first face, said second face comprising a second set of 8 electrical Dad contacts, one for each;

hot, neutral, and around connected to said electrical device;

wherein each of said first set of electrical contacts comprises a first plate portion immovably fixed on said first face;

wherein each of said second set of electrical contacts comprises a second plate portion immovably fixed on said second face;

wherein said first plate portions of said first set of electrical contacts are disposed in a triangular fashion to define a first triangle on said first face;

wherein said second plate portions of said second set of electrical contacts are disposed in a triangular fashion to define a second triangle on said second face such that said first triangle and said second triangle are congruent to each other;

wherein a shape of said first face and a shape of said second face are complementary to each other so that, when said first component is attached to said second component, said first late portions of said first set of electrical contacts are brought in direct contact with said second plate portions of said second set of electrical contacts, respectively, at vertices of said first and second triangles, thereby electronically coupling said first set of electrical contacts to said second get of electrical contacts to establish an electrical path between said power source and said electrical device;

wherein said power source is an AC supply source, said electrical path is a first electrical path as an AC supply path, and said first component further comprises a power rectification circuit branching off from the AC supply path and rectifying the AC supply to a DC supply for operation of a second electrical path; and

wherein the apparatus further comprising at least one electrically operated sensor and at least one electrically operated switchable member initially in an open state, wherein said sensor is disposed in said second electrical path and connected to said switchable member, and said switchable member is disposed in said first electrical path, and wherein connecting said first and second components causes said sensor to switch said switchable member to a closed state, thereby establishing power transmission.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said electrically operated sensor is a hall-effect sensor and said switchable member consists of a pair of power relay switches one of each:

hot and neutral electrical connections,

wherein said first component comprises a ferromagnetic element and said second component comprises a magnetic element, whereby said first electrical path is established upon magnetically coupling said ferromagnetic element to said magnetic element,

wherein said ferromagnetic element and said magnetic element are installed at predetermined locations in said first component and said second component, respectively, such that said first component can only be attached to said second component in a predetermined orientation, where said predetermined orientation ensures said first electrical path to be established,

wherein said ferromagnetic element and said magnetic element are installed such that, when said first face is brought into proximity of said second face, a magnetic attractive force is generated perpendicular to said first face and said second face, and

wherein, when said first component is attached to said second component, said hall-effect sensor detects a presence of a magnetic field from said magnet element to provide current to said power relay switches, thereby triggering said power relay switches into an ON position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first indicator light circuit in said first component, and a second indicator light circuit in said second component for indicating establishment of said electrical path.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts are symmetrically located on said first face and said second face.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said first set of electrical contacts are disposed in an isosceles triangular fashion to define said first triangle on said first face;

and

wherein said second set of electrical contacts are disposed in an isosceles triangular fashion to define said second triangle on said second face such that said first triangle and said second triangle are congruent to each other.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first component comprises a recess having an asymmetrical shape formed on said first face, while said second component comprises a protrusion formed on said second face, said recess and said protrusion having a shape complementary to each other so as to ensure said first face and said second face to be connected only in one specific orientation.