Systems and methods for a power adapter for mobile devices

• US 9,362,765 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matteson, Nicholas Robert, Blaszczak, Piotr Pawel, Wang, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbowski, Leigh
• Application Number:
  US14/075,503
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• 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: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

A power adapter for mobile devices may include an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter. The AC/DC converter may convert electric power from a power source. The power adapter may include a housing enclosing the AC/DC converter. The power adapter may include a power plug extending from the housing along a first axis. The power adapter may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug extending from the housing along the first axis and on an opposite end of the housing from the power plug. The power adapter may include a device charging plug pivotally coupled to the housing.

Claims

1. A power adapter apparatus for creating an electrical connection between a power source and a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, wherein the AC/DC converter converts electric power from a power source;

a housing enclosing the AC/DC converter;

a device charging plug coupled to a first surface of the housing; and

a power plug coupled to a second surface of the housing,

wherein the power plug is a first plug extending from the housing along a first axis,

wherein the device charging plug is a second plug moveable between an extended position along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and a recessed position along the first axis within a channel of the housing, and wherein the device charging plug is rotationally coupled to the housing,

wherein the device charging plug is configured to be coupled to a charging port associated with a mobile device to provide power to the battery of the mobile device from the power source connected to the power adapter, and

wherein the power adapter apparatus is maintained in a first elevated position above an external surface when the power plug is coupled to the power source and the second surface is adapted to at least partially support the mobile device in a second elevated position above the external surface when the charging port of the mobile device is coupled to the device charging plug and the power adapter apparatus is in the first elevated position, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug extending from the housing along the first axis and on an opposite end of the housing from the first plug.

2. The power adapter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is one of a power supply connected to the power adapter by the power plug.

3. The power adapter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device charging plug is one of a micro A USB plug, a micro B USB plug, a USB Mini A plug, a USB Mini B plug, a standard A USB plug, or a standard B USB plug.

4. A power adapter, comprising:

an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, wherein the AC/DC converter converts electric power from a power source;

a housing enclosing the AC/DC converter;

a power plug coupled to a first surface of the housing; and

a device charging plug coupled to a second surface of the housing, wherein the power plug is a first plug extending from the housing along a first axis and wherein one of the device charging plug is a second plug moveable between a first position along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and a second position along the first axis within a channel of the housing and wherein the device charging plug is rotationally coupled to the housing, and

wherein the power adapter is maintained in a first elevated position above an external surface when the power plug is coupled to the power source and the second surface is adapted to at least partially support a mobile device in a second elevated position above the external surface when the mobile device is coupled to the device charging plug and when the power adapter is in the first elevated position, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug extending from the housing along the first axis and on an opposite end of the housing from the first plug.

5. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein at least one of the device charging plug, USB plug, or the power plug is coupled to the housing by a flexible mechanism.

6. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein at least one of the power plug, the device charging plug, or the USB plug is retractable into the housing.

7. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein at least one of the power plug, device charging plug, or USB plug is rotationally coupled to the housing.

8. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein the USB plug is a dedicated charging port without data support.

9. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein at least one of the power plug, USB plug, or the device charging plug is interchangeable with a different plug.

10. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein the power source is one of a power supply connected to the power adapter by the power plug.

11. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein the power plug comprises alternating current (AC) prongs.

12. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein the device charging plug is one of a micro A USB plug, a micro B USB plug, a USB Mini A plug, a USB Mini B plug, a standard A USB plug, or a standard B USB plug.

13. The power adapter of claim 4, wherein the device charging plug is the second plug, and wherein the device charging plug is rotatable about the second axis.

14. A method, comprising:

providing an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, wherein the AC/DC converter converts electric power from a power source;

providing a housing enclosing the AC/DC converter;

positioning a first plug extending from a first surface of the housing along a first axis; and

positioning a second plug pivotally coupled to a second surface of the housing,

wherein the first plug is a power plug,

wherein the second plug is a device charging plug being moveable between an extended position along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and a recessed position along the first axis and wherein the device charging plug is rotationally coupled to the housing, and

wherein the power adapter is maintained in a first elevated position above an external surface when the power plug is coupled to the power source and the second surface is adapted to at least partially support a mobile device in a second elevated position above the external surface when the mobile device is coupled to the device charging plug and when the power adapter is in the first elevated position, and positioning a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug extending from the housing along the first axis and on an opposite end of the first plug.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a channel in the housing, wherein the second plug in the recessed position is positioned within a channel of the housing.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

attaching at least one of the first plug or the second plug to the housing by a flexible mechanism, wherein the flexible mechanism is one of an elastic material or a hinge.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the USB plug is a dedicated charging port without data support.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the device charging plug is one of a micro A USB plug, a micro B USB plug, a USB Mini A plug, a USB Mini B plug, a standard A USB plug, or a standard B USB plug.