Host With Multiple Adapters for Coupling Consumer Electronic Devices

• US 20080165509A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kendall, James W., McCoy, Richard A., Viswanathan, Ameresh, Moes, Christopher S., Knight, John M., Weinkauf, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/735
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A modular system of an appliance host with multiple identical host service interfaces. The multiple identical host service interfaces provide a mechanical service and an electrical service for removable consumer electronic devices. Multiple distinct consumer electronic devices or adapters for consumer electronic devices may be coupled alternatively to the multiple host service interfaces.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A system comprising

an appliance host:

a compartment in the host appliance for processing at least one consumer article;

a plurality of identical host service interfaces on the host appliance each capable of providing both a mechanical service and an electrical service any of a plurality of dissimilar consumer electronic devices.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said appliance host is a refrigeration appliance and said at least one consumer article comprises food.

55. The system of claim 53, further comprising at least one adapter capable of receiving a mechanical service and an electrical from any of the plurality of host service interfaces and providing mechanical service and at least one electrical service to at least one of the consumer electronic devices.

56. The system of claim 53 wherein the plurality of host service interfaces are capable of providing data communication between two dissimilar consumer electronic devices when they are each coupled to a respective one of the host service interfaces.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein at least one of the consumer electronic devices provides a communication data service and another of the consumer electronic devices receives the communication data service from a host service interface and converts it into a human communication service.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the at least one of the consumer electronic devices comprises a music device, the communication data service comprises music data, the another consumer electronic device comprises a speaker, and the human communication service is sound from the speaker.

59. A modular system comprising:

an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation, providing at least one service and having a vertical surface;

a plurality of identical standardized service interfaces adjacent the vertical surface; and

a plurality of adapters, each configured to couple at least one consumer electronic device, with at least one of the multiple adapters coupled tone of the plurality of identical standardized service interfaces and receiving a mechanical service and an electrical service from the standardized service interface and providing a mechanical service and an electrical service to the respective consumer electronic device.

60. The modular system of claim 59, wherein the standardized service interface is integral with the surface.

61. The modular system of claim 59, wherein the at least two of the multiple adapters supply a different category of the same electrical service.

62. The modular system of claim 59, further comprises at least a pair of slots in the surface, the plurality of identical host service interfaces comprising alternative pairs of locations along the slots.

63. The system of claim 59 wherein the plurality of host service interfaces are capable of providing data communication between two dissimilar consumer electronic devices when they are each coupled to a respective one of the host service interfaces.

64. The system of claim 59 wherein at least one of the consumer electronic devices provides a communication data service and another of the consumer electronic devices receives the communication data service from a host service interface and converts it into a human communication service.

65. The system of claim 59 wherein at least one of the consumer electronic devices provides a music data service and another of the consumer electronic devices comprises a speaker and receives the music data service from a host service interface and converts it into a musical sound.

66. The modular system of claim 59, wherein the multiple adapters are removably coupled to the respective host service interface and to the respective consumer electronic device.

67. A modular system comprising:

an electrical host comprises a standardized service interface integral with the host providing mechanical support and power and data services from the host; and

multiple adapters, each configured to removably couple at least one consumer electronic device to the standardized service interface, with at least one of the multiple adapters receiving power service from the host, at least one of the multiple adapters receiving data service from the host, at least one of the adapters providing power service to a consumer electronic device and at least one of the adapters providing data service to a consumer electronic device.

68. The modular system of claim 67, wherein the at least two of the multiple adapters supply a different category of electrical service to their respective at least one consumer electronic devices.

69. The modular system of claim 67, wherein the at least one service is wireless.