Twelve volt direct current adaptor

• US 5,372,522 A
• Filed: 12/21/1992
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John S. Hoeft
• Original Assignee: John S. Hoeft
• Inventors: Hoeft, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/993,697
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 439/638-655, 439/620, 439/621, 439/535, 439/536, 439/217-221, 439/362, 439/365
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

A twelve volt DC adaptor plugs into any home electrical outlet so as to permit a conventionally wired home to be used in combination with a solar-powered system that provides continuous twelve volt direct current to the conventional wiring system. The direct current output voltage is available through a circular socket which mates with a cigarette-lighter type plug available on most twelve volt direct current-using appliances. One embodiment of the adaptor offers a single connection socket, and a second embodiment incorporates two sockets.

Claims

1. A twelve volt DC adaptor comprising:

a housing having parallel side walls, a top wall of a top wall width, a bottom wall, and a vertical center axis extending through a center of said top, a center of said bottom wall, and parallel to said side walls;

electrical prong means for attaching said housing to a conventional electrical supply wall outlet and to further facilitate a supplying of direct current to said housing through a conventional electric wire system which is normally used for an alternating electric current supply in a building, said electrical prong means comprising a first prong having a first height and a second prong having a second height, wherein said first height is greater than said second height such that said prong means engages said outlet in a predetermined polarity; and

first direct current outlet means formed in said housing and being in electrical communication with said electrical prong means, said first direct current outlet means comprising a first cigarette lighter socket for receiving a first cigarette lighter plug, thereby to facilitate a delivery of direct current from said conventional electric wire system to an appliance which normally operates on direct current,

further including integral support means, said integral support means comprising an upstanding flange for attachment to a center screw having a center screw width and being associated with said wall outlet, thereby to provide additional support to said housing when said housing is attached to said wall outlet, said upstanding flange having a flange lower end with a flange lower end width equal to said top wall width, said flange tapering to a flange top end having a flange top end width less than said flange lower end width and substantially greater than said center screw width such that torque applied to said housing about said vertical center axis is transferred to said flange lower end and is counteracted by an engagement of said flange lower end against said wall outlet,

and further including a second direct current outlet means formed in said housing, said second direct current outlet means comprising a second cigarette lighter socket for receiving a second cigarette lighter plug, thereby to facilitate a concurrent supplying of direct current to a second appliance operable on direct current, said first and said second sockets being oppositely aligned in said housing below said upstanding flange.