Power converter device

• US 6,433,274 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobility Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Doss, Jeffrey, Lord, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US09/478,746
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/17.R, 174/50.52, 174/51, 174/53, 174/135, 174/59, 191/12.4, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.R, 439/4, 439/528, 242/404, 379/438, 379/437, D13/137.4
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

Two juxtaposed retraction reels automatically and independently retract an output power plug cable and an input power cable connected to an accessory power input plug. The cables are connected to a power converter for converting electrical power to voltage and current power levels for use in lap top computers and so on. The input plug has a second Em power plug / auto-air adapter mechanically and ohmically coupled thereto for use with other power sources such as in airplanes and so on. A slider holds the plug tip to the carrying housing in the carrying mode, the retraction reel holding the other power input plug end to the housing via its cable.

Claims

1. An electrical power adapter for a portable computer comprising:

an electrical power input plug with a first cable, the input plug including a body and means for accessing power in an automotive outlet;

a power outlet plug with a second cable;

a third plug for accessing power from an outlet different than the automotive outlet, the input and third plugs including means for releasably connecting each other to form a single plug;

a converter for converting electrical power received by the input plug to an output power at the output plug; and

retraction means for the first and second cables, said retraction means including first and second reels, each for receiving and independently retracting a different cable.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the third plug is a power plug for a standard airline power socket for passengers or auto-air adapter secured to the input plug body.

3. An electrical power adapter for a portable computer comprising:

an electrical power input plug with a first cable, the input plug having a longitudinal axis;

a power output plug with a second cable;

a converter for converting electrical power received by the input plug to an output power at the output plug;

retraction means for the first and second cables, said retraction means including first and second reels, each for receiving and independently retracting a different cable; and

a housing for containing the retraction means and the converter, the housing including support means for holding the input plug axis upright relative to gravity on a horizontal support.

4. An electrical power adapter for a portable computer comprising:

an electrical power input plug with a first cable, the input plug including a terminal pin;

a power output plug with a second cable;

a converter for converting electrical power received by the input plug to an output power at the output plug; and

retraction means for the first and second cable, said retraction means including first and second reels, each for receiving and independently retracting a different cable; and

a housing for containing the retraction means and the converter, the housing including a slider arranged to releasably hold the pin and input plug to the housing.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the input plug has a longitudinal axis, the housing including support means for holding the input plug axis horizontal relative to gravity on a horizontal support.

6. A power converter adapter for use with an electrical power source of a given voltage and current comprising:

a housing;

a first plug connected to a first cable for receiving the given voltage and current as an input and applying the input to the first cable;

a converter for converting power received as the input on the first cable to an output electrical power having a voltage and current different from the power received as the input on the first cable;

a second cable for receiving output power from the converter and applying the received output power to an output plug for coupling the output power to an electrical apparatus; and

a slider connected to the housing for releasably securing the first plug to the housing.

7. The adapter of claim 6 including a first reel coupled to the housing for retracting the first cable and a second reel coupled to the housing for retracting the second cable independently of the action of the first reel.

8. The adapter of claim 7 wherein the reels are juxtaposed in overlying relation.

9. An adapter plug for mating with a socket for first and second sources of electrical power comprising:

a first plug having a first housing and a first set of contacts for mating with a first socket for receiving the power from the first source; and

a second plug having a second housing for coupling to the first housing and having a second set of contacts for mating with a second socket for receiving the power from the second source,

the first plug including third contacts for mating with and releasably receiving the second set of contacts to form a single adapter of said first and second plugs.

10. An electrical adapter comprising:

a first plug for mating with a first socket and applying electrical power of a first value to a first cable;

a converter for converting the electrical power on the first cable to a second value;

a second cable for receiving the converted electrical power including a second plug for applying the converted power to a socket; and

retraction means for independently retracting each said cable, said retraction means comprising first and second retraction reels each for receiving a different cable, the reels being disposed one over the other; and

a housing for receiving said converter and retraction means and coupling means secured to the housing for movably coupling each said reels and for movably coupling electrical power in each cable to said converter, the means for movably coupling the electrical power including slip ring means coupled to the means for movably coupling each of said reels.

11. The adaptor of claim 10 wherein said first and second reels are juxtaposed one over the other.

12. The adapter of claim 11 wherein the coupling means includes at least one coupler secured to the housing for coupling the first and second reels for independent rotation in response to a pulling force on the corresponding cable.

13. A housing for releasably securing an elongated power adapter plug comprising:

a base;

a compartment including circuit means for converting electrical power from one value to a second value, the base for supporting the compartment vertically; and

an elongated compartment for receiving the adapter plug and releasably securing the plug vertically.

14. The housing of claim 13 including a pair of cables, a first for connecting the circuit means to the plug and a second connected for connecting the circuit means to an output plug, and a pair of cable retraction reels in the base for independently retracting a cable connected to said adapter and an output plugs.

15. A power converter adapter for use with an electrical power source of a given voltage and current comprising:

a first plug connected to a first cable for receiving the given voltage and current as an input and applying the input to the first cable;

a converter for converting power received as the input on the first cable to an output electrical power having a voltage and current different from the power received as the input on the first cable;

a second cable for receiving output power from the converter and applying the received output power to an output plug for coupling the output power to an electrical apparatus;

a first reel for retracting the first cable; and

a second reel for retracting the second cable independently of the action of the first reel;

the first plug including a third plug for mating with a socket different than the first plug.

16. An electrical power adapter for a portable computer comprising:

an electrical power input plug with a first cable;

a power output plug with a second cable;

a converter for converting electrical power received by the input plug to an output power at the output plug;

retraction means for the first and second cables, said retraction means including first and second reels, each for receiving and independently retracting a different cable; and

a housing for the converter and retraction means, the housing having a first compartment for the converter and a second compartment for the retraction means.

17. An electrical power adapter for a portable computer comprising:

an electrical power input plug with a first cable;

a power output plug with a second cable;

a converter for converting electrical power received by the input plug to an output power at the output plug; and

retraction means for the first and second cables, said retraction means including first and second reels, each for receiving and independently retracting a different cable, the retraction means including first and second cable receiving reels, a plurality of annular conductors coupled to each reel, the annular conductors associated with the first reel for electrical engagement with the conductors of a first cable received in the first reel and the annular conductors associated with the second reel for electrical engagement with the conductors of a second cable received in the second reel, and a connector assembly including a plurality of first contacts for electrically engaging the annular conductors and a plurality of second contacts electrically coupled to the first contacts.

18. The adapter of claim 17 wherein the connector assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) with a plurality of conductors thereon, the first contacts comprising electrically conductive resilient spring material extending from the PCB, the assembly including a first electrical connector comprising a housing including said second contacts, said second contacts in electrically engagement with said PCB conductors.

19. The adapter of claim 18 further including a second electrical connector including third contacts for engaging the second contacts and a plurality of conductors ohmically coupled to the converter.

20. The adapter of claim 17 wherein the first and second reels are in overlying juxtaposed relation.

21. The adapter of claim 20 including a housing for said converter and retraction means, and further including a plurality of ratchet teeth associated with each reel, each reel for independently receiving and retracting a different one of the first and second cables, and a lever with a pawl associated with the ratchet teeth of each reel movably coupled to the housing for resiliently releasably engaging the teeth of the associated reel to retain the associated reel in set position in a lever quiescent state and for permitting the associated reel to fully retract from the set position in a lever activated state.

22. The adapter of claim 21 including a spindle secured to the housing, the reels for rotation about the spindle, and a constant force spring secured to each reel and to the spindle for resiliently urging each reel to a fully retracted position.

23. An electrical power adapter for a portable computer comprising:

an electrical power input plug with a first cable;

a power output plug with a second cable;

a converter for converting electrical power received by the input plug to an output power at the output plug, the converter including means for generating a control signal applied to said output plug in addition to said output power for controlling said computer; and

retraction means for the first and second cables, said retraction means including first and second reels, each for receiving and independently retracting a different cable.