Patent Grant
8579641
The present specification relates to power adapters.
Power adapters are commonly used to power a variety of electrical devices. For example, radios, phones, notebook computers, and other devices frequently receive power from a power adapter that connects to an electrical outlet. Although power adapters provide users the convenience to use their electrical devices and recharge batteries, many power adapters are awkward to use. In some instances, power adapters block unused electrical outlets or require large amounts of space around an electrical outlet.
A removable plug can be connected to a power adapter in multiple orientations. A user can select the orientation of the plug relative to the power adapter housing so that the power adapter assembly fits in the space constraints of a particular electrical outlet. For example, the electrical prongs can extend from one side to connect to a wall outlet, and the electrical prongs can extend from a different side to connect to a socket of a power strip. As another example, in different orientations of the plug, the electrical prongs extend from the same side of the housing by have different rotational orientations.
In one general aspect, an electrical adapter system includes a housing including a receiving portion, the housing including first electrical contacts and second electrical contacts disposed at the receiving portion; and a plug including a body, electrical prongs extending from a surface of the body, and electrical contacts coupled to the electrical prongs, the body of the plug being receivable by the receiving portion in at least two orientations such that in each of the at least two orientations: the electrical prongs extend outward from the housing, and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage at least one of the first electrical contacts or at least one of the second electrical contacts.
Implementations may optionally include one or more of the following features. For example, the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts include at least one shared electrical contact. The housing includes a first surface of the receiving portion and a second surface of the receiving portion, the second surface of the receiving portion being substantially orthogonal to the first surface of the receiving portion, and the first electrical contacts are disposed at the first surface of the receiving portion and the second electrical contacts are disposed at the second surface of the receiving portion. The receiving portion is configured to receive the body of the plug in a first orientation such that the electrical prongs extend substantially parallel to a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the housing, and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage one or more of the first electrical contacts of the housing, and the receiving portion is configured to receive the body of the plug in a second orientation such that the electrical prongs extend substantially parallel to a second axis substantially perpendicular to the second surface of the housing and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage one or more of the second electrical contacts of the housing.
The receiving portion is configured to receive the body of the plug in a third orientation such that: the electrical prongs extend substantially parallel to the first axis and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage one or more of the first electrical contacts of the housing; and the orientation of the body of the plug relative to the housing is rotationally offset by approximately 90 degrees relative to the orientation of the body of the plug relative to the housing in the first orientation. The body is substantially cube-shaped and the receiving portion is substantially cube-shaped. The receiving portion is located at a corner of the housing.
The receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in at least four orientations, and in each of the at least four orientations, one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage at least one of the first electrical contacts or at least one of the second electrical contacts. The receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in at least eight orientations, and in each of the at least eight orientations, one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage at least one of the first electrical contacts or at least one of the second electrical contacts. The housing further includes third electrical contacts disposed at the receiving portion, and the body of the plug is receivable by the receiving portion in at least three orientations.
The receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in a first orientation such that the electrical prongs extend in the direction of a first axis and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage one or more of the first electrical contacts; the receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in a second orientation such that the electrical prongs extend in the direction of a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis, and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage one or more of the second electrical contacts; and the receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in a third orientation such that the electrical prongs extend in the direction of a third axis, the third axis being orthogonal to both the first axis and the second axis, and one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage one or more of the third electrical contacts.
The receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in at least six orientations such that in each of the at least six orientations, one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage at least one of the first electrical contacts, at least one of the second electrical contacts, or at least one of the third electrical contacts. The receiving portion is configured to receive the plug in at least twelve orientations such that in each of the at least twelve orientations, one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage at least one of the first electrical contacts, at least one of the second electrical contacts, or at least one of the third electrical contacts.
In another general aspect, a power adapter includes a housing that includes a receiving portion, the housing having a first surface disposed at the receiving portion and a second surface disposed at the receiving portion, the first surface being substantially orthogonal to the second surface; first electrical contacts including at least one contact disposed at the first surface; and second electrical contacts including at least one contact disposed at the second surface, where the housing is configured to receive a body of a plug in the receiving portion in at least two orientations such that in each of the at least two orientations, an electrically conductive connection is established between the plug and at least one of the first electrical contacts or at least one of the second electrical contacts.
Implementations may optionally include one or more of the following features. For example, the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts include at least one shared electrical contact. The first surface and the second surface extend inwardly from an exterior of the housing. Adapter circuitry is located in the housing, and the adapter circuitry is configured to receive electrical input from either or both of the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts, and one or more of the first electrical contacts and one or more of the second electrical contacts are connected such that voltages applied to the first electrical contacts are transmitted to the second electrical contacts, and voltages applied to the second electrical contacts are transmitted to the first electrical contacts. The first electrical contacts are recessed into the first surface and the second electrical contacts are recessed into the second surface. The first electrical contacts protrude from the first surface and the second electrical contacts protrude from the second surface. The receiving portion is cube-shaped and is defined at a corner of the housing. The housing has a third surface disposed at the receiving portion, the third surface being substantially orthogonal to the first surface and the second surface; the power adapter includes third electrical contacts disposed at the third surface; and the housing is configured to receive a body of a plug in the receiving portion in at least three orientations such that in each of the at least three orientations, an electrically conductive connection is established between the plug and at least one of the first electrical contacts, at least one of the second electrical contacts, or at least one of the third electrical contacts.
In another general aspect, an electrical plug includes a member having a first pair of substantially parallel sides, a second pair of substantially parallel sides, and a third pair of substantially parallel sides, the first, second, and third pairs of substantially parallel sides each being substantially orthogonal to the other two pairs of substantially parallel sides, and the first, second, and third pairs of substantially parallel sides each defining a portion of the outer surface of the member, the first pair of substantially parallel sides including a first side and a second side; electrical prongs coupled to the first side; and electrical contacts disposed at the second side and extending outward from the second side, the electrical contacts being coupled to the electrical prongs.
Implementations may optionally include one or more of the following features. For example, the member includes angled walls defining a channel in each of one or more sides orthogonal to the first side. The member defines one or more recesses in at least one of the second pair of substantially parallel sides or in at least one of the third pair of substantially parallel sides. A rotatable member disposed at the first side, the rotatable member being configured to rotate relative to the member, the electrical prongs being coupled to the rotatable member. A safety mechanism disposed between the electrical contacts and the electrical prongs.
Advantageous implementations can include one or more of the following features. An electrical plug can be coupled to a power adapter in at least two orientations. The plug can be coupled to the electrical adapter so that electrical prongs of the plug extend from different sides of the power adapter in different orientations. The plug can be coupled to the electrical adapter so that the electrical prongs can extend perpendicular to a single side in multiple orientations.
The details of one or more implementations of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
A power adapter receives a removable plug in at least two orientations. The various orientations of the plug permit a user to change the orientation of the plug relative to the power adapter. For example, in one orientation, the electrical prongs extend from a first side of the power adapter. In another orientation, the electrical prongs extend from a second side of the power adapter. A user can move the electrical plug from one orientation to another to permit the power adapter to make best use of the space around an electrical outlet. If the power adapter does not fit near an electrical outlet in one orientation, the user can move the electrical plug to another orientation to allow the power adapter to be plugged into the outlet. The user can also select an orientation that does not obscure nearby electrical outlets.
The power adapter 10 includes adapter circuitry (not shown), which can be located within a housing 12. The adapter circuitry can, for example, convert an alternating current (AC) input voltage to a direct current (DC) output voltage. An output cable 11 can be coupled to the power adapter 10 to provide power to an electrical device, such as a cellular phone, laptop computer, or media playing device.
The housing 12 can be formed in any suitable shape. In the illustrated example, the housing 12 includes substantially flat sides 14, 16, 18 oriented substantially perpendicular to each other such that the housing 12 has a block-like shape. Alternatively, the housing 12 can have rounded or contoured sides rather than flat sides.
The housing 12 can have a length, L, greater than the height, H, which is greater than the depth, D. Because the dimensions of the housing 12 can be unequal, different orientations of the housing 12 relative to a power outlet can have different clearance requirements. For example, when the first side 14 is oriented parallel to the face of an outlet (e.g., a vertical plane for a wall outlet), the length, L, of the power adapter 10 extends perpendicular to the face of the outlet. By contrast, when the second side 16 is oriented parallel to the face of an outlet, the depth, D, extends perpendicular to the face of the outlet. As a result, different orientations of the power adapter 10 relative to an outlet have different space requirements.
The housing 12 includes a receiving portion 20 in which to receive the plug 30. The receiving portion 20 is defined at an edge 22 of the housing 12 where the two perpendicular sides 14, 16 meet. The receiving portion 20 extends through a portion of both of the sides 14, 16, and is substantially symmetrical about the edge 22.
The shape and size of the receiving portion 20 are selected to approximate the shape and size of a body 32 of the plug 30. For example, the depth of the receiving portion D1 is approximately equal to the width, W, of a first portion 34 and a second portion 36 of the body 32 of the plug 30. At each of the sides 14, 16, the receiving portion 20 has a shape that substantially matches the shape of the first portion 34 and the second portion 36 of the body 32 of the plug 30 (e.g., substantially rectangular or square), permitting the body 32 to be received in the receiving portion 20 (see
The receiving portion 20 of the housing 12 includes a first surface 24 disposed substantially parallel to the first side 14 and a second surface 26 oriented substantially parallel to the second side 16. The first surface 24 and the second surface 26 are substantially flat to engage a substantially flat first inner surface 38 and a substantially flat second inner surface 40 (
At the first surface 24, the power adapter 10 includes first electrical contacts 25a, 25b. At the second surface 26, the power adapter 10 includes second electrical contacts 27a, 27b. The first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b can each include multiple contacts, for example, one contact for a phase (e.g., active or live AC) connection, and another contact for a return (e.g., neutral) connection. Additional contacts can be included, for example, to permit a connection to ground or to permit other electrical connections. The first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b protrude from their respective surfaces 24, 26. When the plug 30 is detached from the power adapter 10, the power adapter 10 is not connected to AC power and contact with the exposed first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and second electrical contacts 27a, 27b is not dangerous. In some implementations, the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b can be flush with or can be recessed into the surfaces 24, 26.
The first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b are coupled to the adapter circuitry, and are configured to receive AC power. The first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and second electrical contacts 27a, 27b can both be connected to the adapter circuitry such that electrical power applied to either the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b or the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b is transmitted to the adapter circuitry.
The first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b are electrically connected to each other so that power applied to the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b is also applied to the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b, and vice versa. Thus an electrical connection to either the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b or the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b will supply power to the adapter circuitry. Alternatively, in some implementations, the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b can be electrically isolated from each other and still be coupled to the adapter circuitry.
The electrical plug 30 includes the body 32, electrical prongs 54a, 54b, and electrical contacts 56a, 56b. The body 52 includes the first portion 34 that extends from an edge 42 of the second portion 36. The first portion 34 extends substantially perpendicular to the second portion 36, such that the body 32 has a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The outer surface 35 of the first portion 34 and the outer surface 37 of the second portion 36 are substantially square, corresponding to the size of the receiving portion 20. The width, W, of the first portion 34 and the second portion 36 is substantially the same as the depth, D1, of the receiving portion 20, so that the outer surfaces 35, 37 are flush with the sides 14, 16 of the housing 12 when the body 32 is received in the receiving portion 20.
The electrical prongs 54 extend from the outer surface 35 of the first portion 34 of the body 32. The electrical prongs 54 can extend substantially perpendicular to the surface 35. The electrical prongs 54 can include, for example, two or more prongs for insertion into an AC power outlet.
Referring to
The electrical contacts 56a, 56b are disposed in recesses 58a, 58b in the first inner surface 38 of the first portion 34. The recesses 58a, 58b admit the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b or the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b, depending on the orientation of the plug 30 relative to the power adapter 10. The second portion 36 defines recesses 60 that admit the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b or the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b (again depending on the orientation of the plug 30 relative to the power adapter 10), but the recesses 60 do not include electrical contacts. The recesses 60 can be defined symmetrically relative to the recesses 58a, 58b across an inner edge 62 located between the first inner surface 38 and the second inner surface 40. For example, the recesses 60 can have reflectional symmetry across the inner edge 62 (such that the recesses 60 and the recesses 58a, 58b are mirror images of each other) or rotational symmetry (such that the position of the recesses 60 is rotationally offset relative to the position of the recesses 58a, 58b by, for example, 180 degrees), or both.
In addition, or alternatively, electrical contacts can be included in the recesses 60. In some implementations, electrical contacts can be located in each of the recesses 58a, 58b, 60. As a result, the power adapter 10 can include only one set of electrical contacts in the receiving portion 20 and still be able to establish an electrical connection (e.g., establish an electrically conductive path) with the plug 50 in multiple orientations.
Referring to
In the example of
In some implementations, contacts of the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b or the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b can be spread over multiple surfaces of the receiving portion 20, rather than each being located at a single surface. Similarly, the electrical contacts 56a, 56b of the plug can be located on multiple surfaces of the plug 30, for example, on any of the surfaces facing or engaging the receiving portion 20.
Because the electrical contacts 56a, 56b are disposed within the recesses 58a, 58b, the possibility that a user accidently touches the electrical contacts 56a, 56b while the electrical prongs 54 are connected to AC power is less than if the electrical contacts 56a, 56b were flush with or protrude from the inner surface 38. The plug 30 can include one or more safety features that further limit accidental exposure to AC power, such as fuses, circuit breakers, switches, and current limiters. The plug 30 can also include one or more safety features that, for example, block the electrical contacts 56a, 56b from accidental exposure to a user. An example of a safety mechanism is described in greater detail with reference to
The plug 30 can be coupled to the power adapter 10 in at least two orientations. Although the power adapter 10 receives only one plug 30 at a time, the plug 30 is shown in two positions in
In the first orientation, the electrical contacts 56a, 56b are aligned with the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b, for example, along a first axis 80. To couple the plug 30 to the power adapter 10 in the first orientation, the user moves the body 32 of the plug 30 into the receiving portion 20. The electrical contacts 56a, 56b engage the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b of the power adapter 10, forming an electrical connection that connects the electrical prongs 54a, 54b to the adapter circuitry through the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b. The second portion 36 of the body 32 covers the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b, which are received in the recesses 60. The electrical prongs 54a, 54b extend from the side 14 of the housing 12, as shown in
The plug 30 and the power adapter 10 form a power adapter assembly 90 that can be used to power electrical devices. The prongs 54a, 54b can be inserted into an electrical outlet so that the power adapter 10 provides power to one or more electrical devices. Because the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b are covered by the body 32 of the plug 30, the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b do not expose a user to AC power.
The plug 30 can be removed from the power adapter 10 and replaced in a second orientation relative to the power adapter 10. In the second orientation, the electrical contacts 56a, 56b of the plug 30 are aligned with the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b, for example, along a second axis 82. To couple the plug 30 to the power adapter 10 in the second orientation, the user moves the body 32 of the plug 30 into the receiving portion 20 so that the electrical contacts 56a, 56b engage the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b of the power adapter 10. This forms an electrical connection between the electrical prongs 54a, 54b and the adapter circuitry through the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b. In the second orientation, the second portion 36 of the body 32 covers the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b, and the electrical prongs 54a, 54b extend from the side 16 of the housing 12, as shown in
Because the electrical prongs 54a, 54b extend from different sides 14, 16 of the housing 12 during in the first and second orientations, the user can change the orientation of the plug 30 relative to the power adapter 10 to select the most advantageous orientation for a particular use. For example, in the first orientation, shown in
In the second orientation, the prongs 54a, 54b are oriented perpendicular to the side 16, the largest side of the power adapter 10. In the second orientation, the power adapter assembly 90 can be used at an electrical outlet in a wall. The housing 12 can extend parallel to the wall to avoid interfering with furniture or people passing by.
In addition, the power adapter 10 and the plug 30 maintain polarity during the first and the second orientations. Due to the arrangement of the first electrical contacts 25a, 25b and the second electrical contacts 27a, 27b, the adapter circuitry receives the same electrical input regardless of the orientation of the plug 30. For example, the contact 25a and the contact 27a are electrically connected, and the contact 25b and the contact 27b are electrically connected. The contact 25b is located above the contact 25a at the surface 24. By contrast, the position of the contacts 27a, 27b is reversed. Contact 27a is located above the contact 27b at the surface 26.
In the first orientation, the contact 56a connects to the contact 25a, and in the second orientation, the contact 56a connects to the contact 27a. Even though the orientation of the plug 30 changes between the first orientation and the second orientation, the same prong 54a will be connected to a particular input to the adapter circuitry (whether through contact 25a or contact 27a) in both the first orientation and the second orientation. Similarly, the prong 54b will connect to either the contact 25b or the contact 27b regardless of the orientation of the plug 30 to the power adapter 10, thus maintaining polarity of the input to the adapter circuitry.
From the first orientation, the user removes the plug 30 from the power adapter 10. In some implementations, the housing 12 defines a notch or groove that permits the user to pry the plug 30 out of the receiving portion 20. In other implementations, the power adapter 10 includes a release mechanism, such as a latch or a switch that releases a fastening mechanism that secures the plug 30 to the power adapter 10, allowing to the plug 30 to become uncoupled from the power adapter 10.
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
When the body 130 is brought toward the power adapter 134, ends 131 of the body 130 press the pins 135 into the cavities 136. This provides the body 130 clearance to move further into the receiving portion 138 while loading the springs 137. When the body 130 is received in the receiving portion 138, recesses 132 defined in the ends 131 of the body 130 align with the pins 135. The springs 137 cause the pins 135 to extend out of the cavities 136 and into the recesses 132. The pins 135, partially disposed in the recesses 132 and partially disposed in the power adapter 134, secure the body 130 to the power adapter 134. A sliding switch or other release mechanism (not shown) can be provided on the power adapter 134 to manually move the pins 135 into the power adapter 134, thus releasing the body 130.
Additional variations are also possible. For example, spring-loaded pins can be included in the body 130, and recesses to receive the pins can be included in the power adapter. Similarly, instead of pins, protruding edges can be received into channels. As another example, pins can be moved by other mechanisms other than springs. For example, a user can manipulate a control that causes pins to extend or retract from the power adapter 134 or from the body 130.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The plug 210 includes a body 216 that defines a recess 212 and a compartment 215. The electrical contact 211 is disposed in the recess 212. The compartment 215 is open to the recess 212, so that the cover 213 can extend from the compartment 215 into the recess 212. The cover 213 covers the electrical contact 211 when the plug 210 is not coupled to the power adapter 220 (
When the plug 210 becomes coupled to the power adapter 220, an electrical contact 222 of the power adapter 220 enters the recess 212. The electrical contact 222 engages the cover 213 and moves the cover out of the recess 212 such that the cover 213 is received in the compartment 215. With the cover 213 moved out of the recess 212, the electrical contact 222 of the power adapter 220 can engage the electrical contact 211 of the plug 210 to establish an electrical connection with an electrical prong 217 of the plug 210. When the plug 210 is uncoupled from the power adapter 220, the spring 214 moves the cover 213 into the recess 212 to cover the electrical contact 211 of the plug 210.
Additional variations are possible. For example, the cover 213 can be retracted from the recess by mechanisms other than direct contact with the electrical contact 222. As another example, the electrical contacts located at different surfaces of a power adapter may not all be simultaneously connected to each other or to the adapter circuitry. As a result, AC power connected to electrical contacts at one surface of the power adapter may not expose AC power at electrical contacts located at different surface. If the body of the plug 210 breaks, some electrical contacts of the power adapter 220 (e.g., electrical contacts that are not positioned behind the electrical prongs) may become exposed. Nevertheless, when the exposed electrical contacts are not connected to the adapter circuitry, there is no danger to a user.
A power adapter 220 can include one or more switches that can connect electrical contacts of the power adapter 220 to and disconnect the electrical contacts from the adapter circuitry. For example, a pin extending from a surface of the plug 210 can engage a switch of the power adapter 220, causing the switch to connect a particular set of electrical contacts of the power adapter 220 to the adapter circuitry. Only the particular set of electrical contacts needed for the current orientation of the plug 210 can be connected to the adapter circuitry, while one or more other sets of electrical contacts of the power adapter 220 remain disconnected from the adapter circuitry for safety.
The plug 250 includes a body 251 that includes a first portion 254 that is substantially in the form of a rectangular plate. The first portion 254 extends in a plane from an edge of a second portion 255, which is also substantially in the form of a rectangular plate. The second portion 255 extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first portion 254. The first portion 254 includes an outer side 258 opposite an inner side 260. The second portion 255 includes an outer side 259 opposite an inner side 261.
Each electrical prong 252a-252c is electrically connected to a corresponding electrical contact 254a-254c. The electrical contacts 254a-254c are located in recesses 256, and recesses 257 are defined in the inner side 261. The recesses 256 and the recesses 257 are rotationally symmetrical such that the configuration of the recesses 256 and the recesses 257 is the same in their respective inner sides 260, 261 except for a 180-degree rotation.
The power adapter 280 includes first electrical contacts 284a-284c and second electrical contacts 286a-286c that are received in the recesses 256, 257. In a first orientation, the first electrical contacts 284a-284c are received in the recesses 256, and each contact 284a-284c connects electrically with one of the electrical contacts 254a-254c of the plug 250. In a second orientation, the second electrical contacts 286a-286c are received in the recesses 256, and each contact 286a-286c connects electrically with one of the electrical contacts 254a-254c of the plug 250.
The plug 300 includes a body 302 with a first portion 304, a second portion 306, and a third portion 308. The first portion 304, the second portion 306, and the third portion 308 are each shaped as substantially flat plates. The three portions 304, 306, 308 are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other and meet at an exterior corner 310. The three portions 304, 306, 308 have respective outer surfaces 312, 314, 316 that form three adjacent faces of a cube. The three portions 304, 306, 308 also have respective inner sides 318, 320, 322 that meet at an interior corner 324 defined in the body 302.
The plug 300 includes electrical prongs 326a, 326b coupled to the outer surface 312 of the first portion 304. In the inner side 318 (opposite the surface 312 from which the electrical prongs 326a, 326b extend), the first portion 304 defines recesses 324. The plug 300 includes an electrical contact 328a, 328b disposed in each of the recesses 324. Each electrical contact 328a, 328b is electrically connected to one of the electrical prongs 326a, 326b. The recesses 324 and the electrical contacts 328a, 328b can be offset from the electrical prongs 326a, 326b and can be connected through the body 302 with wires or other conductors.
The second portion 306 defines recesses 330 through the inner side 320, and the third portion 308 defines recesses 332 through the inner side 322. The recesses 330, 332 do not have electrical contacts located within, but are configured to receive electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b of the power adapter 350.
The power adapter 350 includes a housing 351 that has a substantially block-like shape and includes three substantially perpendicular exterior sides 352, 354, 356. At a corner where the exterior sides 352, 354, 356 meet, the power adapter 350 includes a receiving portion 358 in which to receive the body 302 of the plug 300. The receiving portion 358 includes a cube-shaped portion 360, which can be selected to have substantially the same size as a cube-shaped recess 333 defined by the inner sides 318, 320, 322 of the body 302. As a result, the body 302 receives the cube shaped portion 360 in the receiving portion 333 of the body 302 when the receiving portion 358 receives the body 302 in the receiving portion 358 of the housing 351.
The cube-shaped portion 360 includes a first side 362, a second side 364, and a third side 366. Each of the sides 362, 364, 366 is substantially flat and is perpendicular to the other two sides 362, 364, 366. First electrical contacts 368a, 368b are located at the first side 362, second electrical contacts 370a, 370b are located at the second side 364, and third electrical contacts 372a, 372b are located at the third side 366. The electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b each protrude from their respective sides 362, 364, 366.
The electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b are arranged symmetrically about a corner 373 of the cube-shaped portion 360. For example, the electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b are arranged with reflectional symmetry across: (i) a first edge 374, formed between the first side 362 and the second side 364; (ii) a second edge 376, formed between the second side 364 and the third side 366; and (iii) a third edge 378 formed between the third side 366 and the first side 362. The positions of any set of the electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b is a mirror image or reflection of the other electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b across any of the edges 374, 376, 378.
The recesses 324, 330, 332 are arranged with corresponding symmetry to match the positions of the electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b. As a result, when the plug 300 is coupled to the power adapter 350, each electrical contact 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b is received in one of the recesses 324, 330, 332.
The electrical contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b are each connected to adapter circuitry within the housing 351. For example, the adapter circuitry receives electrical input from the first electrical contacts 368a, 368b, the second electrical contacts 370a, 370b, or the third electrical contacts 372a, 372b. In some implementations, the adapter circuitry receives electrical input simultaneously from a combination of the contacts 368a, 368b, 370a, 370b, 372a, 372b.
In some implementations, each of the contacts 368a, 370a, 372a are electrically connected together so that a voltage applied to the contact 368a is transmitted to the adapter circuitry and the contacts 370a, 372a, a voltage applied to the contact 370a is transmitted to the adapter circuitry and the contacts 368a, 372a, and a voltage applied to the contact 372a is transmitted to the adapter circuitry and the contacts 370a, 372a. Each of the contacts 368b, 370b, 372b is electrically connected together in a similar manner.
The body 302 of the plug 300 is received in the receiving portion 358 in at least three orientations. In the first orientation, the body 302 is aligned with the housing 351 along, for example, a first axis 390. At the receiving portion 358, the inner side 318 of the body 302 engages the first side 362 of the housing 351. The first electrical contacts 368a, 368b are received in the recesses 324, and engage the electrical contacts 328a, 328b of the plug 300, establishing an electrically conductive connection. The electrical prongs 326a, 326b extend outward from the housing 351, perpendicular to the exterior side 352.
Also, in the first orientation, the electrical contacts 370a, 370b are covered by the second portion 306 and are received in the recesses 330, so that the inner side 320 of the body 302 engages the second side 364 of the housing 351. The electrical contacts 372a, 372b are covered by the third portion 308 and are received in the recesses 332, so that the inner side 322 engages the third side 366.
In the second orientation, the body 302 is aligned with the housing 351 along, for example, a second axis 392. At the receiving portion 358, the inner side 318 of the body 302 engages the second side 364 of the housing 351. The second electrical contacts 370a, 370b are received in the recesses 324 and engage the electrical contacts 328a, 328b of the plug 300, establishing an electrically conductive connection. The electrical prongs 326a, 326b extend outward from the housing 351, perpendicular to the exterior side 354.
Also, in the second orientation, the first electrical contacts 368a, 368b are covered by the third portion 308 and are received in the recesses 332, so that the inner side 322 of the body 302 engages the first side 362 of the housing 351. The third electrical contacts 372a, 372b are covered by the second portion 306 and are received in the recesses 330, so that the inner side 320 engages the third side 366.
In the third orientation, the body 302 is aligned with the housing 351 along, for example, a third axis 394. At the receiving portion 358, the inner side 318 of the body 302 engages the third side 366 of the housing 351. The third electrical contacts 372a, 372b are received in the recesses 324 and engage the electrical contacts 328a, 328b of the plug 300, establishing an electrically conductive connection. The electrical prongs 326a, 326b extend outward from the housing 351, perpendicular to the exterior side 356.
Also, in the third orientation, the first electrical contacts 368a, 368b are covered by the second portion 306 and are received in the recesses 330, such that the inner side 320 of the body 302 engages the first side 362 of the housing 351. The second electrical contacts 370a, 370b are covered by the second portion 306 and are received in the recesses 332, such that the inner side 322 engages the second side 364.
In each of the three orientations in which the plug 300 is coupled to the power adapter 350, the electrical prongs 326a, 326b extend perpendicular to different exterior sides 352, 354, 365 of the housing 351. Accordingly, the user can select a particular orientation is advantageous for a particular situation, for example, connecting the power adapter to a wall socket or a power strip. Each electrical contact 368a, 370a, 372a can be connected together, and each electrical contact 368b, 370b, 372b can be connected together, so that the polarity of the electrical connection with the electrical prongs is maintained during each of the three orientations.
The plug 300 can be coupled to the power adapter 350 by, for example, moveable extensions 380 can protrude from or be received in the housing 351. The extensions 380 can be located in the receiving portion 358. For example, the extensions 380 can extend from surfaces 382 in the receiving portion 358.
The body 302 of the plug 300 defines recesses 338 that receive the extensions 380. For example, the body 302 defines the recesses 338 in L-shaped surfaces 339 that are substantially perpendicular to the inner surfaces 318, 320, and 322. The extensions 380 recede into the housing 351 to allow the body 302 to be positioned in the receiving portion 358. When the body 302 is located in the receiving portion 358, the extensions 380 extend from the housing 351 into the recesses 338, securing the plug 300 to the power adapter 350.
The extensions 380 can be retracted into the compartment 385 to allow the body 302 of the plug 300 to be removed from the power adapter 350. For example, the power adapter 350 can include a switch or other control that causes the extensions to retract.
Additional variations are possible. For example, the power adapter 350 can receive one of several different plugs, and each plug can have a different orientation of electrical prongs. For example, two different plugs can include electrical prongs that extend in the same direction from outer surfaces of the plugs, but the orientation of the electrical prongs of can vary so that the electrical prongs of one plug are oriented at a rotational offset, such as 90 degrees, compared to the other plug. As another example, different plugs can include different shapes and sizes of electrical prongs in order to function with electrical sockets in different countries. In some implementations, a single power adapter 350 can be used with multiple different types of electrical sockets by using a different electrical plug.
The electrical prongs of a plug can also be located at a rotatable face coupled to the body of the plug. The rotatable face can rotate in a plane parallel to an outer side of the plug, allowing the orientation of the electrical prongs of the plug to change relative to an outer side of the plug. For example, the rotatable face can rotate up to 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, 360 degrees or more.
Plugs can include one, two, three or more electrical prongs, and plugs can include one, two, three or more electrical contacts. The electrical contacts of the power adapter can be arranged to connect to one or more electrical contacts of any of several different plugs. Some plugs may not establish an electrical connection with all of the electrical contacts located at a particular surface of a power adapter. Likewise, some power adapters may not establish an electrical connection with all of the electrical contacts located at a particular surface of a plug.
In some implementations, there are no recesses defined in inner surfaces of the plugs. For example, electrical contacts of a plug can be disposed on one or more inner sides and can be flush with the inner sides or can protrude from the inner sides. Accordingly, a power adapter can establish an electrical connection with electrical contacts of the plug with electrical contacts that are positioned flush with surfaces of the power adapter or recessed into the power adapter.
The electrical plug 450 can be coupled to the power adapter 400 in at least twelve orientations. The electrical plug 450 can be coupled to the power adapter 400 in alignment with a first axis 440, a second axis 442, or a third axis 444. For each axis 440, 442, 444, the electrical plug 450 can be coupled to the power adapter 400 at any of four rotational orientations (a rotational offset of 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees), for a total of at least twelve orientations of the plug relative to the housing. In each of the twelve orientations, electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 engage one or more of the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d of the power adapter 400, causing an electrically conductive connection to be established between the plug 450 and the power adapter 400.
The electrical plug 450 includes a body 452, one or more electrical prongs 454a, 454b, and one or more electrical contacts 456a, 456b. The body 452 can be substantially shaped as a rectangular prism (e.g., cuboid). The body 452 can be substantially cube-shaped. Nevertheless, in some implementations, the body 452 can have rounded edges, rounded corners, irregular surface contours, grooves, recesses, and other features.
In the illustrated example, the body 452 includes a first side 458 and a second side 460 opposite the first side 458. The first side 458 and the second side 460 can be substantially parallel to each other. The body 452 also includes a third side 462 opposite a fourth side 464, and a fifth side 466 opposite a sixth side 468. The third side 462 and the fourth side 464 are substantially parallel to each other, and the fifth side 466 and the sixth side 468 are substantially parallel to each other. The third side 462 and the fourth side 464 are oriented substantially orthogonal to (i) the first side 458 and the second side 460, and (ii) the fifth side 466 and the sixth side 468. Similarly, the fifth side 466 and the sixth side 468 are oriented substantially orthogonal to (i) the first side 458 and the second side 460, and (ii) the third side 462 and the fourth side 464. Thus the body 452 can include three pairs of substantially parallel sides (e.g., 458 and 460; 462 and 464; and 466 and 468), and each pair of substantially parallel sides can be substantially orthogonal to the other two pairs of substantially perpendicular sides.
The sides 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468 can form the outer surface of the body 452. For example, at least a portion of each of the sides 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468 can define a portion of the outer surface of the body 452.
The electrical prongs 454a, 454b extend from the first side 458. For example, the electrical prongs 454a, 454b extend orthogonal to the first side 458. The body 452 can include, for example, two or more electrical prongs 454a, 454b.
The electrical contacts 456a, 456b are located at the second side 460. The electrical contacts 456a, 456b can protrude from the second side 460. For example, the electrical contacts 456a, 456b can extend substantially orthogonal to the second surface 460. In some implementations, however, the electrical contacts 456a, 456b are flush with the second side 460 or are recessed into the second side 460.
The plug 450 can include one, two, three, or more than three electrical contacts 456a, 456b. For example, for each electrical prong 454a, 454b, the plug 450 can include a corresponding electrical contact 456a, 456b. The electrical contacts 456a, 456b can be coupled to the electrical prongs 454a, 454b. For example, the plug 450 can include circuitry that establishes an electrically conductive connection between the electrical contacts 456a, 456b and the electrical prongs 454a, 454b. In some implementations, the circuitry can include a safety mechanism coupled between one or more electrical contacts 456a, 456b and one or more electrical prongs 454a, 454b. Examples of safety mechanisms include, for example, fuses, switches, circuit breakers, ground fault interruption circuits, surge suppression elements, and current limiting elements.
Each electrical contact 456a, 456b can be connected to a different electrical prong 454a, 454b. In some implementations, one or more electrical contacts 456a, 456b can be connected to multiple electrical prongs 454a, 454b, and/or one or more electrical prongs 454a, 454b can be connected to multiple electrical contacts 456a, 456b.
The power adapter 400 includes a housing 402 that includes a first exterior side 410, a second exterior side 412, and a third exterior side 414. Each exterior side 410, 412, 414 can be substantially orthogonal to the other exterior sides 410, 412, 414. The housing 402 includes a receiving portion 404 that can receive at least a portion of the body 452 of the plug 450. The receiving portion 404 can approximate the shape and size of the body 452. For example, the body 452 can be substantially cube-shaped, and the receiving portion 404 can be substantially cube-shaped. The receiving portion 404 can be defined in a corner of the housing 402.
The body 452 of the plug 450 can be received in the receiving portion 404 so that the electrical prongs 454a, 454b extend substantially parallel to one of the axes 440, 442, 444. The three axes 440, 442, 444 can be mutually orthogonal. Orientations of the plug 450 along different axes 440, 442, 444 can result in the electrical prongs 454a, 454b extending orthogonal to different exterior sides 410, 412, 414. That is, when the plug 450 is coupled to the housing 402 along the first axis 440, the electrical prongs 454a, 454b extend substantially in the direction of the first axis 440, substantially orthogonal to the first exterior side 410. When the plug 450 is coupled to the housing 402 along the second axis 442, the electrical prongs 454a, 454b extend substantially in the direction of the second axis 442, substantially orthogonal to the second exterior side 412. When the plug 450 is coupled to the housing 402 along the third axis 444, the electrical prongs 454a, 454b extend substantially in the direction of the third axis 444, substantially orthogonal to the third side exterior side 414.
As an alternative, the receiving portion 404 can be defined in an edge of the housing 402, but not at a corner (see
Located in the receiving portion 404, the housing 402 includes a first surface 420, a second surface 422, and a third surface 424. The first surface 420, the second surface 422, and the third surface 424 can be substantially orthogonal to each other. The first surface 420, the second surface 422, and the third surface 424 can extend inwardly from the exterior of the housing 402, for example, from the exterior sides 410, 412, 414. The first surface 420 can be substantially parallel to the first exterior side 410, the second surface 422 can be substantially parallel to the second exterior side 412, and the third surface 424 can be substantially parallel to the third exterior side 414. The first surface 420, the second surface 422, and the third surface 424 can define the receiving portion 404.
The power adapter 400 can include contacts that engage electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 in different orientations of the plug 450 relative to the power adapter 400. For example, in a on orientation of the plug 450 relative to the power adapter 400, the electrical contacts 456a, 456b can engage first electrical contacts. In a different orientation of the plug 450 relative to the power adapter, the electrical contacts 456a, 456b can engage second electrical contacts. A set or group of contacts (e.g., first electrical contacts, or second electrical contacts) can be located at a single side or multiple sides of the receiving portion 404. Sets of contacts can overlap, such that two sets of contacts have one or more contacts in common. Sets of contacts can also include one or more contacts not shared with any other set, but need not do so. Different sets of contacts can be located at different sides of the receiving portion 404, but need not be so arranged.
In the example of
In some implementations, at least as many electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d as the number of electrical prongs 454a-454d of the plug 450 can be located at each surface 420, 422, 424. For example, the plug 450 includes two electrical prongs 454a-454d, so at least two electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d can be included at each surface 420, 422, 424. In some implementations, more or fewer electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d at each surface 420, 422, 424. As a result, for one or more orientations of the plug 450 relative to the power adapter 400, some electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d at a particular surface 420, 422, 424 can be connected to electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 while others at that surface 420, 422, 424 are not.
Two or more of the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d can be electrically connected to each other. For example, different groupings of the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d can be connected to different inputs of adapter circuitry in the housing 402. An output of the adapter circuitry can be transmitted through a cable 403 coupled to the housing 402. Because multiple electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d can be tied to a single input of the adapter circuitry, the adapter circuitry can be simplified. For example, the adapter circuitry can have fewer inputs than the total number of electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d or the number of surfaces 420, 422, 424 in the receiving portion 404. Connections between the various subsets of the twelve electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d can enable the adapter circuitry to function with two inputs, for example, one input corresponding to each prong 454a, 454b of the plug 450.
As an example, consider the engagement of the electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 with the electrical contacts 430a-430d at the first surface 420. The electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 are disposed diagonally at the side 460. As a result, only electrical contacts 430a-430d positioned diagonally from each other can be simultaneously engage the electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 (e.g., electrical contacts 430a, 430d, or electrical contacts 430b, 430c). Electrical contacts 430a-430d that are not arranged diagonally to each other (e.g., the electrical contacts 430a, 430c; and the electrical contacts 430a, 430b), will never be simultaneously connected to the electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450, in any orientation that the plug 450 can be coupled to the power adapter 400 along the first axis 440. As a result, of the first electrical contacts 430a-430d, a first subset including the electrical contacts 430a, 430c can be connected together, and a second subset including of the electrical contacts 430b, 430d can be connected together. With these connections, there is no orientation that will cause a short circuit between the electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450.
As another example, some of the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d at different surfaces 420, 422, 424 can also be connected together. For example, the electrical contacts 430a, 430b, 432a, 432b, 434a, 434b can be connected together and can be connected to one input of the adapter circuitry. The electrical contacts 430c, 430d, 432c, 432d, 434c, 434d can also be connected together and can be connected to another input of the adapter circuitry. In all the different orientations that the plug 450 can be coupled to the power adapter 400, power is transmitted from the plug 450 to the two inputs of the adapter circuitry, and no short circuit will occur between the electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450.
The electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d located at a particular surface 420,422, 424 can, but are not required to, be arranged with one or more types of symmetry. In particular, two or more contacts can be arranged with rotational symmetry in one of the surfaces 420, 422, 424. For example, the electrical contacts 430a-430d located at the first surface 420 are arranged with rotational symmetry at the first surface 420. In one orientation of the plug 450 to the housing 402 along the first axis 440, the electrical contact 456a engages the electrical contact 430a. The plug 450 can be removed, rotated 90 degrees about the first axis 440, and replaced along the first axis 440 such that the electrical contact 456a engages the electrical contact 430b. Similarly, the plug 450 can be repositioned further so that the electrical contact 456a engages the electrical contact 430c or the electrical contact 430d.
The first electrical contacts 430a-430d, the second electrical contacts 432a-432d, and the third electrical contacts 434a-434d can be, but are not required to be, symmetrically arranged at their respective surfaces 420, 422, 424. For example, the first electrical contacts 430a-430d can be arranged with one or more types of symmetry with respect to the second electrical contacts 432a-432d and/or the third electrical contacts 434a-434d. The electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d at different surfaces 420, 422, 424 can be arranged with reflectional symmetry. As an example, the location of one or more electrical contacts 430a-430d in the first surface 420 mirrors the location of one or more electrical contacts 432a-432d in the second surface 422 across an edge 437 between the surfaces 420, 422. In addition, or alternatively, electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d at different surfaces 420, 422, 424 can also be arranged with rotational symmetry with respect to each other. In addition, or alternatively, other relationships and other types of symmetry can be exist between the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d.
The body 452 of the plug 450 is received in the receiving portion 404 in at least twelve orientations. In each of the orientations, each electrical contact 456a, 456b of the plug 450 engages one of the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d of the power adapter 400. The engagement of the electrical contact 456a, 456b and the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d creates an electrically conductive connection, so that electricity can flow from the electrical prongs 454a, 454b to the adapter circuitry in the housing 402.
The plug 450 can be coupled to the power adapter 400 to form a power adapter assembly 490 (
Table 1, below, indicates the connections of the electrical contacts 456a, 456b to the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d in each of the twelve orientations.
In each orientation of the plug 450 to the power adapter 400, only two of the twelve electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d are connected to the electrical contacts 456a, 456b. The body 452 of the plug 450 covers the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d that do not engage one of electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450. As a result, when the plug 450 is coupled to the power adapter 400, none of the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d are exposed.
A number of variations can be made. For example, more or fewer electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d and electrical contacts 456a-456 can be included. The locations and connections between the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d, 456a, 456b can also be varied. The placement and number of electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d, 456a, 456b can allow or disallow particular orientations of the plug 450 relative to the housing 402.
The electrical contacts 456a, 456b of the plug 450 can be flush with the side 460 of the body 452 or can be recessed into the side 460 of the body 452. The electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d of the power adapter 400 can be flush with the surfaces 420, 422, 424 or can extend from the surfaces 420, 422, 424. The body 452 can define recesses, holes, channels, grooves or other features to admit the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d. For example, to connect with a power adapter 400 in which electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d extend from the surfaces 420, 422, 424, the body 452 of the plug 450 can define grooves in one or more sides 458, 460, 462, 464 to admit the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d. Thus electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d that protrude into the receiving portion 404 can be received in the body 452 so that the sides 458, 460, 462, 464 of the body 452 can engage the surfaces 420, 422, 424 in the receiving portion 404, without being impeded by the electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d.
The power adapter 400 can receive one of several different electrical plugs. For example different plugs can include electrical prongs for different types of outlets. One plug can include two electrical prongs, and another can include three electrical prongs. Various electrical plugs can be configured for use with different international socket types or different voltage levels. Different electrical plugs can connect to different electrical contacts 430a-430d, 432a-432d, 434a-434d of the power adapter 400.
In some implementations, a plug can be moved from one orientation to another orientation relative to a power adapter housing without the plug being removed from the housing. For example, in addition to, or as an alternative to, the orientations achievable by removing and replacing the plug, the plug can include a body component that can move (for example, pivot, swivel, rotate, translate, twist, tilt, or combinations thereof) relative to the housing while the plug is engaged with the housing.
When the body component moves while in engagement with the housing, electrical contacts of the body may remain in contact with a single set of electrical contacts of the housing, or may move to engage one or more different contacts of the housing. The electrical prongs of the plug can extend from the movable body component, and the movable body component can be captured by the housing, can be captured by another plug body element, or can be removable. The movable body component can move such that the angle of the electrical prongs is altered relative to an axis of the housing, for example, permitting the electrical prongs to extend in a direction not orthogonal to any of the side surfaces of the housing. The movable body component can move such that the electrical prongs shift from a first side of the housing to a different side of the housing.
For example, when the plug is located at a corner of a substantially rectangular housing, a moveable body component of the plug can swivel, permitting electrical prongs extending from the moveable body component to be positioned such that they extend from any of three orthogonal sides of the housing.
The plug can include a moveable body component that can pivot about an axis. Pivoting of the moveable body component can cause electrical prongs extending from the moveable body member to move between a first direction along a reference axis perpendicular to the pivot axis to a second, opposite direction along the reference axis. In this manner the position of the prongs can move through a range of motion of, for example, 180 degrees or more.
A plug including a moveable body component can include a locking mechanism to secure the position of the moveable body component relative to the plug body and/or the housing. The locking mechanism may secure the prongs at discrete positions or increments, but need not do so.
The plug 550 can be coupled to the power adapter 500 in one of four orientations. The plug 550 can be coupled to the power adapter 500 along a first axis 540 or along a second axis 542. Along each axis 540, 542, the plug 550 can be coupled in two orientations, each offset by 180 degrees.
The plug 550 includes a body 552, two electrical prongs 554a, 554b, and two electrical contacts 556a, 556b. The electrical prong 554a is connected to the electrical contact 556a by circuitry in the body 552, and the electrical prong 554b is connected to the electrical contact 556b by circuitry in the body 552.
The power adapter 500 includes a housing 502 that includes a receiving portion 504 at an edge 506 of the housing 502. On the receiving portion 504, the power adapter 500 includes first electrical contacts 530a, 530b and second electrical contacts 532a, 532b. Due to the positions of the electrical contacts 530a, 530b, 532a, 532b, the plug 550 can only be coupled to the power adapter 500 in particular orientations. For example, the plug 550 cannot be coupled to the power adapter 500 along the first axis 540 in two orientations that have a 90 degree rotational offset. The allowed orientations of the plug 550 relative to the power adapter 500 are indicated in Table 2, below. In other implementations, different numbers of electrical contacts 530a, 530b, 532a, 532b and different placement of the electrical contacts 530a, 530b, 532a, 532b can allow more or fewer orientations of the plug 550 to the power adapter 500.
The plug 600 includes a body 602, electrical prongs 604a-604c, and electrical contacts 606a-606c. Two of the electrical prongs 604a, 604b are sized to connect AC power terminals of a power outlet, and the other electrical prong 604c is sized to connect to a ground terminal of a power outlet. Each electrical prong 604a-604c is connected to a respective electrical contact 606a-606c. The electrical prong 604a is connected to the electrical contact 606a, the electrical prong 604b is connected to the electrical contact 606b, and the electrical prong 604c is connected to the electrical contact 606c.
The electrical contacts 610a-610e are located at a surface 611, and can be recessed into the surface 611. The surface 611 can be located at a receiving portion of a housing of a power adapter, for example.
In each of the orientations of
The electrical contacts 631a, 631b of a plug 630 (
The polarity of the electrical contacts 631a, 631b relative to the electrical contacts 622a, 622b is not maintained in all of the orientations. For example, in some orientations the electrical contact 631a engages the electrical contact 622a, and in other orientations the electrical contact 631a engages the electrical contact 622b.
In some instances, manufacturing of one electrical contact 622a, 622b that extends in a channel 624a, 624b may be easier and less expensive than manufacturing two distinct recesses with two separate electrical contacts. Similar to the arrangement of electrical contacts 430a-430d of
The plug 670 includes electrical contacts 671a-671c that engage the electrical contacts 662a-662c in two orientations. Other orientations of the plug 670 relative to the electrical contacts 662a-662c are disallowed. Polarity of the connections is maintained for both orientations. For example, in each orientation, the electrical contact 671a engages the electrical contact 662a, the electrical contact 671b engages the electrical contact 662b, and the electrical contact 671c engages the electrical contact 662c.
In the first orientation, the electrical contact 671a engages the second end 665 of the electrical contact 662a, and the electrical contact 671b engages the first end 668 of the electrical contact 662b. In the second orientation, the plug 670 is rotated 90 degrees from the position of the plug 670 in the first orientation. In the second orientation, the electrical contact 671a engages the first end 664 of the electrical contact 662a, and the electrical contact 671b engages the second end 669 of the electrical contact 662b. Because the electrical contacts 662a, 662b have different sizes and are arranged at the surface 673 at different distances from the center of the surface 673, the electrical contacts 671a, 671b cannot engage the electrical contacts 662a, 662b in any other orientations.
The electrical plug 700 can include a body 702, electrical prongs 704a, 704b, electrical contacts 706a, 706b and a rotatable face 708. The rotatable face 708 can be coupled to the body 702, and can be rotatable relative to the body 702. The electrical prongs 704a, 704b can be coupled to the rotatable face 708 such that rotation of the rotatable face 708 causes the orientation of the electrical prongs to change relative to the body 702. For example, the rotatable face 708 can rotate in a plane parallel to a surface 703 of the body 702. Rotation of the rotatable face 708 causes the electrical prongs 704a, 704b to change orientation with respect to the body 702 while the electrical prongs 704a, 704b extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface 703.
The electrical prongs 704a, 704b can be connected to the electrical contacts 706a, 760b by circuitry in the body 702. For example, wires 711 or other conductors in the body 702 can establish an electrically conductive connection between the rotatable face 708 and the electrical contacts 706a, 706b.
The rotatable face 708 can rotate, for example, up to 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, 360 degrees or more. In some implementations the rotatable face 708 moves between multiple rotational positions by rotating in two directions (e.g., clockwise and counterclockwise).
In some implementations, the wires 711 twist or cross each other in the body 702. In other implementations, electrical contacts are included at the rotatable face 708, opposite the electrical prongs 704a, 704b. Electrical contacts of the rotatable face 708 may engage additional electrical contacts in the body 702 to establish an electrical connection without causing wires 711 to cross. For example, one contact can be located at a side edge of the rotatable face 708 and another contact can be located at a center surface of the rotatable face 708. The contacts can be maintained in engagement with corresponding contacts in the body 702 during rotation of the rotatable face 708 relative to the body 702.
The rotatable face 708 allows the orientation of the electrical prongs 704a, 704b to be changed without repositioning of the body 702 relative to a power adapter. Thus in some implementations, multiple rotational orientations of the body 702 relative to a power adapter along a particular axis may not be needed.
The power adapter 720 includes a housing 721, and the receiving portion 722 is defined at a corner of the housing 721. The housing 721 includes three mutually orthogonal surfaces 723, 724, 725 in the receiving portion 722. A post 726a-726c extends into the receiving portion 722 from each of the surfaces 723, 724, 725. The posts 726a-726c can have the shape of a truncated pyramid, such that each post 726a-726c has a trapezoidal cross-section. Alternatively, the posts 726a-726c can have the shape of a truncated cone, such that each post 726a-726c also has a trapezoidal cross-section. Posts 726a-726c of other shapes may also be used. In addition, electrical contacts 728 can be defined at or in the posts 726a-726c. In addition, or alternatively, electrical contacts 728 can be located at the surfaces 723, 724, 725.
The electrical plug 740 includes a substantially cube-shaped body 742. The plug 740 includes electrical prongs 744 coupled to a first side 750 of the body 742, and electrical contacts 745 coupled to a second side 751 of the body 742. The body 742 can define a recess 746 in the second side 751 that receives one of the posts 726a-726c. In some implementations, the electrical contacts 745 can extend into the recess 746 or beyond the recess 746.
The body 742 includes four lateral sides 752, which are substantially orthogonal to the first side 750. A channel 754 is defined in each of the lateral sides 752. Each channel 754 can define a trapezoidal cross-section to allow a post 726a-726c to slide into the channel 754. For example each channel 754 can be defined by angled walls 755. Engagement of a post 726a-726c in a channel 754 restricts movement of the plug 740 relative to the power adapter 720 to secure the plug 740 to the power adapter 720.
The plug 740 can be secured to the power adapter 720 in twelve orientations. The plug 740 can be coupled to the power adapter 720 along one of three axes 730, 732, 734 that are substantially perpendicular to each other. Along each axis 730, 732, 734, the plug 740 can be coupled to the power adapter 720 in four orientations having different rotational offsets. In each of the twelve orientations, the electrical contacts 745 of the plug 740 engage one or more of the electrical contacts 728 of the power adapter 720.
For example, when the plug 740 enters the receiving portion 722 along the axis 734, the post 726b is received in the recess 746, the post 726a is received in one of the channels 754, and the post 726c is received in another of the channels 754. The engagement of the posts 726a, 726c in the channels 754 limits the motion of the plug 740 relative to the power adapter 720 so that the plug 740 can only be removed by motion along the axis 734.
Similarly, when the plug 740 enters the receiving portion 722 along the axis 732, the post 726c is received in the recess 746, the post 726a is received in one of the channels 754, and the post 726b is received in another of the channels 754. Finally, when the plug 740 enters the receiving portion 722 along the axis 730, the post 726a is received in the recess 746, the post 726b is received in one of the channels 754, and the post 726c is received in another of the channels 754.
The plug 820 includes a substantially cube-shaped body 822. One or more sides of the body 822 define one or more recesses 824. The recesses 824 can receive a protruding feature of the power adapter 800 to secure the plug 820 in position relative to the power adapter 800.
For example, the power adapter 800 can include a receiving portion 802. The power adapter 800 can include one or more extensions 804 that extend into the receiving portion 802. For example, the extensions 804 can be spring-loaded. The extensions 804 can recede into the power adapter 800 as the plug 820 enters the receiving portion 802. The extensions 804 can then extend into the recesses 824 of the plug 820 when the plug 820 is properly aligned in the receiving portion 802. The engagement of the extensions 804 in the recesses 824 can couple the plug 820 to the power adapter 800.
Particular implementations have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the steps recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/452,274, filed on Mar. 14, 2011.
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