Patent Application
20160352100
The invention generally pertains to vehicle electrical power systems, and more particularly to a vehicle modular power system (VMPS) that includes a cigarette plug that is inserted into a vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle. The VMPS can be configured to provide a selectable plurality of electrical power receptacles and/or Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors.
Many vehicles have a single cigarette lighter receptacle that is located in the vicinity of the vehicle's dashboard and that when activated by a cigarette lighter plug, the receptacle produces a 12-volt d-c output. Since there is only one cigarette lighter receptacle only a single electrical accessory can be inserted into the receptacle at any one time. The electrical accessories include but are not limited to lights, fans, and small motorized equipment such as gas compressors for inflating tires. Many portable electronic devices such as music players or mobile telephones can also use the cigarette lighter receptacle to recharge their internal batteries or to be directly operated from the vehicle electrical power system.
USB is an industry standard that defines cables, connectors and communication protocols. USB connectors are designed to standardize the connection of computer peripherals to personal computers, both to communicate and to supply electrical power. USB has effectively replaced a variety of earlier interfaces, such as serial and parallel ports, as well as separate power chargers for portable devices.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any U.S. or International Patents or industry literature that read directly on the claims of the instant patent application.
The Vehicle Modular Power System (VMPS) is designed to expand a vehicle's singularly available 12-volt d-c power outlet receptacle to a plurality of power outlet receptacles including a plurality of Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors. In its basic design configuration the VMPS is comprised of:
A. A 12-volt cigarette lighter plug that includes a first end and a second end, each having a + contact and a − contact. The first end is inserted into and makes electrical contact with the + and − contacts located on the vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle.
B. A central power distribution module comprising a rear panel, a front panel, a right side panel, a left side panel, an upper panel and a lower panel. The rear panel has a power input receptacle having a + contact and a − contact and is dimensioned to receive and make electrical contact with the + and − contacts on the second end of the vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle. The front panel is translucent and is designed to include either a pair of electrical power output receptacles or a pair of USB connectors. Each receptacle or connector has a + contact and a − contact that are in electrical contact with the + contact and the − contact on the power input receptacle. The right side panel and the left side panel each have a first section of a module interface connector and a first set of + and − contacts. The upper panel and the lower panel in combination enclose the central power distribution module.
C. A first side module and a second side module each comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second, side panel, an upper panel, a lower panel and a rear panel. The front panel has a set of USB connectors each having a + input and a − input that interface respectively with the + and − contacts located on the first side panel on the central power distribution module. The first and second side panels each have a + contact, a − contact, and the first side of a module interface connector that interfaces with the second side of the module interface connector located respectively on the first and second side panels of the central power distribution module. The upper panel, the lower panel and the rear panel in combination enclose the first and the second side modules.
D. A right side and a left side termination module each comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, an upper panel and a lower panel that in combination enclose the right and left side termination module. The front panel includes a module interface connector that interfaces with the interface connector on said second side module, and a set of electrical contacts that interface with the pair of contacts also located on the second side module. When power is available at the vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle and the cigarette lighter plug is inserted into the receptacle, all the modules comprising said VMPS are enabled.
The front panels of the central power distribution module and the side panels can be designed to have either a first and a second electrical output receptacle or a pair of USB connectors. Also, the front panels can be solid or made of a colored translucent plastic.
In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to produce a VMPS that allows a person located within a vehicle to directly and selectively access a plurality of power outlet receptacles and/or a plurality of USB connectors. The VMPS also includes a cable assembly that allows the VMPS to be remotely at a distance from the vehicle's cigarette receptacle, for example, by a person sitting in the backseat of a vehicle.
In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to provide an invention that:
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the sub sequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of a Vehicle Modular Power System 10 (VMPS 10) that is enabled when connected to a vehicle-supplied 12-volts d-c. The preferred embodiment, as shown in
The VMPS 10 is designed to function, with the central power distribution module 22 that has a plurality of first and second side modules 52,78 and their corresponding right and left side termination modules 108,126. However, to present a concise description of the VMPS 10, a central power distribution module 22 that has, only a single first side module 52 and second side module 78 and their corresponding right and left side termination modules 108,126 will be described and shown in
The 12-volt cigarette lighter plug 12, which functions as the interface between the VMPS 10 and the vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle 162, includes a first end 14 having a + contact and a − contact. The first end 14, as shown in
The central power distribution module 22, as shown in
The rear panel 24 has a power input receptacle 26 having a + contact and a − contact and is dimensioned to receive and make electrical contact with the + and − contacts located on the second end 16 of the cigarette lighter plug 12, The front translucent panel 28 has a first power output receptacle 40 and a second power output receptacle 42. Each of the power output receptacles 40,42 include a + contact and a − contact that are in electrical contact with the + contact and the − contact on the power-input receptacle 26. The right side panel 30, as shown in
The first side module 52, as shown in
The second side module 78, as also shown in
The right side termination module 108, as also shown in
The left side termination module 126, as shown in
The final element that comprises the VMPS 10 is the cable assembly 146 that has attached, as shown in
While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. For example, in an alternate embodiment, the VMPS 10 can have a front panel that is not translucent and does not include/utilize LEDs. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.
