Abstract:
A power supply device ( 10 ) includes a base ( 20 ) and a plug ( 30 ). The base includes a square recess ( 24 ) and a locating portion ( 242 ) positioned in the recess. The plug is removably received in the recess. The plug includes a square main body ( 32 ) and a groove ( 36 ). The locating portion is received in the groove. The main body can be positioned in the square recess in different orientations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention pertains to power supply devices, and particularly to a power supply device with a removable plug.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Electronic apparatuses, such as access points, mobile phones, notebooks, and so on, are becoming ever more popular. In these electronic apparatuses, the main function of the power supply device is to supply power to the electronic apparatus, and thus the power supply device is a necessary unit.  
         [0003]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an isometric view of a conventional power supply device  50  is shown. The power supply device  50  comprises a case  52  and a plug  54  coupled to the case  52 . The plug  54  comprises a pair of lead terminals  540 , a pair of first contact portions  544 , and a pair of cams  542  protruding from opposite sides of a back portion of the plug  54 . The lead terminals  540  can be inserted into plug holes of a socket (not shown). The cams  542  are rotatable with respect to the case  52 . The case  52  comprises a pair of second contact portions  520  electrically connected to the first contact portions  544 , and a receiving space  624  for receiving the plug  54 .  
         [0004]     The plug  54 , however, may be easily displaced or disengaged from the case  62  when using the power supply device  50 . When the plug  54  is forcibly detached from the receiving space  524  of the case  52  during use, lead terminals  540  of the plug  54  may still remain in the socket. When this happens, the first contact portions  544  of the plug  54  may shock a user when the user disengages the plug  54  from the socket and accidentally touches the first contact portions  544  of the plug  54 . In addition, since the plug is immovable once the power supply device  50  is plugged into the socket, the power supply device  50  may block adjacent plug holes of the socket and the plug holes cannot be utilized.  
         [0005]     Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     In an exemplary embodiment, a power supply device includes a base and a plug. The base includes a square recess and a locating portion positioned in the recess. The plug is removably received in the recess. The plug includes a square main body and a groove. The locating portion is received in the groove. The main body can be positioned in the square recess in different orientations.  
         [0007]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a power supply device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the power supply device includes a base and a plug;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, inverted, isometric view of the plug of the power supply device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a base of a power supply device in accordance with an alternative embodiment; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional power supply device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a power supply device  10  of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a base  20  and a plug  30 . Note that the power supply device  10  of the invention can be a stand-alone product or a part of another electronic device.  
         [0014]     The base  20  comprises a bottom wall  22 . A square recess  24  is defined in an end portion of the bottom wall  22 . The plug  30  is removably received in the recess  24 . The recess  24  is bounded by a pair of opposite first inner walls  248 , a second inner wall  246 , and a bottom portion  240 . The second inner wall  246  is perpendicularly connected to the first inner walls  248 . A connecting member  28 , disposed in the recess  24 , protrudes from the bottom portion  240 . The connecting member  28  comprises a pair of first contact portions  280  and a pair of second contact portions  282 . The first contact portions  280  are aligned parallel to the first inner walls  248 , and the second contact portions  282  are aligned parallel to the second inner wall  246 . The base  20  comprises a locating portion  242  protruding from the first inner walls  248  and the second inner wall  246  into the recess  24 . A distance between the locating portion  242  and the bottom portion  240  is equal to a distance between the locating portion  242  and an outer surface of the bottom wall  22 . The locating portion  242  comprises a pair of first protrusions  243  disposed on opposite sides of the first inner walls  248 , and a pair of second protrusions  244  disposed at joints of the second inner wall  246  and the first inner walls  248 . Each second protrusion  244  is generally L-shaped. The base  20  further comprises a fixing portion  26  adjacent to the recess  24  and located at the bottom wall  22 . The fixing portion  26  comprises a hook  264  and a plurality of ribs  262 . The hook  264  is generally disposed on a middle portion of the second inner wall  246 , and projects into the recess  24 . The ribs  262  are parallel to the second inner wall  246 , facilitating operation of the hook  264 .  
         [0015]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the plug  30  comprises a square main body  32 , a groove  36 , and a pair of conducting terminals  34  disposed on the main body  32 . The conducting terminals  34  electrically connect to a socket having a plurality of plug holes (not shown). The main body  32  comprises a top portion  320 , a bottom portion  328 , and the groove  36  is defined at a junction between the top portion  320  and the bottom portion  328 . A pair of contact potions  326  projects from the bottom portion  328 . The contact potions  326  are electrically connected to the conducting terminals  34  and the first contact portions  280  or the second contact portions  282  of the base  20 . The top portion  320  defines four receiving slots  322  in an inner face thereof for receiving the hook  264 . After assembly, the hook  264  is received in one of the receiving slots  322 , and the locating portion  242  is received in the groove  36 . A cutout  324  is defined in each of four sides of the bottom portion  328 , for facilitating machining the receiving slots  322 .  
         [0016]     Referring also  FIG. 3 , when the plug  30  is assembled with the base  20 , the first protrusions  243  and the second protrusions  244  of the base  20  are received in the groove  36  of the plug  30 . The hook  264  of the base  20  is received in one of the receiving slots  322 . Thus, the plug  30  is mounted to the base  30 . When the contact potions  326  of the plug  30  are electrically connected to the first contact portions  280  of the base  20  respectively, the power supply device  10  is in a first position.  
         [0017]     During use, the conducting terminals  34  of the plug  30  are inserted into two of the matching plug holes of the socket. If the base  20  of the power supply device  10  blocks the other plug holes of the socket, the plug  30  can be disengaged from the base  20  and rotated 90( or 270( relative to the base  20 , then, the plug  30  is reengaged to the base  20 . Accordingly, the power supply device  10  is rotated 90( or 270( relative to the socket, and the other plug holes of the socket that were shielded by the base  30  are revealed. After rotation to a second position, the contact potions  326  of the plug  30  are electrically connected to the second contact portions  282  of the base  20 , respectively.  
         [0018]     Because the hook  264  of the base  20  is securely received in one of the receiving slots  322  of the plug  30 , the plug  30  cannot be accidentally detached from the base  30 , ensuring proper function of the power supply device  10 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of a base  40  of an alternative embodiment. The base  40  has a structure similar to the base  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The base  40  comprises a bottom wall  42  and a square recess  44  defined in an end portion of the bottom wall  42 . The recess  44  is bounded by a pair of opposite first inner walls  448 , a second inner wall  446 , and a bottom portion  440 . The second inner wall  446  is perpendicularly connected to the first inner walls  448 . The base  40  comprises a locating portion  442  protruding from the first inner walls  448  and the second inner wall  446  into the recess  44 . A distance between the locating portion  442  and the bottom portion  440  is equal to a distance between the locating portion  442  and an outer surface of the bottom wall  42 . The locating portion  442  comprises a pair of first protrusions  443  disposed on opposite sides of the first inner walls  448 , and a pair of second protrusions  444  disposed on the second inner wall  446 . A connecting member  46  protrudes from the bottom portion  440  of the recess  44 . The connecting member  46  comprises a crescent-shaped first contact portion  460  and a crescent-shaped second contact portion  462 . The first and second contact portions  460 ,  462  are electrically connected to the contact potions  326  after assembly. The base  40  can perform the same function as the base  20 .  
         [0020]     In an alternative embodiment, the power supply device  10  may be a part of an electronic device, such as a WiFi Repeater. The electronic device comprises a case having same elements and performing the same function as the base  20  or the base  40 . That is, the case comprises the elements of the base  20  or  40 , and the plug  30  can be mounted to the case of the electronic device.  
         [0021]     While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.