Abstract:
A single electronic charging system that can be used for different electronic components by changing a tip portion of a charging cord of the charging system. A plurality of tip portions are included with a single charging source that interfaces either with an AC power source, a 12 to 24 volt DC power source or a battery power source by merely threading a connector portion of the charging cord onto an electric cable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a charging system for recharging electronic equipment such as cell phones, MP3 players and other electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the explosion in use of portable electronic equipment, there is a need for a universal type charging system which can be adapted to different types of electronic equipment including cell phones and MP3 players, for example. 
     Usually, every different electronic component requires its own unique electric charging connection configuration. The charging of the electronic component whether by an AC outlet or a car charging system, usually requires the use of two charging systems, and can prove to be expensive if the consumer decides to often change or buy different components. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a single electronic component charging system which is adapted to be used with many different electronic components and usable with different power sources. This would avoid the need to purchase separate AC power and automobile 12 to 24 volt charging systems for a single component and having to replace these charging systems when a new electronic component is purchased. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a single electronic charging system that can be used for different electronic components by changing a tip portion of a charging cord of the charging system. A plurality of tip portions are included with a single charging source that interface with either an AC power source, a 12 to 24 volt DC power source or a battery power source by merely threading the tip portion of the charging cord onto an electric cable. 
     However, when there is a need to change the tip portion, the old tip portion is merely unscrewed from the electric cable and a new tip portion is threadingly secured to the electric cable. The electric cable may be permanently affixed or removably mounted on the charging source. 
     Further, the plurality of tip portions are included with the charging source in a manner such that an engagement end of the tip portion which engages with the electronic components, is exposed from a blister pack containing the charging source. The exposed engagement ends are readily available for testing by the consumer to see if a particular engagement end of the tip portion correctly inter-engages with their electronic component. By giving the consumer access to a plurality of different tip portions, mistakes are avoided in purchasing the wrong tip portion. This is helpful because even with a single manufacturer of electronic components, different tip portions may be required. 
     In addition, the charging cords are inter-engaged with a transparent plastic blister, to secure the threaded end of each charging cord within the display package for security purposes while allowing the engagement end of the tip portions to hang freely and exposed from the display package. This provides a secure anchoring of the charging cords in the package for display and testing purposes without affecting the integrity of the package. 
     It is also easy to access the tip portion for testing inter-engagement with the electronic component. It is not necessary to remove the tip portion, partially or wholly, from engagement in a blister package. The tip portion is always exposed, lying along a surface of the display package. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display card having at least one charging cord having a threaded end and a connector tip end interconnected by a charging wire. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a display card having at least one charging cord having a threaded end and a connector tip end interconnected by a charging wire with a plurality of charging cords mounted on one side of a display card and a charging source located on the opposite side of the display card. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a display card having at least one charging cord having a threaded end and a connector tip end interconnected by a charging wire with a plurality of charging cords mounted on one side of a display card and a charging source located on the opposite side of the display card and the charging tip of the charging cord hanging free from a blister packaging encapsulating the threaded end of the charging cords. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a display card having at least one charging cord having a threaded end and a connector tip end interconnected by a charging wire with a plurality of charging cords mounted on one side of a display card and a charging source located on the opposite side of the display card and the charging tip of the charging cord hanging free from a blister packaging encapsulating the threaded end of the charging cords with the charging source having a direct current connector, an alternating current connector and a battery power connector. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the rear surface of the display package of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a section view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a section view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the section taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  to illustrate the friction fit of the charging tip as held in a restricted opening of the blister portion. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the charging tip portion and the blister portion into which the charging tip portion is held by a friction fit. 
     
    
    
     The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the multi-tip charging system disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
     With reference to the drawings, in general, and to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in particular, a multi-tip charging system embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as  10 . In  FIG. 1 , the rear surface  12  of a charging system display card is shown.  FIG. 2  illustrates the front surface  14 . In these figures, the display card includes a substantially oval configuration having an upper opening  16  for hanging the display card at a point of sale. 
     Located on the rear surface  12  of the display card  10  is a plurality of charging cords  20   a  through  20   e , for example. Each of the charging cords includes a charging tip portion  22   a  through  22   e  and a threaded connector end  24   a  through  24   e.    
     Each of the charging tip portions  22   a  through  22   e  are different. Each of the connector ends  24   a  through  24   e  is identical for cooperative inter-engagement with a threaded open end  26  of an electric cable  28 . The opposite end of the electric cable  28  includes a USB connector  30  for inter-engagement of the charging cords with a charging source  32 . The charging source is held within a plastic blister portion  34  and projects from the front surface  14  of the display card. 
     The charging source  32  includes a 12 to 24 volt DC power terminal  36  for engagement with a power plug of an automobile. The charging source also includes a 100-240 volt, AC power source prongs  38  which are pivotally mounted on the charging source  32 . Also, 9 volt positive and negative battery terminals  40  are located on a side of the power source  32 . A USB inlet  42  is for receipt of the USB connector  30  at the end of the electric cable  28 . 
     In operation, one of the charging cords  20   a  through  20   e  is selected based upon the appropriate charging tip  22   a  through  22   e  configuration for an electronic component. The selected charging cord  20   a , for example, is cut out of the blister packaging  44  on the rear surface  12  of the display card. 
     The threaded connector end  24   a  is threaded into the threaded open end  26  of the electric cable  28 . The USB connector  30 , at the opposite end of the electric cable  28 , is inserted into the USB opening  42  on the side of the charging source  32 . The charging source  32  is then electrically connected with either a 12 to 24 volt DC power source by terminal  36 , an AC power source by plug prongs  38  or a 9 volt battery supply source by connection with positive and negative terminals  40 . The charging tip  22   a , for example, is then inserted into an appropriate electronic component to initiate charging or to maintain a constant power flow to the electronic component to which the charging tip  22   a  is connected. 
     At a point of sale, it is possible for a consumer to test the various charging tips  22   a  through  22   e  for appropriate interconnection with an electronic component such as a cell phone, for example. The charging tips  22   a  through  22   e  are exposed and lie along the rear surface  12  of the display card for active engagement by a consumer. The threaded connector ends  24   a  through  24   e  are restrained within the transparent blister packaging  44 , but are visible to the consumer. 
     Retention of the charging cords is accomplished by a portion  44   a  of the blister packaging projecting through an opening  12   a  in the rear surface  12  of the display card. The remainder  44   b  of the blister packaging is flat and is held between the rear surface  12  and the front surface  14  of the display card as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
     The exposed portion  44   a  of the blister packaging is of a special configuration as shown generally in  FIG. 5  and more particularly in  FIG. 6 . The five recessed portions shown in  FIG. 6 , which when viewed from an opposite side as in  FIG. 1 , project from the rear surface  12 , and are shaped to accommodate the charging tips  24   a  through  24   e  of the charging cords  20   a  through  20   e.    
     In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , a cylindrical collar  46  of each connector ends  24   a  through  24   e  is dimensioned to be held by a friction fit in the recesses  48   a  through  48   e  of the blister packaging such that a gap  50  between opposed side walls of each recess  48   a  through  48   e  is less than the diameter of the collar  46 . The collar  46  is thereby forced into the recesses  48   a  through  48   e  to spread apart the opposite sidewalls forming the gap  50  and after passage through the gap  50 , the side walls  50   a ,  50   b  of the gap  50  snap around the collar  46  so as to retain the collar  46  in the recess  48   a , for example. 
     The curved sidewalls  50   a ,  50   b  have an opening  50   c  which is of a width less than the diameter of the collar  46 . The charging cords are thereby rigidly held in place in their respective recesses in the projecting blister portions  44   a , including the recesses  48   a  through  48   e , so that when an individual tests a charging tip portion  22   a  through  22   e  with their electronic component, there is a strong resistance against the charging cord being pulled from the display package. 
     An additional mechanism for retaining the charging cords in place in their respective recesses is that each recess is reduced in width at one end to a width  60  within which the charging wire interconnecting the tip portion and the connector end may slide without resistance. However, any pulling on the charging tip  22   a  will move the threaded portion  24   a  in the direction of width  60 . Width  60  is of a dimension less than that of the threaded connector end  24   a  and particularly collar  46  so that the charging cord cannot be pulled from the packaging. 
     The internal threading  26   a  of the open end  26  of the cable  28 , is used to inter-engage with the external threading  62  of the threaded connector ends  24   a  through  24   e . This provides a secure connection between the cable  28  and the charging cords  20   a  through  20   e . An electrical connection is completed by the terminal tips of threaded connector ends  24   a  through  24   e  and an internal pin of the open end  26  of the cable  28 . 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.