Power adapter

A power adapter, comprising a cord Storage assembly extendable from a housing to enable a cord to be at least partially wound thereabout, the cord storage assembly retractable within the housing to store the cord within the housing.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, especially portable electronic devices such as laptop or notebook computers, use power adapters to charge internal and/or travel battery packs and/or provide power to the electronic device. For example, one type of power adapter converts an alternating current (A/C) to a direct current (DC) for use by the electronic device. However, such power adapters are generally difficult to use at least because the power adapter is generally heavy, has numerous cords that must be unpacked and then repacked for storage, and can generate fairly large thermal loads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments and the advantages thereof are best understood by referring toFIGS. 1-5, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a power adapter10coupled to an electronic device12. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, electronic device12comprises a laptop or notebook computer14; however, it should be understood that electronic device12may comprise any type of electronic device such as, but not limited to, a tablet personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a desktop computer or any other type of portable or non-portable electronic device.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, power adapter10is configured to provide power to electronic device12. InFIG. 1, power adapter10comprises a cord16, a housing18and a plug20extending from housing18. Plug20is coupleable to an alternating current (A/C) power supply. InFIG. 1, plug20is disposed on and/or extends directly from housing18; however, it should be understood that plug20may also be coupled to a cord extending from housing18to facilitate connecting of power adapter10to an A/C power source. Plug20may also comprise a collapsible plug20.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, housing18comprises a bottom wall24, a front wall26, a rear wall28and a pair of sidewalls30and32configured to store all or a portion of cord16therein. For example, in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, power adapter10comprises a cord storage assembly36extendible and retractable relative to housing18for enabling storage of cord16within housing18. For example, in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, cord16is at least partially storable within housing18to reduce and/or substantially eliminate any excessive, unnecessary and/or unused portions of cord16extending between housing18and electronic device12. According to some embodiments, when power adapter10is not in use (e.g., during storage, when electronic device12is operating on battery power, etc.), all or substantially of all cord16is storable within housing18.

FIGS. 2-5are diagrams illustrating power adapter10ofFIG. 1in various stages of use. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2-5, housing18comprises a recess34to enable cord16to pass therethrough (as best illustrated inFIG. 2). Recess34is disposed on rear wall28; however, it should be understood that recess34may be otherwise disposed (e.g., disposed at any position on bottom wall24, front wall26, sidewalls30or32or any combination thereof. It should also be understood that cord storage assembly36may be formed having a cut-out, recess or other type of opening to enable the passage of cord16out of housing18when cord storage assembly36is in the retracted position.

FIGS. 3 and 4are diagrams illustrating cord storage assembly36in an extended position relative to housing18. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, cord storage assembly36is telescopingly extendable from housing18to enable cord16to be at least partially wound around storage assembly36. InFIGS. 3 and 4, cord storage assembly36comprises a top wall22, a converter40and a plurality of supports38extending between converter40and top wall22configured such that cord16can be fully wound around (FIG. 4) and/or at least partially wound around (FIG. 3) cord storage assembly36. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, two supports38are illustrated; however, it should be understood that storage assembly36may be otherwise configured such as, for example, a single support38configured such that cord16may be wound around the single support38(e.g., a single, center-post type of member), a solid panel extending across at least a portion of cord storage assembly36around which cord16may be wound, etc. In operation, the unused and/or stored portion of cord16is wound around supports38between top wall22and converter40. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, converter40is disposed within housing18and is configured to convert alternating current to direct current for use by electronic device12.

In operation, cord storage assembly36is telescopingly extendable and retractable relative to housing18in the direction of arrows42and44, respectively. For example, in the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, when it is desired to place cord storage assembly36in a retracted position within housing18, storage assembly36is moved in the direction of arrow44relative to housing18such that cord16and supports38are movable into housing18for storage therein. InFIGS. 3 and 4, converter40is movable within housing18in the direction of arrows42and44in response to extending and/or retracting cord storage assembly36. According to some embodiments, converter40is electrically coupled to plug20via a flexible conductive cable or other type of electrical connection. However, it should be understood that circuitry associated with converter40may also be configured ot remain stationay in power adapter10(e.g., located near a bottom portion of housing18and electrically connected to cord16and/or cord storage,assembly36). to enable converter40to move within housing18in the directions of arrows42and44.

FIG. 5is a diagram of power adapter10ofFIG. 1in a retracted and/or otherwise closed position. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, cord storage assembly36is disposed within housing18such that top wall22encloses housing18and the entirety of cord16is stored within housing18.

In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having cord storage assembly36telescopingly extendable from housing18to enable cord16to be at least partially wrapped thereabout. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having storage assembly36i retractable within housing18to store cord16within housing18. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having at least one support38extendable from housing18. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having a recess34to enable the cord to pass therethrough when the cord storage assembly36is retracted within housing18. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having converter40within housing18for converting an alternating current to direct current. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured such that housing18is configured to receive an entire length of cord16for storage within housing18. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having a plug20extending from housing18and coupleable to an alterting current source. In some embodiments, power adapter10is manufactured having a storage assembly36comprising a top wall22for enclosing housing18when storage assembly36is retracted within housing18.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, in some embodiments, cord storage assembly36is slideably coupled to housing18to enable telescopic movement therebetween. In some embodiments, housing18and/or cord storage assembly36may be configured with a stop or other type of element to limit outward movement of cord storage assembly36relative to housing18to prevent removal of cord storage assembly36entirely form housing18. However, it should be understood that power adapter10may be otherwise configured. For example, in some embodiments, power adapter10may be configured such that cord storage assembly36is entirely removable and/or separatable from housing18to facilitate ease of winding/unwinding cord16relative thereto. In such an embodiment, converter40may be configured with one or more electrical contacts50(FIG. 3) that, engage and/or become electrically coupled to corresponding contacts connected to plug20(FIG. 1) when cord storage assembly36is located in the retracted position. Thus, in this embodiment, power adapter10is “off” unless cord storage assembly36is placed in the retracted and/or closed position (as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2and5). Therefore, in some embodiments, when cord storage assembly36is moved away from a completely closed and/or retracted position.

Thus, embodiments of power adapter10enable cord16to be at least partially storable within housing18to reduce and/or substantially eliminate any excessive, unnecessary and/or unused portions of cord16extending between power adapter10and electronic device12. Furthermore, embodiments of power adapter10enable all or substantially all of cord16to be stored within housing18when power adapter is not in use (e.g., when electronic device12is not in use and/or when electronic device12operating on battery power).