Abstract:
A modular appliance system comprising a plurality of modular appliances, a base unit for supporting at least two of the modular appliances simultaneously or a free standing unit for supporting one or more modular appliances simultaneously or a free standing appliance for supporting one or more modular appliances simultaneously. Hingedly attached extensions are movable between points under and around the base, free standing unit and free standing appliance. The extensions provide electric power through cordless connectors and may be pivoted, hingedly attached or on slides.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/479,261, filed on Apr. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,667, which is a U.S. national phase application of International Application No. PCT/AU01/00827, filed on Jul. 10, 2001, and which claims the priority of Australian application number PR5384, filed on Jun. 1, 2001. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to power supply apparatus for domestic appliances. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The invention is concerned with such apparatus of the kind including a cordless connector for connection to a female connector in an appliance. Known power supply apparatus of this kind comprise a base unit which rests on a working surface and on which the appliance stands when engaging the connector. The base unit is bigger than the appliance and very much larger than the connector. Typical arrangements of this kind are disclosed in GB 2,318,926, U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,807 and WO 01/52704. Such arrangements work satisfactorily. However they are perforce of substantial size and take up a considerable portion of the area of any working surface on which they stand. They continue to take up such area when the appliance is not in use and even if the appliance is stored away. This is a disadvantage in modern kitchens which often have restricted work surfaces. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a power supply device comprising a, preferably cylindrical, cordless connector and a connector support, which in use rests on a working surface, which is preferably circular in plan, on which is mounted the connector, preferably coaxially therewith, and which is connectable to a source of power, wherein the connector support is of the same order of size as the connector. 
   The device may conveniently comprise an elongated member which extends transversely to and the end of which is constituted by the connector support, the connector support being connectable to the source of power through the elongated member. 
   According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a power supply apparatus comprising a distribution member to which the elongated member is connected and through which it is connectable to a source of power. 
   The distribution member is preferably a housing member including a cavity for the device wherein the device member is movable relative to the base from a retracted or housed position in the cavity and an outer position in which the connector is accessible to an appliance. Where the device is the elongated member, it is preferably pivotally connected to the housing member to pivot about a pivot axis, which may be horizontal or vertical, between the said retracted and outer positions. Alternatively the elongated member may be slidable into and out of the housing member. 
   According to a third aspect of the invention the distribution member is embodied in an appliance. 
   Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular appliance system utilizing a power reference apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the power supply apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of another modular appliance system utilising a different power supply apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the power supply apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a further power supply apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of yet another power supply apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a still further power supply apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a simplified power supply apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a percolator arrangement embodying a power supply apparatus of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown a modular appliance system comprising a power supply apparatus  10 , incorporating a distribution member  12 , and a set of modular appliances  14 ,  15  and  16 . The distribution member  12  is normally carried on a working surface. It is moulded from a suitably tough and heat resisting plastics material such as polypropylene. The distribution member  12  can be formed from other suitable plastics or other materials including metals such as stainless steel or natural materials such as marble or wood. 
   The distribution member  12  has a pair of power supply devices  18  which are attached to it as will be described. Each power supply device  18  comprises an elongated extension arm  20  that is a low flat elongated member of substantially rectangular cross-section. The free end of each arm  20  has a circular end piece  22  to which the arm extends transversely. This end piece  22  has coaxially mounted thereon a vertical cylindrical cordless connector  24  which is known to those skilled in the art. The width of the arm  20  is slightly less than the diameter of the connector  24 . The end piece  22 , which in use rests on the working surface, serves as a support for the connector  24  and is of slightly greater diameter than the connector  24  (or in other words, it is larger but is of the same order of size). The inner end of each arm  20  is connected to a pivot member  26  to swing about a vertical axis  28  relative to the distribution member  12  from extended operative position and a retracted housed position as will be described more fully below. 
   The distribution member  12  is generally rectangular in plan. It has end feet  30  carrying a top support surface  32 . In the center of the top support surface  32  is a vertical cylindrical cordless connector  34  which is substantially identical to the connectors  24 . At one end, the distribution member  12  has a locating formation  36  with an inner concave arcuate surface  38  to assist in locating an appliance thereon. Below the support surface  32  is a cavity  40  in which the arms  20 , when in their retracted housed positions, may be received. Underneath the ends of the locating formation  36  are enlarged cavities  42  in which connectors  24  may be respectively received. 
   On the center of the locating formation  36  there is a safety cut out  44 . An electrical cable  46  leading to a source of electrical power is also connected to the distribution member  12 . The items  44  and  46  are not shown in  FIG. 2 . Suitable electric wires (not shown) are provided to connect the distribution member  12  to the pivot members  26  and via the arms  20  and the connector support  22  to the connectors  24 . There are also internal wires (not shown) leading to the connector  34 . 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 2  and as mentioned above, the arms  20  can swing about the pivot members  26  between (i) closed positions indicated in broken lines in which the arms  20  are below the support surface  32  and the connectors  24  are received in the cavities  42  and (ii) any one of a number of extended operative positions (some of which are shown in full lines) in which the connectors  24  are accessible to the appliances. It will be seen too that when the arms  20  are in their retracted positions the power supply apparatus is very compact. 
   The modular appliances shown are a kettle  14 , a chopper  15  and a toaster  16 . All these appliances are free standing. The kettle  14  and chopper  15  have circular bases. The toaster  16  has legs  48  which support the toaster on a work surface, lifting the body off the working surface. On their undersurfaces, the appliances  14 ,  15  and  16  are each provided with a complementary female connector or receptor unit which cooperates with one of the cordless connectors  24  or  34 . The size of the bases of the appliances are considerably larger than the connectors  24  as is apparent from the drawings and in particular the drawing of the chopper  15 . 
   As shown, the distribution member  12  also serves as a base unit for the kettle  14  to rest on the top support surface  32 . As can be seen the top surface  32  is slightly larger in plan than the underside of the kettle  14 . The other two appliances  15  and  16  have undersides which are significantly greater than the connectors  24  and connector supports  22  and sit on the working surface above the arms  20  with the receptor units receiving the connectors  24 . It will be seen that the distribution member  12  and the power supply devices  18  form a power supply unit for providing power to the appliances. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a modular appliance system with substantially the same appliances  14 ,  15  and  16  together with a power supply apparatus  50 . The apparatus  50  includes a rectangular distribution member  52  with a flat upper surface  54  without any item thereon. The distribution member  52  has a large cavity  56  on its underside to serve as a housing member. There is an opening leading thereto. Three power supply devices  58 ,  60 ,  62  are provided. They are substantially identical to the devices  18  described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprising extension arms  64 ,  66  and  68  each having a connector support  70  at one end coaxially carrying a vertical cylindrical cordless connector  72 . 
   The arms  64 ,  66  and  68  are connected to the distribution member  50  via two pivot hinges  74  and  75  whereby the extension arms  64 ,  66  and  68  may each be pivoted from a retracted housed position (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 4 ) within the cavity  54  and extended positions outside the distribution member  60  (as shown in full lines in  FIG. 4 ) in which the connectors  72  on the arms are accessible to the appliances. 
   The length of the arms  66  and  68  are the same. The extension arm  64 , which is connected to the same pivot hinge  74  as extension arm  66  is somewhat longer than arm  66  so that in the retracted position it can be below the arm  66  with its connector  72  more remote from its hinge  74 . 
   The distribution member  52  is connected to a source of power supply (not shown) through a cable  76  having a plug  78  at its end. A safety cut out  80  is provided on the distribution member  52 . Power from the cable  76  is provided via the distribution member  52 , the hinges  74  and  76  and extension arms to the cordless connectors  72  thereon. The housing member  60  is used with various appliances  14 ,  15  and  16  which are substantially identical to the appliances described in the first embodiment with the toaster  16  having similar legs  48 . The appliances  14 ,  15  and  16  are connected to the connectors  72  in a manner similar to that described above. 
   Again it will be seen that when the power supply devices are in their retracted positions, the power supply apparatus is very compact. It will also be seen that the distribution member does not act as base unit in this embodiment. 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 5 . A power supply apparatus comprises a distribution member  82  with three power supply devices  84  and a pair of cavities  86  and  88  therebelow. These devices  84  are substantially identical to the devices  18  save that there they are connected to the distribution member  82  to be slidable relative thereto. The devices are movable from retracted positions within the cavity  86  and  88  in the member  82  and operative positions outside the member  82  (as shown) to make the connectors  22  accessible to the appliances. 
   In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , a power supply apparatus comprises a distribution member  92  which is arranged to stand in a vertical position on a working surface. Three power supply devices  94  are provided including extension arms  96  having connector supports  98  at their ends carrying connectors  100  thereon. Corresponding recesses  102  are provided in a vertical wall  104  of the distribution member each providing a cavity shaped to receive a power supply device  94 . The power supply devices  94  are substantially similar to the devices  18  except as now described. Each of the arms  96  is connected to the housing member  92  by pivot connectors  106  to pivot about horizontal axes  108 . The devices  94  can thus swing between retracted vertical positions in which they are received in the complementary recesses  102  (as shown for the centre device  94 . 2 ) and extended horizontal positions (as shown for the outer devices  94 . 1  and  94 . 3 ) in which the cordless connectors  100  are vertical and accessible. 
   An electrical cable  110  leading to a source of electrical power is also connected to the distribution member  92 . 
   In  FIG. 7  there is shown an arrangement wherein a distribution member  112  is generally square in plan. The distribution member  112  includes upper and lower plates  114  and  116  forming a cavity  118  therearound into which the inner ends of two power supply devices  120  are pivotally connected to swing in the direction of arrows  122 . In this way the connectors  124  at the ends of the arms  126  forming the said devices  120  can be accessible in the most convenient places. 
   An electrical cable  128  leading to a source of electrical power is also connected to the distribution member  112 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8  there is shown a further power supply apparatus of the invention. In this embodiment, a distribution member  130  connected internally by a cable  132  to a simplified power supply unit  134 . This unit  134  comprises a circular section base member or connector support  136 . A vertical cylindrical cordless connector  138  is mounted coaxially on the support  136 . The power supply unit  134  can be moved into a cavity  135  in the distribution member  130  for compact storage or outside (as shown) so that the connector  138  can be accessible to an appliance. 
   An electrical cable  140  leading to a source of electrical power is also connected to the distribution member  130 . A safety cut out  142  is provided. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the power supply unit embodies a distribution member  144  is incorporated in an appliance  146  here shown as a free standing coffee percolator. On opposite sides, the distribution member  144  has attached thereto power supply devices each incorporating an elongated extension arm  148 . These arms  148  are identical to arms  18 . Cavities  150  (only one shown) are provided on each side of the appliance  146 . The arms  148  are pivoted about the distribution member to swing between extended positions in which they are accessible to other appliances and retracted positions within the cavities  150 . It will be seen that when the various items are in their retracted positions, the area taken up by the power supply unit is minimal. 
   It will be appreciated that the exact shape and configuration of the embodiments described above, the connectors used and other elements and configurations and locations of the connectors on the base, the free standing unit and free standing appliance are purely exemplary and that numerous variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.