Abstract:
An electrical adaptor apparatus is provided for use with an electrical device. The apparatus includes a case defining a socket. The socket has a plurality of first electrical contacts. The apparatus also includes a plurality of adaptor plugs. Each adaptor plug has a plurality of recessed second electrical contacts configured to communicate with a corresponding one of the first electrical contacts. Each adaptor plug is configured to mate with the socket. Each adaptor plug is further configured to mate with a style of electrical wall socket. The apparatus further includes a locking mechanism operative to lock the adaptor plug into the socket. The apparatus includes a detent button that is operative to release the locking mechanism, thereby to release the adaptor plug from the socket.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/246,127 filed Nov. 6, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to the field of electrical adaptors, particularly those of the type for use in different countries. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wall socket types can vary from country to country and from place to place. The plugs that must mate with the wall socket must vary according to the wall socket type. In addition, current, voltage, et cetera can also vary as geographic location is varied. A traveler can carry electric and electronic devices with them during their travels. It is therefore sometimes desirable for the traveler to use local sources of electricity. In order for the traveler to use these local electricity sources, they must adapt to, among other things, the configuration of the wall socket. A universal adaptor may be employed for this purpose. 
     Generally, universal adaptors include prongs that fold into an adaptor base. Adaptor plugs are fitted over the prongs thereby allowing the universal adaptor to mate with a wall socket. The type of adaptor plug is selected to mate with the desired configuration of wall socket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an electrical adaptor apparatus for use with an electrical device including a case defining a socket. The socket has a plurality of first electrical contacts. The apparatus also includes a plurality of adaptor plugs. Each adaptor plug has a plurality of recessed second electrical contacts configured to communicate with a corresponding one of the first electrical contacts. Each adaptor plug is configured to mate with the socket. Each adaptor plug is further configured to mate with a style of electrical wall socket. The apparatus further includes a locking mechanism operative to lock the adaptor plug into the socket. The apparatus includes a detent button that is operative to release the locking mechanism, thereby to release the adaptor plug from the socket. 
     The present invention also provides an apparatus for use with an electrical device including a case defining a socket. The socket has a plurality of first electrical contacts. The apparatus also includes a plurality of adaptor plugs. Each adaptor plug has a plurality of recessed second electrical contacts configured to communicate with a corresponding one of the first electrical contacts. Each adaptor plug is configured to mate with the socket. Each adaptor plug is further configured to mate with a style of electrical wall socket. The apparatus further includes a locking mechanism operative to lock the adaptor plug into the socket. The apparatus includes a detent button that is operative to release the locking mechanism, thereby to release the adaptor plug from the socket. The apparatus further includes a power converter module. 
     The power converter module includes: a fuse, an input source, an electrical filter, a direct current (DC) transformer, a top switch feedback-loop, and an output-rectified filter. The module further includes a DC—DC converter, an output filter, an output, and a voltage and current feedback controller. 
     The universal adaptor is particularly useful for recharging handheld electronic devices. Examples of such devices include data and communication devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view comprising a first embodiment of the invention without an adaptor plug for clarity of presentation. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a type D style adaptor plug of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the adaptor plug shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adaptor plug shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a type N style of an adaptor plug of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a type B style of an adaptor plug of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the adaptor plug shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the adaptor plug shown in FIG. 7 along the line A—A. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the adaptor plug shown in FIG. 2 assembled in the socket. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 along the line B—B. 
     FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the electronic system of the invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic front view comprising a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 along the line C—C. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An apparatus  100  comprising a first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.  1 . The apparatus  100  is a universal adaptor for electric wall sockets. 
     The apparatus  100  includes a case  102 . The case  102  has a detent button  104  along one side. The front of the case  102  defines a generally circular shaped socket  106 . The edge of the socket  106  has a first and a second notch,  110  and  112  respectively. The first notch  110  is shaped as a half circle. The second notch  112  is shaped as a rectangle. The inner portion of the side of the socket  106  has a first and second groove,  114  and  116  respectively. Only the second groove  116  is visible in FIG.  1 . The first groove  114  extends along the side of the socket  106  from the first notch  110 . The second groove  116  extends along the side of the socket  106  from the second notch  112 . A latch  118  is located in the second groove  116 . 
     A circular array of three electrical contacts  120  is arranged in the socket  106 . The contacts  120  are equidistant from the inside edge of the socket  106  and extend out from the bottom  122  of the socket  106 . 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of an adaptor plug  130 . The adaptor plug  130  has an adaptor body  132  configured to mate with the socket  106 . The adaptor body  132  has a first and a second protrusion,  134  and  136  respectively. The first protrusion  134  is has the shape of a flat half circle and is configured to engage with the first notch  110 . The second protrusion  136  has the shape of a flat rectangle and is configured to engage the second notch  112 . Both the first and second protrusions,  134  and  136 , are configured to slidably engage the first and the second groove,  114  and  116 , respectively. Further, the first and second protrusions,  134  and  136 , are configured so that they cannot engage the first and second notches,  110  and  112 , in any reverse order. For example, the first protrusion  134  cannot fit into the second notch  112 . Alternate embodiments include multiple notches that respectively mate with multiple protrusions. The adaptor plug  130  includes three wall socket prongs  138 . The three plugs  138  extend out from the front the adaptor body  132 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the adaptor plug  130  shown in FIG.  2 . The adaptor plug  130  has three receiving slots  139  in the rear of the adaptor body  132 . The receiving slots  139  are each configured to slidably receive a corresponding one of the three electrical contacts  120 . 
     FIGS. 4 through 6 show perspective views of exemplary adaptor plugs that are interchangeable and can be engaged with the socket  106 . Specifically, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the adaptor plug  130  shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The adaptor plug  130  has three wall socket prongs  138  for use in United Kingdom style wall sockets found in the United Kingdom and the like. It is also for use with wall sockets configured to receive type D plugs. 
     FIG. 5 shows an adaptor plug  150 . The adaptor plug  150  has prongs  152  for use in North American style wall sockets found in North America and the like. It is also for use with wall sockets configured to receive type N plugs. The adaptor plug  150  also has a grounding post  154 . FIG. 6 shows an adaptor plug  160 . The adaptor plug  160  has prongs  162  for use in European style wall sockets found in Europe and the like. It is also for use with wall sockets configured to receive type B plugs. Adaptor plugs of FIGS. 5 and 6 have many parts that are substantially the same as corresponding parts of the adaptor plug  130  shown in FIGS. 2 through 3. However, the adaptor plugs of FIGS. 5 and 6 differ from the adaptor plug  130  in that they are configured to mate with wall sockets having different configurations than the United Kingdom style wall sockets found in the United Kingdom and the like. 
     FIG. 7 shows a side view of the adaptor plug  130  shown in FIG.  2 . FIG. 8 shows a view of the adaptor plug  130  shown in FIG. 7 along the line A—A. The receiving slots  139  are visible in the cutaway view shown in FIG. 8. A corresponding electrical contact  180  is disposed over each end of one of the receiving slots  139 . Each of the three electrical contacts  180  are configured to make an electrical connection with a corresponding one of the three electrical contacts  120  when the adaptor plug  130  is fully engaged in the socket  106 . Each electrical contact  120  is in electrical communication with a corresponding one of the three wall socket prongs  138 . 
     FIG. 9 shows the apparatus  100  assembled with the adaptor plug  130 . The adaptor plug  130  engages the apparatus  100  as shown. 
     A side view of the apparatus  100  assembled with the adaptor plug  130  engaged in the socket  106  is shown in FIG.  10 . FIG. 11 shows a cutaway view of the apparatus  100  of FIG. 10 along the line B-B. The detent button  104  is on the side of the case  102  and couples with the lever  182 . The lever  182  is configured to pivot around a pivot structure  184 . The lever  182  has a catch  186  that is configured to engage the adaptor body  132 . A linear spring  188  biases the lever  182  against the detent button  104 . FIG. 11 also shows the fasteners  190  that are configured to attach the front and back portions of the case  102  together. An electrical outlet  192  is located at the bottom of the case  102 . 
     During use, one of the adaptor plugs of the present invention, for example the adaptor plug  130 , is oriented with the socket  106 . The first protrusion  134 , which has the shape of a flat half circle, is oriented with the first notch  110 . The second protrusion  136 , which has the shape of a flat rectangle, is oriented with the second notch  112 . The adaptor plug  130  is then inserted into the socket  106  until it is seated at the bottom  122  of the socket  106 . The electrical contacts  120 , which extend out from the bottom  122  of the socket  106 , protrude through the receiving slots  139 . The adaptor plug  130  is then turned approximately one quarter of its circumference. The turning slides the first and the second protrusions,  134  and  136 , along the first and the second grooves,  114  and  116 , respectively. The lever  182  engages the adaptor body  132  when the first and the second protrusions,  134  and  136 , are moved to the end of the first and the second grooves,  114  and  116 , thereby releasably locking the adaptor plug  130  into place in the socket  106 . 
     FIG. 12 shows an electrical block diagram  300  of the apparatus  100 . A fuse  302  is situated between, and is in electrical communication with, an input voltage source  304  and an electrical filter  306 . A rectifier  310  couples the electrical filter  306  to a direct current (DC) transformer  312 . The DC transformer  312  couples a top switch feedback-loop  316  and an output-rectified filter  318 . The output-rectified filter  318  couples to a DC—DC converter  320  which, in turn, couples to an output filter  322 . The outlet filter  322  couples with an output  324 . A voltage and current feedback controller  326  couples to the DC—DC converter  320 . 
     During operation, an alternating electrical current (AC) is supplied to the apparatus  100  from the input source  304 . Generally, this is achieved by plugging the assembled apparatus  100  into a wall socket. The fuse  302  protects the apparatus  100  from electrical surges from the input source  304 . The filter  306  cleans the input electrical signal. The rectifier  310  converts the AC current signal to a substantially DC current signal having a low current DC signal to a low voltage and capable of delivering a high current DC signal. The top switch feedback-loop  316  maintains the DC voltage output from the transformer  312  within a constant range of voltage. The output-rectified filter  318  separates any noise from the low voltage, high current DC signal that may have been generated by the DC transformer  312 . The DC—DC converter  320  converts the low voltage, high current DC signal to a lower voltage signal. This lower voltage signal is passed through the output filter  322 . The output filter  322  filters noise from the lower voltage signal and passes the lower voltage signal to the output  324 . The voltage and current feedback controller  326  maintains a constant current and regulates the output voltage. 
     The electrical output from the apparatus  100  is used to recharge batteries or provide power in real time to an electronic device. Examples of such electronic devices include cellular phones, digital wireless phones, 1-way pagers, 1½-way pagers, 2-way pagers, electronic mail appliances, internet appliances, personal digital assistants (PDA), laptop computers, and portable digital audio players. 
     An apparatus  500  comprising a second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.  13 . The apparatus  500  has many parts that are substantially the same as corresponding parts of the apparatus  100  described above. This is indicated by the use of the same reference numbers for such corresponding parts in FIG.  1  and FIG.  13 . However, the apparatus  500  has a detent button  502 , similar to the detent button  104 , but located on the front face of the case  102 . The location of the detent button  502  on the front face of the case  102  result in the detent button  502  not being accessible while the apparatus  500  is electrically connected with a wall socket, (i.e., plugged into the wall socket). 
     FIG. 14 is a cutaway view of the apparatus  500  of FIG. 13 along the line C—C. An electrical plug outlet  510  is located at the bottom of the case  102 . The outlet  502  is configured to communicate with a cable, not shown. In turn, the cable allows the apparatus  500  to communicate with a handheld device, thus providing the device with a supply of power. 
     As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several embodiments are capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.