Abstract:
An universal power adapter has a choice of configurations for use in different countries and with different items of electronic equipment. A plug base for pivot connection with the adapter body has conducting pins for connection with an electrical socket and corresponding electrical terminals connected electrically thereto. A rotational safety cover is provided to shield the electrical terminals and avoid unintentional contact therewith. The cover has openings permitting access to the terminals when the cover is rotated. The body has a lug for engaging the cover to rotate it when the body is secured rotatably to the base. A power cord extends from the body to a mating socket and detachable adaptor tips. A voltage selector switch for selecting voltage has a semi light transmissive indicator disk with a light beneath it indicating the selected output voltage and operational status of the adapter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to mains operated battery chargers and/or power adapter for portable electronic equipment. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a universal battery charger and/or power adapter having a choice of configurations for use in different countries and with different equipment.  
         [0002]     The pin configuration of mains power wall sockets and electrical plugs vary from country to country. When travelling with portable electronic equipment one often has to carry traveller adapters for the battery charger and/or power adapter to operate the equipment. These can be bulky, cumbersome items. Many people now possess more than one portable electronic device that they regularly carry with them. For example a person might possess a mobile phone, a personal media player (e.g. MP3 music player) and a laptop computer. When travelling such persons must also carry multiple charges and power adaptors, which are even more bulky and cumbersome than traveller adapters.  
         [0003]     A person may also have problems at home with limited power outlets for connecting multiple charges and/or power adaptors for all of their portable electronic equipment.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide an improved universal charger and/or power adapter having a choice of configurations for use in different countries and with different items of electronic equipment.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     There is disclosed herein a universal power adapter, for use in countries having main electrical pin/socket patterns that allow no alternative plug-insertion orientations, comprising a base having conducting pins extending from one side thereof for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket, electrical terminals located on the other side of the base and which correspond to each of the conducting pins and are connected electrically thereto, a rotational safety cover located to shield the electrical terminals and having openings for permitting access to the terminals when the cover is rotated, and engagable pivot connection features, and a body having engager pivot connecting features for co-operating with the engagable pivot connection features of the base to secure the body rotatably to the base, the body having rotator features for rotating the safety cover and electrical contacts configured to engage with the terminals of the base when the body and base are so secured.  
         [0006]     There is also disclosed herein a base for a universal power adaptor having a body having electrical contacts and engager pivot connecting features for securing the body rotatably to the base, the base comprising conducting pins extending from one side of the base for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket, electrical terminals located on an opposite other side of the base and which correspond to each of the conducting pins and are connected electrically thereto, a rotational safety cover located to shield the electrical terminals and having openings for permitting access to the terminals when the cover is rotated, and engagable pivot connection features for co-operating with the engager pivot connecting features of the body to secure the body rotatably to the base such that the electrical contacts of the base engage with the electrical terminals of the body when the body and base are so secured.  
         [0007]     Further disclosed herein is a universal power adapter for use with different electrical appliances, the adapter comprising an adaptor body connectable with an electrical power system and a power cord extending from the body to a mating socket and a detachable adaptor tip at a remote end of the cord: 
        the mating socket comprising a connector body attached to the remote end of the power cord and having pin sockets in an end opposite the power cord, electrical terminals located in the pin sockets that are connected electrically to the power adaptor via conductors in the power cord, a locking collar rotateably located on the connector body and having a bayonet catch member on an internal wall,     the detachable adaptor tip comprising an adaptor body having an electrical appliances connector at a first end and pin terminals at an opposite end for insertion into the pin sockets, wherein the electrical appliances connector is connected electrically to the pin terminals, and a locking lug on the adaptor body that is engageable with the bayonet catch member upon rotation of the locking collar to detachably secure the adaptor tip to the mating socket.        
 
         [0010]     Still further disclosed herein is a universal power adapter, for use in countries having main electrical pin/socket patterns that allow no alternative plug-insertion orientations, comprising a base having conducting pins extending from one side thereof for insertion into apertures of an electrical power socket, electrical terminals located on the other side of the base and which correspond to each of the conducting pins and are connected electrically thereto and engagable pivot connection features, a body having engager pivot connecting features for co-operating with the engagable pivot connection features of the base to secure the body rotatably to the base and electrical contacts configured to engage with the terminals of the base when the body and base are so secured, and power converter electronics located in the base and connected to a voltage selector switch having an externally viewable portion for viewing a selected voltage, the viewable portion comprising a semi light transmissive indicator disk having voltage markings thereon and an illumination source located beneath the disk to illuminate it from behind.  
         [0011]     Further disclosure of the invention is set forth in the following description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a universal power adaptor according to the invention,  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a body of the power adaptor,  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are schematic illustrations of various bases of the power adaptor,  
         [0016]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are top and bottom illustrations respectively of a safety cover for a base,  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a base with the safety cover fitted,  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of a cover for concealing the connector portion of the body,  
         [0019]      FIGS. 9, 10  and  11  are schematic illustrations of a mating socket and interchangeable adaptor tip of the power adaptor,  
         [0020]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are schematic section elevation illustrations through the mating socket and adaptor tip,  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  is a schematic section plan illustration through the mating socket,  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  is a schematic illustration of a top of the mating socket,  
         [0023]      FIG. 16  is a schematic illustration of a bottom of the adaptor tip,  
         [0024]      FIG. 17  is a schematic illustration of the mating socket, adaptor tip with an orientation adaptor,  
         [0025]      FIG. 18  is a schematic illustration of the back of the body showing a voltage selector and key,  
         [0026]      FIG. 19  is a schematic exploded illustration of the body,  
         [0027]      FIG. 20  is a view of the voltage selector, and  
         [0028]      FIG. 21  illustrates an alternative base having an extension cord extending therefrom with in-flight and/or auto plugs at its remote end. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]     Assignee of the inventor is owner of applications that already proposed an electrical adapter for use in countries having main electrical pin/socket patterns that allow no alternative plug-insertion orientations. This adaptor is described in the following published documents, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: 
        U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,508 dated 13 Sep. 2005,     European publication EP1437804A2 dated 14 Jul. 2004,     Japanese publication JP2004214206A2 dated 29 Jul. 2004, and     Chinese publication CN1518169A dated August 2004.        
 
         [0034]     In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a universal charger and power adaptor for use in different countries and with various type of portable electronic equipment. The power adaptor has interchangeable plug bases  10  for use in power outlets of different countries. The power adapted has three outputs  28 ,  30  at the remote end of an output cord  21 ,  61 ,  62  for connection of interchangeable adaptor tips that fit different types of electronic equipment. Two outputs  28  have a 5.5V output for charging or powering equipment that can normally be charged/powered from a computer USB port, such as mobile phones, PDA&#39;s, handheld computers and audio (MP3) players. Interchangeable adaptor tips for such equipment push fit with outputs  28 . The third outlet, mating socket  30 , has a variable voltage output for powering/charging laptop computers and the like. The adaptor has a selectable voltage setting for choosing the voltage output of mating socket  30 . Other interchangeable adaptor tips  31  connect with mating socket  30  for use with laptop computers and the like.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the interchangeable adapter base  10 . The adapter base  10  is fabricated typically as a molding of plastics material and includes a plate  13  having two or three projecting metallic electrically conductive pins projecting from one side. There are active and neutral pins  11  and an earth pin  12 . The adapter base  10  of  FIG. 4  has its pins configured in the Australasian layout, while other bases  10  depicted in  FIG. 3  show British, USA and European layouts. It should be appreciated that the pin configuration could equally be that of any country.  
         [0036]     At the other side of the plate  13  there is provided a flat bearing surface  14  formed as an integral molding therewith. Located internally and concentrically with the bearing surface  14  is an inner circular aperture  7  and an outer circular rail  15 . Between the aperture and rail there is defined an annular channel  9  having a pair of diametrically opposed terminals  17 . One of the terminals is connected electrically with either the active or neutral pin  11  and the other terminal is connected to the other pin  11 . There might also be a further terminal connected with the earth pin  12 .  
         [0037]     The outer rail  15  has extending therefrom four bayonet lugs  16 . Each bayonet lug  16  is spaced from the bearing surface  14  and includes a circumferentially extending ramped upper surface. Diametrically opposed pairs of the bayonet lugs  16  are of the same size, yet adjacent pairs of the bayonet lugs are of differing size.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  depicts the adapter body  20  for bayonet-interconnection with the base  10 . The body  20  is typically fabricated from several plastics molded parts that are screwed, snapped or welded together ultrasonically. The body encloses a power converter module for converting a mains electricity input in to a 5.5V regulated DC output for outlets  28  and a variable output for mating socket  30 . The body has extending from it via a rubber grommet  22  an output power cord  21  connected to the output of the converter module. The output cord separates at a splitter  54  into separate cords  61 ,  62  to the outlets  28  and mating socket  30 .  
         [0039]     The plug body  20  includes a flat circular bearing ring  27  for engagement with the bearing ring  14  of the adapter base  10 . There is a central recess  25  in which there is located a pair of diametrically opposed electrical spring contacts  26 . These spring contacts are connected electrically with an input of the power converter module. Located around the central recess  25  there are four openings  19 . Diametrically opposed pairs of the openings  19  are of the same size, whereas adjacent pairs are of different size. By this arrangement, bayonet lugs  16  of the adapter base  10  can be lowered into the openings  19  of the plug body  20  in only two possible orientations 180 degrees apart. Alongside each opening  19  and situated beneath the bearing ring  27  are lug-receiving slots  29 . Bayonet lugs  16  of the adapter base  10  can be lowered into the openings  19  of the plug body  20  and the base  10  and body  20  turned relative each other to engage the base lugs  16  in the receiving slots  29  to secure the base  10  to the body  20 .  
         [0040]     Situated alongside and projecting within one of the openings  19  is a locking device comprising an interlock tongue  24  and an activator  23  formed integrally therewith. With reference again to  FIG. 4 , the outer rail  15  includes a pair of diametrically opposed interlock recesses  18  into one of which the tongue  24  snap-engages upon bayonet-fitting of the base  10  and body  20 . The activator  23  is an integral part of the body  20  and has a pair of cut-outs at either side enabling downward movement of the interlocked tongue  24  upon application of finger-pressure to the activator  23 . It is only upon this application of finger pressure that the interlocked base  10  and body  20  can be detached.  
         [0041]     In use, when parts  10  and  20  are snap-engaged upon bayonet-fitting the terminals  17  of the base  10  engage the electrical spring contacts  26  of the body  20  creating electrical contact between the pins  11 ,  12  and power converter module. By this arrangement the pin layout of the universal battery charger/power adapter can be changed for use in any country by interchanging the base  10 .  
         [0042]     To avoid exposed live contacts of the mating plug base  10  if it is inserted into a wall socket without connection to the adaptor body  20  the mating plug  10  is provided with a safety cover arrangement  1 .  
         [0043]     FIGS.  5  to  7  depict the safety cover  1 . The safety cover  1  is a molded annular shaped body that locates within annular channel  9  of the base  10 . Connector catches  2  engage within aperture  7  of the base  10  to rotateably secure the cover  1  within the annular channel  9 . The safety cover  1  has two diametrically opposed apertures  3  which when the cover  1  is in a certain rotational alignment expose the terminals  17  of the base  10 . Upon rotational movement of the cover  1  the cover shields the electrical terminals  17 . In its safe position to shield the terminals  17  the safety cover  1  prevents contact with terminals  17  if the base  10  is inserted into a wall socket without connection to a body  20 . A resilient catch  4  within channel  9  of the base  10  engages with one of two diametrically opposed locking apertures  5  in the cover  1  to prevent any unintentional rotation of the cover  1  to expose the terminals  17 .  
         [0044]     Located in the recess  25  of base  20  are two safety release lugs  6 . In use, when the base  10  is aligned with corresponding connector parts on the body  20  one of the safety release lugs  6  extends through one of the apertures  5  of the safety cover  1  depressing catch  4 . Upon rotation of the base  10  or body  20  relative the other for bayonet fitting of the two components the lug  6  causes the cover  1  to rotate to permit access through apertures  3  of electrical terminals  17  by electrical spring contacts  26 . Upon removal of the base  10  from body  20  by turning in the opposite direction to release the bayonet fitting of the components, the lugs  6  rotate the cover  1  back to the shielded position covering terminals  17 . As base  10  is drawn away from body  20  locking catch  4  again engages one of secondary apertures  5  locking the safety cover  1  in place.  
         [0045]     It is envisaged that the base of the electrical adapter need not the configured with pins to be received directly by apertures of a mating socket. For example, and as shown in  FIG. 21 , the base might comprises a 12/15V DC to 110V AC power inverter module  90  have an extension cord  91  extending therefrom and at the remote end of which there is a standard in-flight plug  92  for connection to a 15V seat outlet available in commercial aircraft. An auto adapter  93  is also provided for receiving the in-flight plug to allow connection to a standard 12V DC automotive “cigarette lighter” outlet. The inverter module  90  has pivot connecting features  94  substantially identical to those of the base  10  depicted in  FIG. 4  for connection with adaptor body  20 . The pivot connecting features  94  include the safety cover  1  to avoid exposed live contacts of the inverter module  90  if plugs  92 ,  93  are inserted into sockets without connection to the adaptor body  20 .  
         [0046]     FIGS.  9  to  16  depict the mating socket  30  and interchangeable adaptor tip  31  located at the remote end of output cord  21 ,  61 . The mating socket  30  comprises a cylindrical connector body  32  molded to the cord end. The distal end of the mating body  32  has pin sockets  33  for receiving electrical pins  34  of the adaptor tip  31 . Within the pin sockets  33  there are electrical terminals  35 ,  36  connected to the variable voltage output of the adaptor module via conductors in the cord  22 ,  61 . The electrical terminals are resiliently deformable metal contacts for engaging the pins  34  in known manner. Extending from the distal end of the connector body  32  adjacent the pin sockets  33  is an orientation pin  52 , which makes no electrical contact within the adaptor module. At the top of body  32  surrounding the pin sockets  33  there is a mating collar  37  that mates with the underside  38  of the adaptor tip  31  when its pins  34  are inserted within the pin sockets  33 .  
         [0047]     A locking collar  41  is rotateably located about the connector body  32  and has on its internal wall  42  an L-shaped bayonet catch  40 . The locking collar  41  has a circumferential retaining tab  50  which can pass over and lock beneath a retaining ring  51  on the connector body  32  for locating and retaining the locking collar  41  in place. A top ring of the locking collar  41  has indication insignia  43 ,  44  and an arrow  45  indicating the direction of locking the collar.  
         [0048]     The adaptor tip  31  is fabricated typically of a molding of plastics material having a connector stem  55  and an angle adaptor head  56  with plug top  57  for connection with the power inlet of an electronic device. Different ones of the interchangeable adaptor tips  31  will have different plug tops  57 . A user may have available a variety of adaptor tips  31  with various plug top  57  configurations for connecting to different types of portable electronic device. The user may choose an adaptor tip suitable to his particular device and connect the adaptor tip to the mating socket  30 . The importance of the adaptor tip  31  construction is the arrangement of the connector stem  55  for mating with the mating socket  30 . The connector stem  55  has a pair of diametrically opposed locking lugs  39  extending radially from its wall adjacent end  38  which has extending therefrom the electrical pins  34 . The under side  38  of the adaptor tip  31  also has an orientation socket  53  into which the orientation pin  52  of the mating socket  30  locates to ensure a correct orientation insertion of the terminal pins  34  within the pin sockets  33 .  
         [0049]     When the adaptor tip  31  is engaged with the mating socket  30  the locking collar  41  can be rotated to engage the bayonet catch  40  with the locking lug  39  of the adaptor tip. An indication  46  on the side wall of connector body  32  aligns with one of the indicators  34  when the locking collar  41  is rotated to the locking position, which is also signaled when a lip of the L-shaped bayonet tab  40  engages with the edge of locking lug  39  preventing further rotation of the collar  41 .  
         [0050]     With no adaptor tip  31  engaged with the mating socket  30  the locking collar  41  would be rotateable continuously in any direction. This may make it cumbersome to insert an adaptor tip  31  to the mating socket  30  if the locking collar  41  is misaligned. To overcome this, a semi-circumferential band  47  with disjoined ends is located about a recess portion of connector body  32 . The internal wall  42  of the locking collar  41  has a longitudinal projection  48  which locates in the space  49  between the disjoined ends of the band  47 . The projection  48  engages in either direction with the ends of the band  47  to limit rotational movement of the locking ring  41  to 90 degrees so that a user can readily turn the locking collar  41  to the locked or unlocked positions regardless of engagement of an adaptor tip  31 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 17  depicts an orientation adaptor  58 . If the need arises to alter the orientation of the adaptor tip the orientation adaptor  58  is used between the mating socket  30  and adapter tip  31 . The orientation adaptor  58  has a body with male and female ends. The male end  59  has a pin arrangement and orientation socket corresponding to a first orientation alignment for engagement with the connector body  32 . The female end  60  has pin sockets for receiving the adaptor tip pins  34  and an orientation pin arranged in the alternate orientation configuration to allow connection of the adaptor tip  31  in a 180 degree orientation thus reversing the adaptor tip orientation.  
         [0052]     FIGS.  18  to  20  depict a voltage selector  70 . On a reverse side of adaptor body  20  is an externally exposed voltage selector mechanism  80  that is operated by a voltage selector key  70 . The key has a handle  71  and a rectangular shaft  72  that fits within a barrel slot of the selector  80 . Referring again to  FIG. 2 , when it is not in use the key  70  is stored in a key block  73  on the front of the body  20 . The key block  73  is integrally molded with the body casing and includes a bore  74  into which the key shaft  72  frictionally engages.  
         [0053]     The voltage selector mechanism for the mating socket  30  output is located within the adaptor body is depicted in  FIG. 20 . It comprises an adjustable selector switch  81  of known type that is connected to the converter module for selecting the adaptor output voltage in known manner. The selector switch  81  has a rotary selector shaft  82  extending therefrom to which the selector switch assembly  83  is connected. The externally exposed portion of the selector switch assembly  83  includes a finishing bush  84  for locating the rotary selector switch within an aperture  90  of the external housing and a centrally located selector switch slot  85  into which the key shaft  72  is inserted for rotating the voltage selector  80 . A disk shaped semi-transparent voltage indicator dial  86  is located about the switch assembly  83  and is visible to a user through a semi-circular shape transparent window glass  87  located in a semi-circular shape opening  91  of the external housing.  
         [0054]     A tab  88  projects from the rotary switch  83  and is engagable upon a stop  89  in the housing to prevent continuous 360° rotation of the selector switch which would cause instantaneous voltage jump from the minimum selectable output voltage to the maximum selectable output voltage or visa versa. The tab  88  and stop  89  require the user to turn the selector switch through the intermediary voltages when transiting from the minimum to maximum voltage settings or vice versa.  
         [0055]     An operational indicator LED  92  is positioned in line with window glass  87  and beneath the semi-transparent indicator dial  86 . The operation LED  92  provides operational indication to a user of the device in the following way. When the adaptor plug is connected to an electrical supply the LED  92  illuminates continually to indicate normal operation of the device. If the power adapter is operating normally the LED is lite continuously. If the output of the power adapter is overloaded then the indicator LED blinks steadily and if the output is under a short circuit the indicator LED is off. An advantage of the LED indicator  92  being located beneath the voltage indicator dial  86  is that it illuminates the dial for easy output voltage setting reference by the user without the need for an extra illumination LED. This improves efficiency and reduces component count of the device.  
         [0056]     It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.