Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for connecting a power supply to an electronic device. The apparatus comprises a first case having an insertion opening and a plurality of terminal-receiving grooves extending outwardly from an inner circumference of the insertion opening. A second case is coupled to the first case to form a receiving space. A rotary member is rotatably inserted in the insertion opening and having slots formed on at least one surface to align with the terminal-receiving grooves of the first case when the rotary member is turned in a first direction in a predetermined angle. A plug terminal assembly installed in the rotary member. In a first state, the plug terminal assembly is positioned approximately vertically upward. In a second state, the plug terminal assembly collapses to an approximately horizontal position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No. 56560/2004, filed on Jul. 20, 2004; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting electrical sources and more particularly, to an apparatus connecting electrical sources to an electrical device with an improved structure for folding and unfolding a plug terminal. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view that illustrates a related art electrical connecting apparatus, such as a power adapter having a collapsible two-pronged plug.  FIG. 2  is a section view that illustrates the related art electrical connecting apparatus. The related art electrical connecting apparatus includes a case  21 , and a plug terminal  22  installed at a front surface of the case  21 . The plug terminal  22  is rotatable about a hinge portion  22   a . 
   Within the case  21 , a circuit board  23  couples to the plug terminal  22 . The circuit board  23  converts a high voltage into a low voltage. The plug terminal  22  may be connected to a power supply unit C, such as a wall mount electrical socket to receive the high voltage. 
   Extending out of the case  21 , an output terminal  24  connected to the circuit board  23  outputs the low voltage. The low voltage may be used to power an electronic device, not shown, such as a mobile communication terminal. Formed on the case  21 , a rectangular plug-receiving cavity  25  receives the plug terminal  22  in a folded position. 
   In the related art electrical connecting apparatus, the plug terminal  22  after an extended period of use becomes loose rotates in an undesirable direction. This causes inconvenience to the user when inserting the plug terminal into a wall socket. 
   Thus, there is a need for an improved electrical connecting apparatus that is more robust and provides advantages and more convenience to a user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connecting apparatus that provides simplified folding and unfolding of a plug terminal. Another object of the present invention is to provide simplified folding and unfolding of the plug terminal to improve a user&#39;s convenience. Another object of the present invention is to improve reliability of an electrical connecting apparatus by maintaining firmness of the plug terminal after repeated folding and unfolding. 
   In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed for connecting a power supply to an electronic device. The apparatus comprises a first case having an insertion opening and a plurality of terminal-receiving grooves extending outwardly from an inner circumference of the insertion opening. A second case couples to the first case to form a receiving space. A rotary member is rotatably inserted in the insertion opening and having slots formed on at least one surface to align with the terminal-receiving grooves of the first case when the rotary member is turned in a first direction in a predetermined angle. 
   A plug terminal assembly installed in the rotary member. In a first state, the plug terminal assembly is positioned approximately vertically upward in relation with a top surface of the first case. In a second state, the plug terminal assembly collapses to an approximately horizontal position in relation to the top surface of the first case such that terminal ends of the plug terminal assembly are positioned in the terminal-receiving grooves when the rotary member is turned in the first direction in the predetermined angle. 
   In a second embodiment, a collapsible plug assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises a first case having an insertion opening and a plurality of terminal-receiving grooves extending from an inner circumference of the insertion opening. A second case couples to the first case to form a receiving space. A boss portion is extended from inside the second case to correspond with the insertion opening. A rotary member is rotatably inserted in the insertion opening and having slots formed on at least one surface to align with the terminal-receiving grooves of the first case when the rotary member is turned in a first direction in a predetermined angle. 
   A plug terminal assembly is installed in the rotary member. In a first state, the plug terminal assembly is positioned approximately vertically upward in relation with a top surface of the first case. In a second state, the plug terminal assembly collapses to an approximately horizontal position in relation to the top surface of the first case such that terminal ends of the plug terminal assembly are positioned in the terminal-receiving grooves when the rotary member is turned in the first direction in the predetermined angle. 
   Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view that illustrates an electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with the related art. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view that illustrates the electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with the related art. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view that illustrates an electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connecting apparatus of  FIG. 3  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line I—I of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view that illustrates a plug terminal assembly of the electrical connecting apparatus in folded and unfolded states, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view that illustrates an electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view that illustrates the electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line II—II of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view that illustrates a folded/unfolded state of a plug terminal assembly of the electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the electrical connecting apparatus  100  comprises a first case  110 , a second case  120 , and a rotary member  130 . An insertion opening  111  for the rotary member  130  is provided proximal to a central portion of the first case  110 . A plurality of terminal-receiving grooves  112  extends from an inner circumference surface of the insertion opening  111 . The first case  110  couples to a second case  120  to form a receiving space therein. A boss portion  122  extends upward from the inner surface of second case  120 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The boss portion  122  corresponds to the insertion opening  111 . A rotary member  130  is rotatably installed within the insertion opening  111  of the first case  110 . Slots  131  are disposed within the rotary member  130 , preferable parallel to each other. Slots  131  line up with the terminal-receiving grooves  112  when the rotary member is rotated in a first direction in a predetermined or specified angle. 
   Connection plates  140  installed at the boss portion  122  of the second case  120  connect to a printed circuit board  160 . A plug terminal assembly  150 , comprising for example a pair of elongated electric terminals, is rotatably installed at a bottom portion of the rotary member  130 . 
   In one embodiment, a first portion of the assembly  150 , when installed, contacts each of the connection plates  140 . A second portion of the assembly  150  penetrates the insertion opening  111  of the first case  110  for exposing the plug terminal assembly  150  outside of the first case  110 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , a finger insertion groove  113  is preferably formed at the terminal-receiving grooves  112  to allow a user conveniently unfold the plug terminal assembly  150  when it is in a folded state. The finger insertion groove  113  is deep enough to allow for the tip of a user&#39;s finger to come in contact with the plug terminal assembly  150 , when it is in a folded state. In a preferred embodiment, the finger insertion groove  113  is approximately 10 mm wide. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , a flange  133  is disposed around an outer edge of the rotary member  130 . While inserted in the insertion opening  111 , the flange  133  prevents the rotary member  130  from unintentionally slipping out from the first case  110 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , inside the first case  110 , a stopping groove  114  is formed near the insertion opening  111 . A stopper  134  is formed at an outer circumferential surface of the rotary member  130 . The stopper  134  corresponds with the stopping groove  114 . When a user rotates the rotary member  130  to fold or unfold the plug terminal assembly  150 , a rotating angle of the rotary member  130  is restricted. Preferably, the rotary member  130  is restricted to a maximum predetermined angle. The plug terminal assembly  150  provides two elongated electric terminals: a first terminal  151  and a second terminal  152 . The first and second terminals  151 ,  152  insert into the slots  131   a ,  131   b  of the rotary member  130 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a shaft  153 , formed of an insulation material, for example, connects the first terminal  151  with the second terminal  152 . The shaft can be rotatably inserted into a shaft groove  132  of the rotary member  130 . A groove  154  is formed in the middle of the shaft  153 . A protrusion  155  is formed at the rotary member  130 , which corresponds with the groove  154 . 
   In the unfolded state, when the protrusion  155  is inserted in the groove  154 , the plug terminal assembly  150  firmly maintains the unfolded state. First connection protrusions  156  are formed at a first end of the first and second terminals  151 ,  152 . Second connection protrusions  141  are formed at each of the connection plates  140  corresponding to the first connection protrusions  156 . 
   In the unfolded state, the first connection protrusions  156  contact the second contact protrusions  141 . A second end of each of the first and second terminals  151 ,  152  pass through the insertion opening  111  of the first case  110  to extend outside of the first case  110 . In the folded state, the first connection protrusions  156  of the first and second terminals  151 , 152  do not contact the second connection protrusions  141 . That is, the second end of each of the first and second terminals  151 , 152  is inserted in the terminal-receiving grooves  112 , respectively. As the rotary member  130  is rotated, each of the slots  131   a ,  131   b  of the rotary member  130  is aligned with a corresponding terminal-receiving groove  112 , thus, allowing the folding of the plug terminal assembly  150 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4–6 , the procedure for folding and unfolding the plug terminal assembly  150  is herein described. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a plug terminal assembly  150  is depicted as dotted lines in the folded state. To unfold the plug terminal assembly  150 , the user puts a finger in the finger insertion opening  113  and flips upward the first terminal  151 . In this example, because the shaft  153  is rotatably connected with the shaft groove  132 , the plug terminal assembly  150  rotates about the shaft  153  so that both the first and second terminals  151 ,  152  extend approximately vertically upward in relation to outer surface of the first unit  110 . 
   When the plug terminal assembly  150  is completely rotated, the protrusion  155  is inserted in the groove  154 , thereby firmly maintaining the unfolded state of the plug terminal assembly  150 . As a user rotates the plug terminal assembly  150  in a clockwise direction, for example, the rotary member  130  rotates clockwise. The slots  131  of the rotary member  130  become distally located from the terminal-receiving grooves  112  causing a contact to be maintained between the first contact protrusions  153  and the second contact protrusions  141 . In the unfolded state, a support portion  112  supports the plug terminal assembly  150 , thereby firmly maintaining the unfolded state. 
   To change the plug terminal assembly  150  from the unfolded to the folded state, the user rotates the plug terminal assembly  150  counterclockwise, for example. The rotary member  130  rotates in a counter-clockwise direction a result. The slots  131  of the rotary member  130  align with the terminal-receiving grooves  112 . In the folded state, the first contact protrusions  153  do not contact the second contact protrusions  141 . Consequently, when a user presses on the first terminal  151  or the second terminal  152 , the plug terminal assembly  150  rotates about the shaft  153  because the shaft  153  is rotatably inserted in the shaft groove  132  of the rotary member  130 . When the plug terminal assembly  150  is completely rotated, the first terminal  151  and the second terminal  152  are received in the terminal-receiving grooves  112 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the electrical connecting apparatus  200  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention comprises a first case  210 , a second case  220 , and a rotary member  230 . The first case  210  has an insertion opening  211  proximate to the center. In addition, the first case  210  has a plurality of terminal-receiving grooves  212  extending outward from the inner circumference of the insertion opening  211 . The first case  210  is coupled to the second case  220  to form a receiving space. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a boss portion  222 , in this example ring-shaped, extends from interior surface of the second case  220  to correspond with the insertion opening  211 . A rotary member  230  is rotatably installed within the insertion opening  211  of the first case  210 . Slots  231  are disposed within the rotary member  230  and correspond to the terminal-receiving grooves  212 . Connection plates  240  are installed at both sides of the boss portion  222  of the second case  220 . The connection plates  240  contact a printed circuit board  260  and a plug terminal assembly  250  inserted in the rotary member  230 . 
   One end (lower portion) of the rotary member  230  contacts each of the connection plates  240 . The other end (upper portion) of the rotary plate  230  passes through the insertion opening  211  of the first case  210  so as to pass through outside of the first case  210 . A terminal support member  270 , installed in the boss portion  222 , rotatably supports the plug terminal assembly  250 . Preferably, a finger insertion groove  213  is formed at the terminal-receiving groove  211  so that a user may conveniently fold or unfold the plug terminal assembly  250 . 
   As for a structure of the rotary member  230 , a flange  233  is formed around an outer circumference of the rotary member  230 . The flange  233  secures the rotary member  230  while rotatably inserted in the insertion opening  211  to the first case  210 . A stopping groove  214  is formed inside the first case  210  near the insertion opening  211 . At an outer circumferential surface of the rotary member  230 , a stopper  234  is formed to correspond with the stopping groove  214 . When a user rotates the rotary member  230  to fold or unfold the plug terminal assembly  250 , a rotating angle of the rotary member  230  is restricted, namely, the rotary member  230  may be rotated only up to a specified angle. 
   The plug terminal assembly  250  includes two terminals: a first terminal  251  and a second terminal  252 . The first terminal  251  and the second terminal  252  are inserted in the slots  231  of the rotary member  230 . A shaft  253  formed of an insulation material, for example, connects the first terminal  251  with the second terminal  252 . A connection protrusion  256  is formed at first end of each of the first and second terminals  251  and  252 . A plurality of connection grooves  241 , which are formed at each connection plate  240 , correspond to the connection protrusion  256 . 
   In the unfolded state of the plug terminal assembly  250 , the connection protrusions  256  of the first and second terminals  251  and  252  elastically contact the connection grooves  241 . Second ends of each of the first and second terminals  251 , 252  detachably insert into the insertion opening  211  to extend outside of the first case  210 . 
   In the folded state of the plug terminal assembly  250 , the contact protrusions  256  of the first and second terminals  251 ,  252  do not contact the connection grooves  241 . In the folded state, the end portions of the first and second terminals  251 ,  252  are inserted in the terminal-receiving grooves  212  of the first case  210 . 
   As a user rotates the rotary member  230 , each of the slots  231  of the rotary member  230  are selectively aligned with terminal-receiving grooves  212  of the first case  210 , thereby providing for folding of the plug terminal assembly  250 . A shaft  222   a  is preferably formed at the central location of the boss portion  222 . A shaft hole  271  is formed at the center of the terminal support member  270 , corresponding to the shaft  222   a . Coupling rings  272  are formed at sides of the terminal support member  270 . Coupling rings  272  insert along the end of the shaft  253  of the plug terminal assembly  250 . A support portion  222   b  is formed at the boss portion  222 . The support portion  222   b  supports the unfolded state of the plug terminal assembly  250 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , operation of the electrical connecting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. As shown, a dotted line in  FIG. 10  depicts the plug terminal assembly  250  in a folded state. To move the plug terminal assembly  250  from the folded state to the unfolded state, a user inserts his/her finger in the finger insertion opening  213  and pulls the first terminal  251  in an upward fashion. Because the shaft  253  is rotatably inserted in the rings  272  of the terminal support member  270 , the plug terminal assembly  250  rotates about the shaft  253 . 
   When the user rotates the plug terminal assembly  250  in a clockwise direction, for example, the rotary member  230  and the terminal support member  270  rotate clockwise. Afterwards, the slots  231  of the rotary member  230  from the terminal-receiving grooves  212  elastically contact the contact protrusions  256  while being secured within the contact grooves  241 . The support portion  222   b , which is formed at the boss portion  222 , and the contact grooves  241 , serve to firmly maintain the unfolded state of the plug terminal assembly  250 . 
   To change to the folded state from the unfolded state, which is depicted in  FIG. 10  as a solid line, a user rotates the plug terminal assembly  250  counterclockwise, for example, to rotate the rotary member  230  in a counterclockwise direction. The slots  231  of the rotary member  230  are linearly aligned with the terminal-receiving grooves  212 . In the folded state, the contact protrusions  256  are maintained to prevent contact the terminal-receiving grooves  212 . 
   If the user presses down on the first terminal  251  or the second terminal  252 , the plug terminal assembly  250  is rotated about the shaft  253  because the shaft  253  is rotatably inserted in the rings  271  of the terminal support member  270 . When the plug terminal assembly  250  is completely rotated, the first terminal  251  or the second terminal  252  is received in the terminal-receiving grooves  212 . As the first terminal  251  or the second terminal  252  is received in the terminal-receiving grooves  212 , the electrical connecting apparatus  200  can be simply and easily maintained. 
   As described, the present invention the folding and unfolding of the plug terminal is very easily performed. In addition, the present invention provides for the unfolded state of the plug terminal to be firmly maintained. This improvement increases a user&#39;s convenience and reliability when utilizing a plug terminal. 
   As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.