Abstract:
A car charger plug is slidably mounted within a body of the compact car charger. The car charger plug is lockable in a fully retracted position and lockable in a fully extended position, so as to maintain its compact size when not in use, and provide a secure connection with a car charge port when desired.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of car chargers, and specifically to a car charger having a car charger plug retractable into and extendable out of a car charger body. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Portable car chargers used for charging cellular devices, laptops, GPS devices and other portable electronics are known. Often times, these chargers include a pivoting car charger plug which extends from a base unit by rotation about a pivot point. Alternatively, the location of the pivot point is adjustable. 
         [0003]    In all of these known devices, the size of the charger is considered bulky and cumbersome in use. Space for storage of these chargers is often limited and, therefore, there is a need to reduce the space occupied by such chargers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need to produce a compact car charger providing connection to a power outlet of an automobile, as well as provide the alternative use of AC power. Typically, a USB socket is provided for connecting a charging cord from an electronics device to the car charger. 
         [0005]    By the present invention, a car charger plug is slidably mounted within a body of the compact car charger. The car charger plug is lockable in a fully retracted and lockable in a fully extended position, so as to maintain its compact size when not in use, and provide a secure connection with a car charge port when desired. 
         [0006]    This object is accomplished by a slidable car charger plug maintained in position by a biased slide switch. The slide switch is held in a locked position with the car charger plug housed substantially within the body of the car charger. Upon depression of the slide switch against the bias of a spring recessed within a blind hole of the car charger plug, the slide switch is allowed to move along a slide track within the car charger body. Upon reaching the terminal distal end of the slide track, the slide switch is biased into a locked position with full extension and locking of the car charger plug. The car charger plug is thereby ready for engagement with a car charge port. 
         [0007]    The compact car charger of the present invention also includes a pair of AC plug connector prongs for connection to an electrical outlet. A charging cord for an electrical device is connected to the car charger by a USB connection. The electrical device can also alternately be charged by way of an AC power source. 
         [0008]    It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a compact car charger having a slidable car charger plug which is extendable from a fully recessed position to a fully extended position projecting out of the car charger body. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact car charger having a slidable car charger plug which is extendable from a fully recessed position to a fully extended position projecting out of the car charger body with the car charger plug being locked in position in the fully recessed position and in the fully extended position. 
         [0010]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a compact car charger having a slidable car charger plug which is extendable from a fully recessed position to a fully extended position projecting out of the car charger body with the car charger plug being locked in position in the fully recessed position and in the fully extended position with the car charger body also including a pair of AC connector prongs and a USB port. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the invention disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the compact car charger according to the principles of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the car charger with the car charger plug locked in the fully extended position and a pair of AC prongs extended as would be done when the car charger is connected to an AC electrical source. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the car charger body. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an opposite end view of the car charger body. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the car charger body with the car charger plug locked in a retracted position within the car charger body and the AC prongs recessed into the bottom surface of the car charger body. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  illustrating the car charger plug locked in the fully retracted position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the transitional positioning of the car charger plug between the locked fully retracted position and the locked fully extended position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the car charger plug locked in the fully extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0022]    With reference to the drawings, in general, and to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , in particular, a compact car charger embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as  10 . With reference to its orientation in  FIG. 1 , the compact car charger includes a body or housing  12 . A car charger plug  14  is shown projecting slightly from distal end  16  of the body  12 . The car charger plug is locked in the “retracted position”. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the car charger plug  14  is shown in the locked “fully extended position”. In this view, car charge port electrical contacts  17 ,  18  are shown. In this view, two AC electrical prongs  20  are shown in an extended position. These prongs  20  are pivotable between the extended position shown in  FIG. 2  and the recessed position shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The AC prongs are used for charging a portable electronics device by insertion into an AC outlet or a car charger inverter. 
         [0024]    Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a slide switch  22  which travels along a recessed path  24  in the bottom  26  of the body  12 . A slide track  26  extends centrally through the recessed path  24  and extends through the body  12  into the interior of the body. At the position shown in  FIG. 2 , the slide switch  22  is locked at the distal end  16  of the charger. By sliding of switch  22  towards the proximal end  28  of the body  12 , the car charger plug will be withdrawn into the interior of the body  12  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , at the proximal end  19  of the body  12  is located a USB port  30 . A charging cord (not shown) is connected to the USB port  30  at one end and its opposite end is connected to an electronics device for charging purposes. 
         [0026]    To explain the transitional movement of the car charger plug from the fully retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5  to the fully extended position shown in  FIG. 2 , reference is made to partial cross-sectional  FIGS. 6 through 8 . 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 6 , the car charger plug  14  is schematically shown as having a hollow body. At the proximal end  40  of the plug is located a cylindrical hole  42  open at end  44  and containing a spring  46 . Spring  46  is biased out of the hole  42  towards the open end  44 . The spring surrounds a portion  48  of slide switch  22  which projects into the interior of the charger plug. The projecting end of the spring  46  surrounds projection  48  and engages flat plate portion  50  of slide switch  22 . Plate portion  50  is connected to plate portion  52  of switch  22  which is seen from the exterior of the body  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example. Interconnecting plate portions  50  and  52  is a rectangular-shaped connecting portion  54  which slides within slide track  26 . 
         [0028]    A guide path is defined on the interior of the body  12  by two recessed portions  56  and  58  located on opposite sides of a projecting portion  60 . In  FIG. 6 , the plate portion  50  is resting in recessed portion  56  due to the bias of spring  46  pressing plate portion  50  below the height of raised portion  60  on opposite sides of the glide path. By pushing on plate portion  52  of the slide switch against the bias of spring  46 , the plate portion  50  clears the height of raised portion  60 . Upon continued pressure on plate portion  52 , and movement of plate portion  52  towards the distal end  16  of the body  12 , the car charger plug  14  is slid out of the body  12  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0029]    On an opposite side of the car charger plug  14  from that of the slide switch is located a projecting rib  62  of the body  12  which rides between elevated portions  64  of the car charger plug to provide stability in sliding movement of the plug  14  into and out of the body  12 . Similarly, on the opposite side of the plug  14 , the body  12  forms a rib  66  for traveling within a groove  68  of the plug  14  for guiding the plug into and out of the body  12 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , as the plug  14  is being slid into or out of the body  12 , and the spring  46  is compressed within hole  42  while the plate portion  50  rides along the top of raised portions  60  in the glide path. Meanwhile, plate portion  52  is recessed within recessed path  24  as the slide switch is moved along the slide track  26 . 
         [0031]    Upon reaching the fully extended position of the car charger plug as shown in  FIG. 8 , the bias of spring  46  pushes plate portion  50  into recessed portion  58  to lock the position of the car charger plug  14  in the fully extended position. In this position, due to the stabilized locking of the car charger plug in the fully extended position, the electrical contacts  16  and  17  can be pushed into engagement with the electrical connections of a car charge port so as to provide power to the USB port  30  for connection with an electrical charging cable. For illustrative purposes, the electrical connection between the electrical contacts of the car charger plug  14  and the USB port  30  have not been shown. 
         [0032]    The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.