Patent Publication Number: US-11050202-B1

Title: Foldable 2-pin AC power plug/extension cord

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosure described herein are directed to the field of electrical power cords for transmitting electrical power from a wall outlet or other AC electrical power source, to a device such as an AC/DC power adapter that would normally plug directly into a wall outlet. More specifically, embodiments described herein, are directed to an extension cord having a uniquely configured jack or receiver port and an AC/DC adapter having a uniquely configured plug, which in combination, allow the plug of the adapter to plug into the extension cord jack even when the prongs (pins) of the plug are in a folded down position against the body of the DC adapter. 
     SUMMARY 
     Many consumer electronics utilize AC power interfaces (adapters, etc.) having foldable 2-pin plug assemblies. See for example, see the foldable pug connectors and devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,312,271 and 7,510,409; the entire contents of each being incorporated herein by reference. In many commercially available devices that are equipped with such 2-pin foldable plugs, the plug is essentially a plug module that is removeable from the device or adapter, and which can be switched out with other “modules” such as a different type of plug or an extension cord. The cord and interface of the present disclosure is configured to be used with the foldable 2-pin plug in place, and in its folded configuration, thereby eliminating any need to switch-out the foldable 2-pin plug. Not only does this allow for a reduction in components, but when an adapter is connected to the cord of the present disclosure in the unique manner disclosed, the adapter may now be used at a distance from the electrical outlet while maintaining a more compact shape, and safer electrical interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an extension cord configured for use with an AC power adapter having a foldable 2-pin plug. 
         FIG. 2  is a closer, rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  wherein engagement surfaces of the AC power adapter are visible. 
         FIG. 3  shows the jack portion of the extension cord engaged to the AC power adapter of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the jack portion of the extension cord and AC adapter shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the engaged jack portion of the extension cord shown in  FIG. 3 ; a USB cable is also shown engaged to the AC adapter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with example embodiments of the disclosure, an extension cord, cord systems and apparatuses are provided, and which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , one example extension cord  10  includes an elongated cord portion  12  that terminates at one end in a receiver portion or jack  14  and at the other end in a conventional 2-pin plug  16   a  or optional 3-pin plug  16   b . In alternative embodiments (not shown) the plug may be configured as a European standard style 2-pin plug (aka: “Europlug”), or an Australian plug (AS/NZS 3112). The extension cord  10  includes all of the typical components of a conventional electrical extension cord, but with a uniquely configured jack  14 . The jack  14  of the cord  10  includes a housing  18  which defines a first planar surface or face  20 . The housing  18  includes a structure  22  projecting outward from the planar surface  20 , and which defines a first channel  24  and a second channel  26 . The channels  24  and  26  are parallel to each other and run parallel to the planar surface  18 . 
     Each channel  24  and  26  are sized and shaped to receive one of the prongs or pins  30  and  32  of a 2-pin plug  34  and thereby form an electrically conductive connection between the cord  10  and plug  34 . When the pins  30  and  32  are received into the respective channels  24  and  26 , the pins  30  and  32  are positioned parallel to the planar surface  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the plug  34  is a foldable plug that is pivotally engaged to the body  36  of an AC adapter  40 . The pins  30  and  32  may be pivoted between a recessed or folded position, wherein they are held within a recess  38 , and along a recessed surface  39 , defined by the body  36  of the AC adapter  40 ; to an extended position (pins shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 ) wherein a portion of each pin  30  and  32  extend perpendicularly outward from the recessed surface  39  of the body  36 . 
     Given the size, shape and construction of the body of the AC adapter  36  relative to that of the jack housing  18 , it is only when the plug  34  is in the folded position that the pins  30  and  32  are able to be received by the respective channels  24  and  26  in the manner shown in the figures. 
     In at least one embodiment, the interface between the jack housing  18  and adapter body  36  is also provided with a mechanism to provide a snap fit engagement whereby the jack  14  is “locked” to the adapter  40  when the jack  14  is fully engaged to the adapter  40  in the manner shown  FIGS. 3 and 5 . To accomplish this, the jack  14  is provided with a knob or other protrusion  44  that extends outward from the planar surface  20 . The knob  44  is adjacent to the channel structure  22  and has a height α, as measured from the planar surface  22 , which is less than the height β of the channel structure  22 . On the body  36  of the adapter  40 , along the recessed surface  39  is positioned a knob housing  46  which defines a knob receipt channel  48 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the knob receipt channel  48  is sized and shaped to receive the knob  44  therein. The knob receipt channel  48  is positioned within the recess  38  of the adapter body  36  in such a way as to ensure that when the pins  30  and  32  are fully engaged within the channels  24  and  26 , a top housing surface  50  of the jack housing  18  and a top body surface  52  of the adapter body  36  are co-planar in the manner shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the top housing surface  50  of the jack is perpendicular to the planar surface  20 . In at least one embodiment, the top body surface  52  of the adapter body  36  is perpendicular to the recessed surface  39 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , it is shown that within the knob receipt channel  48  of the knob housing  46 , a lock bump or ridge  54  is present. The bump  54  protrudes from the otherwise uniform knob receipt channel  48  and is positioned to removeably engage a notch  56  defined by a surface of the knob  44  only when the pins  30  and  32  are fully received into the channels  24  and  26  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . The notch  56  and bump  54  are of a complimentary size and shape, such that when engaged together they act to “lock” the jack  14  of the cord  10  to the plug  32  of adapter  40 . 
     The terms “locked” and “lock” as used herein refer to the mechanical snap-fit engagement of the lock bump  54  with the notch  56  when the pins  30  and  32  of the plug  34  are fully received within the respective channels  24  and  26  of the jack  14  as is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In at least one embodiment, it requires a greater application of force to withdraw the pins  30  and  32  of the plug  34  from the respective channels  24  and  26  of the jack  14 , and thereby disengage the lock bump  54  from the notch  56 , than is required lock the components together. 
     This locking interface ensures that even when the adapter  40  and cord  10  are placed in the open, or in high traffic areas, their interface is maintained safely, securely and in as streamlined a manner as is possible. 
     In at least one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 , the AC adapter  40  will include one or more ports  60  for receipt of a Universal Serial Bus (USB), or (the equivalent) cord  62  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) of various configurations (e.g. Mini-USB, Micro-USB, USB A-C, Lightning Jack, etc.) from which the converted AC to DC current may be transmitted from the adapter  40  to a consumer electronic device (not shown). In some embodiments, where the AC adapter  40  is provided with multiple ports  60 , the ports may be of the same or different configurations. 
     Many other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the above description. Numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Since such modifications are possible, the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Rather, the present invention should be limited only by the following claims.