Electrical connectors – Convertible by internal change to selectively cooperate with... – Coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-22
2001-10-16
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Convertible by internal change to selectively cooperate with...
Coupling part
C439S694000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302717
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a universal adapter and, in particular, such an adapter which can be used in various countries in the world in which the wall sockets are differently structured.
There are now various portable electrical appliances which can be operated by the user during travelling in other countries. Such appliances may include portable computers, mobile phones and facsimile machines. In order to adapt to the differences in the voltage of municipal power supply, many such products are installed with a built-in voltage converter, which allows the user to step up or step down the voltage of a municipal power supply, as desired.
Another problem associated with the use of such appliances in various countries is that the shape and arrangement of the holes in wall sockets may vary from country to country. There are now four types of wall-socket arrangements in the world. In Great Britain, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., the wall sockets are of BS type, and include three rectangular holes. In such countries as the US, Canada, Japan and Taiwan, the wall sockets are of UL type, and include two flat holes. In other European countries, the wall sockets are of VDE type, and include two round holes. In Australia and New Zealand, the wall sockets are of SAA type, and include two inclined flat holes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In view of the above situation, various electrical adapters have been devised for allowing the many electrical appliances to be used around the world. However, most such adapters are very bulky, at least when compared with conventional electric plugs or sockets. In addition, a relatively high amount of metal is required for making the components in such adapters, which add to the manufacturing cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,545 issued to Lee discloses a universal adapter including a casing and three plugs, in which the plugs may be selectively moved forward to engage with holes in the wall socket. Each of these three plugs contains pins of a different shape, so that the adapter can be plugged into different wall sockets in different countries. It can, however, be seen that a different plug is used for plugging into wall sockets of different shapes and arrangement of holes. Such an adapter also suffers from the same problems enumerated in the last paragraph, i.e. it is both bulky and requires a high amount of metal for its production.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a universal adapter in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first two aspects of this invention are directed to a universal adapter that has a body and a pair of electrically conductive pin members. This body includes at least a first end and a second end and has at least two holes on said first end. These holes are adapted to be engaged with a plug of an electric appliance and each of said holes is electrically connected with one of said electrically conductive pin members which are selectively extensible through a plurality of pairs of apertures provided on said second end, wherein at least two pairs of those apertures are, in the first aspect of the invention, inclined to one another at an angle or, in a second aspect of this invention, of different size. The pin members are engagable with a socket. In the first two aspects of this invention said adapter also includes a third pin member made of an electrically insulating material, said third member being extensible through an aperture on said second end of said body to engage with a ground pin hole of a socket.
A third aspect of this invention is directed to an universal adapter that has a body and a pair of electrically conductive pin members. This body includes at least a first end and a second end and has at least two holes on said first end. These holes are adapted to be engaged with a plug of an electric appliance and are electrically connected with said pin members which are selectively extensible through a plurality of pairs of apertures provided on said second end, wherein each of said pin members is engageable with an adapting member when said pin members extend through one of said pairs of apertures. The pin members are engagable with a socket.
A fourth aspect of this invention is directed to a universal adapter that has a body and a pair of electrically conductive pin members. This body includes at least a first end and a second end and has at least two holes on said first end. These holes are adapted to be engaged with a plug of an electric appliance and are electrically connected with said pin members, which are selectively extensible through a plurality of pairs of apertures provided on said second end, wherein said second end includes at least a first surface and a second surface which are substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein at least one pair of apertures is provided on each of said first and second surface(s). The pin members are engagable with a socket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5159545 (1992-10-01), Lee
patent: 5211584 (1993-05-01), Lee
patent: 5791921 (1998-08-01), Lee
patent: 5851123 (1998-12-01), Chou
patent: 31 09 620 (1982-09-01), None
patent: WO 97/23022 (1997-06-01), None
Australian Patent Office, International search report for corresponding Hong Kong Short-Term patent application, Ref No.CS/00/038 (Jul. 13, 2000).
Abrams Neil
Hall Priddy Myers & Vande Sande
Zarroli Michael C.
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