Movable plug-head charger

Details Movable plug-head charger Movable plug-head charger

2002-05-22

2004-04-20

Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)

Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging

Cell or battery charger structure

Having plug for a-c receptacle

Reexamination Certificate

active

06724171

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 90218083, filed Oct. 23, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a movable plug-head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a movable plug-head for a traveling battery charger.
2. Description of Related Art
Information appliances represents another milestone for the electronic industry after the computer revolution. The so-called information appliances refer to a broad category of devices having communication or networking capability and serve as a means to provide information and recreational activities. According to such definition, information appliances may link up with a network to transmit/receive voice messages and network data. For example, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA), web pads and notebook computers are all regarded as information appliances. In general, rechargeable batteries provide the power necessary for operating information appliances such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants and notebook computers. To prevent power shortage, many traveling people will carry, aside from a set of spare batteries, a small lightweight battery charger for charging the rechargeable batteries.
FIGS. 1
a
and
1
b
are perspective views of a conventional travel charger. The travel charger has a main body
100
comprised of a top cover
110
and a bottom cover
120
. A pair of parallel open grooves
121
is formed on the bottom cover
120
so that the two metal plates
200
of a plug-head may fold out from the main body
100
. To reduce volume and increase portability, the metallic plates
200
of the plug-head may be bent back into the open groove
121
as shown in
FIG. 1
a.
To use the charger, the metal plates
200
are turned from a hidden horizontal position to a position vertical relative to the main body
100
as shown in
FIG. 1
b.
FIGS. 2
a
to
2
c
are explosive views showing the components constituting the conventional travel-type charger in
FIGS. 1
a
and
1
b.
The two metallic plates
200
are connected together through a rotary axle
210
. The rotary axle
210
is gripped by a groove
122
on the bottom cover
120
. The rotary axle
210
is able to rotate along a groove
112
on a support frame
111
attached to the top cover
110
. There is an L-shaped gripping block
220
between the two metallic plates
200
. Furthermore, the L-shaped gripping block
220
has end surfaces having a first protruded spine
221
and a second protruded spine
222
thereon respectively. The gripping block
220
is gripped by the two sidewalls
403
of an n-shaped stationing clamp
400
. The gripping block
220
and the n-shaped stationing clamp
400
are both made from a non-conductive plastic material. When the metallic plates
200
of the plug-head are folded back into the open grooves
121
, the second protruded spine
222
of the gripping block
220
and its other surface are gripped by the two sidewalls
403
of the n-shaped stationing clamp
400
. Due to the protruded profile of the spine
222
, the sidewalls
403
of the n-shaped stationing clamp
400
expand a little and increase the grip of the gripping block
220
. Hence, the metal plates
200
of the plug-head remain in a stable position. On the other hand, as the metal plates
200
rotate to a position vertical to the main body
100
, the first protruded spine
221
of the gripping block
220
and its other surface are gripped by the two sidewalls
403
of the n-shaped stationing clamp
400
. Similarly, due to the protruded profile of the spine
221
, the sidewalls
403
of the n-shaped stationing clamp
400
expand a little and increase the grip of the gripping block
220
. Hence, the metal plates
200
of the plug-head remain again in a stable position. With the second ends
202
of the respective metal plates
200
jutting out from the main body
100
, the charger may plug into a socket (not shown) to obtain a necessary power source. In the meantime, the first ends
201
at another end of the metal plates
200
are pulled into the main body
100
and gripped by springy clips
500
on a substrate board
300
. Hence, the metal plates
200
and contact points on the substrate board
300
are electrically connected.
The conventional travel-type charger mainly uses an n-shaped stationing clamp together with a gripping block having two protruded spines to position the metallic plates of the plug-head either hidden within the main body or exposed outside the main body. In addition, the conventional design also needs a pair of metallic springy clips for electrical connectivity. Thus, more components are required and assembling cost is increased.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a travel-type battery charger having a metallic n-shaped stationing clamp that functions also as a metallic clip for reducing overall thickness of the charger. In addition, the charger uses fewer components and hence reduces material and assembling cost.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a movable plug-head device suitable for a travel-type battery charger. The charger comprises of a top cover, a bottom cover and a substrate board. The top cover and the bottom cover together form a complete main body with the substrate board enclosed inside the main body. The top cover has two open grooves running parallel to each other. The movable plug-head of this invention includes a plug-head and two stationing clamps. The plug-head is engaged to the inner surface of the bottom cover. The plug-head is composed of two metallic plates, a rotary axle and two clamping blocks. The metallic plates are positioned inside the long and linear open grooves, each a mirror reflection of each other. The metallic plates have a first end and a second end. The first end of the metallic plates extends into the main body. The rotary axle is attached to the metallic plates close to the first end. The rotary axle is mounted inside the main body so that the metallic plates may rotate from a horizontal position inside the open grooves to a vertical position with the second end of the metallic plates exposed outside the bottom cover of the main body.
The clamping blocks are positioned at the respective first end of the metallic plates. The clamping blocks have a first planar surface, a second planar surface, a third planar surface and a fourth planar surface. The first planar surface and the second planar surface are perpendicular to each other. The third planar surface and the first planar surface are parallel to each other. The fourth planar surface and the second planar surface are parallel to each other. The first planar surface has a first protruded spine and the second planar surface has a second protruded spine.
The two stationing clamps are attached to the inner surface of the bottom cover. The stationing clamps are made using a conductive material. Each stationing clamp has two gripping spring plates, a first spring plate and a second spring plate. The first spring plate is attached to and electrically connected with the substrate board. The two spring plates are roughly parallel to each other. Each stationing clamp grips a clamping block. The second spring plate is in contact with the second end of the metallic plate after the metallic plate is turned from a position inside the open groove to a vertical position relative to the bottom cover. When the metallic plates are retracted into the open groove, the spring plates of each stationing clamp grip the second protruded spine and the fourth planar surface of the clamping block respectively. On the other hand, when the metallic plates are rotated into a vertical position relative to the bottom cover, the spring plates of each stationing clamp grip the first protruded spine and the third planar surface of the clamping block respectively.
It is to be unde

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Movable plug-head charger does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Movable plug-head charger, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Movable plug-head charger will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3252358