AU2008237560B2

AU2008237560B2 - Travel adapter system

Info

Publication number: AU2008237560B2
Application number: AU2008237560A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frank Chung; Lindsay Groves
Original assignee: Design Go Ltd
Current assignee: Design Go Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-01
Filing date: 2008-10-29
Publication date: 2011-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-29
Also published as: GB2454237A; NZ572273A; GB0721501D0; AU2008237560A1

Abstract

-16 The present invention comprises an adapter system (100, 200) for connecting a first power plug having a first pin configuration to a socket for receiving a power plug having 5 a second pin configuration. The adapter system (100, 200) comprises a first receptacle (110) comprising a plurality of holes (112, 114) for receiving the respective pins of the first power plug, said pins including an earth pin, a movable shutter (22) for covering the earth pin hole (114) in an engaged position and exposing said hole (114) in a disengaged position; and a first interface (120) comprising a first plurality of conductive members 10 (122, 124) each being conductively coupled to one of the pins of the first power plug when engaged in the first receptacle (110) and a movable member (126) cooperatively coupled to the shutter (22) for moving the shutter (22) between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The first interface (120) is designed to engage with a further interface (220) of various adapter plugs (200). The adapter system (100, 200) prevents an 15 earthed power plug being inserted into the receptacle (110) when the first interface (120) is engaged with a non-earthed adapter plug (200). (Fig. 1) 134 12 120 1026220 222 136 139 128 10 4 1 2500 26' Fig. 1

Description

Pool Sectn 29 Regulaton 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Travel adaptor system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111ABAU/1207 TRAVEL ADAPTER SYSTEM The present invention relates to an adapter system for connecting a first power plug having a first pin configuration to a socket for receiving a power plug having a 5 second pin configuration. Nowadays, international travel is commonplace. Many international travelers tend to bring electrical equipment on their travels. Such electrical equipment may include business equipment such as laptop computers, auxiliary equipment such as battery 10 chargers, personal care equipment such as hair dryers, and so on. Different countries tend to have different types of plug and socket configuration. Some countries only allow the use of plugs including an earth pin, such as the United Kingdom, which uses the BS 1363 standard earthed plug and socket. Other countries allow the use of both unearthed plug and sockets and earthed plug and sockets. For 15 example, several countries on the European continent, allow the use of both the unearthed CEE 7/16 and earthed CEE 7/17 type plugs. A similar situation exists in Australia. Many different types of travel adapters exist that allow travelers to plug their electrical equipment into a foreign socket. Many adapters are based on the principle of having a fixed receptacle for receiving a domestic plug on one end and a selectable plug 20 configuration on the other end, such that the adapter can be used in many different countries. Although most of these available travel adapters comply with the required safety standards, a potential safety concern associated with these travel adapters is that the fixed receptacle typically allows earthed plugs to be inserted, whereas the selected conversion 25 plug at the other end of the adapter may be an unearthed plug. Hence, the connected electrical appliance may be operated in an unearthed manner, which can lead to hazardous situations in which the user of the appliance may be exposed to high voltages. The present invention seeks to provide an adapter system which prevents an 30 earthed appliance being connected to an unearthed socket.

-2 According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adapter system for connecting a first power plug having a first pin configuration to a socket for receiving a power plug having a second pin configuration, comprising: a first receptacle comprising a plurality of holes for receiving the respective pins of the first power plug, 5 said pins including an earth pin; a movable shutter for covering the earth pin hole in an engaged position and exposing said hole in a disengaged position; and a first interface comprising: a first plurality of conductive members, each being conductively coupled to one of the pins of the first power plug when engaged in the first receptacle; and a movable member cooperatively coupled to the shutter for moving the shutter between the engaged 10 position and the disengaged position. Such a system, which is designed to receive different types of adapter plugs having different pin configurations, provides a mechanism for preventing an earthed appliance being connected to an unearthed adapter plug. The shutter is arranged to cover the earth pin hole of the receptacle when an unearthed adapter plug is engaged with the 15 first interface such that the user of the adapter system is unable to insert an earthed plug into the receptacle. To this end, the shutter is cooperatively coupled to a movable member in the first interface. At this point, it is emphasized that within the context of the present invention, the phrase 'conductive member' is intended to include earth continuity members, i.e., 20 conductive connections that ensure that a continuous earth connection between an earthed plug in the adapter system and the earthed socket in which the adapter system is placed exists. The first interface is preferably oriented perpendicularly to the receptacle. This allows for a mechanically straightforward connection between the movable member and 25 the shutter. In case of such a perpendicular orientation, the system may comprise a further receptacle oriented opposite the first receptacle, with the system comprising a further shutter for covering the earth pin hole of the further receptacle when the first interface is engaged with an unearthed adapter plug, with the movable member being arranged to move both shutters. 30 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adapter plug for use in a system as described above comprising a plurality of further pins in the second pin configuration; and a further -3 interface for engaging with the first interface, the further interface comprising a second plurality of conductive members, each being conductively coupled to one of said further pins and being conductively coupled to one of the first plurality of conductive members when the first and further interface are engaged. Such a member, which may be a 5 protrusion from the further interface surface or simply a flat portion of the further interface surface, engages with the movable member of the main body of the adapter system to force the shutter of the receptacle earth pin hole into a desired position, e.g. into a position where it blocks the earth pin hole if the portion is present on an unearthed adapter plug, or into a position where it enables access to the earth pin hole if the portion 10 is present on an earthed adapter plug. The further interface of a complementary adapter plug may comprise an opening for receiving the movable member such that the movable member remains in its unengaged position when the first and further interface are engaged; in other words, in case of an unearthed version of an adapter plug comprising a portion to engage with the 15 movable member of the first interface to move the shutter into a position where it blocks the receptacle earth pin hole, the earthed version of the adapter plug comprises an opening, e.g. a hole, that receives the movable member when the first interface and the further interface are engaged such that the movable member is not moved, thus keeping the shutter in its original position, i.e. the position it assumed before the main body and 20 the adapter plug of the adapter system were engaged. In a preferred embodiment, the first interface comprises a first surface carrying the first plurality of conductive members, opposite sides of said surface being bordered by respective walls having a lip overhanging the surface, thus forming a channel in between the lip and the surface, each of said lips having at least one recess, the channel 25 having an opening at one side of the first surface; and the further interface comprises a further surface carrying the second plurality of conductive members, opposite sides of said surface comprising at least one sideways extending protrusion arranged to fit into said recess to enable the engagement of the first interface and the second interface by means of sliding said protrusions through said channels such that the protrusions become 30 located between the lip and the first surface, the further surface further comprising a further sideways protrusion on each of its opposite sides for sliding into the channel -4 opening. This provides a secure and robust engagement between the main body and the adapter plug of the adapter system. At least some conductive members of the first plurality of conductive members may protrude from the first surface, and the conductive members from the second 5 plurality of conductive members corresponding to said protruding conductive members may be located in respective recesses, each of said corresponding conductive members comprising a spring-loaded portion for frictionally securing the protruding conductive members when the first interface and the further interface are engaged. This further improves the robustness of the engagement between the main body and the adapter plug 10 of the adapter system. The first surface may further comprise a further channel extending in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction for engaging the first interface and further interface, the pair of spring-loaded pins being located in the further channel; and the further surface may comprise protruding engaging means, said engaging means being arranged to occupy 15 a part of the further channel when the first interface and the further interface are engaged. This yet further improves the robustness of the engagement between the main body and the adapter plug of the adapter system. Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or 20 components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. The invention is described in more detail and by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 25 Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an adapter system for receiving American mains plugs according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an adapter system for receiving Australian mains plugs according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a universal version of an adapter system according 30 to the present invention in an engaged position. It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

-5 Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an American version of the adapter system of the present invention. The adapter system comprises a main body 100 and several adapter plugs 200 for allowing an American mains plug inserted into the receptacle 110 of the main body 100 to be connected to mains sockets having a pin configuration different to 5 the configuration of receptacle 110. The main body 100 has two receptacles 110 at opposite sides, with a first interface 120 oriented perpendicularly to the two receptacles 110. The two receptacles 110 may be arranged to receive the same type of power plugs or to receive different types of power plugs. Alternatively, one of the receptacles 110 may be omitted, in which case the first interface 120 may be placed either perpendicularly to 10 or opposite to the receptacle 110. The first interface 120 is designed to engage with the various adapter plugs 200. The first interface 120 comprises protruding conductive pins 122 that are conductively coupled to the pins of a plug (not shown) when inserted into holes 112 of the receptacle 110. The first interface 120 further comprises a protruding conductive strip 124 that is 15 conductively coupled to the earth pin of a plug (not shown) when inserted into the hole 114 of the receptacle 110. The first interface 120 comprises two interconnected protruding movable members 126, which are cooperatively coupled to a shutter (not shown) for blocking the hole 114 in case the first interface 120 interfaces with an unearthed adapter plug 200, i.e. an adapter plug 200 without an earth member such as an 20 earth pin, an earth pin receptacle or any other earth connection member designed to be conductively coupled to an earth provision in a mains socket. In Fig. 1, the movable members 126 are located in a channel 128, and are shown in a pressed-down state, which engages the shutter to block the earth pin hole 114. It will be appreciated that other embodiments of the movable member 126 are equally feasible; for instance, the member 25 126 may be located in a fitted hole rather than a channel, and a different number of protruding members 126 may be used. The further interface 220 of the adapter plugs 200 comprises slots 222 in which conductive members are placed such that the conductive protrusions 122 are conductively coupled to the conductive members in the slots 222 when the first interface 120 is 30 engaged with the further interface 220, i.e. when the adapter plug 200 is fitted onto the main body 100. The conductive members in the slots 220 may have a spring-loaded -6 portion to frictionally secure the conductive protrusions 122. In case of an earthed power plug 200, the further interface 220 further comprises a conductive track 224 that is conductively coupled to the earth conductive track 124 of the first interface 120 when the first interface 120 is engaged with the further interface 220. The conductive tracks in the 5 slots 222 and conductive track 224 are conductively coupled to the respective pins and the earth member on the opposite surface of the adapter plug 200. The first interface 120 comprises a wall 130 on opposite side of its surface. The walls 130 have a lip 132 overhanging the surface such that a channel 133 is formed between the lip 132 and the surface. The lip 132 comprises a recess 134 and the channel 10 133 comprises an opening 136. In Fig. 1, the channel 133 comprises several chambers formed by optional partition walls 139. The further interface 220 comprises a complementary arrangement in the form of protrusions 234 that protrude sideways from the surface of the further interface 220. The protrusions 234 are designed to fit in the recesses 134 of the lips 132. The further interface 220 further comprises further 15 protrusions 236 that protrude sideways from the surface of the further interface 220, and which are designed to fit into the openings 136. The protrusions 234 and further protrusions 236 preferably have a different size such that the further protrusions 236 do not fit into the recesses 134. The surface of the further interface further comprises protrusions 228 that fit into the channel 128. 20 To engage an adapter plug 200 with the main body 100, the protrusions 234 are lowered into the channel 133 through recesses 134, after which a lateral displacement of the further interface 220 with respect to the first interface 120 forces the further protrusions 236 to enter openings 136 and forces protrusions 228 into the channel 128. This clicks the adapter plug 200 into place on the main body 100. The optional partition 25 walls 139 may be used to stop the respective protrusions received in the channel 133 in the desired position. It will be appreciated that obvious alternatives are available for the above described engaging arrangement. For instance, the engaging means of the first interface 120 and the further interface 220 may be interchanged, or other known suitable engaging means may be used instead. 30 Depending on the type of adapter plug, i.e. earthed or unearthed, the fitting of the adapter plug 200 onto the main body 100 will force the shutter for covering the earth pin -7 hole 114 in the correct position. For instance, the unearthed adapter plug 200 labeled 6# in Fig. I has flat portions 226 on the surface of the further interface 220, which, when engaged with the first interface 120 will press down the movable members 126, thus causing the shutters to block the earth pin holes 114. The earthed adapter plug 200 5 labeled 2# in Fig. I has openings 226' in the surface of the further interface 220, which, when engaged with the first interface 120 will receive the movable members 126, such that the members 126 are not pressed down, thus causing the shutters to remain in a position where they do not block the earth pin holes 114. The adapter plug 200 may comprise a release member 250 for releasing the adapter plug 200 from the main body 10 100. It will be appreciated that many alternatives to the shutter engaging mechanism can be thought of. For instance, the further interface 220 may comprise a protruding member to press down the movable member 126, and the pressing down of the movable member may result in the earth pin hole 114 becoming unblocked rather than blocked, and so on. Fig. 2 shows the shutter arrangement in an Australian version of the adapter 15 system (i.e. designed to receive an Australian mains plug in receptacle 110) according to the present invention in more detail. The main body 100 comprises a U-shaped member 20, which comprises shutters 22 at its respective ends. The shutters 22 are arranged to cover the openings of the beak-shaped receptacles 24' for receiving the earth pin of a power plug through earth pin hole 114 when the protruding pins 126 are in a pressed 20 down position. The receptacles 24' are beak-shaped by way of non-limiting example only; any suitable shape that provides a reliable contact with the earth pin of a connected plug may be used. The electrically insulating U-shaped member 20 is spring-loaded such that the pins 126 return to their protruding position when the pins 126 are not subjected to a force pressing the pins 126 down. The beaks 24' form a part of a conventional 25 conductive structure 24 including conductive strip 124, which construction will be apparent to the skilled person, as will be the case for the other conductive structures of the main body 100. It will be appreciated that in case of a main body 100 comprising a single receptacle 110, one of the shutters 22 may be omitted, resulting in an L-shaped member 20. 30 Fig. 3 shows two arrangements 310 and 320 in which an adapter plug 200 is engaged with the main body 100 of a universal adapter system. In the context of the -8 present invention, a universal adapter system is a system that can receive several different types of plugs in its receptacle(s) 100. In Fig. 3, the receptacle 110 has two earth holes 114 and 114', with the earth hole 114 being arranged to receive the earth pin of a BS1363 compliant plug, i.e. a UK mains plug, and the earth hole 114' being arranged to receive 5 the earth pin of an earthed Australian or American mains plug. Because a BS1363 compliant plug may be attached to earthed as well as unearthed devices, the hole 114 does not need to be covered by a shutter when the body 100 is engaged with an unearthed adapter plug 200. However, the earth pin hole 114' typically receives an earth pin of a plug from a system that uses different plugs for earthed and unearthed appliances such as 10 the American system or the Australian system. Hence, earth pin hole 114' must be blocked when the main body 100 is engaged with an unearthed adapter plug 200. In the first arrangement 310, the main body 100 is engaged with an earthed adapter plug 200. The earth pin hole 114' of the receptacle is freely accessible, due to the fact that the shutter 22 is not engaged; the protruding pins 126 of the first interface 120 15 are located in the openings 226' of the further interface 220 of the adapter plug 200. In the second arrangement 320, an unearthed adapter plug 200 is engaged with the main body 100. The earth pin hole 114' of the receptacle is now blocked by the shutter 22 due to the fact that the protruding pins 126 are pressed down by the flat surface portion 226 of the further interface 220 of the adapter plug 200. This demonstrates that the 20 adapter system of the present invention effectively prevents the insertion of an earthed plug in the receptacle 110 when the main body 100 is engaged with an unearthed adapter plug 200. With respect to the various embodiments of the present invention schematically shown in Figs 1-3, it is noted that all embodiments are designed in accordance with the 25 'make first break last principle', which means that in case of an earth member being present on the first plug or the adapter plug 200, the earth member is the first member to conductive engage with the socket when the plug is inserted into the socket and the last member to be disengage when the plug is removed from the socket in accordance with safety standards requirements. 30 It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative -9 embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the 5 presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. An adapter system for connecting a first power plug having a first pin configuration to a socket for receiving a power plug having a second pin configuration, comprising: a first receptacle comprising a plurality of holes for receiving the respective pins of the first power plug, said pins including an earth pin; a movable shutter for covering the earth pin hole in an engaged position and exposing said hole in a disengaged position; and a first interface comprising: a first plurality of conductive members, each being conductively coupled to one of the pins of the first power plug when engaged in the first receptacle; and a movable member cooperatively coupled to the shutter for moving the shutter between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

2. An adapter system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adapter plug comprising: a plurality of further pins in the second pin configuration; and a further interface for engaging with the first interface, the further interface comprising a second plurality of conductive members, each being conductively coupled to one of said further pins and being conductively coupled to one of the first plurality of conductive members when the first interface and the further interface are engaged.

3. An adapter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the further interface further comprises a portion arranged to move the movable member when the first interface and the further interface are engaged, wherein the movable member is arranged to move the shutter into the engaged position when moved by the portion.

4. An adapter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the further interface further comprises a portion arranged to move the movable member when the first interface and the further interface are engaged, wherein the movable member is arranged to move the shutter into the disengaged position when moved by the portion. - 11

5. An adapter system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the further interface comprises an opening for receiving the movable member such that the movable member remains in its unengaged position when the first interface and the further interface are engaged.

6. An adapter system as claimed in any of claims 2-5, wherein: the first interface comprises a first surface carrying the first plurality of conductive members, opposite sides of said surface being bordered by respective walls having a lip overhanging the surface, thus forming a channel in between the lip and the surface, each of said lips having at least one recess, the channel having an opening at one side of the first surface; and the further interface comprises a further surface carrying the second plurality of conductive members, opposite sides of said surface comprising at least one sideways extending protrusion arranged to fit into said recess to enable the engagement of the first interface and the second interface by means of sliding said protrusions through said channels such that the protrusions become located between the respective lips and the first surface, the further surface further comprising a further sideways protrusion on each of its opposite sides for sliding into the channel opening.

7. An adapter system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least some conductive members of the first plurality of conductive members protrude from the first surface, and wherein the conductive members of second plurality of conductive members corresponding to said protruding conductive members are located in respective recesses, each of said corresponding conductive members comprising a spring-loaded portion for frictionally securing the corresponding protruding first conductive means when the first interface and the further interface are engaged.

8. An adapter system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the movable member comprises a pair of spring-loaded pins protruding from the first surface. - 12

9. An adapter system as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the first surface comprises a further channel extending in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction for engaging the first interface and further interface, the pair of spring-loaded pins being located in the further channel; and the further surface comprises protruding engaging means, said engaging means being arranged to occupy a part of the further channel when the first interface and the further interface are engaged.

10. An adapter system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first interface is oriented perpendicularly to the receptacle.

11. An adapter system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the movable member comprises an L-shaped spring-loaded member comprising the shutter, the L-shaped member comprising at least one portion protruding from the first interface such that the shutter is moved when the protruding portion is pressed down.

12. An adapter system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a further receptacle comprising a plurality of holes for receiving the respective pins of a further power plug, said pins including a further earth pin; a further movable shutter for covering the further earth pin hole in an engaged position and exposing said further hole in a disengaged position, the further receptacle being located opposite the first receptacle; wherein the movable member comprises an U-shaped spring-loaded member comprising the respective shutters, the U-shaped member comprising at least one portion protruding from the first interface such that said shutters are moved when the protruding portion is pressed down.

13. An adapter system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first plug is an Australian mains compliant plug.

14. An adapter system as claimed in any of claims 1-12, wherein the first plug is an American mains compliant plug. - 13

15. An adapter system as claimed in any of claims 1-12, wherein the first plug is a mainland Europe mains compliant plug.

16. An adapter plug for use in a system as claimed in any of claims 1-15, comprising: a plurality of further pins in the second pin configuration; and a further interface for engaging with the first interface, the further interface comprising a second plurality of conductive members, each being conductively coupled to one of said further pins and being conductively coupled to one of the first plurality of conductive members when the first and further interface are engaged.

17. An adapter plug as claimed in claim 16, wherein the further interface further comprises a portion arranged to move the movable member when the first and further interface are engaged, wherein the movable member is arranged to move the shutter into the engaged position when moved by the portion.

18. An adapter plug as claimed in claim 16, wherein the further interface further comprises a portion arranged to move the movable member when the first and further interface are engaged, wherein the movable member is arranged to move the shutter into the disengaged position when moved by the portion.

19. An adapter plug as claimed in claim 16, wherein the further interface comprises an opening for receiving the movable member such that the movable member remains in its unengaged position when the first and further interface are engaged.

20. An adapter plug as claimed in any of claims 16-19, wherein: the first interface comprises a first surface carrying the first plurality of conductive members, opposite sides of said surface being bordered by respective walls having a lip overhanging the surface, thus forming a channel in between the lip and the surface, each of said lips having at least one recess, the channel having an opening at one side of the first surface; and the further interface comprises a further surface carrying the second plurality of conductive members, opposite sides of said surface comprising at least one sideways extending protrusion arranged to fit into said recess to enable the engagement of the first interface and the second interface by means of sliding said protrusions through said - 14 channels such that the protrusions become located between the respective lips and the first surface, the further surface further comprising a further sideways protrusion on each of its opposite sides for sliding into the channel opening.

21. An adapter plug as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least some conductive members of the first plurality of conductive members protrude from the first surface, and wherein the conductive members of second plurality of conductive members corresponding to said protruding conductive members are located in respective recesses, each of said corresponding conductive members comprising a spring-loaded portion for frictionally securing the corresponding protruding first conductive means when the first interface and the further interface are engaged.

22. An adapter plug as claimed in any of claims 20 or 21, wherein the portion comprises a protrusion extending from the further surface.

23. An adapter plug as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein: the movable member comprises a pair of spring-loaded pins; the first surface comprises a further channel extending in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction for engaging the first interface and further interface, the pair of spring-loaded pins being located in the further channel; and the further surface comprises protruding engaging means, said engaging means being arranged to occupy a part of the further channel when the first interface and the further interface are engaged.

24. An adapter system or an adapter plug substantially as shown in any of the Figures and/or described in the description. DESIGN GO LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEY P31095AUOO