GB2315168A

GB2315168A - Electrical adapter for connecting a cordless appliance to a base

Info

Publication number: GB2315168A
Application number: GB9614343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Andrew O'neill
Original assignee: Otter Controls Ltd
Current assignee: Otter Controls Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-08
Filing date: 1996-07-08
Publication date: 1998-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-08
Also published as: GB2315168B; GB9614343D0

Abstract

A cordless electrical appliances, particularly a hot water jug, in which a connector part is provided on the appliance base part for engaging with a complementary connector part that is provided on the appliance proper. The invention proposes the provision of an adapter (11) for connection to the connector part (2) that is provided on the appliance proper, the adapter (11) providing for electrical connection to the appliance base part at a level lower than would otherwise be the case and enabling the base connector part (10) to be reduced in height.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Field of the Invention: This invention concerns improvements relating to electrical appliances and particularly electrical appliances of the so-called "cordless" type comprising an appliance proper and a base unit (or holder) in which electrical connection to the appliance proper is made by locating the appliance proper on a base unit connected to the electrical supply, the appliance proper and the base unit having co-operating electrical connection systems operative to power the appliance proper via the base unit when the former is located on the latter. Examples of such cordless appliances are electric smoothing irons, power tools and hot water jugs, kettles and like water heating vessels and in the following the invention will be described with particular reference to hot water jugs though the invention is not limited to hot water jugs.

Background of the Invention: In our British Patent Specification No.

GB-A-2 241 390 there is described a base unit connector for a cordless electrical appliance which has been marketed by us as our CS2 connector. This CS2 connector is particularly well adapted for use in a cordless water heating appliance, such as a hot water jug, which has the appliance proper fitted with an element protection device manufactured by us and substantially as described in our British Patent Specification No. GB-A-2 194 099. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows the CS2 connector 1 of GB-A-2 241 390 and an X3 element protector control 2 in accordance with GB-A-2 194 099, and further shows a steam sensor control 3 also manufactured and marketed by us as our J-type steam sensor plugged into the top of the X3 control 3. The J-type steam sensor control and the manner of its interconnection with the X-type element protector control are described in our British Patent Specification No. GB-A-2 212 664. The disclosures of GB-A-2 241 390, GB-A-2 194 099 and GB-A-2 212 664 are incorporated herein by reference.

Whilst the CS2 base unit connector has enjoyed commercial success, as indeed have the X-type element protector control and the J-type steam sensor control, a problem has been encountered in some situations as a result of the height of the CS2 control which is seen as aesthetically unpleasing. The obvious solution to this problem, namely to reduce the height of the CS2 control, does not provide an acceptable solution however since it would cause the appliance manufacturer to have to redesign at least the appliance proper part of the cordless appliance so as to accommodate the different positional relationship that would then result between the modified, lower CS2 control and the co-operating X3 element protector control.

Objects and Summary of the Invention: It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to overcome or at least substantially reduce the aforementioned problem so that, without causing manufacturers of cordless electrical appliances any significant redesign involvement, the aesthetic appearance of the base unit connector may be improved.

According to the present invention, the abovementioned object is achieved by provision of an adapter designed to be affixed to the X-type element protector control and to provide for electrical connection to terminal pins of the X-type control at a level lower than is provided by such terminal pins themselves whereby the height of the CS2 base unit connector can be reduced. By this means, the X-type control does not have to undergo any modification whatsoever and similarly its relationship with the appliance proper and the design of the appliance proper does not have to undergo any modification. If, as a preferred feature of the present invention, the CS2 control is modified (shortened) so that the manner of its fixing in or to the base unit does not change, then inconvenience to the appliance manufacturer resulting from a change to the modified base unit connector is substantially obviated. Indeed, the appliance manufacturer has the option to manufacture cordless appliances using the X-type control with the unmodified CS2 control or using the X-type control with the adapter and the modified CS2 control.

More generally, recognizing that the present invention is not limited to cordless appliances utilizing our X2 and CS2 controls, the present invention provides a connector system for a cordless electrical appliance which comprises a first electrical connector part for assembly with or to the appliance proper, a second electrical connector part for assembly with or to the base unit, and an adapter couplable with the first electrical connector part to enable electrical connection to be established between the first and second electrical connector parts by way of the adapter.

We are aware of GB-A-2 221 104 which discloses a connector system for a cordless electrical appliance such as a hot water jug. The connector system of GB-A-2 221 104 comprises a male pin connector and a female socket connector and the male pin connector fixes to the appliance proper whilst the female socket connector fixes to the base of the appliance. The male pin connector has three vertical pins which are surrounded by a plastics material shroud, and is adapted to be fitted to a thermally sensitive control unit of the appliance proper, the vertical pins of the male pin connector having sleeves which engage over horizontally disposed terminal pins forming part of the control unit of the appliance proper. The vertical pins of the male connector are adapted for entry into slots in the top of a housing of the female socket connector so as to make electrical contact therein with spring contacts of the female socket connector. The horizontally disposed terminal pins of the thermally sensitive control unit could not themselves be engaged with the female socket connector and the male pin connector could thus be considered to be an adapter which converts the pin configuration of the thermally sensitive control into one which can be operatively engaged with the female socket connector.

As compared with the electrical connection system of GB-A-2 221 104 abovementioned in which the "adapter" is an essential component in order to enable connection between the terminal pins of the thermally sensitive appliance part control and the female socket connector to the established, so that no possibility arises of using the connection system without the adapter, the connection system of the present invention is designed such that were it not for the spacing that exists between the first connector part (eg an X-type control) mounted on the appliance proper and the second connector part mounted on the base unit when the appliance part is seated on the base unit, the two connector parts could mate with each other without need for the adapter. The adapter merely bridges the separation between the connector parts of the appliance proper and the base unit and a taller but otherwise identical base unit connector part could itself bridge this separation.

The connector system of the present invention is advantageous in that it enables manufacturers of cordless electrical appliances to expand their product range to include low profile and standard profile base unit connectors without the need for any significant redesign of their appliance proper and/or of their base unit.

The invention will be described hereinafter with particular reference to exemplary embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DescriPtion of the Drawinqs: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a prior art CS2 control in operative relationship with a prior art X3 element protector control and with a J-type steam control affixed to the X3 control; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a modified (shortened) CS2 control, an adapter embodying the present invention and an X3 element protector control combined with a J-type steam control; Figure 3A is an enlarged view of the modified CS2 control of Figure 2 and Figure 3B is an exploded view of the modified CS2 control; and Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are enlarged perspective views, some exploded, of the adapter shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment: Figure 1, as aforementioned, shows an Otter Controls Limited CS2 base unit connector 1 as described in GB-A-2 241 390 (see particularly Figures 5A and 5B and Figures 6A to 6D of the drawings of GB-A-2 241 390), an Otter Controls Limited X3 element protector control 2 as described in GB-A-2 194 099 and in GB-A-2 241 390 (see particularly Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings of GB-A-2 241 390), and an Otter Controls Limited J-type steam sensor control 3 as described in GB-A-2 212 664. Reference may be had to GB-A-2 241 390, GB-A-2 194 099 and GB-A-2 212 664 for a detailed understanding of the construction and operation of the CS2 base unit connector 1, the X3 element protector control 2 and the J-type steam sensor control 3, and for the purposes of the present application it will suffice to say that the X3 control 2 has live, neutral and earth terminal pins 4 extending horizontally within a hooded or open-based socket inlet shroud 5 and that the upper end of the CS2 base unit connector is shaped and dimensioned to be snugly received within the shroud 5 and has three shuttered apertures which provide access for the terminal pins 4 of the X3 control to make electrical contact with respective spring contacts within the CS2 base unit connector. The arrangement of the shutter in the CS2 base unit connector 1 is such that as the CS2 connector 1 is operatively mated with the X3 control 2, so the terminal pins 4 drive down the shutter which in turn enables cantilevered leaf spring contacts within the CS2 connector 1 to move forwardly into electrical contact with the ends of the terminal pins 4; by virtue of this arrangement, the establishment of electrical contact between the terminal pins 4 of the X3 control 2 and the spring contacts within the connector 1 is made independent of the vertical loading of the spring contacts of the connector 1 by the pins 4 of the X3 control 2, unlike the arrangement of GB-A-2 221 104.

Referring now to Figure 2, shown therein is a shortened, low profile version of the CS2 connector 1 that is shown in Figure 1, the version that is shown in Figure 2 being designated the CS5 connector and being referenced 10. The X3 control 2 and the J-type steam sensor 3 are as in Figure 1 and, to accommodate the reduced height of the CS5 connector 10, a connector inlet adapter 11 is provided. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the adapter 11 has an upper male portion 12 which is shaped and dimensioned to be snugly received within the inlet shroud 5 of the X3 control 1, apertures 13 being provided for receiving the terminal pins 4 of the X3 control 1, and has a lower female portion 14 which is shaped and dimensioned to snugly receive the upper end of the CS5 connector 10, vertically oriented terminal pins 15 extending downwardly within the lower portion 14 of the adapter 11 for co-operation with contact springs provided in the CS5 connector 10 and having portions associated with the apertures 13 for electrically contacting the pins 4 of the X3 control 2.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the CS5 base unit connector 10 and may usefully be compared with Figures 5A and 5B of the drawings of GB-A-2 241 390. Apart from the lower profile of the CS5 connector 10, the prior art CS2 connector 1 is substantially identical to the CS5 connector 10. In particular, the CS5 connector 10 is externally shaped and dimensioned to be identical to the upper male part of the CS2 connector 1 which mates with the female inlet shroud 5 of the X3 control 2.

Referring to Figures 3A and 3B, the CS5 base unit connector 10 comprises a moulded plastics housing part or cover moulding 16 into which there may be fitted a moulded plastics member 17 which serves as a mounting carrier for three leaf springs 18, a moulded plastics shutter member 19 and a coil spring 20 for the shutter, the member 17 having wall portions which define within the cover moulding 16 appropriate accommodation for the leaf springs 18, the shutter 19 and the coil spring 20 ensuring proper clearances, shielding and screening between electrical parts. As shown in Figure 3A and as in the prior art CS2 connector, the modified, low profile base unit connector 10 has three apertures 21 in its cover moulding 16 and the shutter 19 sits within the moulding 16 behind these apertures, biassed upwardly by the operation of the coil spring 20. The leaf springs 18 locate behind the shutter 19 and bear forwardly against the shutter so that, upon depression of the shutter against the action of the spring 20, the free ends of the leaf springs 18 can move forwardly. In use of the prior art CS2 connector 1, depression of the shutter is caused by contact with the terminal pins 4 of the X3 control 2 so that as the ends of the leaf springs 18 move forwardly they contact the ends of the terminal pins 4, and in use of the CS5 connector 10 of the present invention a similar effect is obtained by depression of the shutter 19 with the terminal pins 15 of the adapter 11 so that the contact springs 18 move forwardly into electrical contact therewith.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are enlarged perspective showings of the adapter 11 shown in Figure 2, Figure 4A showing the adapter with its terminal pins assembled and Figures 4B and 4C showing the adapter terminal pins exploded from the adapter body. The adapter 11 comprises a unitary plastics material moulding 25 defining the upper male portion 12 and the lower female portion 14 for co-operation respectively with the inlet shroud 5 of the X3 control and with the CS5 base unit connector 10. Internally, the moulding 25 defines three recesses 26 for receiving three identical terminal pins 15 in a push-fit manner. The terminal pins 15 are formed of relatively thin metal having high thermal and electrical conductivity and may carry a thick plating layer of silver and antimony as described in GB-A-2 241 390. To provide enhanced rigidity, the lower part 27 each terminal pin 15 is formed as a right angle section The upper part 28 of each terminal pin 15 is formed as a spring clip for electrically conductive engagement with the respective terminal pin 4 of the X3 control 2 when, the adapter 11 is assembled with the control, the upper parts 28 of the pins 15 registering in their accommodating recesses 26 with the apertures 13 that are provided for accommodating the terminal pins 4 of the X3 control 2. Integrally formed limbs 29 of the moulding 25 define spring clips to retain the adapter 11 engaged with the inlet shroud 5 of the X3 control.

As will readily be appreciated, the provision of the CS5 low profile base unit connector 10 as a modification of the prior art CS2 connector and the provision of the adapter 11 with a male portion which mimics the interaction of the CS2 connector with the inlet shroud of the X3 control and a female portion which mimics the reverse interaction of the X3 control inlet shroud with the CS2 connector, enables an appliance manufacturer to use either the new, low profile connector system or the original prior art connector system without any changes having to be made either to the appliance proper or to the cordless base unit. This is considered to be a considerable advantage for the appliance manufacturer.

The described embodiment is susceptible to modification and variation without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention and is to be considered in all respects as exemplary only. For example, whilst the invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to the connection between an element protector control and a base unit, the connector part coupled to the appliance proper could alternatively be a simple inlet connector without any thermally responsive function or characteristics.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical connector system for a cordless electrical appliance, said system comprising an adapter for connection to an inlet connector provided on the appliance proper and providing terminal means engageable with co-operating terminals of the base unit connector, the inlet connector of the appliance proper and the base unit connector being configured such that they could co-operate directly with each other if they could be brought sufficiently close together.

2. An electrical connector system for a cordless electrical appliance, said system comprising interengageable male and female connector parts for assembly with one and the other of the parts of the appliance, namely the appliance proper and its base unit, and an adapter having male and female portions engageable respectively with said female and male connector parts.

3. A cordless electrical appliance comprising an appliance proper and a base unit, said appliance proper having an electrical input connector and said base unit having an electrical output connector for supplying electricity to said input connector, said input and output connectors being of a configuration to be directly couplable with each other but being spaced apart from each other when the appliance proper is seated on the base, and an adapter being provided which bridges the spacing between the appliance proper and the base unit.

4. A method of manufacturing cordless electrical appliances each comprising an appliance proper and a base unit, said method comprising: providing electrical inlet connectors for connection to the appliances proper; providing electrical output connectors having different height profiles for selective connection to the appliance base units; and providing adapters for connection to the electrical inlet connectors to enable their use with lower profile output connectors.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electrical inlet connectors are all the same, and the electrical output connectors are all at least substantially the same apart from their different height profiles.

6. A cordless electrical water heating appliance comprising a vessel having an electrical heating element and a base unit for said vessel, said vessel having an electrical input connector for the supply of electricity to said heating element, said base unit having an electrical output connector for supplying electricity to said vessel input connector when the vessel is seated on the base unit, and an adapter coupled to the vessel input connector and providing for the supply of electricity thereto from the base unit output connector when the vessel is seated on the base unit, the vessel input connector comprising a plurality of terminal pins within a connector shroud, the adapter having a portion adapted to be received within said shroud and plugged onto said terminal pins, the base unit output connector comprising an upstand having shuttered apertures providing access to spring terminals within the upstand, and the adapter having a further portion adapted to locate with said upstand when the vessel is operatively seated on the base unit and having electrical terminal parts within said further portion which are adapted to enter said apertures and access said spring terminals, said electrical terminal parts making electrical connection with the terminal pins of the vessel input connector when the adapter is coupled thereto.

7. A connection system for a cordless electrical appliance, or a cordless electrical appliance incorporating such a system, said system being substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 or Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.