GB2331187A

GB2331187A - Charger with a range of plugs

Info

Publication number: GB2331187A
Application number: GB9723396A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jui-Hsiung Wu
Original assignee: Well Shin Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Well Shin Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-05
Filing date: 1997-11-05
Publication date: 1999-05-12
Also published as: GB9723396D0; DE29719829U1

Abstract

A charger 2 can be connected to a range of different mains plugs 1, 1A, 1B, 1C for use in different countries. An extension lead (3, fig 2A) may be provided between the charger and the plug.

Description

1 Title: PORTABLE ELECTRIC CHARGING SYSTEM 2331187 This invention relates

to portable electric plugs and is particularly concerned with portable electric charging systems.

As far as frequent travellers are concerned, portable electric devices, such as a mobile telephone, portable computer, electric shaver, electric hair grooming and styling devices, portable electric iron, etc. are indispensable items. Such devices as mentioned above are generally provided with batteries serving as the power sources of the devices. Battery-powered devices are not always reliable in view of the fact that the batteries of the devices may not be in a good working condition, and that the old batteries cannot be easily replaced with new ones which are difficult to come by when they are needed. Under such circumstances, a portable battery charger may be a useful adjunct; nevertheless it cannot be used universally in view of the fact that the voltage requirements vary from one country to another. Even though the voltage requirements may be easily resolved by a transformer, an electric plug compatible with various sockets is needed.

It is therefore the primary aim of the present invention to provide a portable electric plug consisting of an inserting portion which is engageable with the socket 0 of a portable electric charger containing a voltage transforming apparatus. The insertion portion may be provided with an extension cord. As a result, the electric charger is made adaptable to a circumstance under which a specific voltage is called for.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a portable electric plug with an insertion portion capable of being connected with an extension cord at the time when the portable electric plug is engaged with the socket of the portable electric charger. The extension cord is provided at both ends thereof with means capable of engaging the socket of the electric charger and the insertion portion of the plug.

2 It is still another aim of the present invention to provide a portable electric plug enabling the portable electric charger to co-operate with various electric appliances.

Accordingly, the invention provides a portable electric charging system comprising a charger and a series of electrical Plugs, said charger having a connector adapted to be connected to an electrical appliance and a socket adapted to receive a selected one of said series of electrical plugs, each of said plugs having contact pins which are engageable in an electrical socket, the contact pins on each plug in the series having a different configuration from the contact pins 10 on all of the other plugs whereby each plug is engageable in a different socket.

The portable charging system according to the invention may further include an extension cable, one end of said cable having a plug which is engageable in the socket of the charger and the other end of the cable having a socket which is adapted to receive a selected one of said series of electrical plugs.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:- Fig. 1-A is a schematic view of one embodiment of a portable electric charging system according to the present invention; Fig. 1-B is a perspective view of a plug forming part of the charging system 20 shown in Fig. 1-A; Fig. I-C is a perspective view of another plug forming part of the charging system shown in Fig. 1-A; Fig. 1-D is a perspective view of yet another plug forming part of the charging system shown in Fig. 1A; 3 Fig. 2-A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a charging system according to the present invention having an extension cable; Figs. 2-B and 2-C are perspective views of plugs forming parts of the charging system shown in Fig. 2-A; Fig. 3-A is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a charging system according to the present invention; Figs. 3-B, 3-C and 3-D are perspective views of plugs forming part of the charging system shown in Fig. 3-A; Fig. 4-A is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a portable electric charging system according to the present invention having an extension cable; and Figs. 4-B, 4-C and 4-D are perspective views of plugs forming part of the charging system shown in Fig. 4-A.

Reference will first be made to Figs. 1-A to 1-D of the drawings in which a portable electric plug of the present invention is provided with plugs 1, 1A, 1C and 1C having various pin-configurations and a double arcuate shaped insertion portion 11 similar to the Arabic numeral "8", as shown in Figs. 1-A, PB, PC and PD. A portable electric charger 2 has a socket 21 corresponding in profile to insertion portions 11 of the plugs. The portable electric charger 2 is compatible with the plugs 1 of various specifications such that a voltage transformer is capable of automatic transformation of the voltage. In other words, a frequent traveller needs only one electric charger 2 and the plugs 1 of various specifications conforming to various voltage requirements of different nations. One must select one specific plug 1 of the present invention in accordance with the electric socket that is used in a host country. The insertion portion 11 of the selected plug 1 is engaged with the socket 21 of the electric charger 2, whereas 4 the plug 1 is engaged with a power source socket. In view of the plug 1, the electric charger 2 is capable of automatic transformation in conformity with the local voltage frequency. As a result, various portable electric appliances, such as a mobile phone, portable computer, electric shaver, hair grooming device, hair drier, portable electric iron, etc. are made adaptable to various voltage requirements of different countries.

As shown in Fig. 2A, an extension cable 3 may be provided having an insertion portion 3 1 at one end which corresponds in profile to the insertion portions 11 of the plugs. lle other end of the cable 3 is provided with a socket 32 which is adapted to receive the insertion portions 11 of plugs 1H, 1I and U as shown in Figs. 2-A, 2-B and 2-C.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3-A, 3-B, 3-C and 3-D in which plugs I-D, I-E, I-F and PG each have a respective trapezoidal shaped insertion portion 1 l' which is insertable in a socket 2 1' of the portable electric charger 2. Except for the configuration of the insertion portion of the plugs and the socket of the charger, this embodiment is otherwise substantially the same as the embodiment illustrated in Figs. PA to PD.

Yet another form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4-A, 4-B, 4-C and 4-D which is similar to Figs. 3-A to 3-D except that a cable 3 is provided having an insertion portion 31' at one end which is insertable in the socket 21' of the charger and a socket 32' at the other end which is adapted to receive insertion portions 1 l' of plugs 1L, 1K, IM and IN as shown respectively in Figs. 4-A, 4B, 4C and 4-D.

The plugs can be selected in accordance with the local voltage frequency and 25 socket configuration. It is therefore readily apparent that the plugs of the present invention are useful and indispensable adjuncts for a frequent traveller who travels from one country to another or from one continent to another.

Claims

1. A portable electric plug provided at one end thereof with an insertion portion of a specification and engageable with a socket of a portable electric charger containing a voltage transformer, said electric plug having various forms compatible with power source sockets of various forms.

2. A portable electric plug according to claim 1, wherein said insertion portion of said one end of said electric plug is engageable with a fitting head seat fastened at one end of an extension cord, said extension cord further having another end provided with a fitting hole seat fastened therewith such that said fitting hole seat is engageable with said socket of the portable electric charger.

3. A portable electric charging system comprising a charger and a series of electrical plugs, said charger having a connector adapted to be connected to an electrical appliance and a socket adapted to receive a selected one of said series of electrical plugs, each of said plugs having contact pins which are engageable in an electrical socket, the contact pins on each plug in the series having a different configuration from the contact pins on all of the other plugs whereby each plug is engageable in a different socket.

4. A charging system according to claim 3 and further including an extension cable, one end of said cable having a plug which is engageable in the socket of the charger and the other end of the cable having a socket which is adapted to receive a selected one of said series of electrical plugs.

5. A portable charging system substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.