Modular travel power adapter and converter system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9235223-B2
Application number	US-201213687365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2012
Priority date	Nov 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

An adapter-converter assembly for use with an electrical outlet is disclosed including a main body having a first, second and third universal female outlets defining first, second and third outlet configurations, and a first male plug defining a first plug configuration. A second body has a fourth universal female outlet defining the second outlet configuration and a second male plug defining a second plug configuration. The second male plug is receivable in at least one of the female outlets and the fourth female outlet is configured to receive the first male plug. A third body has a fifth universal female outlet defining the third outlet configuration and a third male plug defining a third plug configuration. The third male plug receivable in at least one of the first, second and third female outlets and the fifth female outlet is configured to receive the first male plug.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter-converter assembly for use with an electrical outlet comprising:
a main body including a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, the main body including a first universal female outlet defining a first outlet configuration disposed on the top of the main body, a second universal female outlet defining a second outlet configuration disposed on the first side of the main body and a third universal female outlet defining a third outlet configuration disposed on the second side of the main body, the bottom of the main body including a first male plug defining a first plug configuration disposed thereon, the first male plug being electrically connected to the first, second, and third female outlets such that power received by the first male plug is transmitted to the first, second, and third female outlets;
a second body having a fourth universal female outlet defining the second outlet configuration disposed on a first side and a second male plug defining a second plug configuration disposed on a second side, the second male plug being configured and dimensioned for reception in at least one of the first and second female outlets, the fourth female outlet being configured and dimensioned to receive the first male plug;
a third body having a fifth universal female outlet defining the third outlet configuration disposed on a first side and a third male plug defining a third plug configuration disposed on a second side, the third male plug being configured and dimensioned for reception in at least one of the first, second and third female outlets, the fifth female outlet being configured and dimensioned to receive the first male plug; and
each of the first and second outlet configurations being dimensioned to receive multiple different male plug types.

2. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second outlet configurations are substantially the same.

3. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein in a first configuration, the second male plug of the second body is inserted into the second female outlet of the main body and the third male plug of the third body is inserted into the third female outlet of the main body.

4. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein in a second configuration, the first male plug of the main body is inserted into the fourth female outlet of the second body.

5. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 4 , wherein when in the second configuration, the third male plug of the third body is inserted into the third female outlet of the main body.

6. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein in a third configuration, the first male plug of the main body is inserted into the fifth female outlet of the third body.

7. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 6 , wherein when in the third configuration, the second male plug of the second body is inserted into the second female outlet of the main body.

8. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the main body includes a recess, the first male plug being rotatably disposed within the recess.

9. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first male plug includes a first prong and a second prong, the first and second prongs being rotatable relative to one another between a first orientation, where the first and second prongs are substantially parallel, and a second orientation, where the first and second prongs are at an angle to one another.

10. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a surge protection circuit.

11. An adapter-converter for use with an electrical outlet comprising:
a main body including a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, the main body including a first universal female outlet defining a first outlet configuration disposed on the top of the main body, a second universal female outlet defining a second outlet configuration disposed on the first side of the main body, and a third universal female outlet defining a third outlet configuration disposed on the second side of the main body, the bottom of the main body including a first male plug defining a first plug configuration disposed thereon, the first male plug being electrically connected to the first, second, and third female outlets such that power received by the first male plug is transmitted to the first, second, and third female outlets, each of the first, second and third outlet configurations being dimensioned to receive multiple different male plug types.

12. The adapter-converter according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second outlet configurations are substantially the same.

13. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the third outlet configuration is different from the first and second outlet configurations.

14. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 13 wherein the first and second outlet configurations each having multiple ground openings.

15. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the third outlet configuration is different from the first and second outlet configurations.

16. The adapter-converter assembly according to claim 15 wherein the first and second outlet configurations each having multiple ground openings.

Assignees

• Conair

Inventors

• Carlucci Vito
• Fernandes Da Costa Sergio Lopes

Classifications

• G05F1/45 Primary

  being controlled rectifiers in series with the load · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R31/06

  Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) · CPC title

• H01R31/065 Primary

  with built-in electric apparatus · CPC title