Appliance With an Adapter to Simultaneously Couple Multiple Consumer Electronic Devices

A modular system comprising:

• an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation;
• and
• a unitary adapter configured to removably couple a first consumer electronic device and a second consumer electronic device simultaneously to the appliance and supply at least one electrical service between the appliance and both the first and second consumer electronic devices when coupled to the appliance.

A modular system comprising:

• an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation on a consumer article and providing at least one service selected from a power service and a data service;
• and
• a unitary adapter removably mounted to the appliance and configured to removably couple a first and second consumer electronic device simultaneously to the appliance, and to supply a mechanical communication service to each of the first and second consumer electronic devices and to further supply at least one electrical service selected from a power communication service and a data communication service to each of the first and second consumer electronic devices.

The modular system of claim 40, wherein the unitary adapter supplies a different category of electrical service to the first and second consumer electronic devices.

A unitary adapter for simultaneously mounting two consumer electronic devices to the door of an appliance of the type conducting a useful cycle of operation on a consumer article, the unitary adapter comprising:

• a first interface configured to removably mechanically and electrically couple the unitary adapter to the door of the appliance and capable of communicating a first electrical service selected from a power service and a data service between the adapter and the door;
• a second interface configured to removably mechanically and electrically couple a first consumer electronic device to the unitary adapter and capable of communicating a second electrical service selected from a power service and a data service between the adapter and the first consumer electronic device;
• a third interface configured to removably mechanically and electrically couple a second consumer electronic device to the unitary adapter and capable of communicating a second electrical service selected from a power service and a data service between the adapter and the second consumer electronic device.