US 5,855,494 AGranted

Apparatus and method for electrically connecting a plurality of electronic modules

Assignee3 Com Corporation

InventorsMarion Blaszczyk, Dane L. Greives

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for electrically connecting a plurality of electronic modules includes a power cord for supplying power to a plurality of electronic modules, the power cord including a first end and a second end, the first end of the power cord including a plug for connection to a power source, the second end of the power cord including a power cord terminal, the power cord terminal including a first receptacle for connection to a first electronic module and a second receptacle, and a connector cord including a first end and a second end, the first end of the connector cord including a plug for connection to the second receptacle of the power cord terminal, the second end of the connector cord including a connector cord terminal, the connector cord terminal including a first receptacle for connection to a second electronic module and a second receptacle.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for electrically connecting electronic modules comprising:

a first electronic module vertically stacked above a second electronic module, the first electronic module including a first recessed power input plug and the second electronic module including a second recessed power input plug wherein the first and second recessed power input plugs are identically configured, a power cord for supplying power to the first and second electronic modules, the power cord including a first end and a second end, the first end of the power cord including an integrally formed power plug for connection to a power source, the second end of the power cord including an integrally formed power cord terminal, the power cord terminal including a first receptacle engaged with the first recessed power input plug of the first electronic module and a second receptacle, the first receptacle of the power cord terminal having an orientation for receiving a plug which is different from an orientation of the second receptacle of the power cord terminal, a connector cord including a first end and a second end, the first end of the connector cord including an integrally formed plug recessed into a housing engaged with the second receptacle of the power cord terminal, the second end of the connector cord including an integrally formed connector cord terminal, the connector cord terminal including a first receptacle engaged with the second recessed power input plug of the second electronic module and a second receptacle, the first receptacle of the connector cord terminal having an orientation which is different from an orientation of the second receptacle of the connector cord terminal.

An apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of electronic modules comprising:

a plurality of vertically stacked electronic modules, each of the modules including an identically configured recessed power input plug, a power cord including first and second ends, the first end of the power cord including an integrally formed power plug for insertion into an AC outlet, the second end of the power cord including an integrally formed power cord terminal, the power cord terminal including first and second receptacles, the first receptacle of the power cord terminal engaged with a recessed power input plug of a first electronic module, a first connector cord including first and second ends, the first end of the first connector cord including an integrally formed plug recessed in a housing engaged with the second receptacle of the power cord terminal, the second end of the first connector cord including a first connector cord terminal, the first connector cord terminal including first and second receptacles, a flexible cord having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to a side wall of the housing and the second end attached to a side wall of the first connector cord terminal, the first receptacle of the first connector cord terminal engaged with a recessed power input plug of a second electronic module adjacent the first electronic module.

A method of electrically connecting electronic modules comprising:

providing an apparatus for electrically connecting electronic modules including a first electronic module vertically stacked above a second electronic module, the first electronic module including a first recessed power input plug and the second electronic module including a second recessed power input plug wherein the first and second recessed power input plugs are identically configured, a power cord for supplying power to the first and second electronic modules, the power cord including a first end and a second end, the first end of the power cord including an integrally formed power plug, the second end of the power cord including an integrally formed power cord terminal, the power cord terminal including a first receptacle and a second receptacle, the first receptacle of the power cord terminal having an orientation which is different from an orientation of the second receptacle of the power cord terminal, a connector cord including a first end and a second end, the first end of the connector cord including an integrally formed plug recessed into a housing, the second end of the connector cord including an integrally formed connector cord terminal, the connector cord terminal including a first receptacle and a second receptacle, the first receptacle of the connector cord terminal having an orientation which is different from an orientation of the second receptacle of the connector cord terminal;
engaging the power plug of the first end of the power cord with a power source;
engaging the first receptacle of the power cord terminal with the first recessed power input plug of the first electronic module;
engaging the plug of the first end of the connector cord with the second receptacle of the power cord terminal;
and,
engaging the first receptacle of the connector cord terminal with the second recessed power input plug of the second electronic module, thereby connecting the first and second electronic modules.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.