US 8,708,722 B1Granted

Power adapter with interchangeable heads

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsMarc Rene Walliser, Emmanuel J M Laffon de Mazieres

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A power adapter has a cable port disposed on one side and a power conversion circuit to convert an input power from an alternating current (AC) power system to an output power used by a device coupled to the cable port. The power adapter further includes electrical contacts coupled to the power conversion circuit and locking columns disposed within a recessed cylindrical portion of a housing. An interchangeable head having prongs protruding from a surface couples to the electrical contacts of the power adapter to provide the input power to the power conversion circuit. A cylindrical body fits within the cylindrical housing in an assembly position, and includes locking tabs to engage the locking columns when the interchangeable head is rotated in a first direction into a first locking position and in a second direction into a second locking position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a power adapter comprising:
a housing having a recessed cylindrical portion that extends from a first face of the housing, the recessed cylindrical portion comprising a first plurality of locking columns and a second plurality of locking columns, wherein the locking columns are spring-loaded and configured to exert a force directed at least partially toward a center of the recessed cylindrical portion;
a cable port disposed on one side of the power adapter;
a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the cylindrical portion of the housing;
and
a power conversion circuit coupled to the cable port and configured to convert an input power received at the plurality of electrical contacts to an output power, and provide the output power to the cable port;
and
an interchangeable head comprising:
a plurality of prongs protruding from a surface of the interchangeable head;
a second plurality of electrical contacts, the second plurality of electrical contacts electrically coupled to the plurality of prongs, and configured to engage the first plurality of electrical contacts of the power adapter to provide the input power to the power conversion circuit;
and
a cylindrical body configured to fit within the recessed cylindrical portion of the housing of the power adapter, the cylindrical body having a plurality of locking tabs to engage the first plurality of locking columns when the interchangeable head is rotated in a first direction into a first locking position and to engage the second plurality of locking columns when the interchangeable head is rotated in a second direction into a second locking position, the plurality of locking tabs to receive the locking columns to hold the interchangeable head in place.

9 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a power adapter comprising:
a housing having a recessed cylindrical portion that extends from a first face of the housing, the recessed cylindrical portion comprising a plurality of locking columns;
a cable port disposed on one side of the power adapter;
and
a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the cylindrical portion of the housing;
an removable head comprising:
a plurality of prongs protruding from a surface of the removable head;
a second plurality of electrical contacts, the second plurality of electrical contacts electrically coupled to the plurality of prongs and configured to engage the first plurality of electrical contacts of the power adapter;
and
a cylindrical body configured to fit within the recessed cylindrical portion of the housing of the power adapter, the cylindrical body having a plurality of locking tabs to engage the plurality of locking columns to hold the removable head in place;
and
a protective cover configured to couple with the removable head, the protective cover to shield the plurality of prongs protruding from the surface of the removable head.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.