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US 8,894,419 B1Granted
Magnetically connected universal computer power adapter
AssigneeBby Solutions, Inc.
InventorTodd M. Buelow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetically connected universal computer power adapter is presented. The computer power adapter provides a power supply, a power cord, a cord connector, and a charging plug. The cord connector and charging plug each contain a magnet that magnetically couple the cord connector to the charging plug. The cord connector may couple with more than one type of charging plug, allowing the universal computer power adapter to be used with many different computer models.
Claims16
A power adapter, comprising:
- a) a power supply that supplies DC power over a cord;
- b) a cord connector attached to the cord having a cord connector face that presents at least two cord connection points that carry the DC power;
- and
- c) a connection plug having:
- i) a plug connection face having at least two plug connection points, the plug connection points positioned on the plug connection face so at to contact the at least two cord connection points when the plug connection face is in contact with the cord connector face, and
- ii) a tip electrically connected to the plug connection points and configured to interface with a power socket of a computer;
- and
- d) a plurality of magnets distributed between the cord connector and the connection plug having respective polarities and locations that
- i) attract the cord connector to the connection plug and
- ii) enforce a proper alignment between the cord connection points and the plug connection points.
7 more elements
A method of charging an electrical device comprising:
- a) inserting a plug tip of a charging plug into a power socket of the electrical device, the charging plug having
- i) a plug interface portion with a plurality of plug connection points exposed on the plug interface portion, and
- ii) a first plug magnet exposing a magnetic field from a first pole through the plug interface portion;
- b) bringing a power supply interface portion of a DC current delivery device proximal to the plug interface portion, the power supply interface portion having
- i) a plurality of power supply connection points configured to interface with the plug connection points of the plug interface portion, and
- ii) a first power supply magnet exposing a magnetic field from a second pole through the power supply interface portion;
- c) aligning the plug interface portion and the power supply interface portion so that the plug connection points align properly with the power supply connection points, and causing the first plug magnet to attract the first power supply magnet;
- d) holding the plug connection points against the power supply connection points via magnetic attraction between the first plug magnet and the first power supply magnet;
- e) supplying power to the power socket of the electrical device through the power supply connection points, the plug connection points, and the plug tip of the charging plug, wherein the charging plug has a second plug magnet exposing the magnetic field of the second pole through the plug interface portion and wherein the power supply interface portion has a second power supply magnet exposing the magnetic field of the first pole through the power supply interface portion;
- and
- f) before step c), misaligning the plug interface portion and the power supply interface portion so that the plug connection points do not align properly with the power supply connection points, whereby the first and second plug magnets repel the second and first power supply magnets, respectively.
8 more elements
A power adapter, comprising:
- a) a power cord having a cord interface, the cord interface having a first, donut shaped cord connection point with an open center and a second cord connection point located within the open center of the first cord connection point;
- b) a first connection plug having:
- i) a plug connection face having a first, donut shaped plug connection point with an open center and a second plug connection point located within the open center of the first plug connection point, and
- ii) a first tip electrically connected to the plug connection points and configured to interface with a power socket of a first electrical device;
- and
- c) a magnet contained within at least one of the cord interface and the first connection plug, wherein magnetic attraction holds the plug connection points against the cord connection points.
3 more elements
A power adapter, comprising:
- a) a power supply that supplies DC power over a cord;
- b) a cord connector attached to the cord having
- i) a cord connector face that presents at least two cord connection points that carry the DC power;
- and
- ii) a cord connector magnet;
- and
- c) a connection plug having:
- i) a plug connection face having at least two plug connection points, the plug connection points positioned on the plug connection face so at to contact the at least two cord connection points when the plug connection face is in contact with the cord connector face,
- ii) a tip electrically connected to the plug connection points and configured to interface with a power socket of a computer, and
- iii) a connection plug magnet positioned to attract the cord connector magnet when the plug connection face is in contact with the cord connector face;
- wherein
- i) the cord connector face is a surface of a cord connector body, further wherein the cord connector body contains at least one spring attached to at least one of the cord connection points to allow movement of the connected cord connection point relative to the cord connector body,
- ii) the spring is secured to a base plate running behind the cord connection points, and
- iii) the cord connector magnet comprises the base plate.
11 more elements
A power adapter, comprising:
- a) a power supply that supplies DC power over a cord;
- b) a cord connector attached to the cord having a cord connector face that presents at least two magnetic cord connection points that carry the DC power;
- and
- c) a connection plug having:
- i) a plug connection face having at least two magnetic plug connection points, the plug connection points positioned on the plug connection face so at to contact the at least two cord connection points when the plug connection face is in contact with the cord connector face, and
- ii) a tip electrically connected to the plug connection points and configured to interface with a power socket of a computer,
- wherein the plug connection points are positioned to attract the cord connection points when the plug connection face is in contact with the cord connector face.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.