US5967807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
AC/DC electric adapter with the large and small plugs
Assignee: Formosa Electronic Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1997-08-20
•
Granted: 1999-10-19
•
Expires: 2017-08-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention is an "improved AC/DC electric adapter with the large and small plugs". The main body of the device consists of upper and lower casings; inside the box, there is an electronic converting circuit. In its upper casing, there is an indentation design to hold the large plug; in the large plug, there is a small plug with the rotary pins. The small plug pins can be rotated into the ordinary formation (with the shape of "11") or the two angled formations because there are the following internal designs: two insulating pieces with three guiding holes and push-up pieces (the latter can make the pins mesh with the three guiding holes). Therefore, the small plug pins can be used to draw current from the regular socket or angled pin socket. In addition, its electronic converting circuit can convert the AC into low voltage DC. So, the invention can be used indoors. If we want to use the invention outdoors, we can extend its lighter socket plug outwards from the tube-shaped indentation in the lower casing to draw current from a cigarette lighter socket in an automobile, then this DC current will be converted into lower voltage current to be suitable for the some appliances.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R29/00; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An AC/DC electric adapter comprising: a casing, an indentation in an outer wall of said casing, a first electric plug comprising a plug body and a pair of pins extending from said plug body, said body pivotally mounted on said casing within said indentation, said plug body provided with an indentation on a surface thereof, a second electric plug pivotally mounted on said first electric plug and within said indentation on said plug body, said second electric plug having a pair of pins extending outwardly, each of said pins of said second electric plug having an insulating piece affixed thereto, each of said insulating pieces having openings therein, a push-up piece extending into one of said openings in each of said insulating pieces whereby each of said pins and insulating piece can be rotated and locked in-place by inserting said push-up piece into a hole of said insulating piece, an electronic converting circuit within said case which converts alternating current to direct current and converts direct current to low voltage direct current, an electricity conducting piece in communication with said electronic converting circuit, whereby when said first electric plug or said second electric plug are pivoted so as to extend outwardly from said respective indentations and said casing for insertion into an electric socket, the pins of said plug are in electrical contact with said electricity conducting piece and said electronic converting circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
An AC/DC electric adapter comprising: a casing, an indentation in an outer wall of said casing, a first electric plug comprising a plug body and a pair of pins extending from said plug body, said body pivotally mounted on said casing within said indentation, said plug body provided with an indentation on a surface thereof, a second electric plug pivotally mounted on said first electric plug and within said indentation on said plug body, said second electric plug having a pair of pins extending outwardly, each of said pins of said second electric plug having an insulating piece affixed thereto, each of said insulating pieces having openings therein, a push-up piece extending into one of said openings in each of said insulating pieces whereby each of said pins and insulating piece can be rotated and locked in-place by inserting said push-up piece into a hole of said insulating piece, an electronic converting circuit within said case which converts alternating current to direct current and converts direct current to low voltage direct current, an electricity conducting piece in communication with said electronic converting circuit, whereby when said first electric plug or said second electric plug are pivoted so as to extend outwardly from said respective indentations and said casing for insertion into an electric socket, the pins of said plug are in electrical contact with said electricity conducting piece and said electronic converting circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The AC/DC electrical adapter as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a second indentation in an outer wall of said casing, a lighter socket plug unit pivotally mounted on said casing within said second indentation, said lighter socket plug unit being in electrical communication with said electronic converting circuit when said lighter socket plug unit is pivoted to extend outwardly from said second indentation and said casing for insertion into a lighter socket of an automobile so as to convert direct current from the automobile lighter socket to low voltage direct current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The AC/DC electric adapter as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing comprises an upper casing and a lower casing and said indentation for said first electric plug is in an outer wall of said upper casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The AC/DC electric adapter as defined in claim 2 wherein said second indentation is in an outer wall of said lower casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The AC/DC electric adapter as defined in claim 3 wherein said pair of pins of said first electric plug are cylindrical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The AC/DC electric adapter as defined in claim 5 wherein said pair of pins of said second electric plug are flat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The AC/DC electric adapter as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating pieces each have three openings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |