CA2704721C - Improved charging interface for rechargeable devices - Google Patents

Improved charging interface for rechargeable devices Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2704721C
CA2704721C CA2704721A CA2704721A CA2704721C CA 2704721 C CA2704721 C CA 2704721C CA 2704721 A CA2704721 A CA 2704721A CA 2704721 A CA2704721 A CA 2704721A CA 2704721 C CA2704721 C CA 2704721C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
male plug
female socket
circuit board
electrical contact
charging interface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CA2704721A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2704721A1 (en
Inventor
Paul Mak
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Spin Master Ltd
Original Assignee
Spin Master Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Spin Master Ltd filed Critical Spin Master Ltd
Publication of CA2704721A1 publication Critical patent/CA2704721A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2704721C publication Critical patent/CA2704721C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/72Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/721Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Landscapes

  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

A novel charging interface for rechargeable devices is disclosed herein. The present charging interface has a male plug, formed from circuit board material, which electrically and slidably interconnects with a female socket in at least two orientations. The female socket has electrically conductive biasing means which retain the male plug within the female socket. The charging interface provides electrical contact between the master circuit board of a rechargeable device and a power source.

Description

IMPROVED CHARGING INTERFACE FOR RECHARGEABLE DEVICES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to charging interfaces for rechargeable devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rechargeable devices are extremely popular and quite commonplace. Laptops, remotely controlled toys and cellular telephones, among other devices, all require regular recharging, and typically this involves connecting the rechargeable device to a charger in order to recharge the device's internal batteries. Chargers can contain either an AC/DC
converter so that they can connect directly to an AC power source, or have an internal DC power source (such as replaceable batteries).

The connection between a rechargeable device and a charger, or charging interface, typically consists of a male plug and a female socket which slidably interconnect. Each of the male plug and the female socket may be located either on the device itself or on the charger. Regardless of orientation, the device side of the charging interface is often mounted on or otherwise connected to a circuit board located inside the device.

For many rechargeable devices, the electrical connection between the rechargeable device and the power source is unique to the device, such that connecting a rechargeable device with a charger not intended for use with that device can cause damage to the device.
In that case, it is important for the charging interface to be designed so that it is difficult or impossible to accidentally use the wrong charger when attempting to recharge the device.

Plugging and unplugging the rechargeable device from its battery charger can damage the connection between the device portion of the charging interface and the circuit board it is attached to within the device, as the device portion of the charging interface is generally soldered to the circuit board and soldering material can be brittle when stressed. Once these soldered connections are cracked or otherwise damaged, electrical contact may be lost.
Furthermore, many prior art charging interfaces have delicate male prongs which fit into corresponding female slots. These male prongs can be bent or otherwise misshaped or even broken when the male prongs are incorrectly inserted in the female slots, resulting in an inoperable charging interface. Furthermore, if the male prongs are inserted incorrectly into the female slots, an incorrect electrical connection can be made, which could cause the interface to be inoperable, or even damage the device or cause injury to the user.

Accordingly, there is a need for a charging interface that is simple to use and durable and which does not place unnecessary strain on the circuit board on which it is mounted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a charging interface for rechargeable devices which is more durable and easier to use than charging interfaces presently available in the prior art.

The present charging interface comprises a female socket and a corresponding single male plug, which is a circuit board and which slidably and electrically interconnects with the female socket in at least two orientations. One of the male plug and the female socket makes electrical contact with the master circuit board and the other of the male plug and the female socket is adapted to be electrically connected to a power source. The present charging interface is particularly durable as there are no delicate male prongs which could be bent or broken if the male part of the plug were improperly inserted in the female slot.

In at least one embodiment, the male plug is formed from a piece of circuit board substrate and fits snugly into a provided slot on the master circuit board, where it may then be soldered into place. This acts to stabilize the male plug and to render the male plug particularly resistant to twisting or bending at the male plug/master circuit board interface, thereby greatly reducing the stress on the solder connections which maintain electrical contact between the male plug and the master circuit board. Alternatively, the male plug may be integrally formed in the master circuit board.

Furthermore, the male plug of the present charging interface is non-directional as it has at least two surfaces which each have positive and negative poles in the same electrical configuration.
Therefore, each surface will interact correctly with the positive and negative poles in the female socket, and therefore any orientation in which the male plug can be inserted into the female socket will provide an appropriate electrical connection. This makes the present charging interface easier to use than other prior art plugs currently available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present charging interface will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present charging interface when the male plug is not interconnected with the female slot.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the male plug of the present charging interface.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the male plug and its corresponding receiving slot on a master circuit board of a rechargeable device.

Figure 4 is a cutaway view of one embodiment of the present charging interface illustrating the male plug/female slot interface.

Figure 5 is a plan view in cross section of one embodiment of the female socket of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the male plug and circuit board interface of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the male plug and circuit board interface of the present invention.

Figure 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of one surface of one embodiment of the male plug of the present invention.

Figure 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the surface opposite to that shown in Figure 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figure 1, in at least one embodiment the charging interface 100 of the present invention comprises a male plug 200 adapted to slidably interconnect with female socket 300. It will be apparent to the skilled person that the external housing of the female socket 300 may have any convenient shape, provided that the female socket interconnects with the male plug. Female socket 300 has a power cord 102 which can be further connected to an AC or a DC power source (not shown).

In at least one embodiment, male plug 200 is formed from standard circuit board substrate, however other materials suitable for use in a circuit board are also contemplated. Male plug 200 has a first end 210 and a second end 220. First end 210 is preferably wider than second end 220, however other configurations are contemplated.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in at least one embodiment first end 210 is narrower than the widest part of male plug 200. This creates two first shoulders 216, 217 which abut master circuit board 110 and provide stability when male plug 200 is mounted in receiving slot 120 of master circuit board 110, particularly when male plug 200 is connected with female socket 300 with a pushing force. Furthermore, second end 220 is also preferably narrower than the widest part of male plug 200, which creates two second shoulders 226, 227. Second shoulders 226, 227 can abut female socket 300 when male plug 200 is interconnected with female socket 300, or in at least one embodiment second shoulders 226, 227 abut a retaining slot (not shown) located in a rechargeable device. This stabilizes male plug 200, particularly when the male plug 200 is disconnected from female socket 300 with a pulling force.

With reference to Figure 3, in at least one embodiment male plug 200 is formed such that first end 210 fits into receiving slot 120 of master circuit board 110 and first shoulders 216, 217 abut master circuit board 110. It is preferable that first end 210 fits into receiving slot 120 with a snug fit, such that male plug 200 does not disengage from receiving slot 120 without applying a significant pulling force. Male plug 200 may then be soldered into place on master circuit board 110 such that positive contact 112 and negative contact 114 of master circuit board 110 are electrically connected to, respectively, the first positive pole 212 and first negative pole 214 of male plug 200.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, it is also contemplated that male plug 200 can be integrally formed in master circuit board 110. In at least one embodiment, first end 210 of male plug 200 can be integrally formed from master circuit board 110, or in an alternative configuration, second end 220 of male plug 200 may simply project directly from master circuit board 110 as shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 3, 8A and 8B, male plug 200 has first surface 230, having lateral sides 232 and 234, and a second surface 240, having lateral sides 242 and 244. Each surface has a second positive pole 222 and a second negative pole 224 in end 220 which are electrically connected to, respectively, the first positive pole 212 and first negative pole 214 in end 210.
Poles 212 and 214 can be connected electrically to poles 222 and 224 respectively by any known means in the art. In at least one embodiment, poles 212 and 214 are electrically connected to poles 222 and 224 by way of a provided copper circuit which is etched into the body of male plug 200.
As can be seen in Figure 8A, first surface 230 is laid out such that first positive pole 212 and second positive pole 222 are both located in one lateral side 232, while first negative pole 214 and second negative pole 224 are both located in the opposite lateral side 234. In contrast, as seen in Figure 8B, second surface 240 is laid out such that first negative pole 214 and second positive pole 222 are both located in one lateral side 242, while first positive pole 212 and second negative pole 224 are both located in the opposite lateral side 244. In this way, an identical configuration of poles 222 and 224 is presented on each surface 230 or 240 of second end 220 of male plug 200.

With reference to Figure 4, a cutaway view of one embodiment of the present charging interface 100 is illustrated in which male plug 200 is electrically interconnected with female socket 300. Female socket 300 is, in at least one embodiment, formed of a non-electrically conductive material, including but not limited to ceramic or plastic, however any material that does not conduct electricity could be used. The shape of the external housing of female socket 300 can be any convenient shape, provided that male plug 200 can interconnect with female socket 300. With reference to Figures 4 and 5, in at least one embodiment second end 220 contacts a positive electrical contact 312 and a negative electrical contact 314 in female socket 300. It will be apparent to the skilled person that when either surface 230 or surface 240 of end 220 of male plug 200 is presented to electrical contacts 312 and 314, second positive pole 222 will contact positive electrical contact 312 and second negative pole 224 will contact negative electrical contact 314. This provides that male plug 200 can be inserted into female plug 300 in either orientation, without affecting electrical connectivity.

In at least one embodiment, electrical contacts 312 and 314 are formed in the shape of a leaf spring. As electrical contacts 312 and 314 are deformed, they provides a biasing force which retains male plug 200 within female socket 300 while maintaining electrical connectivity between electric contacts 312 and 314 and each of second positive pole 222 and second negative pole 224 respectively. Other methods of retention known in the art could be employed to retain male plug 200 within female socket 300, provided that second positive pole 222 contacts positive electrical contact 312 and second negative pole 224 contacts negative electrical contact 314 respectively. Electrical contacts 312 and 314 are preferably formed of metal, however they can be formed of any material suitable for the application requirements, provided that the material chosen is electrically conductive.

Electrical contacts 312 and 314 are further connected to power cord 102. Power cord 102 is preferably multistrand wire with a negative bundle and a positive bundle, however a ground bundle or other wire arrangement may be necessary depending on the application. Positive bundle of power cord 102 is electrically connected to positive electrical contact 312 and negative bundle of power cord 102 is electrically connected to negative electrical contact 314 respectively by way of retaining means 320. Retaining means 320 can be a spring, clip, screw or any other known manner in which a electric wire may be electrically connected to an electrically conductive piece of material.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The only limitations to the scope of the present invention are set out in the following appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. A charging interface for recharging a rechargeable device by providing electrical contact between a master circuit board of the rechargeable device and a power source, the charging interface comprising:

a female socket; and a male plug, wherein the male plug is a circuit board configured to slidably and electrically interconnect with the female socket in at least two orientations;

wherein one of the female socket and the male plug is adapted to make electrical contact with the master circuit board and the other of the male plug and the female socket is adapted to make electrical contact with the power source;

wherein electrical interconnection between the male plug and the female socket acts to recharge the rechargeable device when the one of the female socket and the male plug is in electrical contact with the master circuit board and the other of the male plug and the female socket is in electrical contact with the power source.
2. The charging interface of claim 1 wherein the one of the female socket and the male plug is a male plug, and the male plug is adapted to make intimate electrical contact with the master circuit board.
3. The charging interface of claim 2, wherein the male plug is integral with the master circuit board.
4. The charging interface of claim 2, wherein the male plug further comprises a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to intimately and electrically interconnect with a receiving slot in the master circuit board, the second end adapted to slidably and electrically interconnect with the female socket.
5. The charging interface of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the female socket comprises at least one leaf spring electrical contact.
6. The charging interface of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the power source is an AC
source.
7. The charging interface of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the power source is a DC
source.
8. A rechargeable device having a master circuit board and being rechargeable when the master circuit board is in electrical contact with a power source, the electrical contact being provided by a charging interface comprising a female socket and a male plug, wherein the male plug is a circuit board and the male plug and the female socket are configured to mutually slidably and electrically interconnect in at least two orientations, wherein one of the female socket and the male plug is adapted to make electrical contact with the master circuit board and the other of the male plug and the female socket is adapted to make electrical contact with the power source, the rechargeable device comprising the one of the female socket and the male plug.
9. The rechargeable device of claim 8 wherein the one of the female socket and the male plug is a male plug and wherein the male plug is adapted to make intimate electrical contact with the master circuit board.
10. The rechargeable device of claim 9, wherein the male plug is integral with the master circuit board.
11. The rechargeable device of claim 9, wherein the male plug further comprises a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to intimately and electrically interconnect with a receiving slot in the master circuit board, the second end adapted to slidably and electrically interconnect with the female socket.
12. The rechargeable device of claim 8, wherein the one of the female socket and the male plug is a female socket and wherein the female socket comprises at least one leaf spring electrical contact.
13. A charging unit for recharging a rechargeable device having a master circuit board and being rechargeable when the master circuit board is in electrical contact with a power source, the electrical contact being provided by a charging interface comprising a female socket and a male plug, wherein the male plug is a circuit board and the male plug and the female socket are configured to mutually slidably and electrically interconnect in at least two orientations, wherein one of the female socket and the male plug is adapted to make electrical contact with the master circuit board and the other of the male plug and the female socket is adapted to make electrical contact with the power source, the charging unit being adapted for connection to the power source, and the charging unit comprising the other of the male plug and the female socket.
14. The charging unit of claim 13 wherein the other of the male plug and the female socket is a male plug.
15. The charging unit of claim 13 wherein the other of the male plug and the female socket is a female socket.
16. The charging unit of claim 15 wherein the female socket comprises at least one leaf spring electrical contact.
17. The charging unit of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the power source is an AC
source.
18. The charging unit of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the power source is a DC
source.
CA2704721A 2009-05-26 2010-05-19 Improved charging interface for rechargeable devices Active CA2704721C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/472,017 2009-05-26
US12/472,017 US8070503B2 (en) 2009-05-26 2009-05-26 Charging interface for rechargeable devices

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2704721A1 CA2704721A1 (en) 2010-11-26
CA2704721C true CA2704721C (en) 2012-09-18

Family

ID=42712668

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2704721A Active CA2704721C (en) 2009-05-26 2010-05-19 Improved charging interface for rechargeable devices

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US8070503B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2256869B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101901973B (en)
CA (1) CA2704721C (en)
ES (1) ES2513397T3 (en)
HK (1) HK1150256A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102610945B (en) * 2012-04-10 2017-05-31 刘钢 A kind of electrical connection arrangement
US20150126070A1 (en) * 2013-11-05 2015-05-07 Sony Corporation Apparatus for powering an electronic device in a secure manner

Family Cites Families (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1209158A (en) * 1967-12-05 1970-10-21 Howard Electronic Ind Ltd Device for testing experimental circuits
US3598985A (en) * 1968-12-16 1971-08-10 Gen Electric Construction of disposable photoflash lamp array
US3778742A (en) * 1971-07-16 1973-12-11 Micro Devices Corp Electrical switch construction and end plug therefor or the like
US3794954A (en) * 1972-09-11 1974-02-26 Gte Automatic Electric Lab Inc Improved bus system for interconnecting subsystems of a communication switching system
US4445742A (en) * 1982-02-08 1984-05-01 The Yellow Springs Instrument Company, Inc. Electrical cable connector
US4679879A (en) * 1986-10-03 1987-07-14 Molex Incorporated Plug and receptacle connector assembly
BE1002392A4 (en) * 1988-09-02 1991-01-22 Devlonics Terminals N V COMPUTER EXPANSION CARD SUITABLE FOR TWO TYPES OF COMPUTERS.
US5823796A (en) * 1996-04-02 1998-10-20 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Audio/power jack for IC card
US6062911A (en) * 1997-01-31 2000-05-16 The Whitaker Corporation Low profile power connector with high-temperature resistance
JP3065558B2 (en) * 1997-04-10 2000-07-17 三菱商事株式会社 Car battery plug
JP3716955B2 (en) * 1997-05-21 2005-11-16 矢崎総業株式会社 Electrical unit assembly connection structure
US5899759A (en) * 1997-12-29 1999-05-04 Ford Motor Company Electrical connector for rigid circuit boards
US6146150A (en) * 1998-11-24 2000-11-14 International Business Machines Corporation Circuit card with separate interfaces for different bus architectures
US6203328B1 (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-03-20 Berg Technology, Inc. Connector for engaging end region of circuit substrate
JP2001006830A (en) * 1999-06-24 2001-01-12 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Jack device
CA2399041C (en) * 2000-02-11 2009-09-22 Tyco Electronics Belgium Ec N.V. Printed circuit board
US20020182929A1 (en) * 2001-06-01 2002-12-05 Chang Ju Nan Battery pack circuit board with a position-variable connector
US6744634B2 (en) * 2001-11-23 2004-06-01 Power Quotient International Co., Ltd. Low height USB interface connecting device and a memory storage apparatus thereof
EP1784896A4 (en) * 2004-08-02 2007-08-08 Milsys Ltd Reversible universal serial bus (usb) device and connector
CN2733636Y (en) * 2004-08-13 2005-10-12 姚立和 Double end plugging USB joint
CN100486043C (en) * 2004-10-25 2009-05-06 北京华旗资讯数码科技有限公司 USB connector plug
US7121850B2 (en) * 2004-11-05 2006-10-17 Ming-Hsiang Yeh Dual-purpose male/female connector
US7101188B1 (en) * 2005-03-30 2006-09-05 Intel Corporation Electrical edge connector adaptor
JP4560026B2 (en) * 2006-10-04 2010-10-13 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Flexible substrate, electro-optical device including the same, and electronic apparatus
US7427216B1 (en) * 2007-10-05 2008-09-23 Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Vehicle charger

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101901973B (en) 2013-04-17
EP2256869B1 (en) 2014-07-23
EP2256869A2 (en) 2010-12-01
EP2256869A3 (en) 2013-04-10
CN101901973A (en) 2010-12-01
HK1150256A1 (en) 2011-11-11
ES2513397T3 (en) 2014-10-27
CA2704721A1 (en) 2010-11-26
US20100304578A1 (en) 2010-12-02
US8070503B2 (en) 2011-12-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7121899B2 (en) Plug connection for a mobile terminal
RU2283521C2 (en) Multipurpose shaped plug and plug connectors for power supplies
US20030153200A1 (en) Plug assembly with spring loaded contact terminals
JP3173283U (en) Electrical connector
CA2704721C (en) Improved charging interface for rechargeable devices
WO2019140791A1 (en) Data line connection structure, connector, connection base, data line, and usb connector
WO2007085901A3 (en) A battery charger for charging different types of battery pack
CN211743475U (en) Tongue plate reinforcing structure of electric connector and Type-C connector
CN209913141U (en) Magnetic attraction type charging structure
CN212011345U (en) Fill terminal structure and multi-functional joint soon
CN212784045U (en) Charging wire
KR20190119747A (en) Electrical plug for charging portable terminal
CN215896840U (en) Connector is inhaled to magnetism that fills soon
CN217720029U (en) Male connector
CN205335941U (en) General wireless rechargeable receiver interface and receiver
CN211295446U (en) Connecting wire
CN214797956U (en) TYPE-C magnetic suction connector and adapter
US20050212480A1 (en) Charger adapter
EP2410619A2 (en) Water-proof connector assembly
CN209786375U (en) Improved combined data line
CN217115051U (en) Male end connecting piece, female end connecting piece and connecting piece combination
CN211351195U (en) Electric power strip of many plug-in sites
CN216751213U (en) Hearing aid assembly
CN216980974U (en) Power adapter
CN213845650U (en) Electric connection plug connector capable of being combined at will

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request