This invention relates to a power supply adapter for portable electric devices. Portable electric devices such as entertainment and storage devices, phones or computers have a variety of electrical connectors so that it is necessary to carry a corresponding number of power supplies, particularly when travelling. It is often the case that only one device may be charged at a time from a single power supply socket, particularly if one is using an international socket adapter in a foreign country.

According to the present invention, a portable power supply adapter comprises:

a casing;

a mains power supply cable extending from the casing for connection to a mains power supply;

a portable computer power supply cable extending from the casing for connection to a portable computer;

the casing including power supply circuitry;

the casing having an upwardly facing surface, the surface including one or more sockets, the one or more sockets, each socket being adapted to receive a portable electric device and arranged so that the portable electric device may be charged from the mains power supply directly whether or not a portable computer is connected to the portable computer power supply cable for charging.

The power supply may be a mains power supply or a low voltage power supply from another device. A data transfer connection may be also provided by the socket.

The sockets are selected from two or more of: large and small USB sockets; iPod (registered trade mark) sockets, MP3 sockets, digital camera sockets, mobile telephone sockets and hard disk drives. A wireless or Bluetooth unit may be connected to the socket to allow the portable device to communicate with the portable computer, for example for data transfer.

In a first preferred embodiment, the casing comprises a base and a detachable cover, the cover including a plurality of apertures defining sockets for portable devices; the base including one or more detachable or integral connectors mounted on mountings so that a device inserted into a socket may be connected via a detachable connector to the power supply, wireless ier device. In a first embodiment the connector may be detachable allowing an alternative connector to be used. Alternatively the connector may be integral with the adaptor.

Preferably, the mounting includes a seat for the connector arranged to secure the connector in an appropriate orientation, for example, facing upwardly, for engagement with a device inserted into the socket.

The detachable connector may comprise a housing and a device connector extending from the housing in a first direction and a power connector extending from the housing in a second direction. The device connector is configured to connect a device and the power connector is configured to connect to the power supply and/or a data transmission circuit.

Preferably the first direction is opposite to the second direction. In a first embodiment the device connector and power connector are coaxial so that the housing extends linearly.

In a second, preferred, embodiment the device connector and power connector are parallel, arranged side-by-side in a stacked or folded arrangement. In such a stacked or folded arrangement the length of the housing and consequently of the detachable connector are reduced. This permits reduction in the height of the adapter. Furthermore the stacked or folded arrangement may provide an abutment, for example a ledge or rebate for secure engagement with the casing.

In a first preferred aspect of the invention the casing includes an upwardly facing socket located at or adjacent an edge of the casing. The socket may include locking means for receiving and securely engaging a portable device connected to the socket for charging. Alternatively the detachable connector may be engaged by the locking means. The locking means may comprise a spring latch or a deformable resilient member dimensioned to provide a press fit engagement at the lower edge of a portable device. A quick release button may be provided to release the latch or to open the deformable member.

The casing may be rectangular in plan view having longer and shorter sides, the socket being located at an upper edge of a shorter side. In this arrangement a mobile phone or other device may be engaged with the control panel facing outwardly from the shorter edge so that the long sides of the casing extend rearwardly to provide a secure support resistant to toppling backwards when the key pad of the phone is actuated. The upper surface of the casing may include a rebate adapted to abut and support the device or a detachable or an integral connector. The rebate may comprise side and rear surfaces dimensioned to snugly fit the connector supporting the connector against movement as the portable device is used or is engaged or disengaged from the socket.

The stacked or folded configuration of the detachable connector may be arranged to provide a right angled shoulder or other downward facing seat portion adapted to form a close fit with a correspondingly shaped corner or other upwardly facing edge or shoulder portion of the casing and rebate. In preferred embodiments of this invention the casing has a single socket.

In another aspect of the invention, the cover comprises inner and outer portions defining one or more channels between the portions for engagement with corresponding formations of the base. The formations may comprise projections or flanges extending outwardly of the base.

In this arrangement the base may comprise runners extending transversely with respect to the sockets, the cover being arranged to be slidable on the runners between a closed position ready for use and an open position in which the connectors may be removed from the seats for replacement to accommodate different portable devices.

Alternatively, the cover and base may be hinged, having a locking member or clasp which may be released to open the device for replacement of the connectors.

An adapter in accordance with the present invention confers several advantages. A single adapter may be used to power a lap-top or other portable computer and a range of portable devices, avoiding the need to carry a range of different power supplies. In addition, the need for more than one mains adapter is avoided when travelling because only a single power supply is necessary. In further preferred embodiments, the detachable connectors may be selected to suit the devices carried by the user. For example, a connector suitable for the user's mobile phone may be selected from the large number of connectors required to connect all commonly available phones. pter circuitry may include an electronic device docking station comprising a wireless communication device, arranged to transfer data between the portable device and a notebook or other portable computer connected to the power supply. A kit may be provided comprising the casing and a selection of connectors.

The invention is further described by way of example, but not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows an adapter in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the adapter;

Figure 3 shows the upper casing of the adapter;

Figure 4 shows an array of connectors for use with the adapter;

Figure 5 shows a further connector;

Figure 6 shows a further adapter in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 shows a further adapter in use with a mobile phone and laptop; and

Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows an adapter in accordance with this invention. The adapter (1) has a mains supply lead (2) and mains plug (3) for connection to a wall socket (4). A lap-top or other portable computer (5) is connected by a power supply lead (6) in the conventional manner.

An MP3 player (7) and mobile phone (8) are received in sockets within the upper casing of the adapter (1) and are engaged with detachable connectors (25) as shown in Figure 2 to enable charging directly whether or not lap-top (5) is connected to the portable computer power supply cable for simultaneous charging. LED displays (9) indicate the extent of charging of the portable electric devices (7, 8). In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter has two sockets to accommodate two portable devices. In alternative embodiments, three or more sockets may be provided. Additionally a laterally facing USB port (10) may be provided to receive one or more additional devices.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through part of an adapter in accordance with this invention. A casing (11) is engaged with a cover comprising an outer cover (12) and inner cover (13). The inner cover (13) may be formed of metal or rigid polymeric material in order to provide a resilient structure. The casing (11) includes one or more seats or depressions (14) each having an aperture (15) through which a power connector and/or data connector (16) of a nay be received to engage a contact of a power PCB circuit (17). The inner cover (13) has a channel shaped configuration with an aperture (18) adapted to receive the device connector (19) of the detachable connector (25). A portable electric device (20), for example an MP3 player or mobile telephone, is inserted in a downward direction into the socket (21) and engages the device connector (19) and abuts the inner surface of the lower casing (13), which provides secure support for the device (20). The outer cover (12) has an inwardly facing flange (22) which co-operates with the lower surface (24) of the inner casing to define a guideway to receive a runner (23) of the lower casing (11). In the arrangement as shown in Figure 3, three inner covers (13) are received within the outer cover (12) to define three sockets to receive three portable devices. The assembly shown in Figure 3 may be inserted onto the lower base by sliding transversely.

A selection of connectors for various portable electrical devices are shown in plan view and side elevation view in Figure 4. These comprise a telephone connector, USB connector, MP3 player connector, telephone jack or a large USB connector.

Figure 5 shows various views of a detachable connector in accordance with this invention.

A housing (30) has a male USB connector (31), being the power connector and/or data connector, extending in a first direction and a device connector (32) extending in an opposite direction. The detachable device connector is selected to engage the power connection socket of a portable electric device (not shown) such as a mobile phone, MP3 player, iPod, digital camera, hard drive, wireless speaker or the like.

The housing is divided into first (33) and second (34) portions having parallel axes offset in side-by-side stacked juxtapositions. In this embodiment the overall length of the connector is shorter than if the USB connector and device connector are arranged co-axially. The stacked arrangement allows the housing to incorporate a rebate, ledge or other abutment configured to engage a complementary formation of the casing, particularly a corner between the rebate and top surface of the casing. sferred embodiment a kit comprising a selection of different connectors is provided, the connectors having device connectors selected to accommodate commonly available electric devices. Figure 6 illustrates an alternative adapter.

A casing (40) is connected to a power supply cable (41) and a power outlet cable (42) for connection to a laptop (not shown). An upwardly facing socket (45) is formed in the edge of the short side of the rectangular casing. An upwardly facing connector (44) located in the lower upwardly facing surface of the socket (45) is arranged to receive a portable device (not shown) inserted in use into the socket (45). Alternatively a detachable connector as shown in Figure 5 may be inserted into the connector (44), the body of the detachable connector including a ledge or rebate dimensioned to be engaged and to be supported by the vertical wall of the socket (45) and upper surface of the casing, preventing movement of the detachable connector in use.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment similar to that of Figure 6 wherein the casing (50) is secured to a mobile phone (51) mounted in the socket (52) by means of a clip (53). A power cable (54) connected to a power supply (57) supplies power to the device while an outlet (56) connected to a laptop powers the laptop in conventional manner. The mobile telephone (51) mounted on a narrow edge of the rectangular casing (50) so that the casing (50) supports the phone against toppling over rearwardly in use. Figure 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the housing (60) includes a stepped rebate (61) forming a socket in the narrow edge (66) of the casing (60). The rebate (61) forms a ledge or shoulder (62) in conjunction with the upper surface of the casing (60). A connector (63) received in the rebate (61) has a downwardly facing seat portion (64) to engage the upwardly facing ledge or shoulder (62) forming a secure seating for the connector. A mobile phone or other device (65) may be located upon the connector (63) as previously described. In this arrangement the connector (63) is securely mounted upon the ledge or shoulder (62) of the casing to form a secure support so that pressure on the connector and mobile device (65) does not damage the connector or socket to which it is engaged. ity of connectors may be used in turn to allow connection with different mobile devices, with the engagement of the connectors and housing forming a snug fit to prevent damage to the connector in use.