FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a universal adapter for audio connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is known, in the audio industry, there exist various developments which allow for a better connectivity between various components, facilitating the connection of these devices.

There exist various types of universal connectors that provide different types of solutions. For example, the development disclosed in document US7585178 of SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB is known, which comprises a connector arrangement including a connector body; a first electric connector coupled with the body of the connector; a sleeve that surrounds the first electric connector and couples to the body of the connector; and a second electric connector is provided arranged around the first electric connector; wherein the first and second electric connectors are independently operable, and the second electric connector includes elements arranged at least partially within a body of the connection sleeve.

Moreover, the development disclosed in document US 2008/0188122 of NOKIA CORPORATION is also known, wherein an audio and video plug is provided, comprising a male audio plug ( 2 ) having at least one audio signal plug contact ( 6, 8 ) and one audio ground plug contact ( 4 ), the plug being characterized by a substantially cylindrical video ground plug contact ( 12 ) located radially outward said male audio plug ( 2 ), and being electrically insulated from said male audio plug ( 2 ), and at least one video signal plug contact ( 14 ) being located inward of said video ground plug contact (12), and being electrically insulated from said video ground plug contact (14).; Further, an audio and video socket is provided, comprising a female audio socket having at least one audio signal socket contact and one audio ground socket contact, and a video signal socket contact being electrically insulated from said female audio socket, the socket being characterized by at least one video ground socket contact located radially outward said female audio socket, and being electrically insulated from said female audio socket and said video signal socket contact.

Furthermore, the document US 4386333 of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION is known, in which different line-cord sets connect an electrical device to different supply voltages, assuring that the supply voltage matches the device. Each line-cord set has a uniquely keyed socket and a wall plug. A device receptacle receives the line-cord's keyed socket. An adjustable key on the device mates with the socket's key and rejects nonmating sockets to admit the socket into the receptacle and adjusts the device's input voltage to match the supply voltage.

However, none of the devices previously described provide the distinctive solution of the device of the present invention, which refers to a connector adapter created to simplify the excessive use of connectors and adapters utilized in the field of analog audio. While there exist adapters between all the types of audio connectors (there are at least 10 different types of connectors in standard use), this generates an additional cost for each type of connector which is to be adapted. If no adapters where to be used, each cable would have to be assembled with its respective connectors, which in general creates a cost that translates into an amount of assembly time, the need for extra tools (soldering iron), the knowledge to carry out the soldering and assembly and acquisition of each of the connectors needed to be assembled. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms "connector", "plug", "jack" and similar terms throughout the descriptions and claims of the present specification must be understood as interchangeably making reference to electrical devices intended to be connected to other similar electric devices in order to provide an electrical connection.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a universal adapter for audio connectors, that attempts to be as universal as possible, since it only utilizes a single connector element (all audio adapters have a male type connector version and a female type connector version) and does not require soldering since it comprises a connection system through couplings, greatly reducing assembly time.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a universal adapter for audio connectors that allows for reusing all standard audio connectors, because the emphasis is in creating universal cables from the adapter and not replacing the use of connectors. From these features, advantages in simplicity of use, assembly time, and the possibility to generate multiple connections are obtained, additional equipment is not required and the cost of the adapter is much lower than it would be with other types of adapters.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a universal adaptor for audio connectors, which comprises a first body and a second body, wherein said first body comprises a central orifice for the passage of cables and on its rear face a plurality of radially arranged grooves are arranged, said second body comprising a plurality or housing grooves of respective contact rings, said contact rings having at least a pair of pins coincident with the ends of the grooves arranged on the rear face of said first body. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For greater clarity and comprehension of the object of the present invention, various figures have been illustrated, in which the same has been depicted in one of the preferred embodiments, as an example, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the universal adapter of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first body of the adapter of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the second body of the adapter of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the front face of the second body of Figure

3;

Figure 5 is a perspective and exploded view of the second body of the adapter of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective and exploded view of the connection set employing the adapter of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the moment prior to connecting two universal adapters;

Figure 8 shows a set of universal adapters connected to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figures 1 to 8, the universal adapter of the present invention can be observed with general reference number 1. In this particular embodiment, said adapter 1 comprises a first body 2 and a second body 3. Observing Figure 2, it can be appreciated that said first body 2 comprises a central orifice 4 for passing cables and on its rear face 5 a plurality of radially arranged grooves 6 are arranged. Said grooves 6 comprise at their ends an orifice 10, which allows housing the ends of cables (not shown), thus defining a coupling and fixing means for ends of cables. This way the cables remain pressed by the contact and do not require soldering.

In Figure 5, it can be appreciated that said second body 3 comprises a plurality of grooves 7 for housing respective contact rings 8, said contact rings 8 comprising at least a pair of pins 9 (Figure 4). These pins 9 are coincident with the orifices 10 of the grooves 6 arranged on the rear face 5 of said first body 2. It is important to note that the contact rings 8 are, in this particular embodiment, three rings, each having a different diameter. However, this must not be considered as limiting the scope of the object of the invention, as the number of contact rings 8 can be varied, maintaining the concept of the connection granted by the universal adapter 1.

The conformation of the universal adapter 1, as illustrated in Figure 1, is obtained by means of the coupling of the first body 2 and the second body 3, wherein said first body 2 comprises at least a pair of housings 11 for adjusting and fixing pegs 12 arranged on said second body 3.

An interesting feature of the adapter is that it does not require a male and a female connector in order to make a connection between two connectors, since the circular design of the connectors allow for connecting in any way as required, while always keeping the correlation between contacts.