CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001 ] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patens Application No. 61/914,332, filed December 10, 2013, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to couplers for providing an electrical power connection.

BACKGROUND

[0003 _. 1 Portable electronics devices are increasingly outselling their non-portable counterparts. Although most, if not ail. portable electronics devices are bush with a battery on board, they still need to connect to a fixed power source occasionally. In cases where an external AC-DC adaptor is used along the power supply line, some manufacturers may choose to link the electronics devices ^* AC-DC adaptor to the wall socket using a (detachable) power cord.

However, as the consumer continues to use the portable electronic device while connected to the fixed power source (via the AC-DC adaptor), moving past the total length of the power suppl linkage may in turn pull electrical co ection's) apart and disconnect the power supply.

[0004] For grounded portable electronics devices that require only a low current rating and/or for AC-DC adaptors thai have small space/low cost requirements, manufacturers often opt for a standard connector, such as international Electrotechnlcal Commission (IEC) C5 connector and IEC C6 inlet pair. Thus, it would be advantageous to have a locking mechanism between the power cord's connector and the AC-DC adaptor's inlet that is easy to use.

SUMMARY

[0605] The present disclosure aims at overcoming the weaknesses of conventional connectors and providing an electrical power connector with positive locking connector suitable for power connectors. The illustrative embodiment described below provides a connector that incorporates a simple locking mechanism into the connector boosing.

[0006] An illustrative embodiment of a connector system in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure includes an inlet comprising a mating port, first and second power contacts disposed within the mating port, and a ground contact disposed within the mating port. In addition, the system includes a connector configured to be removably engaged with and

. ! . locked to the inlet via the mating port. Finally, an outer mold is conOgtsred to encase the power and ground conductors and wires of a power cable.

[0007] An illustrative embodiment of an inlet in accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure comprises a mating port, and a locking structure and recess disposed within the mating port. In addition, fust and second power contacts, as well as a ground contact, are disposed within the mating port.

[0008] Finally, an illustrative embodiment of a connector in accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure comprises a housing, a release tab, and a resilient member. The resilient member is coupled to the housing and the release tab, and the assembly is configured to be removably engaged with an inlet via a mating port of the inlet.

[0009] Additional features of the disclosed embodiments are described below.

10010] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are fttrther described below in the Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scape of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fnlly hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure I depicts an illustrative embodiment of a slim lock connector system in accordance with the present disclosure. The illustrative system includes a slim lock inlet 1 10, connector 120, and cable 140,

[0013] Figure 2 provides a sectioned rear view of the slim lock inlet 1 10,

[0014] Figure 3 depicts another view of the slim lock connector system.

[0015] Figure 4A illustrates steps for engaging the connector 120 and the inlet 1 10.

[0016] Figure 4B and Figure 4C illustrates steps for disengaging the connector 120 from the inlet 1 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0017J While embodiments of an electrical power connector, for convenience and simplicity, are illustrated in the drawings and described herein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to electrical power connectors and could equally apply to any type of connector, including data and signal connectors and non-electrical connectors, such as optical connectors. [§018] As mentioned, Figure I depicts an illustrative embodiment of a slim lock connector system 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. Figure 2 provides a sectioned rear view of the slim lock inlet 1 10,

[0019] As shown, the illustrative system includes a slim lock inlet 1 10 _» connector 120, outer mold 124, and cable 140. The inlet 1 10 comprises a mating port 1 12, first and second power contacts 1 14 (only one of which is visible in Figure I ) as well as a ground contact 1 16 disposed within the mating port. The inlet of this embodiment further includes a locking structure 1 1 1 and recess 1 13 disposed within the mating port (see Figure 2), A rear-facing power contact 1 15 is visible in both Figures 1 and 2. The rear-facing contact 1 15 is electrically connected to one of the power contacts 1 14, and a second rear-facing contact (not shown) is similarly electrically connected to the other power contact, As cast be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these rear- facing contacts as well as a rear-facing ground contact are designed to be coupled to appropriate contacts of a computer or other electronic appliance (not shown) to which power is to he supplied.

[0020] The assembly making up the connector 120 is configured to be removably engaged with and locked to the inlet 1 10 via the mating port 1 12, This assembly includes an outer mold 124 configured to encase the power and ground conductors and wires of a power cable 140. In addition, the assembly 120 includes a housing 121 , release tab 122, and resilient member 123 coupled to the housing and release tab. The release tab 1 22 and resilient member 123 are formed of a material, such as a plastic, that is sufficiently fle ible to enable the resilient member to be depressed by a user repeatedly without breaking, bat sufficiently rigid so as to form a firm lock for the connector when locked within the inlet 1 10. The release tab 122 and resilient member 123 are configured such that pressing on the release tab 122 enables the housing 121 to be unlocked from the inlei 1 10. (See Figure 4.) It can be seen that the inlet 1 10 Is designed such that the mating port 1 12, locking structure 1 1 1 , recess 1 13, power contacts 1 14, and ground contact 1 16 are configured to enable the connector 120 (including the housing 121 , release tab 122, and resilient member 123) to be removably engaged with and locked to tbe inlet, via tbe mating port 1 12.

[0021] Figure 3 depicts another view of the slim lock connector system. In this view, connector 120 is fully inserted into inlet 1 10. In this configuration, the resilient member (not pictured in Figure 3} has passed beyond the locking structure (not pictured in Figure 3) such that the resilient member has snapped into place into the recess (not pictured in Figure 3), With the resilient member released into the recess and behind the locking structure, the connector is locked inside the inlet. The release tab 122, being connected to the resilient member has also snapped into place, and is ready to be pressed down again to release the connector 120 from the inlet 1 10. Power contacts 1 16 on the inlet 100 enable connection wkh, for example, a mobile electronic device thai, inlet S 10 has been mounted on. Cable 140 conies out of the outer mold 124 of connector 120, and may lead to. for example, a power source or other electronic device.

[0(122] Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate steps for engaging and disengaging the connector 120 and the inlet S 10. To engage the connector, as shown in Figure 4A, the user simply aligns and inserts the connector 120 into the inlet 1 1 with ssiffkient force or pressure to cause the resilient member 123 to deflect when it. comes into contact with the locking structure 1 1 1. When the connector 1 20 is fully inserted Into the mating port 1 1 2, She deflected resilient member 123 will pass beyond locking structure 1 1 1 , and wil l revert to its non-deflected form, snapping into place behind the locking structure 1 1 1 . The connector 1 20 is now locked in place until purposely disengaged. To disengage, the user simply presses down on the release tab 122, as illustrated in Figure 4B, before pulling the connector 120 away from the inlet 1 0, as

illustrated in Figure 4C.

[0023] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed and is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, alternatives, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the disclosure as set forth and recited by the following claims.