IP Library Granted Patent US 7,688,030
Granted Patent B2
US 7,688,030 · App. 12/234,798 · Granted Mar 30, 2010

Charger unit for an electronic device including a system for protective storage of an adapter plug

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,688,030
App. No.
12/234,798
Granted
Mar 30, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A charger unit for an electronic device that includes a housing, a plurality of charging contacts provided on the housing, and a recess provided in the housing, preferably on a rear face thereof. A plug having a plurality of prongs may be selectively attached to and detached from the housing for electrically connecting the charger unit to a source of charging current. When attached to the housing, one or more of the prongs of the plug are electrically connected to a respective one of the charging contacts. In addition, a plurality of storage sockets are provided in the housing within the recess. Each of the storage sockets are adapted to receive and hold therein a respective one of the prongs of the plug to enable the plug to be safely and securely stored when not in use.

Claims (24)

1. A charger system for an electronic device, comprising:

a charger unit having a housing;

a recess provided in said housing, said recess having a first end and a second end;

a plug having a plurality of prongs and a base having a top end and a bottom end, said prongs being attached to a first surface of said base, wherein a first distance from a middle point of each of said prongs to said top end is different than a second distance from a middle point of each of said prongs to said bottom end; and

a plurality of storage sockets provided in said housing within said recess, each of said storage sockets being adapted to receive and hold therein a respective one of said prongs of said plug;

wherein said storage sockets are positioned in said housing and said recess is sized in a manner that permits said prongs to be received within said storage sockets and said base to be fully received within said recess in both a first orientation wherein said top end of said base is adjacent to said first end of said recess and said bottom end of said base is adjacent to said second end of said recess and a second orientation wherein said top end of said base is adjacent to said second end of said recess and said bottom end of said base is adjacent to said first end of said recess.

2. The charger system according to claim 1 , wherein said storage sockets are positioned equidistance from said top end and said bottom end.

3. The charger system according to claim 1 , wherein said base of said plug has a height and said recess has a depth, and wherein said depth is greater than or equal to said height.

4. The charger system according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said storage sockets has a securing mechanism for securing said respective one of said prongs of said plug in place within said each one of said storage sockets.

5. The charger system according to claim 4 , wherein said securing mechanism of said each one of said storage sockets comprises a spring element.

6. The charger system according to claim 5 , wherein said spring element of said each one of said storage sockets comprises a spring finger having a spring pin, said spring pin being received within a hole provided in the respective one of said prongs that is received within said each one of said storage sockets.

7. The charger system according to claim 1 , wherein said recess includes a first secondary recess and a second secondary recess, wherein said housing includes a plateau surface between said first and second secondary recesses, wherein a bottom surface of each of said first and second secondary recess is disposed below said plateau surface, and wherein said plurality of storage sockets are provided within said housing at said plateau surface.

8. The charger system according to claim 4 , wherein said securing mechanism of said each one of said storage sockets comprises one or more magnets.

9. The charger system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of charging contacts provided on said housing, wherein said plug may be selectively attached to and detached from said housing, one or more of said prongs being electrically connected to a respective one of said charging contacts when said plug is attached to said housing.

10. A charger system for an electronic device, comprising:

a plug having a base and a plurality of prongs extending from a front face of said base;

a housing having a recess having a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion and a plateau surface located between said first recessed portion and said second recessed portion, wherein a bottom surface of each of said first recessed portion and said second recessed portion is disposed below said plateau surface, said housing having a plurality of storage sockets provided therein at said plateau surface, each of said storage sockets being adapted to receive and hold therein a respective one of said prongs of said plug, said plateau surface supporting said front face of said base of said plug when said prongs are received within said storage sockets.

11. The charger system according to claim 10 , wherein said first recessed portion comprises a first secondary recess and said second recessed portion comprises a second secondary recess.

12. The charger system according to claim 10 , wherein a first portion of said base extends over a part of said first recessed portion and a second portion of said base extends over a part of said second recessed portion when said prongs are received within said storage sockets.

13. The charger system according to claim 10 , wherein said base of said plug has a height and said plateau surface is located at a depth within said housing, and wherein said depth is greater than or equal to said height.

14. The charger system according to claim 10 , wherein each one of said storage sockets has a securing mechanism for securing said respective one of said prongs of said plug in place within said each one of said storage sockets.

15. The charger system according to claim 14 , wherein said securing mechanism of said each one of said storage sockets comprises a spring element.

16. The charger system according to claim 15 , wherein said spring element of said each one of said storage sockets comprises a spring finger having a spring pin, said spring pin being received within a hole provided in the respective one of said prongs that is received within said each one of said storage sockets.

17. The charger system according to claim 14 , wherein said securing mechanism of said each one of said storage sockets comprises one or more magnets.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064269/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 037856/0713 →