The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2007
Theodore Paul Haggis, Raleigh, NC (US);
Zachary Robert Purser, Raleigh, NC (US);
Theodore Paul Haggis, Raleigh, NC (US);
Zachary Robert Purser, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
One embodiment provides a coupling for connecting an electronic device to an electrical socket. A sleeve is slidably disposed on a coupling body. A plurality of male terminals at a distal end of the coupling body nearest to the electrical socket is configured for insertion into the electrical socket. The male terminals are in electronic communication with female terminals near a protective plug cavity at the proximate end of the coupling body. A plug of the electronic device is inserted into the plug cavity, whereupon prongs on the plug contact the female terminals. The sleeve and coupling body are movable axially with respect to each other from a prong-extended position, wherein the male terminals on the coupling body extend out of the sleeve, to a prong-retracted position, wherein the male terminals are substantially fully received within the sleeve, for disconnecting the coupling from the electrical socket. At least one release member is movable to cause the sleeve and the coupling body to move with respect to each other from the prong-extended position to the prong-retracted position.