AU2001270352B2

AU2001270352B2 - Cordless base

Info

Publication number: AU2001270352B2
Application number: AU2001270352A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edward Khoury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-01
Filing date: 2001-07-10
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-10

Description

WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 1

DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a modular appliance system comprising: a plurality of modular appliances; and a base unit for supporting at least two of the modular appliances simultaneously, the base unit having at least two electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the base unit.

The system preferably may comprise a base with an electrical connector similar to that used in the designs of cordless kettles, which may be free standing or fixed to a work surface, the base may comprise one or more electrical connectors with one or more hingely attached extensions having electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the base and extensions.

The hingely attached extensions are movable between points under and inside the base in a circular fashion to any point around the hinge.

The extensions having electrical connectors may be pivoted, hingley attached, on slides individually or jointly, or as separate connectors removable from the base and attached by electrical cable.

When hingely attached to the base the electrical connectors (on extensions) may be movable in a horizontal or vertical direction through an arc with its centre being the hinge.

When pivotally attached to the base, the electrical connectors (on extensions) are pivotally WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 2 moveable around the base in an arc with its centre being the pivot.

When attached to the base by means of slides, the electrical connectors (on extensions) may be slid to and from the base and from left to right of the base and they may be slid individually or jointly.

When removable from the base, the cordly attached electrical connectors may be removed from the base and placed anywhere around the base. The removable connectors may clip, retract or plug into the base.

According to the second aspect of the invention there is provided a free standing unit comprising: a plurality of modular appliances; and a free standing unit for supporting one or more modular appliances simultaneously, the base unit having one or more electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the free standing unit.

The system preferably may comprise a main body which may be free standing or fixed to a work surface or wall, the main body may comprise one, two or more hingely attached extensions having electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the free standing or fixed unit.

The hingely attached extensions are movable between points under and inside the free standing unit in a circular fashion to any point around the hinge.

The extensions having electrical connectors may be pivoted, hingley attached, on slides individually or jointly, or as separate connectors removable from the main body and attached WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 3 by electrical cable.

When hingely attached to the main body the electrical connectors (on extensions) may be movable in a horizontal or vertical direction through an arc with its centre being the hinge.

When pivotally attached to the main body, the electrical connectors (on extensions) are pivotally moveable around the main body in an arc with its centre being the pivot.

When attached to the main body by means of slides, the electrical connectors (on extensions) may be slid to and from the main body and from left to right of the main body and they may be slid individually or jointly.

When removable from the main body, the cordly attached electrical connectors may be removed from the main body and placed anywhere around the main body. The removable connectors may clip, retract or plug into the main body.

According to the third aspect of the invention there is provided a free standing unit comprising: a plurality of modular appliances; and a free standing appliance such as a coffee maker or the like which may support one or more modular appliances simultaneously via moveable electrical connectors within the free standing appliance, the movable electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the free standing appliance.

The system preferably may comprise a free standing appliance such as a coffee maker or the like, which may comprise one, two or more hingely attached extensions having electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to an electrical source via the free standing appliance.

WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 4 The hingely attached extensions are movable between points under and inside the free standing appliance in a circular fashion to any point around the hinge.

The extensions having electrical connectors may be pivoted, hingley attached, on slides individually or jointly, or as separate connectors removable from the free stading appliance and attached by electrical cable.

When hingely attached to the free standing appliance the electrical connectors (on extensions) may be movable in a horizontal or vertical direction through an arc with its centre being the hinge.

When pivotally attached to the free standing appliance, the electrical connectors (on extensions) are pivotally moveable around the free standing appliance in an arc with its centre being the pivot.

When attached to the free standing appliance by means of slides, the electrical connectors (on extensions) may be slid to and from the free standing appliance and from left to right of the free standing appliance and they may be slid individually or jointly.

When removable from the free standing appliance, the cordly attached electrical connectors may be removed from the free standing appliance and placed anywhere around the free standing appliance. The removable connectors may clip, retract or plug into the free standing appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention (first aspect); Figure 2 is a top view of the invention (first aspect); Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention (second aspect); Figure 4 is a top view of the invention (second aspect); Figure 5 is a perspective view of the invention (second aspect indicating the slide WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 concept); Figure 6 is a perspective view of the invention (second aspect, indicating the vertical hinge concept); Figure 7 is a perspective view of the invention (second aspect, indicating the pivot concept); Figure 8 is a perspective view of the invention (second aspect, indicating the removable concept); Figure 9 is a perspective view of the invention (third aspect).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The modular appliance system illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a generally planar base unit which is moulded from a suitably tough and heat resistant plastics material such as polypropylene, and a set of modular appliances 12, 14 and 16 which can be mounted on the base unit individually or together, on the base 10 and extensions 1 and electrical connectors 2.

The base 10 can be formed from other suitable plastics or other materials including metals such as stainless steel or natural materials such as marble or wood.

In Figure 1, the appliance 14 is a cordless kettle, the appliance 12 is a toaster and the appliance 16 is a chopper. It will be appreciated that the illustrated appliances are merely exemplary, and that the set of appliances usable on the base 10 may include various other appliances, or more than one identical appliance.

The base 10 may be rectangular and is provided with a locating formation in the form of an upstanding housing locating step 3. The base 10 has a central upstanding cordless connector 4 of a kind known as such which mates with a complemental connector on the underside of the appliances 12, 14 and 16. The base 10 comprises extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 which are hingley attached via hinge 6 to the base 10 so that the upstanding cordless connectors 2 may move out of the upstanding housing locating step 3 on the extensions 1 in an arc from the underside 5 of the base 10 into a position away from the base so that appliances 12, 14 and 16 may be located with its complemental connector to the upstanding connectors 2. On base 10, on the upstanding housing locating step 3 there is WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 6 provided a safety cut out 7 and an electric cable 8 which provides electric current to the base extensions 1 and ultimately the cordless connectors 4 and 2.

Figure 2 is a top view of the invention (first aspect) indicating the extensions 1, cordless connectors 2 being rotated in an arc to positions outside of the base 10 by means of the hinge 6. Figure 2 also indicates the extensions 1 and cordless connectors 2 in the closed position 9 usually when the appliances 12, 14 and 16 (Figure 1) are not being used.

The modular appliance system illustrated in Figure 3 comprises a generally planar free standing unit 11 which is moulded from a suitably tough and heat resistant plastics material such as polypropylene, and a set of modular appliances 12, 14 and 16 which can be mounted onto the upstanding cordless controls 2 which are hingely attached via extensions 1 and hinges 6 to the free standing unit 11, either independently or simultaneously. The free standing unit 11 can be formed from other suitable plastics or other materials including metals such as stainless steel or natural materials such as marble or wood.

In Figure 3, the appliance 14 is a cordless kettle, the appliance 12 is a toaster and the appliance 16 is a chopper. It will be appreciated that the illustrated appliances are merely exemplary, and that the set of appliances usable on the free standing unit 11 may include various other appliances, or more than one identical appliance.

The free standing unit 11 may be rectangular and is provided with a cavity and opening which houses the extensions 1, upstanding cordless connectors 2 and hinges 6. The free standing unit 11 may comprise of one, two or more hingley attached extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2. The upstanding cordless connectors 2 are of a kind known as such which mates with a complemental connector on the underside of the appliances 12, 14 and 16. The free standing unit 11 comprises extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 which are hingley attached via hinge 6 to the free standing unit 11 so that the upstanding cordless connectors 2 may move out of the cavity and opening 15 on the extensions 1 in an arc from the underside of the free standing unit 11 into a position away from the free standing unit 11 so that appliances 12, 14 and 16 may be located with its complemental connector to the upstanding connectors 2. On the free standing unit 11, there is provided a safety cut out 7 and an electric cable 8 which provides electric current to the free standing unit 11, extensions 1 and WO 02/097927 PCT/AU01/00827 7 ultimately the cordless connectors 2.

Figure 4 is a top view of the invention (second aspect) indicating the extensions 1, cordless connectors 2 being rotated in an arc to positions outside of the free standing unit 11 by means of the hinge 6. Figure 4 also indicates the extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 in the closed position 9 usually when the appliances 12, 14 and 16 (Figure 3) are not being used.

Figure 5 is perspective view of the invention (second aspect) indicating the extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 being slid out of the cavity and opening 15 and 17 making the upstanding cordless connectors 2 accessible.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the invention (second aspect) indicating the extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 being hinged by means of hinges 19 from a closed position in a vertical direction to an open position 21 in a horizontal direction making the upstanding cordless connectors 2 accessible.

Figure 7 is perspective view of the invention (second aspect) indicating the extensions 1 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 being rotated out of the cavity and opening 15 making the upstanding cordless connectors 2 accessible.

Figure 8 is perspective view of the invention (second aspect) indicating the cable 22 and upstanding cordless connectors 2 being removed from the cavity and opening 15 making the upstanding cordless connectors 2 accessible.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the invention (third aspect) indicating the extensions 1, cordless connectors 2 being rotated in an arc to positions outside of the free standing appliance 23.

It will be appreciated that the exact shape and configuration of the inventions described above, the connectors used and other elements and configurations and locations of connectors on the base, free standing unit and free standing appliance is purely exemplary and that numerous variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A modular appliance system comprising: a plurality of modular appliances; and a base unit for supporting one or more modular appliances simultaneously, the base unit being arranged to be connected to an electrical source and having at least two upstanding electrical connectors adapted for engagement with complemental connectors on respective appliances, thereby to connect the appliances to the electrical source, at least one of the electrical connectors being movable between a closed position within the base unit and an open position adjacent to and spaced apart from the base unit, in which open position said at least one of the electrical connectors can engage a complemental connector on an appliance.

2. A modular appliance system according to claim 1 wherein the base unit defines a cavity within which said at least one of the electrical connectors is received in the closed position thereof, the cavity having an opening to permit said at least one of the electrical connectors to be moved out of the cavity into the opened position thereof.

3. A modular appliance system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one of the electrical connectors is mounted on an extension arm which is attached hingedly to the base unit.

4. A modular appliance system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one of the electrical connectors is mounted on an extension arm which is attached slideably to the base unit. A modular appliance system according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the base unit includes a fixed upstanding electrical connector mounted thereon and a locating formation for correctly locating an appliance on the base unit, with said fixed upstanding electrical connector in engagement with a complemental electrical connector on the appliance.

AlvENDED SHEET PCT/AU01/00827 Received 17 January 2003 Page 2 of amended claims for PCT/AU01/00827

6. A modular appliance system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one of the electrical connectors is connected by an electrical cable to the base unit.

7. A modular appliance system comprising: a plurality of modular appliances; and a free-standing appliance arranged to be connected to an electrical source, the free-standing appliance having a housing defining a cavity within which at least one upstanding electrical connector is receivable, the cavity having an opening to permit said at least one upstanding electrical connector to be moved from a closed position within the cavity to an open position adjacent to and spaced apart from the free- standing appliance, in which open position said at least one upstanding electrical connector can engage a complemental connector on a modular appliance, to connect the modular appliance to the electrical source.

8. A modular appliance system according to claim 7 wherein said at least one upstanding electrical connector is mounted on an extension arm which is attached hingedly to the free-standing appliance.

9. A modular appliance system according to claim 7 wherein said at least one upstanding electrical connector is mounted on an extension arm which is attached slidably to the free-standing appliance. A modular appliance system according to claim 7 wherein said at least one upstanding electrical connector is connected by an electrical cable to the free- standing appliance. AMEDEJD~! SHJF I FF-14A