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An adapter for removably mounting an electronic device performing a data function to an appliance host. The adapter has a main body, a first mechanical coupling capable of removably coupling the electronic device to the adapter, and a second mechanical coupling capable of removably coupling the adap

An adapter for removably mounting an electronic device performing a data function to an appliance host. The adapter has a main body, a first mechanical coupling capable of removably coupling the electronic device to the adapter, and a second mechanical coupling capable of removably coupling the adapter to the host. The adapter further has a rechargeable power source capable of being recharged by power from the host and then providing power to the electronic device when the adapter is not connected to the host.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An adapter for removably mounting an electronic device to an appliance host, the electronic device performing a data function and having a device mechanical coupling, and the appliance host having a power service and a host mechanical coupling that is incompatible with the de

What is claimed is: 1. An adapter for removably mounting an electronic device to an appliance host, the electronic device performing a data function and having a device mechanical coupling, and the appliance host having a power service and a host mechanical coupling that is incompatible with the device mechanical coupling and performing a useful cycle of operation on a consumer article, the adapter comprising: an adapter main body; a first mechanical coupling on the main body that is compatible with the device mechanical coupling for removably supporting the electronic device on the adapter, the adapter and the electronic device forming a functional unit when coupled together; a second mechanical coupling on the main body that is compatible with the host mechanical coupling for removably supporting the adapter on the appliance host; a first electrical interface on the main body for electrically coupling the adapter to the appliance host; and a rechargeable power source coupled with the first electrical interface for receiving the power service from the appliance host and using the power service to charge the power source when the adapter is coupled to the appliance host; wherein the electronic device receives the power service from the power source when the electronic device is coupled to the adapter to form the functional unit. 2. The adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a second electrical interface on the main body for electrically coupling the adapter to the electronic device. 3. The adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a mechanical support for alternatively supporting the electronic device on a horizontal surface when the adapter and the electronic device are removed from the appliance host. 4. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the appliance host is a household refrigeration appliance. 5. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter further provides an additional service to the electronic device selected from a power service and a data service. 6. The adapter according to claim 5, wherein the adapter further comprises a data communication device and further wherein the additional service comprises communication between the data communication device and the electronic device. 7. The adapter according to claim 6 wherein the data communication device comprises a wireless data communication device. 8. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery. 9. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a coupling for an external provider removably coupled to the adapter when the adapter and the electronic device are not coupled to the appliance host, the external provider providing an additional service to the functional unit. 10. The adapter according to claim 9 wherein the external provider is a USB device for providing at least one of power and data. 11. The adapter according to claim 5, wherein the additional service provides at least one of a speaker functionality, a user interface functionality, a display projection functionality, a media manager functionality, application software hosting functionality, communications routing functionality, power storage functionality, microphone functionality, message functionality and data storage functionality.