Patent Application
20210384744
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The disclosure relates to storage assembly and more particularly pertains to a new storage assembly for isolating and charging a communication enabled electronic device.
The prior art relates to storage assembly. Prior art storage assemblies for communication enabled electronic devices may comprise cases, cabinets, and lock boxes to hold and charge one or more of the devices. Prior art storage assemblies also may comprise boxes that block the sending and receiving of radio signals.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a box that defines an interior space. The box has a top, which open and thus configured for insertion of an electronic device into the interior space. A lid is hingedly engaged to the box and is positioned to be selectively hinged to a closed configuration, wherein the lid closes the top. A sheet, which is engaged to an inner surface of the lid and an interior surface of the box, is configured to block radio waves and microwaves from entering into, and exiting from, the interior space. The sheet is configured to block transmissions to and from the electronic device positioned in the interior space. A charging module, which is engaged to the box and positioned in the interior space, is configured to be engageable to the electronic device to charge the electronic device.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A lid 18 is hingedly engaged to the box 12 and is positioned to be selectively hinged to a closed configuration wherein the lid 18 closes the top 16. A tab 20 is engaged to a front edge 22 of the lid 18. The tab 20 is configured to position a digit of a hand of a user so that the user is positioned to hinge the lid 18 relative to the box 12.
A sheet 24, which is engaged to an inner surface 26 of the lid 18 and an interior surface 28 of the box 12, is configured to block radio waves and microwaves from entering into, and exiting from, the interior space 14. The sheet 24 is configured to block transmissions to and from the electronic device positioned in the interior space 14. The sheet 24 comprises at least one of metal foil and metal foam.
The present invention is anticipated to be useful in a variety of settings. For example, a family may elect to use the electronic device storage assembly 10 to stow cell phones during mealtime to promote interaction among family members. The present invention also could be used in conference rooms, doctors' offices, and other settings where interruptions are disruptive.
A charging module 30, which is engaged to the box 12 and positioned in the interior space 14, is configured to be engageable to the electronic device to charge the electronic device. The charging module 30 may comprise an inductive coil 32, which is engaged to a bottom 34 of the box 12. The inductive coil 32 is configured to wirelessly charge the electronic device. The charging module 30 also may comprise other charging means, such as, but not limited to, charging ports, batteries, and the like.
A port 36 is engaged to the box 12 and is operationally engaged to the charging module 30. The port 36 is configured to selectively engage a power cord (not shown) to operationally engage the charging module 30 to a source of electrical current.
A liner 38 is positioned in the interior space 14 and is engaged to the sheet 24 so that the charging module 30 is positioned between the liner 38 and the sheet 24. The liner 38 is configured to pad the interior surface 28 of the box 12 and the charging module 30, thus protecting the electronic device. The liner 38 comprises at least one of felt, elastomeric foam, rubber, silicone, and cloth.
A panel 40 is engaged to and extends between opposed edges 42 of the lid 18. The panel 40 also is engaged to a rear edge 44 of the lid 18 so that the panel 40 and the inner surface 26 of the lid 18 define a pocket 46. The pocket 46 is configured to stow articles, such as charging cords for the electronic device positioned in the box 12, as shown in
In use, the electronic device is positioned in the interior space 14 and the lid 18 is closed. The sheet 24 prevents transmissions to and from the electronic device, while the induction coil charges the electronic device.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
