The present invention relates to electrical power supplies and, more particularly, to portable electrical power supplies having rechargeable batteries or the like.
The need or desire to incorporate electrical power outlets in different locations has increased as portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, portable media players, laptop computers, and the like have proliferated, since these devices often require charging of onboard batteries. Fixed-location electrical power outlets can supply power indefinitely, and are typically connected to main power sources associated with a building or vehicle. Portable battery-equipped electrical supplies are also available for limited charging of portable electronic devices, which are helpful when a user will not be positioned near a mains-powered outlet or wishes to at least partially recharge a portable electronic device while moving.
The present invention provides a portable electrical power supply having an onboard rechargeable battery, capacitor, or other rechargeable or renewable electrical power source. The portable power supply is configured to fit into an opening or recess in a furniture-mounted power and/or data unit, where its onboard power source can be recharged, and where it can provide a continuous supply of electrical charging power to a portable electronic device for as long as power is supplied from a mains source to the power and/or data unit. The portable power supply can be removed from the power and/or data unit, which ceases the charging cycle of its onboard power source and allows the portable power supply to be carried by a user or placed in substantially any desired location, such as atop work surfaces, tables, desks, countertops and the like, or in a bag, vehicle, or pocket. While disconnected from the power and/or data unit, the portable power supply is capable of providing a limited amount of electrical energy for charging portable phones, handheld computers and media players, and other small electrical or electronic devices. The portable power supply can then be re-inserted into the power and/or data unit for recharging and/or supplying continuous power to one or more portable electronic devices.
The portable power supply may include several electrical connectors that allow multiple devices to be charged or supplied with power simultaneously, and may include a power switch to selectively energize and de-energize the electrical receptacles on the portable power supply. Optionally, the power unit includes a charge level indicator that provides a visual indication of the capacity remaining in the onboard power source.
In one form of the present invention, an electrical power supply includes a main electrical power unit and a portable electrical power unit. The main electrical power unit can be mounted along a furniture article, such as with a bracket. The portable electrical power unit is removably coupled to a receiver of the main electrical power unit, the receiver including an electrical charging output and a fixed electrical receptacle adjacent the receiver. The portable electrical power unit includes a portable electrical receptacle, an electrical charging receiver, and an onboard rechargeable power source. The charging receiver is positioned rearwardly from the portable electrical receptacle, and receives electrical power from the electrical charging output when the portable electrical power unit is engaged with the receiver. The rechargeable power source is recharged by the electrical charging receiver and energizes the electrical receptacle at least when the portable unit is removed from the main power unit. The electrical charging output is operable to recharge the onboard rechargeable power source when the portable electrical power unit is seated at the receiver.
According to one aspect, the electrical charging output includes a pair of electrical output contacts, and the electrical charging receiver includes a pair of electrical input contacts.
According to another aspect, there is an AC-to-DC power converter at the portable electrical power unit. The power converter receives high voltage AC power from the electrical output contacts and supplies low voltage DC power to at least one of the onboard rechargeable power source and the portable electrical receptacle.
According to yet another aspect, the receiver includes a cavity defined by a housing. The cavity has an open front end adjacent a front face of the fixed electrical receptacle.
According to still another aspect, the electrical output contacts are positioned along a rear surface defining a rear portion of the cavity, and the electrical input contacts are positioned along a rear surface of the portable electrical power unit. Optionally, the electrical input contacts are recessed into the rear surface of the portable electrical power unit. Optionally, the electrical output contacts or the electrical input contacts are spring-loaded and move in response to seating the portable electrical power unit in the cavity.
According to a further aspect, the receiver includes a cavity defined by a housing, with the cavity or the portable electrical power unit including a push-to-release mechanism that is used to partially eject the portable electrical power unit in response to a manual force applied to the front face in a rearward direction.
According to a still further aspect, when the portable electrical power unit is seated at the receiver, a front face of the portable electrical receptacle is coplanar with a front face of the fixed electrical receptacle.
In another form of the present invention, an electrical power supply includes a main electrical power unit that is mountable along a furniture article, and a portable electrical power unit removably coupled to the main power unit. The main power unit includes a receiver having an electrical charging output for recharging the portable power unit. The portable electrical power unit includes a low voltage DC electrical receptacle, an electrical charging receiver, and an onboard rechargeable power source such a battery. The electrical charging receiver is positioned rearwardly from the low voltage DC electrical receptacle and receives electrical power from the electrical charging output when the portable electrical power unit is engaged with the receiver. The onboard rechargeable power source is recharged by the electrical charging receiver, and also energizes the low voltage DC electrical receptacle. When the portable electrical power unit is seated at the receiver, the electrical charging output is operable to both recharge the onboard rechargeable power source and supply electrical power to the low voltage DC electrical receptacle. The portable electrical power unit is configured to electrically energize the low voltage DC electrical receptacle with the onboard rechargeable power source upon removal of the portable electrical power unit from the receiver.
Therefore, the electrical power supply of the present invention provides users with access to a continuous supply of electrical power at the main power unit, while also providing users with access to a limited supply of portable electrical power at a portable power unit. The portable power unit can be readily removed from the main power unit and carried any desired distance from the main power unit. The portable power unit can then be docked or coupled to a receiver of the main power unit for recharging and further use. While the portable power unit is coupled to the main power unit, the portable power unit's outlets remain available for use alongside the continuous-power outlets along the main power unit.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, an electrical power supply 10 includes a main generally fixed-location electrical power unit 12 having a rear housing 14, a front bezel 16, a mounting bracket 18, a plurality of electrical power receptacles arranged in a row, including high voltage AC receptacles 20a, low voltage DC receptacles 20b, and a portable electrical power unit 22 (
Electrical power unit 12 may be coupled directly to a furniture article such as a table T via the bracket 18, such as shown in
The electrical power unit 12 includes a receiver recess or cavity 24 defined in part by a rear wall 26 having a pair of electrical output contacts 28 (only one contact 28 is shown in
The portable electrical power unit 22 is insertable into the receiver recess 24 as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, electrical receptacle 32 is a low voltage DC receptacle having a USB configuration, although it will be appreciated that substantially any other configuration of receptacle and electrical power output type (high or low voltage, AC or DC, direct-contact or wireless/non-contact) would be possible. Referring to
The onboard battery 23 or other rechargeable power source of the portable electrical power unit 22 is recharged via the electrical input contacts 34, which may also energize the electrical receptacle 32 at the front face 30 even when the onboard battery 23 is completely depleted. Switching circuitry may be employed to direct power received at input contacts 34 to the onboard battery 23, to electrical receptacle 32, and optionally through an onboard AC-to-DC electrical power converter 39 (
Optionally, the electrical output contacts 28 and/or the electrical input contacts 34 are spring-loaded to facilitate a good contact interface between the respective contacts when the portable power unit 22 is partially or fully seated in the receiver recess 24. Either set of contacts 28, 34 may be configured as spring-loaded “pogo-pins,” so that slight misalignments do not prevent corresponding contacts from contacting one another. It is further envisioned that the input contacts 34 may be recessed, such as within the elongated recess 37 (
Optionally, a mechanical push-to-release mechanism is provided in the receiver recess 24, and is operable to at least partially eject the portable electrical power unit 22 in response to a manual force applied in a rearward direction to the front face 30 of the portable power unit 22 when the portable power unit is seated in the receiver recess 24. For example, the push-to-release mechanism may include a combination of springs and latches at or along the rear wall 26, or along other surfaces of the rear housing 14. One example of a push-to-release mechanism that may be adapted for receiving, retaining, and ejecting the portable unit 22, relative to the main unit 12, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,379, entitled “Alternate Latch and Unlatch and Eject Mechanism Operated by Unidirectional Forces,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. More compact push-to-release mechanisms are also available from numerous commercial sources. Once the portable power unit 22 is partially ejected, such as shown with a similar portable power unit 122 in
It is further envisioned that instead of a push-to-release mechanism, an electromechanical actuator may be provided, which would detect the initial insertion of the portable power unit 22 and that draw the portable power unit 22 fully into the receiver recess 24. A separate button or a sensor that detects a force pressing against the front face 30 would then trigger the electromechanical mechanism to partially “eject” the portable power unit 22. Such electromechanical mechanisms are commonly known, for example, in the field of video cassette recorders (VCRs) and their corresponding video home system (VHS) cassettes. Although the push-to-release mechanism or eject mechanism is primarily described as being at the main electrical power unit 12, such mechanisms may instead be incorporated into the portable power unit 22 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, and instead of a mechanism for partially ejecting the portable power unit, it is further envisioned that a tab or other gripping surface may extend forwardly of the front surface 30, to enable a user to simply grasp and pull the portable power unit 22 out from the receiver recess 24. The portable power unit could then be manually re-seated in the receiver recess 24 by simply inserting the portable power unit and pushing with sufficient force to overcome any frictional resistance and to engage the corresponding contacts.
Once the portable power unit 22 is removed from the receiver recess 24 as shown in
Referring now to
In an alternative arrangement, a portable electrical power unit 222 may be supported at a charging bracket 218 as shown in
Different shapes of portable electrical power units with different arrangements of low voltage DC receptacles are envisioned, such as the portable electrical power unit 322 of
Thus, the electrical power supply of the present invention provides a portable temporary-use power supply that can be stored, used, and recharged at a fixed-location furniture-mounted electrical power unit, such as may be provided along a desk, table, countertop, or other work surface. Upon removal from the main power unit, the portable power supply ceases charging and is available to supply limited power to other devices. The portable power supply can then be re-inserted into the power unit for recharging and also for supplying continuous power to one or more portable electronic devices.
Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
The present claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/679,572, filed Jun. 1, 2018, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62679572 | Jun 2018 | US |