The various aspects and embodiments described herein relate to charging electronic devices, particularly wireless charging racks and systems for simultaneously charging multiple electronic devices.
In industrial settings, a substantial number of electronic devices, especially portable devices such as smartphones, sensors, or data loggers, may be used in various applications, including measuring, detecting, tracking, recording, storing, and communicating data. For example, in the health, medical, pharmaceutical, and life science industries, data loggers are used to collect, store, and communicate data during storage and transportation of payload in a temperature-controlled environment to ensure payload quality. Generally, these portable devices are charged side by side or scattered in a charging environment, thereby taking up considerable space. Further, charging cords, power cords, extension cords, wireless charging stations and/or the like are used in great numbers to allow for simultaneous charging of a high number of devices. This may result in a disorganized charging setting. Even further, when portable devices with wireless charging capabilities are placed on a wireless charger, there is a risk that their inductive coils are misaligned or come out of alignment with the inductive coils of the wireless charging stations, thereby reducing charging speed and efficiency.
As such, there is a need for wireless charging racks and systems for simultaneously charging multiple electronic devices efficiently, effectively, and in a compact and organized fashion.
Wireless charging racks and systems for simultaneously charging multiple electronic devices are disclosed herein. The wireless charging racks and systems may charge the electronic devices via electromagnetic induction. A wireless charging rack may have multiple shelves that are stacked on top of another. Each shelf may have a wireless charger and be spaced from one another to place an electronic device over the wireless charger. The shelves may be supported by one or more pillars. The wireless charging rack may be secured on a cart along with other wireless charging racks to be stored and transported. The wireless chargers may be easily relocated and draw power from outlets disposed on the cart. Electronic devices that have completed charging may be removed from their shelves and stored in a storage container disposed on the cart.
In one aspect, the disclosure is embodied in a wireless charging rack. The wireless charging rack has one or more pillars. The one or more pillars have a base to stand upright. The wireless charging rack further has multiple shelves. Each shelf is attachable to the one or more pillars. Each shelf is also stackable on top of another and distanced from another along the one or more pillars.
These and other embodiments may optionally include one or more of the following features. A bottom shelf of the multiple shelves may be a base of the wireless charging rack and structurally support the one or more pillars. The one or more pillars or a barrier may prevent the multiple electronic devices placed on the multiple wireless chargers from falling off each of the multiple shelves in at least one direction. The multiple wireless chargers may be angled to align induction coils of the multiple electronic devices with induction coils of the multiple wireless chargers to charge the multiple electronic devices and for ease of electronic device installation. The one or more pillars may be a pair of proximal pillars being distanced apart by a first length and a pair of distal pillars being distanced apart by a second length. The first length may be greater than the second length. The pair of proximal pillars may be offset from the pair of distal pillars such that the distal pillars are within a boundary defined by parallel lines each passing through a center of a proximal pillar, the parallel lines being perpendicular to a line passing through the centers of the pair of proximal pillars. The multiple wireless chargers may each have an indicator that provides charging information to a user.
In another aspect, the disclosure is embodied in an inductive wireless charging system. The inductive wireless charging system has a base. The base has one or more openings. The inductive wireless charging system further has one or more pillars. The one or more pillars are insertable into the one or more openings. The inductive wireless charging system further has multiple shelves each attachable to the one or more pillars. Each of the multiple shelves are further stackable on top of another and distanced from another along the one or more pillars. The inductive wireless charging system further has multiple inductive wireless chargers each attachable to one of the multiple shelves and the base.
These and other embodiments may optionally include one or more of the following features. The one or more pillars or a barrier may prevent the multiple electronic devices placed on the multiple inductive wireless charges from falling off each of the multiple shelves and the base in at least one direction. The multiple inductive wireless chargers may be angled to align induction coils of the multiple electronic devices with induction coils of the multiple inductive wireless chargers to charge the multiple electronic devices. The one or more pillars may be a pair of proximal pillars being distanced apart by a first length and a pair of distal pillars being distanced apart by a second length. The first length may be greater than the second length. The pair of proximal pillars may be offset from the pair of distal pillars such that the distal pillars are within a boundary defined by parallel lines each passing through a center of a proximal pillar, the parallel lines being perpendicular to a line passing through the centers of the pair of proximal pillars.
The multiple inductive wireless chargers may each have an indicator that provides charging information to a user. A top surface of the base and top surfaces of the multiple shelves may be identical.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure is embodied in a wireless charging system. The wireless charging system includes one or more pillars. The one or more pillars have a base to stand upright. The wireless charging system further includes multiple shelves each attachable to the one or more pillars. Each of the multiple shelves are further stackable on top of another and distanced from another along the one or more pillars. The wireless charging system further includes multiple wireless chargers each attachable to one of the multiple shelves. The wireless charging system further includes a cart to store and transport the one or more pillars, the multiple shelves, and the multiple wireless chargers.
These and other embodiments may optionally include one or more of the following features. The wireless charging system may further include one or more electrical outlets attachable to the cart to supply power to the multiple wireless chargers. The wireless charging system may further include a container attachable to the cart to store one or more electronic devices of the multiple electronic devices that have completed charging.
A bottom shelf of the multiple shelves may be a base and structurally support the one or more pillars. The cart may include one or more shelves. The base may be removably attachable to the one or more shelves. The one or more pillars or a barrier may prevent the multiple electronic devices placed on the multiple wireless chargers from falling off each of the multiple shelves in at least one direction when the cart is stationary and being transported.
Other apparatus, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. Component parts shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be exaggerated to better illustrate the important features of the present disclosure.
Disclosed herein are wireless charging racks and systems for simultaneously charging multiple electronic devices. The wireless charging racks and systems may charge the electronic devices via electromagnetic induction where an induction coil of an electronic device is aligned with an induction coil of a wireless charger. The wireless charging racks may have a proximal side where an electronic device is placed on the rack from and a distal side opposing the proximal side and where the placed electronic device rests towards. A wireless charging rack may have multiple shelves that are stacked on top of another. The shelves may be supported by one or more pillars. Each shelf may have a wireless charger and be spaced from one another to place an electronic device over the wireless charger. The wireless chargers may be angled down from a proximal direction to a distal direction or, in other words, sloped between a high grade and a low grade where the proximal side is the high grade and the distal side is the low grade. The one or more pillars may be advantageously positioned to prevent an electronic device from falling off one of the shelves or sliding down along the distal direction and falling off of the shelves. The angle of the wireless chargers and the one or more pillars may advantageously align the induction coil of an electronic device with the induction coil of a wireless charger. A user may rest an electronic device against the one or more pillars or the barrier to ensure alignment. Alternatively, if an electronic device is initially placed such that there is misalignment resulting in no charging or interrupted charging, the angle of the wireless charger may eventually facilitate alignment by encouraging sliding down along the distal direction until stopped by the one or more pillars or the barrier. Each wireless charger may advantageously have an indicator that provides charging information (e.g., charging, not charging, charged) to the user.
A wireless charging system may further include a cart in addition to the wireless charging rack. The cart may store and transport multiple wireless charging racks. Each wireless charging rack may be secured onto a shelf of the cart to prevent or mitigate movement of electronic devices that are charging so that charging is not interrupted or stopped. The cart may advantageously include one or more electrical outlets for cable management and reducing cord lengths. The cart may include a container to store electronic devices that have completed charging.
The rack 100 may further have a plurality of shelves 106. Five shelves 106 are shown by example in
The shelves 106 may be stackable on top of another along the pillars 102. When stacked on top another, the shelves 106 may be parallel to each other. The shelves 106 may be distanced from another when stacked. The distance between each shelf 106 may be equal. The distance may allow for at least a portable electronic device 110 (e.g., smartphone, data logger, multimedia device, sensor, battery, etc.) to fit between two shelves 106. In some examples, the electronic device 110 may fit snugly between each shelf 106. In other examples, two shelves 106 may have adequate space between each other to allow for an adult hand or fingers to reach in and place or remove the electronic device 110 on a shelf 106.
The shelves 106 may be made of plastic, metal, wood, and/or the like. The shelves 106 may have gaps 118 and/or recesses to provide for a gripping location to hold, lift, and/or carry the rack 100 as well as conserve material. In some examples, the most bottom shelf 106 may form a base 116 of the rack 100. In such examples, the base 116 may have a horizontally flat surface that supports that the rest of the rack 100 on another horizontally flat surface. The base 104 of the pillars 102 may either contact the horizontally flat surface where the rack 100 is placed on or terminate within the base 116 of the rack 100 without being exposed to the horizontally flat surface. The base 116 may have a top surface 120 that is identical to top surfaces 122 of other shelves 106.
The pillars 102 may be made of plastic, metal, and/or wood. The pillars 102 may have an elongated or tubular shape. The pillars 102 may be cylindrical or a prism with two or more sides. The pillars 102 may have rounded top ends 128. The rounded top ends 128 may mitigate or prevent possibility of injury due to coming in contact with a sharp or pointed end. The round top ends 128 may be caps that are fitted over the pillars 102 or otherwise attachable. The round top ends 128 may have a feature that aids in keeping the round top end 128 static.
The rack 100 may further have a plurality of wireless chargers 112. Each wireless charger may or may not be attachable to a shelf 106. The attachment may be facilitated by conventional fastening techniques such as mating male and female components, adhesives, snap-fitting, bolting, material interference, and screwing. The wireless chargers 112 may use Qi, AirFuel, proprietary near-field magnetic coupling (NFMC), and/or similar wireless charging technologies. Each wireless charger 112 of the rack 100 may use the same wireless charging technology or vary in the wireless charging technology used.
Exterior of the wireless chargers 112 may be made of plastic, fabric, leather, or any other material that does not interfere with wireless power transfer. Each wireless charger 112 may have one or more induction coils that transfers power to one or more induction coils of the electronic device or devices 110. In some examples, multiple electronic devices 110 may be charged on the same wireless charger 112. For example, two electronic devices 110 may be placed crosswise in relation to a wireless charger 112 and charged simultaneously. Otherwise, a single electronic device 110 may be placed lengthwise in relation to a wireless charger 112 to be charged individually by that wireless charger 112. The wireless chargers 112 may be shaped and sized based on the shape and size of the electronic device 110 and/or the desired amount of electronic devices 110 to be charged simultaneously. Shelves 106 may have different shaped and sized wireless chargers 112. For example, the wireless chargers 112 may be rectangular, square, or circular. The wireless chargers 112 may fit within the shelves 106 or extend out of the shelves 106 as shown in
The wireless chargers 112 may have an indicator 114 that provides charging information to a user. The indicator 114 may inform a user that the electronic device 110 is charging, charged, or not charging. In some examples, the indicator 114 may inform a user of the same for multiple electronic devices 110. In some examples, there may be a plurality of indicators 114 each responsible for providing the charging status of a single electronic device 110. The indicator 114 may include a light and/or a display. For example, bulbs each having a different color may indicate each charging state with a unique color. In another example, an LED light may switch colors to indicate each charging state with a unique color. The indicator may be visual as shown in
The wireless chargers 112 and/or the shelves 106 may be angled at a predetermined angle to align induction coils of the electronic devices 110 with induction coils of the wireless chargers 112 and charge the electronic devices 110. In
The shelves 106 may have a notch 124. The notch 124 may coincide with a power inlet 126 of a wireless charger 112. The notch 124 may provide a clear path for a power cord to be inserted into the power inlet 126 without structural interference. The notch 124 may be located on the distal side 103 of the rack 100. More specifically, the notch 124 may interrupt an upper face 125 of a shelf 106 on the distal side 103. The interruption may occur at the middle of the distal side 103.
Exemplary embodiments of the methods/systems have been disclosed in an illustrative style. Accordingly, the terminology employed throughout should be read in a non-limiting manner. Although minor modifications to the teachings herein will occur to those well versed in the art, it shall be understood that what is intended to be circumscribed within the scope of the patent warranted hereon are all such embodiments that reasonably fall within the scope of the advancement to the art hereby contributed, and that that scope shall not be restricted, except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents.