Abstract:
Apparatus for an extension system that enables connecting a charger or power source to an electrical device that is mounted at a location not readily accessible without requiring an assistive device. The system includes an extension device and an extension cable. The extension device includes a pole with a holder. The extension cable has a cable connector that is received by the holder. The holder includes a window allowing an operator to see an indicator associated with the electrical device. The cable connector is one half of a connector assembly. The other half of the connector assembly is connected to the electrical device. The two connectors have a magnetically attraction that pulls the connector halves together to form an electrical connection. The connector assembly disengages upon application of a tugging or pulling force greater than that attributed to the weight of the extension cable dangling from the rechargeable device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention pertains to battery charging systems. More particularly, this invention pertains to a system that allows connecting a battery charger to an elevated battery operated device, such as a ceiling mounted light with rechargeable batteries. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Many electrical and electronic devices thrive on batteries, and, in particular, rechargeable batteries. For portable devices, rechargeable batteries are convenient because they are easily recharged by manually plugging in a charging cable as the device is held in a hand. But it is not as convenient to use rechargeable batteries for electrical and electronic devices that are not portable and/or not easily accessed. One such device is a light, such as used for illuminating fine art, that is typically mounted on a ceiling or high on a wall. Unless special wiring is routed to such a light, a ladder must be used to access the light to replace or recharge the batteries. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a charger extension system is provided. The charger extension system includes an extension device and an extension cable that is releasably supported by the extension device. The extension device includes a pole with a cable holder. The extension cable includes a first connector that is one-half of a zero or near zero insertion force connector assembly. The other half of the zero insertion force connector assembly is on a rechargeable device that is mounted at a location that is inaccessible without using an assistive device, such as a stepstool or ladder. In this way the problem of how to connect a charger to a rechargeable device that is mounted at a location out of reach of person is solved. 
         [0007]    The cable holder relies on gravity to support the extension cable. The cable holder includes a viewing window through which the rechargeable device is visible, for example, an indicator on the rechargeable device is visible while attempting to connect the charging cable to the rechargeable device. The cable holder is attached to an end of the pole of the extension device. In one embodiment the pole is a long, slender rod. In another embodiment the pole is extendable, such as by telescoping multiple members. 
         [0008]    The connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a conductor that is a central prong that is spring loaded. The prong is surrounded by another conductor. In one embodiment the second conductor is a magnet. In another embodiment, a magnet is coaxial with said prong and second conductor. The second connector has a recess with a conductor. The recess is surrounded by another conductor. A magnet is coaxial with the recess and second conductor. Magnetic attraction between the two magnets attracts the first connector to the second connector whereby the prong engages the recess and the two second conductors mate, thereby making an electrical connection between the first and second connectors. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the first connector is part of the extension cable and the second connector is part of the rechargeable device. In another embodiment, the first connector is part of the rechargeable device and the second connector is part of the extension cable. In yet other embodiments, the first connector and/or the second connector are adapters having an end configured to engage a conventional connector with the first connector and/or second connector exposed to mate with the other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above-mentioned features will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description read together with the drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a charger extension system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable holder. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the cable holder of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable end with a connector. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a charging connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Apparatus for a charger or power extension system  100  is disclosed. The extension system  100  allows a battery charger or power supply  118  to be readily connected to a rechargeable device  102  mounted out of arms-reach. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the extension system  100  as it would be used to connect a charging or extension cable  110  to a rechargeable device  102  mounted on a ceiling  122  or elevated surface. The rechargeable device  102  is a battery operated luminaire in which the batteries are rechargeable. In the illustrated embodiment the rechargeable device  102  includes a power indicator  132  such as an LED or other illuminator that indicates when external power is applied to the device  102 . In many cases the indicator  132  provides information on the charging status of the rechargeable device  102 . For example, the indicator  132  is dark when the device  102  is operating normally, blinks when the rechargeable device  102  requires charging, glows amber or red while charging, and glows green when the device  102  is fully charged. 
         [0018]    The illustrated luminaire  102  is mounted on a ceiling  122  and is directed toward an object  126 , such as a picture or painting mounted on a wall  124 , as illustrated, or a sculpture or other piece of fine art on the floor or a pedestal. In other embodiments the rechargeable device  102  is a security sensor, such as a motion detector, or a smoke or fire alarm. The rechargeable device  102  is mounted at a height that is not easily reached without assistance, such as by using a stepstool or a ladder. 
         [0019]    The illustrated embodiment of the charger extension system  100  includes an extension device  104  and an extension cable  110 . The extension device  104  includes a pole  134  and a cable holder  138 . The pole  134  is configured with a handle on one end and the cable holder  138  at the opposite end. In the illustrated embodiment the pole  134  is extendable by telescoping sections. In this way the reach of a person holding the pole  134  is extended so that the end with the cable holder  138  reaches the rechargeable device  102  that is mounted on a ceiling  122  or is otherwise out of reach of the person. The cable holder  138  has an opening  136  through which a power light  132  and or connector  106  is visible when the cable holder  138  is positioned next to the rechargeable device  102 . In this way the person is able to guide the extension device  104  and verify that a power connection to the rechargeable device  102  has been made successfully. 
         [0020]    In the illustrated embodiment the cable holder  138  is attached to the end of the pole  134  with an orientation such that the cable connector  108  is readily connected to a device  102  that is overhead, such as on a ceiling  122 . In another embodiment the cable holder  138  is rotated or otherwise attached to the end of the pole  134  with an orientation such that the cable connector  108  is readily connected to a device  102  that is horizontally out of reach of the person. For example, the rechargeable device  102  is mounted to a wall  124  and the device  102  is only accessible from a walkway adjacent the device  102 . 
         [0021]    The extension cable  110  includes a first connector  108  at one end of a cable  112 . In the illustrated embodiment another connector  114  at the other end of the cable  112  connects to a charging cable  116  extending from a battery charger  118 . The battery charger  118  plugs into a wall receptacle  128  and provides power intended to charge the rechargeable device  102 . In another embodiment the cable  112  is attached directly to the battery charger  118 . 
         [0022]    The first connector  108  of the extension cable  110  is one-half of a connector assembly. The other half of the connector assembly is the charging connector  106  on the rechargeable device  102 . The connector assembly  108 ,  106  has two features that enable the charger extension system  100 . The first feature is that the connector assembly  108 ,  106  requires a zero or a low-insertion force for the first connector  108  to mate with the second connector  106 . Conventional connectors require the connector assembly halves to be pushed together, which requires overcoming the friction that also secures the halves together. A low-insertion force connector assembly requires a minimal force for the two connectors  108 ,  106  to mate. A zero insertion force connector assembly requires no positive force to mate the two connectors  108 ,  106 . A zero insertion force connector assembly includes connectors  108 ,  106  that are pulled together or attracted to each other such that an electrical connection is formed without an outside force being applied to push the two connectors  108 ,  106  together to form an electrical connection. In one embodiment, the charger extension system  100  has a connector assembly  108 ,  106  that does not require a pushing force to mate the connector halves  108 ,  106 . Instead, a magnetic force pulls the two connectors together  108 ,  106  with enough pulling force to align the connectors  108 ,  106  and hold them together in electrical connection. 
         [0023]    The second feature is that the connector assembly  108 ,  106  is releasable by a slight tugging or pulling force in a direction normal to the axis of the connector assembly  108 ,  106 , with the required separating force being greater than the force exerted through gravity on the extension cable  110 . That is, the weight of the extension cable  110  dangling from the charger connector  106  is not sufficient to disengage the first connector  108  from the charging connector  106 . A slight tug on the cable  110  hanging at a right angle from the first connector  108 , however, is sufficient to disengage the first connector  108  from the second connector  106 . The force required to separate the first connector  108  from the second connector  106  is less than the force required to separate conventional connectors that rely upon friction to maintain connection. 
         [0024]    The first connector  108  of the extension cable  110  rests on the cable holder  138  at one end of the extension device  104 . The first connector  108  is moved by a person holding the extension device  104 . The first connector  108  is moved along a path  120  to the charging connector  106  on the rechargeable device  102 . The window  136  in the cable holder  138  permits the person moving the extension device  104  to see the indictor  132  on the rechargeable device  102  as the cable holder  138  is moved next to the charging connector  106 . Observing the indicator  132  through the window  136  allows the person to determine if the first connector  108  is aligned and connected with the charging connector  106 . In this way the first connector  108  is mated with the charging connector  106  when the person is not able to reach the rechargeable device  102  without the assistance of a stepstool or ladder. After the first connector  108  is mated with the charging connector  106 , the extension device  104  is lowered slightly to disengage the first connector  108  from the extension device  104 . The extension cable  110  dangles from the rechargeable device  102  while being attached by way of the mated connectors  108 ,  106 . When the indicator  132  shows that the rechargeable device  102  is fully charged or when the person determines that sufficient time has elapsed, the dangling cable  110  is pulled or tugged away from the rechargeable device  102 , thereby causing the first connector  108  to disengage from the charging connector  106  and fall away from the rechargeable device  102 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable holder  138 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the cable holder  138  of  FIG. 2 . The cable holder  138  includes a body  206  and a receiver  204 . In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the body  206  is attached to the pole  134  and the other end of the body  206  has the receiver  204 . 
         [0026]    The body  206  of the cable holder  138  has members  216  that define a window  136 . In the illustrated embodiment, the body  206  has a configuration in which the window  136  is enclosed and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pole  134 . In other embodiments the body  206  has a configuration where the window  136  is open on one or more sides with the members  216  having either a partial polygonal shape or an L-shape configuration. In any case, the window  136  allows a viewport for a person operating the charger extension system  100  to see a portion of the rechargeable device  102  as the connectors  108 ,  106  are being mated. 
         [0027]    In yet other embodiments, the receiver  204  is attached directly to the pole  134 , that is, the cable holder  138  does not include the body  206 , or the cable holder  138  does not have a window  136 . Such embodiments are useful for the case where the rechargeable device  102  is out of reach horizontally and the indictor  132  is not blocked by the extension device  104  when the connector  108  is being connected to the rechargeable device  102 . In such a case the window  136  is not necessary to ensure engagement of the connectors  108 ,  106  because the indicator  132  is visible during engagement and not blocked by the extension device  104 . 
         [0028]    The receiver  204  includes a pair of sidewalls  224 , a ledge  214 , and a channel  208 . The configuration of the receiver  204  is such that the first connector  108  of the extension cable  110  fits between the sidewalls  224  with the ledge  214  supporting the bottom of the connector  108 , and the channel  208  receiving the cable  112  extending from the connector  108 . The first connector  108  loosely fits into the receiver  208  and is held in place by gravity with the weight of the extension cable  110  supported by the ledge  214 . 
         [0029]    The receiver  204  receives the connector  108  in the longitudinal direction  202 -L and in the transverse direction  202 -T that is perpendicular to the plane of the cable holder body  206 . The connector  108  is insertable and releasable at any angle between those two directions  202 -L,  202 -T. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable  112  with the first connector  108 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an adaptor that is a charging connector  106 -A. Together, the illustrated first connector  108  and the illustrated charging connector  106 -A define one embodiment of a connector assembly  108 ,  106 -A. The adapter  106 -A includes a first end, or connector  106 - 1 , and an opposite, second end, or connector  106 - 2 . The adapter  106 -A is configured for the first connector  106 - 1  to mate with the first connector  108  and the second connector  106 - 2  to mate with a conventional connector, such as a barrel connector. In this way, the adapter  106 -A is the connector that mates with the first connector  108 . 
         [0031]    The first connector  108  includes a connector body  404  that includes a pair of sidewalls  402 . The connector body  404  houses and supports a first conductor  406  and a second conductor  408 . The first conductor  406  is spring-loaded. The second conductor  408  is also a magnet  408 . The sidewalls  402  are not parallel. The sidewalls  402  have a configuration that complements the sidewalls  224  of the receiver  204 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connector sidewalls  402  have a partial V-shape that corresponds to the angled receiver sidewalls  224  that spread out as they extend from the body  206 . The connector sidewalls  402  include opposing sides of the strain-relief  410 . The cable  112  extends away from the strain-relief  410  and the connector  108 . The bottom of the strain-relief  410  is sized and configured to rest on the ledge  214  of the receiver  204 . The cable  112  extends at right angles or normal to the axis of the connector  108  defined by the first conductor  406 . 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, the conductors  406 ,  408  are the exposed part of an adapter that engages a conventional connector in said connector body  404 . Such an embodiment is the mirror-image of the second connector  106 -A shown in  FIG. 5 . In this way, the adapter converts a conventional connector into the first connector  108 , which is then suitable for connection to the second connector  106 ,  106 -A. 
         [0033]    The illustrated embodiment of the charger connector, or adapter,  106 -A includes a magnet  508 , a first conductor  502 , a second conductor  504 , and a barrel  506 . The magnet  508  and first and second conductors  502 ,  504  form the first connector  106 - 1  of the adapter  106 -A. The first conductor  502  is a ring configured to mate with the second conductor  408  of the first connector  108 . The second conductor  504  is a recessed dimple configured to receive the prong-like conductor  406  of the first connector  108 . The magnet  508  interacts with the magnet  408  to pull the first connector  108  toward the adapter  106 -A. In one embodiment, the magnet  508  has a donut or ring shape that fits over the barrel  506  and butts against the first conductor  502 . In such an embodiment, the magnet  508  is sandwiched between the first conductor  502  and the device  102 . 
         [0034]    The barrel  506  is part of the second connector  106 - 2  of the adapter  106 -A. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrel  506  is configured to be inserted into a conventional barrel-style power connector. In this way the charger connector  106 -A converts a rechargeable device  102  with a conventional charging connector into a rechargeable device  102  with a charging connector  106  suitable for use with the charger extension system  100 . In another embodiment the first connector end  106 - 2  of the adapter  106 -A is hardwired into the battery circuit of the rechargeable device  102 . In such an embodiment, the barrel  506  is not needed because there is no corresponding conventional connector for the barrel  506  to mate with. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, the first conductor  406  protrudes from the charging connector  106 -A and the recess with the second conductor  504  is on the first connector. That is, the structure of the two connectors  108 ,  106  is swapped such that the exposed, first conductor  406  is associated with the device  102 , not the cable  110 . 
         [0036]    The illustrated connector assembly  108 ,  106 -A relies upon magnetic force to engage and secure the connectors  108 ,  106 -A. In one embodiment, the first connector  108  has a first magnet  408  and the charging connector  106 -A has a second magnet  508 . The two magnets  408 ,  508  are polarized such that they attract each other when the two connectors  108 ,  106 -A are brought together. The magnetic attraction between the two magnets  408 ,  508  aligns the conductors of each connector  108 ,  106 -A so that an electrical connection is made. In the illustrated embodiment, the two magnets  408 ,  508  are rings that are concentric with the first conductor  406  and the second conductor  504 , respectively. The ring-shaped magnets  408 ,  508  ensure that the first conductor  406  is aligned with the second conductor  504  as the magnets  408 ,  508  pull the first and second connectors together. In other embodiments, only one of the first connector  108  or the charger connector  106 -A includes the magnet  408 ,  508  and the other one of the first connector  108  or the charger connector  106 -A has a component that is attracted by the magnet  408 ,  508 . 
         [0037]    The illustrated embodiment of the connector assembly  108 ,  106 -A relies on magnetic attraction to achieve the zero or minimal insertion force and disengagement feature. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of connector assemblies that require no or minimal insertion force for engagement can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0038]    The charger extension system  100  includes various functions. The function of mating connectors  108 ,  106 ,  106 - 1  with low-insertion force is implemented, in various embodiments, by the first connector  108  and the charging connector  106 ,  106 - 1 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which includes a prong-type connector  406  engaging a connector  504  with a recess, and the two connectors  108 ,  106 ,  106 - 1  being pulled together by magnetic attraction. 
         [0039]    The function of elevating a first connector  108  to engage a remote connector  106 ,  106 - 1  is implemented, in one embodiment, by the extension device  104  and an extension cable  110 . 
         [0040]    From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a charger or power extension system  100  has been provided. The extension system  100  includes an extension device  104  and an extension cable  110 . The extension device  104  includes a pole  134  and a cable holder  138  for the extension cable  110 . The extension cable  110  includes a connector  108  that requires a zero or low-insertion force to mate with a connector on the device  102  to be powered through the extension cable  110 . In one embodiment, a charging connector  106 -A is an adapter with one end configured to mate with an existing, convention power input connector on the device  102  and the other end configured to mate with the connector  108  connected to the extension cable  110 . 
         [0041]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.