MOVABLE CONTAINER

A movable container including: an outer shell, a handle, and a power supply mechanism. The outer shell is designed to receive a shock. The handle located between the shell and interior of the movable container. The power supply mechanism is embedded in the outer shell, and is arranged to selectively provide an electrical power.

BACKGROUND

Recently, users require more functions for a smart luggage. For example, self-driving, active following or a navigation system. To control the behavior of the smart luggage, a wristband or a smart watch might be adapted. However, charging such device is an issue for the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one of the objectives of the present disclosure is to provide a movable container to solve the aforementioned problems.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure discloses a movable container, including: an outer shell, a handle, a power supply mechanism. The outer shell is designed to receive a shock. The handle located between the shell and interior of the movable container. The power supply mechanism is embedded in the outer shell, and is arranged to selectively provide an electrical power.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure discloses a movable container, including: a shell and an electric terminal. The shell substantially defines a first contour of the movable container, and provides a space for a detachable battery being attached to the shell externally without laying the movable container open. The electrical terminal engages the detachable power supply.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating a power supply mechanism110of a movable container10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The power supply mechanism110includes a housing200embedded in a top surface120of the movable container10. The housing200includes a recess REC for receiving a to-be-charged device. The power supply mechanism110further includes a cover300, a charging coil400, and a control device500. The cover300is partly jointed with the recess REC. The charging coil receives a current and provides electrical power wirelessly accordingly to perform wireless charging upon the to-be-charged device. The control device500is arranged to control the power supply mechanism110and provides electrical power when a supply condition is fit. In this embodiment, the control device500includes a buckle510and a switch520, wherein the buckle510is attached to the cover300, and the switch520is embedded in an opening on the housing200and electrically connected to the charging coil400. With such configurations, when the cover300is closed, the buckle510activates the switch520, and the charging coil400receives current and provides the electrical power wirelessly.

Alternatively, the control device500may include another switch, e.g., a button switch600. The button switch600is embedded in the housing200. When a user activates the button switch600by pressing, the charging coil400receives current and provides the electrical power wirelessly. The to-be-charged device may be a wristband, a smart watch, or a smart phone, and such devices are associated with the movable container10for controlling the movable container10. When the to-be-charged device is being charged, such device is placed in the recess REC and receives the electrical power from the charging coil400. The power supply mechanism110may further include a light source700such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The charging coil400may provide electrical power to illuminate the light source700. In other embodiments, the light source700and the button switch600may be integrated together. In other words, when a user activates the button switch600, the button switch600illuminates.

FIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bare diagrams illustrating the charging coil400according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG. 2A, the charging coil400is attached to the bottom of the recess REC. InFIG. 2B, the charging coil400is attached to the bottom surface of the cover300. In the embodiments ofFIGS. 2A and 2B, the charging coil400may receive the current via a wire coming through the housing200and the wire is connected to a power supply source (e.g., a detachable battery) external to the recess REC.FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating the movable container10while charging an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device (e.g., the wristband or the smart watch mentioned above) is placed in the recess REC with the cover300being closed and receives the electrical power provided by the charging coil400. The light source700illuminates to indicate that the electronic device is being charged. Preferably, at least a part (i.e., a part or all of it) of the cover300may be made of a transparent material. With such configurations, users can check the charging status of the electronic device or messages displayed on the screen through the transparent cover300.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an outer shell100of the movable container10. A surface SUR of the outer shell100includes a first part P1and a second part P2. As shown inFIG. 4, a height deviation exists between the first part P1and the second part P2on the x direction. In other words, the second part P2can be seen as a recess of the outer shell100.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating a power supply mechanism130of the movable container10according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The movable container10includes a handle HD having a top HD_T and a rod HD_R. The rod HD_R is embedded in a handle tube TB. The handle tube TB is located between the first part P1and the second part P2of the surface SUR of the outer shell10. In this embodiment, the handle HD is stretchable. When the handle HD is retrieved from stretch, the rod HD_R is fully embedded in the tube TB while the top HD_T is below or level with the top surface of the outer shell100and above a handle-top receiving structure S1of the outer shell100. The handle-top receiving structure S1can be seen as a part of the part P1. As shown inFIG. 5, the handle tube TB preferably equally divides the compartment surrounded by the first part P1and the second part P2, and two sub-compartments SUB1and SUB2are formed adjacent to the tube TB. The power supply mechanism130includes an inner part INN and an outer part OUT. The inner part INN is attached to the surface SUR of the outer shell100via an attachment mechanism. In this embodiment, the attachment mechanism includes an adhesive. In other words, the inner part INN is glued to the outer shell100(in particular, to the second part P2of the surface SUR and the handle tube TB), and the power supply mechanism130is accordingly embedded in the outer shell100of the movable container10. In other words, the power supply mechanism130covers the tube TB and the sub-compartments SUB1and SUB2.

The outer shell100and the power supply mechanism130are made of different materials. The power supply mechanism130is made by a material whose hardness is relatively lower than the material used to make the outer shell100. With such configurations, when the movable container10is suffered from collision, the power supply mechanism130mitigates the shock to prevent stuff stored inside the power supply mechanism130from being damaged.

FIG. 6is a front view diagram illustrating the charging coil800in the inner part INN of the power supply mechanism130according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 6, inside the inner part INN, two storage bags B1and B2are sewn on the inner part INN and located in the sub-compartments SUB1and SUB2respectively for receiving stuff. At least a part (i.e., a part or all of it) of each storage bag is by an elastic band for fixing stuff stored therein to prevent the stored stuff from randomly moving. In this embodiment, a charging coil800is sewn in the inner part INN and covered by a fabric, and also attached to the second part P2. The charging coil800receives electric current from a power supply source (e.g., a detachable battery) to provide electrical power wirelessly. For example, the charging coil800is behind the bag B2as shown inFIG. 2. The to-be-charged device may be received by the bag B2and the power supply source (e.g., a detachable battery) is received by the bag B1, and the detachable battery electrically connects to the charging coil800via a wire. With such configurations, the charging coil800thus provides the electrical power to charge the to-be-charged device wirelessly.

However, the charging coil800is not limited to be sewn in the inner part INN and to be attached to the second part P2.FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating the charging coil800in the outer part OUT of the power supply mechanism130according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 7, the charging coil800is sewn in the outer part OUT and covered by a fabric FBC. For example, the charging coil800is sewn in a location corresponding to the bag B2. The to-be-charged device may be received by the bag B2and the power supply source (e.g., a detachable battery) is received by the bag B1, and the detachable battery electrically connects to the charging coil800via a wire. With such configurations, the charging coil800thus provides electrical power to charge the to-be-charged device wirelessly. In addition, the outer part OUT is attached to the first part P1of the surface SUR via a zipper (not shown in figures). However, this should not be a limitation of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, a buckle, a latch or a magnet is adapted for the outer part OUT being attached to the first part P1.

For example, the power supply mechanism130includes a control device including a buckle (e.g., the buckle501) and a switch (e.g., the switch502), wherein the buckle501is attached to the outer part OUT and the switch is embedded in the outer shell100(e.g., the handle-receiving structure S1). When the outer part OUT closes up the sub-compartments SUB1and SUB2, the buckle on the outer part OUT activates the switch embedded in the outer shell100, and the charging coil800thus provides the electrical power. For another example, the power supply mechanism130includes a control device including a magnet and a switch. The magnet is embedded in the outer part OUT and the switch is embedded in the outer shell100. When the outer part OUT closes up the sub-compartments SUB1and SUB2, the switch is activated by the magnet, and the charging coil800thus provides the electrical power. However, these examples are only for illustrative purpose, it is not a limitation of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the charging coil800may be activated to provide the electrical power by other methods.

Refer back toFIG. 5, a button switch900is embedded in the outer shell100. When a user activates the button switch900by pressing, the charging coil800receives current and provides the electrical power wirelessly to charge the to-be-charged device which is placed in the inner part INN (in particular, the bag B1or B2). A light source1000such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) may be embedded in the outer shell100. The charging coil800may provide the electrical power to illuminate the light source1000. In other embodiments, the light source1000and the button switch900may be implemented together. In other words, when a user activates the button switch900, the button switch900illuminates. In addition, the locations of the button switch900and the light source1000are not limited by the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the button switch900and the light source1000are located on the rod HD_R of the handle HD.

FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating the movable container10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 8, a detachable battery DB is placed in one of bags (e.g., the bag B1) on the inner part INN for providing current. The to-be-charged device such as an electronic device ED is placed in either the other bag (i.e., the bag B2) on the inner part INN or the recess REC. For example, the electronic device ED is placed in the bag B2as shown inFIG. 8. When the outer part OUT closes up the second part P2, the detachable battery DB cannot be seen from outside. In other words, the detachable battery is placed in the outer shell without protruding any external corner of the shell.

The movable container10includes a power distribution board PDB arranged to transfer current provided by the detachable battery DB to components installed within the movable container10. In other embodiments, the power distribution board PDB can not only transfer the current provided by the detachable battery DB, but actively adjust the current provided to the components. In addition, the power distribution board PDB is embedded in the outer shell100and cannot be seen from outside. It should be noted that, the location of the power distribution board PDB is not limited by the present disclosure. The power distribution board PDB is electrically connected to the detachable battery DB via a wire.

The movable container10further includes a charge level sensor CLS electrically connected to the detachable battery DB. The charge level sensor CLS is arranged to monitor the charge level of the detachable battery DB and transmit an indicator signal to the power distribution board PDB. For example, when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than a first predetermined value, the charge level sensor CLS transmits the indicator signal to inform the power distribution board PDB, and the power distribution board PDB stops transferring the current to the charging coil400or800accordingly. In other words, the movable container10terminates the wireless charging function when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the first predetermined value.

It should be noted that, the current is not limited to be transferred to the charging coil400or800via the power distribution board PDB. In other embodiments, the charging coil400or800is electrically connected to the detachable battery DB via a wire without the power distribution board PDB.

Referring toFIG. 8again, the movable container10further includes motor M1to M4associated with wheels W1to W4. The motors M1to M4may be attached to the outer shell100by latch, buckle, or magnet. This is not a limitation of the present disclosure. The power distribution board PDB transfers the current to motors M1to M4so that motors M1to M4can provide a momentum to the movable container10by driving wheels W1to W4. It should be noted that the power distribution board PDB may actively adjust the current planned to be transferred to each motor. By reducing the current being transferred to motors associated with inner wheels and increasing the current being transferred to motors associated with outer wheels, the movable container10is able to make rotation movement. In this embodiment, when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than a second predetermined value, the charge level sensor CLS transmits the indicator signal to inform the power distribution board PDB, and the power distribution board PDB stops transferring the current to the motors M1to M4accordingly. In other words, the movable container10terminates the self-driving function when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the second predetermined value. In this embodiment, the second predetermined value is lower than the first predetermined value. However, this is a limitation of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 8again, the movable container10further includes a sensing mechanism SSN. The sensing mechanism SSN is electrically connected to the power distribution board PDB, and arranged to sense a distance feature and/or a recognition feature in accordance with the momentum provided by the motors M1to M4. Specifically, the sensing mechanism PDB receives current from the detachable battery DB via the power distribution board PDB. In this embodiment, the sensing mechanism SSN locates on a side of the movable container10and includes an image sensor and a proximity sensor. For example, the image sensor is arranged to sense the distance feature and/or a recognition feature for people-following in accordance with the momentum provided by motors M1to M4. The proximity sensor is arranged to avoid the movable container10colliding any obstacle. With such configurations, the movable container10may follow a target in accordance with the distance feature and the recognition feature. In this embodiment, when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the second predetermined value, the charge level sensor CLS transmits the indicator signal to inform the power distribution board PDB, and the power distribution board PDB stops transferring the current to the sensing mechanism SSN accordingly. In other words, the movable container10terminates the sensing function when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the second predetermined value.

It should be noted that, the locations of the sensing mechanism SSN are not limited to be on the side of the movable container10. In addition, the current is not limited to be transferred to sensing mechanism SSN via the power distribution board PDB. In other embodiments, the sensing mechanism SSN is electrically connected to the detachable battery DB via a wire without the power distribution board PDB.

Referring toFIG. 8again, the movable container10further includes a navigation mechanism NAV. The navigation mechanism NAV is electrically connected to the power distribution board PDB, wherein the navigation mechanism NAV is arranged to provide a location information of the movable container10. In this embodiment, the navigation mechanism NAV is embedded in the outer shell100. However, the location of the navigation mechanism NAV is not limited by the present disclosure. The navigation mechanism NAV may include a global positioning system (GPS) or an indoor positioning system such like a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), a visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM), an indoor positioning system, a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS) or iBeacon to provide the location information of the movable container10. In this embodiment, when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the second predetermined value, the charge level sensor CLS transmits the indicator signal to inform the power distribution board PDB, and the power distribution board PDB stops transferring the current to the navigation mechanism NAV accordingly. In other words, the movable container10terminates the navigation function when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the second predetermined value.

It should be noted that, the current is not limited to be transferred to the navigation mechanism NAV via the power distribution board PDB. In other embodiments, the navigation mechanism NAV is electrically connected to the detachable battery DB via a wire without the power distribution board PDB.

Referring toFIG. 8again, the movable container10further includes a lock LCK. The lock LCK is electrically connected to the power distribution board PDB, wherein the lock LCK is arranged to change a lock status of the movable container10. In this embodiment, when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than a third predetermined value, the charge level sensor CLS transmits the indicator signal to inform the power distribution board PDB, and the power distribution board PDB stops transferring the current to other elements (e.g., the sensing mechanism SSN, the charging coil400or800, the navigation mechanism NAV, or the motors M1to M4) but only transferring the current to the lock LCK. In other words, the movable container10remains the electronic lock function exclusively when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is lower than the third predetermined value. In this embodiment, the third predetermined value is lower than or equal to the second predetermined value. However, this is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that, the current is not limited to be transferred to the lock LCK via the power distribution board PDB. In other embodiments, the lock LCK is electrically connected to the detachable battery DB via a wire without the power distribution board PDB. In one embodiment, users of the movable container10may set up those predetermined values or the priority of abovementioned functions receiving current from the detachable battery DB through an application on a smart phone associated with the movable container10. For example, the user may decide that the sensing mechanism SSN is more important than the navigation mechanism NAV, and set up the sensing mechanism SSN with a higher priority of receiving current from the detachable battery DB than that of navigation mechanism NAV via the application on the smart phone. With such configurations, when the charge level of the detachable battery DB is getting lower, the movable container10may terminate the navigation function before the sensing mechanism SSN.

Briefly summarized, the present disclosure proposes a movable container including a power supply mechanism for supplying electrical power. With the power supply mechanism embedded in the outer shell of the movable container, the movable container is able to charge an electronic device, and the electronic device can be easily taken out or placed without laying the movable container open. In the embodiments (e.g., the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 to 3) that the power supply mechanism is embedded on the top surface of the outer shell, the to-be-charged device can be easily charged when the cover closes up the recess and activates the switch. In the embodiments (e.g., the embodiments ofFIGS. 4 to 8) that the power supply mechanism is made by a different material than the outer shell, the power supply mechanism can prevent from being deformed when the outer shell suffered from collision, and the to-be-charged device can still be tightly attached to the charging coil800with the help of the bag or the elastic band. In addition, the movable container monitors the charge level of the battery to determine whether to terminate the function, and is able to arrange the priority of the functions of receiving current form the detachable battery to make sure the most important functions can stay active.