Electrical charging devices with resilient actuation

Electrical charging devices with resilient actuation are provided herein. An example apparatus includes a receiver body having a sidewall of the receiver body, wherein a lateral portion of the sidewall of the receiver body has a pass-through slot, and a lower support plate extending forwardly from the sidewall of the receiver body; an electronics assembly including a housing that receives charging circuitry, a bolt lever extending from a sidewall of the housing, the bolt lever extending through the pass-through slot of the receiver body, and an electrical conductor extending from a front of the housing, the electrical conductor in electrical communication with the charging circuitry; and a stabilizer that is hingedly coupled to the housing, the stabilizer pivoting between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration when the bolt lever moves from a rearward position to a forward position.

FIELD

The present technology pertains to devices for electronic charging, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to electronic charging stations that couple with a wall outlet, as well as receive and retain an electronic device such as a Smartphone, tablet, laptop, and so forth, during charging. These devices comprise stabilizers having various shapes and configurations.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus, including: (i) a receiver body comprising: (a) a sidewall of the receiver body, wherein a lateral portion of the sidewall of the receiver body comprises a pass-through slot; and (b) a lower support plate extending forwardly from the sidewall of the receiver body; (ii) an electronics assembly comprising: (a) a housing that receives charging circuitry; (b) a bolt lever extending from a sidewall of the housing, the bolt lever extending through the pass-through slot of the receiver body; and (c) an electrical conductor extending from a front of the housing, the electrical conductor in electrical communication with the charging circuitry; and (iii) a stabilizer that is hingedly coupled to the housing, the stabilizer pivoting between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration when the bolt lever moves from a rearward position to a forward position.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus, including (i) a receiver body comprising: (a) a sidewall of the receiver body, wherein a lateral portion of the sidewall of the receiver body comprises a pass-through slot; (b) a lower support plate extending forwardly from the sidewall of the receiver body, the lower support plate comprising a support plate sidewall having a notch; and (c) a fence extending perpendicularly from an end of the lower support plate; (ii) an electronics assembly comprising: (a) a housing that receives charging circuitry; (b) a bolt lever extending from a sidewall of the housing, the bolt lever extending through the pass-through slot of the receiver body, and the bolt lever dropping into the notch of the support plate sidewall when the bolt lever is moved to a forward position; and (c) an electrical conductor extending from a front of the housing, the electrical conductor in electrical communication with the charging circuitry; (iii) a stabilizer that is hingedly coupled to the housing, the stabilizer pivoting between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration when the bolt lever moves from a rearward position to a forward position; and (iv) means for resiliently transitioning the electronics assembly into a stored position when the bolt lever is removed from the notch of the support plate sidewall.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus, including: (i) a receiver body comprising: (a) a sidewall of the receiver body, wherein a lateral portion of the sidewall comprises a pass-through slot; (b) a lower support plate extending forwardly from the sidewall of the receiver body, the lower support plate comprising a support plate sidewall having a notch; and (c) a fence extending perpendicularly from an end of the lower support plate; (ii) an electronics assembly comprising: (a) a housing that receives charging circuitry; (b) a bolt lever extending from a sidewall of the housing, the bolt lever extending through the pass-through slot of the receiver body, and the bolt lever dropping into the notch of the support plate sidewall when the bolt lever is moved to a forward position; and (c) an electrical conductor extending from a front of the housing, the electrical conductor in electrical communication with the charging circuitry; and (iii) means for resiliently transitioning the electronics assembly into a stored position when the bolt lever is removed from the notch of the support plate sidewall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as necessarily being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys the concepts of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Also, features described with respect to certain example embodiments may be combined in and/or with various other example embodiments. Different aspects and/or elements of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, may be combined in a similar manner. Further, at least some example embodiments may individually and/or collectively be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over and/or otherwise modify their application. Additionally, a number of steps may be required before, after, and/or concurrently with example embodiments, as disclosed herein. Note that any and/or all methods and/or processes, at least as disclosed herein, can be at least partially performed via at least one entity, at least as described herein, in any manner, irrespective of the at least one entity have any relationship to the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Generally described, the present technology involves devices that are used to charge electronic devices. Example types of electronic devices that can be charged using the present technology include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, Smartphones, PDAs, tablets, phablets, laptops, or any other mobile electronic device that requires recharging through an electrical interface or charging port.

Turning now toFIGS. 1-3, an example charging apparatus100is illustrated. The apparatus100generally comprises a receiver body102and an electronics assembly104. An electronic device106disposable on an upper surface of the electronics assembly104and electrically coupled to the electronics assembly104for charging.

In general, the receiver body102comprises a sidewall108that surrounds three sides of a lower surface110. A lateral portion112of the sidewall108comprises a pass-through slot or track114that divides an arcuate groove116that extends along the length of the lateral portion112.

Although not shown, an upper surface can be used to enclose the upper portion of the receiver body102. The rear portion of the sidewall108can comprise an aperture that allows a charging cord to extend therethrough. The charging cord is coupled with the electronics assembly104and can plug into a charging interface of the electronic device106. The charging cable is an example means for electrically coupling the charging circuitry with the electronic device106. This means can comprise a cable, wire, inductor, and so forth.

In one or more embodiments, the receiver body102further comprises a lower support plate118that extends from the lower surface110of the receiver body102. In various embodiments, the lower support plate118has a narrower width than the width of the lower surface110of the receiver body102due to the presence of spaces120and122that allow for armatures of a stabilizer to pivot.

In various embodiments, the electronics assembly104comprises a housing124that encloses a charging circuitry.

In one embodiment, the charging circuitry can comprise a printed circuit board with various permutations of electrical components. In general, the charging circuitry is configured to transform the AC power waveform received from an outlet into DC power that is appropriate for charging the electronic device106.

In some embodiments, the charging circuitry can include combinations of electrolytic capacitors, MOSFET switching transistors, flyback transformers, a controller integrated circuit, capacitors, diodes, R-C snubber circuits, EMI (electromagnetic interference) circuits, inductors, control chips, Schottky diodes, Tantalum filter capacitors, as well as any combinations thereof, in order to provide the desired transformation of AC to DC functions.

In some embodiments, the charging circuitry is an advanced flyback switching power supply that receives the AC voltage in ranges of 100 to 240 volts, and produces approximately five watts of smooth voltage power. AC line power is converted to high voltage DC current using a diode bridge. The DC power is switched off and on by a transistor controlled by a power supply controller IC.

In some embodiments, the chopped DC power supply is fed back in to a flyback transformer, which converts the DC power to a low voltage AC waveform. The AC waveform is then converted into DC, which is filtered with a filter to obtain smooth power that is substantially free of interference. The electronics assembly104can comprise a feedback circuit that measures the voltage output to the electrical connector (e.g., electrical prongs or USB, for example) and sends a signal to the controller IC, which adjusts the switching frequency to obtain a desired voltage.

In various embodiments, the electronics assembly104comprises an electrical conductor126. This can comprise any suitable electrical charging interface, such as a USB interface, electrical prongs configured for insertion in an outlet, or other similar electrical charging interface that would be known in the art, such as power over Ethernet, FireWire, MIDI, Thunderbolt, and so forth.

In some embodiments, the apparatus100can comprise a means for electrically coupling the electronics assembly104with the electronic device106. This electrical conductor126, such as outlet prongs, extends from a front of the housing124. The electrical conductor126is also in electrical communication with the charging circuitry.

In some embodiments, the upper portion of the electronics assembly104comprises openings, such as notches or slits that allow the electrical conductor128to protrude through housing124.

In various embodiments, a bolt lever130will extend from a sidewall132of the housing124. The bolt lever130extends through the pass-through slot114of the receiver body102, in some embodiments.

The electronics assembly104can be transitioned from a rearward position (seeFIG. 2) to a forward position (seeFIG. 3) when a user grips the bolt lever130and slides it rearward and/or forward. When the electronics assembly104is moved forward, the electronics assembly104will rest on the lower support plate118of the receiver body102. When the electronics assembly104is moved rearward using the bolt lever130, the electronics assembly104will be positioned within the confines of the sidewall108of the receiver body102.

In various embodiments, the apparatus100can also comprise a stabilizer134. The stabilizer134comprises two armatures136and138that are each pivotally connected to the housing124of the electronics assembly104. That is, the two armatures136and138are pivotally coupled with opposing sides of the housing124.

In some embodiments, the stabilizer134can pivot between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration when the bolt lever130of the electronics assembly104moves from a rearward position to a forward position. In general, the stabilizer armatures136and138will support the apparatus100and electronic device106when the electrical conductor is plugged into an outlet, such as a wall outlet. The stabilizer armatures can engage the wall or a lower portion of an outlet cover170.

In various embodiments, the housing124of the electronics assembly104can also comprise stop plates, such as stop plate125that extend from the sidewall132of the housing124behind and below the pivoting connections between the two armatures136and138and the housing124. The two armatures136and138contact their respective stop plates to limit travel of the two armatures136and138in the downward pivoting direction.

In some embodiments, the lower support plate118of the receiver body102comprises a support plate sidewall140having a notch142. In use, the bolt lever130drops into the notch142of the support plate sidewall140when the bolt lever130is moved to the forward position as illustrated best inFIG. 3.

FIGS. 4-6collectively illustrate another example apparatus200that is identical in construction to the apparatus100ofFIGS. 1-3disclosed supra, but with additional components. These additional components are disclosed in greater detail below. For example, in some embodiments, the apparatus200comprises a receiver body202having a sidewall208that surrounds three sides of a lower surface210. A lateral portion212of the sidewall comprises a pass-through slot or track214that divides an arcuate groove216that extends along the length of the lateral portion212. The lower portion of the lateral portion212of the sidewall208comprises a rearward notch240that secures a bolt lever230in place when the bolt lever230is in the rearward position. The bolt lever230can be lifted out of and past the rearward notch240in order to allow the bolt lever230to translate to the forward position.

Additionally, the apparatus200comprises a fence242extending perpendicularly from an end of a lower support plate218of the receiver body202. The fence242has a height that terminates so as to not prevent an electrical conductor228of the electronics assembly204from extending to a position that enables the electrical conductor228to interface with a wall outlet.

Extending between the fence242and a front of a housing224of the electronics assembly204is a means for resiliently transitioning the electronics assembly204into a stored position when the bolt lever230is removed from a notch244of a support plate sidewall246that extends from a lateral or side edge of the lower support plate218(e.g., perpendicular to the fence242).

In some embodiments, the means for resiliently transitioning comprises a spring250. When the bolt lever230is used to translate the electronics assembly204to a forward/deployed configuration, the spring250compresses against the fence242.

When the bolt lever230is locked into the notch244of the support plate sidewall246, such as when the electronics assembly204is in a deployed configuration where the electrical conductor228can interface with a wall outlet, the bolt lever230can be disengaged from the notch244. When this occurs, the spring releases, resiliently moving the electronics assembly204to a rearward/stored configuration. The spring250retains the electronics assembly204in the rearward/stored configuration.

It will be understood that, in some embodiments, the stabilizer can be removed.FIG. 7illustrates example apparatus300, which is identical to the apparatus200disclosed above, but is lacking the stabilizer.

It is noted at the outset that the terms “coupled,” “connected”, “connecting,” “electrically connected,” etc., are used interchangeably herein to generally refer to the condition of being electrically/electronically connected. Similarly, a first entity is considered to be in “communication” with a second entity (or entities) when the first entity electrically sends and/or receives (whether through wireline or wireless means) information signals (whether containing data information or non-data/control information) to the second entity regardless of the type (analog or digital) of those signals. It is further noted that various figures (including component diagrams) shown and discussed herein are for illustrative purpose only, and are not drawn to scale.

The terminology used herein can imply direct or indirect, full or partial, temporary or permanent, immediate or delayed, synchronous or asynchronous, action or inaction. For example, when an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected” or “coupled” to another element, then the element can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element and/or intervening elements may be present, including indirect and/or direct variants. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not necessarily be limited by such terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the present disclosure. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, the example embodiments of the present disclosure should not be construed as necessarily limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece, such as being unitary, and/or be separately manufactured and/or connected, such as being an assembly and/or modules. Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can be manufactured via any manufacturing processes, whether additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing and/or other any other types of manufacturing. For example, some manufacturing processes include three dimensional (3D) printing, laser cutting, computer numerical control (CNC) routing, milling, pressing, stamping, vacuum forming, hydroforming, injection molding, lithography and/or others.

Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can include, whether partially and/or fully, a solid, including a metal, a mineral, a ceramic, an amorphous solid, such as glass, a glass ceramic, an organic solid, such as wood and/or a polymer, such as rubber, a composite material, a semiconductor, a nano-material, a biomaterial and/or any combinations thereof. Any and/or all elements, as disclosed herein, can include, whether partially and/or fully, a coating, including an informational coating, such as ink, an adhesive coating, a melt-adhesive coating, such as vacuum seal and/or heat seal, a release coating, such as tape liner, a low surface energy coating, an optical coating, such as for tint, color, hue, saturation, tone, shade, transparency, translucency, non-transparency, luminescence, anti-reflection and/or holographic, a photo-sensitive coating, an electronic and/or thermal property coating, such as for passivity, insulation, resistance or conduction, a magnetic coating, a water-resistant and/or waterproof coating, a scent coating and/or any combinations thereof.

Furthermore, relative terms such as “below,” “lower,” “above,” and “upper” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Such relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of illustrated technologies in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if a device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, then the elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. Therefore, the example terms “below” and “lower” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.