Abstract:
A lockable charging station for charging rechargeable electric devices comprising a base to encapsulate the electrical charging station and a plurality of locking cover members, wherein each locking cover member is removably mechanically engageable with the base via tab and slot engagement and is individually lockable to the base using a lock. Each locking cover member secures an individual electric device to the base so that the electric device is held in electrical engagement with the charging station until the individual user removes the locking cover. The lockable charging station may include a multi-unit charger with an encapsulating base and plurality of locking cover members or a base with mounting points for individual chargers and a plurality of locking covers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is in the field of charging stations for electronic devices having rechargeable batteries, and, more specifically in the field of a charging station having a lockable cover. 
     In order to fully charge rechargeable electronic devices, they must remain electrically connected to a power source for a sufficient amount of time. The invention described herein permits an electrical device to be secured in location at the charging station, so that it can be maintained in electrical connection with the power source for the time necessary to be recharged. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a lockable charging station for charging rechargeable electric devices comprising a base and a plurality of locking cover members; wherein each locking cover member is removably mechanically engageable with the base and is individually lockable to the base using a lock, and wherein each locking cover member is of a suitable size and shape and is mechanically engageable with the base in such a manner so as to secure one electric device to the charging station when the electric device is electrically engaged with the charging station. 
     The invention is preferably customized or customizable so as to fit a specific charging station for a specific type of rechargeable electric device, and may be used with a multi-unit charging station or individual charging units. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first charging station cover assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the first charging station cover assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the first charging station cover assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded front perspective view of the first charging station cover assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a second charging station cover assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the second charging station cover assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the second charging station cover assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded front perspective view of the second charging station cover assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a first preferred embodiment, a lockable cover assembly  10  for a multi-unit charging device C comprises a base  12  and a plurality of locking covers  14 , with one locking cover  14  for each rechargeable electric device D accommodated by charging device C. ( FIGS. 1-4 ) Base  12  has a slot  16  to accommodate a tab  18  on each locking cover  14 , and each locking cover  14  has an end  20  with a hole  22  therein to accommodate the use of a lock L to secure locking cover  14  to base  12 . ( FIG. 1 ) This embodiment of the lockable cover assembly  10  may be used with devices D such as two-way radios, where a single charging station C is used to charge several electronic devices D at one time. 
     In the first embodiment of the lockable cover assembly  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , base  12  comprises a lower front channel  24 , two ends  26 ,  28 , a rear  30 , and an upper front channel  32 . 
     Lower front channel  24  and upper front channel  32  provide corresponding features for attaching locking covers  14  to base  12 . ( FIG. 4 ) Lower front channel  24  comprises a main body  34  with a locking flange  36  and a base flange  38  extending therefrom. Locking flange  36  has holes  40  therein to correspond to holes  22  in locking covers  14 . Front top channel  32  comprises a main body  42  and two flanges  44 ,  46  extending therefrom. Main body  42  has slots  16  therein to accommodate each locking cover  14 , and flange  44  is used to secure front top channel  32  to rear  30 . 
     Rear  30 , like lower front channel  24 , has a base flange  48  extending outward from the bottom thereof. Base flanges  38 ,  48  may be used to secure base  12  to a support surface. Rear  30  also includes an opening  50  for passage of an electrical cord used to supply power to charging station C. 
     Locking covers  14  comprise individual covers, with one to be used for each rechargeable electric device D. Locking cover  14  includes tab  18  which slides into slot  16 , and on opposing end  20 , a hole  22  which aligns with hole  40  on locking flange  36  when locking cover  14  is installed on base  12 . End  20 , depending on the alignment of lower and upper front channels  24 ,  32 , may be arranged to form an angle with the main body of locking cover  14 , so that it lies flat along the top of locking flange  36 . Locking cover  14  further comprises side flanges  52  which further secure the body of rechargeable electric device D when locking cover  14  is installed on base  12 , and locking cover  14  may also include a cutout  54  to allow passage of an antenna or other feature of rechargeable electric devices D. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , base  12  may be composed of individual pieces  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 . Construction using individual pieces may be preferable if a base  12  will be fabricated using a material such as sheet metal for durable, sturdy, inexpensive construction. If sheet metal or a similar material will be used, and individual pieces will be cut, these pieces can be provided with tabs along the edges, which can be bent to form flanges for assembly, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, base  12  may be formed from other sturdy, rigid materials, such as plastic materials, where forming base  12  as a single piece may be preferable. 
     Individual locking covers  14  are preferable for each rechargeable device D, so that each device D may be assigned to an individual user, with the individual user having access to a code or key to unlock locking cover  14  from base  12  and access device D. 
     In use, chanting station C is placed inside base  12 , with its power cord extending through opening  50 , and docking stations S for each electric device D facing upwards and accessible between lower front channel  24  and upper front channel  32 . Slots  16  in upper front channel  32  and holes  40  in locking flange  36  are positioned so as to allow each locking cover  14  to secure one rechargeable electric device D when it is in position over the docking station S in charging station C. 
     Lockably securing a rechargeable electric device D in position when it is electrically connected to docking station S can ensure that the rechargeable electric device D is fully charged when it is needed. A locking cover  14  which permits each rechargeable electric device D to be individually locked in position on a charging station C permits each user to ensure that his or her own equipment is fully recharged and ready for use when needed. This may be useful in various situations such as where rechargeable electronic devices D are used in a multi-shift work environment or where there are multiple users throughout the day or night who may use the rechargeable electric device D. 
     In another preferred embodiment, a lockable cover assembly  100  for a rechargeable electric device D comprises a wall base  102  and a plurality of locking covers  104 , with one locking cover  104  for each rechargeable electric device D. ( FIGS. 5-8 ). 
     Wall base  102  comprises a generally flat body  106 , which is preferably wider than a wall outlet cover over which it will be placed. ( FIGS. 5-6 ) Each side of body  106  has a flange  108  extending back toward the wall therefrom, and then one or more tabs  110  bending perpendicularly out to the side, with holes  111  therethough to permit fastening of wall base  102  above an electrical outlet. Tabs  110  are preferably oriented on the right and left side of wall base  102  so as to have two tabs  110  extending from one side, and one tab extending from the other, such that two lockable cover assemblies  100  can be installed next to each other, with tabs  110  interlocking, so that holes  111  therethrough are vertically aligned and so that multiple wall bases  102  can be oriented next to each other with each one fastened into wall studs. To further facilitate the ability to fasten wall bases  102  securely to the wall, wall base  102  can be designed with a 16″ width between holes  111 , so as to permit fastening into standard-width studs on each side of wall base  102 . 
     Body  106  also has a forwardly directed flange  112  along its top edge, and a forwardly directed flange  114  along its bottom edge, with forwardly directed flanges  112 ,  114  spaced to permit the electrical device D to fit between them. Top flange  112  has a tab  116  extending perpendicularly therefrom, away from body  106  to correspond with each locking cover  104 . Each tab  116  has a hole  118  therethrough to accommodate passage of a lock L. 
     Body  106  has openings  120  therethrough for mounting individual charging bases C for each of the rechargeable electric devices D. ( FIG. 6 ) Body  106  also has openings  121  therethrough to permit passage of cords from the individual charging bases C, so that they can run behind body  106  to by plugged into an electrical receptacle. 
     Locking covers  104  comprise a front body  122 , a top flange  124 , side flanges  126 , a bottom flange  128 , and two rearwardly extending arms  130 . Each top flange  124  has a slit  132  therethrough, to permit passage of tab  118  therethrough. Each bottom flange  128  has an opening  134  to accommodate the size and shape of the electrical device D to be charged, and arms  130  extending back towards the wall base  102 , having notches  136  near the distal end thereof. 
     Body  106  has two slots  138  therein for each locking cover  104 , with one slot  138  fir each arm  130 . Each Notch  136  rests on the edge of slot  138 , keeping locking cover  104  at the desired orientation and angle from wall base  102 . 
     The second embodiment of locking cover assembly  100  is preferably used with electrical devices D having individual charging bases C, such as certain rechargeable flashlights that are currently available. Second embodiment  100  is also preferably sized to fit the desired electrical devices D to be charged, so that bottom flange  128  provides support for electrical devices D when they are present at the locking cover assembly  100 . 
     To use this second embodiment, individual charging bases C are mounted on wall base  102 , and wall base  102  is attached to the wall, preferably above an electrical outlet. Then, rechargeable electric device D is plugged into an individual charging base C, and locking cover  104  is placed over tab  116  of wall base  102 , and then arms  130  are aligned with and extended through sots  138  in wall base  102 . A lock L is then threaded through hole  118  in tab  116  to retain locking cover  104  on wall base  102 . 
     Individual locking covers  14 ,  104  may also be hingedly attached to base  12  or wall base  102 , respectively, so as to pivot from an open position, where electrical device D can be removed from the charging base C, to a closed position, where electrical device D is secured to charging base C. 
     Of course it is understood that the above is a description of preferred embodiments, and that various changes and alterations can be made to the charging stations without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention.