Abstract:
Universal adapters for portable electronic devices, and more particularly to cellular telephones using a 0.25V-24V direct current power supply to provide battery power supply to the connected cellular telephone, particularly in an emergency case, or in case an indoor charger using alternating current or a vehicular charger is not available, or the battery of the cellular telephone is depleted and needs rapid charge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This United States non-provisional patent application is based upon and claims the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/723,087, filed Oct. 3, 2005.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     None.  
       REFERENCE TO A MICRO-FICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     None. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Field of the Invention  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to universal adapters for portable electronic devices, and more particularly to cellular telephones using a 0.25V-24V direct current power supply to provide power to the connected cellular telephone, particularly in an emergency case, or in case an indoor charger using alternating current or a vehicular charger is not available or the battery of the cellular telephone has run out of power and needs a rapid charge or recharge.  
         [0005]     Portable electronic devices, particularly cellular telephones, are widely used. Electronic device users often employ a spare auxiliary battery to replace the original device battery in the event of battery discharge or failure. If an auxiliary battery is not available, the device with the discharged battery must be recharged with an exterior charger or hands-free vehicle kit charger.  
         [0006]     In order to continuously use a portable electronic device, particularly a cellular telephone, a user should keep a charged auxiliary battery available at all times for the device. There is a tendency, however, to only use the battery integral with the device because it causes user inconvenience to carry an additional auxiliary battery.  
         [0007]     During operation, inadequate use of the charger in recharging the battery of a portable electronic device such as cellular telephones often brings about battery discharge. Conventional chargers generally utilize an alternating current source, 110V-220V, designed for indoor or public use, it becomes difficult to recharge the battery at the outdoor place without an alternating current source. In a motor vehicle, power of 0.25V-24V direct current is utilized to recharge the battery, but this often necessitates the ignition of the vehicle&#39;s engine and requires the charger and cellular telephone to remain inside the car. In instances of national disaster, war or terrorist attack, traditional sources of recharge power are not reliable, if even present, while much or all of the communications infrastructure remains intact. During such times, cellular telephones and other portable electronic devices need alternative or additional sources of power. The present invention adequately meets this need in providing a readily portable, universal adapter for these devices to operate and recharge.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is derived to solve the above conventional problems, and has an object to provide a handy emergency power source and battery charger for portable electrical devices, particuarly cellular telephones, wherein a voltage source is held in a charger body to readily power and/or recharge the cellular telephone battery at any time regardless of location.  
         [0009]     In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided a handy battery charger adapter for portable electronic devices, comprising an adapter apparatus consisting of at least one conductive block sized to be attached to, engage, and communicate with an external power source having a cathode post and at least one anode post.  
         [0010]     Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an adapter for portable electronic device battery chargers which universally connect to a 0.25V-24V direct current power supply to provide reliable battery power supply to a connected cellular telephone, particularly in an emergency case, or in case an indoor charger using alternating current or a vehicular charger is not available or the battery of the cellular telephone has run down and needs a rapid charge.  
         [0011]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a universal adapter that is inexpensive, robust, and easy to use with no training in situations without light or with low light.  
         [0012]     Yet another intended and desired feature of the present invention is to provide such a universal adapter for use in public safety emergency field operations, search and rescue operations, or evacuation procedures.  
         [0013]     Still another intended and desired feature of the present invention is to provide such a universal adapter that is self centering for electrical contacts and locks into place with a minimum amount of effort and no understanding of electric circuitry by the operator.  
         [0014]     It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide such a universal adapter that will allow extended duration emergency power supply for portable electronic devices.  
         [0015]     Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the disclosure, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It should be understood that, because of the great disparity between various features depicted in the same drawing, the following drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; it is intended that they be merely illustrative of the process.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a planar top view of the apparatus  10  of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a planar bottom view of the apparatus  10  of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a planar side view of the apparatus  10  of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the apparatus depicted in  FIG. 2  taken at “A--A.” 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the conductive block  12  of an embodiment of the present invention and the power supply cover  510  and dry-cell battery pack  505  of a typical power supply  500 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bottom of the conductive block  12  of an embodiment of the present invention and the power supply cathode post  530  and anode posts  520  of a typical power supply  500 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the bottom of the conductive block  12  of an embodiment of the present invention and the power supply cathode post  530  and anode posts  520  of a typical power supply  500 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the conductive block  12  of an embodiment of the present invention positioned to be locked onto anode posts of a typical power supply  500 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the conductive block  12  of an embodiment of the present invention positioned and locked onto cathode posts of a typical power supply  500  whereby the block is aligned with the power supply  500  body.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the apparatus  10  of an embodiment of the present invention positioned to receive a connecting means  700  plug end  710  into first annular aperture  14 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a partial cut-away view of the conductive block  12  of an embodiment of the apparatus  10  of the present invention positioned to receive a connecting means  700  plug end  710  with cable  706  attached into the conductive block  12  first annular aperture  14  whereby the plug end communicates with the power supply cathode post  530  through the second annular aperture  18 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     With reference to the drawing figures, an embodiment of the present invention for universal adapter apparatus for charging and/or powering portable electronic devices provides an adapter apparatus  10  comprising at least one conductive block  12  sized to rotate upon and releasably attach to an external power source  500  having an cathode post  530  and at least one anode post  520 .  
         [0029]     The conductive block  12  comprises a top side, a bottom side, first and second latitudinal sides, and first and second longitudinal sides. The adapter further comprises alignment means whereby the external power source cathode post  530  is self centered within the conductive block after attachment thereto. The conductive block further comprises a central axis of rotation. The alignment means comprises a first annular aperture  14  and a second annular aperture  18  centered on the conductive block  12  central axis thereby defining a conductive block interior surface  16  contact point. The first annular aperture  14  has a larger diameter than the second annular aperture  18 . The second annular aperture  18  is on the block bottom side.  
         [0030]     The adapter also comprises attachment means whereby the conductive block is positioned onto at least one anode post  520  of the external power source  500 . The adapter apparatus further comprises locking means whereby the conductive block  12  is locked into place on at least one anode post  520  of the external power source  500 . Connecting means whereby the adapter is connected to at least one portable electronic device completes the adapter apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]     The attachment means and locking means comprise two arcuate channels,  22  and  24 , of equal length on the block bottom side, each channel having a first and second end. Each channel is sized to engage and receive one anode post. One channel has an open first end  22 A flush with one block longitudinal side. The other channel has an open first end  24 A flush with the other block longitudinal side. Each channel has closed second ends,  22 B and  24 B, defining a diameter sufficient to receive and lock onto a anode post  520  as an anode contact point. Both closed channel second end contact points communicate with the conductive block interior surface anode contact point. In this manner, the anode posts  520  are positioned at the channel open first ends and received and locked into the channel closed second ends by rotation of the conductive block  12  about the conducive block central axis,  FIG. 8 , onto a locking position on the power supply  500 . The positioned and locked conductive block  12  as disclosed is aligned with the power supply  500  body,  FIG. 9 .  
         [0032]     The connecting means comprises a cable  706  with a plug end  710  comprising a central cathode contact and periphery anode contacts and an adapter end. The conductive block first annular aperture  14  is sized to receive and engage the plug end  710  and align the plug end central cathode contact with the external power source cathode  530  so that these parts contact. The plug end  710  central cathode communicates with the external power source cathode  530  through the conductive block second annular aperture  18 . The periphery plug end  710  anode contacts communicate with the conductive block interior surface  16  contact point once the block has been locked onto the anode posts  520  of the external power source  500 , and the plug end has been inserted into the first annular aperture  14 . The plug end  710  central anode contact is insulated from the periphery cathode contacts.  
         [0033]     The external power supply  500  source comprises a direct current source  505 , housed within a cover  510 . Power supply battery cell voltage combined with embodiments of the present invention can be scaled to deliver from 0.25 volts to 24 volts for extended use or charge time. Most portable electronic devices employ a control circuit incorporated in the device. This control circuit only begins to charge the device&#39;s rechargeable battery or operate the device if the voltage from the emergency charge apparatus is above a pre-set lower threshold. Many portable electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, set this lower threshold at 3.6 volts. Other devices set the control circuit limit higher, at about 9 volts. Voltage in excess of the electronic device&#39;s control circuit lower threshold can operate the device while the device&#39;s battery is being recharged. Thus, a 0.25 volt-24 volt range of power supply battery cell voltage when attached to embodiments of the present invention will simultaneously operate and re-charge the device battery for most portable electronic devices presently sold.  
         [0034]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the conductive block further comprises non-conductive exterior surfaces including, but not limited to, materials selected from the group consisting of wood, epoxy, resin, acrylic, plastic composites, cellulose, laminates including metal laminates, painted or injection molded (filled) materials, polycarbonate, and polystyrene.  
         [0035]     All contact points within the conductive block ( 22 B,  24 B, and  16 ) are constructed from any suitable conductive metal including, but not limited to, materials selected from the group consisting of silver, aluminum, copper, and steel alloy. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises contact points within the conductive block ( 22 B,  24 B, and  16 ) made of aluminum.  
         [0036]     As to the manner of usage and operation of the adapter, and the means of electrical power necessary to drive the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description and the art. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage, operation, or direct current means to power the present invention will be provided.  
         [0037]     Although the invention has been described in some detail with reference to the preferred embodiment and alternatives, those of skill in the art will realize, in light of the teachings herein, that certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the claims of any subsequent United States non-provisional or foreign patent application.