Abstract:
A wall charger for connection to an AC outlet. The wall charger includes a pair of pivotal AC prongs which engage within the electrical outlet to provide electrical connection to the wall charger. The wall charger includes one or two USB ports for electrical charging of a device from the connection to the AC outlet. The wall charger includes a cylindrical compartment for housing a bullet charger in a concealed manner. The bullet charger may be maintained within the housing for storage purposes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the charging of electronic devices in an automobile and at home. A compact home wall charger provides convenient storage space for an automobile miniature charger in a compartment of the home wall charger. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the increasing use of smart phones and other electronic devices in an automobile, charging capability must be provided within the confines of the automobile. Oftentimes, electronic devices require the use of a USB port to connect the electronic device to a source of charging electricity. This can be accomplished by the use of a device which is inserted into a charging port or by use of an adaptor inserted into a port formally known as a “cigarette lighter” socket. 
         [0003]    One charging device used in automobiles is, based upon its shape, commonly referred to as a “bullet charger”. These devices have been miniaturized to the point that it is difficult to keep track of them within the shifting environments of an interior of an automobile. Therefore, it is necessary to keep track of the location of these bullet chargers so that they do not get lost within an automobile. 
         [0004]    The bullet chargers consist of an elongated body having opposed side spring electrical contacts located on opposite sides of an insulating body. A lower extremity or terminal, distal end, usually includes a spring biased connection button for connection with one polarity of an electric terminal located at the base of the charging port or cigarette lighter socket. The opposed electrical side contacts provide the opposite polarity contact located on the side wall of the charging port or cigarette lighter socket. 
         [0005]    At an exposed proximal end of the cylindrical body, is located one or two USB ports. An indicator light is usually also found at the proximal end to indicate a secure connection between a USB charging cable and the bullet charger. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a home wall charger for connection to an AC electrical outlet. The wall charger includes a pair of pivotal AC prongs which engage within the electrical outlet to provide electrical connection to the wall charger. The wall charger includes one or two USB ports for electrical charging of a device with the electricity from the connection to the AC outlet. 
         [0007]    In addition, the wall charger includes a cylindrical compartment in a housing for containing a bullet charger in a concealed manner. The bullet charger may be maintained within the housing for storage purposes. Optionally, the bullet charger may be electrically connected when inserted into the cylindrical compartment of the housing for electrical communication with the AC outlet. 
         [0008]    In this embodiment, an AC to DC power converter is incorporated into the housing so that the bullet charger, which normally cooperates with a DC electrical source of an automobile, is configured to cooperate, for charging purposes, with an AC outlet. In this embodiment, an additional one or two USB charging ports are thereby provided within a home for charging by the bullet charger in addition to the charging USB ports of the wall charger. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a home wall charger having a pair of pivotal prongs for inter-engagement with an AC outlet and a cylindrical compartment for containing a bullet charger. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a wall charger having a pair of pivotal prongs for inter-engagement with an AC outlet and a cylindrical compartment for containing a bullet charger where the cylindrical compartment includes a movable cover for containing the bullet charger. 
         [0011]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a wall charger having a pair of pivotal prongs for inter-engagement with an AC outlet and a cylindrical compartment for containing a bullet charger where the cylindrical compartment includes a movable cover for containing the bullet charger and the cover is movably mounted on a housing of the wall charger to provide access to the bullet charger. 
         [0012]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a wall charger having a pair of pivotal prongs for inter-engagement with an AC outlet and a cylindrical compartment for containing a bullet charger where the cylindrical compartment includes a movable cover for containing the bullet charger and the cover is movably mounted on the wall charger to provide access to the bullet charger with the cover slidably or pivotally mounted in orthogonal directions on the wall charger. 
         [0013]    These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the invention disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a wall charger of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial sectional side view of the wall charger shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view with the cover to the cylindrical compartment of the wall charger being released and pivotally moved away from the compartment to expose a housed bullet charger. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional side view illustrating the movement of the bullet charger shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the two USB ports on a side wall of the wall charger and the pivotally mounted AC prongs. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a wall charger of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a partial sectional end view illustrating the bullet charger contained within a cylindrical compartment and covered by a slidable cover. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates the release of the bullet charger from the compartment in the wall charger after sliding of the cover and sliding of an actuating member located in a side wall of the wall charger. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view illustrating the mechanism for moving the bullet charger out of the cylindrical compartment in the wall charger in an at rest position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view demonstrating the elevation of the bullet charger out of the cylindrical compartment by actuation of the slide member. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a top view with the slide cover over the bullet charger in the cylindrical compartment and exposing two USB ports and illustrating the pivotal movement of two AC prongs. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a wall charger of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  illustrates the pivotal side movement of a cover member of the wall charger for movement of the bullet charger out of the cynlindrical compartment of the housing. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view illustrating the pivotal movement of the cover member for the bullet charger while the bullet charger is still located within the housing. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a partial sectional view taken along the sectional line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14  to illustrate the operation of movement of the pivotal cover away from the cylindrical compartment of the housing. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a bottom view of the housing illustrating the two USB ports located at the bottom of the housing, the pivotal movement of the cover member and the pivotal movement of the two AC prongs. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0032]    In the wall charger  20  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the wall charger includes a housing having opposed sidewalls  22 ,  24 , opposed end walls  26 ,  28 , top wall  30  and bottom  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the top wall  30  is divided between a stationary end portion  34  and a pivotal cover member  36 . The cover member is released by depression of release button  38  located in front wall  26 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the cover member  36  is pivotally mounted about pivot pin  40  to cover and contain a bullet charger  42  within a cylindrical compartment  44  until actuation of release button  38 . The inward pressing of release button  38  moves a locking member  46  radially inwardly into compartment  44  so that tooth  48  is moved away from inter-engagement with recess  50  of the cover member  36 . 
         [0034]    The bullet charger  42  includes opposed contact portions  52  and spring biased contact button  54 . When the cover portion  36  is released by depression of release button  38  moving in the direction of arrow  56 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cover member  36  is moved in the direction of arrow  58  by either a spring (not shown) about pivot pin  40  or the bias force release from contact button  54  pushing off the bottom wall  60  of cylindrical compartment  44 . This also allows for the top portion  62  of bullet charger  42  to become exposed for removal from the wall charger. 
         [0035]    Conversely, when the bullet charger is being stored in cylindrical compartment  44 , the bullet charger initially projects from the cylindrical compartment  44  in the position shown in  FIG. 3  and then by movement of the cover member  36  in the direction opposite to that of arrow  58  the bullet charger is forced down into the compartment  44 . The tooth  48  is engaged in recess  50 , securing the bullet charger in place. 
         [0036]    The wall charger  20  includes AC prongs  64  shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 5 . The prongs  64  are pivotally movable from a position of rest recessed within side wall  28 . The prongs are movable to a position extending 90° when moved in the direction of arrow  66  or to 180° when further moved in the direction of arrow  68  from its at rest position. The AC prongs  64  are locked into the 90° extension position or the 180° extension position by a series of detents engaging with projection  72  of base portion  70  as the AC prongs are pivotally rotated. The AC prongs are used to provide electrical communication with two USB ports  74  located in bottom wall  32  for use in charging of electrical devices. 
         [0037]    In an alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 11 , a wall charger  80  includes a slidable cover member  82 . Cover member includes two opposing projections  84  which are slidable within recessed tracks  86  located on opposed sidewalls  88 ,  90 . In this embodiment, the slidable cover member  82  is positioned on top surface  92  and is movable from a position as shown in  FIG. 6  which covers a cylindrical compartment  94  which houses a bullet charger  96 . 
         [0038]    In an alternate position of the cover member  82 , two USB ports  98  are covered by the cover member during release of the bullet charger  96  from the housing  80  by movement of the cover member in the direction of arrow  98 . Bullet charger  96 , in this embodiment, moves out of the cylindrical compartment  100  in the direction of arrow  102  as assisted by a slide member  104  moving in the direction of arrow  106 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , by engagement with a tab  108 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
         [0039]    The slide member  104  includes a sloped projection  110  which engages with an angled side wall  112  of the bullet charger. The movement of the slide member  104  in the direction of arrow  106  moves the bullet charger in the direction of arrow  102  for removal from the cylindrical compartment  100  after the sliding of the cover member  82  to the position shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0040]    In this embodiment, there are also two AC prongs  114  which are movable from a position of rest, recessed inside wall  116  to a position as moved in the direction of arrow  118  to project 90° from side wall  116 . A projection  120  engages with a detent to lock the AC prongs in the 90° extension position or upon continued movement through the direction of arrow  122 , into a position extending 180° from its position of rest in side wall  116 . The 180° position is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0041]    In another embodiment, as depicted in  FIGS. 12 through 16 , a wall charger  130  is shown. In this embodiment, the movable cover member  132  is lifted vertically by manual engagement with tab  134 . To lift the cover member  132 , a pin  136  is removed from a cylindrical hole  138  which holds the pin  136  by a friction fit. A base portion  140  of the pin  136  is housed within an enlarged recess  142  located at the base of the hole  138 . Once the cover member is disengaged from the hole  138 , the cover member is elevated in the direction of arrow  146 . The cover member is then free to be swung laterally about large pin  144  in the direction of curved arrow  148  so as to clear the cover member from blocking cylindrical chamber  150 . 
         [0042]    Bullet charger  152  is thereby free to move in the direction of arrows  154 , out of the cylindrical chamber  150 . The initial removal of the bullet charger from the cylindrical compartment may be caused by the spring force of button contact  156  at the base of the bullet charger. 
         [0043]    The lifting and lateral pivoting of the cover member  132  is facilitated by sliding of a projection  160  at the base of a large pin  144  captured within an enlarged recess  162 . When the projection  160  engages the top of the recess  162 , the cover member has been elevated sufficiently to be moved laterally to clear over fixed portion  164  of the top of the wall charger. 
         [0044]    In this embodiment, a pair of AC prongs  166  are pivotally mounted so that they may be moved into a position 90° or 180° from an at rest position housed within a side wall  168  of the wall charger. A projection  170  in the base portion  172  of the AC prongs engages in recessed detents for locking the AC prongs  166  in either the 90° or the 180° projecting position. The AC prongs  166  are electrically connected to two USB ports  176  located in bottom wall  178  of the wall charger. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.