Abstract:
A desktop charger includes a housing having a face panel with multiple insertion slots and an openable front cover plate for closing the face panel, a rack mounted inside the housing and defining multiple insertion slots in communication with the insertion slots of the face panel, and a power supply module including a system circuit board holding multiple electrical connectors in respective connector holes in the face panel for the connection of transmission cables of mobile electronic products being inserted into the insertion slots of the face panel and the insertion slots of the rack, a power adapter connectable to an external power source for power input and a control system for controlling the operation of the system circuit board and the power adapter and for charging the inserted mobile electronic products and for allowing the inserted mobile electronic products to transmit signals and data during charging.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to electronic chargers for charging mobile electronic devices and more particularly, to a desktop charger, which comprises a housing, a rack mounted inside the housing for holding mobile electronic devices for charging, and a power supply module for receiving and charging multiple mobile electronic devices being inserted into respective insertion slots in the rack and for allowing the inserted mobile electronic devices to transmit signals and data during charging. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    With the rapid development of electronic technology and multimedia revolution, notebook computers, tablet computers, smart phones, PDAs and many other mobile electronic devices are created to meet different application requirements. It is now the market tendency to create mobile electronic devices having light, thin, short and small characteristics. Further, computer-related hardware and software products have been continuously developed to service people for practical applications in our work, life and entertainment. 
         [0005]    For making mobile electronic devices having light, thin, short and small characteristics, only precision and small-sized electronic components can be used. However, these precision and small-sized electronic components are fragile and easily breakable. Many protective cases, bags and other carrier means for carrying mobile electronic devices are commercially available. However, these protective cases, bags and carrier means are designed for carrying one individual mobile electronic device. Further, a school, organization or company may use a large number of notebook computers, tablet computers, PADs and/or many other mobile electronic devices for the purpose of information classification or to meet different software application requirements. These notebook computers, tablet computers, PADs and/or mobile electronic devices may be left on desks or tables after work. It is inconvenient to manage the storage of a large number of mobile electronic devices. Mobile electronic devices may be stolen easily if they are directly left on desks or tables in a room. 
         [0006]    Further, many portable storage devices for mobile electronic devices are commercially available. However, these portable storage devices are simply designed for keeping and/or carrying mobile electronic devices. If the battery power of a mobile electronic device is low, the electronic device must be charged before carrying it to another place for application. Further, when going to update an educational software or other software program in each of a large number of notebook computers or other mobile electronic devices, these notebook computers or mobile electronic devices must be boosted and respectively connected to a host computer or server system. It takes much time to arrange the related transmission cables and to connect the related transmission cables to the host computer or server system. Further, during data transmission between the mobile electronic devices and the host computer or server system, the person in charge cannot charge the batteries of these mobile electronic devices. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide means practical for keeping and charging mobile electronic devices and allowing mobile electronic devices to transmit signals and data during charging. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a desktop charger, which is capable of charging multiple mobile electronic devices at a time, allowing the mobile electronic devices to transmit signals and data during charging. 
         [0009]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a desktop charger comprises a housing defining therein an accommodation space, a rack, and a power supply module. The housing comprises a face panel having a plurality of vertical insertion slots arranged in parallel and a plurality of connector holes arranged in a horizontal line at a bottom side relative to the vertical insertion slots, and a front cover plate movable to open and close the face panel. The rack is mounted in the accommodation space inside the housing, comprising a plurality of vertical insertion slots respectively disposed in communication with the vertical insertion slots of the face panel for the insertion of mobile electronic products to be charged. The power supply module is mounted in the accommodation space inside the housing and disposed at the bottom side of the rack, comprising a plurality of electrical connectors respectively mounted in the connector holes of the face panel for the connection of transmission cables of mobile electronic products being inserted into the vertical insertion slots of the face panel and the respective vertical insertion slots of the rack, and a control system electrically connected with the electrical connectors and adapted to provide power supply to each mobile electronic product being electrically connected to one respective electrical connector and to control transmission of signals between each electrical connector and the respective linked mobile electronic product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an oblique front elevation of a desktop charger in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the desktop charger in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from another angle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an oblique elevational view of the present invention, illustrating the front cover plate of the housing of the desktop charger opened. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the front cover plate opened and received at one lateral side of the housing for allowing insertion of a mobile electronic product into the inside of the desktop charger. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic front view of the present invention, illustrating multiple mobile electronic products inserted into the vertical insertion slots of the face panel of the housing of the desktop charger into the inside of the rack. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an oblique rear elevation of the desktop charger in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a desktop charger in accordance with the present invention is shown. The desktop charger comprises a housing  1 , a rack  2 , and a power supply module  3 . 
         [0018]    The housing  1  comprises a bottom panel  11 , a front support frame  12  defining therein an opening  120  and perpendicularly upwardly arranged at a front side of the bottom panel  11 , a back support frame  13  defining therein an opening  130  and perpendicularly upwardly arranged at a rear side of the bottom panel  11  opposite to the front support frame  12 , an accommodation space  10  defined between the front support frame  12  and the back support frame  13  above the bottom panel  11 , a face panel  14 , which is mounted on the outside wall of the front support frame  12 , comprising a plurality of vertical insertion slots  140  cut through opposing front and back sides thereof and arranged in parallel, a front recess portion  1401  transversely disposed at a front side of the vertical insertion slots  140 , a plurality of connector holes  141  arranged in a horizontal line at a bottom side relative to the vertical insertion slots  140  and respectively kept in vertical alignment with the vertical insertion slots  140 , a plurality of indicator light holes  142  arranged in a horizontal line at a bottom side relative to the connector holes  141  and respectively kept in vertical alignment with the connector holes  141  and the vertical insertion slots  140  and a plurality of flanges  1402  respectively extended from two opposite lateral sides of each of the vertical insertion slots  140  and inserted into the opening  120  of the front support frame  12  and the accommodation space  10 , a top rail  15  horizontally connected between the top end of the front support frame  12  and the top end of the back support frame  13  and affixed to one side edge of the face panel  14 , a bottom rail  16  horizontally connected between the bottom end of the front support frame  12  and the bottom end of the back support frame  13  and affixed to the same side edge of the face panel  14 , a front cover plate  17  slidably coupled between the top rail  15  and the bottom rail  16  and movable out of the top rail  15  and the bottom rail  16  and then turnable relative to the top rail  15  and the bottom rail  16  through 90° angle from an open position where the face panel  14  is left open to a close position where the front cover plate  17  keeps the face panel  14  from sight, three peripheral cover plates  18  respectively mounted between the front support frame  12  and the back support frame  13  at opposing left and right sides and on the outside wall of the back support frame  13 , and a top cover plate  19  horizontally mounted on the front support frame  12  and the back support frame  13  at the top side opposite to the bottom panel  11 . According to the present preferred embodiment, the front support frame  12  is a rectangular open frame; the back support frame  13  has a substantially U-shaped profile. Further, each peripheral cover plate  18  comprises a plurality of air vents  180  and a grip recess  182 . Further, the peripheral cover plate  18  that is mounted on the outside wall of the back support frame  13  further comprises an adapter hole  181  located at one corner thereof. 
         [0019]    The rack  2  defines therein a plurality of vertical insertion slots  20  arranged in parallel corresponding to the vertical insertion slots  140  of the face panel  14 , and a front recess portion  201  transversely disposed at a front side of the vertical insertion slots  20 . 
         [0020]    The power supply module  3  comprises a control system  31 , a system circuit board  32  and a power adapter  33 . The control system  31  is electrically connected with the system circuit board  32  and the power adapter  33 , comprising a circuit layout (not shown) with built-in power source (dry battery, rechargeable battery, storage battery or lithium-ion battery) for processing electronic signals. The system circuit board  32  comprises a circuit layout providing a plurality of electrical connectors  321  and indicator lights  322 . The indicator lights  322  are adapted to indicate the operation status of the electrical connectors  321  respectively. The power adapter  33  can be a plug type or socket type design electrically connectable to an external power source (for example, city power supply or power generator) to provide the desktop charger with the necessary working voltage. 
         [0021]    During installation, the rack  2  is mounted in the accommodation space  10  inside the housing  1  to force the vertical insertion slots  20  into engagement with the flanges  1402  of the face panel  14  and to keep the front recess portion  1401  in flush with the front recess portion  201 . At this time, the vertical insertion slots  20  of the rack  2  are respectively kept in the respective vertical insertion slots  140  of the face panel  14 . Thereafter, the power supply module  3  is mounted in the bottom side  101  of the accommodation space  10  inside the housing  1  to hold the electrical connectors  321  and the indicator lights  322  in the connector holes  141  and the indicator light holes  142  respectively and to have the power adapter  33  be affixed to the opening  130  of the back support frame  13  and kept in alignment with the adapter hole  181 . Thus, the housing  1 , the rack  2 , and the power supply module  3  are assembled together, forming the desired desktop charger. 
         [0022]    Further, the electrical connectors  321  of the system circuit board  32  of the power supply module  3  can be selected from the group of USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI, SATA and eSATA connectors for power and data transmission. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-7  and  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, when using the desktop charger, put the desktop charger on a desk or platform, and then turn the front cover plate  17  relative to the face panel  14  outwardly through 90° angle from the close position to the open position in line with the top rail  15  and the bottom rail  16 , and then push the front cover plate  17  backwardly along the top rail  15  and the bottom rail  16  to a received condition. At this time, the user can insert a mobile electronic product  4  (such as tablet PC, notebook, etc.) into one vertical insertion slot  140  of the face panel  14  and the associating vertical insertion slot  20  of the rack  2 , and then insert a transmission cable  41  of the mobile electronic product  4  into one connector hole  141  of the face panel  14  to have the transmission cable  41  be electrically connected to the associating electrical connector  321  of the system circuit board  32  and the control system  31  of the power supply module  3 , enabling the mobile electronic product  4  to be electrically charged by the desktop charger. During charging, the associating indicator light  322  is driven to give a visual indication. Further, the indicator lights  322  of the system circuit board  32  and the control system  31  of the power supply module  3  can be full color LEDs capable of giving off red light to indicate under charging, green light to indicate charging complete, or yellow light to indicate standby status. Alternatively, the indicator lights  322  can be configured to provide different flash modes for indicating different operation status. After charging is complete, the control system  31  of the power supply module  3  immediately controls the system circuit board  32  to cut off power supply from the electrical connector  321 , and then re-boosts the system subject to predetermined settings. Further, the design of the front recess portion  1401  of the face panel  14  and the front recess portion  201  of the rack  2  facilitates the user to remove the electronic product  4  from the connector hole  141  of the face panel  14 . Further, when charging the mobile electronic product  4 , the associating electrical connector  321  allows electronic signal and data transmission through the desktop charger transmission cable  41  of the mobile electronic product  4 , i.e., the mobile electronic product  4  can be operated to communicate with another external electronic device during charging. Further, because the electronic product  4  is kept in one vertical insertion slot  20  of the rack  2  inside the associating vertical insertion slot  140  of the face panel  14  of the housing  1  during charging, it is well protected against scratches, shocks, impacts and accidental drops. Further, because the desktop charger can charge multiple electronic products  4  at a time, the invention greatly improves the efficiency of charging process and achieves time-saving and labor-saving. 
         [0024]    The desktop charger further comprises a first anti-theft device  111  (lock, sensor or alarm) mounted at the bottom panel  11  of the housing  1 , and/or a second anti-theft device  191  (lock, sensor or alarm) mounted at the top cover plate  19  of the housing  1  to prevent the desktop charger from being lost or stolen during its charging operation, enhancing safety. 
         [0025]    As stated above, a desktop charger in accordance with the invention comprises a housing  1  defining therein an accommodation space  10 , a rack  2  mounted in the accommodation space  10  and defining therein a plurality of vertical insertion slots arranged in parallel corresponding to respective vertical insertion slots  140  on a face panel  14  of the housing  1 , and a power supply module  3  mounted in the accommodation space  10  and comprising a control system  31 , a system circuit board  32 , which comprises a plurality of electrical connectors  321  and indicator lights  322  respectively mounted in respective connector holes  141  and indicator light holes  142  of the face panel  14  of the housing  1 , and a power adapter  33 , which is mounted in an opening  130  on a back support frame  13  of the housing  1  in alignment with an adapter hole  181  on one peripheral cover plate  18  of the housing  1 . Thus, mobile electronic products  4  can be inserted through the vertical insertion slots  140  of the face panel  14  of the housing  1  and the associating vertical insertion slots  20  of the rack  2  and electrically connected to the respective electrical connectors  321  for charging as well as for signal and data transmission. Further, the desktop charger can be equipped with a first anti-theft device  111  and/or a second anti-theft device  191  to prevent the desktop charger from being lost or stolen during its charging operation. 
         [0026]    In conclusion, the invention provides a desktop charger, which has the features and advantages as follows:
       1. A mobile electronic product  4  can be inserted through one vertical insertion slot  140  of the face, panel  14  of the housing  1  into the associating vertical insertion slot  20  of the rack  2  and electrically connected to the respective electrical connector  321  for charging by the power supply module  3 , and the electronic product  4  can be operated to transmit signals and data during charging.   2. Multiple mobile electronic products  4  can be respectively inserted through the vertical insertion slots  140  of the face panel  14  of the housing  1  into the respective vertical insertion slots  20  of the rack  2  and electrically connected to the respective electrical connectors  321  for charging by power supply module  3  synchronously, improving the efficiency of charging process and achieving time-saving and labor-saving.       
 
         [0029]    While only one particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various modifications and enhancements can be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.