Patent Publication Number: US-2015061571-A1

Title: Storing and charging apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to storage means for use in a desk or the like for storing mobile electronic devices, and more particularly to a storing and charging apparatus, which can store multiple mobile electronic devices and charge the batteries of the storage mobile electronic devices synchronously. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With fast development of electronic and multimedia technologies, advanced and sophisticated notebook computers, tablet computers, smart phones, PDAs and many other mobile electronic devices have been continuously created and appeared on the market. These mobile electronic devices have the characteristics of small size, light weight and high mobility. With continuous creation of hardware and software functions, mobile electronic devices are widely used in our daily life for different purposes. 
     However, due to the characteristics of small size, light weight and high mobility, these mobile electronic devices can easily be damaged by impact. Protective cases are commercially available for protecting mobile electronic devices. However, these commercial protective cases are commonly designed for storing an individual mobile electronic device. Further, a school, organization or office may need to use a large number of tablet computers, notebook computers, PDAs or other mobile electronic devices to satisfy different requirements for information sorting or different software applications. After use, these mobile electronic devices may be directly left on desks. The use of a large amount of mobile electronic devices brings inconvenience to the person in charge. Further, these mobile electronic devices can be easily stolen. 
     Further, putting mobile electronic devices in protective cases facilitates carrying and enhancing convenience and ease of use. However, conventional protective cases for mobile electronic device do not provide a charging function. When going to charge each storage mobile electronic device, the user must take the storage mobile electronic device out of the protective case and then electrically connect the mobile electronic device to an external power source by a power adapter or battery charger. Further, when a user wishes to update the educational software program or other application software program of multiple mobile electronic devices, the user must connect every mobile electronic device individually to a host computer or server and start every mobile electronic device, and then control the host computer or server to update the software program. However, this individual mobile electronic device updating operation takes much time. It is quite inconvenient to connect and arrange the transmission cables of a large amount of mobile electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a storing and charging apparatus, which is practical for storing multiple mobile electronic devices and charging them synchronously. It is another object of the present invention to provide a storing and charging apparatus, which creates an optimal spatial arrangement, facilitating storage of a large amount of mobile electronic devices. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a storing and charging apparatus, which keeps the cables of storage mobile electronic devices well organized, avoiding tangled cables. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a storing and charging apparatus, which facilitates quick heat dissipation during charging or synchronous data transmission of storage mobile electronic devices. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a storing and charging apparatus, which allows multiple storing and charging apparatuses be conveniently arranged in a stack. 
     To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a storing and charging apparatus of the invention comprises a housing, which comprises an accommodation chamber, an access opening in communication with the accommodation chamber, two substantially U-shaped sliding tracks at two opposite lateral sides of the accommodation chamber, two storage racks mounted in the accommodation chamber in a parallel manner and respectively defining therein a plurality of vertically spaced storage compartments for storing mobile electronic devices individually and a partition panel vertically set between the two storage racks and holding a plurality of connection ports, a sliding door coupled to the U-shaped sliding tracks and movable along the U-shaped sliding tracks to close/open the access opening, and a power module mounted in the accommodation chamber of the housing at a back side relative to the partition panel. 
     Preferably, the housing further comprises a plurality of wire-organizer brackets transversely affixed to the front wall of the partition panel at different elevations for organizing the cables of storage mobile electronic devices. Each wire-organizer bracket comprises a plurality of wire grooves horizontally arranged in a line at a bottom side thereof, a plurality of retaining notches horizontally arranged in a line at an opposing top side thereof and a wire entry defined in a front side of each said retaining notch corresponding to one respective said wire groove. Further, the wire entries of each wire-organizer bracket define different widths for organizing cables of different diameters. 
     Preferably, the housing further comprises an internal electric fan mounted in the power module inside the housing and adapted for expelling hot air from the inside of the housing to the surroundings, an external electric fan mounted in an outside wall of the housing at a rear side relative to the power module and aimed at the first electric fan, and a plurality of ventilation holes disposed corresponding to the external electric fan. 
     Preferably, the housing further comprises a plurality of hanging holes located at a back side thereof for hanging on a wall. 
     Preferably, the housing further comprises a plurality of mating mounting grooves and mounting ribs symmetrically located at opposing top and bottom sides thereof. By means of fastening the mounting grooves or mounting ribs of one storing and charging apparatus to the mounting ribs or mounting grooves of another storing and charging apparatus, multiple storing and charging apparatuses can be fastened together in a stack. 
     Preferably, the front bar of the sliding door comprises two coupling rods respectively extended from two distal ends thereof and respectively slidably coupled to the U-shaped sliding tracks of the housing, two sloping guide surfaces respectively disposed at the two distal ends at a front side relative to the coupling rods, at least one pivot member located at a rear side thereof and a grip. Preferably, each sliding door slat of the sliding door comprises a flexible slat body slidably coupled between the U-shaped sliding tracks of the housing, a plurality of slat components extended from the flexible slat body and defining therein an open-ended space, at least one pivot member, and at least one knuckle member. The at least one knuckle member of each sliding door slat is pivotally coupled to the at least one pivot member of the front bar or the at least one pivot member of another sliding door slat. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational front view of a storing and charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an oblique bottom elevational rear side view of the storing and charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the storing and charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  corresponds to  FIG. 3  when viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view the wire-organizer bracket of the storing and charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged view of the sliding door of the storing and charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating mobile electronic devices stored in the compartments of the storage racks. 
         FIG. 8  is an oblique top elevational front view of the present invention, illustrating the sliding door of the storing and charging apparatus closed. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates two storing and charging apparatuses arranged in a stack in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a storing and charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown. The storing and charging apparatus comprises a housing  1 , a sliding door  2 , a power module  3 , and a wheel set  4 . 
     The housing  1  comprises an accommodation chamber  10 , an access opening  101  disposed at a front side thereof in communication with the accommodation chamber  10 , a lock hole  102  disposed in a bottom side of the access opening  101 , two substantially U-shaped sliding tracks  11  respectively upwardly extended from two distal ends of the bottom side of the access opening  101  to two distal ends of an opposing top side of the access opening  101  and then horizontally backwardly extended from the two distal ends of the top side of the access opening  101  along two opposite top lateral sides of the accommodation chamber  10  to two distal ends of a rear top side of the accommodation chamber  10  and then vertically downwardly extended from the two distal ends of the rear top side of the accommodation chamber  10  to two distal ends of a rear bottom side of the accommodation chamber  10 , two storage racks  12  mounted in the accommodation chamber  10  in a parallel manner each defining therein a plurality of storage compartments  121 , a partition panel  122  vertically mounted in between the two storage racks  12  at a front side, a plurality of connection ports  123  installed in the partition panel  122  at different elevations, a plurality of wire-organizer brackets  13  transversely affixed to the front wall of the partition panel  122  at different elevations, a power switch  14  mounted in one outside wall thereof for power on/off control, a power socket  141  disposed adjacent to the power switch  14  for connecting to an external power source by a power cable (not shown), a plurality of mating mounting grooves  15  and mounting ribs  16  symmetrically located at opposing top and bottom sides thereof, a plurality of hanging holes  17  located at a back side thereof, and a connection module  18  mounted in another outside wall thereof. Further, each wire-organizer bracket  13  comprises a plurality of wire grooves  131  horizontally arranged in a line at a bottom side thereof, a plurality of retaining notches  132  horizontally arranged in a line at an opposing top side thereof, and a wire entry  133  defined in a front side of each of the retaining notches  132  corresponding to one respective wire groove  131 . Further, the connection module  18  comprises at least one electrical connector  181 . 
     The sliding door  2  is coupled to the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  of the housing  1  and movable along the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  to close/open the access opening  101 , comprising a transversely extending front bar  21  and a plurality of sliding door slats  22 . The front bar  21  comprises two coupling rods  211  respectively extended from two distal ends thereof and respectively slidably coupled to the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  of the housing  1 , two sloping guide surfaces  212  respectively disposed at the two distal ends at a front side relative to the coupling rods  211 , at least one pivot member  213  located at a rear side thereof, a grip  214  located at an opposing front side thereof, and a lock  215  disposed adjacent to the grip  214  and lockable to the lock hole  102 . Further, each sliding door slat  22  comprises a flexible slat body  221  slidably coupled between the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  of the housing  1 , a plurality of slat components  222  extended from the flexible slat body  221  and defining therein an open-ended space  223 , at least one pivot member  224 , and at least one knuckle member  225 . By means of pivotally connecting the at least one knuckle member  225  of each sliding door slat  22  to the at least one pivot member  213  of the front bar  21  or the at least one pivot member  224  of another sliding door slat  22 , the front bar  21  and the sliding door slats  22  are coupled together. 
     The power module  3  is mounted in the accommodation chamber  10  of the housing  1  at a back side relative to the partition panel  122 , and electrically connected to the power switch  14  and the power socket  141 . Further, an internal electric fan  31  is mounted in the power module  3  inside the housing  1  and adapted for expelling hot air from the inside of the housing  1  to the surroundings. Further, an external electric fan  32  is mounted in the housing  1  behind the power module  3  and aimed at the first electric fan  31  for enhancing heat dissipation. 
     The wheel set  4  comprises at least three, for example, four mounting plates  43  respectively affixed to a bottom wall of the housing  1  in four corners by screws  44 , a wheel bracket  41  mounted in each mounting plate  43 , and a wheel  42  pivotally mounted in each wheel bracket  41 . 
     During application of the storing and charging apparatus, mobile electronic devices  6  can be selectively stored in the storage compartments  121  of the two storage racks  12  in the accommodation chamber  10  of the housing, and then electrically connected the cables (not shown) of the mobile electronic devices  6  to the connection ports  123  in the partition panel  122  between the two storage racks  12  respectively for synchronous data transmission or battery charging. 
     Further, after insertion of mobile electronic devices  6  into selected storage compartments  121  of the storage racks  12 , the user can selectively insert the cables of the storage mobile electronic devices  6  into the wire entries  133  of the wire-organizer brackets  13  at the front wall of the partition panel  122 , and then wind the cables round the respective wire grooves  131  and retaining notches  132 , and then electrically connect the cables to the adjacent connection ports  123 . Thus, the cables of the storage mobile electronic devices  6  are well organized, avoiding tangled cables. Further, the wire entries  133  of each wire-organizer bracket  13  have different widths for organizing cables of different diameters to widen the applicability of the wire-organizer brackets  13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  again, as stated above, the power module  3  is mounted in the accommodation chamber  10  of the housing  1  behind the partition panel  122 . During operation of the power module  3 , the internal electric fan  31  is simultaneously driven to expel hot air from the accommodation chamber  10  to the outside of the housing  1 , and the external electric fan  32  is also driven to enhance heat dissipation, thereby lowering the temperature of the power module  3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIGS. 1-4  again, by means of the wheels  42  of the wheel set  4 , the user can move the storing and charging apparatus on the table or floor to the desired location conveniently. Further, by means of dismounting the screws  44  from the mounting plates  43  and the bottom wall of the housing  1 , the wheel brackets  41 , wheels  42  and mounting plates  43  of the wheel set  4  can be detached from the housing  1 . At this time, the user can use the hanging holes  17  to hang the storing and charging apparatus on a wall (not shown). Further, the invention allows multiple storing and charging apparatuses to be arranged in a stack by engaging the mounting ribs  16  of one storing and charging apparatus into the mounting grooves  15  of another storing and charging apparatus. 
     Further, in one example of the present invention, one or multiple mounting grooves  15  are disposed at the top wall of the housing  1 , and one or multiple mounting ribs  16  are disposed at the bottom wall of the housing  1 . In another example of the present invention, one or multiple mounting grooves  15  are disposed at the bottom wall of the housing  1 , and one or multiple mounting ribs  16  are disposed at the top wall of the housing  1 . In still another example of the present invention, the housing  1  comprises at least one mounting groove  15  and at least one mounting rib  16  at the top wall thereof, and at least one mounting rib  16  and at least one mounting groove  15  at the bottom wall thereof, wherein each mounting groove  15  at the top wall is disposed corresponding to one respective mounting rib  16  at the bottom wall; each mounting rib  16  at the top wall is disposed corresponding to one respective mounting groove  15  at the bottom wall. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIGS. 1-7  again, the sliding door  2  can be moved along the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  to close/open the access opening  101  of the housing  1 . As stated above, two coupling rods  211  of the front bar  21  are respectively slidably coupled to the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  of the housing  1 , and the sliding door slats  22  are hinged to one another and to the front bar  21  and slidably coupled to the U-shaped sliding tracks  11 . If the user wishes to open the sliding door  2 , unlock the lock  215  from the lock hole  102 , and then pull the grip  214  of the front bar  21  to move the front bar  21  upwardly along the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  to the top side of the access opening  101  and then push the front bar  21  horizontally backwardly along two opposite top lateral sides of the accommodation chamber  10  toward the rear top side of the accommodation chamber  10  to move the sliding door slats  22  to the rear side of the accommodation chamber  10 . If the user wishes to close the sliding door  2 , pull the grip  214  of the front bar  21  forwardly and then downwardly along the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  to the bottom side of the access opening  101 , and then lock the lock  215  to the lock hole  102 . 
     As stated above, the U-shaped sliding tracks  11  respectively upwardly extend from two distal ends of the bottom side of the access opening  101  to two distal ends of an opposing top side of the access opening  101  and then horizontally backwardly extend along two opposite top lateral sides of the accommodation chamber  10  to two distal ends of a rear top side of the accommodation chamber  10  and then vertically downwardly extend to two distal ends of the rear bottom side of the accommodation chamber  10 . Further, the sliding door slats  22  are flexible, and the slat components  222  are elastically compressible. By means of pivotally connecting the at least one knuckle member  225  of each sliding door slat  22  to the at least one pivot member  213  of the front bar  21  or the at least one pivot member  224  of another sliding door slat  22 , the front bar  21  and the sliding door slats  22  are coupled together. When moving the front bar  21  and the sliding door slats  22  through curved areas of the U-shaped sliding tracks  11 , the sliding door slats  33  can be elastically compressed, facilitating moving the sliding door  2  between the close position and the open position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4  again, the electrical connectors  181  of the connection module  18  can be USB connectors, fiber optic connectors, SATA connectors, or thunderbolt connectors. Electrical charging devices and computers can be electrically connected in series to the electrical connectors  181  for data transmission or control operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  again, ventilation holes  5  can be made in lateral walls of the housing  1  and lateral walls of the storage racks  12  in air communication with the accommodation chamber  10  for ventilation. During synchronous data transmission or battery charging of multiple storage electronic devices  6 , the ventilation holes  5  facilitate quick heat dissipation. Ventilation holes  5  can also be made in opposing front and rear walls of the power module  3  corresponding to the internal electric fan  31  and the external electric fan  32  to facilitate quick heat dissipation. 
     In conclusion, the invention provides a storage and charging apparatus, which comprises a housing, which comprises an accommodation chamber defined therein, an access opening disposed at a front side thereof in communication with the accommodation chamber and two storage racks arranged in parallel in the accommodation chamber and defining therein a plurality of vertically spaced compartments for storing mobile electronic devices, a sliding door coupled to the housing and movable to close/open the access opening of the housing, a power module mounted in the accommodation chamber behind the storage racks, and a wheel set detachably mounted at the bottom side of the housing to facilitate moving the storage and charging apparatus. Further, mating mounting grooves and mounting ribs are provided at opposing top and bottom walls of the housing so that multiple storage and charging apparatuses can be fastened to one another in a stack. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.