Patent Publication Number: US-2022224277-A1

Title: Deployable hybrid solar power charger

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/136,318 filed Jan. 12, 2021, entitled “DEPLOYABLE HYBRID SOLAR POWER CHARGER,” the contents of which being incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Various techniques and devices exist for recharging a mobile device. Today, battery packs are commonly carried in pockets and purses to recharge a mobile device while on the go. Power cords and wireless charging stations are used in the home to charge mobile devices and tablet computing devices. Power cords are often used for laptop computing device. It remains difficult to have a single device that can be utilized to charge a multitude of different types of devices used in the home today. 
     U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0218553 A1 to He et al. describes a charging device configured to charge a mobile device through the solar cells integrated on the mobile device. The charging device converts wall power to light energy which can be absorbed by the solar cells and then converted to electricity for storage in the rechargeable battery of the mobile device. The charging device includes a light source configured to emit a light beam having a spectrum tuned to the spectral response of the solar cells. The charging device includes a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of a mobile device within the charging device housing and responsively signaling the activation of the light source. The charging device includes logic for wirelessly communicating with the mobile device as well as controlling the charging process in various stages and aspects. The light source may be LEDs that also serve to transmit light communication signals to the mobile device.” 
     U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0317413 A1 to Tan et al. describes a portable phone holder and solar charger for holding and charging a portable electronic device. The portable phone holder and charger includes a cradle portion which cradles a portable electronic device, a plug or electrical contacts that makes electrical connection with the portable electronic device, a base portion, a battery and recharging electronic circuitry, a solar panel, and a hinge that pivotally connects together the cradle portion and the base portion. The plug is adapted to engage with the portable electronic device and extends from the hinge and moves in concert along with the cradle portion when the base portion and the cradle portion are pivoted relative to each other. The cradle portion retains the portable electronic device in connection with the electrical engagement. The hinge preferably provides click stops at a plurality of positions of pivoting of the cradle portion relative to the base portion. The solar panel allows for recharging of the battery in the base portion to be recharged as well as the connected portable electronic device to be recharged. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,367,090 B2 to Barnett et al. relates to docking platforms formed in back surfaces of mobile electronic devices. Such a docking platform comprises a docking accessory cavity having a docking connection system comprising one or more docking connectors formed within the cavity, and optionally two or more electrical contacts within the cavity. The contacts electrically connected to electronics within the electronic device and constructed and arranged to allow electrical connection to detachable docking accessories. The docking connection system is operable to form detachable attachments to multiple independent docking accessories simultaneously. The cavities of the docking platforms are shaped to accommodate a broad range of docking accessories that are specially adapted to sit in a generally flush manner with the back surface of the mobile electronic device while attached to the docking connectors. One type of accessory forms an assembly with an expandable accordion attached to the docking platform. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A deployable hybrid solar power charger is described that include a charging base comprising a first rechargeable power supply and at least one solar panel for recharging the first rechargeable power supply; and a charging device detachably attached to the charging base, the charging device comprising a second rechargeable power supply and at least one connector for charging an electronic device, the second rechargeable power supply being different than the first rechargeable power supply. The at least one connector for charging the electronic device is adapted to charge a mobile phone or tablet. 
     The at least one solar panel comprises a first solar panel positioned on a first side of the charging base and a second solar panel positioned on a second side of the charging base. The charging base comprises a first telescoping arm for adjusting an angle of the first solar panel relative to the charging base, and a second telescoping arm for adjusting an angle of the second solar panel relative to the charging base. The charging base comprises a retractable cord for charging the first rechargeable power supply and powering the charging base. 
     The charging base further comprises a push button configured to extend or retract the retractable cord. The charging base comprises a bay configured to receive the charging device such that at least a portion of the charging device is nested in the bay. The bay is sized and positioned to receive the charging device and the electronic device while the charging device is coupled to a charging port of the electronic device. In some embodiments, the bay is sized and positioned to receive two charging devices and two electronic devices while the charging device is coupled to a charging port of the electronic device. 
     The charging base comprises a triangular shaped body. The charging base comprises a face comprising a plurality of power outlets. The power outlets comprise at least one of: a universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 power outlets; a USC-B power outlets; and an alternating current (AC) power outlets. The charging base comprises a display and processing circuitry configured to provide information relating to a charging of the charging device on the display. 
     The charging base comprises a first leg extending at an angle from a first side of a body of the charging base and a second leg extending at an angle from a second side of the body of the charging base, the first leg and the second leg configured to retain the charging base in an upright position. A handle recess is positioned on a top portion of the charging base. A method is described that comprises providing the foregoing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is another front perspective view of the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged front perspective view of the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a removable charging device that operates in conjunction with the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a removable charging device that operates in conjunction with the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a mobile device being inserted into or removed from the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  shows various views of the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 9-13  shows various views of the deployable hybrid solar power charger, or portions thereof, in operation in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a deployable hybrid solar power charger. Solar docking stations are limited in accessibility to different types of devices. Embodiments are described herein for a power charging device that has more functionality than existing products on the market, is more portable, durable, can be used indoors and outdoors and is compatible with all electronics including international devices. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a deployable hybrid solar power charger  100  and  FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view thereof in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is another front perspective view of the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100 ,  FIG. 4  is an enlarged front perspective view of the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100 , and  FIGS. 5 and 6  are front and perspective views, respectively, of a removable charging device  115  that operates in conjunction with the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100 ,  FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a removable charging device  115  that operates in conjunction with the deployable hybrid solar power charger in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of an electronic device  125  being inserted into or removed from the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100  in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  collectively, the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100  may include a charging base  105  having a housing that comprises a first rechargeable power supply (not shown) positioned therein, and one or more solar panels  110   a ,  110   b  (collectively “solar panels  110 ”) for recharging the first rechargeable power supply. Further, the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100  may include one or more charging devices  115  configured to detachably attach to the charging base  105 . The charging device  115  may include a second rechargeable power supply (not shown) being different than the first rechargeable power supply. For instance, the charging device  115  may include a 3000 MAH battery, or other suitable battery. 
     In some embodiments, the housing of the charging base  105  is triangular-shaped, where a bottom of the charging base  105  is wider than a top of the charging base  105 . Further, the housing of the charging base  105  may be curved or arched, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Further, the charging device  115  may include at least one connector  120  for charging an electronic device  125  via the second rechargeable power supply by coupling with a power supply port of the electronic device  125 . To this end, the connector  120  may include a USB-A connector, a USB-C connector, an iPhone connector, or other suitable connector. The electronic device  125  may include a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, headphones, or other electronic device  125  as may be appreciated. 
     The first solar panel  110   a  may be positioned on a first side of the charging base  105  and the second solar panel  110   b  may be positioned on a second side of the charging base  105 . Further, the charging base  105  may include a first telescoping arm  130   a  for adjusting an angle of the first solar panel  110   a  relative to the charging base  105 , and a second telescoping arm  130   b  for adjusting an angle of the second solar panel  110   b  relative to the charging base  105 .  FIG. 1  shows the solar panels  110  fully outward (e.g., the telescoping arms  130  fully extended), whereas  FIG. 3  shows the solar panels  110  fully inward (e.g., the telescoping arms  130  fully retracted). As such, each of the solar panels  110  may be described as being pivotably coupled to the base  105  of the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the charging base  105  includes a retractable cord  135  for charging the first rechargeable power supply and/or powering the charging base  105  in place of or in addition to the solar panels  110 . The charging base  105  may further include a push button  140  configured to extend or retract the retractable cord  135 . A cover  145  may cover the retractable cord  135  when the retractable cord  135  is fully retracted into an interior compartment  150  of the charging base  105  on a rear face  158  of the charging base  105 . 
     The charging base  105  may include a bay  155  (for instance, positioned on a face or a front side of the charging base  105 ) configured to receive the charging devices  115  such that at least a portion of the charging device  115  is nested in the bay  155 . In some embodiments, the bay  155  is sized and positioned to receive the charging device  115  and the electronic device  125  while the charging device  115  is coupled to a charging port of the electronic device  125 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bay  155  is sized and positioned to receive two ones of the charging devices  115   a ,  115   b  and the electronic device  125  while the charging device  115  is coupled to a charging port (not shown) of the electronic device  125 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the charging base  105  may include a triangular shaped body. A front face  162  of the charging base  105  may include one or more power outlets  160   a  . . .  160   n  (collectively “power outlets  160 ”). The power outlets  160  may include at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 power outlets (providing 5 V), a USC-B power outlets, and an alternating current (AC) power outlets (providing 220 V), or other suitable power outlet. The charging base comprises a power button  165  and a display  170 . Further, the charging base  105  may include processing circuitry (not shown) configured to provide information relating to a charging of the charging device on the display  170 . 
     The charging base  105  may include a first leg  175   a  extending at an angle from a first side of a body of the charging base  105  and a second leg  165   b  (collectively “legs  165 ”) extending at an angle from a second side of the body of the charging base  105 . The first leg  165   a  and the second leg  165   b  are configured to retain the charging base in an upright position, as may be appreciated. In some embodiments, the charging base  105  includes a handle recess  180  positioned on a top portion of the charging base  105  that facilitates carrying the charging base  105 . 
       FIG. 8  shows various views of the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100  in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 9-13  shows various views of the deployable hybrid solar power charger  100 , or portions thereof, in operation in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The features, structures, or characteristics described above may be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner, and the features discussed in the various embodiments are interchangeable, if possible. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided in order to fully understand the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the technical solution of the present disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, materials, and the like may be employed. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the present disclosure. 
     Although the relative terms such as “on,” “below,” “upper,” and “lower” are used in the specification to describe the relative relationship of one component to another component, these terms are used in this specification for convenience only, for example, as a direction in an example shown in the drawings. It should be understood that if the device is turned upside down, the “upper” component described above will become a “lower” component. When a structure is “on” another structure, it is possible that the structure is integrally formed on another structure, or that the structure is “directly” disposed on another structure, or that the structure is “indirectly” disposed on the other structure through other structures. 
     In this specification, the terms such as “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are used to indicate the presence of one or more elements and components. The terms “comprise,” “include,” “have,” “contain,” and their variants are used to be open ended, and are meant to include additional elements, components, etc., in addition to the listed elements, components, etc. unless otherwise specified in the appended claims. The terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used only as labels, rather than a limitation for a number of the objects. 
     The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.