Patent Publication Number: US-11398739-B1

Title: Modular wireless appliance charging system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to charging platforms for charging battery-powered appliances. More particularly, the present invention provides a modular wireless appliance charging platform that can be customized with different numbers, types, and arrangements of charging adapters for different types of battery-powered appliances. The present invention will be discussed as used in the context of providing a customizable charging solution for battery-powered or “cordless” haircare appliances, but the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular application. 
     Hair stylists, barbers, and other hair care professionals often use electrically powered tools while cutting, trimming, and styling their customer&#39;s hair. Many different types of clippers, cutters, and other powered appliances can be utilized during a single session. Such appliances can be powered via a cable connecting to a wall outlet. However, many individuals prefer to use battery-powered or “wireless” appliances due to the convenience of not having to maneuver a cord that is usually attached to such appliances. Some battery-powered appliances include a charging cord that must be plugged into a wall outlet for charging. Similar to wall outlet powered devices, these charging cords can lead to a tangled, cluttered mess in the work area. They can also cause problems if the cords become tangled while the devices are being used. 
     Other types of battery-powered appliances are sold along with a dedicated charging station. The dedicated charging station includes a particular shape and electrical contact arrangement that corresponds to a related electrical contact within the base of the battery-powered appliance. Placing the battery-powered appliance within the receiver of the charging station creates an electrical connection that allows the appliance&#39;s battery to be charged. However, since each appliance includes a different connector arrangement and therefore a different contact arrangement for each charging base, this does not solve the general problem of having clutter in the workspace caused by multiple different charging bases each requiring a cord to be plugged into a wall outlet. In view of the above concerns, it is desirable to provide a modular wireless charging system for battery-powered hair care appliances that can effectively charge many types of hair appliances on a compact charging base that can be customized depending on the number and types of hair appliances the individual is using. 
     Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to charging platforms for charging multiple types of battery-powered appliances simultaneously. These include devices that have been patented and disclosed in patent application publications. However, the devices in the known art have several drawbacks. For example, these devices include fixed charging platforms and connectors. They cannot be rearranged to provide a desired arrangement that the individual has in mind. It may be desirable for an individual to organize their hair appliances in the logical order in which they will be used during a hair cutting session, as one example. 
     Other issues with the devices in the known art occur when an individual purchases a new hair appliance that is not supported by the device. The individual must purchase an appliance that includes another charging cord, or must purchase a new charging solution, which can be time-consuming and costly. The ability to arrange the hair appliances as desired so that they are easily accessible and organized would be beneficial to professional or at-home user alike, and the devices in the known art lack such a feature. Additionally, the ability to customize the particular number of charging adapters in use can enhance the ability to organize appliances and expand as needed when acquiring new appliances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a modular wireless appliance charging system wherein the same can be utilized for providing a customizable and expandable for charging solution for battery-powered appliances, such as hair clippers, trimmers, and the like. The modular wireless appliance charging system generally includes a primary charging platform having a plurality of adapter slots disposed on its upper side. The system includes at least one adapter configured to be removably secured within an adapter slot of the plurality of adapter slots, and can include any number of adapters that correspond to different types of appliances. The adapters include a receiver configured to removably secure an appliance to the adapter via a charging port of the appliance. A charging mechanism operably connected to a power supply is configured to charge a battery of the appliance that is secured to the receiver of an adapter that is secured within one of the adapter slots. The system may further include an auxiliary charging platform that is attachable to the primary charging platform. The auxiliary charging platform is similar in form and function to the primary charging platform and provides additional slots for adapters. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a modular wireless appliance charging system that allows users to customize the type, number, and arrangement of adapters on the charging platform. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular wireless appliance charging system with many different types of adapters, allowing the user to create a customized charging solution with the adapters that match their current appliances, and to expand with new adapters when new appliances are acquired. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular wireless appliance charging system that is expandable to provide additional adapter slots for charging additional appliances as the user&#39;s collection of appliances increases in number over time. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system. 
         FIG. 2  shows an expanded perspective view of an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system with the adapters separated from the adapter slots. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system in use with different types of appliances. 
         FIG. 4  shows an expanded perspective view of the primary and auxiliary charging platforms from an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the modular wireless appliance charging system. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing a customizable charging solution for hair appliances and any other suitable types of battery-powered devices. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system. The modular wireless appliance charging system includes a primary charging platform  10  which supports a number of adapters  14 . Each adapter  14  includes a receiver  16  having a charging port  23 , which includes an electrical contact (not visible, shown as  17  in  FIG. 4 ). The receivers  16  are sized to receive different types and sizes of appliances. Additionally, the electrical contacts in connection with the charging port  23  of the adapter  14  are adapted to connect to a corresponding charging port of the appliance so that the primary charging platform  10  can charge the appliance&#39;s battery. 
     The adapters  14  are removably securable within individual adapter slots  12  disposed on an upper surface of the primary charging platform  10 . In the shown embodiment, the adapters  14  include a base  15  that aligns to fit snugly within the perimeter walls  18  that define the individual adapter slots  12 . The perimeter walls  18  help secure the adapters  14  in place during use. In some embodiments, additional securement mechanisms such as magnets, clips, and other similar devices may be utilized to form a temporary yet secure connection between the adapters  14  and the adapter slots  12 . 
     Each adapter slot  12  includes a charging mechanism in the form of an electrical contact  13  that is operably connected to a power supply. The power supply may be an internal battery within the primary charging platform  10  or a wired connection to a wall outlet. In such an embodiment, the charging platform  10  can include an internal invertor to convert the alternating current from the wall outlet to a direct current required for charging the appliance&#39;s battery. When the adapter  14  is secured within the adapter slot  12 , the adapter slot electrical contact  13  transmits electrical energy from the power supply to the receiver electrical contact  17 . This allows the battery of the appliance secured thereto to be charged. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an expanded perspective view of an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system with the adapters separated from the adapter slots. The adapter bases  15  and adapter slots  12  all include a common shape and size, so that any adapter  14  can be used in any adapter slot  12 . This allows the user to arrange and organize their particular appliances in the pattern they desire. For example, the user may wish to place their appliances from one end of the charging platform  10  to the other in the order that they will be used during the hair cutting or styling process. This can help to streamline the process and improve the experience for both the individual using the appliances and the person whose hair is being cut or styled. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system in use with different types of appliances. In some embodiments, the system further includes an auxiliary charging platform  21  that is removably securable to the primary charging platform  10 . An electrical connection is formed when the two platforms  10 ,  21  are secured to one another. In this way, the user can expand the total capacity of the system if needed. Each appliance  50  is secured within its respective receiver  16 , since each adapter  14  is designed to match a particular type of appliance. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an expanded perspective view of the primary and auxiliary charging platforms from an embodiment of the modular wireless appliance charging system. In the shown embodiment, the primary charging platform  10  includes a base plate  11  that includes the power supply and other electronic components of the system. In some embodiments, the power supply includes a battery power supply  26  enclosed within the base plate. A charging port  23  disposed on one end of the primary charging platform  10  is configured to receive electrical energy from the battery power supply  26 . The charging port  23  can include a USB connector or any other suitable electrical connector capable of power transmission. In one embodiment, the charging port  23  connects to the internal battery power supply  26  via the charging mechanism  27  which includes the charging port  23  and an electrical contact  17  within the primary charging platform  10 . In other embodiments, the charging port  23  connects to an electrical contact  17  of the charging mechanism  27 , which in turn is operably connected to a wall outlet-type power supply  19 , which includes a port that receives a wall outlet connector  28  that connects to an external wall outlet as a source of electricity for the wall-outlet type power supply  19 . In some embodiments, the wall outlet-type power supply  19  is configured to directly convert the electricity received by the wall outlet-type power supply  19  to the appropriate electrical current required for charging the attached appliances. The primary charging platform&#39;s opposing end  25  includes a connector  20  that is configured to removably secure to a corresponding connector  22  on the auxiliary charging platform  21 . This allows the same power supply to charge appliances secured to either charging platform, whether it be a battery power supply  26  or a wall outlet-type power supply  19 . 
     Similar to the primary charging platform  10 , the auxiliary charging platform  21  includes individual adapter slots  12  with electrical contacts  13 , which are sized to receive the base  15  of the adapters  14 . In some embodiments, the adapter  14  comprises several electrical contacts, one contact  17  within its base  15 , and another contact  23  within the receiver  16 . The base electrical contact  17  is in electrical communication with the receiver electrical contact  17 , such that electrical energy is transferrable from the power supply to an appliance  50  secured to the adapter  14  when the adapter is secured to one of the adapter slots  12 . 
     In operation, the user can utilize only the primary charging platform  10 , or they may attach the auxiliary charging platform  21  to provide additional adapter slots  12 . The user can acquire individual adapters  14  that are configured for use with the specific appliances the user owns. This gives the user the ability to expand their charging capabilities as their collection of appliances grows over time. Further, the adapters  14  can be placed in any arrangement on each charging platform, so as to organize the appliances in a way that improves the hair cutting and styling process. In this way, the customization and expansion options of present invention provide improvements over any existing charging platforms and related devices. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, 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.