Patent Publication Number: US-2012043937-A1

Title: Charger for electronic devices having a rechargeable battery

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to charging devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a charger for electronic devices having a rechargeable battery and, yet particularly, the instant invention relates to a wearable charger for mobile phone and associated hands-free accessory operating on a Bluetooth protocol and to a charger for portable computers. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is generally well known, use of electronic devices proliferated in recent years to a point where a person may carry plurality of devices each designated to provide a particular function. For example, a person may carry a cell (mobile) phone for voice transmissions, a music playing device and a computer and may use at least two devices simultaneously. As is further generally well known, any electronic device heavily depends on internal rechargeable battery as a main source for providing necessary power. However, presently used batteries have a limited operating life before requiring recharging. Thus, many are constantly looking for a conventional wall outlet or a 12-volt automotive power outlet to recharge the battery or are forced to carry a spare battery. A particular disadvantage is felt by those who desire to use electronic devices for extended periods of times while away from the convenience or presence of electrical outlets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a charger for mobile communication devices. The charger includes a pouch. The pouch has a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall defining in combination a hollow interior and an open end disposed in operative communication with the hollow interior. There is a generally closed chamber that is disposed adjacent at least one wall of the pouch. At least one, and preferably a pair of batteries disposed within the generally closed chamber. A power input port is disposed within the generally closed chamber and accessible for entry from an exterior of the pouch. A power output port may be also disposed within the generally closed chamber and accessible for entry from the exterior of the pouch. A charging circuit is electrically coupled to the power input port and to the at least one battery. At least one set of first electrical conductors is provided for access within the hollow interior or on an exterior surface of the pouch and electrically coupled to the charging circuit. There is also at least one contact assembly having each of a body, a set of second electrical conductors sized and shaped to operatively and releaseably mate with the at least one set of first electrical conductors, and a power plug extending above a surface of the body. The power plug is electrically coupled to the set of second electrical conductors and sized and shaped to operatively engage a power socket of the mobile electronic device. The at least one contact assembly is dimensioned so that when the sets of first and second electrical conductors are operatively mated therebetween the power plug is positioned to operatively engage the power socket of the mobile electronic device. A control circuit is also provided. The pouch may be adapted with a member for attachment to article of clothing or a carrying bag or with carrying handles. The pouch may also have internal fasteners or sleeves for adjusting the hollow interior portion to operatively mate with electronic device of a specific size. An exterior cradle with a charging plug may be also provided for charging a mobile phone accessory operating on a Bluetooth protocol. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a charger for electronic devices having a rechargeable battery. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a charger for electronic devices that contains a pair of batteries. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a charger for electronic devices that is constructed from a shock-resistant material. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a charger for electronic devices that annunciates charging status of the electronic device. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a charger for electronic devices that can be attached to article of clothing or a carrying bag. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a charger for electronic devices that has adjustable inner portion to fit electronic devices of variable sizes. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a charger for electronic devices that is capable of also charging a wirelessly operated accessory. 
     In addition to the several objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of a charger of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of a connector assembly employed in combination with the charger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side elevation view of the charger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view of the charger of  FIG. 1  having a cradle for charging an accessory operating on a Bluetooth wireless protocol; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of the charger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates front elevation view of the charger of  FIG. 1  adapted with means for adjusting usable portion of the hollow interior; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates front elevation view of the charger of  FIG. 1  adapted with another means for adjusting usable portion of the hollow interior. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures. 
     The present invention provides a pouch containing a charger circuit and at least one battery for recharging a battery of an electronic device and annunciation means for annunciating power levels of the electronic device. 
     It is to be understood that the definition of an electronic device includes but is not limited to mobile phones, pagers, mp3 players, portable computers, notebook computers, Ipads® and the like devices. 
     Reference is now made, to  FIGS. 1-7 , wherein there is shown a charger, generally designated as  10 , for charging an electronic device  2  having a rechargeable battery. The charger  10  includes a pouch  20  having each of a front wall  21 , a rear wall  22 , a pair of side walls  23  and a bottom wall  25  defining in combination each of a hollow interior  26  and an open end  28  disposed in operative communication with the hollow interior  26 . Preferably, the side walls  26  are in a shape of a strap disposed mediate the bottom wall  25  and the open end  28 . The wearable pouch  20  is preferably manufactured from at least one of a shock resistant and liquid impermeable material. The hollow interior  26  of the pouch  20  may be sized so as to positively retain the electronic device therewithin (for example by way of a frictional fit) and prevent unintentional separation of the electronic device  2  therefrom, however means for closing the open end  28  may be also provided. By way of an example only of  FIG. 1 , such means is shown as a flap  30  that may be advantageous when the electronic device  2  is a mobile phone or the like mobile communication device. The flap  30  is attached to or formed integral with a free upper edge of one wall, shown as the rear wall  22 , of the pouch  20  in operative positioning with the open end  28 . The flap  30  pivots between a first position for at least partially closing the open end  28  so as to retain electronic device  2  within the hollow interior  26  and a second position for opening the open end  28  so that the electronic device  2  can be easily removed from the hollow interior  26  or inserted thereinto. 
     There is means for releaseably securing the flap  30  in the first position. Preferably, such releaseably securing means is a pair of magnets, wherein a first magnet  32  is secured to one of a front exterior surface  27  of a front wall  21  of the pouch  20  and an inner surface of the flap  30  and wherein the second magnet  34  is secured to an opposed one of the front exterior surface  27  of the pouch  20  and the inner surface of the flap  30 . Alternatively, such retaining means may be a clasp, a loop and hook fastener or any other suitable means. 
     When the electronic device  2  is the mobile phone or the like mobile communication device, it is presently preferred to attach the charger  10  to one of a limb, article of clothing, clothing accessory and carrying bag. Thus, a member is secured to an exterior surface  29  of the rear wall  22  of the pouch  20  and is dimensioned and shaped so as to attach the pouch  20  to such one of a limb, article of clothing, clothing accessory and carrying bag. By way of an example only, such member shown in  FIG. 2  as a generally U-shaped spring clip  34  that is attached to the rear surface  29  by way of a conventional swivel  36 . 
     Also provided is a generally closed chamber  40 . Such generally closed chamber  40  is defined by a combination of a cover portion  42  and either an exterior or interior surface of one of the walls of the pouch  20 . Such generally closed chamber  40  is best shown in  FIGS. 1-2  as being disposed adjacent the bottom wall  25 , however it is within the scope of the instant invention to locate such chamber  40  along any other wall of the pouch  20 . 
     A first battery  50  is disposed within the chamber  40  and is employed for charging the electronic device  2 . A second battery  54  is also disposed within the chamber  40  and is electrically coupled to each of the first battery  50  and the supply power. The second battery  54  collects the supply power and distributes it to the first battery  50  except for a small portion of such supply power which is retained (stored) within the second battery  54 . An access to the batteries  50  and  54  may be also provided by way of a removable cover(s)  56 . 
     There is an input port  60  and an output port  62 , both disposed within the chamber  40  and accessible from the exterior surface of the pouch  20 , shown as the side exterior surface  31  but that can be any other surface. An input port  60  is employed for receiving the supply power, by way of a plug  8  from a remote power source which may be a conventional electric outlet, by way of a plug  9  from a 12-Volt vehicle power supply, power adapter (not shown) and the like power sources. It would be appreciated that the type of the input port  60  will be selected depending on particular application requirements. The present invention contemplates that the input port  60  may be configured to receive power from the electronic device, such as a computer (not shown) by way, for example, of a Universal Serial Bus (USB). 
     It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a plurality of input ports  60 , each configured to receive power from a distinct power source. Likewise, the type of the output port  62  is selected depending on particular application requirements and the instant invention contemplates use of more than one output port  62 . 
     A control circuit assembly  70  is at least partially disposed within the chamber  40 . The control circuit assembly  70  includes at least a charging circuit  71  electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second batteries,  50  and  54  respectively. The control circuit  70  assembly may further include at least one indicator  58  that is operable to indicate charge levels of the first battery  50  and/or second battery  54 . 
     Also provided is an audio circuit  72  which is electrically coupled to the control circuit  76  and which is configured to emit a predetermined sound through the grille arrangement  77  and/or generate vibration for the purposes of annunciating the charging condition of the electronic device  2 . Such sound may be also a voice. The charging condition may be annunciated incrementally or when the maximum charging level is achieved. The control circuit  76  is preferably of a microprocessor type 
     At least one set of first electrical conductors  73  (including three conductors  73 A,  73 B and  73 C) is provided in the pouch  20  and is electrically coupled to the control circuit  76 . 
     A display  78  is preferably integrated into a portion of the flap  30  and is operable to incrementally display charging status of such electronic device  2 . The display  78  may be of a liquid crystal display (LCD) type. It would be appreciated that electrical connection between the display  78  and the control circuit assembly  70  would be hidden within the thickness of the flap  30  and the rear wall  22 . 
     It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide means, generally designated  80 , for recharging a hands-free accessory  4  (operating on a Bluetooth protocol) for the electronic device  2 , such as the mobile phone. 
     Such means  80  includes a retaining means, such as a cradle  82 , disposed preferably on an exterior front surface  27  of the front wall  21  of the pouch  20  and sized and shaped for receiving and releasably retaining a communication device  4  operating on a Bluetooth protocol. Means, such as a power socket  84 , is provided within the cradle  82  for charging such Bluetooth communication device  4  received therewithin. A second display  88  for incrementally displaying charging status of such Bluetooth communication device  4  may be also provided. 
     The present invention also contemplates the use of an optional solar collector assembly  89  disposed on the portion of the flap  30  that spans the open end  28  of the pouch  20  and that arranged to harvest solar power and convert it into electric power for charging the batteries  50  and  54  through the charging circuit  71 . 
     The instant invention advantageously provides for charging the electronic device  2  either received within the pouch  20  or disposed external thereto as well as provides for charging plurality of electronic devices  2 . Accordingly, the charger  10  includes a predetermined plurality of first conductor sets  73  disposed both within the hollow interior  26  as well as on the exterior surface of the pouch  20 . Now in further reference to  FIG. 1 , one pair of such first conductor sets  73  is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom wall  25  and another pair of such first conductor sets  73  is mounted on the exterior surface  24  of each side wall  23 . 
     Although, the first conductor sets  73  may be configured for direct engagement with the power socket of the electronic device  2 , a contact assembly, generally designated as  90 , is provided and is best shown in  FIG. 2 . The contact assembly  90  has each of a body  92 , a set of second electrical conductors  94  (including three conductors  94 A,  94 B and  94 C) sized and shaped to operatively and releaseably mate with the at least one set of first electrical conductors  73 , and a power plug  96  extending above a surface of the body  92 . The power plug  96  is electrically coupled to the set of second electrical conductors  94  and is sized and shaped to operatively engage a power socket of the electronic device  2 . The contact assembly  90  is dimensioned so that when the sets of first and second electrical conductors are operatively mated therebetween, the power plug  96  is positioned to operatively engage the socket of the electronic device  2 . 
     The first and second electrical conductors are shown as elongated prongs, although other conventional plug/socket arrangements may be employed within the instant invention. Furthermore, the inside electrical conductor  73 B and  94 B are disposed in a plane that is offset from the plane of the other conductors  73 A,  73 C and  94 A,  94 C respectively so as to provide positive interlocking during use. 
     Although, one contact assembly  90  may be employed, a plurality of contact assemblies  90  is also contemplated, each configured, at the power plug  96 , to charge a specific electronic device  2 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the pouch  20 ′ configured to operatively receive electronic devices  2  of various sizes in a manner that minimizes movement of such electronic device  2  within the hollow interior  26 . Accordingly, the pouch  20 ′ may be adapted with means for adjusting usable portion of the hollow interior  26 , such as fasteners  100 , secured in operative alignment to the inner surfaces of the front wall  21  and rear wall  22  and arranged in a pattern defining plurality of rows  102  and columns  104 . The fasteners  100  are shown as hook and loop fasteners  100 , but may be also provided as clasps, buttons, zippers and the like fasteners. The columns  104  are positioned at pre-selected distances from the side wall  23  having the set of conductors  73  disposed adjacent thereto and rows  102  are positioned at preselected distances from the bottom wall  25 . Thus, to adjust the size of the interior  26  of the pouch  20 , the user simply selects the appropriate row  102  and appropriate column  104  according to the size of the electronic device  2 . The means for closing the open end  28  of the pouch  20 ′ may be then provided as a conventional zipper  118  and the pouch  20 ′ may be further adapted with carrying handles  116 . 
     It is also contemplated, as shown in  FIG. 7 , that such means for adjusting usable portion of the hollow interior  26  may include a plurality of hollow sleeves  110 ,  110 A,  110 B,  110 C nested within each other and disposed within said hollow interior  26  of the pouch  20 ″, each of the plurality of hollow sleeves  110 ,  110 A,  110 B, having a power plug  112  coupled to each of the charging circuit  71  and to one of a power socket of the electronic device  2  and a power socket  114  of an adjacent hollow sleeve. The means for closing the open end  28  of the pouch  20 ″ may be then provided as a conventional zipper  118  and the pouch  20 ″ may be further adapted with carrying handles  116 . 
     To charge a brand new charger  10  or recharge the charger  10  after use, the user simply connects the charger  10  to a conventional wall outlet or car outlet (not shown) through the input power port  60  or exposes the charger  10  equipped with the solar collector assembly  89  to light. 
     When the batteries  50  and  54  are charged, the user mounts the contact assembly  90  at a predetermined position on or within the pouch  20  and simply connects the electronic device  2  to the power plug  96 . 
     When the electronic device  2  is received for charging within the hollow interior  26 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 , the user of the electronic device  2  is benefited by operating the electronic device  2  for prolong periods in conditions prohibiting access to conventional source of electrical power, for example, such as jogging, hiking, air travel, farming and the like activities. 
     Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.