Patent ID: 8228026

Claim:
An inductively coupled shelving unit, comprising: a shelving unit having a shelf; a first primary coil integrated into the shelf and connected to a power source, the first primary coil being capable of inductively coupling power to a device containing a secondary coil; one or more indicators on a surface of the shelf that show a charging area for the first primary coil, the charging area being an area within which inductive coupling between the first primary coil and a secondary coil can be achieved; an inductively coupled storage container including a first secondary coil associated with an exterior surface of the container to provide proximity and alignment with the first primary coil when the container is placed on the shelf, a first compartment removeably retaining therein a first device having a second secondary coil, the first compartment including a second primary coil associated therewith and positioned for alignment with the second secondary coil, a second compartment removeably retaining therein a second device having a third secondary coil, the second compartment including a third primary coil associated therewith and positioned for alignment with the third secondary coil, and a distribution circuit that electrically couples between the first secondary coil and the second and third primary coils; and a docking unit that is coupled to the shelf over the charging area and that accepts the storage container, the storage container being removeably disposed in the docking unit and the docking unit retaining the storage container against lateral movement of the storage container in a plane parallel to the shelf.