Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MECHANISM FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH A
RETRACTABLE CORD REEL
PRIORITY OF INVENTION
This application is a Continuation in Part and claims priority of non-
provisional Application
No.14/145,419 filed December 31,2013 and provisional Application 62/075,690
filed November 5,2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to providing an adjustable length
charging
connection for one or more cell phones or similar electronic devices, and more
specifically to
ensuring a continuous electrical connection and charge during adjustment of
the cord reel, while
permitting all of the electrical connectors to be retracted within a shell or
housing while not in
use. Cords used for charging batteries in cell phones, laptops , and the like
may be used with the
present invention such that, when retracted, can be safely stored and
protected from
entanglement, the elements and damage.
BACKGROUND OF' THE INVENTION
With the increasing use of mobile electronic products including smart phones,
laptop
computers, tablet and the like, the need for low cost, compact power supplies
and solutions to
power and recharge these products also continues to increase. Most
manufacturers of mobile
products typically provide plug-in power adapters along with these mobile
products to help
provide the power supply needs of their customers.
Today's power adapters are typically AC-to-DC power converters which are
configured
to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage delivered to the mobile device. For
example, users
can power most mobile devices by simply plugging the adapter into a standard
AC wall outlet
commonly found in most homes and offices. Such devices, however, are often
bulky and clumsy,
with the AC-to-DC adapters having a "brick" configuration, with each cord
(i.e., the cord
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connecting the converter to the device, and the cord connecting the converter
to an outlet both
dangling loose and creating safety and damage risks for the user and the
equipment.
Although these power adapters conveniently provide direct power and recharging
capabilities, users are often required to carry separate adapters to provide
power to each
individual mobile device. This often means that users have to carry multiple
adapters to power
all the multiple devices, thereby increasing the amount of bulk a user is
required to carry, which
is also tedious.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a power converter and system that
resolves the
system power management problems associated with carrying all of the different
power supply
components necessary to power a wide variety of mobile and portable devices
having different
power requirements. Moreover, there is a need for a power converter and system
that reduces the
space requirements for power cables, the possible tangling thereof, and
improves the ease of use
of the power converter by a user.
The cord reel assembly described here relates to needs for features improving
the
robustness of the electrical connection for supplying converted power between
.a source and the
device, even when the length of the connecting cord is being adjusted. The
invention further
relates to the ability to connect to and supply power to multiple devices,
including multiple
devices at the same time. The invention also relates to safely store such
multiple cords or
connectors when not in use.
The present invention relates generally to addressing needs related to
charging devices
for mobile phone or similar electronic device include a retractable cord reel.
More specifically,
such needs include a retractable cord reel which may have the ability to
connect with multiple
form factors, including multiple devices at the same time, while retracting
inside of a streamlined
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profile to avoid entanglement when not in use. Further, the need for a
converted power supply
connector the need to ensure the continuous supply of power to the device(s)
being charged, even
when the length of the cord is being adjusted, e.g., due to the movement of
the user and the
mobile device.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
The following terms are used in the claims of the patent as filed and are
intended to have
their broadest plain and ordinary meaning consistent with the requirements of
the law:
A "retractable cord reel" refers to a cable storage unit and cable management
systems
having a spooling cord such as the type found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,396 to
Burke, the subject
matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and U.S. Patent
Application No.
2007/0262185 to Burke, the subject matter of which is also hereby incorporated
by reference.
A "housing" means a rigid casing that reels, encloses and protects a spool,
and further
protects a cord when retracted. The housing may, but need not further include
a recess or cavity
for receiving and protecting an electrical connector, such as an electrical
plug or connector when
retracted.
A "spool" means a cylinder around which an electrical cord can be wound; a
reel. The
spool further comprises two faces or borders connected to the cylinder and
having a larger
diameter than the cylinder therebetween so as to enable the cord to be wound
around the
cylinder.
A "spring contact" means a flexible contact which maintains a substantially
constant
electrical communication with the conductive face of the spool. The spring
contact is
substantially fixed in position but flexible so as to accommodate continuing
electrical
communication during the rotational movement of the spool.
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Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All
words
used in the claims set forth below are intended for use in the normal,
customary usage of
grammar and the English language.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to one or more of the following features,
elements or
combinations thereof.
One disclosed embodiment is directed to a device including a retractable cord
reel for
connecting a power source (e.g., a wall outlet) to an electronic device (e.g.,
a mobile phone,
laptop or the like), including a mechanism for converting the power source to
an appropriate
form for use in the electronic device. The charging station includes a housing
for retaining a cord
reel which can be adjusted in length according to the needs of the user.
Storing the cord on a reel
helps protect safety hazards to the equipment or the user when not in use. The
present invention
particularly provides a mechanism for maintaining a substantially consistent
electrical
connection between the power source and the device, even when the cord reel is
being adjusted
in length, the mechanism including one or more metallic springs for contacting
a conductive face
of the spool on the cord reel during rotation of the spool.
Another embodiment of the present invention further includes safety features
for enabling
the storage of the entirety of one or more electrical connections in the
device, including the
power outlet plug (which can be folded into a recess in the housing of the
device) and the
retractable cord plug (which can be retained in another recess in the housing
when fully
retracted). Further, the housing can include a second connector (e.g., a
female connector) to
enable connection to a second form factor of connection and/or a second
electronic device.
Thus, it can be seen that one object of the disclosed invention is to provide
a continuous
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converted electrical supply charge to an electronic device even during the
adjustment in length of
any connecting cables.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a housing for storing
the entirety of
electrical connectors coupling a power supply to a mobile device or the like
when not in use.
Another object of the invention is to provide multiple electrical connectors
coupling a
power supply to more than one form factor of mobile device connection.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide multiple
electrical connectors
coupling a power supply to more than one mobile device or the like at the same
time.
It should be noted that not every embodiment of the claimed invention will
accomplish
each of the objects of the invention set forth above. For instance, certain
claimed embodiments
of the invention will not require the ability to attach to multiple electronic
devices, or multiple
electronic devices at the same time. In addition, further objects of the
invention will become
apparent based upon the summary of the invention, the detailed description of
preferred
embodiments, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Such objects,
features, and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the
following detailed
description of an example embodiment thereof, and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures la and lb are perspective and exposed perspective figures of a
charging device in
accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective figure of spring fingers engaging a face of the cord
reel in
accord with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is side view the multiple form factor electrical connectors and the
housing recess
for retaining such connectors in accord with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
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Figure 4 is a side view of the foldable plug detail for connecting to a power
source in
accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5a-c is a front and side views of an alternative, modular device in
accord with
another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an exploded view of an alternative, modular device in accord with
another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 7a-c shows a USB power plug feature in accord with another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 shows a front exposed view of an alternative, modular device in
accord with
another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 9a-b show left and right perspective view an alternative, modular
device in
accord with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 10a-e show front, left, right, top and bottom view of a main housing
module in
accord with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures lla-e show front, left, right, top and bottom view of a main housing
module in
combination with a wall power plug module in accord with yet another preferred
embodiment of
the present invention.
Figures 12a-e show front, left, right, top and bottom view of a main housing
module in
combination with a USB power plug module in accord with yet another preferred
embodiment of
the present invention.
Figure 13 shows an exploded view of a main housing module in accord with yet
another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
As can be seen in FIGURE 1 a and lb, the device 10 includes a housing 12 with
a first
end 14 that has a power source connector 16, such as a wall plug connector
extending therefrom
to connect to a wall outlet (not shown) or the like. The second end 18 has an
extendable cord 20
extending therefrom which terminates in a device connector 22 of a desired
form factor type to
mate with a mobile phone, laptop or the like (not shown). The cord can be
retracted around a
spool 24 through a "pull to stow" mechanism such as those known to persons of
ordinary skill in
the art. The spool 24 includes a cylinder 26 for winding the cord 20 around,
as well as two faces
28 on each end of the cylinder 26. The spool 24 is spring biased for
retraction and held at the
desired point of unwinding by a non-conductive ratchet 27 which contacts a
corresponding on
the circumference of at least one face 28.
As shown in FIGURE 2, at least one of the faces 28 includes a conductive
surface (e.g.,
metallic) which contacts a number of spring contacts 30 which electrically
contact the spool 24
to a printed circuit board 32 which converts the power received from the power
source connector
16 to the desired current form for transmission through the spool 24 to the
cord 20.
As shown in the alternative embodiment of FIGURE 3, the cord 20 and the device
connector 22 may be fully retracted such that neither extends beyond the
periphery of the
housing 12. Specifically, while substantially all of the cord 20 can pass
through the second end
18 opening to wind around the cylinder 26, the device connector 22 is too wide
to pass through.
However, the housing 12 includes a first recess 34 sized for receiving the
device connector 22
and a mount 36 for engaging the device connector 22 when fully retracted.
Thus, the device
connector 22 is fully retained within the profile of the housing 12 when fully
retracted, thus
eliminating the clutter and safety hazards presented by having loose cords or
connectors on the
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device 10 when not in use.
Furthermore, in this alternative embodiment, the housing 12 includes a second,
female
connector 38 with its own electrical connection to the circuit board 32. This
embodiment thus
permits a user, if desired, to connect more than one different form factor of
connector to a single
power converter, or more than one device at a time to the same power
converter.
In another preferred embodiment as shown in FIGURE 4, the device 10 includes a
power
source connector 16 connected to the housing 12 via a hinged connection 40.
The housing
further includes a second, power connector recess 42, which enables the plug
or power source
connector to be folded within the profile of the housing 12 when not in use,
thus eliminating
another source of potential damage to the device 10 when not in use.
In still another embodiment, as shown in FIGURES 5-9, the device 110 includes
a main
housing 112 and a modular AC charging unit 114. This embodiment works
generally in the
same manner as the embodiments of Figures 1-4, with the addition of a battery
150, and with the
use of the modular AC unit. In this embodiment the device 110 still has at
least one power plug
connected to the housing 112 in the form of folding wall plug 116 or a folding
USB plug 146. In
addition, the circuit board functionality is split between the main housing
unit 112 and the
modular AC charging unit 114. Specifically the main housing 112 includes a DC
charging unit,
while the modular AC charging unit 114 includes an AC charging circuit 132.
With this
configuration, the device 110 can swap between an AC power source (such as a
wall plug), a DC
power source (such as a USB connection) or a battery source in the absence of
any outside power
source.
In still a further embodiment, as shown in FIGURES 9-13, the device 210
includes a
main housing 212 with a separate wall mount power plug module 214 and a USB
power plug
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module 216. In any configuration, the main housing 212 includes a power plug
connector 246,
such as a USB connector or the like which permits connections that facilitate
swapping between
wall mount power plug module 214 and USB power plug module 216. Thus, in this
embodiment, the device 210 can swap between an AC power source (such as a wall
plug) by
using the separate wall mount power plug module 214 as shown in FIGURE 11, a
DC power
source (such as a USB connection) USB power plug module 216 or by relying upon
the battery
source 250 in the absence of any connection to an outside power source.
Further, it should be
noted that the connection with main housing 212 and any separate module may be
done by
placing a male or female power plug connector 246 on the main housing, with a
reciprocal
connector (not shown on) the wall mount power plug module 214 and a USB power
plug module
216.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative
forms,
specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in
the drawings
and have herein been described in detail. It should be understood, however,
that there is no intent
to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments disclosed, but on the
contrary, the intention
is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within
the spirit and scope of
the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
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