Computing device charging cases and methods of use

• US 10,153,649 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William J. Warren
• Original Assignee: William J. Warren
• Inventors: Warren, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/252,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20170005496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

Electrical charging device chassis and cases are provided herein. An example charging case includes a device receiving tray, a sliding tray having a charging interface, and a stabilizer. The sliding tray translates relative to the device receiving tray to extend and retract the charging interface using a track and gear assembly.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus for a computing device, the charging apparatus comprising:

a device receiving tray that receives a computing device;

a sliding tray that is disposed underneath the device receiving tray, the sliding tray configured to slide along underneath the device receiving tray, the sliding tray comprising;

a charging interface that receives power from a power source;

a charging circuit that receives power and provides an electrical charge to the computing device; and

a grooved track;

a stabilizer tray that is disposed underneath the sliding tray, the stabilizer tray also in sliding relationship with the sliding tray, the stabilizer tray further comprising a stabilizer; and

a gear having teeth that cooperate with the grooved track such that when the gear is rotated, the teeth of the gear translate the sliding tray backwards and forwards to retract or extend the sliding tray and the charging interface.

2. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging interface comprises electrical prongs or a universal serial bus (USB) connector.

3. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is a plate that is hingedly associated with a stabilizer bar of the stabilizer tray.

4. The charging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the stabilizer is a plate that can selectively slide along the stabilizer bar between a locked position and an unlocked position.

5. The charging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the stabilizer comprises a peg on an edge of the plate that engages with an aperture in a sidewall of the stabilizer tray to lock the plate in an extended configuration when the plate is slid into the locked position.

6. The charging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the stabilizer tray is hingedly coupled with the sliding tray.

7. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for coupling the computing device to the charging circuit.

8. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging interface comprises either an alternating current (AC) conductor or a direct current (DC) conductor.

9. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gear extends through and below an underside of the stabilizer tray.

10. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the gear in a first direction causes the sliding tray to translate forwardly to extend the charging interface into a deployed position.

11. The charging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein rotation of the gear in a second direction causes the sliding tray to translate backwardly to retract the charging interface into a stored position.

12. A charging apparatus for a computing device, the charging apparatus comprising:

a sliding tray comprising;

a charging interface that receives power from a power source;

a charging circuit that receives power and provides an electrical charge to a computing device associated with the charging apparatus; and

a grooved track;

a stabilizer tray that is disposed underneath the sliding tray, the stabilizer tray also in sliding relationship with the sliding tray, the stabilizer tray further comprising a stabilizer that is a plate hingedly associated with a stabilizer bar of the stabilizer tray, the plate configured to selectively slide along the stabilizer bar between a locked position and an unlocked position; and

a gear having teeth that cooperate with the grooved track such that when the gear is rotated, the teeth of the gear translate the sliding tray backwards and forwards to retract or extend the sliding tray and the charging interface.

13. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a device receiving tray disposed above the sliding tray, wherein the device receiving tray receives and retains the computing device.

14. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the charging interface comprises electrical prongs or a universal serial bus (USB) connector.

15. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the stabilizer comprises a peg on an edge of the plate that engages with an aperture in a sidewall of the stabilizer tray to lock the plate in an extended configuration when the plate is slid into the locked position.

16. An assembly, comprising:

a first tray that receives and retains a computing device;

a second tray disposed below the first tray, the second tray comprising a charging interface that charges the computing device when engaged with a power source, the second tray configured to translate between an extended position and a retracted position by operation of a track and gear assembly associated with the second tray; and

a third tray disposed below the second tray, the third tray comprising a deployable stabilizer that is a plate hingedly associated with a stabilizer bar of the third tray, the plate configured to selectively slide along the stabilizer bar between a locked position and an unlocked position.

17. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein the charging interface comprises electrical prongs or a universal serial bus (USB) connector.

18. The assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a means for coupling the computing device to the power source.

19. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein a gear of the track and gear assembly extends through and below an underside of the third tray.

20. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein the third tray is hingedly coupled with the second tray.