Windshield solar mount assembly

• US 10,432,013 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Langlois, Christopher R., Sprister, Dane A., Pickett, Zachariah J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Eric D
• Application Number:
  US15/092,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20170294803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 320101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A solar charging system for a portable electronic device includes an electrical connector adapted to be removably coupled to an electrical interface of the portable electronic device. A rechargeable battery is electrically coupled to the electrical connector, and the rechargeable battery is adapted to store a stored electrical power. A solar panel is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery such that the received electrical power is stored in the rechargeable battery as stored electrical power. When the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device, stored electrical power is provided or conveyed to the portable electronic device. When the electrical connector is not electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device, the received electrical power is stored in the rechargeable battery as stored electrical power.

Claims

1. A solar charging system for a portable electronic device including an electrical interface, the solar charging system comprising:

a protective case for receiving and partially enclosing the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective case; and

a charging assembly including;

an electrical connector adapted to be removably coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device such that when the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device, the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device;

a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electrical connector, the rechargeable battery adapted to store a stored electrical power;

a base portion;

a mounting interface including an elongated support arm coupled to the base portion, the mounting interface adapted to removably support the protective case, the mounting interface and the protective case configured such that the electrical connector electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery engages the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective case and the protective case is mounted to the mounting interface;

a solar panel mounting member pivotably coupled to the base portion by a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm each extending from a first end adjacent to a bottom edge on a back surface of the solar panel mounting member to a second end below and beyond the bottom edge;

a pin securing the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm to the base portion, the pin pivotably connecting the elongated support arm to the base portion, the pin extending through the second end of the first mounting arm, the second end of the second mounting arm, a first aperture extending through a support feature of the base portion, and a second aperture extending through a first end of the elongated support arm of the mounting interface; and

a solar panel coupled to a front surface of the solar panel mounting member and configured for receiving ambient light and converting the ambient light to received electrical power, wherein the solar panel is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery such that received electrical power can be stored in the rechargeable battery as the stored electrical power, the solar panel being independently displaceable relative to the base portion and the mounting interface;

wherein when the protective case is mounted to the mounting interface, the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device such that at least a portion of the stored electrical power can be provided to the portable electronic device, and

wherein when the protective case is not mounted to the mounting interface, received electrical power can be stored in the rechargeable battery as the stored electrical power.

2. The solar charging system of claim 1, wherein when the protective case is mounted to the mounting interface and when an internal battery of the portable electronic device is fully charged, received electrical power is stored in the rechargeable battery as the stored electrical power.

3. The solar charging system of claim 1, wherein a securement feature is coupled to or integrally formed with a portion of the base portion, and the securement feature is adapted to attach the base portion to a surface of a vehicle.

4. The solar charging system of claim 3, wherein the securement feature includes a suction cup.

5. The solar charging system of claim 1, wherein the mounting interface includes one or more engagement features that removably couple the protective case and the portable electronic device to a support portion of the mounting interface.

6. The solar charging system of claim 5, wherein the one or more engagement features includes a planar tab adapted to be slidingly received into a recess formed in the protective case to removably secure the protective case to the mounting interface.

7. The solar charging system of claim 1, wherein the mounting interface is independently displaceable relative to the base portion.

8. The solar charging system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is independently displaceable relative to the rechargeable battery and the base portion.

9. The solar charging system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery by a wire passing through an aperture in the solar panel mounting member disposed between the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm.

10. A charging assembly for a portable electronic device including an electrical interface, the charging assembly comprising:

an electrical connector adapted to be removably coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device such that when the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device, the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device;

a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electrical connector, the rechargeable battery adapted to store a stored electrical power;

a base portion;

a mounting interface coupled to the base portion and adapted to removably support the portable electronic device, the mounting interface and the portable electronic device configured such that the electrical connector electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery engages the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is mounted to the mounting interface; and

a solar panel coupled to the base portion and configured for receiving ambient light and converting the ambient light to received electrical power, wherein the solar panel is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery such that received electrical power is configured to be stored in the rechargeable battery as the stored electrical power, the solar panel being independently displaceable relative to the base portion and the mounting interface;

wherein the solar panel is coupled to the base portion with a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, wherein a pin secures the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm to the base portion, the pin extending through the first mounting arm, the second mounting arm, a first aperture extending through a support feature of the base portion, and a second aperture extending through an elongated support arm of the mounting interface;

wherein when the portable electronic device is mounted to the mounting interface, the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device such that at least a portion of the stored electrical power is provided to the portable electronic device, and

wherein when the portable electronic device is not mounted to the mounting interface, received electrical power is stored in the rechargeable battery as the stored electrical power.

11. The charging assembly of claim 10, wherein when the portable electronic device is mounted to the mounting interface and when an internal battery of the portable electronic device is fully charged, the received electrical power is stored in the rechargeable battery as the stored electrical power.

12. The charging assembly of claim 10, wherein the solar panel is coupled to a solar panel mounting member, and the solar panel mounting member is pivotably coupled to the base portion.

13. The charging assembly of claim 10, wherein a securement feature is coupled to or integrally formed with a portion of the base portion, and the securement feature is adapted to attach the base portion to a surface of a vehicle.

14. The charging assembly of claim 13, wherein the securement feature is a suction cup.

15. A method of assembling a charging system to provide power to a portable electronic device that includes an electrical interface, the method comprising:

electrically coupling a rechargeable battery to an electrical connector, the electrical connector adapted to be removably coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device such that when the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device, the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device, wherein the rechargeable battery is adapted to store a stored electrical power;

electrically coupling a solar panel to the rechargeable battery, the solar panel configured for receiving ambient light and converting the ambient light to received electrical power, wherein the solar panel is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery such that the received electrical power is configured to be stored in the rechargeable battery as at least a portion of the stored electrical power, wherein when the portable electronic device is mounted to a mounting interface, the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device such that stored electrical power is provided to the portable electronic device, and when the portable electronic device is not mounted to the mounting interface, the received electrical power is stored in the rechargeable battery as at least a portion of the stored electrical power; and

coupling the solar panel to a base portion such that the solar panel is independently displaceable relative to the base portion and the mounting interface, wherein the base portion is adapted to be secured to a surface of a vehicle, wherein the solar panel is coupled to the base portion with a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, wherein a pin secures the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm to the base portion, the pin extending through the first mounting arm, the second mounting arm, a first aperture extending through a support feature of the base portion, and a second aperture extending through an elongated support arm of the mounting interface.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

coupling the mounting interface to the base portion such that the mounting interface is displaceable relative to the base portion, wherein the mounting interface is adapted to support the portable electronic device when the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device.

17. A system for selectively charging a portable electronic device that includes an electrical interface, the system comprising:

a solar panel;

a rechargeable battery;

an electrical connector electrically coupled to the solar panel and the rechargeable battery;

a mounting interface adapted to removably mount the portable electronic device, the mounting interface configured such that the electrical connector is electrically coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is mounted to the mounting interface;

a base portion coupled to the solar panel and the mounting interface, the solar panel being independently displaceable relative to the base portion and the mounting interface, and the mounting interface being independently displaceable relative to the base portion and the solar panel, wherein the solar panel is coupled to the base portion with a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, wherein a pin secures the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm to the base portion, the pin extending through the first mounting arm, the second mounting arm, a first aperture extending through a support feature of the base portion, and a second aperture extending through an elongated support arm of the mounting interface; and

a computing device including a memory and a processor, with logic stored on the memory and executable by the processor for;

determining whether the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device;

if the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device, transferring at least a portion of a stored electrical power from the rechargeable battery to the portable electronic device; and

if the electrical connector is not coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device, storing a received electrical power from the solar panel as at least a portion of the stored electrical power in the rechargeable battery.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computing device further comprises logic stored on the memory and executable by the processor for:

determining a charging level of an internal battery of the portable electronic device when the electrical connector is coupled to the electrical interface of the portable electronic device;

if the internal battery of the portable electronic device has a charging level that is less than a threshold stored charge, transferring at least a portion of the stored electrical power from the rechargeable battery to the portable electronic device; and

if the internal battery of the portable electronic device has a charging level that is greater than or equal to the threshold stored charge, terminating the transfer of the stored electrical power from the rechargeable battery to the portable electronic device and storing the received electrical power from the solar panel as at least a portion of the stored electrical power in the rechargeable battery.