Mobile wireless data and electrical power unit

• US 20030128507A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Metcalf, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US10/313,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/686
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• 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: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A portable data and electrical power unit, including a moveable housing having at least one electrical receptacle and at least one data receptacle accessible from the exterior of the housing, at least one rechargeable power source disposed in the housing with the electrical receptacle receiving electrical power from the rechargeable power source, at least one data transfer device mounted in the housing and in communication with the data receptacle, and at least one external peripheral device connected to at least one of the electrical receptacle and the data receptacle.

Claims

1. A portable data and electrical power unit, comprising:

a movable housing having at least one electrical receptacle and at least one data receptacle accessible from the exterior of said housing;

at least one rechargeable power source disposed within said housing, said electrical receptacle receiving electrical power from said rechargeable power source; and

at least one data transfer device disposed within said housing, said data transfer device being in communication with said data receptacle.

2. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said rechargeable power source is a direct current (DC) source.

3. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said rechargeable power source comprises at least one rechargeable battery.

4. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical receptacle is an alternating current (AC) electrical outlet.

5. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 4, further comprising a converter disposed within said housing, said converter converting power provided by said rechargeable power source to AC electrical power and supplying said power to said AC electrical outlet.

6. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 5, wherein said converter is a DC to AC inverter.

7. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical receptacle is a DC electrical outlet.

8. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, further comprising a charging unit disposed within said housing, said charging unit adapted for noncontinuous recharging of said rechargeable power source.

9. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 8, further including an electrical power cord electrically connected to said charger, said cord connectable to an external power source and movable between a first position in which said cord is retracted within said unit and a second position in which said cord is extended from said unit.

10. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one data receptacle is one of a data port, a universal serial bus port, a serial port, a parallel port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot, and a wireless port.

11. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said data transfer device is a network hub, said network hub and said data receptacle comprising a data network.

12. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 11, wherein said network hub is connectable to a wide area network (WAN) via a wireless data connection.

13. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 11, wherein said network hub includes a wireless data connection adapted for communication with at least one of a computer, a peripheral device, and a handheld data appliance.

14. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said data transfer device is adapted to transfer data between at least one of computers, peripheral devices, and handheld data appliances.

15. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said data transfer device is adapted to transfer data between the Internet and at least one of a computer, a peripheral device, and a handheld data appliance.

16. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two wheels movably mounted to said housing; and

a handle extending from said housing.

17. A portable data and electrical power unit, comprising:

a movable housing having an exterior wall;

a handle connected to said housing;

at least one electrical receptacle and at least one data receptacle mounted within said exterior wall and accessible from the exterior of said housing;

at least one rechargeable power source disposed within said housing, said rechargeable power source electrically connected to each said electrical receptacle to supply electrical power thereto; and

at least one data transfer device disposed within said housing, said data transfer device in communication with said data receptacle.

18. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 17, further comprising a charging unit disposed within said housing, said charging unit adapted for noncontinuous recharging of said rechargeable power source.

19. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 17, wherein said at least one data receptacle is one of a data port, a universal serial bus port, a serial port, a parallel port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot, and a wireless port.

20. The portable data and electrical power unit of claim 17, wherein said data transfer device is a network hub, said network hub and said data receptacle comprising a data network.