Portable energy consuming device

• US 20060032076A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: P2 Technologies LP
• Original Assignee: Powerpulse Technologies, L.P.
• Inventors: Evanyk, Walter R., Long, Tim
• Application Number:
  US11/094,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/96
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 1/04 by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/30 Electric circuitry specially adapted for hair drying devices
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/24 Arrangements of the heating means within the iron; Arrangements for distributing, conducting or storing the heat
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 79/026 for cordless irons
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An improved portable energy consuming device that uses an external power source to store kinetic energy in the device until a desired level is reached and then the external power source is disconnected from the device to form a portable device and an internal power source is automatically used to maintain the desired kinetic energy level. Thus, the external power source causes at least one device load to reach a desired operating level such as temperature and then, when the device is removed from a base on which it is mounted, the external power source is disconnected and an internal power source is automatically connected to the at least one device load to cause it to just maintain the desired operating level. A control circuit is coupled between the internal power source and its associated internal load to cause only sufficient power to be supplied to the load to maintain the desired operating level.

Claims

1. A method of creating a portable energy consuming device comprising the steps of:

forming a body portion with an energy consuming load associated therewith, the load having system power losses;

causing the energy consuming load to achieve a desired operating level using a power source located externally of the body portion;

removing the external power source from the energy consuming load when the desired operating level is reached; and

maintaining the desired operating level of the energy consuming load using a power source located internally of the body portion to offset system power losses thereby creating a portable energy consuming device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

associating at least one heating element with the body portion as the energy consuming load;

causing the at least one heating element to obtain a desired temperature representing the desired operating level by connecting the externally located power source thereto;

removing the external power source from the at least one heating element when the at least one heating element has reached the desired temperature; and

automatically causing the internally located power source to be connected to the at least one heating element to provide sufficient power to maintain the desired temperature only upon disconnecting the first power source.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

using alternating current (ac) as the externally located power source; and

using batteries (dc) as the internally located power source.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of associating at least one heating element with the body portion further comprises the steps of:

removably connecting the externally located ac power source to an ac heating element associated with the body portion to cause the ac heating element to heat to the desired temperature; and

automatically associating a dc heating element with the body portion for heating by the internal batteries to provide sufficient power to maintain the desired temperature only when the external ac power source is removed from the ac heating element.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

using direct current (dc) as the externally located power source; and

using batteries (dc) as the internally located power source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of associating at least one heating element with the body portion further comprises the steps of:

forming a single dc heating element in the body portion;

rectifying an external ac power supply output to obtain a dc output that is applied to the single dc heating element to obtain the desired temperature; and

automatically connecting the internally located batteries to the single dc heating element to provide only sufficient power to maintain the desired temperature only when the single heating element is disconnected from the dc output of the rectified external ac power supply.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

placing a normally closed electrical switch between the at least one energy consuming load and the internally located second power source; and

automatically opening the electrical switch when the external power source is connected to the at least one energy consuming load to prevent the internally located power source from being connected to the at least one energy consuming load.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of:

providing an electrical plug to insert into a receptacle associated with the body portion of the energy consuming device to connect the external power source to the energy consuming load; and

using the electrical plug, when inserted in the receptacle, to automatically open the electrical switch and prevent the internally located power source from being connected to the at least one energy consuming load.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

automatically charging the internally located power source whenever the external ac power source is connected to the energy consuming load.

10. The method of claim 6 further including the steps of:

placing an electrical switch between the single dc heating element and the internally located batteries; and

automatically opening the electrical switch when the dc output of the external power source is connected to the single dc heating element to prevent the internally located batteries from being connected to the single dc heating element.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical connector to insert into a receptacle associated with the body portion of the energy consuming device to connect the external power source to the single dc heating element; and

using the electrical connector, when inserted into the receptacle, to automatically open the electrical switch and prevent the internally located batteries from being connected to the single dc heating element.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

automatically charging the internally located batteries whenever the external power source is connected to the single dc heating element.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

coupling a control circuit between the internal power source and the energy consuming load only when the device is portable to automatically maintain the desired operating level thereby conserving the internally located power source as well as prolonging the life of the energy consuming load.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

generating a feedback signal with the control circuit representing instantaneous load operating levels; and

using the generated feedback signal to reduce the power input applied to the energy consuming load by the internal power source to an amount sufficient only to replace system losses thereby conserving electrical power by maintaining a desired load operating level with reduced power input.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

coupling an electronic power switch between the energy consuming load and the internal power source; and

turning the electronic power switch ON and OFF with Pulse Time Modulation signals to reduce the power input such that only sufficient power is supplied to the energy consuming load to maintain the desired operating level.

16. The method of claim 1 further including the step of using the heating element of a selected one of a hair management device and a flat clothes iron device as the energy consuming load.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

forming a base unit on which to place a selected one of the hair management device and the flat clothes iron device when not being used as a portable device; and

placing at least one electrical connector on the base unit for connecting the external power supply to the heating element to preheat the heating element to a desired operating level prior to the selected one of the devices being used as a portable energy consuming device

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

placing additional electrical connectors on and associating additional electronic circuits with the base unit for providing a charging voltage to the internal power source only when the heating element of the selected one of the devices placed on the base unit is receiving power from the external power source.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

forming a base unit on which to place the body portion of the energy consuming device when not being used as a portable device; and

inserting at least one of the additional electrical connectors associated with the base unit for insertion in at least one receptacle associated with the body portion for connecting the external power source to the single dc heating element to preheat the heating element to a desired operating level.

20. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

using a first wound resistance strip in the form of a coil as the ac heating element; and

using a second wound resistance strip in the form of a coil interspaced with, and electrically insulated from, the first wound resistance strip as the dc heating element.

21. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

using a first flat conductor resistance as the ac heating element; and

superimposing a second flat conductor resistance on, and electrically insulated from, the first flat conductor resistance as the dc heating element.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

forming a portion of the selected one of the hair management device and the flat clothes iron device as a handle; and

placing the power source within the handle of the selected device.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of:

inserting a stick type battery within the handle of the selected device as the internal power source.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of:

inserting a plurality of individual battery cells in series within the handle of the selected device as the internal power source.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

utilizing batteries as the power source located internally of the body portion;

providing a fixture to hold the body portion with the energy consuming device associated therewith;

associating at least one first electrical connector with the fixture to couple the external power source to the energy consuming device to cause the energy consuming device to reach the desired operating level; and

associating at least one second electrical connector with the fixture to enable an external dc power source to be used to charge the internally located batteries only when the energy consuming device is attached to the fixture such that when the desired operating level of the device is reached, the device can be removed from the fixture thereby disconnecting the external power source from the device and making the device portable by using the internally located batteries.

28. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

coupling an electronic switch, comprising either one of a FET and a relay, between the energy consuming load and the internal power source for controlling power to the energy consuming load with Pulse Time Modulation Signals.

26. A method of creating a portable temperature generating device comprising the steps of:

forming a body portion with a heating element therein;

bringing the heating element to a desired temperature using a first, fixed location power supply;

disconnecting the heating element from the first power supply when the desired temperature is reached to create a portable temperature generating device; and

maintaining the desired temperature of the heating element with a second D.C. power supply located within the portable temperature generating device.

27. A method of operating a portable energy consuming device comprising the steps of:

storing kinetic energy in the device with the use of a power source located externally of the device;

simultaneously storing electrical energy in a power supply located internally of the device only during the storage of the kinetic energy in the device such that when the external power source is separated from the device, the internal power source provides the energy to maintain the stored kinetic energy; and

cooling and extending the life of the internal power supply by blowing external air over the internal power source only when the internal power source is being used to maintain the stored kinetic energy thereby maximizing the amount of energy available from the power supply.

29. A portable energy consuming device comprising:

a body portion with an energy consuming load associated therewith, the load having system power losses;

a power source located externally of the body portion and removably coupled to the energy consuming load associated with the body portion for causing the energy consuming load to achieve a desired operating level; and

a power source located internally of the body portion and coupled to the energy consuming load only when the energy consuming load has reached the desired operating level and the external power source is removed therefrom to offset system power losses and to maintain the desired operating level of the energy consuming load.

30. The device of claim 29 further comprising:

at least one heating element associated with the body portion as the energy consuming load for obtaining a desired temperature when removably connected to the external power source; and

the at least one heating element being automatically connected to the internal power source only when the external power source is removed from the device, the internal power source providing sufficient power to maintain the desired temperature obtained with the external power source.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein:

the external power source is an alternating current (ac) source; and

the internal power source is a direct current (dc) source.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein the at least one heating element comprises:

an ac heating element removably connected to the external power source for heating the device to the desired temperature; and

a dc heating element for automatic connection to the internal power supply maintain the desired temperature of the device only when the external power source is disconnected from the ac heating element.

33. The device of claim 30 wherein:

the external power source is a dc power source; and

the internal power source is also a dc power source.

34. The device of claim 33 further comprising:

a single dc heating element in the body portion;

an externally located ac power supply having a rectified output to provide a dc output that is applied to the single dc heating element to obtain the desired temperature; and

the internally located dc power supply being automatically connected to the single dc heating element to provide sufficient power to maintain the desired temperature only when the single dc heating element is disconnected from the dc output of the rectified external ac power source.

35. The device of claim 29 further comprising:

a normally closed electrical switch placed between and coupling the at least one energy consuming load to the internally located power supply; and

a connector associated with the external power source for automatically opening the normally closed electrical switch whenever the external power source is connected to the at least one energy consuming load to prevent the internally located power source from being connected to the at least one energy consuming load.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the connector comprises:

an electrical plug for insertion into a receptacle associated with the body portion of the energy consuming device to connect the external power supply to the at least one energy consuming load; and

the electrical plug, when inserted into the receptacle, automatically opening the electrical switch and preventing the internally located power source from being connected to the at least one energy consuming load.

37. The device as in claim 36 further comprising:

a dc charging circuit associated with the external power source for automatically charging the internally located power source whenever the external power source is connected to the energy consuming load associated with the device.

38. The device of claim 29 further comprising:

a control circuit coupled between the internal power source and the energy consuming load to automatically maintain the desired operating level only when the device is portable thereby conserving the internally located power source as well as prolonging the life of the energy consuming load.

39. The device of claim 38 further comprising:

a feedback device for generating a signal representing the instantaneous load operating level; and

the control circuit using the feedback signal to reduce power input applied to the energy consuming load by the internal power source to an amount sufficient only replace system losses thereby conserving electrical power by maintaining a desired load operating level with reduced power input.

40. The device of claim 39 further comprising:

an electronic power switch, formed of either one of a FET and a relay, coupled between the energy consuming load and the internal power source; and

the control circuit turning the electronic power switch ON and OFF with Pulse Time Modulation signals to reduce the power input such that only sufficient power is supplied to the energy consuming load to maintain the desired operating level.

41. The device of claim 29 further comprising:

a selected one of a hair management device and a flat clothes iron device being the energy consuming device; and

a heating element in the selected one of a hair management device and a flat clothes iron device being used as the energy consuming load.

42. The device of claim 41 further comprising:

a base unit for receiving the selected one of the hair management device and the flat clothes iron device; and

at least one electrical connector on the base unit for connecting the external power source to the heating element to preheat the heating element to a desired operating level prior to the selected one of the devices being used as a portable energy consuming device.

43. The device of claim 42 further comprising:

additional electrical connectors and circuits being associated with the base unit for providing a charging voltage to the internal power source only when the heating element of the selected device placed on the base unit is receiving power from the external source

44. The device of claim 37 further comprising:

a base unit on which to place the body portion of the energy consuming device when not being used as a portable unit; and

the at least one electrical plug forming part of the base unit for insertion in the at least one receptacle associated with the body portion for connecting the external power supply to the single dc heating element to preheat the heating element to a desired operating level.

45. The device of claim 32 further comprising:

a first wound resistance strip in the form of a coil as the ac heating element; and

a second wound resistance strip in the form of a coil interspaced with and electrically insulated from the first wound resistance strip as the dc heating element.

46. The device of claim 32 further comprising:

a first flat resistance conductor as the as the ac heating element; and

a second flat resistance conductor on, and electrically insulated from, the first flat resistance conductor as the dc heating element.

47. The device of claim 41 further comprising:

a handle forming a portion of the selected one of the hair management device and the flat clothes iron device; and

the internal power source being placed in the handle of the device.

48. The device of claim 47 wherein the internal power source placed in the handle of the device comprises:

a stick type battery.

49. The device of claim 47 wherein the internal power source placed in the handle of the device comprises:

a plurality of individual series coupled battery cells.

50. A portable temperature generating device comprising:

a body portion with a heating element therein;

an external power source removably coupled to the body portion for bringing the heating element to a desired temperature and then being disconnected from the body portion to form a portable device; and

an internal power supply selectively coupled to the heating element to maintain the desired temperature of the heating element in the portable device.

51. An improved portable energy consuming device comprising:

a power source external to the device for storing kinetic energy in the device at a desired level;

the external power source being disconnected from the device to make the device a portable device when the stored kinetic energy reaches the desired level; and

a power source internal to the device for maintaining the desired level of the kinetic energy when the external power source is disconnected therefrom.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein:

the stored kinetic energy is in the form of temperature.

53. The device of claim 51 wherein:

the stored kinetic energy is in the form of mass rotation.