Lamp base with electrical device recharging receptacle and method

• US 20080258642A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bharat Patel
• Original Assignee: Bharat Patel
• Inventors: Patel, Bharat
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/246
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/002 Table lamps, e.g. for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/005 with a lamp housing maintained at a distance from the floor or ground via a support, e.g. standing lamp for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A lamp base having an electrical device recharging receptacle configured to receive a plug from a recharging device for a portable rechargeable electronic device. The receptacle is configured as a standard automobile cigarette lighter receptacle. The receptacle includes standard cigarette lighter receptacle electrical contacts that are connected to a voltage and current conversion circuit for receiving standard household voltage and converting it into standard automotive voltage and current.

Claims

1. A lamp base comprising:

a power source connected to the lamp base, wherein a standard household electrical current at standard household voltage is received into the lamp base;

a light fixture attached to the lamp base;

a direct circuit for connecting the standard household electrical current and voltage to the light fixture;

an automotive cigarette lighter receptacle held in the lamp base for connection to an operating and recharging unit for a portable electronic device;

a conversion circuit connected between the power source and the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle, wherein the standard household electrical current and voltage from the power source is converted to a standard automotive voltage and current, wherein an operating and recharging unit that requires standard automobile electrical voltage and current may be plugged into the automotive cigarette lighter held in the lamp base for operating and recharging the portable electronic device.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the conversion circuit receives household standard electrical power in a range of about 110 to 120 volts AC and converts the standard household electrical voltage and current to another electrical voltage and current in a range of about 11-13 volts DC that is supplied to the charging receptacle.

3. The lamp base of claim 1, wherein the conversion circuit comprises an AC to DC conversion circuit and A DC to DC conversion circuit.

4. The lamp base of claim 1, wherein a standard household plug receptacle is held in the lamp base and connects directly to the power source for providing standard AC plug access to standard AC household current at the same time that access to automotive DC voltage and current is provided.

5. The lamp base of claim 1, comprising an adapter receptacle for a USB adapter and wherein the conversion circuit provides standard USB voltage and current to the adapter receptacle for access by the USB adapter at the same time that access to automotive DC voltage and current is provided at the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle.

6. The lamp base of claim 1, comprising an adapter receptacle for a USB adapter and wherein the conversion circuit provides standard automotive voltage and current to the adapter receptacle so that the USB adapter may convert the automotive voltage and current to a standard USB voltage and current and so the adapter may be upgraded to convert to a different USB voltage and current if the standard voltage is changed.

7. The lamp base of claim 1, comprising a cover movably connected for over laying the automotive receptacle when not in use.

8. The lamp base of claim 1, comprising a switch for connecting the converted standard automotive voltage and current to the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle.

9. The lamp base of claim 1, comprising an indicator light for indicating when the converted standard automotive voltage and current is available at the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle.

10. A lamp base system for operating and recharging a portable electronic device comprising:

a lamp base;

a power source connected to the lamp base, wherein a standard household electrical current at standard household voltage is received into the lamp base;

a light fixture attachment on the lamp base, wherein an illumination element holding device is attached to the base to form the lamp;

a direct circuit for connecting the standard household electrical current and voltage to the light fixture;

an automotive cigarette lighter receptacle held in the lamp base for connection to an operating and recharging unit for a portable electronic device;

a conversion circuit connected between the power source and the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle, wherein the standard household electrical current and voltage from the power source is converted to a standard automotive voltage and current, wherein an operating and recharging unit that requires standard automobile electrical voltage and current may be plugged into the automotive cigarette lighter held in the lamp base for operating and recharging the portable electronic device;

an adapter receptacle, wherein the conversion circuit provides a voltage and current to the adapter receptacle;

a threaded USB adapter comprising a conversion circuit for converting the voltage and current provided to the adapter receptacle into a standard USB voltage and current and a so that the threaded USB adapter may be unthreaded and replaced with an upgraded USB adapter having a different conversion circuit to convert the voltage and current provided to a different USB voltage and current.

11. A lamp base system for operating and recharging a portable electronic device comprising:

a lamp base;

a power source connected to the lamp base, wherein a standard household electrical current at standard household voltage is received into the lamp base;

a light fixture attachment on the lamp base, wherein an illumination element holding device is attached to the base to form the lamp;

a direct circuit for connecting the standard household electrical current and voltage to the light fixture;

an automotive cigarette lighter receptacle held in the lamp base for connection to an operating and recharging unit for a portable electronic device, wherein the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle comprises a plug receiving portion and a threaded portion;

a conversion circuit connected between the power source and the automotive cigarette lighter receptacle, wherein the standard household electrical current and voltage from the power source is converted to a standard automotive voltage and current, wherein an operating and recharging unit that requires standard automobile electrical voltage and current may be plugged into the automotive cigarette lighter held in the lamp base for operating and recharging the portable electronic device;

a USB adapter comprising a plug portion and a treaded portion so that the plug portion engages the plug receiving portion of the cigarette lighter receptacle when the threaded portion of the adapter engages the threaded portion of the cigarette lighter receptacle and having a USB conversion circuit for converting the voltage and current provided to the cigarette lighter receptacle into a standard USB voltage and current and a so that the USB adapter may be unthreaded and replaced with an upgraded USB adapter having a different USB conversion circuit to convert the voltage and current provided to a different USB voltage and current.