STRAP MOUNTED ENERGY SUPPLY

• US 20080277441A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Societe BIC
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Joerg, Schrooten, Jeremy, McLean, Gerard F., Lam, Duhane, Petersen, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/118,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/575
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/142 Carrying-straps
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/144 Pack-carrying waist or torso belts
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a strap mounted energy supply. The strap mounted energy supply includes a strap and one or more energy components. The strap is configured to couple to an electronic device, and the more energy components are conformably coupled with the strap. At least one of the one or more energy components is configured to supply energy to the electronic device. In various embodiments, the strap mounted energy supply is portable, is configured to externally couple to the electronic device, and/or is flexible, pliable, stretchable and/or ductile.

Claims

1. A strap mounted energy supply, comprising:

a strap, configured to couple to an electronic device; and

one or more energy components, conformably coupled with the strap;

wherein at least one of the one or more energy components is configured to supply energy to the electronic device.

2. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, which is portable.

3. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, which is configured to externally couple to the electronic device.

4. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, which is flexible, pliable, stretchable, ductile, or a combination thereof.

5. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the strap is configured to support the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is portable.

6. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, further comprising the electronic device.

7. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 6, wherein the electronic device comprises a camera, a video recorder, mobile phone, PDA, GPS unit, 2-way radio, handheld POS terminal, ultramobile PC, portable video game console, personal media player or a digital music player.

8. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a neckstrap, wriststrap, shoulderstrap, belt, hat, vest, armstrap, jacket, shirt, or a combination thereof.

9. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the one or more energy components comprises one or more of electrochemical cells, fuel cartridges, fluid controls, fuel reformers, electrical connectors, flexible fuel interconnects, power conditioning electronics, and combinations thereof.

10. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein any one of the one or more energy components comprises a fuel cell.

11. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein any one of the one or more energy components comprises a battery.

12. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied to the electronic device comprises chemical energy.

13. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied to the electronic device comprises electrical energy.

14. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied to the electronic device comprises fuel.

15. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 14, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen, methanol, formic acid, butane, ethanol, chemical hydrides or a combination thereof.

16. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 9, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, direct methanol fuel cell, direct formic acid fuel cell, direct ethanol fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell or solid oxide fuel cell.

17. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 9, wherein the fuel cartridge comprises a hydrogen generator.

18. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 9, wherein the one or more energy components are permanently integrated into the strap.

19. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 9, wherein the fuel cartridges are removable.

20. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 9, wherein one or more of the one or more energy components are removable.

21. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more energy components may be refueled or recharged one or more times.

22. The strap mounted energy supply of claim 1, wherein the strap is configured to couple to multiple electronic devices.

23. A strap mounted energy supply, comprising:

an electronic device;

a strap, in contact with and configured to couple to the electronic device; and

one or more fuel cells, in contact with the strap, one or more fuel cartridges, in contact with the strap, or one or more energy components, in contact with the strap;

wherein at least one of the one or more energy components, one or more fuel cells, or one or more fuel cartridges, supplies energy to the electronic device.

24. A method for supplying energy to an electronic device, comprising:

powering an electronic device for use; and

transferring energy from an energy supplying strap.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the powering comprises turning on an electronic device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the transferring comprises transferring chemical energy.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the transferring comprises transferring electrical energy.

28. A wearable energy supply, comprising:

a wearable article, configured to couple to an electronic device; and

one or more energy components, conformably coupled with the wearable article;

wherein at least one of the one or more energy components is configured to supply energy to the electronic device.

29. A portable energy supply comprising:

a connector adapted to provide power to an electronic device;

a strap, adapted to support the electronic device; and

a port to contain a battery that would also be adapted to provide power the device, such that the battery mounted in the port can be charged when the device is powered.

30. The portable energy supply of claim 29, wherein the battery being charged acts as a hybrid component to provide peak power into the device to which the system is connected.