Portable Electronic Storage and Charging Apparatus

• US 20160087469A1
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deborah A. Armstrong
• Original Assignee: Deborah A. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Deborah A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,559,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• 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: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating

Abstract

A portable electronics storage and charging apparatus for use in storing and charging handheld electronic devices that each includes a battery and a USB charging cable includes a case having a lower portion and an upper portion that each define respective cavities. The upper portion is pivotally coupled to the lower portion and movable between closed and open configurations. A master battery is situated in one of the lower or upper portion cavities. A plurality of spaced apart cable racks is coupled to the top wall of the upper portion of the case, each cable rack being configured to hold a respective charging cable associated with a respective electronic device. The master battery is electrically coupled to a respective charging cable held by a respective cable rack and configured to impart current to a respective electronic device when the respective device is electrically connected to the respective charging cable.

Claims

1. A portable electronics storage and charging apparatus for use in storing and charging a first and second handheld electronic device that each include a battery and a USB charging cable, comprising:

a case having a lower portion that includes a bottom wall and upstanding side walls that together define a lower portion cavity, said case having an upper portion that includes a top wall and upstanding side walls that together define an upper portion cavity;

wherein said upper portion is pivotally coupled to said lower portion and movable between a closed configuration in which said side walls of said lower portion are in contact with said side walls of said upper portion and an open configuration in which said side walls of said lower portion are displaced from said side walls of said upper portion;

a master battery situated in one of said lower portion cavity and said upper portion cavity;

wherein said upper portion cavity is configured to selectively receive the first electronic device;

a plurality of spaced apart cable racks coupled to said top wall of said upper portion of said case, each cable rack being configured to hold a respective charging cable;

wherein said master battery is selectively coupled to a respective charging cable held by a respective cable rack and configured to transfer current to the first electronic device when the first electronic device is electrically connected to the respective charging cable.

2. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said lower portion cavity is configured to selectively receive the second electronic device;

said master battery is selectively coupled to another respective charging cable held by another respective cable rack and configured to impart current to the second electronic device when the second electronic device is electrically connected to said another respective charging cable.

3. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said lower portion cavity is configured to selectively contain an electronic tablet;

said upper portion cavity is configured to selectively contain a smart phone.

4. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said upper portion includes a battery compartment defining an interior space, said master battery being situated in said interior space of said battery compartment;

said plurality of cable racks being in communication with said interior space of said battery compartment such that respective battery cables held by respective cable racks are in communication with said master battery.

5. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 4, wherein:

said top wall of said upper portion defines a plurality of recessed cavities configured to receive said plurality of cable racks, respectively;

each recessed cavity being in communication with said battery compartment such that a respective charging cable held by a respective cable rack is selectively connected to said master battery situated in said battery compartment.

6. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said top wall of said upper portion defines a plurality of channels, each channel extending between a respective recessed cavity and said battery compartment and configured to receive a respective charging cable.

7. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 6, comprising interface wiring situated in said battery compartment configured to connect multiple charging cables to said master battery simultaneously.

8. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 5, comprising interface wiring situated in said battery compartment configured to connect multiple charging cables held on respective cable racks to said master battery simultaneously.

9. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 1, comprising an external charging port situated in said upper portion of said case, said charging port configured to electrically connect an electronic device outside of said case to said master battery.

10. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 1, comprising a power cord electrically connected to said master battery and configured to electrically connect said master battery to an external power source.

11. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 7, wherein each said cable rack includes a first post coupled to an inner surface of said top wall of said case and a second post coupled to said inner surface of said top wall and laterally spaced apart from said first post, said first and second posts configured to receive a respective charging cable wrapped thereabout.

12. The portable electronics storage and charging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each said cable rack includes a first post coupled to an inner surface of said top wall of said case and a second post coupled to said inner surface of said top wall and laterally spaced apart from said first post, said first and second posts configured to receive a respective charging cable wrapped thereabout.