Charging Locker

• US 20170033579A1
• Filed: 07/14/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Fisher, Jim, Gabriel, Robert, Durante, Caleb, Maguire, Cary, Ng, Hubert Benjamin Ki Durn
• Granted Patent: US 10,283,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A charging locker includes a cabinet body having a plurality of integral interior shelves defining individual charging compartments, a plurality of doors individually securing each of the individual charging compartments, a plurality of modular locking and charging systems, and a modular power supply unit. Each of the plurality of modular locking and charging systems, the modular power supply unit, and the doors are individually removable from a front of the charging system without disassembly of the cabinet body to facilitate servicing of the charging locker.

Claims

1. A charging locker, comprising:

a cabinet body having a plurality of integral interior shelves defining a plurality of individual charging compartments;

a plurality of doors corresponding to the plurality of individual charging compartments to individually enclose each of the individual charging compartments; and

a plurality of modular locking and charging systems corresponding to the plurality of individual charging compartments to individually secure each of the plurality of doors;

wherein each of the plurality of modular locking and charging systems, and doors are individually removable from a front of the charging system without disassembly of the cabinet body.

2. The charging locker of claim 1, wherein the modular locking and charging system comprises a frame forming a front plate and a side plate, wherein the keypad locking system is connected to the front plate of the frame, and wherein the charging system is connected to the side plate of the frame.

3. The charging locker of claim 2, wherein the frame further comprises a bottom plate extending from the side plate of the frame and a rear fold formed on an edge of the bottom plate distal from the side plate of the frame.

4. The charging locker of claim 3, further comprising a first aperture in the rear fold to receive a first connector to removably secure the frame to an interior of one of the individual charging compartments.

5. The charging locker of claim 4, wherein the first connector is accessible by insertion of a tool through a second aperture in the side plate of the frame.

6. The charging locker of claim 5, wherein the charging system is supported by the side plate of the frame and is selectively secured to the interior of one of the individual charging compartments by a second connector to be removable from the interior of the individual charging compartment without removing the frame.

7. The charging locker of claim 6, wherein the charging system has a lip to extend through an aperture in the side plate of the frame to engage a rear surface of the side plate of the frame to hold the charging system against the front surface of the side plate of the frame.

8. The charging locker of claim 1, wherein the charging system includes a National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) electrical outlet or an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) coupler and two USB outlets.

9. The charging locker of claim 8, wherein the NEMA electrical outlet or IEC coupler provides 110-120V AC power or 220-240V AC power and wherein the two USB outlets each provide DC power according to one of the USB standards.

10. The charging locker of claim 1, further comprising a door sensor configured to detect when the door is closed.

11. The charging locker of claim 10, wherein the door sensor is an optical sensor.

12. The charging locker of claim 11, wherein the frame comprises a slit, wherein the door comprises a projection to fit through the slit when the door is closed, and wherein the projection interferes with light associated with the optical sensor when the door is closed.

13. The charging locker of claim 1, wherein the door comprises a hinge, a door extension removably coupled to the hinge, a latch plate at the end of the door extension, and a window formed within the door extension.

14. The charging locker of claim 1, further comprising a single modular power system to provide power to each of the individual charging compartments of the charging locker.

15. A storage system, comprising:

a plurality of individual charging compartment modules, each individual charging compartment module having an exterior body envelope defining a secure interior space of the individual charging compartment module and a door to individually enclose the secure interior space; and

at least one modular locking and charging system, the at least one modular locking and charging system being associated with at least one of the individual charging compartment modules and being configured to individually secure the door of the at least one individual charging compartment module;

wherein the modular locking and charging system, and the door of the at least one of the individual charging compartment modules are individually removable from a front of the storage system without disassembly of the storage system and without removal of the at least one of the individual charging compartment modules from the storage system.

16. The storage system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of modular locking and charging systems, the plurality of modular locking and charging systems corresponding on a one to one basis with the plurality of individual charging compartment modules.