CAR CHARGER AND CRADLE WITH WIRELESS CHARGING CONNECTIVITY FOR HAND-HELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20170110902A1
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bollinger Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Halo International Sezc Ltd. (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Garold C., Weinstein, Nathan Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,389,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable charger and cradle assembly is provided for holding and charging an electronic device from an internal battery or an external power source wirelessly or via direct connection between the electronic device and the assembly. The assembly has a cradle housing with a support surface against which the electronic device may be held for wireless charging, and a support member attached to the cradle housing for positioning the cradle and electronic device as desired. At the end of the support member, a power connection interface is provided for coupling with an external power source to provide a charge to the electronic device via the charger and cradle assembly. In alternate embodiments, mounting means, such as a clip, can be provided at the end of the support member for holding the assembly in place.

Claims

1. A cradle for holding an electronic device and for providing a charge to said electronic device, said cradle comprising:

a cradle housing for supporting the electronic device having a generally flat support surface against which the electronic device may be held;

a wireless transmitter disposed in said cradle housing capable of transmitting a power to the electronic device when said device is being supported on the support surface of the cradle housing; and

a support member for supporting the cradle housing.

2. The cradle according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery unit disposed in the cradle housing and operatively connected to the wireless transmitter.

3. The cradle according to claim 2, wherein the wireless transmitter includes at least one magnetic induction coil operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit.

4. The cradle according to claim 2, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit and the wireless transmitter, wherein the processing unit is configured to direct power from the rechargeable battery unit to the wireless transmitter to wirelessly recharge an electronic device in wireless communication with the cradle.

5. The cradle according to claim 2, further comprising a wireless receiver operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit for receiving power transmitted from an external wireless transmitting device and directing said power to the rechargeable battery unit for recharging.

6. The cradle according to claim 5, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a first magnetic induction coil assembly and said wireless receiver comprises a second magnetic induction coil assembly, each of said coil assemblies being operatively connected with the rechargeable battery unit.

7. The cradle according to claim 5, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit, the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver, wherein the processing unit is configured to direct a power form the rechargeable battery unit to the wireless transmitter to wirelessly recharge an electronic device in wireless communication with the cradle, and wherein further the processing unit is configured to direct power from the wireless receiver to the rechargeable battery unit when the cradle is in wireless communication with the external wireless transmitting device.

8. The cradle according to claim 2, further comprising a power connection port on the cradle housing, said power connection port being operatively connected with at least one of the rechargeable battery unit and the wireless transmitter.

9. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the support member is adapted to be coupled to an external power source, wherein, when said support member is coupled to said external power source, a charge is provided from said external power source to the wireless transmitter.

10. The cradle according to claim 9, wherein said support member has a first end attached to the cradle housing and a second end having a car charger interface, said external power source being a car charger socket so that when the car charger interface is coupled with the car charger socket, a charge is supplied from the car charger socket to the wireless transmitter via the car charger interface.

11. The cradle according to claim 10, wherein the second end further comprises a power connection port in operative connection with at least one of the car charger interface and the wireless transmitter.

12. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a first end attached to the cradle housing and a second end having mounting means for securing the second end of the support member to a surface.

13. The cradle according to claim 12, wherein the mounting means comprises a clip.

14. The cradle according to claim 10, wherein the support member is flexible.

15. The cradle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first arm coupled to the cradle housing; and

a second arm coupled to the cradle housing;

wherein the first and second arms are adapted for movement relative to the cradle housing for holding the electronic device when said device is being supported on the support surface of the cradle housing.

16. The cradle according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second arms is laterally movable into and from clamping relationship relative to the other of the first and second arms.

17. The cradle according to claim 16, further comprising retaining means for retaining the first and second arms in a clamping position.

18. The cradle according to claim 15, wherein the cradle housing includes grooves on each lateral side and said first and second arms are disposed within the groves for sliding adjustment within the grooves along the longitudinal length of the housing.

19. A cradle for holding an electronic device and for providing a charge to said electronic device, said cradle comprising:

a cradle housing for supporting the electronic device having a generally flat support surface against which the electronic device may be held;

a rechargeable battery unit disposed within the cradle housing;

a wireless transmitter disposed in said cradle housing and operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit, said wireless transmitter being capable of transmitting a power to the electronic device when said device is being supported on the support surface of the cradle housing; and

a flexible support member for supporting the cradle housing.

20. The cradle according to claim 19 wherein the wireless transmitter includes at least one magnetic induction coil operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit.

21. The cradle according to claim 19, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit and the wireless transmitter, wherein the processing unit is configured to direct power from the rechargeable battery unit to the wireless transmitter to wirelessly recharge an electronic device in wireless communication with the cradle.

22. The cradle according to claim 19 further comprising a wireless receiver operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit for receiving power transmitted from an external wireless transmitting device and directing said power to the rechargeable battery unit for recharging.

23. The cradle according to claim 22, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a first magnetic induction coil assembly and said wireless receiver comprises a second magnetic induction coil assembly, each of said coil assemblies being operatively connected with the rechargeable battery unit.

24. The cradle according to claim 22, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the rechargeable battery unit, the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver, wherein the processing unit is configured to direct a power form the rechargeable battery unit to the wireless transmitter to wirelessly recharge an electronic device in wireless communication with the cradle, and wherein further the processing unit is configured to direct power from the wireless receiver to the rechargeable battery unit when the cradle is in wireless communication with the external wireless transmitting device.

25. The cradle according to claim 19, further comprising a power connection port on the cradle housing, said power connection port being operatively connected with at least one of the rechargeable battery unit and the wireless transmitter.

26. The cradle according to claim 19, wherein the support member is adapted to be coupled to an external power source, wherein, when said support member is coupled to said external power source, a charge is provided from said external power source to the rechargeable battery unit.

27. The cradle according to claim 26, wherein said support member has a first end attached to the cradle housing and a second end having a car charger interface, said external power source being a car charger socket so that when the car charger interface is coupled with the car charger socket, a charge is supplied from the car charger socket to the wireless transmitter via the car charger interface.

28. The cradle according to claim 27, wherein the second end further comprises a power connection port in operative connection with at least one of the car charger interface and the wireless transmitter.

29. The cradle according to claim 19, wherein the support member has a first end attached to the cradle housing and a second end having mounting means for securing the second end of the support member to a surface.

30. The cradle according to claim 29, wherein the mounting means comprises a clip.

31. The cradle according to claim 19, further comprising:

a first arm coupled to the cradle housing; and

a second arm coupled to the cradle housing;

wherein the first and second arms are adapted for movement relative to the cradle housing for holding the electronic device when said device is being supported on the support surface of the cradle housing.

32. The cradle according to claim 31, wherein at least one of the first and second arms is laterally movable into and from clamping relationship relative to the other of the first and second arms.

33. The cradle according to claim 32, further comprising retaining means for retaining the first and second arms in a clamping position.

34. The cradle according to claim 31, wherein the cradle housing includes grooves on each lateral side and said first and second arms are disposed within the groves for sliding adjustment within the grooves along the longitudinal length of the housing.

35. A cradle for holding an electronic device and for providing a charge to said electronic device, said cradle comprising:

a cradle housing for supporting the electronic device having a support surface against which the electronic device may be held;

a wireless transmitter disposed in said cradle housing capable of transmitting a power to the electronic device when said device is being supported on the support surface of the cradle housing;

a power connection interface in operative connection with the wireless transmitter and adapted to be coupled with an external power source and for providing the power to the wireless transmitter when said power connection interface is coupled to the external power source; and

a support member for supporting the cradle housing.

36. The cradle according to claim 35, wherein the support member has a first end attached to the cradle housing and a second end extending away from the cradle housing, and wherein the power connection interface comprises a car charger interface, said external power source being a car charger socket so that when the car charger interface is coupled with the car charger socket, a charge is supplied from the car charger socket to the wireless transmitter via the car charger interface.

37. The cradle according to claim 35, wherein the power connection interface comprises a power connection port operatively connected with the wireless transmitter.