Lamp with charging device and playing device for portable audio player

• US 7,593,220 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Challenger Lighting Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Challenger Lighting Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Proctor, Bonnie J., Proctor, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US11/406,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20070247790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/642, 361/643, 361/686, 455/42, 455/573, 439/638, 439/652, 439/668, 439/699.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A holding device provides, in combination, a device for lighting a desired area, and recharging the battery of or playing a portable receiving device adapted to play music or material as stored therein or received thereby from television or radio sources.

Claims

1. A holding device for supporting a digital media player comprising:

a) the holding device including a docking station for the digital media player, at least one speaker for the digital media player, an illumination source, and an external power source being operably interconnected to function in a cooperative fashion;

b) the at least one speaker providing sound from the digital media player;

c) the at least one speaker being connected to the docking station;

d) the holding device further including a phone jack adapted to accept at least one other device;

e) the holding device further including a housing;

f) the housing including a power receiver attachable to a power source;

g) the power receiver being connected to an illumination source, an audio speaker system, and a docking station;

h) the docking station receiving the digital media player and connecting the digital media player to the audio speaker system; and

i) the holding device having components and circuitry to power the audio speaker system, charge at least one battery of the digital media player, and power the illumination source concurrently.

2. The holding device of claim 1 further comprising:

a) an intermediate adapter being inserted into the docking station, in order to provide for the charging of at least one other rechargeable device; and

b) the audio speaker system permitting the digital media player to have an improved sound quality.

3. The holding device of claim 2 further comprising;

a) the power source being direct current or alternating current;

b) the power receiver being activated by the power source; and

c) the power receiver providing power to elements of the holding device.

4. The holding device of claim 3 further comprising:

a) the elements including at least two elements selected from the group consisting of an illumination source, an audio speaker system, a docking station, and a power outlet;

b) the holding device including a lamp base assembly, and the illumination source; and

c) the lamp base assembly receiving an input power to activate the power receiver.

5. The holding device of claim 4 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly including a current converter for converting alternating current to direct current;

b) the lamp base assembly including a voltage converter for converting an input voltage level into a level compatible with the at least one element; and

c) the lamp base assembly including a power cord to supplement the docking station.

6. The holding device of claim 5 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including an audio player user interface in order to control an output power and loudness level of the audio system;

b) the lamp base assembly further including a regulator in order to control the voltage therein; and

c) the lamp base assembly further including an input line protection and filter in order to protect the holding device against surges in electrical power.

7. The holding device of claim 6 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including at least one audio player user interface switch in order to provide adjustment and setting of a desired audio listening level, shutting down of the audio player, and showing the activity of the audio player;

b) the lamp base assembly further including an audio controller in order to determine an active audio source and provide information about the active audio source to an input source selector;

c) the audio controller using at least one signal received from the audio player user interface to control an output audio volume control amplifier; and

d) the volume control amplifier additionally equalizing a frequency characteristic of the audio system.

8. The holding device of claim 7 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including a docking station connector for the audio player docking station;

b) the docking station connector receiving stereo line level audio output signals and sending the signals to an input source selector; and

c) the input source selector receiving at least one output from the audio jack plug at the audio phono plug.

9. The holding device of claim 8 further comprising:

a) the input source selector selecting at least one output from the audio player docking station, the audio jack plug or the audio phono plug in order to drive the audio system; and

b) the docking station connector receiving stereo line level audio output signals and sending the signals to an input source selector.

10. The holding device of claim 9 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including a circular housing;

b) the circular housing including a circular lamp base connected to a circular lamp stem;

c) the circular lamp stem having a light fixture oppositely disposed from circular lamp base;

d) the circular lamp base including a circular weighted base with circular support plates mounted therein to support the elements therein;

e) the circular weighted base being closed by a circular cap, secured thereto; and

f) a circular arced cover decorating and protecting a front portion of the circular weighted base.

11. The holding device of claim 9 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including a square housing;

b) the square housing including a square lamp base connected to a square lamp stem;

c) the square lamp stem having a light fixture oppositely disposed from square lamp base;

d) the square lamp base including a square weighted base with square support plates mounted therein to support the elements therein;

e) the square weighted base being closed by a square cap, secured thereto; and

f) a square arced cover decorating and protecting a front portion of the square weighted base.

12. In a method for efficiently charging or using a digital media player, the improvement comprising:

a) providing a holding device with a housing wherein the holding device includes a docking station for the digital media player, at least one speaker for the digital media player, an illumination source, and an external power source being operably interconnected to function in a cooperative fashion;

b) providing sound from the digital media player through the at least one speaker;

c) interconnecting the at least one speaker and the docking station;

d) providing a phono jack adapted to accept at least one other device holding device;

e) including a power receiver in the housing;

f) connecting the power receiver to an illumination source, an audio speaker system, and a docking station;

g) placing the digital media player into the docking station for recharging or use;

h) providing direct current or alternating current for the power source;

i) activating the power receiver with the power source;

j) the power receiver providing power to all elements of the holding device;

k) providing the elements in the form of at least one element selected from the group consisting of an illumination source, an audio speaker system, a docking station, and a power outlet;

l) providing a lamp base assembly, and the illumination source for the holding device including;

m) activating the power receiver with the lamp base assembly receiving an input power;

n) converting alternating current to direct current;

o) converting an input voltage level into a level compatible with the at least one element;

p) providing the power cord to supplement the docking station; and

q) providing a docking station connector for the audio player docking station.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

a) providing the lamp base assembly with an audio player user interface in order to control an output power and loudness level of the audio system;

b) providing the lamp base assembly further with a regulator in order to control the voltage therein;

c) protecting the lamp base assembly with an input line protection and filter in order to protect the holding device against surges in electrical power;

d) providing at least one audio player user interface switch in order to provide adjustment and setting of a desired audio listening level, shutting down of the audio player, and showing the activity of the audio player;

e) providing the lamp base assembly with an audio controller in order to determine an active audio source and provide information about the active audio source to an input source selector;

f) using at least one signal received from the audio player user interface to control an output audio volume control amplifier; and

g) equalizing a frequency characteristic of the audio system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

a) receiving stereo line level audio output signals and sending the signals to an input source selector;

b) receiving at least one output from the audio jack plug or the audio phono plug;

c) using compatible voltage and current levels; and

d) providing at least one switch to operate at least one element;

e) routing direct current to the audio player docking station connector and to an audio power amplifier and to an audio controller in order to provide a necessary power level to drive the audio speaker system; and

(f) an intermediate adapter being inserted into the docking station, in order to provide for the charging of at least one other rechargeable device.

15. In a lamp assembly suitable for use in a hotel room or a motel room, the improvement comprising:

a) the lamp assembly including a holding device for supporting a digital media player;

b) the holding device including a docking station for the digital media player, at least one speaker for the digital media player, an illumination source, and an external power source being operably interconnected to function a cooperative fashion;

c) the at least one speaker providing sound from the digital media player;

d) the at least one speaker being connected to the docking station;

e) the holding device further including a phono jack adapted to accept at least one other device;

f) the holding device further including a housing;

g) the housing including a power receiver attachable to a power source;

h) the power receiver being connected to an illumination source, an audio speaker system, and a docking station; and

i) the docking station receiving the digital media player and connecting the digital media player to the audio speaker system.

16. The lamp assembly of claim 15 further comprising:

a) an intermediate adapter being inserted into the docking station, in order to provide for the charging of at least one other rechargeable device;

b) the audio speaker system permitting the digital media player to have an improved sound quality;

c) the power source being direct current or alternating current;

d) the power receiver being activated by the power source;

e) the power receiver providing power to all elements of the holding device;

f) the elements including at least one element selected from the group consisting of an illumination source, an audio speaker system, a docking station, and a power outlet;

g) the holding device including a lamp base assembly, and the illumination source;

h) the lamp base assembly receiving an input power to activate the power receiver;

i) the lamp base assembly including a current converter for converting alternating current to direct current; and

j) the lamp base assembly including a voltage converter for converting an input voltage level into a level compatible with the at least one element.

17. The holding device of claim 16 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including an audio player user interface in order to control an output power and loudness level of the audio system;

b) the lamp base assembly further including a regulator in order to control the voltage therein;

c) the lamp base assembly further including an input line protection and filter in order to protect the holding device against surges in electrical power;

d) the lamp base assembly including the power cord to supplement the docking station;

e) the lamp base assembly further including at least one audio player user interface switch in order to provide adjustment and setting of a desired audio listening level, shutting down of the audio player, and showing the activity of the audio player;

f) the lamp base assembly further including an audio controller in order to determine an active audio source and provide information about the active audio source to an input source selector;

g) the audio controller using at least one signal received from the audio player user interface to control an output audio volume control amplifier; and

h) the volume control amplifier additionally equalizing a frequency characteristic of the audio system.

18. The holding device of claim 17 further comprising:

a) the lamp base assembly further including a docking station connector for the audio player docking station;

b) the docking station connector receiving stereo line level audio output signals and sending the signals to an input source selector;

c) the input source selector receiving at least one output from the audio jack plug or the audio phono plug;

d) the input source selector selecting at least one output from the audio player docking station, the audio jack plug or the audio phono plug in order to drive the audio system;

e) the docking station connector receiving stereo line level audio output signals and sending the signals to an input source selector;

f) the lamp base assembly further including a circular housing or a square housing;

g) the lamp base connected to a lamp stem;

h) the lamp stem having a light fixture oppositely disposed from circular lamp base;

i) the lamp base including a weighted base with support plates mounted therein to support the elements therein;

j) the weighted base being closed by a cap, secured thereto; and

k) a cover protecting a front portion of the base.