Portable media player cordless charger

• US 7,868,589 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scosche Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scosche Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Alves, Kasidy, McSweyn, Christopher Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/050,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/111, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Various embodiments of a cordless charging device and a method for charging a portable media player are provided. Among other things, the charging device is compact and portable so that it can easily be stowed for transport, greatly enhancing a customer'"'"'s ability to use the primary portable media player without all of the problems associated with recharging, including cables that inevitably accompany a docking station device. Features of the device include collapsible prongs and a hinged arm that radially releases from the body to reveal a docking connector for charging a portable media player.

Claims

1. A cordless charging device, comprising:

a body having at least one prong configured to be connected to an AC power source and a docking connector configured to receive a portable media player, the docking connector being electrically connected to said at least one prong,

wherein the body further comprises;

a recessed channel configured to receive the docking connector; and

a hinged arm supporting the docking connector, the hinged arm being configured to extend over the recessed channel and to release radially from the body to extend perpendicularly to the recessed channel, the hinged arm and the recessed channel being configured to provide separate support to a portable media player.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a recess, and wherein the at least one prong is configured to collapse into the recess.

3. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the docking connector comprises a 30 pin connector.

4. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a light configured to operate independently of the portable media player being received by the docking connector.

5. The charging device of claim 4, wherein the light comprises a lens formed with the body, the lens enclosing a light emitting component.

6. The charging device of claim 5, wherein the light emitting component comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

7. The charging device of claim 5, wherein the body further comprises an on/off button electrically connected with the light emitting component and the at least one prong.

8. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the hinged arm further comprises detents configured to prevent rotation of the hinged arm past a predefined point.

9. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the recessed channel further comprises a slot and the charging device further comprises an adapter insert within the slot for engaging and supporting the portable media player.

10. The charging device of claim 9, wherein the adapter insert is made of die-cut, closed cell foam.

11. A method for charging a portable media player with a wireless charging device comprising a body having at least one prong and a docking connector electrically connected to said at least one prong, wherein the body further comprises:

a recessed channel configured to receive the docking connector; and

a hinged arm supporting the docking connector, the hinged arm being configured to extend over the recessed channel and to release radially from the body to extend perpendicularly to the recessed channel, the hinged arm and the recessed channel being configured to provide separate support to a portable media player, the method comprising;

connecting said at least one prong to an AC power source; and

placing a portable media player onto the docking connector.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the body further comprises a recess, the method further comprising releasing the at least one prong from the recess.

13. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising rotating the hinged arm radially from the body.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the recessed channel has a slot, the method further comprising inserting an adapter insert into the slot to engage and to support the portable media player.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the body further comprises a light and wherein the wireless charging device further comprises an on/off button, the method further comprising pressing the on/off button to activate a light.

16. A cordless charging device, comprising:

a body having at least one prong configured to be connected to an AC power source and a docking connector configured to receive a portable media player for charging,

wherein the body further comprises;

a recessed channel configured to receive the docking connector; and

a hinged arm supporting the docking connector, the hinged arm being configured to extend over the recessed channel and to release radially from the body to extend perpendicularly to the recessed channel, the hinged arm and the recessed channel being configured to provide separate support to a portable media player.

17. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the body further comprises a recess, and wherein the at least one prong is configured to collapse into the recess.

18. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the docking connector comprises a 30 pin connector.

19. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the body further comprises a light configured to operate independently of the portable media player being charged.

20. The charging device of claim 19, wherein the light comprises a lens formed with the body and a light emitting component enclosed by the lens.

21. The charging device of claim 20, wherein the light emitting component comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

22. The charging device of claim 20, wherein the body further comprises an on/off button configured to control the light emitting component.

23. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the hinged arm further comprises detents configured to prevent rotation of the hinged arm past a predefined point.

24. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the recessed channel further comprises a slot and the charging device further comprises an adapter insert within the slot for engaging and supporting the portable media player.

25. The charging device of claim 24, wherein the adapter insert is made of die-cut, closed cell foam.

26. A cordless charging device, comprising:

a body having a docking connector configured to receive a portable media player for charging, and a light configured to operate independently of the portable media player being charged,

wherein the body further comprises;

a recessed channel configured to receive the docking connector; and

a hinged arm supporting the docking connector, the hinged arm being configured to extend over the recessed channel and to release radially from the body to extend perpendicularly to the recessed channel, the hinged arm and the recessed channel being configured to provide separate support to a portable media player.

27. The charging device of claim 26, wherein the body further comprises at least one prong configured to be connected to an AC power source.

28. The charging device of claim 27, wherein the body further comprises a recess, and wherein the at least one prong is configured to collapse into the recess.

29. The charging device of claim 26, wherein the docking connector comprises a 30 pin connector.

30. The charging device of claim 26, wherein the light comprises a lens formed with the body and a light emitting component enclosed by the lens.

31. The charging device of claim 30, wherein the light emitting component comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

32. The charging device of claim 31, wherein the body further comprises an on/off button configured to control the light emitting component.

33. The charging device of claim 26, wherein the hinged arm further comprises detents configured to prevent rotation of the hinged arm past a predefined point.

34. The charging device of claim 26, wherein the recessed channel further comprises a slot and the charging device further comprises an adapter insert for engaging and supporting the portable media player.

35. The charging device of claim 34, wherein the adapter insert is made of die-cut, closed cell foam.