Smart wall plate

• US 8,456,131 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Bukow
• Original Assignee: Hans Bukow
• Inventors: Bukow, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/832,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 320/110, 320/111
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for providing electricity to a portable electronic device comprising: a wall plate that surrounds and attaches to an electrical wall receptacle, a charging cradle with a platform for supporting a portable electronic device; a male charging connector coupled to an opening slot in the charging cradle'"'"'s platform, wherein the charging connector is insertable into a female charging port of a portable electronic device; and a transformer circuit coupled to the male charging connector, wherein the transformer circuit transforms a receiving electricity to an output electricity having an output voltage, an output current and an output wattage wherein the output electricity is within a range sufficient for charging the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing electrical power to a portable electronic device comprising:

a wall plate for surrounding and coupling to an electrically terminated receptacle, the wall plate having a charging cradle with a resting platform for physically supporting the portable electronic device, the charging cradle being positioned at an outer edge of the wall plate, wherein the electrically terminated receptacle remains accessible and vacant;

a male charging connector coupled to an opening slot of the charging cradle, wherein the male charging connector is insertable into a female charging port of the portable electronic device; and

a transformer circuit coupled to the male charging connector, wherein the transformer circuit transforms a receiving electrical signal to an output electrical signal within a range sufficient for charging the portable electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging cradle further comprises a cradle backing for maintaining the portable electronic device in a resting position, the cradle backing being coupled to a wall by a fastener to provide additional physical support for the portable electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall plate and the charging cradle are made from injection-molded plastic.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input electrical signal voltage is between 85-265 volts;

and wherein the output electrical signal'"'"'s output voltage is between 1-10 volts, the output current is between 100 milliamps-2 amps of direct current, and the output wattage is between 0.1-10 watts.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the output voltage is substantially 5 volts, the output current is substantially 2 amps of direct current, and the output wattage is substantially 10 watts.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the output voltage is substantially 5 volts, the output current is substantially 1 amp of direct current, and the output wattage is substantially 5 watts.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transformer circuit housing to isolate the transformer circuit from external contact with a conductive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically terminated receptacle is a light switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall plate further comprises:

a second charging cradle having a second resting platform for physically supporting a second portable electronic device, the second charging cradle positioned at an available outer edge of the wall plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second male charging connector coupled to a second opening slot of the second charging cradle, wherein the second male charging connector is insertable into a female charging port of the second portable electronic device; and

a second transformer circuit coupled to the second male charging connector, wherein the second transformer circuit transforms the receiving electrical signal to a second output electrical signal within a second range sufficient for charging the second portable electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more auxiliary devices coupled to one or more available outer edges of the wall plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary device is a standard battery charger capable of charging rechargeable batteries.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically terminated receptacle is a wall socket capable of receiving a plug from a device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transformer circuit receives the receiving electrical signal via a direct connection to one or more electrical wires positioned behind the electrically terminated receptacle.

15. A method of manufacturing a smart wall plate comprising the steps of:

determining a receiving electrical signal having an alternating current;

determining an output electrical signal having an output voltage, an output current, and an output wattage, wherein the output electrical signal is within a range sufficient for charging a portable electronic device;

assembling a transformer circuit capable of transforming the receiving electrical signal to the output electrical signal;

manufacturing a wall plate for surrounding and coupling to an electrically terminated receptacle, wherein the wall plate has

a charging cradle with a resting platform for physically accommodating the portable electronic device, the resting platform further having an opening slot where a male charging connector may extend through the opening slot, the charging cradle positioned at an outer edge of the wall plate, wherein the electrically terminated receptacle remains accessible and vacant; and

manufacturing the male charging connector capable of insertion into a female charging port of the portable electronic device, the male charging connector to couple to an output end of the transformer circuit in order to receive the output electrical signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wall plate and the charging cradle are manufactured as a single piece.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a transformer circuit housing wherein the transformer circuit is stored within the transformer circuit housing to isolate the transformer circuit from external contact with a conductive material.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the input electrical signal is between 85-265 volts;

and wherein the output electrical signal'"'"'s output voltage is between 1-10 volts, the output current is between 100 milliamps-2 amps of direct current, and the output wattage is between 2-10 watts.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the output voltage is substantially 5 volts, the output current is substantially 2 amps of direct current, and the output wattage is substantially 10 watts.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the output voltage is substantially 5 volts, the output current is substantially 1 amp of direct current, and the output wattage is substantially 5 watts.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the wall plate and the charging cradle are made from injection-molded plastic.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the charging cradle further comprises a cradle backing for maintaining the portable electronic device in a resting position, the cradle backing is coupled to a wall by a fastener to provide additional physical support for the portable electronic device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

manufacturing a second male charging connector coupled to a second opening slot of the second charging cradle, wherein the second male charging connector is insertable into a female charging port of the second portable electronic device; and

determining a second output electrical signal having a second output voltage, a second output current, and a second output wattage, wherein the second output electrical signal is within a range sufficient for charging the second portable electronic device; and

assembling a second transformer circuit capable of transforming the receiving electrical signal to the second output electrical signal to the second portable electronic device.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrically terminated receptacle is a light switch.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the wall plate further comprises:

a second charging cradle having a second resting platform for physically supporting a second portable electronic device, the second charging cradle positioned at an available outer edge of the wall plate.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second transformer circuit is stored within the transformer circuit housing to isolate the second transformer circuit from external contact with the conductive material.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising one or more auxiliary devices coupled to one or more available outer edges of the wall plate.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the auxiliary device is a standard battery charger capable of charging rechargeable batteries.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein the transformer circuit receives the receiving electrical signal via a direct connection to one or more electrical wires positioned behind the electrically terminated receptacle.

30. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrically terminated receptacle is a wall socket capable of receiving a plug from a device.

31. The method of claim 15, wherein the wall plate and the charging cradle are permanently coupled to one another, creating a single piece.