Charging station for portable electronic devices

• US 8,692,511 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doug Clouser
• Original Assignee: Doug Clouser
• Inventors: Clouser, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/190,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 320/115, 320/113, 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A charging station for portable electronic devices includes a base having a substantially vertical and forward facing wall and at least one suction cup secured to the wall to temporarily secure the portable electronic devices to the wall in a position that the portable electronic devices can be viewed and operated while recharging. When more than one suction cup is provided they can be secured in laterally spaced-apart positions so that multiple portable electronic devices can be secured side-by-side for recharging or more than one suction cup can secure a portable electronic device. The suction cups can also be secured in vertically spaced apart positions so that the suction cup can engage the portable electronic device at a desired height or so that more than one suction cup can secure the portable electronic device. The charging station can also organize mail, keys, wallets, and the like.

Claims

1. A charging station for a portable electronic device utilizing rechargeable batteries that are recharged when the portable electronic device is connected to a power source with a cable, said charging station comprising, in combination:

a base having a forward facing front wall no more than 45 degrees from vertical and at least one of;

(a) at least one vertical and rearward facing back wall rearwardly spaced from the front wall and configured to secure the base to a vertically extending support surface; and

(b) at least one horizontal and downward facing base wall located below the front wall and configured to support the base on a horizontally extending support surface;

wherein the base includes at least one cable opening for passage of the cable extending from the portable electronic device secured to the fastener to the power source; and

at least one forward facing fastener on the forward facing front wall so that the fastener can temporarily secure the portable electronic device to the forward facing front wall to limit movement of the personal electronic device in at least one lateral direction and in a position that the portable electronic device can be viewed and operated while recharging.

2. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the fastener limits lateral movement of the personal electronic device in both lateral directions.

3. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two of the fasteners secured to the forward facing front wall and laterally spaced apart.

4. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two of the fasteners secured to the forward facing front wall and vertically spaced apart.

5. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is removable from the forward facing front wall.

6. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is spaced from the forward facing front wall by a spacer.

7. The charging station according to claim 1, further comprising a cradle located below the fastener to limit downward movement of the portable electronic device upon release of the portable electronic device from the fastener.

8. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the base includes both the at least one vertical and rearward facing back wall rearwardly spaced from the front wall and configured to secure the base to the vertically extending support surface and the at least one horizontal and downward facing base wall located below the front wall and configured to support the base on the horizontally extending support surface so that the base can selectively rest on a tabletop and be secured to a wall.

9. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a suction cup.

10. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to rotate relative to the front wall so that the portable electronic device secured thereto can be rotated between portrait and landscape orientations.

11. A charging station for a portable electronic device utilizing rechargeable batteries that are recharged when the portable electronic device is connected to a power source with a cable, said charging station comprising, in combination:

a base having a forward facing front wall no more than 45 degrees from vertical and at least one of;

(a) at least one vertical and rearward facing back wall rearwardly spaced from the front wall and configured to secure the base to a vertically extending support surface; and

(b) at least one horizontal and downward facing base wall located below the front wall and configured to support the base on a horizontally extending support surface; and

at least one forward facing suction cup secured to the forward facing front wall so that the suction cup can temporarily secure the portable electronic device to the forward facing front wall in a position that the portable electronic device can be viewed and operated while recharging.

12. The charging station according to claim 11, wherein there are at least two of the suction cups secured to the forward facing front wall and laterally spaced apart.

13. The charging station according to claim 11, wherein there are at least two of the suction cups secured to the forward facing front wall and vertically spaced apart.

14. The charging station according to claim 11, wherein the suction cup is removable from the forward facing front wall.

15. The charging station according to claim 14, wherein a suction cup opening is formed in the forward facing front wall having a first portion sized for preventing passage of a flange of the suction cup therethrough for retaining the suction cup to the forward facing front wall and a second portion sized larger than the first portion for passage of the flange therethrough for installation and removal of the suction cup to the forward facing front wall.

16. The charging station according to claim 11, wherein the suction cup is spaced from the forward facing front wall by a spacer.

17. The charging station according to claim 11, further comprising a cradle located below the suction cup to limit downward movement of the portable electronic device upon release of the portable electronic device from the suction cup.

18. The charging station according to claim 11, wherein the base includes both the at least one vertical and rearward facing back wall rearwardly spaced from the front wall and configured to secure the base to the vertically extending support surface and the at least one horizontal and downward facing base wall located below the front wall and configured to support the base on the horizontally extending support surface so that the base can selectively rest on a tabletop and be secured to a wall.

19. The charging station according to claim 11, wherein the suction cup is configured to rotate relative to the front wall so that the portable electronic device secured thereto can be rotated between portrait and landscape orientations.

20. The charging station according to claim 12, wherein the base includes at least one cable opening for passage of the cable extending from the portable electronic device to the power source.