Modular hand-held electronic device charging and monitoring system

• US 8,963,498 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtf Research & Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rtf Research & Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Ferguson, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US13/266,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114, 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/3919 USB, earphones, audio or video cables, e.g. for connecting small electronic devices such as MP3 players or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/48 Automatic re-storing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

This specification relates to a charging, securing and monitoring system for hand-held electronic devices such as cell phones, BlackBerry'"'"'s, PDA'"'"'s, cameras, or the like and the components therefore. More particularly the teachings herein include a coaxial cable construction that permits securing and charging of said hand-held devices which are on display at a typical retailer. Further the cable may be accumulated on a unique recoiler assembly at one end of the coaxial cable and engages a unique holding device proximate the other end thereof.

Claims

1. A kit for a security system configured for hand-held electronic devices, the kit comprising:

a coaxial cable connectable to a mounting pad and to a recoiler assembly for supplying electrical power from the recoiler assembly to the mounting pad;

a mounting pad attachable to a hand-held electronic device;

the mounting pad including a cable receiving portion engageable with the coaxial cable, and a charging circuit in electrical communication with the cable receiving portion;

the charging circuit being engageable with the hand-held electronic device to provide electrical power for charging the hand-held electronic device;

the recoiler assembly including a reel assembly provided with a housing, a spool retained within the housing upon which the coaxial cable may be wound and unwound, and a charging module attached to the housing;

the recoiler assembly being configured to allow electrical communication between the coaxial cable and the charging module, when the coaxial cable is arranged on the spool;

a connector cable connectable to the charging module and to a router for supplying electrical power from the router to the charging module; and

a router capable of distributing electrical power from a power supply to a plurality of ports in the router;

each port being configured for connection to the connector cable;

when the security system is operational, the router being operable to monitor the charging circuit of the mounting pad in order to detect a drop in the current flowing therein and being further operable to trigger an alarm when a drop in current is detected in the charging circuit;

when operatively assembled, the coaxial cable, the mounting pad, the recoiler assembly, the connector cable and the router cooperating with each other to define a loop carrying a charging current and serving as an alarm circuit for the hand-held electronic device.

2. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the coaxial cable is provided with a first connector engageable with the mounting pad and a second connector engageable with the recoiler assembly;

the first connector fitting over the coaxial cable;

the coaxial cable being rotatable relative to the first connector.

3. The security system kit of claim 2 wherein the cable receiving portion of the mounting pad includes a hollow post configured for threaded engagement with the first connector;

when the first connector is attached to the cable receiving portion of the mounting pad, the coaxial cable being rotatable relative to the cable receiving portion while still remaining in electrical communication therewith.

4. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the coaxial cable includes a conductive core, an insulating coating disposed over the conductive core, a plurality of conductive strands disposed over the insulating coating, and an outer insulating layer disposed over the plurality of conductive strands.

5. The security system kit of claim 4 wherein the coaxial cable further includes a conducting foil disposed between the plurality of conductive strands and the outer insulating layer.

6. The security system kit of claim 4 wherein the conductive core is made of steel.

7. The security system kit of claim 4 wherein the conductive core includes a plurality of bundles of steel strands.

8. The security system kit of claim 7 wherein the plurality of bundles includes seven bundles.

9. The security system kit of claim 8 wherein each bundle includes seven steel strands.

10. The security system kit of claim 7 wherein strand is individually tin plated.

11. The security system kit of claim 4 wherein the plurality of conductive strands is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) intertwined copper strands; and

(b) braided copper strands.

12. The security system kit of claim 4 wherein the plurality of conductive strands includes four copper strands.

13. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the mounting pad further includes means for securely holding the hand-held electronic device.

14. The security system kit of claim 13 wherein the holding means is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a clamping device and

(b) a tape pad.

15. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the mounting pad further includes switches capable of detecting whether the hand-held electronic device is attached to the mounting pad.

16. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the cable receiving portion of the mounting pad includes a hollow post having arranged therein a contact pin for engagement with an end of the coaxial cable;

the contact pin being connected to the charging circuit for electrical communication therewith.

17. The security system kit of claim 16 wherein the contact pin is spring-biased.

18. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the charging circuit includes a charging cable extending from the mounting pad for connection to the hand-held electronic device.

19. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the charging circuit includes an LED and a resistor;

when the security system is operational, the router being operable to monitor the LED and resistor of the charging circuit.

20. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein:

the spool includes a hub, a cable guide formed in the hub and a conductive element arranged within the hub and in electrical communication with the charging module;

the hub has an aperture defined therein to allow a portion of the coaxial cable wound about the spool to pass therethrough toward the interior of the hub for retention by the cable guide; and

the conductive element is configured to establish electrical communication between the coaxial cable and the charging module when the coaxial cable is retained within the cable guide.

21. The security system kit of claim 20 wherein the hub includes a recessed portion and the cable guide is disposed in the recessed portion of the hub.

22. The security system kit of claim 21 wherein the spool is spring-biased.

23. The security system kit of claim 22 wherein:

the reel assembly includes a spring assembly disposed within the housing for biasing the spool;

the spring assembly including a spring retaining member and a flat coil spring;

the flat coil spring having one end connected to the housing and the other end thereof connected to the spring retaining member;

in operation, the flat coil spring stores spring energy when the spool rotates in a first direction and a length of coaxial cable is paid out, and releases spring energy when the spool rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction and the coaxial cable is wound about the spool.

24. The security system kit of claim 20 wherein;

the conductive element arranged within the hub is a first conductive element; and

the charging module includes a second conductive element engageable with the first conductive element of the spool to establish electrical communication between the coaxial cable and the charging module, when the coaxial cable is retained within the cable guide;

the second conductive element also being engageable with the connector cable for electrical communication therewith.

25. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein:

when the security system is operational, the hand-held electronic device attached to the mounting pad is moveable between a home position and a viewing position;

when in the viewing position, a portion of the coaxial cable is paid out from the spool; and

the recoiler assembly further includes means for detecting when the hand-held electronic device is in the viewing position.

26. The security system kit of claim 25 wherein the detecting means includes a magnetic switch assembly.

27. The security system kit of claim 26 wherein:

the reel assembly includes a spring assembly disposed within the housing for biasing the spool;

the spring assembly including a spring retaining member and a flat coil spring;

the flat coil spring having one end connected to the spool and the other end thereof connected to the spring retaining member;

the magnetic switch assembly includes a magnet carried on the spring retainer member and a magnetic switch disposed on the charging module.

28. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the charging module is attached to the housing using one of fasteners and a snap on connection.

29. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of ports includes ten ports.

30. The security system kit of claim 1 wherein:

the charging circuit of the mounting pad is a first charging circuit;

the router includes a plurality of charging circuits corresponding to the plurality of ports;

when the security system is operational, one of the charging circuits of the plurality being in electrical communication with the hand-held electronic device to enable the charging thereof.

31. A kit for a security system configured for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices, the kit comprising:

a plurality of coaxial cables, each coaxial cable being connectable to one of a plurality of mounting pads and to one of a plurality of recoiler assemblies to supply electrical power from one of the plurality of recoiler assemblies to one of the plurality of mounting pads;

a plurality of mounting pads, each mounting pad being attachable to one hand-held electronic device of the plurality;

each mounting pad of the plurality including a cable receiving portion engageable with the coaxial cable of the plurality, and a charging circuit in electrical communication with the cable receiving portion;

the charging circuit of each mounting pad of the plurality being engaged with one of the hand-held electronic devices of the plurality to provide electrical power for the charging thereof;

each recoiler assembly of the plurality including a reel assembly provided with a housing, a spool retained within the housing upon which may be wound one of the coaxial cables of the plurality, and a charging module attached to the housing;

each recoiler assembly of the plurality being configured to allow electrical communication between one of the coaxial cables of the plurality and the charging module of one of the recoiler assemblies of the plurality;

a plurality of connector cables, each connector cable being connectable to one of the charging modules of the plurality of recoiler assemblies and to a router to supply electrical power from the router to one of the charging modules of the plurality of recoiler assemblies; and

a router capable of distributing electrical power from a power supply to a plurality of ports in the router;

each port being configured for connection to one of the plurality of the connector cables;

when the security system is operational, the router being operable to monitor the charging circuit of each mounting pad of the plurality in order to detect a drop in the current flowing therein and being further operable to trigger an alarm when a drop in current is detected in one of the charging circuits of the plurality of mounting pads;

when operatively assembled, the plurality of coaxial cables, the plurality of mounting pads, the plurality of recoiler assemblies, the plurality of connector cables and the router cooperating with each other to define a plurality of loops;

each loop of the plurality carrying a charging current and serving as an alarm circuit for one of the hand-held electronic devices of the plurality.

32. A security system for hand-held electronic devices comprising:

a coaxial cable connected to a mounting pad and to a recoiler assembly to supply electrical power from the recoiler assembly to the mounting pad;

a mounting pad attached to the hand-held electronic device;

the mounting pad including a cable receiving portion engaged with the coaxial cable, and a charging circuit in electrical communication with the cable receiving portion;

the charging circuit being engaged with the hand-held electronic device to provide electrical power for the charging thereof;

the recoiler assembly including a reel assembly provided with a housing, a spool retained within the housing upon which is wound the coaxial cables of the plurality, and a charging module attached to the housing;

the recoiler assembly being configured to allow electrical communication between the coaxial cable and the charging module;

a connector cable being connected to the charging module and to a router to supply electrical power from the router to the charging module; and

a router capable of distributing electrical power from a power supply to a plurality of ports in the router;

each port being configured for connection to the connector cable;

when the security system is operational, the router being operable to monitor the charging circuit of the mounting pad to detect a drop in the current flowing therein and being further operable to trigger an alarm when a drop in current is detected in the charging circuit;

in operation, the coaxial cable, the mounting pad, the recoiler assembly, the connector cable and the router cooperating with each other to define a loop carrying a charging current and serving as an alarm circuit for the hand-held electronic device.

33. A security system for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices comprising:

a plurality of coaxial cables, each coaxial cable of the plurality being connected to one of a plurality of mounting pads and one of a plurality of recoiler assemblies;

each coaxial cable of the plurality being capable of supplying electrical power from one of the plurality of recoiler assemblies to one of the plurality of mounting pads;

a plurality of mounting pads, each mounting pad of the plurality attached to one of the hand-held electronic devices of the plurality;

each mounting pad of the plurality including a cable receiving portion engaged with each coaxial cable of the plurality, and a charging circuit in electrical communication with the cable receiving portion;

the charging circuit of each mounting pad being engaged with one of the hand-held electronic devices of the plurality to provide electrical power for the charging thereof;

each recoiler assembly of the plurality including a reel assembly provided with a housing, a spool retained within the housing upon which is wound one of the coaxial cables of the plurality, and a charging module attached to the housing;

each recoiler assembly of the plurality being configured to allow electrical communication between one of the coaxial cables of the plurality and the charging module of one of the recoiler assemblies of the plurality;

a plurality of connector cables, each connector cable of the plurality being connected to one of the charging modules of the plurality of recoiler assemblies and to a router;

each connector of the plurality being capable of supplying electrical power from the router to one of the charging modules of the plurality of recoiler assemblies; and

a router capable of distributing electrical power from a power supply to a plurality of ports in the router;

each port being configured for connection to one of the plurality of connector cables;

when the security system is operational, the router being operable to monitor the charging circuit of each mounting pad of the plurality in order to detect a drop in the current flowing therein and being further operable to trigger an alarm when a drop in current is detected in one of the charging circuits of the plurality of mounting pads;

in operation, the plurality of coaxial cables, the plurality of mounting pads, the plurality of recoiler assemblies, the plurality of connector cables and the router cooperating with each other to define a plurality of loops;

each loop of the plurality carrying a charging current and serving as an alarm circuit for one of the hand-held electronic devices of the plurality.