Apparatus for securing a rechargeable electronic device with respect to a surface of a wireless battery charging apparatus of a vehicle

• US 9,096,177 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Boundy, Timothy M., Farah, Andrew J., Zubrickas, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Nghia
• Application Number:
  US13/557,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 320/113, 320/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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

Methods, system and apparatus are provided for securing a rechargeable electronic device with respect to a surface of a wireless battery charging apparatus of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a floor console armrest assembly, comprising;

a console base comprising a storage compartment; and

a console lid coupled to the console base;

a wireless charging apparatus mounted within the console base and being designed to inductively couple magnetic energy to wirelessly charge a rechargeable electronic device; and

a securing apparatus configured to secure the rechargeable electronic device, comprising;

a tray mounted in the storage compartment within the console base and above the wireless charging apparatus; and

a securing structure mounted on the console lid, wherein the securing structure cooperates with the tray to secure the rechargeable electronic device in a fixed position with respect to the wireless battery charging apparatus.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting apparatus located within the storage compartment, wherein the tray is part of the mounting apparatus.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the wireless charging apparatus is mounted to an underside of the mounting apparatus, and resides in the storage compartment beneath the mounting apparatus.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the wireless charging apparatus includes a charging surface,

wherein the securing structure has a shape that allows it to contact the rechargeable electronic device when the console lid is in a closed position, and

wherein the securing structure and the tray cooperate to hold the rechargeable electronic device in a fixed location with respect to the charging surface to secure the rechargeable electronic device in the fixed position within the storage compartment when the console lid is in the closed position.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the tray has a center portion that overlies at least a portion of the charging surface, wherein the center portion is in alignment with the securing structure when the console lid is in the closed position.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the securing structure presses against the rechargeable electronic device when the console lid is in the closed position to hold the rechargeable electronic device in the fixed position with respect to the charging surface so that the rechargeable electronic device is secured in the fixed position with respect to the charging surface.

7. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the console base includes a lip, wherein the mounting apparatus has edge portions that are disposed around the perimeter of the tray and supported by the lip of the console base.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the securing structure comprises a lightweight cellular material.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the lightweight cellular material comprises a solid foam material.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the securing structure comprises a reticulated foam material.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the securing structure comprises a polymer-based open-cell foam material.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the polymer-based open cell foam material comprises polyurethane-based foam material.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the console lid is pivotably coupled to the console base, and wherein the tray is separate from the console base, and wherein the securing structure is a separate component from the console lid that is mounted on the console lid.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a floor console armrest assembly comprising;

a console lid and a console base comprising a storage compartment, wherein console lid that serves as an armrest and covers the storage compartment;

a wireless battery charging apparatus mounted within the console base of the floor console armrest assembly and being designed to inductively couple magnetic energy to wirelessly charge a rechargeable electronic device; and

a securing apparatus configured to secure the rechargeable electronic device, comprising;

a tray mounted within the console base and the storage compartment and being configured to hold a battery, wherein the wireless battery charging apparatus is mounted to the tray and wherein the tray is located above the wireless charging apparatus; and

a securing structure mounted on the console lid, wherein the securing structure cooperates with the tray to secure the battery in a fixed position with respect to the wireless battery charging apparatus.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the wireless battery charging apparatus is mounted to an underside of the tray.

16. The vehicle according to claim 14, the console lid further comprising:

a bottom surface having the securing structure mounted thereon.

17. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the battery is housed in a device, and wherein the wireless battery charging apparatus includes a charging surface, and wherein the securing structure has a shape that allows it to contact the device when the console lid is in a closed position.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the securing structure and the tray cooperate such that the securing structure presses against the device when the console lid is in the closed position to hold the device in a fixed location with respect to the charging surface to secure the device in the fixed position with respect to the charging surface within the storage compartment when the console lid is in the closed position.

19. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the console lid is pivotably coupled to the console base, and wherein the tray is separate from the console base, and wherein the securing structure is a separate component from the console lid that is mounted on the console lid.