Furniture with wireless power

• US 9,124,308 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Metcalf, Keith E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwiddie, Meghan
• Application Number:
  US13/587,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 362/127, 362130-131, 362133-134, 362/253, 307/104, 307149-150, 320107-108, 320/137, 336/40, 336118-119, 336/121, 336130-131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/624 located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Furniture components, such as office furniture components, are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user.

Claims

1. A furniture component for transferring power wirelessly, the furniture component comprising:

a support structure;

a seating device supported by the support structure and configured to seat a person thereon;

a pivot mechanism supported by the support structure;

a working platform supported by the pivot mechanism and configured to pivot relative to the support structure;

a wireless power transfer device supported by the working platform, the wireless power transfer device adapted to transfer power wirelessly to an electrical load;

a power conductor supported by the support structure, the power conductor adapted to receive electrical power at one end thereof and to provide the electrical power to the wireless power transfer device;

wherein the wireless power transfer device comprises an inductive power transmitter; and

wherein the inductive power transmitter includes an inductive coil and a capacitor, the capacitor adapted to tune the inductive power transmitter to a resonant frequency of the inductive power transmitter.

2. The furniture component of claim 1, wherein said working platform includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and said lower surface includes a cavity extending into said work surface without extending through said upper surface, said primary coil positioned within said cavity and disposed proximal to said upper surface.

3. The furniture component of claim 1, wherein a portion of the working platform has a thickness of at least 20 millimeters, and the wireless power transfer device is configured to transfer power wirelessly through the at least 20 millimeters thickness portion.

4. A furniture component for transferring power wirelessly, the furniture component comprising:

a support structure;

a seating device supported by the support structure and configured to seat a person thereon;

a pivot mechanism supported by the support structure;

a working platform supported by the pivot mechanism and configured to pivot relative to the support structure;

a wireless power transfer device supported by the working platform, the wireless power transfer device adapted to transfer power wirelessly to an electrical load;

a power conductor supported by the support structure, the power conductor adapted to receive electrical power at one end thereof and to provide the electrical power to the wireless power transfer device;

wherein the wireless power transfer device comprises an inductive power transmitter; and

wherein the working platform has a working surface and a non-working surface opposite the working surface, and the wireless, power transfer device is supported from the non-working surface and configured to transfer power wirelessly through the working platform.

5. The furniture component of claim 4, wherein a portion of the working platform has a thickness of at least 20 millimeters, and the wireless power transfer device is configured to transfer power wirelessly through the at least 20 millimeters thickness portion.

6. The furniture component of claim 4, wherein said non-working surface includes a cavity extending into said work surface without extending through said working surface, said primary coil positioned within said cavity and disposed proximal to said working surface.

7. A furniture component for transferring power wirelessly, the furniture component comprising:

a support structure;

a seating device supported by the support structure and configured to seat a person thereon;

a pivot mechanism supported by the support structure;

a working platform supported by the pivot mechanism and configured to pivot relative to the support structure;

a wireless power transfer device supported by the working platform, the wireless power transfer device adapted to transfer power wirelessly to an electrical load;

a power conductor supported by the support structure, the power conductor adapted to receive electrical power at one end thereof and to provide the electrical power to the wireless power transfer device;

wherein the wireless power transfer device comprises an inductive power transmitter; and

wherein the working platform has a working surface and a non-working surface opposite the working surface, further comprising an indicator element configured to indicate the location of the inductive power transmitter.

8. The furniture component of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the working platform comprises a translucent material, and the indicator element is configured and positioned to emit light through the translucent material to indicate the location of the inductive power transmitter.

9. The furniture component of claim 7, wherein said non-working surface includes a cavity extending into said work surface without extending through said working surface, said primary coil positioned within said cavity and disposed proximal to said working surface.

10. A furniture assembly for transferring power wirelessly, the furniture assembly comprising a furniture component comprising:

a support structure;

a seating device supported by the support structure and configured to seat a person thereon;

an extension assembly supported by the support structure, the extension assembly including a support member configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position; and

a first inductive power transfer device supported by the support member,

wherein the first inductive power transfer device is adapted, in the extended position of the support member, to inductively couple a second inductive power transfer device and transfer power therewith.

11. The furniture assembly of claim 10, further comprising a second furniture component including a working platform configured to support the second inductive power transfer device.

12. The furniture assembly of claim 10, wherein the second inductive power transfer device is coupled to a mobile device, and the first and the second inductive power transfer devices are adapted to form an inductive coupling configured to power the mobile device.

13. The furniture assembly of claim 12, wherein the inductive coupling is a resonant inductive coupling.

14. The furniture assembly of claim 13, wherein the mobile devise is supported by a working platform of a second furniture component, and the resonant inductive coupling is configured to transfer power through the working platform.

15. The furniture assembly of claim 14, wherein a portion of the working platform has a thickness of at least 20 millimeters, and the resonant inductive coupling is configured to transfer power through the at least 20 millimeters thickness portion.

16. A furniture assembly for transferring power wirelessly, the furniture assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a working platform supported by the support structure, the working platform including a working surface opposite a non-working surface;

a plurality of inductive transmitters supported by the working platform and adapted to inductively power an electrical load positioned on the working surface;

a power converter configured to receive power from a power source and to convert the power received from the power source to a converted power;

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the power converter and the plurality of inductive transmitters to conduct the converted power to the plurality of inductive transmitters and

wherein a first inductive transmitter from the plurality of inductive transmitters is supported from the non-working surface of the working platform.

17. The furniture assembly of claim 16, wherein a first inductive transmitter from the plurality of inductive transmitters is adapted to form an inductive coupling with an inductive receiver coupled to the electrical load to power the electrical load.

18. The furniture assembly of claim 17, wherein the inductive coupling is a resonant inductive coupling.

19. The furniture assembly of claim 17, wherein the inductive coupling is configured to transfer power through the working platform.

20. The furniture assembly of claim 19, wherein a portion of the working platform has a thickness of at least 20 millimeters, and the inductive coupling is configured to transfer power through the at least 20 millimeters thickness portion.