Versatile plug and play charging station

• US 9,153,986 B1
• Filed: 04/15/2015
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FuelBox Inc.
• Original Assignee: FuelBox Inc.
• Inventors: Stump, John, Herr, Robert, Friedman, Daniel, Beierle, Paul, Frost, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Omar, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US14/687,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20150295438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 174 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A plug-and-play addition to a traditional electrical outlet that upgrades it to a universally compatible charging station. The unit can be plugged directly into an ordinary electrical outlet or can be secured to the wall with a screw. A removable pod module couples to a docking module plugged into the wall. A positive interface between the two modules holds them together, and an internal battery in the pod module is automatically charged. The interface may be frictionally enhanced with rubberized contact surfaces and magnetic latches. Both modules include integrated flexible charging cables with a variety of connectors for external devices.

Claims

1. A charging system, including:

a) a docking module having a male outlet plug adapted to be inserted into a wall power outlet, a transformer for converting the AC wall power into DC power, an upper edge with a pair of lower electrical connectors that receive the DC power, and at least one integrated flexible charging cable that receives the DC power terminating in a charging connector for an external device, the upper edge further including a pair of rails that define an upwardly-facing channel therebetween; and

b) a pod module having a lower edge sized and shaped to fit snugly within the upwardly-facing channel of the docking module, the pod module thus being supported above the docking module, the lower edge having a pair of upper electrical connectors that engage the lower electrical connectors of the docking module and receive DC power, the pod module having an internal battery that is connected to be charged by the DC power received by the upper electrical connectors, the pod module further including at least one integrated flexible charging cable that receives the DC power terminating in a charging connector for an external device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the docking module and the lower edge of the pod module have rubberized exterior surfaces that contact each other for enhanced friction.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the upper edge of the docking module and the lower edge of the pod module have cooperating magnetic latches that engage each other for enhanced retention of the pod module on the docking module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the docking module and the lower edge of the pod module have cooperating magnetic latches that engage each other for enhanced retention of the pod module on the docking module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cooperating magnetic latches include spaced laterally apart latches for added stability.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the docking module is linear and horizontal, and the pair of rails comprises a pair of front and rear linear horizontal rails that define therebetween the upwardly-facing channel, and the lower edge of the pod module is linear and has a thickness that fits closely between the rails.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the upper edge of the docking module including the rails and the lower edge of the pod module have rubberized exterior surfaces that contact adjacent surfaces of each other for enhanced friction.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the docking module has at least two integrated flexible charging cables terminating in charging connectors for different external devices, and the pod module also has at least two integrated flexible charging cables terminating in charging connectors for different external devices.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the docking module includes a peripheral groove within which the integrated flexible charging cables and charging connectors are received to lie substantially flush against outer corners of the docking module, and the pod module includes a peripheral groove within which the integrated flexible charging cables and charging connectors are received to lie substantially flush against an external edge of the pod module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pod module further includes a self-charging extension with a USB connector that normally resides flush with a side edge of the pod module in a groove and folds out enabling connection with an external USB power source to enable recharging of the internal battery of the pod module in a manner other than through the upper and lower electrical connectors.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pod module includes an LED indicator on a front face thereof that indicates remaining internal battery life.

12. A charging system, including:

a) a docking module having a male outlet plug adapted to be inserted into a wall power outlet, a transformer for converting the AC wall power into DC power, an upper edge with a pair of lower electrical connectors that receive the DC power, the upper edge further including a pair of rails that define an upwardly-facing channel therebetween and a pair of spaced apart magnetic latches; and

b) a pod module having a lower edge sized and shaped to fit snugly within the upwardly-facing channel of the docking module, the pod module thus being supported above the docking module, the lower edge having a pair of upper electrical connectors that engage the lower electrical connectors of the docking module and receive DC power, the pod module having an internal battery that is connected to be charged by the DC power received by the upper electrical connectors, the pod module including a pair of spaced apart magnetic latches that mate with the magnetic latches on the docking module, the pod module further including at least two integrated flexible charging cables that receive the DC power terminating in charging connectors for different external devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the upper edge of the docking module and the lower edge of the pod module have rubberized exterior surfaces that contact each other for enhanced friction.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the upper edge of the docking module is linear and horizontal, and the pair of rails comprises a pair of front and rear linear horizontal rails that define therebetween the upwardly-facing channel, and the lower edge of the pod module is linear and has a thickness that fits closely between the rails.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the upper edge of the docking module including the rails and the lower edge of the pod module have rubberized exterior surfaces that contact adjacent surfaces of each other for enhanced friction.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the docking module has also at least two integrated flexible charging cables terminating in charging connectors for different external devices.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the docking module includes a peripheral groove within which the integrated flexible charging cables and charging connectors are received to lie substantially flush against outer corners of the docking module, and the pod module includes a peripheral groove within which the integrated flexible charging cables and charging connectors are received to lie substantially flush against an external edge of the pod module.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the pod module includes a peripheral groove within which the integrated flexible charging cables and charging connectors are received to lie substantially flush against an external edge of the pod module.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the pod module further includes a self-charging extension with a USB connector that normally resides flush with a side edge of the pod module in a groove and folds out enabling connection with an external USB power source to enable recharging of the internal battery of the pod module in a manner other than through the upper and lower electrical connectors.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the pod module includes an LED indicator on a front face thereof that indicates remaining internal battery life.