Mobile charging table with hinged tabletop and selectively accessible battery compartment opening
First Claim
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1. A charging table comprising:
- a base that is supported on a floor;
a vertically extending column supported on the base and having a top;
a battery compartment that is supported on the vertically extending column, wherein the battery compartment is defined by an enclosure having an upwardly-facing access opening;
a tabletop supported on the battery compartment and having a first surface and a second surface;
a battery powered charging hub supported on the first surface of the tabletop, the charging hub having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device;
a hinge connected to the enclosure of the battery compartment and coupling the tabletop to the battery compartment so as to permit the tabletop to move between a first position and a second position;
wherein the battery compartment is positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop,wherein the tabletop is movably coupled to the battery compartment via the hinge so as to be selectively movable via operation of the hinge
1) from the first position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and the second surface overlies the access opening of the battery compartment so that the tabletop blocks the access opening,
2) to the second position in which the first surface is inclined relative to the horizontal and in which the access opening is exposed to permit battery insertion into and removal from the access opening of the battery compartment from above, whereinwhen the tabletop is in the first position thereof, the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor by a distance that is sufficient to accommodate seated use so that a seat of a chair may fit thereunder without interference from the tabletop, and whereinthe tabletop has a diameter that is substantially greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column such that the seat of the chair may fit under the tabletop without interference from the battery compartment or the vertically extending column.
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Abstract
A mobile charging table and a method of use are configured for ease of mobility and ease of service. The table has a tabletop, a base, a battery powered charging hub, and a battery compartment. The tabletop may be connected to the base by a hinge arrangement permitting tabletop movement between its first and second positions. Movement of the tabletop to its second position exposes an opening of the battery compartment for servicing a battery that supplies power to the charging hub. In the flipped down position, the tabletop extends substantially horizontally to overlie the opening in the battery compartment and to allow user(s) to use the tabletop as a workspace.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A charging table comprising:
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a base that is supported on a floor; a vertically extending column supported on the base and having a top; a battery compartment that is supported on the vertically extending column, wherein the battery compartment is defined by an enclosure having an upwardly-facing access opening; a tabletop supported on the battery compartment and having a first surface and a second surface; a battery powered charging hub supported on the first surface of the tabletop, the charging hub having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device; a hinge connected to the enclosure of the battery compartment and coupling the tabletop to the battery compartment so as to permit the tabletop to move between a first position and a second position; wherein the battery compartment is positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop, wherein the tabletop is movably coupled to the battery compartment via the hinge so as to be selectively movable via operation of the hinge
1) from the first position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and the second surface overlies the access opening of the battery compartment so that the tabletop blocks the access opening,
2) to the second position in which the first surface is inclined relative to the horizontal and in which the access opening is exposed to permit battery insertion into and removal from the access opening of the battery compartment from above, whereinwhen the tabletop is in the first position thereof, the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor by a distance that is sufficient to accommodate seated use so that a seat of a chair may fit thereunder without interference from the tabletop, and wherein the tabletop has a diameter that is substantially greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column such that the seat of the chair may fit under the tabletop without interference from the battery compartment or the vertically extending column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A charging table system comprising:
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a mobile base supported on a floor by wheels; a vertically extending column supported on the mobile base and having a top; a tabletop having a first surface and a second surface; a battery compartment mounted on top of the vertically extending column and positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop, the battery compartment having
1) a body defining an interior and an upwardly facing access opening for removably receiving at least one battery, and
2) a lid pivotally connected to the body via a hinge connected to the body the battery compartment so as to pivot about a horizontal axis, the hinge being located under the tabletop and being located inwardly of an outer edge of the tabletop, the lid being attached to the second surface of the tabletop so as to allow the tabletop and the lid to move a) from a first position in which an upper surface of the tabletop extends at least substantially horizontally and the lid overlies the access opening to block the access opening from above b) to a second position in which the tabletop extends at an angle substantially perpendicular to the access opening and the lid is inclined relative to the opening to permit access to the access opening from above, wherein the tabletop has a diameter that is substantially greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column;a battery powered charging hub disposed on and extending above the first surface and having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device; and an electrical connection extending from the charging hub, through the tabletop, and into the battery compartment; wherein, when the tabletop and the lid are in the first position thereof, a portion of the tabletop overhangs the moveable base and battery compartment such that the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor, wherein the vertically extending column and the battery compartment collectively have a height sufficient to position the tabletop sufficiently above a floor to accommodate a seat of a chair under the tabletop without interference from the tabletop, and wherein the tabletop has a diameter greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column by an amount such that the overhanging portion of the tabletop is spaced horizontally from the vertically extending column and the battery compartment sufficiently to permit the seat of the chair to fit under the overhanging portion without interference from the vertically extending column or the battery compartment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of charging a portable electronic device on a table assembly comprising the steps of:
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positioning a charging table in a desired location on a horizontal surface, wherein the charging table comprises a movable base supported on a floor, a vertically extending column supported on the mobile base and having a top, a tabletop having first and second surfaces, a battery powered charging hub supported on the first surface of the tabletop, the charging hub having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device, a battery compartment that is supported on the vertically extending column, that is positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop, and that is defined by an enclosure having an upwardly facing access opening, a hinge connected to the enclosure of the battery compartment and coupling the tabletop to the battery compartment; moving the tabletop about the hinge a) from a first position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and the second surface overlies the access opening such that the tabletop blocks access to the access opening from above, b) to a second position in which the first surface extends at an angle relative to the horizontal surface and in which the access opening is exposed; removing a first battery from the battery compartment via the access opening and replacing the first battery with a second battery; and returning the tabletop to the first position; wherein, when the tabletop is in the first position thereof, the tabletop overhangs the vertically extending column and the battery compartment such that an overhanging portion of the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor, wherein the vertically extending column and the battery compartment collectively have a height sufficient to accommodate seated use so that a seat of a chair may fit under the tabletop without interference from the tabletop, and wherein the tabletop has a diameter greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column by amount such that the overhanging portion of the tabletop is spaced horizontally from the vertically extending column and the battery compartment sufficiently to permit the seat of the chair to fit under the overhanging portion without interference from the vertically extending column or the battery compartment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification