Interface and mounting structure for a wireless charger or intermediate piece

• US 9,793,744 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yizhuo, Laubach, Marco, Cole, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Nghia
• Application Number:
  US14/851,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20160079801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 320112-115
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/005 attached to a workbench
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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

A wireless charging system for power tools and other devices includes a charging module, docking frame, and tool holder. When a device is placed on a charging surface of the charging module, the charging module is configured to wirelessly charge the device. The charging module can be mounted within the docking frame or the tool holder via a mounting interface, and the tool holder can be affixed to a rigid surface. The docking frame can also be attached to a rigid surface, or can be mounted within the tool holder as an intermediate piece. The tool holder is configured to support the charging module such that the charging surface is at an angle. This configuration optimally locates the device relative to the charging module and allows the charging surface to act as a resting surface for the device between operations.

Claims

1. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a charging module that includes;

a charging surface;

a first mounting interface disposed on lateral sides of the charging module; and

an inductive charging device configured to wirelessly charge a device disposed on the charging surface; and

a tool holder that includes;

a base surface;

a holding portion configured to at least partially support the device; and

a first receiving interface configured to receive the first mounting interface of the charging module at a fixed orientation relative to the base surface so as to mount the charging module in the tool holder such that the charging surface is oriented at a fixed angle relative to the base surface and slopes downward toward the holding portion, and such that the holding portion is configured to act as a transverse support for the device resting on the sloped charging surface.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first stop element configured to delimit a range of motion of the charging module along the first receiving region toward the holding portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiving interface includes one of a protrusion and a recession configured to slidingly receive the protrusion; and

the first mounting interface includes the other of the protrusion and the recession.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base surface of the tool holder defines an attachment surface configured to be affixed to a rigid member such that the wireless charging system is mounted on the rigid member.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the angle between the base surface and the first receiving interface enables the device to be inserted and removed from the tool holder via a single swiping motion such that a bottom surface of the device slides against the charging surface of the charging module to clear debris disposed thereon.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a surface of the tool holder perpendicular to the base surface defines an attachment surface configured to fixedly attach to a rigid and substantially vertical surface of an object such that the wireless charging system is mounted on the object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tool holding portion is configured to hold the device at an optimal wireless charging location relative to the inductive charging device.

8. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a charging module that includes;

a charging surface;

a first mounting interface disposed on lateral sides of the charging module; and

an inductive charging device configured to wirelessly charge a device disposed on the charging surface;

a docking frame that includes;

a base surface

a first receiving interface configured to receive the first mounting interface of the charging module to mount the charging module in the docking frame;

a second mounting interface; and

a guide member that is configured to guide the device to an optimal charging location relative to the inductive charging device; and

a tool holder that includes;

a further base surface;

a holding portion configured to at least partially support the device; and

a second receiving interface oriented at an angle relative to the further base surface and configured to receive the second mounting interface of the docking frame such that the charging surface is oriented at the angle relative to the base surface and slopes downward toward the holding portion, and such that the holding portion is configured to act as a transverse support for the device resting on the sloped charging surface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the second receiving interface has a first stop element; and

the second mounting interface has a second stop element configured to engage with the first stop element and delimit a range of motion of the docking frame in the second receiving interface toward the holding portion.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein

the first stop member includes one of a snap member and a snap receptacle configured to receive the snap member via a snap fit;

and

the second stop member include the other of the snap member and the snap receptacle such that the docking frame is configured to be removably snap fitted to the tool holder.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the second receiving interface includes one of a protrusion and a recession configured to slidingly receive the protrusion; and

the second mounting interface includes the other of the protrusion and the recession.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the second receiving interface includes at least one first couple roller; and

the second mounting interface includes at least one second couple roller configured to engage with the at least one fist couple roller such that the docking frame is slidingly mounted within the second receiving interface.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one additional charging module, additional docking frame, or additional tool holder having at least one different dimension than the charging module, docking frame, or tool holder respectively,

wherein the at least one additional charging module, additional docking frame, or additional tool holder includes at least one interface that is compatible with an interface of the charging module, docking frame, or tool holder respectively such that the charging module, docking frame, or tool holder can be substituted for the at least one additional charging module, additional docking frame, or additional tool holder respectively.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the further base surface defines an attachment surface configured to be affixed to a rigid support member.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein a surface of the tool holder perpendicular to the further base surface defines an attachment surface configured to affixed to a rigid and substantially vertical surface.

16. The holder of claim 9, wherein the tool holding portion is configured to hold the device at an optimal wireless charging location relative to the inductive charging device.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the base surface defines an attachment surface configured to be affixed to a rigid support member such that the wireless charging system is mounted on the rigid member.