Personal electronic charging station

• US 10,672,218 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rick Lawson
• Original Assignee: Rick Lawson
• Inventors: Lawson, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trischler, John T
• Application Number:
  US15/627,525
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers

Abstract

The personal electronic charging station is adapted for use in charging one or more personal data devices. The personal electronic charging station is adapted for use one or more electronic payment systems selected from the group consisting of credit card payment systems or a token based payment system. The personal electronic charging station is a switched charging station that distributes electric power to the personal data devices on a fee for service basis. Once the fee has been received through the electronic payment system, the personal electronic charging station will distribute electrical power for use in charging the one or more personal data devices. The personal electronic charging station comprises a cabinet, a charging circuit, and a control system.

Claims

1. A charging device comprising:

A first cabinet, a charging circuit, a control system, and a second cabinet;

wherein the charging circuit is contained within the first cabinet;

wherein the control system is electrically connected to the charging circuit;

wherein the control system is electrically connected to the second cabinet;

wherein the charging device is adapted for use in charging one or more personal data devices;

wherein the charging device is adapted for use with one or more electronic payment systems selected from the group consisting of credit card payment systems or a token based payment system;

wherein the charging device is adapted for use with the national electric grid;

wherein the charging device is a switched charging station that distributes electric power to the one or more personal data devices on a fee for service basis;

wherein the charging circuit is configured for use with the national electric grid;

wherein the charging circuit comprises a plurality of AC ports, a plurality of DC ports, an access relay, an AC/DC converter, an LED, and a limit resistor;

wherein the plurality of DC ports, the LED and the limit resistor are connected to the AC/DC converter;

wherein the plurality of AC ports are connected to the national electric grid;

wherein the AC/DC converter is connected to the national electric grid;

wherein access to the national electric grid is controlled by the access relay;

wherein the access relay is an electrical relay;

wherein the LED is an electrical device;

wherein the limit resistor is an electrical device;

wherein the LED is mounted in the first cabinet such that the LED is visible when the charging circuit is accessible;

wherein the LED and the limit resistor are wired in series such that when power is applied to the AC/DC converter the LED will illuminate;

wherein the first cabinet comprises a first chamber, a motorized mount, and a plurality of charging apertures;

wherein the plurality of charging apertures are apertures that are formed within the first chamber;

wherein the first chamber is mounted in the motorized mount;

wherein the second cabinet comprises a second chamber and one or more interface apertures;

wherein the one or more interface apertures are apertures that are mounted in and accessible through the second chamber;

wherein the first chamber is a first hollow rectangular box that further comprises a plurality of lips;

wherein the first chamber is further defined with a first face;

wherein the first face is the surface of the first chamber within which the plurality of charging apertures are formed;

wherein the first face is further defined with a first edge and a second edge;

wherein the first edge is an edge selected from the edges that form the perimeter of the first face;

wherein the second edge is the edge along the perimeter of the first face that is distal from the first edge;

wherein both the first edge and the second edge will have a lip selected from the plurality of lips formed along it;

wherein each of the plurality of lips is a rim that projects away from the interior of the first chamber from an edge selected from the first edge or the second edge;

wherein the second chamber is a second hollow rectangular box;

wherein the second chamber is further defined with a second face;

wherein the second face is the surface of the second chamber within which one or more interface apertures are located;

wherein the second chamber is mounted on a vertical surface such that the one or more interface apertures are readily accessible;

wherein the motorized mount prevents access to the plurality of charging apertures;

wherein the first chamber is mounted in the motorized mount such that the plurality of charging apertures form the superior surface of the first chamber;

wherein the motorized mount is attached on the inferior side of a horizontal structure such that access to the first face is blocked until payment for services is received.

2. The charging device according to claim 1

wherein the motorized mount is a structure that further comprises a plurality of slide grooves, and a motor;

wherein the plurality of slide grooves are formed such that a lip selected from the plurality of lips will slide into a slide groove selected from the plurality of slide grooves;

wherein the plurality of slide grooves and the plurality of lips interact to form a track system such that the motorized mount physically extends and retracts the first chamber from underneath the horizontal surface;

wherein the motor is controlled by a motor controller;

wherein the motor controller is operated by the control system.

3. The charging device according to claim 2

wherein each of the plurality of AC ports is a charging port that provides AC electric power for use by the one or more personal data devices;

wherein each of the plurality of AC ports comprises a NEMA 5-15 electrical socket that is mounted a charging aperture selected from the plurality of charging apertures.

4. The charging device according to claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of DC ports is a charging port that is designed to provide DC electric power for use by the one or more personal data devices.

5. The charging device according to claim 4

wherein the AC/DC converter is wired to provide both the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the DC circuit;

wherein the LED and the limit resistor are wired in parallel with the plurality of DC ports between the positive terminal and the negative terminal;

wherein the AC/DC converter and the plurality of AC ports are wired in parallel to the national electric grid.

6. The charging device according to claim 5 wherein the access relay is wired such that the switch of the access relay is wired in series between the national electric grid and the plurality of AC ports and the AC/DC converter in such a manner that the access relay will interrupt current flow to the plurality of AC ports and the AC/DC converter.

7. The charging device according to claim 6

wherein the control system comprises a logic module, a display, a reader, a communication module, and the motor controller;

wherein the display, the reader, the communication module, and the motor controller are electrically connected to the logic module.

8. The charging device according to claim 7

wherein the logic module is a programmable electronic device that is used to control and operate the charging device;

wherein the display is an electrical device that is used as a visual interface;

wherein the display is mounted in an aperture selected from the one or more interface apertures;

wherein the reader is a magnetic card reader that is intended for use in processing credit card payments;

wherein the reader receives the information necessary to process the appropriate fee through the electronic payment system;

wherein the magnetic card reader is mounted in an aperture selected from the one or more interface apertures.

9. The charging device according to claim 8 wherein the communication module verifies the information collected from the reader and processes the payment of the appropriate fee through the electronic payment system.

10. The charging device according to claim 7

wherein the logic module is a programmable electronic device that is used to control and operate the charging device;

wherein the display is an electrical device that is used as a visual interface;

wherein the display is mounted in an aperture selected from the one or more interface apertures;

wherein the reader is an RFID interrogator that is used in support of a token based payment system.

11. The charging device according to claim 10 wherein the communication module verifies the information collected from the reader and processes the payment of the appropriate fee through the electronic payment system.