Implement rack and system for energizing implements

• US 7,408,324 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leppien, Thomas Jay, Lautzenheiser, Terry L., Baarman, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US10/975,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An inductive charging rack for providing electrical power to an implement includes a back, an inductive primary attached to the back, and a hanger for holding the implement. The rack may include a control for energizing the inductive primary and a transceiver for providing communication to and from the implement. The inductive primary could be attached to the surface of the charging rack or it could be incorporated within the rack.

Claims

1. A charging rack for selectively securing and recharging a plurality of rechargeable implements, each of the plurality of rechargeable implements including an inductive secondary for receiving power comprising:

a charging rack back support structure;

a coreless inductive primary attached to the charging rack back support structure, wherein the coreless inductive primary is capable of being inductively coupled to the inductive secondary of the at least one of the rechargeable implements and wherein the coreless inductive primary provides power to the inductive secondary of the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable implements while the at least one of the rechargeable implements is secured to the charging rack;

a controller for managing the power provided by the coreless inductive primary to recharge the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable implements secured to the charging rack; and

a plurality of hangers for selectively mechanically securing the plurality of rechargeable implements to the charging rack back support structure such that the inductive secondary of each of the plurality of rechargeable implements is in sufficient proximity to the coreless inductive primary to transfer power.

2. The rack of claim 1 where the controller comprises:

a ballast.

3. The rack of claim 1 where the controller further comprises a transceiver.

4. The rack of claim 3 where a portion of the coreless inductive primary extends into the hanger.

5. The rack of claim 4 where the inductive primary is embedded within the charging rack.

6. The rack of claim 4 where the coreless inductive primary is located on the charging rack back support structure.

7. An inductive charging rack for charging a plurality of implements, each of the plurality of implements having an inductive secondary and a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a charging rack back;

a coreless inductive primary attached to the charging rack back for providing power to the inductive secondary of each of the plurality of implements;

a control in communication with the coreless inductive primary for managing energizing of the coreless inductive primary; and

a hanger for holding at least one of the plurality of implements during charging.

8. The inductive charging rack of claim 7 wherein the control includes a ballast for energizing the inductive primary.

9. The inductive charging rack of claim 7 wherein the control further includes:

a controller for managing energizing of the inductive primary by the ballast.

10. The inductive charging rack of claim 8 further comprising:

a transceiver for providing data communication to the implement.

11. The inductive charging rack of claim 10 further comprising wherein a portion of the inductive primary extends within the hanger.

12. The inductive charging rack of claim 11 wherein the hanger comprises a strap and the inductive primary extends within the strap.

13. The inductive charging rack of claim 11 wherein the hanger comprises a post.

14. An inductive charging rack for holding and recharging an electronic implement including an inductive secondary comprising:

a pole for holding the electronic implement; and

a coreless inductive primary extending within the pole, wherein the coreless inductive primary is capable of inductively coupling and recharging the inductive secondary of the electronic implement.

15. The inductive charging rack of claim 14 further comprising:

a ballast for energizing the coreless inductive primary.

16. The inductive charging rack of claim 15 further comprising a controller for managing energizing of the inductive primary.

17. The inductive charging rack of claim 16 further comprising a transceiver for providing data communication with the electronic implement.

18. The inductive charging rack of claim 17 further comprising a network interface for enabling communication between the inductive charging rack and a network.

19. The inductive charging rack of claim 18 wherein the transceiver allows communication between the electronic implement and the network.

20. An enhanced hanger for receiving power from a first inductive primary comprising:

a hanger portion for holding clothing;

an inductive secondary for receiving power from the first inductive primary; and

a second inductive primary energized by the inductive secondary.

21. The enhanced hanger of claim 20 further comprising a controller for managing energizing of the second inductive primary by the inductive secondary.

22. The enhanced hanger of claim 21 wherein the controller manages energizing of the inductive secondary by the first inductive primary.