Cellular phone charging stand

• US 7,637,677 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/194,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging stand for charging a mobile phone. The stand includes a base defining a receptacle configured to receive the mobile phone. A battery charging circuit includes a power cord extending into the base, step-down circuitry for reducing supplied voltage from the cord, and exposed contacts configured to supply the reduced voltage to a battery of the mobile phone received in the receptacle. A removable ink cartridge is received in the receptacle and is configured to supply ink to a printer of the mobile phone received in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A charging stand for charging a mobile phone, the stand comprising:

a base defining a receptacle configured to receive the mobile phone;

a battery charging circuit including a power cord extending into the base, step-down circuitry for reducing supplied voltage from the cord, and exposed contacts configured to supply the reduced voltage to a battery of the mobile phone received in the receptacle;

a removable ink cartridge received in the receptacle and configured to supply ink to a printer of the mobile phone received in the receptacle;

an ink connection pin protruding from the base and in fluid communication with the removable ink cartridge; and

an elastomeric molding formed around the ink connection pin and covering an outlet of the ink connection pin, wherein

the elastomeric molding is adapted to compress upon receipt of the mobile phone in the receptacle to expose the outlet of the ink connection pin.

2. A charging stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes a backrest and a pair of spaced lateral walls extending from the backrest which together define the receptacle, and the ink cartridge is received between the mobile phone and the backrest.

3. A charging stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step-down circuitry includes a Printed Circuit Board located within the base and a rectifier mounted to the PCB for rectifying an AC supply voltage to a DC output voltage.

4. A charging stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step-down circuitry includes a Printed Circuit Board located within the base and a voltage regulator means mounted to the PCB for regulating an automotive DC supply voltage to a mobile phone DC supply voltage.

5. A charging stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes a speaker connected to a protruding speaker plug in the receptacle.

6. A charging stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inlet connector is located at the base of the receptacle to receive gravity fed ink from the ink cartridge.

7. A charging stand as claimed in claim 6, wherein an outlet connector is located at the base of the receptacle to supply the gravity fed ink to the printer.

8. A charging stand as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connectors each include four passages through which three coloured inks and black ink are transported.

9. A charging stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein a quality assurance integrated circuit arrangement is provided in the base to validate authentic ink cartridges.