Inductively coupled shelving and storage containers

• US 8,228,026 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, LeRoy, Browning, Caleb
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/391,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/006 Storage means specially adapted for one specific hand apparatus, e.g. an electric drill
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Inductively coupled shelving units and storage containers with integrated primary coils, as well as inductively coupled systems for storing and charging tools, are provided. Power is inductively coupled from a primary coil to a device containing a secondary coil. Primary coils may be integrated into a shelving unit to charge devices stored on the shelving unit. Primary coils may similarly be integrated into a storage container. Inductively coupled shelving units may also be configured to receive and hold an inductively coupled storage container such as a toolbox. An integrated secondary coil in the toolbox receives power inductively coupled from a primary coil in a shelving unit. Integrated primary coils in the toolbox then inductively couple the received power to secondary coils in individual devices. Integrated primary coils may provide varying amounts of power.

Claims

1. An inductively coupled shelving unit, comprising:

a shelving unit having a shelf;

a first primary coil integrated into the shelf and connected to a power source, the first primary coil being capable of inductively coupling power to a device containing a secondary coil;

one or more indicators on a surface of the shelf that show a charging area for the first primary coil, the charging area being an area within which inductive coupling between the first primary coil and a secondary coil can be achieved;

an inductively coupled storage container including

a first secondary coil associated with an exterior surface of the container to provide proximity and alignment with the first primary coil when the container is placed on the shelf,

a first compartment removeably retaining therein a first device having a second secondary coil, the first compartment including a second primary coil associated therewith and positioned for alignment with the second secondary coil,

a second compartment removeably retaining therein a second device having a third secondary coil, the second compartment including a third primary coil associated therewith and positioned for alignment with the third secondary coil, and

a distribution circuit that electrically couples between the first secondary coil and the second and third primary coils; and

a docking unit that is coupled to the shelf over the charging area and that accepts the storage container, the storage container being removeably disposed in the docking unit and the docking unit retaining the storage container against lateral movement of the storage container in a plane parallel to the shelf.

2. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third primary coils are a combination of primary coils selected from the group consisting of low power primary coil, medium power primary coil, and high power primary coil.

3. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the inductively coupled storage container is a toolbox.

4. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the shelving unit is installed in a vehicle.

5. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 1, wherein a plurality the first primary coils is integrated into one or more shelves, and wherein the plurality of the first primary coils is controlled by a single circuit.

6. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the inductively coupled storage container is a container for photography equipment.

7. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the distribution circuit enables adaptation of the second and third primary coils to the power needs of the first and second devices, respectively.

8. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 7, wherein the first and second devices are charged simultaneously.

17. The inductively coupled shelving unit of claim 2, wherein the low power coil provides up to about 20 watts of power, the medium power coil provides between about 20 watts and about 100 watts, and the high power coil provides greater than about 100 watts of power.

9. An inductively coupled storage container, comprising:

a docking unit coupled to a shelf; and

a storage container removably retained in the docking unit and including

a first secondary coil associated with an exterior surface of the container in proximity and alignment with a primary coil that is associated with the docking unit or the shelf,

a first compartment configured to receive and removeably retain therein a first electrical device having a battery that includes a second secondary coil, the first compartment including a first primary coil associated therewith and positioned for alignment with the second secondary coil when the first electrical device is disposed in the first compartment,

a second compartment configured to receive and removeably retain therein a a spare battery having a third secondary coil and being configured for use with the first electrical device, the second compartment including a second primary coil associated therewith and positioned for alignment with the third secondary coil when the spare battery is disposed in the second compartment, and

a distribution circuit that electrically couples between the first secondary coil and the first and second primary coils, the distribution circuit adapting the second and third primary coils to the power needs of the battery and the spare battery, respectively.

10. The inductively coupled storage container of claim 9, wherein the first, second, and third primary coils are a combination of primary coils selected from the group consisting of low power primary coil, medium power primary coil, and high power primary coil.

11. The inductively coupled storage container of claim 9, wherein the storage container is a toolbox and the first and second devices are tools that contain the second and third secondary coils.

12. The inductively coupled storage container of claim 9, wherein the storage container is a tool holster installed on a side surface.

18. The inductively coupled storage container of claim 9, wherein power is supplied to the storage container by inductive coupling between the first secondary coil and a third primary coil associated with a shelf upon which the storage container is placed, and wherein the shelf includes a tray configured to accept and removably retain the storage container, the tray providing alignment of the first secondary coil and the third primary coil for inductive coupling therebetween.

13. A system for storing and inductively charging devices, comprising:

a surface;

a docking unit coupled to the surface;

a first primary coil integrated into the docking unit, the first primary coil being connected to a power source, and the first primary coil being capable of inductively coupling power to a first secondary coil;

a storage container storing a plurality of devices each device including a battery associated with a second secondary coil, the first secondary coil being integrated into an exterior portion of the storage container and receiving power inductively coupled from the first primary coil integrated into the docking unit, and the docking unit removeably retaining the storage container;

a plurality of second primary coils integrated into interior compartments of the storage container and being capable of inductively coupling power received by the first secondary coil to the plurality of devices; and

a distribution circuit disposed within the storage container that electrically couples the first secondary coil to the plurality of second primary coils.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more surfaces are shelves in a shelving unit.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the storage container is a toolbox.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is installed in a vehicle.