Wireless charging shelf

• US 9,124,105 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryce Robert Gunderman, Robert Dale Gunderman
• Original Assignee: Bryce Robert Gunderman, Robert Dale Gunderman
• Inventors: Gunderman, Bryce Robert, Gunderman, Robert Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Steve T
• Application Number:
  US12/961,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/138
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless charging shelf is described where a charging surface with a wireless power transmission structure is coupled with an electrical connector, providing a truly wireless charging solution. The wireless charging shelf may have a plug for installation in an electrical receptacle, or may be part of a cover plate for replacing an existing cover plate with a wireless charging shelf cover plate.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission charging shelf comprising:

a plug having electrical contacts for insertion into an electrical receptacle;

a charging surface formed as a shelf and comprising a wireless power transmission radiating structure within said charging surface;

said charging surface assembled into said plug to create a charging surface and plug assembly that allows an electronic device to safely rest on top of the charging surface formed as a shelf without the necessity of a connector or external wire separating the plug and charging surface to provide contactless charging of said electronic device;

wherein the plug is incapable of rotating with respect to the charging surface to allow the electronic device to safely rest on the charging surface;

a power circuit contained within said charging surface and plug assembly, said power circuit being electrically coupled to said wireless power transmission radiating structure; and

electrical connections contained within said charging surface and plug assembly for electrically connecting said power circuit contained within the charging surface and plug assembly to the electrical contacts of the plug.

2. The wireless charging shelf of claim 1 further comprising an upper retainer.

3. The wireless charging shelf of claim 1 further comprising a lower retainer.

4. The wireless charging shelf of claim 1 further comprising a pass through receptacle.

5. The wireless charging shelf of claim 1 wherein said charging surface is generally horizontal in use.

6. The wireless charging shelf of claim 1 wherein said charging surface has an angular orientation in use.

7. The wireless charging shelf of claim 6 further comprising a stop.

8. The wireless charging shelf of claim 6 further comprising a magnet.

9. The wireless charging shelf of claim 1 further comprising a processor.

10. The wireless charging shelf of claim 9 wherein the processor contains detection and charge enabling and disabling logic.

11. The wireless charging shelf of claim 9 wherein the processor contains resonating frequency logic.

12. The wireless charging shelf of claim 9 wherein the processor contains identifying and displaying logic.

13. The wireless charging shelf of claim 9 wherein the processor contains ring detection logic.

14. The wireless charging shelf of claim 9 wherein the processor contains call in progress detection logic.

15. The wireless charging shelf of claim 9 wherein the processor contains device handshake logic.

16. A system for charging an electronic device, the system comprising:

a wireless power transmission charging shelf comprising a plug having electrical contacts for insertion into an electrical receptacle;

a charging surface formed as a shelf and comprising a wireless power transmission radiating structure within said charging surface;

said charging surface assembled into said plug to create a charging surface and plug assembly that allows an electronic device to safely rest on top of the charging surface formed as a shelf without the necessity of a connector or external wire separating the plug and charging surface to provide contactless charging of said electronic device;

wherein the plug is incapable of rotating with respect to the charging surface to allow the electronic device to safely rest on the charging surface;

a power circuit contained within said charging surface and plug assembly, said power circuit being electrically coupled to said wireless power transmission radiating structure; and

electrical connections contained within said charging surface and plug assembly for electrically connecting said power circuit contained within the charging surface and plug assembly to the electrical contacts of the plug; and

a wireless power receiving structure operatively coupled to an electronic device.

17. A cover plate for covering a wall box mountable wiring device mounted in and to a wall box, said wall box having a width dimension and a height dimension, said cover plate having a width dimension greater than said wall box width dimension and a height dimension greater than said wall box height dimension, the cover plate comprising:

a unitary, generally planar attachment member of generally uniform width having a first end and a second end;

at least one mounting hole for permitting said attachment member to be attached adjacent a front face of and over said wiring device mounted in and to said wall box;

at least one opening for at least one wiring device; and

a charging shelf comprising a wireless power transmission structure located proximate the first end to provide contactless charging of an electronic device;

wherein the charging shelf is hard wired to a source of electrical power within the wall box.

18. The cover plate of claim 17 wherein said charging shelf has an angular orientation in use.