Modular wireless charging station and assembly

• US 9,543,780 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alvin Felix Ho
• Original Assignee: Alvin Felix Ho
• Inventors: Ho, Alvin Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, NGHIA M
• Application Number:
  US14/307,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A modular wireless charging assembly is presented herein. In particular, the charging assembly comprises a plurality of wireless charging pads or bases disposed in removably interconnected relation with one another to provide a collective charging surface or interface. Particularly, each of the wireless charging pads or bases include a charging surface which is structured and configured to wirelessly charge an electronic device (e.g., a cellular telephone, mp3 player, PDA, game console, etc.) disposed thereon. The various wireless charging pads or bases include attachment assemblies which are structured to dispose adjacent wireless charging pads or bases in a removably interconnected relation with one another.

Claims

1. A modular wireless charging assembly, comprising:

a plurality of wireless charging bases each selectively disposable between an interconnected orientation and a disconnected, independent orientation,

at least one vertically oriented attachment assembly for selectively disposing at least two of said plurality of wireless charging bases in a vertically oriented interconnected relation with one another, said vertically oriented interconnected relation defining a vertical space between said at least two of said plurality of wireless charging bases, wherein at least one electronic device is disposable within said vertical space, and

at least one planar attachment assembly for selectively disposing said at least two of said plurality of wireless charging bases in a planar interconnected relation, wherein said planar attachment assembly is structured to allow at least some of said plurality of wireless charging bases to be interconnected with one another in at least two different horizontal directions,

wherein at least one of said plurality of wireless charging bases is structured to wirelessly charge an electronic device disposed on a corresponding charging surface thereof when said wireless charging base is disposed in said interconnected orientation with another one of said plurality of wireless charging bases, and when said wireless charging base is disposed in said disconnected, independent orientation.

2. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of wireless charging bases comprise an inductive wireless charging module.

3. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of wireless charging bases are structured to wirelessly charge the electronic device while disposed in said interconnected orientation and said disconnected, independent orientation.

4. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of wireless charging bases comprise a power source independently associated therewith.

5. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of wireless charging bases are independently connectable to an external power source.

6. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said plurality of wireless charging bases are disposed in an electrically coupled relation with one another while disposed in said interconnected orientation.

7. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein at least one of said plurality of wireless charging bases comprises a power source charging base connected directly to the external power source, and at least one different one of said plurality of wireless charging bases comprises a power dependent charging base.

8. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said power dependent charging base comprises a power input from an adjacently interconnected charging base.

9. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein adjacently disposed wireless charging bases positioned in said planar interconnected relation define a continuous, collective charging surface thereon.

10. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least two of said plurality of interconnected wireless charging bases are movably disposed relative to one another via a corresponding attachment assembly.

11. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least two interconnected wireless charging bases are pivotally interconnected to one another via said corresponding attachment assembly.

12. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least two interconnected wireless charging bases are selectively positionable in an angular relation to one another via said corresponding attachment assembly.

13. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said vertically oriented attachment assembly is structured to dispose said at least two of said plurality of interconnected wireless charging bases in an at least partially vertically aligned relation with one another.

14. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said vertically oriented attachment assembly comprises vertically oriented support members.

15. A modular wireless charging assembly, comprising:

a plurality of wireless charging bases each selectively positionable into a plurality of interconnected orientations with at least another one of said plurality of wireless charging bases,

at least one attachment assembly structured to selectively dispose said plurality of wireless charging bases into said plurality of interconnected orientations, said plurality of interconnected orientations comprising a stacked interconnected orientation and a planar interconnected orientation,

said stacked interconnected orientation defines a space between a lower one of said plurality of wireless charging bases and an upper one of said plurality of wireless charging bases, wherein at least one electronic device is disposable within said space,

said planar interconnected orientation being defined as at least two of said plurality of wireless charging bases being selectively interconnected to one another in a horizontal direction,

said plurality of wireless charging bases being disposed in an electrically coupled relation with one another while disposed in said interconnected orientation, and

wherein said plurality of wireless charging bases are each structured to wirelessly charge an electronic device when said plurality of wireless charging bases are disposed in at least one of said plurality of interconnected orientations.

16. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of wireless charging bases are disposed in an electrically coupled relation with one another via said attachment assembly while disposed in said interconnected orientation.

17. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one attachment assembly is structured to allow at least some of said plurality of wireless charging bases to be interconnected with one another in at least two different horizontal directions.

18. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said at least two interconnected wireless charging bases are selectively positionable in an angular relation to one another via said corresponding attachment assembly.

19. The modular wireless charging assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein at least two of said plurality of interconnected wireless charging bases are disposed in an at least substantially vertically aligned relation with one another via a corresponding attachment assembly.

20. A modular wireless charging assembly, comprising:

a plurality of wireless charging bases each selectively positionable into an interconnected orientation with one another,

at least one attachment assembly structured to selectively dispose said plurality of wireless charging bases into said interconnected orientation,

said interconnected orientation defined as comprising an elevated interconnected orientation comprising an elevated space between an upper surface of one of said plurality of wireless charging bases and a lower surface of another one of said plurality of wireless charging bases, wherein at least one electronic device is disposable within said space, and

wherein said plurality of wireless charging bases are each structured to wirelessly charge an electronic device when said plurality of wireless charging bases are disposed in said interconnected orientation.