Articles with electrical charging surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10050473-B2
Application number	US-201615255221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

An electrical article with cord-free charging zone provides users in a work area with access to low-voltage charging for portable electronic devices, in which electrical current is conveyed upon placement of an electronic device within the charging zone. The electrical article is configured for use in a work area, and includes a housing, a low voltage charging zone with power unit, and an electrical power input. The charging zone is defined along at least a portion of an upper surface of the housing. The low voltage power unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device that is positioned at the low voltage charging zone.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An electrical article for use in a work area, said electrical article comprising:
a support housing including an upper surface, said support housing configured to support a video display device on a first portion of said upper surface, wherein said first portion of said upper surface comprises a retaining fixture configured to retain and support said video display device in a substantially vertical orientation;
a cordless charging zone defined along a second portion of said upper surface, wherein said second portion is spaced apart from said first portion, and wherein said second portion is configured to support a portable electronic device;
an electrical power transmission unit disposed in said support housing and having a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone;
an electrical power input configured to direct electrical power from a power source to said electrical power transmission unit; and
wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to the portable electronic device positioned at said cordless charging zone.

2. The electrical article of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical outlet disposed along said support housing, wherein said electrical outlet is configured to establish a direct electrical connection upon engagement with a corresponding electrical contact associated with an electrical consumer, and wherein said electrical power input is further configured to direct electrical power from the power source to said electrical outlet.

3. The electrical article of claim 2 , wherein said electrical outlet comprises a high voltage AC outlet, and wherein said high voltage AC outlet comprises one chosen from (i) a 110-volt outlet, (ii) a 220-volt outlet, and (iii) a light socket.

4. The electrical article of claim 3 , wherein said electrical outlet further comprises a low voltage DC outlet.

5. The electrical article of claim 4 , wherein said electrical power transmission unit comprises an electrical power converter configured to convert incoming high voltage AC power received from said electrical power input to low voltage DC power output directed to said cordless power output and to said low voltage DC outlet, and wherein said electrical power input comprises an electrical cord configured to carry high voltage AC current.

6. The electrical article of claim 2 , wherein said electrical outlet comprises a low voltage DC outlet.

7. The electrical article of claim 1 , wherein said cordless power output comprises a wireless inductive electrical power output.

8. An electrical article for use in a work area, said electrical article comprising:
a support housing including an upper surface, said support housing configured to support a video display device on a first portion of said upper surface, wherein said support housing is configured for coupling to a wall surface and further comprises an articulating arm and mounting bracket;
a cordless charging zone defined along a second portion of said upper surface, wherein said second portion is spaced apart from said first portion, and wherein said second portion is configured to support a portable electronic device;
an electrical power transmission unit disposed in said support housing and having a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone;
an electrical power input configured to direct electrical power from a power source to said electrical power transmission unit; and
wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to the portable electronic device positioned at said cordless charging zone.

9. The electrical article of claim 1 , wherein said support housing is configured for mounting at a desk or other work surface.

10. An electrical article for use in a work area, said electrical article comprising:
a support housing configured to support a portable electronic device in an upright orientation in which a display screen of the portable electronic device is substantially vertical, wherein said support housing comprises a lower cradle portion having a channel configured to receive an edge portion of said portable electronic device to hold said portable electronic device in said upright orientation, wherein said lower cradle portion defines an upright cordless charging zone, and wherein said lower cradle portion is configured to position said portable electronic device at said charging zone when said portable electronic device is retained by said channel in said upright orientation;
an electrical output module disposed below said lower cradle portion, and comprising a bracket configured for attachment to a surface in the work area;
an electrical power transmission unit coupled to said support housing and having a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone;
an electrical power input configured to direct electrical power from a power source to said electrical power transmission unit; and
wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to said portable electronic device positioned at said charging zone when retained by said channel in said upright orientation.

11. The electrical article of claim 10 , wherein said electrical output module comprises an electrical outlet configured to establish a direct electrical connection upon engagement with a corresponding electrical contact associated with an electrical consumer, and wherein said electrical power input is further configured to direct electrical power from said power source to said electrical outlet.

12. The electrical article of claim 11 , wherein said electrical outlet comprises a high voltage AC outlet, and wherein said high voltage AC outlet comprises one chosen from (i) a 110-volt outlet, (ii) a 220-volt outlet, and (iii) a light socket.

13. The electrical article of claim 12 , wherein said electrical outlet further comprises a low voltage DC outlet.

14. The electrical article of claim 13 , wherein said electrical power transmission unit comprises an electrical power converter configured to convert incoming high voltage AC power received from said electrical power input to low voltage DC power output directed to said cordless power output and to said low voltage DC outlet.

15. The electrical article of claim 14 , wherein said electrical power input comprises an electrical cord configured to carry high voltage AC current.

16. The electrical article of claim 11 , wherein said electrical output module comprises a low voltage DC outlet in electrical communication with said electrical power input.

17. The electrical article of claim 10 , wherein said cordless power output comprises a wireless inductive electrical power output at said charging zone of said support housing.

18. The electrical article of claim 10 , wherein said support housing is configured for coupling to a wall surface.

19. The electrical article of claim 10 , wherein said support housing is configured for mounting at a desk or other work surface.

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Knapp Robert L
• Warwick Timothy J
• Burdi Roger D

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Knapp Robert L
• Warwick Timothy J
• Burdi Roger D

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J50/10 Primary

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J7/0042

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J5/005

  Electricity · mapped topic