Electrical power unit with wireless charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10673191-B2
Application number	US-201715581290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

An electrical power unit is positionable in or along a work surface and includes a housing with a movable cover that is positionable in open and closed positions at an upper region of the housing. The cover defines an interior region in which a wireless power transmitter is mounted. A lamp unit is disposed in the housing or the cover. The lamp unit is configured so that emitted light is visible from outside the power unit when the cover is closed. The wireless power transmitter is operable to selectively illuminate the lamp unit when the wireless power transmitter is energized. Optionally, at least one direct-contact electrical or data receptacle is provided at the housing, and may be arranged or positioned so that it is accessible at least when the cover is in the open position.

First claim

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

1. An electrical power unit configured to be positioned along a work surface, said electrical power unit comprising:
a stationary housing;
a cover movably coupled to an upper region of said stationary housing, said cover defining a cover interior, and said cover having a rear portion and a front portion opposite said rear portion, wherein said cover is movable from a closed position to an open position;
wherein said front portion of said cover cooperates with said housing upper region to define an elongate gap configured to permit electrical cords to pass between said cover and said housing upper region when said cover is in the closed position;
at least one electrical or data receptacle supported at said stationary housing and spaced below said cover, wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle is accessible when said cover is in the open position;
a wireless power transmitter disposed in said cover interior and configured to provide wireless electrical power at or above an upper surface of said cover; and
a lamp unit disposed in one of said stationary housing and said cover, in a location spaced from said gap, and aimed so that light emitted from said lamp unit is directed into said gap and reflected off of at least one of said housing upper region and said front portion of said cover, wherein the light directed into said gap is indirectly visible from outside said electrical power unit when said cover is in said closed position;
wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to selectively illuminate said lamp unit when said wireless power transmitter is energized.

2. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle comprises at least one direct-contact high voltage AC receptacle and at least one low voltage DC receptacle.

3. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , wherein said rear portion of said cover is pivotably coupled to said stationary housing, whereby said cover is pivotably movable from said closed position to said open position.

4. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , wherein said lamp unit is disposed in said interior region at said front portion of said cover.

5. The electrical power unit of claim 4 , wherein a front edge of said front portion of said cover comprises an aperture or translucent region through which said lamp unit is visible when illuminated.

6. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , wherein said wireless power transmitter is operable to detect when a compatible power receiver is positioned within transmission range of said wireless power transmitter, and wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to illuminate said lamp unit only when the compatible power receiver is positioned within the transmission range of said wireless power transmitter.

7. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , wherein said wireless power transmitter is a contactless power transmitter.

8. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , comprising at least two of said wireless power transmitters in spaced arrangement in said cover interior, and comprising at least two of said lamp units corresponding to respective ones of said wireless power transmitters.

9. The electrical power unit of claim 8 , wherein said at least two wireless power transmitters are independently energizable.

10. The electrical power unit of claim 1 , wherein said stationary housing defines a cavity below said cover, wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle is accessible in said cavity only when said cover is in said open position.

11. An electrical power unit configured to be positioned along a work surface, said power unit comprising:
a housing defining an interior cavity;
a cover pivotably coupled to an upper region of said housing and having an upper surface and a lower surface cooperating to define a cover interior, said cover having a front edge portion spaced from said housing to define an elongate gap that provides cord access to said interior cavity when said cover is in a closed position;
a wireless power transmitter disposed in said cover interior and configured to direct contactless electrical power through said upper surface of said cover; and
a lamp unit positioned rearwardly of said front edge portion of said cover, wherein said lamp unit is aimed so that light emitted from said lamp unit is directed into said elongate gap and reflected off of said housing and outwardly from said elongate gap, and so that the light is indirectly visible to a user positioned near said power unit when said cover is in the closed position;
wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to selectively illuminate said lamp unit when said wireless power transmitter is energized.

12. The electrical power unit of claim 11 , further comprising at least one electrical or data receptacle supported at said housing and accessible via said interior cavity.

13. The electrical power unit of claim 12 , wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle comprises at least one direct-contact high voltage AC receptacle and at least one low voltage DC receptacle.

14. The electrical power unit of claim 13 , comprising at least two of said wireless power transmitters, wherein said wireless power transmitters are operable to independently detect when a compatible power receiver is positioned within transmission range thereof, and wherein said wireless power transmitters are configured to illuminate respective ones of said lamp units only when the compatible power receiver is positioned within the transmission range of a respective one of said wireless power transmitters.

15. An electrical power unit configured to be positioned along a work surface, said power unit comprising:
a housing defining an interior cavity and having an open upper region;
a stationary carriage mounted in a lower region of said housing;
at least one electrical or data receptacle supported at said stationary carriage;
a cover mounted in said open upper region of said housing and pivotable between a closed position in which said cover substantially occupies said open upper region of said housing to preclude access to said at least one electrical or data receptacle, and an open position in which said cover is raised out of said open upper region of said housing to provide access to said at least one electrical or data receptacle;
said cover having an upper panel and a lower panel spaced below the upper panel, wherein said upper and lower panels cooperate to define a cover interior, and said cover having a front edge portion in which a plurality of lamp units are mounted in spaced arrangement, said front edge portion comprising an upper overhang region disposed above said lamp units, with said lamp units positioned rearwardly of said upper overhang region;
wherein said upper overhang region of said cover cooperates with said housing to define an elongate gap therebetween at said open upper region when said cover is in the closed position;
a plurality of wireless power transmitters disposed in spaced arrangement in said cover interior and configured to direct contactless electrical power upwardly through said upper panel of said cover; and
a power supply and voltage converter supported at said stationary carriage and configured to supply electrical power received from a power infeed to each of said wireless power transmitters;
wherein said lamp units are in electrical communication with respective ones of said wireless power transmitters, and are configured to illuminate independently wh

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Morrow Nickolas J

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Morrow Nickolas J

Classifications

• H01R13/7175

  Light emitting diodes (LEDs) · CPC title

• H01R13/717

  with built-in light source · CPC title

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• H02J7/0044

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J7/025

  Electricity · mapped topic