Modular device charging station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11509149-B2
Application number	US-201816234305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2018
Priority date	Dec 27, 2018
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A modular device charging station connectible to a power source through a cable includes an input endcap defining a power connector slot and a plurality of input locator pins in a predefined layout. A cradle body is defined by a device receptacle, with an input side having a power connector socket connectible to the cable and defining one or more input side locator holes receptively engageable with the input locator pins. An output side A pass-through power connector plug and a plurality of output locator pins in the predefined layout are on an output side. A terminating endcap defines a plug pocket and a plurality of terminating-side locator holes in the predefined layout receptively engageable with the output locator pins. A charging circuit with a power signal input is connected to the power connector socket, and the pass-through power connector plug is electrically connected to the power connector socket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular device charging station connectible to a power source through a cable, comprising;
an input endcap defining a power connector slot, the input endcap including a plurality of input locator pins in a predefined layout extending from an interior side face with a predefined profile;
a cradle body defined by a device receptacle, an input side with an input side external face with the predefined profile, and an opposed output side with an output side external face with the predefined profile, the input side of the cradle body including a power connector socket connectible to the cable and in alignment with the power connector slot of the input endcap, and one or more input side locator holes receptively engageable with the input locator pins of the input endcap arranged in the predefined layout, the output side of the cradle body including a pass-through power connector plug and a plurality of output locator pins in the predefined layout extending from the output side external face, the cradle body being engageable to the input endcap in an abutting relationship to the interior side face thereof with both maintaining a contiguous profile with each other;
a terminating endcap defining a plug pocket in alignment with the pass-through power connector plug and a plurality of terminating-side locator holes in the predefined layout extending from an interior side face with the predefined profile, the terminating endcap being engageable to the cradle body in an abutting relationship to the output side external face thereof with both maintaining a contiguous profile with each other, the terminating-side locator holes being receptively engageable with the output locator pins of the cradle body; and
a charging circuit with a power signal input connected to the power connector socket, the pass-through power connector plug being electrically connected to the power connector socket.

2. The modular device charging station of claim 1 , further comprising a charging signal output interface connected to the charging circuit and a device charging interface.

3. The modular device charging station of claim 2 , wherein the charging signal output interface is an inductive charging coil circuit.

4. The modular device charging station of claim 2 , wherein the charging signal output interface is a device interconnect socket.

5. The modular device charging station of claim 4 , wherein the device interconnect socket is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

6. The modular device charging station of claim 2 , further comprising a cradle panel disposed on the device receptacle of the cradle body, the device charging interface being positioned on the cradle body to face the cradle panel.

7. The modular device charging station of claim 1 , wherein the cable includes an input plug connectible to the power source and an output plug receptively engageable in the power connector socket.

8. The modular device charging station of claim 7 , wherein the output plug of the cable and the pass-through power connector plug are both C 7 type connectors.

9. The modular device charging station of claim 8 , wherein the power connector socket is a C 8 type connector receivably engageable to the C 7 type connector of the output plug of the cable.

10. The modular device charging station of claim 1 , wherein the charging circuit includes a power supply receiving an alternating current power signal from the power source for conversion to a direct current charging signal.

Assignees

• Scosche Ind Inc

Inventors

• Yamamoto Yasuhiro
• Larson Mark
• Alves Vince

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J50/005 Primary

  Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices · CPC title