Under-cabinet wireless power system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12166357-B2
Application number	US-202218145721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2022
Priority date	Dec 22, 2022
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

An under-cabinet wireless power system is mountable to an underside of a wall cabinet that is positioned over a countertop and includes a wireless power transmitter capable of powering a wirelessly powered appliance positioned proximate thereto.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An under-cabinet wireless power system, comprising:
a base configured to mount to an underside of a wall cabinet that is positioned over a countertop; and
a wireless power transmitter supported on the underside of the wall cabinet by the base and configured to receive power from a wired power source, the wireless power transmitter further configured to generate a wireless power signal to power a wirelessly powered appliance that is positioned on or proximate to the countertop and that includes a wireless power receiver positioned in an opposing relationship with the wireless power transmitter.

2. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 1 , further comprising a movable platform movably coupled to the base, wherein the wireless power transmitter is disposed on the movable platform.

3. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 2 , wherein the movable platform is at least partially linearly movable relative to the base.

4. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 3 , further comprising a scissors mechanism coupling the movable platform to the base.

5. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 2 , wherein the movable platform is at least partially pivotably movable relative to the base.

6. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one rotatable coupling configured to pivot the movable platform relative to the base.

7. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one rotatable coupling includes a first rotatable coupling pivotably coupling the movable platform to the base.

8. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 5 , further comprising a pivot mechanism disposed intermediate the base and the movable platform and including the at least one rotatable coupling, wherein the at least one rotatable coupling includes a first rotatable coupling pivotably coupling the pivot mechanism to the base proximate a first opposing end of the pivot mechanism and a second rotatable coupling pivotably coupling the pivot mechanism to the movable platform proximate a second opposing end of the pivot mechanism.

9. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 8 , wherein the pivot mechanism includes at least one extendible leg extending between the base and the movable platform.

10. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 2 , wherein the movable platform is movable between a storage position and a use position.

11. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless power receiver of the wirelessly powered appliance is downwardly-facing, and when in the use position the wireless power transmitter is upwardly-facing to oppose the downwardly-facing wireless power receiver of the wirelessly powered appliance.

12. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless power receiver of the wirelessly powered appliance is upwardly-facing, and when in the use position the wireless power transmitter is downwardly-facing to oppose the upwardly-facing wireless power receiver of the wirelessly powered appliance.

13. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless power receiver of the wirelessly powered appliance is side-facing, and when in the use position the wireless power transmitter is side-facing to oppose the side-facing wireless power receiver of the wirelessly powered appliance.

14. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 10 , wherein when in the storage position at least a portion of the movable platform nests within the base.

15. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the base nests within a downwardly-facing enclosed area of the wall cabinet formed in part by a face frame of the wall cabinet.

16. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 1 , further comprising a power cord configured to supply power to the wireless power transmitter from a wall-mounted electrical outlet.

17. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket configured to mount the base to the underside of the wall cabinet.

18. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary function configured for use when the wireless power transmitter is not active.

19. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 18 , wherein the secondary function comprises an on/off light, a motion activated light, a timed light, a light sensor-activated light, a smart assistant, a video system, a display, a touchscreen display, a clock, a timer, or an audio system.

20. The under-cabinet wireless power system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface and a controller configured to operate the user interface and the wireless power transmitter, wherein the controller is further configured to control a functional operation of the wirelessly powered appliance using the interface.

Assignees

• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Trice Daniel J
• Langness Brian
• O′Donoghue Clayton James
• Hooker John Kenneth

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/0204

  Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings · CPC title

• A47B57/06 Primary

  with means for adjusting the height of the shelves (A47B57/04, A47B57/30 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title