Articles with electrical charging surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9438070-B2
Application number	US-201414501165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

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 housing including an upper surface and a plurality of side surfaces extending downwardly from said upper surface, said housing configured to be supported at a work surface in the work area;
a cordless charging zone defined along a portion of said upper surface;
an electrical power transmission unit disposed in said housing and having a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone;
an electrical outlet disposed along at least one of said side surfaces of said housing, wherein said electrical outlet comprises a high voltage AC outlet, and wherein said electrical outlet is configured to establish a direct electrical connection upon engagement with a corresponding electrical contact of an electrical consumer;
an electrical power input configured to direct electrical power from a power source to said electrical power transmission unit and to said electrical outlet, wherein said electrical outlet is directly electrically coupled to said electrical power input; and
wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device positioned at said charging zone.

2. The electrical article of claim 1 , 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.

3. The electrical article of claim 1 , further comprising a low voltage DC outlet in electrical communication with said electrical power input.

4. The electrical article of claim 3 , 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 a low voltage DC power output that is directed to said cordless power output and to said low voltage DC outlet, and wherein said low voltage DC outlet is directly electrically coupled to said low voltage DC power output of said electrical power transmission unit.

5. The electrical article of claim 4 , wherein said electrical power input comprises an electrical cord configured to carry high voltage AC current.

6. The electrical article of claim 1 , wherein said electrical outlet comprises a low voltage DC outlet, and wherein said low voltage DC outlet of said electrical outlet is directly electrically coupled to a low voltage DC power output of said electrical power transmission unit.

7. The electrical article of claim 1 , wherein said cordless power output comprises first and second exposed electrical conductors of alternating DC polarity, in spaced and substantially co-planar arrangement at said charging zone of said housing.

8. The electrical article of claim 1 , wherein said cordless power output comprises a wireless inductive electrical power output at said charging zone of said housing.

9. The electrical article of claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a lower portion configured to be inserted into an opening formed in the work surface and an upper portion forming a bezel positioned at the work surface.

10. The electrical article of claim 9 , further comprising a clamp coupled to said housing and spaced below said charging zone, wherein a portion of said clamp is movable and configured to engage an underside of said work surface to thereby secure said housing to said work surface.

11. The electrical article of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic display at said housing, wherein said electronic display is energized via said electrical power input.

12. The electrical article of claim 1 , further comprising an electric lamp coupled to a distal end portion of a mounting arm, said mounting arm having a proximal end portion coupled to said housing.

13. An electrical article for use in a work area, said electrical article comprising:
a housing including an upper surface and a plurality of side surfaces extending downwardly from said upper surface, said housing configured to be supported at a work surface in the work area;
a cordless charging zone defined along a portion of said upper surface;
an electrical power transmission unit disposed in said housing and comprising:
a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone; and
a low voltage DC power output;
a high voltage AC power outlet and a low voltage DC power outlet disposed along at least one of said side surfaces of said housing, wherein said electrical outlets are configured to establish respective direct electrical connections upon engagement with corresponding electrical contacts of respective electrical consumers, and wherein said low voltage DC power outlet is directly electrically coupled to said low voltage DC power output;
an electric lamp coupled to said housing and positioned above said upper surface;
an electrical power input configured to direct electrical power from a power source to said electrical power transmission unit, to said AC power outlet, and to said electric lamp, wherein said electrical power transmission unit, said AC power outlet, and said electric lamp are directly electrically coupled to said electrical power input; and
wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device positioned at said charging zone.

14. The electrical article of claim 13 , wherein said cordless power output comprises first and second exposed electrical conductors of alternating DC polarity, in spaced and substantially co-planar arrangement at said charging zone of said housing.

15. The electrical article of claim 13 , wherein said cordless power output comprises a wireless inductive electrical power output at said charging zone of said housing.

16. The electrical article of claim 13 , wherein said housing comprises a lower portion configured to be inserted into an opening formed in the work surface and an upper portion forming a bezel positioned at the work surface.

17. An electrical article for use in a work area, said electrical article comprising:
a housing including an upper surface and a plurality of side surfaces extending downwardly from said upper surface;
a cordless charging zone defined along a portion of said upper surface;
an electrical power transmission unit disposed in said housing and having a cordless power output at said cordless charging zone;
a high voltage AC power outlet and a low voltage DC power outlet disposed along at least one of said side surfaces of said housing, wherein said electrical outlets are configured to establish respective direct electrical connections upon engagement with corresponding electrical contacts of respective electrical consumers;
an electrical power cord configured to receive electrical power from a high voltage AC power source; and
an electrical power converter configured to convert incoming high voltage AC power received from said electrical power cord to low voltage DC power output directed to at least said low voltage DC outlet, wherein said low voltage DC power outlet is directly electrically coupled to said low voltage DC power output, and wherein said high voltage AC power outlet is directly electrically coupled to said electrical power cord;
wherein said electrical power transmission unit is operable to cordlessly convey electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device positioned at said charging zone.

18. The electrical article of claim 17 , furth

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

• H02J50/10 Primary

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J5/005

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J7/025 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J7/0042

  Electricity · mapped topic