BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of rechargeable electronic implements now exist. For example, line trimmers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers are now rechargeable devices. While the devices are very convenient, recharging the devices is difficult.
Each device may have a slightly different adapter and charger. Thus, to use several different devices requires the user to have a plethora of different chargers and adapters. Further, since the rechargeable electronic implements are often bulky, the placement of the chargers and adapters causes additional logistical problems.
A rack to enable easy recharging of electronic implements is therefore highly desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows tool recharging rack.
FIG. 2 shows an additional embodiment of an inductive charging rack.
FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of an inductive charging rack.
FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of an inductive charging rack.
FIG. 5 shows a garment.
FIG. 6 shows an enhanced garment.
FIG. 7 shows an enhanced hanger.
FIG. 8 shows an enhanced garment with an inductive secondary.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As used herein, the phrase “coupled with” is defined to mean directly connected to or indirectly connected through one or more intermediate components. Such intermediate components may include both hardware and software based components.
FIG. 1 shows tool recharging rack 10. Electronic implements 12, 14, and 16 are arranged within holders 17 of recharging rack 10.
Recharging rack 10 includes controller 18. Controller 18 regulates the supply of power to inductive primary 20 by ballast 22. Ballast 22 could be an adaptive ballast such as the one described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/689,499 and 10/175,095, assigned to the assignee of this application. U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/689,499 and 10/175,095 are hereby incorporated by reference.
Ballast 22 is connected to power source 24. Power source 24 could be a conventional AC (alternating current) outlet, a DC (direct current) power source, on any other source of power sufficient to energize ballast 22.
In FIG. 1, inductive primary 20 is contained entirely within back 21 of recharging rack 10. The inductive primary 20 is a coreless inductive primary. Electronic implements 12, 14, 16 are provided with an inductive secondary. Electronic implement 12 is shown as a rechargeable law trimmer. However, electronic implement 12 could be any powered device, such as a cordless electric screwdriver, a cordless saw, a cordless radio, a cordless media player, a cordless toothbrush, or a cordless mixer. Alternatively, recharging rack 10 could be equipped with multiple primaries 20, each providing power to a single electronic implement.
Electronic implement 12 includes inductive secondary 30, implement controller 32, recharger 34, and rechargeable power source 36. The interaction of the various components within electronic implement 12 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/689,148, assigned to the assignee of this application, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Briefly, the operation of the circuitry within electronic implement 12 is as follows. Inductive secondary 30 is energized by inductive primary 20. Implement controller 32 manages the application of power to recharger 34 and rechargeable power source 36. If provided, implement RXTX (transceiver) 38 communicates with charging rack RXTX 40 in order to more efficiently manage the application of power to rechargeable power source 36.
Controller 18, ballast 22 and RXTX 40 could be contained within control 41. Control 41 could be external to rack 10 or it could be integral with rack 10.
FIG. 2 shows an additional embodiment of an inductive charging rack. As shown, inductive power rack 50 has inductive primary 52. Inductive primary 52 is arranged to pass through holds 54. Holds 54 are pivotal, allowing a portion of electronic implement 12 to be fitted under hold 54. The portion of electronic implement 12 fitting under hold 54 includes inductive secondary 56 of electronic implement 12. Thus, the inductive secondary of electronic implement 12 is positioned within the interior of inductive primary 52.
FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of an inductive charging rack. In this configuration, charging rack 60 is provided with rods 62 extending in a plane generally perpendicular to that of charging rack 60. Inductive primary 68 extends into rods 62. Electronic implement 68 is provided with indentation 69 within outer-body 70 so that electronic implement 68 is held on rod 62. Inductive secondary 72 of electronic implement 68 is positioned proximal to indentation 69 so that inductive primary 68 extends into inductive secondary 72.
Electronic implement 80 is provided with flexible stay 82. Flexible stay 82 includes inductive secondary 84. Flexible stay 82 is arranged so that it is capable of placement around rod 62.
FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of an inductive charging rack. In this configuration, charging rack 90 consists of a pole 92. Pole 92 could be affixed to a wall or it could be part of a movable rack. Inductive primary 94 is located within pole 92. Inductive secondary 72 if brought within proximity to pole 92, will couple with inductive primary 94, which will thereby charge the rechargeable power source 36. Pole 92 has RXTX 95. Pole 92 also has optional network connection 96.
Network connection 96 allows pole 92 to be coupled with network 98. Network 98 is connected to remote device 99. Network connection 96 could be a router or hub enabling communication to be seamlessly routed to devices throughout network 98 as well as devices coupled to pole 92.
FIG. 5 shows garment 100. Garment 100 is provided with a plurality of pockets 102. Various electronic implements could be placed within the pockets. When garment 100 is placed in proximity to pole 92, electronic implements provided with inductive secondaries and rechargeable power sources will have their power replenished. If electronic implements also have an RXTX, then a communication link can be established between the electronic implements and RXTX 95.
FIG. 6 shows enhanced garment 110. Enhanced garment 110 includes inductive secondaries 112, 113. Enhanced garment inductive secondaries 112, 113 are designed to interact directly with inductive primary 94. Enhanced garment 110 also includes a plurality of garment inductive primaries 114, 116, 117, 118. Garment inductive primary 114, 116, 117, 118 are arranged to be close to be close to pockets 120, 122, 123,124.
When garment inductive secondary 112 is energized by inductive primary 94, garment controller 126 provisions electric power to inductive primaries 114, 116, 117, 118. Garment controller 126 could also supply communication capabilities between RXTX 94 and RXTXs within the electronic implements. Devices placed within pockets of enhanced garment 110 could be connected to the network. Information could be delivered to and retrieved from the various electronic implements by computers connected to the network.
For example, if the electronic implements were portable media player devices, such as an MP3 player, MP3 files could be downloaded to or retrieved from the MP3 player. Thus, the device could be recharged while information contained within the device could be manipulated by placing the device within proximity to pole 92.
According to one embodiment, an electronic implement, such as a portable MP3 player equipped with Bluetooth or other wireless communications interfaces and a secondary adapted to provide power to the implement, is placed in one of pocket 120, 122, 123, 124 of enhanced garment 110. Enhanced garment 110 is then placed in proximity with inductive primary 94. Inductive primary 94 provides electricity to at least one of secondary 112, 113, which, in turn, provides electricity to at least one of primary 114, 116, 117, 118. The at least one of primary 114, 116, 117, 118 inductively powers the electronic implement within one of pocket 120, 122, 123, 124.
FIG. 7 shows enhanced hanger 130. Enhanced hanger 130 comprises a clothes holder portion 132 and hanger controller 134. Hanger inductive secondary 136 is contained within holder portion 132.
Clothing is placed upon enhanced hanger 130. When enhanced hanger 130 is placed on pole 92, hanger inductive secondary 136 is thereby energized. Hanger controller 134 regulates the energization of hanger inductive secondary 136. Hanger inductive primary 138 is contained within holder portion 132.
If enhanced garment 110 is placed upon enhanced hanger 130 and enhanced hanger 130 is placed on pole 92, then hanger inductive secondary 136 is energized. Hanger controller 134 provisions power from hanger inductive secondary 136 to hanger inductive primary 138.
Due to the position of hanger inductive primary 138, enhanced garment 110 can have a garment inductive secondary positioned in a particular location so as to enhance the coupling between garment inductive secondary and hanger inductive primary 138.
FIG. 8 shows enhanced garment 150 in place on enhanced hanger 130. Enhanced garment has inductive primary 154 located so as to easily interoperate with enhanced hanger 130.
The above description is of the preferred embodiment. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any references to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
Lautzenheiser, Terry L. (Nunica, MI, US)
Leppien, Thomas Jay (Grand Haven, MI, US)
| 0602966 | April, 1898 | Wallach | ||
| 0843534 | February, 1907 | Hewitt | ||
| 1137333 | April, 1915 | Klorer | ||
| 1604870 | October, 1926 | Asman | Light fixture | |
| 1803571 | May, 1931 | Ulman | Heating and illuminating device for fish aquariums | |
| 1852740 | April, 1932 | Doane | Lamp | |
| 2199107 | April, 1940 | Kibbe | Work assisting magnifying and illuminating device | |
| 2265475 | December, 1941 | Fodor | Illuminating system | |
| 2353063 | July, 1944 | Otis | Ornamental illuminating device | |
| 2686866 | August, 1954 | Williams | Color mixing lighting apparatus | |
| 2726116 | December, 1955 | Barber | Colored fountains | |
| 2731547 | January, 1956 | Callard | Lamp assembly | |
| 3047765 | July, 1962 | Vichill | Base assembly for electric lamps | |
| 3292579 | December, 1966 | Buchanan | Aquarium power supply | |
| 3550682 | December, 1970 | Fowler | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING EQUIPMENT CONNECTIONS AT REMOTE UNDERWATER LOCATIONS AND FOR PRODUCING FLUIDS FROM UNDERWATER WELLS | |
| 3551091 | December, 1970 | Veloz | COMBINATION WATER FILTER AND STERILIZER | |
| 3628086 | December, 1971 | Nuckolls | HIGH-FREQUENCY LAMP-OPERATING CIRCUIT | |
| 3641336 | February, 1972 | Boin | ELECTRIC LAMPS FOR EMERGENCY AND/OR FOR DUTY UNDER PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS, AND RELATIVE IMPROVED LAMPS | |
| 3743989 | July, 1973 | Nicolas et al. | ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE | |
| 3746906 | July, 1973 | Cardwell, Jr. | ADAPTER BASE FOR ELECTRIC LAMP | |
| 3867661 | February, 1975 | Waltz et al. | Quick warm-up lamp | |
| 3885185 | May, 1975 | Tilley | Incandescent lamp | |
| 3885211 | May, 1975 | Gutai | Rechargeable battery-operated illuminating device | |
| 3923663 | December, 1975 | Reid | Fluid purification device | |
| 3938018 | February, 1976 | Dahl | Induction charging system | |
| 4005330 | January, 1977 | Glascock, Jr. et al. | Electrodeless fluorescent lamp | |
| 4010400 | March, 1977 | Hollister | Light generation by an electrodeless fluorescent lamp | |
| 4017764 | April, 1977 | Anderson | Electrodeless fluorescent lamp having a radio frequency gas discharge excited by a closed loop magnetic core | |
| 4038625 | July, 1977 | Tompkins et al. | Magnetic inductively-coupled connector | |
| 4093893 | June, 1978 | Anderson | Short arc fluorescent lamp | |
| 4101777 | July, 1978 | Reid | Fluid purification device and ultraviolet lamp therefor | |
| 4117378 | September, 1978 | Glascock, Jr. | Reflective coating for external core electrodeless fluorescent lamp | |
| 4282563 | August, 1981 | Ohta et al. | Fluorescent lamp unit | |
| 4300073 | November, 1981 | Skwirut et al. | Screw-in type lighting unit having a convoluted tridimensional fluorescent lamp | |
| 4389595 | June, 1983 | Kamei et al. | Fluorescent lamp | |
| 4414489 | November, 1983 | Young | Compact electric discharge lamp-and-ballast unit, and plug-in ballast module therefor | |
| 4584707 | April, 1986 | Goldberg et al. | Cordless communications system | |
| 4615799 | October, 1986 | Mortensen | Water purification and sterilization system | |
| 4637434 | January, 1987 | Moen | Three-way valve for an attenuator | |
| 4675573 | June, 1987 | Miram et al. | Method and apparatus for quickly heating a vacuum tube cathode | |
| 4675638 | June, 1987 | Szabo | Ferromagnetic multiple shell core for electric coils | |
| 4747158 | May, 1988 | Goldberg et al. | Cordless communications system | |
| 4752401 | June, 1988 | Bodenstein | Water treatment system for swimming pools and potable water | |
| 4762613 | August, 1988 | Snowball | Water purifiers | |
| 4772991 | September, 1988 | Wood | Lamp construction | |
| 4800328 | January, 1989 | Bolger et al. | Inductive power coupling with constant voltage output | |
| 4812702 | March, 1989 | Anderson | Excitation coil for hid electrodeless discharge lamp | |
| 4816977 | March, 1989 | Sorensen | Lamp with removable bulb capsule | |
| 4818855 | April, 1989 | Mongeon et al. | Identification system | |
| 4838797 | June, 1989 | Dodier | Underwater connect and disconnect plug and receptacle | |
| 4854214 | August, 1989 | Lowe | Illuminated wind chime | |
| 4857204 | August, 1989 | Joklik | Method of an apparatus for sterilizing aqueous media, more particularly drinking water | |
| 4894591 | January, 1990 | Witting | Inverted Excitation coil for HID lamps | |
| 4954756 | September, 1990 | Wood et al. | Method and apparatus for changing the emission characteristics of an electrodeless lamp | |
| 4958266 | September, 1990 | Sorensen et al. | Lamp having an improved bulb mounting member | |
| 4968437 | November, 1990 | Noll et al. | Fluid purification system | |
| 4971687 | November, 1990 | Anderson | Apparatus for water treatment | |
| 4972120 | November, 1990 | Witting | High efficacy electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp | |
| 4977354 | December, 1990 | Bergervoet et al. | Electrodeless low-pressure discharge lamp | |
| 5030889 | July, 1991 | El-Hamamsy et al. | Lamp ballast configuration | |
| 5039903 | August, 1991 | Farrall | Excitation coil for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp | |
| 5041763 | August, 1991 | Sullivan et al. | Circuit and method for improved dimming of gas discharge lamps | |
| 5054112 | October, 1991 | Ike | Electronic data collection system | |
| 5070293 | December, 1991 | Ishii et al. | Electric power transmitting device with inductive coupling | |
| 5101332 | March, 1992 | Hsia | Retractable device for a desk lamp | |
| 5122729 | June, 1992 | Itoga et al. | Power supply device including induction voltage detection coil for charging portable electronic devices | |
| 5141325 | August, 1992 | Huang | Lamp with collapsible arm | |
| 5146140 | September, 1992 | Piejak et al. | Method and apparatus to reduce Hg loss in rf capacitively coupled gas discharges | |
| 5158361 | October, 1992 | Huang | Structure of lamp frame assembly | |
| 5184891 | February, 1993 | Shpigel | Connective joint with interlocking ring structures, forming a lamp or portions thereof | |
| 5216402 | June, 1993 | Carosa | Separable inductive coupler | |
| 5229652 | July, 1993 | Hough | Non-contact data and power connector for computer based modules | |
| 5264997 | November, 1993 | Hutchisson et al. | Sealed, inductively powered lamp assembly | |
| 5267997 | December, 1993 | Farin et al. | High-frequency electrosurgery apparatus with limitation of effective value of current flowing through a surgical instrument | |
| 5280416 | January, 1994 | Hartley et al. | Bookmark light | |
| 5289085 | February, 1994 | Godyak et al. | Capacitively driven RF light source having notched electrode for improved starting | |
| 5300860 | April, 1994 | Godyak et al. | Capacitively coupled RF fluorescent lamp with RF magnetic enhancement | |
| 5301096 | April, 1994 | Klontz et al. | Submersible contactless power delivery system | |
| 5311028 | May, 1994 | Glavish | System and method for producing oscillating magnetic fields in working gaps useful for irradiating a surface with atomic and molecular ions | |
| 5339233 | August, 1994 | Yang | Lamp assembly | |
| 5341280 | August, 1994 | Divan et al. | Contactless coaxial winding transformer power transfer system | |
| 5416388 | May, 1995 | Shackle | Electronic ballast with two transistors and two transformers | |
| 5422519 | June, 1995 | Russell | Electric power and data signal transmission system | |
| 5450305 | September, 1995 | Boys et al. | Resonant power supplies | |
| 5455466 | October, 1995 | Parks et al. | Inductive coupling system for power and data transfer | |
| 5455467 | October, 1995 | Young et al. | Power connection scheme | |
| 5465025 | November, 1995 | Hendrickson | Lamp with removable base and replaceable bulb capsule | |
| 5506560 | April, 1996 | Takeuchi et al. | Electric power feeding device based on the electromagnetic induction | |
| 5536979 | July, 1996 | McEachern et al. | Charger for hand-held rechargeable electric apparatus with switch for reduced magnetic field | |
| 5550452 | August, 1996 | Shirai et al. | Induction charging apparatus | |
| 5553312 | September, 1996 | Gattey et al. | Data transfer and communication network | |
| 5594304 | January, 1997 | Graber | Portable fluorescent lamp for use in special applications | |
| 5600225 | February, 1997 | Goto | Noncontacting charging device | |
| 5611918 | March, 1997 | Markham | Electronic driver for water treatment system UV bulb | |
| 5619182 | April, 1997 | Robb | Configurable color selection circuit for choosing colors of multi-colored leds in toys and secondary automotive flasher/brake indicators | |
| 5653531 | August, 1997 | Yang | Desk lamp | |
| 5675677 | October, 1997 | Davenport et al. | Lamp-to-light guide coupling arrangement for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp | |
| 5680028 | October, 1997 | McEachern | Charger for hand-held rechargeable electric apparatus with reduced magnetic field | |
| 5716126 | February, 1998 | Meyer | Mobile floor lamp | |
| 5747894 | May, 1998 | Hirai et al. | Factory automation connector and work pallet | |
| 5771438 | June, 1998 | Palermo et al. | Short-range magnetic communication system | |
| 5814900 | September, 1998 | Esser et al. | Device for combined transmission of energy and electric signals | |
| 5831348 | November, 1998 | Nishizawa | Secondary circuit device for wireless transmit-receive system and induction coil for wireless transmit-receive system | |
| 5831516 | November, 1998 | Jennings | Electromechanical chime | |
| 5834905 | November, 1998 | Godyak et al. | High intensity electrodeless low pressure light source driven by a transformer core arrangement | |
| 5905343 | May, 1999 | McCamant | Inductively coupled incandescent light bulb | |
| 5923544 | July, 1999 | Urano | Noncontact power transmitting apparatus | |
| 5928505 | July, 1999 | Inakagata et al. | Device for purifying and dispensing water | |
| 5929598 | July, 1999 | Nakama et al. | Noncontact charging device, charger, cordless electric equipment, and noncontact charger | |
| 5949155 | September, 1999 | Tamura et al. | Non-contact electric power transmission device | |
| 5951155 | September, 1999 | Lanser | Variable intensity light assembly | |
| 5952814 | September, 1999 | Van Lerberghe | Induction charging apparatus and an electronic device | |
| 5980056 | November, 1999 | West | Outdoor lighting fixture providing audio and visual effects | |
| 5990611 | November, 1999 | Lee | Light bulb type fluorescent lamp suppressing electromagnetic waves and emitting far infrared rays | |
| 6005304 | December, 1999 | Seelig | Arrangement for contactless inductive transmission of electrical power | |
| 6020682 | February, 2000 | Holzer | Fluorescent lamp with replaceable lamp part | |
| 6027225 | February, 2000 | Martin et al. | Battery powered light having solar and inductive charging means | |
| 6028413 | February, 2000 | Brockmann | Charging device for batteries in a mobile electrical device | |
| 6075433 | June, 2000 | Ono et al. | Power supply unit | |
| 6118249 | September, 2000 | Brockmann et al. | Charger with inductive power transmission for batteries in a mobile electrical device | |
| 6160371 | December, 2000 | Tachikawa | Robot system, control method, and recording medium | |
| 6161032 | December, 2000 | Acker | Three-axis coil sensor | |
| 6166494 | December, 2000 | Green | Drive circuit arrangement for a gas discharge lamp | |
| 6188179 | February, 2001 | Boys et al. | Induction circuits for lighting | |
| 6194828 | February, 2001 | Kohne et al. | Electrodeless gas discharge lamp having flat induction coil and dual gas envelopes | |
| 6218785 | April, 2001 | Incerti | Low-tension lighting device | |
| 6241359 | June, 2001 | Lin | Fluid filled light apparatus | |
| 6252380 | June, 2001 | Koenck | Battery pack having memory | |
| 6263247 | July, 2001 | Mueller et al. | System and method for powering, controlling, and communicating with multiple inductively-powered devices | |
| 6275143 | August, 2001 | Stobbe | Security device having wireless energy transmission | |
| 6280066 | August, 2001 | Dolan | Lamp display system | |
| 6291936 | September, 2001 | MacLennan et al. | Discharge lamp with reflective jacket | |
| 6301128 | October, 2001 | Jang et al. | Contactless electrical energy transmission system | |
| 6307316 | October, 2001 | Holzer | Fluorescent lamp with replaceable light element | |
| 6322226 | November, 2001 | Dickson | Adjustable illumination apparatus having pre-focused led and magnification lens | |
| 6326739 | December, 2001 | MacLennan et al. | Wedding ring shaped excitation coil | |
| 6339296 | January, 2002 | Goral | Low profile emergency ballast | |
| 6345203 | February, 2002 | Mueller et al. | System and method for powering, controlling, and communicating with multiple inductively-powered devices | |
| 6436299 | August, 2002 | Baarman et al. | Water treatment system with an inductively coupled ballast | |
| 6459882 | October, 2002 | Palermo et al. | Inductive communication system and method | |
| 6462432 | October, 2002 | Seelig et al. | Method and device for inductive transmission of electric power to a plurality of mobile consumers | |
| 6597076 | July, 2003 | Scheible et al. | System for wirelessly supplying a large number of actuators of a machine with electrical power | |
| 20020154518 | October, 2002 | Elferich et al. | 363/15 | System for wireless transmission of electrical power, a garment, a system of garments and method for the transmission of signals and/or electrical energy |
| 20030003971 | January, 2003 | Yamamoto | 455/573 | Charging system |
| 20030006880 | January, 2003 | Zimmer | Device and method for contactless transmission of power or data | |
| 20030042797 | March, 2003 | Yang | 307/64 | Circuit for the generation of electric power induced to bear opposite polarity in the pulsating power supply |
| 20030222769 | December, 2003 | Mau | System, interface, and method for two-way cellular control of automobile electrical systems | |
| 20040145343 | July, 2004 | Naskali et al. | 320/108 | Charging device |
“Best of Show”, Fortune, Feb. 17, 2003.
“Splashpower”, www.splashpower.com, Feb. 11, 2003.
“Mobilewise”, www.mobilewise.com, Feb. 11, 2003.
Gulko, Michael, et al, Inductor-Controlled Current-Sourcing Resonant Inverter and its Application as a High Pressure Discharge Lamp Driver, IEEE, pp. 434-440, May 1994.
Implement rack and system for energizing implements