[001] CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

62/792,755 filed January 15, 2019.

[003] FIELD OF INVENTION

[004] The present invention relates generally to a wall charging outlet and specifically to apparatus, system and a method for charging USB powered electronics with specific and changeable USB charging cables connected to a USB ports within a wall.

[005] In a first aspect, it relates to the provision of a functional design that allows

configurability of the charging cable and supporting hardware to accommodate various types of USB charging cables for charging varied devices.

[006] In a yet another aspect it relates to an ability to conveniently change the charging cable in installed wall chargers with minimal effort.

[007] BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ARTS [008] USB power ports are an increasingly popular way to charge an electronic device. USB power ports have become ubiquitous in their use as device charging ports.

It is increasingly common to connect electronic devices such as phones, cameras, iPad to power via such USB ports. One often sees such ports in public areas for charging electronic devices.

[009] Wall mounted junction box units are available to provide multiple USB ports for charging devices. A user simply connects his own self provided device charging cable to such ports when powering devices. Today most cables are either a USB to USB, USB-C or the Apple Lightning cable. Other designs may exist but do not seem to be popular. New designs may come about in the future as device technology advances.

[010] A typical charging cable supplied by the user is connected by the user to a USB charging port at one end and the other end connects to a port on electronics device.

[011] US7,741 ,562 to Crotinger discloses a system comprising a USB port within a wall, a USB powered device, a charging device cable at least partially in the wall to power the device. No consideration is given to charging electronic devices with varied cables.

[012] Today, the most common device ends are the USB, Apple and USB-C. These three today take up the bulk of the ways to power small electronic devices. [013] For some wall chargers a self-provided cable is not necessary. US2013/0244475 to Sayadi describes a USB wall ports that are permanently mounted and have wound retractable USB cables whose device ends are can be pulled out from the wall plate to engage with an electronic device. No personal charging cable is needed to charge a device. Sayadi unit has dedicated configurations of cables that connect the USB powered ports to a USB plug or an Apple 30 pin connector at the device charging end. The cables are behind a wall plate and are

permanently wired so that one cannot change the cable itself without going behind the wall plate. In that sense these are hard wired. This design makes it convenient for people who for many reasons may not have a personal charging cord. The installation provides some flexibility in the wall charging unit in accommodating both USB and Apple 30 pin device end ports, However, it does not have does not have the total flexibility of completely changing a specific cable type to another type. It also does not have the flexibility to change the mix of cables at a multiport wall charging unit.

[014] While the above art discusses the cables available at the time of their invention, more cable configurations are possible and there is also a need to incorporate changing USB cable designs for new devices that will come.

[015] Wall mounted charging ports thus have an unchangeable mix of cable

alternatives. For example, for a 6-unit charging unit at a wall, there may be all 6 USB ports for the user. Alternatively, one can have 3 ports for USB and another 3 for Apple devices. Innumerable combinations exist. However, once the choice for a specific installation is made as to the mix, it is static and cannot be conveniently changed without major rewiring and getting behind the wall.

[016] There thus exist a need in the market for wall mounted USB power chargers to have a programmable mix of device ends to accommodate flexible needs of users without the need for major rewiring behind the wall.

[017] It often happens that the cable types needed from a USB powered charger varies with time, the institutional setting and the type of users and their types of devices. The frequency of change may be fast or slow depending on user requirements.

In all the prior art wall charging port designs, the mix configuration is fixed, and no further configurability is afforded in terms of the type and number of cables provided. The unit can only be reconfigured by getting within the wall and rewiring from scratch the desired mix of cables needed.

[018] Thus, there is a need to change a single port cable type or change the mix of cable options without removing wall plates or tearing behind the wall with specialized resources.

[019] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[020] Embodiments of the present invention relates to an apparatus, system and a

method for charging electronics with a universal serial bus (USB) charging cable connected to a USB port located behind a wall. [021] A powered junction box houses a plurality of USB charging ports in a horizontal or vertical manner. A faceplate houses a stack of cartridges, one for each USB charging port. Each cartridge contains a single retractable cable whose back end connects a single USB port behind the wall and its front end has device connector end lodged into a clip at the front facing wall faceplate. A faceplate houses a plurality of such outwardly device ends for any number of stacked cartridges with each device end inserted in a clip. Each cartridge is set into the faceplate from the front with a single click thereby making sure the USB port at the back is cleanly engaged.

[022] DRAWINGS [023] Figure 1 USB power supply [024] Figure 2 Cable Cartridge [025] Figure 3 Faceplate [026] Figure 4 Housing [027] Figure s Assembled Charger Unit [028] Figure 6 Alternative embodiments of entire invention [029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[030] The following description supplies details with a view to provide a thorough

understanding. A skilled artisan would understand that the apparatus design can be implemented without using these specific details. The apparatus can be practiced by modifying the illustrated apparatus and can be used conjunctively with other apparatus conventionally used in the industry.

[031] Figure 1 shows a typical USB power strip 1. Electric power 2 is supplied to the unit and the unit has multiple ports 3. The strip is the back end or back plate of the assembled charger.

[032] Figure 2 shows the individual cable cartridge 21. A cable 22 having specific connectors 23 and 24 at each end is coiled within the cartridge. On its front face 25 the cartridge 21 has a holding mechanism 26 to securely hold the device end connector 23 of the cable. On its back face the cartridge 21 has a hardwired rigidly installed male USB connector 24 connected to the other end of the cable 22. As one can see, many mechanical cartridge designs are possible.

[033] The holding mechanism 26 may be a clip, a bracket, a snap fitting arrangement or any other mechanical mechanism to hold the connector 23 securely so that it does not retract into the cartridge 21.

[034] A track 27 is provided on the cartridge side walls 28 that allows the cartridge to be inserted or ejected from the unit. This embodiment shows a tooth mechanism of engagement for robust cartridge movement. Other mechanical mechanism and designs may be employed to accomplish the same effect.

[035] The USB connector 24 of a cartridge is designed to securely and snugly fit into the USP power port 2 of the back end. Each cartridge is thus slid into its place to fit up with the multiple power ports. The housing tracks 27 provide a raceway to accomplish smooth movement. A snap fit can also be designed to accomplish this.

[036] Alternatively, in another embodiment the cartridge can be moved in and out using a door and hinge mechanism instead of the track 27 arrangement.

[037] In yet another embodiment an eject button on the front face of the cartridge can be provided to allow ejection of the cartridge and an ejection mechanism can be provided to accomplish this.

[038] Figure 3 shows a typical faceplate that forms the front face of the charger unit at the wall. It has cutouts 31 for cartridges. The faceplate can be of varied and decorative design. The cartridge openings may be arranged in any manner to suit. Any number of cutouts (recesses) can be devised for the wall unit. Custom faceplates can be made.

[039] Figure 4 shows the housing 40 of the assembled charger. It can be of any shape and it serves to house the internals of the unit. In the shown embodiment a cartridge transport mechanism 41 is provided at the side walls 42 to conveniently move the cartridges in and out from the front of the unit. [040] Figure 5 shows all the components described in Figures 1 thru 4 assembled to form the charger unit. Power strip 1 in the backplane is attached to the housing 40. The front of the housing 40 is covered by the faceplate 30. The drawing shows only one cartridge inserted into the faceplate recess with its front face 51 showing while the other recesses 52 are shown with no cartridges.

[041] Figure 6 shows yet another embodiment of the invention and shows its

component parts. In this embodiment, the cartridges 21 are placed vertically into the cartridge holder (alternatively called housing) 40 and the cartridge holder is placed snugly into a standard electrical receptable box. Each of the cartridges 21 is held in place in the cartridge holder with a screw. Various embodiments 21 A, 21 B of the cartridges 21 are shown. A distal end view of the cartridge is shown as 21 C. Each cartridge is shaped/contoured in front such that the cartridge can be pinched for easy handling and insertion/removal. Fasteners may be provided to hold the cartridge in the cartridge holder. A faceplate 30 is provided on the cartridge holder 40 front and is held in place with a screw that fastens with an appropriate threaded section in the cartridge holder. In yet another embodiment, the entire assembled unit 60 may be placed in a standard l-gang box 50.

[042] The configurable wall charger design is covered by many codes such as

Electrical Association, Fire Codes and other local codes. Appropriate

consideration should be given to the materials of construction and the design constraints required for the safe operation of the unit. The materials of construction can be any that meet the code. [043] Our design provides a means to supply USB power ports in the backplane of the unit, cartridge mechanism to house specific cables with specific connector ends for the user in an efficient retractable manner, a cartridge replacement

mechanism operable from the front of the unit, a convenient user friendly detachment of the connector a the wall faceplate for placement into the user’s device port and a smooth retraction of the cable back into the cartridge after use.

[044] The mix of cables can be changed as needed anytime without having to go

behind the faceplate.

[045] Cartridge units with cables with different connector ends can be kept in stock for instant changeability as needs demand.

[046] Connectors that are developed in the future can also be manufactured under this design so that the charger unit does not have to be upgraded for newer cable designs of the future.

[047] As one can imagine numerable conveniences can be introduced around the

instant inventive design concept.

[048] For example, in our embodiments while the backplane has only powered USB charging ports, this is not to be construed as a limitation. As designs change in the future, the powered ports in the back may be of different variety. [049] The unused opening in the face plate where no cartridges are present can be covered with a flush cover piece made of the same material as the faceplate to form an aesthetic cover.

[050] For the purposes of this application, the term configurable means that the wall charger can have any kind of connector that the user can use. The right cartridge must be present or inserted. This allows the user to not worry about having adequate capability for charging at any time. If a wall port is available, then with the right cartridge any device can be charged. This is what is meant by configurable.

[051] The term changeable or interchangeable has a similar meaning in this context.

Changeable would mean the ability to change the connector type out at any time with the right cartridge. The term interchangeable would mean that an existing specific connector cartridge can be replaced by the type desired. One can also switch between two cartridges in an existing setup for the sake of convenience.

[052] The charger is typically installed in a wall. The faceplate is the only thing visible from outside the wall, much like an electrical outlet typically installed in a wall. Electrical power is wired in.

[053] From the faceplate several recesses for cartridges are visible and they may be filled in with cable cartridges or they may be sealed for use later with a cover plate. A user typically unlocks the clip holding a connector and extends the cable outwards and plugs the connector end into his device. Varying lengths of cable may be available depending on the cable cartridge design. Different force settings can be used to spring load a cable. Different types of connectors may be available each with its cartridge. Cartridges can be substituted as needed to change the types and number of connectors available at the wall. As mentioned before, the cartridge insertion and removal are accomplished without going into the unit. Lock mechanisms may be provided to secure the cartridges for theft or for other reasons.