The use of mobile telephony and the number of mobile telephones have been growing explosively for a number of years. Every mobile telephone is generally provided with a rechargeable battery which can be charged again after use. Mobile telephones are generally provided for this purpose with a receiving space for a plug forming part of a telephone charger (telephone adapter). By further connecting the mobile telephone via the telephone charger to a voltage supply, such as for instance the mains electricity, the battery of the mobile telephone can thus be recharged. The known telephone adapters do however have a number of significant drawbacks. Since the telephone adapters in fact form per se an intermediate electrical circuit between the power supply and the mobile telephone, mobile telephones are usually damaged relatively quickly since the telephones are usually positioned at diverse locations and on diverse surfaces. Damage to a mobile telephone is in the first place undesirable from an aesthetic viewpoint, but more importantly it can (considerably) shorten the lifespan of the mobile telephone in question. Although the telephone adapter is generally provided with an extension lead so as to increase the freedom of positioning of the mobile telephone, this extension lead is generally perceived as impractical and awkward in the (partially) extended state.

The American patent US 5, 982,884 provides prima facie a solution for the above stated problem. In this publication is described a device which is provided with, among other things, a support structure for electronic components such as for instance a computer, a screen, a modem, an answering machine and a coupling element for electrical connection of the device to a mobile telephone. The support structure is herein provided with a casing for partially enclosing the mobile telephone. A drawback of the known device is that the device is adapted to hold the mobile telephone only in the situation of use, whereby the possible applications of the known device are relatively limited.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for charging mobile telephones with which the above stated problem can be obviated.

The invention provides for this purpose a device of the type stated in the preamble, comprising: a support structure, which support structure is provided with a plug, and at least one electrical coupling element connected to the plug for electrical coupling of the device to a mobile telephone, and at least one telephone holder connected to the support structure for holding at least one mobile telephone. The device according to the invention is adapted to hold one or more mobile telephones in reliable and stable manner irrespective of the orientation of the device in relation to the fixed world. The device provides only a support structure for both a telephone adapter and a mobile telephone, whereby positioning of the mobile telephone at (some) distance from the power supply is no longer necessary. An extension lead possibly forming part of the telephone adapter does not therefore have to be positioned in impractical manner. The telephone holder is specifically adapted to receive mobile telephones, thereby minimizing the chance of damage to the mobile telephone during use of the device. The plug is preferably adapted to be coupled to the mains electricity, whereby the device is particularly suitable for use indoors. It is noted that the plug can also be connected to the support structure via an electrical lead.

In a preferred embodiment the support structure is provided with a plurality of coupling elements and the support structure is connected to a number of telephone holders corresponding with the number of coupling elements. A plurality of mobile telephones can thus be charged at the same moment using a single device according to the invention. This is exceptionally advantageous, since research results from National Telecom Monitor (2001) have shown that 44% of the households using mobile telephony already make use of a number of mobile telephones. In such a preferred embodiment the make and design of the mobile telephones is not relevant.

In another preferred embodiment the telephone holder is pivotally connected to the support structure. The pivotal connection of the telephone holder to the support structure results in the first place in a greater freedom in positioning of the device according to the invention. In addition, the telephone holder can be pivoted into an orientation relative to the support structure that is ideal for a user.

The coupling element is preferably formed by a socket. The socket is herein adapted for coupling to a conventional telephone adapter. No special provisions therefore have to be made to make the device according to the invention suitable for the conventional mobile telephones and the associated telephone adapters.

In a preferred embodiment the telephone holder is provided with at least two clamping elements positioned at a distance from each other. The clamping elements can take a slightly flexible form and are preferably oriented relative to each other such that a mobile telephone can be positioned with clamp fitting between the clamping elements.

A stable positioning of the mobile telephone in the telephone holder can thus be achieved. In a particular preferred embodiment the distance between the clamping elements can be changed. Such a particular preferred embodiment provides a relatively great freedom in the number of types of mobile telephone which can be arranged in the telephone holder. The distance between the clamping elements can thus be adjusted to the dimensioning of a mobile telephone.

The plug is preferably connected releasably to the support structure. Such a preferred embodiment makes it possible to replace a plug with another plug, which can be particularly advantageous when the plug malfunctions or when the device is connected to a different mains supply, for instance in another country. The plug of the device can thus be adapted to the type of socket generally used in a particular region or in a particular country.

In another preferred embodiment the telephone holder is releasably connected to the support structure. The telephone holder can then be removed and/or replaced by another telephone holder. Replacement of a telephone holder can for instance take place when a telephone holder malfunctions. It is however also possible to replace a properly working telephone holder with another telephone holder having for instance a different construction or colour. This may be particularly advantageous from an aesthetic viewpoint.

In a particular preferred embodiment the support structure is provided with a receiving space for at least a part of a telephone adapter connected to the socket, which space is at least substantially covered by a cover element. An extension lead for instance forming

part of the telephone adapter can thus be accommodated in the receiving space, whereby trailing cables can be avoided. It is likewise conceivable to accommodate the telephone adapter at least substantially wholly in the receiving space. Since the cover element further covers the telephone adapter, this latter is not visible to the user, or at least hardly so. The cover element can be connected in diverse ways to the support structure, but it is essential that the receiving space can be made sufficiently accessible for placing respectively removing at least a part of the telephone adapter.

In another preferred embodiment an electrical circuit provided with a transformer is arranged between the plug and the coupling element. The conventional telephone adapter is thus integrated into the support structure. The coupling element, generally a plug, can herein be coupled directly to the mobile telephone. The advantage of such a preferred embodiment is that a relatively compact device can be provided which has a relatively simple structure. In a particular embodiment the level of an electrical output voltage of the transformer can be changed. The output voltage can thus be modified to the requirement of the mobile telephone. The coupling element is preferably provided herein with a plurality of different plugs to make the device universally applicable for any mobile telephone in general.

The invention also relates to a support structure for use in such a device.

The invention further relates to a telephone holder for use in such a device.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, figure 2 shows a rear view of the first embodiment of the device as according to figure 1, and figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. Device 1 comprises a support structure 2 and three telephone holders 3

releasably connected to support structure 2. Each telephone holder 3 can thus be detached separately from support structure 2. The support structure 2 is provided with a plug (not shown) which is connected to support structure 2 via an electric cable 4. Cable 4 is further connected electrically to three sockets 5 arranged in support structure 2, which sockets 5 are adapted to receive a conventional plug, in particular a plug of a telephone adapter. Support structure 2 of device 1 is also provided with a main switch 6 positioned between the plug and the sockets 5 for allowing or interrupting the feed of electric current. Telephone holders 3 are each provided with a base structure 7 provided with coupling means not shown here for coupling telephone holder 3 to support structure 2. The base structure 7 is connected to two arms 8,9 located at a distance from each other. The mutual distance between the arms is adjustable such that in general any mobile telephone can be positioned between arms 8,9 and further be clamped by arms 8,9. The base structure 7 of telephone holder 3 is provided with a relatively soft material layer 10 so as to prevent or at least counter damage to the mobile telephone during use of device 1.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the first embodiment of device 1 as according to figure 1.

Shown here is that the support structure is provided with a receiving space 11 for cables (not shown) forming part of a telephone adapter. The receiving space can be substantially closed by means of three cover elements 12, which cover elements 12 can be coupled to support structure 2. Trailing cables as a result of connecting a telephone adapter to a socket 5 can thus be prevented. Figure 2 also shows that the base structure 7 of each telephone holder 3 is provided with a rotatable wheel 13 with which the distance between arms 8,9 can be adjusted. Support structure 2 is also provided with two recesses 14 to enable fixing of the device 1 to an external object, such as for instance a wall. It will be apparent that the positioning of device 1 can be very varied. It can thus be used for instance as wall model, but also as floor model.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device 15 according to the invention. Device 15 is provided with a support structure 16 and three telephone holders 17 connected pivotally to support structure 16. Support structure 16 is provided with a plug (not shown) which is connected to support structure 16 by means of an extension cable 18. Extension cable 18 is coupled electrically to three separate coupling elements 19. Each coupling element 19 is herein provided with three different plugs 20,

21,22. Plugs 20,21, 22 are designed such that they can be coupled directly to (a wide variety of) mobile telephones. Between extension cable 18 and each coupling element 19 is positioned a transformer (not shown) for converting a relatively high input voltage to a relatively low output voltage. The level of the output voltage can be adjusted via a regulating means 23 along which a scale division 24 is arranged. A universal device 15 is thus obtained which is adapted to charge mobile telephones fully autonomously, thus without using conventional telephone adapters. The device 15 can optionally be protected against peak voltages and other forms of overload. The correct operation of device 15 is shown here by an LED 25 which is illuminated during operation.