FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of and system for supplying a portable power source for charging electronic devices, particularly mobile telephones, and for operating electrical appliances of a general nature. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The primary application of the invention is the charging of mobile telephones. This application extends directly to other mobile devices such as laptop computers, tablets, iPads and iPods, for example.

Mobile devices are usually charged from a municipal electrical supply in a residence or workplace. Convenient access to such charging facilities is not however available to all users of such devices. This is particularly so in rural areas, informal developments or with respect to lower income housing. The people in these sectors represent a substantial and probably the greater number of consumers that use such devices (at least with respect to mobile telephones).

A large amount of money is spent on mobile telephone airtime and/or data with a limitation on the use and convenience being dictated by battery life of the mobile devices (particularly in the circumstances referred to).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to make available a portable power supply facility in a manner that affords convenient access to consumers in informal developments and/or rural communities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of supplying a portable electrical power source to consumers in informal developments and/or rural communities, comprising:

- providing a repository for a plurality batteries and a collection of adaptors;

each adaptor configured for engagement to a battery from the repository with a connection for an electrical output cable wired to the battery;

- providing each of a group of consumers with a charged battery and an adaptor for use of battery power;

receiving a used battery as a return from a consumer in the group and receiving a payment from the consumer to exchange the used battery for a charged battery for use with the adaptor of the consumer; and

charging the used battery for re-use.

The invention further provides for a voucher to be presented by the consumer to exchange the used battery for a charged battery; for the payment to be a pre-payment effected by the consumer in exchange for the voucher; and for the pre-payment to be effected as a purchase of the voucher from a mobile telephone airtime vendor.

Further features of the invention provide for the repository to include a plurality of charging docks for the batteries; and for the charging of the batteries to be effected, at least in part, by solar panels at the repository.

Further features of the invention provide for the batteries to be 12-volt batteries; and for the batteries to be of the gate motor type.

Further features of the invention provide for the adaptor connection to be for a charging device connectable into a car cigarette lighter socket and for such a charging device to be supplied to the consumer with the adaptor; and for an LED light connectable to the charging device to be supplied to the consumer with the adaptor.

Further features of the invention provide for the repository to be set up as an entertainment center; for the entertainment center to include a Wi-Fi network for use by the consumers; for the entertainment center to include seating and a display monitor; and for the monitor to display television broadcasts and/or video recordings. A further feature of the invention provides for a shipping container to be used as a structure for the repository.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for supplying a portable electrical power source to consumers in informal developments and/or rural communities, comprising:

a repository for a plurality batteries and a collection of adaptors; each adaptor configured for engagement to a battery with a connection for an electrical output cable wired to the battery; the repository including:

· a plurality of battery charging docks; and

• an exchange point for return of used batteries and supply of charged batteries; and

• a till point to register payments made for exchange of batteries.

The invention further provides for the adaptor connection to be for a charging device connectable into a car cigarette lighter socket; for the batteries to be 12-volt batteries; and for the batteries to be of the gate motor type. A further feature of the invention provides for the till point to be used to register pre-payments effected by a consumer; for a pre-payment to be registered on presentation of a voucher at the till point; and for a the voucher to be purchased from a mobile telephone airtime vendor. Further features of the invention provide for the battery charging docks to be provided as a bank of receptacles each to receive a battery; for each receptacle to slidingly receive a battery; and for the adaptors to each comprise a housing which slidingly receives a battery.

A further feature of the invention provides for an LED light connectable to the charging device to be included with the adaptor. Further features of the invention provide for the repository to include solar panels for charging of the batteries; and for the repository to be provided in a shipping container.

A further feature of the invention provides for the exchange point to be a counter in the repository.

Further features of the invention provide for the repository to be set up as an entertainment center; for the entertainment center to include a Wi-Fi network for use by the consumers; for the entertainment center to include seating and a display monitor; and for the monitor to display television broadcasts and/or video recordings.

A further feature of the invention provides for a charging bank with a plurality of docks each including a fitting configured to slidingly engage a battery with internal contacts for electrical connection to terminals on the battery.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of a charging bank with a plurality of docks and a collection of adaptors with each of the docks and adaptors correspondingly configured to slidingly receive a battery into engagement with internal contacts for electrical connection to terminals on the battery.

The invention further provides for the battery to be a 12-volt battery of the gate motor type. The invention extends to an adaptor for use in the method or system defined above. The adaptor may be branded by a sponsor of the repository. The branding may include manufacture of the adaptor in a particular colour associated with a mobile telephone service provider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of one embodiment, made by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a shipping container providing a battery repository in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing, a shipping container is shown converted into a battery repository (1 ) for use in a method of and system for supplying a portable electrical power source. The container will be located in an informal development or where it can be accessed by members of rural communities.

The repository (1 ) is used to store and charge a suitably large number of batteries (not shown). To this end, the repository (1 ) will include a plurality of charging docks for the batteries. Charging of the batteries will, in this embodiment, be effected by suitable connection of the docks to roof-mounted solar panels (2).

The container (1 ) is set up as an entertainment center which has a Wi-Fi network and seating (3) arranged around a display monitor (4) that will be used to air television broadcasts and/or video recordings. A collection of battery adaptors (not shown) are provided for use by consumers. Each adaptor is configured for engagement to a battery and has a connection for an electrical output cable wired to the battery terminals. The battery charging docks in the repository (1 ) are provided as a bank of receptacles each provided with a fitting configured to slidingly receive a battery. The adaptors each comprise a plastics moulded component housing which is correspondingly configured to slidingly receive a battery. Once a battery is inserted into either a dock fitting or adaptor, internal contacts provide the required electrical connection to terminals on the battery.

The batteries are of the 12-volt gate motor type. The output connection is a socket on the adaptor. The socket is for a charging device of the kind connectable into a car cigarette lighter fitting. A charging device will be supplied together with a battery and adaptor to a consumer. The adaptor and charger are supplied as a charging kit which a consumer will pay for and receive together with a charged battery. An LED light that is connectable to the charging device will also be supplied. The consumer will use the battery as it sees fit: to charge a mobile phone or to operate any other appliance which can run off the battery power. Once the battery charge has been depleted, the consumer will return the battery to an exchange point, provided as a counter (5) at the repository (1 ). Before returning the battery, the consumer will make a payment covering the cost to receive a charged battery in exchange. The payment will preferably be effected as a pre-payment by the consumer as a purchase of a voucher from a mobile telephone airtime vendor. The vendor will supply a slip with a barcode which constitutes a redeemable battery voucher.

A till point which is also located at the counter (5) will be used to register the pre-payment. A barcode reader is used in this example; however, other means and systems for payment and/or redeeming pre-payment vouchers may also be used to implement the invention. A consumer may also provide a cash payment at the till point either for an initial battery together with adaptor and charger or for a battery exchange.

The used batteries are placed in the charging docks until they are charged and then put to one side for re-use.

The repository (1 ) will preferably be branded by a sponsor in the form of a mobile phone service provider. The monitor (4) can be used for advertising and signage with details of specials and prices can be placed on and around the container. The adaptor may also be branded by a sponsor of the repository (1 ). The branding may include manufacture of the adaptor in a particular colour associated with a mobile telephone service provider.

The charging docks will have charge indicators to show when a battery is fully charged. The adaptors will also preferably have charge indicators to show a consumer what a given battery charge level is. A series of LED lights arranged along a charge indication scale will be a convenient option for such an indicator. This will allow the consumer to manage the use of a battery and also for anticipated pre-payments and returns/exchanges to be made by the consumer.

The invention thus provides facility for convenient access by consumers to a readily available portable power supply source that particularly meets the needs of consumers in informal developments and/or rural communities.

The general application of the invention with respect to charging or operating electrical devices or appliances will be appreciated from the disclosure of this document. It will be appreciated that a number of variations may be made to the features of the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the current invention.