The present invention relates to a portable battery for charging mobile communication devices and a method of advertising therewith.

BACKGOUND

It is all too common occurrence whereby mobile communication device batteries run out of power in a place and time when the user is unable to recharge the battery. To obviate such problems stand-alone back-up batteries with USB charging ports known as power banks have become common place and provide users with an emergency power supply.

While prior art power banks are flat and allow a mobile communication device such as a cell phone to be stacked above the power bank, these power banks do not facilitate the charging of a phone in a position other than a flatly stacked position. To do so, the user either has to hold both the power bank and cell phone together or use the cell phone in a flat condition. As will be appreciated, firmly holding the power bank and cell phone together for extended periods of time will result in hand fatigue.

Additionally, where prior art power banks are used for promotional purposes with advertising content thereon - the advertising content is obscured as soon as the cell phone is stacked upon the power bank. A known principle in advertising is that prolonged and repeated exposure to advertising content increases the impact of such advertising content. Accordingly, it would be advantageous when using a power bank as a promotional means that the user's exposure to the advertising content branded onto the power bank is maximised.

The invention seeks to provide a portable battery that at least partially ameliorates the abovementioned disadvantages associated with prior art power banks used to display advertising content.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a power bank comprising a housing with integral battery and mobile communication device (MCD) securing means, wherein the housing comprises securing means for releasably securing the MCD to the housing, in use.

Conveniently the housing comprises a stand assembly to enable the MCD to be secured in a plurality of display positions. The position which the MCD is secured is adjustable in accordance with user preferences.

Conveniently the stand assembly comprises at least one of a retractable arm upon which the housing and MCD rests and which enables the housing to secureably move between a horizontal to a vertical position; an angled base for enabling the MCD to rest at a substantially upright or substantially horizontal position depending on the housing positioning, in use; a slot through which the MCD is partially located at an angle whereby the MCD and stand assembly rest against one another to maintain the MCD in an upright position, in use.

Conveniently the housing comprises a USB charging cable with a plurality of USB connector configurations for use with different MCD USB port configurations. Conveniently the housing extends beyond the MCD frame, in use, thereby providing at least a partially visible advertising content surface when the MCD is secured to the power bank.

Conveniently the housing comprises at least one electronic display panel, which panel is viewable by a user when the MCD is secured thereto, in use.

Conveniently the content displayed on the electronic display is programmable and the programmed data stored on a data storage device integral with and connected to the battery.

Conveniently the content is displayed only when the MCD is connected to the power bank. Additionally, the content may be programmed to be displayed only when the MCD is being used by the user, which use is determined inter alia by fluctuations in current being drawn from the battery by the MCD.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of advertising using a power bank of the invention, whereby the power bank activates continuous charging of a connected MCD only after advertising content has been displayed on the MCD of the user, alternately on the electronic display panel of the power bank housing. Accordingly, use of the power bank battery supply requires a user to view and or listen to programmed or delivered advertising content on at least one occasion. Preferably, a user may be required to view advertising content at predetermined time intervals to continue using the power bank power supply.

Conveniently, advertising content may be determined by the location of the user thereby enabling a more targeted selection of advertising content.

Conveniently advertising content viewed by the user on the their MCD or on the electronic display panel may be wirelessly broadcast wherein associated broadcast data is processed by a suitably configured and enable power bank, alternately MCD. Advertising content broadcast is thereby determined by user location and proximity of the user to a user locating means. Accordingly, advertising content displayed may be selected in accordance with the direction, alternately proximity of the user to the user locating means. This enables targeted advertising whereby advertisers only advertise their advertising content to a user who is proximal to their location. . As will be appreciated, various other factors associated with targeted marketing may be used in determining the advertising content and when such content is displayed for the user, including user age and lifestyle behaviour.

Conveniently advertising content may be determined by at least one of user browsing history, user social media profile, user internet browser account details. The aforementioned user information being communicated to the power bank upon connection to the MCD.

Further features, variants and/or advantages of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of an example of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a power bank comprising a rectangular housing with battery located within the housing. The battery is connected to a USB port to electrically connect the battery to a mobile communication device (MCD) such as a cellular phone or tablet. The housing comprises a securing means for releasably securing the MCD to the housing, in use. In one embodiment of the invention, the securing means comprises a resiliently deformable flange located on one side of the housing. The flange is spaced from, and deformably biased towards the housing thereby enabling a MCD to be inserted into the spacing between the housing and the flange. When the MCD is inserted into the spacing, the flange is bent away from its rest position. As the flange is biased towards the housing, the insertion of the MCD causes the tensioned flange to exert a counter deformation force against the MCD towards the housing thereby securing the MCD to the housing.

In another embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a longitudinal flange which defines a recess between the housing and the distal surface of the flange relative to the housing. A MCD is locatable into the recess and secured in position between the housing and the distal surface of the flange.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the securing means is simply defined by a longitudinal flange extending along a perimeter section of the housing which functions as a shelf upon which the MCD rests. In this embodiment, the housing comprises a stand assembly which angles the housing away from an upright position thereby allowing the MCD to rest on both the flange and the main body of the power bank housing. This position enables the MCD to more securely rest in a substantially upright position.

The stand assembly comprises a retractable arm upon which the housing is supported in an upright position. The arm is hingedly attached to the back side of the housing and is movable between a flat retracted position to a protruding housing support position. When in a protruding position, the arm allows the housing to be supported in an upright position which upright position may either be along the width or length of the housing. The extent to which the arm moves away from the retracted position determines the angle of the housing and MCD relative to a vertical display position. The user is thereby able to securely adjust the display surface of the MCD in accordance with their MCD screen viewing preferences.

The housing comprises a USB port for connecting a user's MCD to the battery via a USB cable. Additionally, the housing comprises a fixed USB charging cable connected to the battery within the housing and has a plurality of USB connector configurations for use with different MCD USB port configurations. The housing extends beyond the MCD frame, in use, thereby providing at least a partially visible advertising content surface. Accordingly, advertising content can be located on the visible surface of the housing for viewing by a user when using the power bank.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises an electronic display panel, which panel is viewable by a user when the MCD is secured thereto, in use. The electronic display panel is integral with the flange of the securing means and forms the outer surface of the flange which is viewable when the MCD is secured into position by the flange. The content displayed on the electronic display is programmable and the programmed data stored on a data storage device integral with the housing.

When used for advertising purposes, the content is displayed only when the MCD is connected to the power bank. Additionally, the content may be programmed to be displayed only when the MCD is being used by the user, which use is determined by fluctuations in current being drawn from the battery by the MCD.

Accordingly, use of the power bank of the invention provides a method of advertising, whereby the power bank activates continuous charging of a connected MCD only after advertising content has been displayed on the MCD of the user. Accordingly, use of the power bank battery supply requires a user to view and or listen to programmed advertising content.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, advertising content is determined by the location of the user thereby enabling a more targeted selection of advertising content. The advertising content is wirelessly broadcast and the corresponding advertising data is displayed by a suitably configured and enabled power bank, alternately MCD. Advertising content broadcast is thereby locational and determined by the proximity of the user to a user locating means. Accordingly, advertising content displayed may be selected in accordance with the direction, alternately proximity of the user to the user locating means. This enables targeted advertising whereby advertisers only advertise their content to a user who is proximal to their location. By example, a user walking towards a food store will receive advertising material promoting the food store as the user approaches the foods store.

Conveniently the method of advertising comprises the steps of installing software onto the MCD prior to using the power bank for charging the MCD, wherein the software facilitates the delivering of targeted advertising content. The software may either be automatically installed, alternately installed onto the MCD by the user following software installation prompts on their MCD.

Preferably the method of advertising comprises the steps of offering the user an incentive having monetary or use value in the event that the aforementioned power bank software is installed on the user's MCD.

The advertising content may be determined by at least one of user browsing history, user social media profile, user internet browser account details. The aforementioned user details being communicated to the power bank upon connection to the MCD.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power bank of the invention is provided to users as a disposable power bank which is funded and used by advertisers to provide a MCD power supply. The power supply is thereby conditional and limited by the user viewing an advert. In use, the user will additionally be required to watch additional interspersed adverts at specific intervals during the charging process. There may be instances where an advertiser provides free content on the power bank of the invention but consumption of said content will be at the users discretion.

As will be appreciated, duration of the advertising content is modifiable in accordance with advertiser preferences and relevant to the user's environment. While the power bank is used as a disposable advertising means - it is possible for a user to recharge the power bank for multiple uses. In the event that the user recharges the power bank for future use, the advertising content displayed may either be re-displayed at time of the user connecting to the battery; or deactivated after a single display. Alternately, the power bank may display a prompt on the MCD of the user to deactivate the advertisements provided that the user register or agree to accept advertising content from one or more advertising sources in the future. In doing so, the advertiser uses the power bank of the invention to facilitate providing the user with advertising through an additional channel.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the power bank is controlled by a software app installed on the MCD of the user whereby electrical charge dispensed by the power bank is regulated by the software app in accordance with advertising display parameters. Accordingly, the software app activates, maintains or deactivates electrical charge dispensed by the power bank, which electrical charge is contingent on the user viewing alternately listening to one or more advertisements flighted by the software app. The software app is configured to identify a power bank or a power bank of the invention upon connecting the power bank to the MCD. The power bank used in accordance with the invention is configured for use with the software app is further configured and programmed to only dispense electrical charge on the instruction of the affiliated software app. As will be appreciated, the software app may be downloaded on to the MCD of the user from publicly available software app stores and in versions compatible with the MCD such as Android or Apple compatible versions.

The software app is programmable to regulate the advertisement content type, duration and frequency of advertising displayed on the MCD, which content is dynamically adjustable in accordance with the user's likely advertising content of interest. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical charge dispensed from the power bank is dependent on the user viewing the entire advertising content flighted. Additionally, in order for electrical charge to continue being dispensed, the user is required to select a prompt displayed at the end of the advert which prompt is only displayed upon the completion of one or more advertisements in accordance with software app advertisement parameters.

At pre-determined intervals, by example after twenty minutes of charging the MCD, the user will either be prompted to view an additional advert to continue receiving charge from the power bank, alternately, an advertisement will automatically be flighted. This process of advertisement will continue until the power bank is depleted of charge. Once depleted the power bank will be rechargeable, and once re-charged, supply of current will resume as aforementioned.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the power bank comprises multiple ports, alternately a single charge port with a cable comprising multiple USB adapters for charging multiple devices simultaneously. In all instances, charging of other attached devices is dependent on the user viewing the advertising content provided through the software app.

In a still further preferred embodiment of the invention, the power bank comprises enabling software and hardware to communicate wirelessly with the software app loaded on to the MCD. In said embodiment, the software app is enabled to wirelessly regulate the dispensing of electrical charge to connected devices provided that the user views advertising content on their MCD as determined by the software app. Communication between the power bank and the software app on the MCD may occur through one or more wireless communication protocols such as RFID, NFC, Bluetooth or wifi.

Further, a plurality of power banks may simultaneously be used to charge a plurality of devices, provided the user views advertising content on their MCD. The number or type of advertisements flighted on the MCD correspond to the number of power banks, alternately devices drawing current from the power banks. Accordingly, the invention provides a method of advertising content type and volume which may be increased in accordance with the electrical charge needs of the user. The software app determines the advertising content displayed by utilising at least one of the user's social media accounts; user identifying data inputted by the user into the software app interface in accordance with prompts generated by the software app; or software app login details which login identifies user behavioural traits and user information or product preferences. As will be appreciated, such user preferences are determined by cookies which monitor user behaviour and preferences.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the power bank may have the software app stored on an internal storage device, wherein the storage app is installable on to a MCD upon the MCD being connected to the power bank. Once the software app is installed on to the MCD, electrical charge may be controlled by the software app as aforementioned. In such embodiment, the power bank additionally comprises a suitable datafile to install the software app on to a MCD or any other suitably enabled computer.

The invention is not limited to the precise details described above. Modifications may be made and other embodiments developed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the stand assembly comprises an angled base for enabling the MCD to rest at a substantially upright or substantially horizontal position depending on the housing positioning whereby the thickness of the base is sufficient for maintaining the MCD and housing in an upright position. Further, the stand assembly may comprise a slot through which the MCD is partially located at an angle, whereby the MCD and stand assembly rest against one another to maintain the MCD in an upright position, in use.

The summary of invention and claims form an integral aspect of the description of the invention.