US 2021/0203173 A1 · PACKAGING CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR CHARGING A STACK OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Abstract

A container for an electronic device having a battery and a method of maintaining electrical charge in the battery are described. The container includes a cushioning material, such as molded expanded foam, to receive and secure the device (e.g. for shipping or storage) and to position its battery charging interface near a charging terminal within the container. The charging terminal itself cushions the device, and is electrically connected to charging terminals on the top and bottom of the container, such as a plate on the top and a pogo pin on the bottom. Connecting the charging terminals to a power source supplies power to the charging terminal, hence the battery charging interface of the device either via a physical contact or wireless power transfer. The container and method may be used to deliver the electronic device fully charged to an end user.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A container for an electronic device that has a battery and an electrical interface for charging or recharging the battery, the container comprising:

an enclosure having a bottom internal surface, a bottom external surface, and a top external surface;
a cushioning electrical terminal standing on the bottom internal surface;
an electrical conductor coupled to the electrical terminal, to an electrically conductive plate on the top external surface, and to an elastic electrical connector on the bottom external surface;
and
a cushioning, non-conductive packing material having (a) a cavity for securely retaining the electronic device with the electrical interface positioned above and adjacent to the electrical terminal, and (b) a cavity through which the conductor passes;
wherein coupling the plate and the connector to a power source provides electrical energy to the cushioning electrical terminal for charging or recharging the battery via the electrical interface.

3 more elements

A tangible, computer-readable storage medium, in which is non-transitorily stored computer program code that, when executed by a computing processor, performs a method of maintaining an electrical charge in a battery of an electronic device having an electrical interface for charging or recharging the battery, the method comprising:

securing the electronic device in a first cavity of a cushioning, non-conductive packing material;
placing the packing material into an enclosure so that the electrical interface is positioned above and adjacent to a cushioning electrical terminal that is electrically coupled to an electrically conductive plate on a top surface of the enclosure and to an elastic electrical connector on a bottom surface of the enclosure;
sealing the enclosure;
and
coupling the plate and the connector to a power source, thereby providing electrical energy to the cushioning electrical terminal for charging or recharging the battery via the electrical interface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Packaging container and method for charging a stack of electronic devices

Life of this patent

Packaging container and method for charging a stack of electronic devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20