Modular power supply system including a battery power supply module

An item of furniture, said item of furniture including at least one power provision point module for the provision of power for selective use by a device, wherein the said at least one power provision point module is electrically connected to one or more battery modules from which said power is provided and said one or more battery modules are located in a mounting means in which the said at least one power provision point module is also mechanically connected using substantially similar mechanical location means to those of the one or more battery module and said modules are mechanically located in line in said mounting means and electrically connected when mechanically located in said mounting means via a respective plug and socket connection and each said power provision point module which is selected to be used for the required configuration can also be selected to provide AC or DC power therefrom and the mounting means is in turn mechanically located in the said item of furniture so as to form a power supply source for the item of furniture.

A kit of parts for the provision of a power supply apparatus, said kit including a mounting means with mechanical location means formed therein, a plurality of modules, each having substantially similar mechanical location means, to allow selective location of the said modules within the mounting means so as to provide the apparatus in a predetermined configuration for use within an item of furniture, to provide one or more power provision points thereon and wherein said modules include;

• at least one battery module with power cells which are rechargeable and from which DC power is supplied, one or more power provision point modules which allow power to be provided from the same to operate/charge a device and at least one power supply unit module which allows the conversion of an AC power supply to a DC power supply to charge the said battery module and wherein said modules which are selected and mechanically located with the mounting means in-line, include at least one battery module and one or more power provision point modules each of which can be selected to be of a type to provide AC or DC power therefrom and the electrical connection of said selected modules located in the mounting means is achieved via engagement of respective plugs and socket connectors provided on said modules.

A system for providing AC and/or DC power for charging or powering electrical/electronic devices that are being used whilst the person is located at, around or within, mobile furniture or furniture that has no local connection point to the mains AC wiring, said system including a series of modules having a common mechanical fixation system, allowing the furniture to include said common mechanical fixation system and choose from a variety of modules to create the electrical system of a desired configuration said modules including at least one battery module and any or any combination of a Power Supply Unit (PSU) module, an AC or DC power in-feed connection point, DC and/or AC power provision point modules, inverter module, switch modules, electrical protection device modules and/or power control device modules.

An item of furniture including a modular power supply apparatus, said apparatus including a mounting means which is located with said item of furniture and wherein said mounting means includes a battery module mechanically located therewith so as to provide power to one or more power provision point modules mechanically located with the said mounting means or separately on the item of furniture, said one or more power provision point modules available for selective use to provide power at the item of furniture without the item of furniture being tethered to a cable connection to a mains power supply.