Charging stand

A method of providing an electrical charging current to an external device via a charging apparatus, whereby the external device includes a ferromagnetic material, the method comprising:

• moving the external device within a predetermined distance of the charging apparatus such that a magnetic attraction develops between the ferromagnetic material and a magnet included in at least one of a movable member disposed on the charging apparatus and an electrical charging plug held by the movable member;
• and
• aligning a first point of the external device with a second point of the charging apparatus such that the movable member is in a first state, wherein
• the movable member is in the first state when the magnetic attraction between the ferromagnetic material and the magnet is greater than a predetermined magnitude, which causes the movable member to move such that at least one terminal connector of the electrical charging plug extends beyond a plane formed over an opening of a main body of the charging apparatus and is engagable with a corresponding charging terminal of the external device, and
• when the first point and the second point are out of alignment, the movable member is in a second state, the second state being a condition in which the at least one terminal connector of the electrical charging plug is lowered below the plane formed over the opening of the main body of the charging apparatus.

A battery charging stand comprising:

• a main body having a groove configured to sandwich an external device;
• a movable member configured to hold a plug capable of transmitting an electrical current to the external device, wherein the plug is arranged in an opening formed in the groove and a movement of the movable member results in the plug moving through the opening;
• and
• a magnet attached to at least one of the plug or the movable member, wherein
• when the external device is engaged in the groove, an attraction between the magnet and the external device results in the movable member being in a first state, the first state being a condition where the attraction causes the movable member to move such that at least one terminal connector of the plug extends beyond a plane formed over the opening, and
• when the external device is disengaged from the groove, the movable member transitions from the first state to a second state, the second state corresponding to a condition where the at least one terminal connector of the plug is lowered below the plane formed over the opening.