US 9,755,446 B2 · Mobile charging table with hinged tabletop and selectively accessible battery compartment opening

Abstract

A mobile charging table and a method of use are configured for ease of mobility and ease of service. The table has a tabletop, a base, a battery powered charging hub, and a battery compartment. The tabletop may be connected to the base by a hinge arrangement permitting tabletop movement between its first and second positions. Movement of the tabletop to its second position exposes an opening of the battery compartment for servicing a battery that supplies power to the charging hub. In the flipped down position, the tabletop extends substantially horizontally to overlie the opening in the battery compartment and to allow user(s) to use the tabletop as a workspace.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A charging table comprising:

a base that is supported on a floor;
a vertically extending column supported on the base and having a top;
a battery compartment that is supported on the vertically extending column, wherein the battery compartment is defined by an enclosure having an upwardly-facing access opening;
a tabletop supported on the battery compartment and having a first surface and a second surface;
a battery powered charging hub supported on the first surface of the tabletop, the charging hub having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device;
a hinge connected to the enclosure of the battery compartment and coupling the tabletop to the battery compartment so as to permit the tabletop to move between a first position and a second position;
wherein the battery compartment is positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop,
wherein the tabletop is movably coupled to the battery compartment via the hinge so as to be selectively movable via operation of the hinge 1) from the first position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and the second surface overlies the access opening of the battery compartment so that the tabletop blocks the access opening, 2) to the second position in which the first surface is inclined relative to the horizontal and in which the access opening is exposed to permit battery insertion into and removal from the access opening of the battery compartment from above, wherein
when the tabletop is in the first position thereof, the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor by a distance that is sufficient to accommodate seated use so that a seat of a chair may fit thereunder without interference from the tabletop, and wherein
the tabletop has a diameter that is substantially greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column such that the seat of the chair may fit under the tabletop without interference from the battery compartment or the vertically extending column.

7 more elements

A charging table system comprising:

a mobile base supported on a floor by wheels;
a vertically extending column supported on the mobile base and having a top;
a tabletop having a first surface and a second surface;
a battery compartment mounted on top of the vertically extending column and positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop, the battery compartment having 1) a body defining an interior and an upwardly facing access opening for removably receiving at least one battery, and 2) a lid pivotally connected to the body via a hinge connected to the body the battery compartment so as to pivot about a horizontal axis, the hinge being located under the tabletop and being located inwardly of an outer edge of the tabletop, the lid being attached to the second surface of the tabletop so as to allow the tabletop and the lid to move a) from a first position in which an upper surface of the tabletop extends at least substantially horizontally and the lid overlies the access opening to block the access opening from above b) to a second position in which the tabletop extends at an angle substantially perpendicular to the access opening and the lid is inclined relative to the opening to permit access to the access opening from above, wherein the tabletop has a diameter that is substantially greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column;
a battery powered charging hub disposed on and extending above the first surface and having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device;
and
an electrical connection extending from the charging hub, through the tabletop, and into the battery compartment;
wherein, when the tabletop and the lid are in the first position thereof, a portion of the tabletop overhangs the moveable base and battery compartment such that the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor, wherein
the vertically extending column and the battery compartment collectively have a height sufficient to position the tabletop sufficiently above a floor to accommodate a seat of a chair under the tabletop without interference from the tabletop, and wherein
the tabletop has a diameter greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column by an amount such that the overhanging portion of the tabletop is spaced horizontally from the vertically extending column and the battery compartment sufficiently to permit the seat of the chair to fit under the overhanging portion without interference from the vertically extending column or the battery compartment.

7 more elements

A method of charging a portable electronic device on a table assembly comprising the steps of:

positioning a charging table in a desired location on a horizontal surface, wherein the charging table comprises
a movable base supported on a floor,
a vertically extending column supported on the mobile base and having a top,
a tabletop having first and second surfaces,
a battery powered charging hub supported on the first surface of the tabletop, the charging hub having at least one port for connection to a portable electronic device,
a battery compartment that is supported on the vertically extending column, that is positioned vertically between the top of the vertically extending column and the tabletop, and that is defined by an enclosure having an upwardly facing access opening,
a hinge connected to the enclosure of the battery compartment and coupling the tabletop to the battery compartment;
moving the tabletop about the hinge a) from a first position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and the second surface overlies the access opening such that the tabletop blocks access to the access opening from above, b) to a second position in which the first surface extends at an angle relative to the horizontal surface and in which the access opening is exposed;
removing a first battery from the battery compartment via the access opening and replacing the first battery with a second battery;
and
returning the tabletop to the first position;
wherein, when the tabletop is in the first position thereof, the tabletop overhangs the vertically extending column and the battery compartment such that an overhanging portion of the second surface of the tabletop is spaced from the floor, wherein
the vertically extending column and the battery compartment collectively have a height sufficient to accommodate seated use so that a seat of a chair may fit under the tabletop without interference from the tabletop, and wherein
the tabletop has a diameter greater than diameters of the battery compartment and the vertically extending column by amount such that the overhanging portion of the tabletop is spaced horizontally from the vertically extending column and the battery compartment sufficiently to permit the seat of the chair to fit under the overhanging portion without interference from the vertically extending column or the battery compartment.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,549 words

Summary1,204 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention relates generally to recharging stations for portable electronic devices, and more particularly, relates to a battery-powered mobile recharging table. The invention additionally relates to a method of using such a charging table.

#2. Discussion of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a recharging table of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing the tabletop in a deployed or flipped down position and with a number of portable electronic devices, such as a cell phone and a tablet, being used in connection with the recharging table;

#FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the recharging table of FIG. 1;

Detailed description3,918 words

#A wide variety of tables could be constructed in accordance with the invention as defined by the claims. Hence, while the preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to a portable battery charging table, it should be understood that the invention is in no way so limited.

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portable charging table 10 used to charge portable electronic devices 12, such as laptops, cell phones and tablets in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows the charging table 10 used in connection with a tablet, such as an iPad®, and a cell phone, such as an iPhone®. Each electronic device 12 is connected to the charging table 10 via a charging cable 14, such as a USB charging cable.

#Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, the portable charging table 10 discloses a base 16; a battery compartment 18 located on top of the base 16, and a tabletop 20 mounted on top of the battery compartment 18 and supporting a battery-powered charging hub 22. The tabletop 20 is movably mounted on the base 16, possibly by being mounted directly or indirectly on the battery compartment 18, so as to be movable from a first, operative or deployed position in which first and second major surfaces of the tabletop 20 extend horizontally as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a second or retracted position in which an upper access opening 60 in the battery compartment 18 is exposed to permit battery insertion into and removal from the battery compartment 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the tabletop 20 pivots to this second position, as seen in FIGS. 4-6. In one embodiment, the tabletop 20 is mounted to the battery compartment 18, e.g., at a hinged joint. The battery compartment 18, in turn, is welded to the base 16 so as to couple the tabletop 20 to the base 16.

Facts

Application

14/283,686Filed 21 May 2014

Published

US 2015/0340892 A126 Nov 2015

Granted

5 Sep 2017

Term ends

29 Oct 2034

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 161 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification9 codes

H02J 7/731
Characterised by the mechanical construction: specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries
A47B 13/003
Details of tables or desks: connecting table tops to underframes
A47B 21/06
Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards: characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
A47B 37/00
Tables adapted for other particular purposes

Timeline

21 May 2014Application filedUS 14/283,686
21 May 2014Assigned to Palmer Hamilton, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
26 Nov 2015PublishedUS 2015/0340892 A1
5 Sep 2017GrantedUS 9,755,446 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
29 Oct 2034Term endsEstimated, includes 161 days of adjustment

Mobile charging table with hinged tabletop and selectively accessible battery compartment opening

Life of this patent

Mobile charging table with hinged tabletop and selectively accessible battery compartment opening

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description5,549 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,549 words