CN215378546U

CN215378546U - Self-powered portable battery charger assembly

Info

Publication number: CN215378546U
Application number: CN202023094355.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卡洛·爱德华多·费拉里斯; 洛伦佐·菲利伯托·费拉里斯
Original assignee: PDS Healthcare Products Inc
Current assignee: PDS Healthcare Products Inc
Priority date: 2019-12-23
Filing date: 2020-12-21
Publication date: 2021-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) comprising a box-like body (12), the box-like body (12) comprising charge accumulating means and at least one connection cable (14a, 14b) firmly connected to said box-like body (12), said connection cable (14a, 14b) having at a distal end (14a ", 14 b") an electrical connector (16a, 16b) for coupling to a complementary electrical connector of an external user device for transmitting thereto an electrical current for charging a battery of said user device. The battery charger assembly (10) comprises a charging housing (50) for the charge accumulating device, the charging housing (50) being separate from the boxlike body (12) and adapted to house the boxlike body (12) in a state of being temporarily coupled to the charge accumulating device for charging, the charging housing (50) having a connection cable (54) for coupling to an electric power source.

Description

Self-powered portable battery charger assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to battery charging systems and devices, and more particularly to self-powered portable battery chargers.

In particular, the present invention relates to a self-powered portable battery charger assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Self-powered portable chargers are devices used to provide auxiliary charge to consumer electronic devices equipped with a rechargeable battery, typically in the event that the power of the rechargeable battery of the consumer electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, a game console, a camera, a wireless headset, a wireless speaker, and an e-cigarette) is temporarily depleted and the electronic device cannot be connected to the mains to receive power to charge the battery.

Self-powered portable battery chargers are equipped with their own charge accumulating device and have a connection cable for coupling with an external user device to transfer current thereto to charge the battery of the user device. The connection cable has an electrical connector at the end remote from the battery charger to which it is connected, for coupling with a complementary electrical connector of an external user device (for example made according to micro-USB, USB-C or a proprietary connection standard (for example the standard of the latest device of Apple company, entitled Lightning)). The connection cable can be stably connected to or detached from the battery charger. In the first case, the battery charger is equipped with a second solidly connected connection cable, the distal end of which has an electrical connector for coupling with a complementary electrical connector (made, for example, according to the USB connection standard) of a transformer device directly connectable to the mains, so that its own charge accumulating device can be charged. In the second case, the connection cable has, at its free end, two connectors, made according to the USB connection standard (adopted by the transformer) and the micro-USB, USB-C or proprietary connection standard (adopted by the user equipment), respectively. The battery charger has two connection ports, respectively a power supply port and a power input port, wherein the power supply port is generally made according to the USB standard, and when it is used to supply power to the user equipment, the connection cable can be connected thereto in a first working configuration; the power input port is generally made according to micro-USB, USB-C or a different proprietary standard, to which the same connection cable can be connected in the second operating configuration by reversing the terminals (i.e. by means of the electrical connectors for connection to the user equipment) when it is connected to the charging transformer facing the mains.

Disadvantageously, this solution requires the user to select the connection cable or configuration each time he/she needs to charge the battery charger in order to make it available again for providing auxiliary power to the user equipment.

If a user forgets to connect a battery charger to the mains for charging, the user may not be able to use it to power the user's own equipment when needed.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a self-powered portable battery charger which can be easily connected to a user device and which can be easily charged from the mains, thereby avoiding the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the utility model, this object is achieved by a self-powered portable battery charger having the following features:

a self-powered portable battery charger assembly comprising a box-like body including a charge accumulating device and at least one connection cable securely connected to the box-like body, the connection cable having an electrical connector at a distal end thereof for coupling to a complementary electrical connector of an external user device for transmitting electrical current thereto for charging a battery of the user device;

the battery charger assembly comprises a charging housing for the charge accumulating device, the charging housing being separate from the box-like body and adapted to receive the box-like body in a state of being temporarily coupled to the charge accumulating device for charging, the charging housing having a connection cable for coupling to a power source.

Particular embodiments form the subject matter of the dependent claims, the content of which is to be understood as an integral part of the present description.

In summary, the utility model is based on the principle of making the battery charger as two separate devices, one portable, carrying an accumulating device for powering the user equipment; the other is fixable to the support and connected to the mains (e.g. permanently) and is used to house the portable device when it is temporarily coupled to charge the accumulating device.

Advantageously, said portable device adapted to power one or more user equipments has an eyelet structure adapted to receive a coupling means for an accessory in the preferred condition of use of the key-ring, thereby configuring itself as a key-chain. It is also advantageous to fix the charging device of said portable device to a wall and to connect permanently to the mains, so that the temporary coupling of the portable device with the charging device (which determines the consequent charging of the respective accumulating device) can be achieved by the habitual action of the user (i.e. putting the currently used key or key string in a predetermined position).

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the utility model will be illustrated by the detailed description of embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable device of the battery charger assembly of the present invention in a non-operational state, wherein a connection cable for use with a user device is received in its seat;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of the portable device of fig. 1 in a use state in which a cable for connecting user equipment is exposed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable device of FIG. 1 when used as a key fob;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the battery charger assembly of the present invention; and

fig. 5a and 5b are rear perspective views of a charging housing of a portable device of the battery charger assembly of the present invention in an exploded state and in a mounted state, respectively.

Detailed Description

There is shown in the drawings a self-powered portable battery charger assembly 10 which is the subject of the present invention.

It comprises a box-like body 12, the body 12 comprising a charge accumulating device (not shown) and a pair of

connection cables

14a, 14b firmly connected to said box-like body at first ends 14a ', 14 b' and each provided with an

electrical connector

16a, 16b at its respective opposite or distal end 14a ", 14 b", the

electrical connectors

16a, 16b being intended to couple with complementary electrical connectors (not shown) of an external user device for transmitting electric current thereto for charging the battery of the user device. For example, the user device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, a game console, a camera, a wireless headset, a wireless speaker, an e-cigarette, and any other portable device equipped with a rechargeable battery.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a currently preferred embodiment of the battery charger assembly of the utility model, in which said box-like body comprising the accumulating device is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, having a pair of opposite larger faces 20 ', 20 "and a side contoured face 22 comprised between the faces 20', 20". The connecting

cables

14a, 14b are located on

opposite side faces

24a, 24b of the side contoured surface 22 and engage the respective receiving

grooves

18a, 18b on these side faces in the inoperative condition. Suitably, the shape of the

cables

14a, 14b is such that they do not protrude beyond the overall shape of the box-like body in the inactive condition.

On the third side 24c, which is comprised between the

opposite sides

24a, 24b carrying the connection cables,

recesses

26a, 26b are provided for accommodating the

electrical connectors

16a, 16b of the connection cables. The shape of these recesses is preferably complementary to the shape of the corresponding connector to receive and hold the connector in place in the inoperative condition.

The

electrical connectors

16a, 16b are advantageously configured to comply with different connection standards, for example they may be a double connector (double connector) having a first plurality of electrical contacts arranged according to the micro-USB standard and a second plurality of electrical contacts arranged according to the Apple proprietary standard (known as "Lightning") and a single connector (single connector) having a plurality of contacts arranged according to the USB-C standard.

The lateral surface 24c of the box-like body 12 comprises an eyelet structure 30, the eyelet structure 30 having a through axis parallel to the larger faces 20', 20 ". With reference to fig. 3, this eyelet structure 30 can be used, for example, to couple a ring R for hanging a key K, so that the box-like body 12 of the battery charger assembly itself constitutes a key chain.

On the side 24d opposite to the side 24c, the box-like body 12 has electrical connection terminals 40 for charging the accumulating device, formed by circular contact areas 42, which electrical connection terminals 40 are used for charging the accumulating device when the box-like body 12 is temporarily coupled with a charging housing 50 of a battery charger assembly (as shown, for example, in fig. 4, 5a and 5 b). The charging case 50 is formed separately from the box-like body 12 and is adapted to accommodate the box-like body in the coupling seat 52 in a state of temporary coupling and charging of the accumulator device. A connection cable 54 is provided for coupling with an electric power source, for example, having an electric connector 56 with a plurality of electric contacts provided according to the USB standard, which makes it suitable to receive an electric current stabilized by a transformer insertable into a household electric outlet.

Advantageously, the charging housing 50 of the battery charger assembly has means for fixing to a support, for example a pair of horizontally symmetrical slots 58 on a removable base plate 60, shaped so as to allow the charging housing to be hung on a hook on a wall.

The coupling seat of the box-like body on the charging case 50 comprises means (not shown) for retaining the box-like body, for example a mechanical snap-coupling means or a magnetic coupling means, and has a corresponding charging connection terminal (not shown) of the accumulating device, formed by a contact area complementary to the contact area 42 of the box-like body.

Advantageously, the portable battery charger assembly of the present invention is portable due to its small size and can be used as a key chain, thereby allowing a user to carry it comfortably and frequently. The charging housing may be hung on a wall and the body of the accumulating device may act as a key chain, making the charging operation simple and feasible by a habitual action such as a user hanging a key or key string on a wall.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the utility model given above are only non-limiting examples of the utility model. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement the utility model in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the utility model as described herein, and these embodiments are therefore also included in this patent.

This applies in particular to the following possibilities: providing a single connection cable or more than one pair of connection cables; a plurality of connection cables with respective connectors are provided, each having electrical contacts arranged according to the same connection standard. Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the utility model, the embodiments and the implementation details of the utility model may vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated above purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the utility model, as defined by the annexed claims.

Claims

1. A self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) comprising a box-like body (12), the box-like body (12) comprising charge accumulating means and at least one connection cable (14a, 14b) solidly connected to said box-like body (12), the distal ends (14a ", 14 b") of said connection cables (14a, 14b) having an electrical connector (16a, 16b) for coupling to a complementary electrical connector of an external user device to transmit an electrical current thereto for charging the battery of said user device;

characterized in that the battery charger assembly (10) comprises a charging housing (50) for the charge accumulating device, the charging housing (50) being separate from the boxlike body (12) and being suitable for housing the boxlike body (12) in a state of charge coupled temporarily to the charge accumulating device, the charging housing (50) having a connection cable (54) for coupling to an electric power source.

2. The self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the charging housing (50) has means (58) for securing to a support.

3. The self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the box-like body (12) includes an eyelet structure (30).

4. A self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) according to claim 3, wherein said box-like body (12) has a pair of opposite major faces (20 ', 20 ") and a side profile face (22) comprised between said major faces (20 ', 20"), wherein said eyelet structures (30) are located on one side face (24c) of said side profile face (22) and have a through axis parallel to said pair of major faces (20 ', 20 ").

5. Self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) according to claim 4, wherein said box-like body (12) comprises electrical connection terminals (40) for charging said charge accumulating device, formed by contact zones (42) defined on one side (24d) of said side contoured surface (22) opposite to the side (24c) provided with said eyelet structures (30).

6. A self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) according to claim 5, wherein said charging case (50) has a seat (52) for coupling said box-like body (12), said seat (52) having means for holding said box-like body (12) and corresponding electrical connection terminals for charging said charge accumulating means, said electrical connection terminals of said seat (52) being formed by contact areas complementary to said contact areas (42) of said box-like body (12).

7. The self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein said means (58) for securing to a support comprises means for securing to a wall.

8. Self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein said box-like body (12) has respective connection cables (14a, 14b) on opposite sides (24a, 24b) of a side contoured face (22), said connection cables (14a, 14b) being firmly connected to said box-like body (12) and having, at a distal end (14a ", 14 b") thereof, respective electrical connectors (16a, 16b) for coupling to complementary electrical connectors of an external user device, to which a current is transmitted for charging the battery of the respective user device.

9. The self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) of claim 8, wherein the electrical connectors (16a, 16b) of the connection cables (14a, 14b) are configured to conform to different connection standards.

10. A self-powered portable battery charger assembly (10) according to claim 8, wherein the box-like body (12) has respective recesses (18a, 18b) on opposite side faces (24a, 24b) of the side contour face (22), for accommodating said connection cables (14a, 14b) in a non-operative condition, said recesses (18a, 18b) being shaped so that said connection cables (14a, 14b) do not project beyond the overall shape of said box-like body (12) in said non-operative condition, and the box-like body (12) has, on a third side (24c) between the opposite sides (24a, 24b) carrying the connection cables (14a, 14b), respective recesses (26a, 26b) for housing the electrical connectors (16a, 16b) of the cables (14a, 14 b).