GB2442064A

GB2442064A - Carry Case for Electrical Goods

Info

Publication number: GB2442064A
Application number: GB0618604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Humayun Akhter Mughal
Original assignee: AKHTER GROUP PLC
Current assignee: AKHTER GROUP PLC
Priority date: 2006-09-21
Filing date: 2006-09-21
Publication date: 2008-03-26
Also published as: WO2008035119A2; GB0618604D0; WO2008035119A3

Abstract

A transport and storage case for a battery-powered electrical item 12 having an external power connector comprising an adaptor 25 and an auxiliary battery 22 that may store electrical power received from the external power connector and supply it to the electrical item as required. The transport and storage case is especially suited for use with laptop computers.

Description

Carry Case for Electrical Goods The present invention relates to a case

for storing and transporting an electrical item, the case having an internal auxiliary power supply for powering the electrical item to be stored or transported therein.

Nowadays, electrical items such as laptop computers are designed for easy transportation and use at almost any location, particularly since they include in-built batteries and wireless Internet connection facilities and need not be supported on a flat surface such as a desk. However, the in-built batteries have a limited power supply and require recharging after a few hours of use. In many situations no power point is available for recharging the laptop's in-built battery and so once the battery is devoid of power the laptop is inoperable until mains power can be plugged in for a sufficient time.

To provide more power one could carry a second battery to swap when the first is expended, however, there is often insufficient space in the case for it to be stored. Further and more importantly this swapping requires the laptop to be shut down and restarted so work is still interrupted, and when power is available only one battery may be charged at a time and swapping to charge the other again requires shutdown. The capacity of the internal battery may be increased, but this makes the laptop large and heavy.

It is a principle aim of the present invention to provide a case for a laptop or other electrical device which provides an auxiliary power supply in addition to providing a protective case in which the laptop is to be stored and transported. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a convenient means of directing power to the laptop, the laptop's inbuilt battery and the auxiliary battery as appropriate.

According to the present invention, there is provided a case adapted to store and or transport a battery powered electrical item having an external power connector, the case having an auxiliary power supply including an adaptor and an auxiliary battery, the adaptor being arranged to electrically interconnect the auxiliary power supply with the electrical item and the external power connector; the auxiliary power supply being arranged to receive and store electrical power from the external power connector and supply electrical power to the electrical item as required.

Preferably, the adaptor has an electrical input port connectable to the external power connector and arranged to receive power therefrom. Typically, the input port comprises a socket adapted to co-operate with a jack provided on the external power supply. The external power supply takes the form of any power supply, provided a suitable converter is provided where necessary.

For example, a mains power supply could be used in conjunction with an AC to DC converter/transformer The adaptor preferably includes an electrical output means connectable to the electrical item and arranged to transmit power thereto.

The output means may comprise a jack arranged for insertion into a power input socket provided on the electrical item. Preferably the power input socket on the electrical item and the input port on the adaptor are of the same configuration so that the input port may receive the same jack as would be provided on the external power supply.

The adaptor is in electrical communication with the auxiliary battery so that electrical current may pass between the adaptor, auxiliary battery and electrical item. A flexible power lead may be used to connect the adaptor to the auxiliary battery so that the adaptor may be plugged into and removed from the electrical item when the item is in or adjacent the case, whilst remaining connected to the auxiliary power supply.

The adaptor may be arranged so that electrical power entering the adaptor is initially directed to the electrical item via the output jack, and only if no power is required, is the power then directed to the auxiliary battery for storage. Alternatively the power may be all directed first to the auxiliary power supply which then controls the charging of the auxiliary power supply's battery and the onward supply of electrical power to the electrical item. The auxiliary power supply may be adapted to supply power from its battery when the external power supply is unavailable and this supply from the auxiliary power supply can be used to power the electrical item is in use, and/or charge its internal battery when not in use.

The adapter and auxiliary power supply use transformers and DC to DC converters to alter (by increasing or decreasing) the voltage of the electrical supply at various stages. For example the auxiliary power supply may convert an incoming voltage at a voltage required by the electrical item (e.g. 14V) to a higher voltage in the auxiliary battery (e.g. 19V). When power is required from the auxiliary battery a converter may be used to alter the voltage back to that required by the electrical item.

Preferably the auxiliary battery is concealed in the structure or fabric of the case. It may be concealed in a compartment defined in or on a wall of the -4.-case. The compartment may be provided with a lining and a plate to cover the compartment to conceal the battery and/or to hold it in position.

Alternatively or in addition the auxiliary battery may be adhered, sewn or otherwise permanently installed into the compartment.

In a preferred arrangement, the auxiliary battery is integral to the case, such that the battery is housed within the lining or structure of the case. In such an embodiment the adaptor, extending on a flexible power lead in a position suitable to connect to the electrical items input jack, may be the only visible part of the auxiliary power supply.

Highly preferably, the electrical item is a laptop or similar device. Such a case is adapted to hold a laptop and the auxiliary power supply is adapted to supply a current suitable to power a laptop. However the present invention could also be used for other portable electrical items such as mobile phones and cameras.

In order that it may be better understood, but by way of example only, cases of the present invention, and certain modifications thereof, will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a first simplified embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the adapter of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the constituents of one embodiment of the present invention. The case 10 has a generally clam-shell shape with an upper panel 13 and a lower panel 14 that are integral along one edge and interconnectable along the others to define a space within which an electrical item, in this instance a laptop computer 12 may be stored and transported. The case 10 has a closed configuration for storing and carrying the laptop computer 12 and an open configuration for operating or loading/unloading the laptop computer 12 which includes an internal battery 22.

The upper panel 13 includes an auxiliary battery 20 for powering the laptop 12. The upper panel 13 has a recess (not shown) formed therein between inner and outer layers which defines a compartment for holding the battery 20. The compartment conceals the auxiliary battery 20 and keeps it in position and might as easily be formed in the lower panel beneath the laptop.

The case may include one or more auxiliary battery or multiple cells arranged accordingly to ensure a balanced weight distribution.

An adaptor 25 provides a link between the auxiliary battery 20, the laptop computer 12 and an external power supply 26. It also controls the flow of electrical current between these items and will be described in more detail below.

Figure 2 shows an alternative similar second embodiment of the present invention in which like parts have been given like reference numerals.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the adaptor 25 and reference will be made simultaneously to this and Figure 2.

As can be seen in Figure 2 the upper panel 13 has two short sidewalls and two long sidewalls 16 along three edges of the panel 13, and these are integral to the upper panel 13 and upstand therefrom to form a wall extending around the three edges. The other edge is joined to the corresponding long edge of the lower panel 14 so that in use the upper and lower panels may be opened and shut. A Zip or other fastener 18 is provided along an upper edge of the side walls 15 16 and along the sides of the lower panel 14 to allow the case to be shut.

As best shown in Figure 3, the adaptor 25 includes an input socket 27 arranged to co-operate with and receive power from the jack of a DC power supply 28, which is usually the power supply supplied with the laptop -but could be a power supply specific to the case. The adaptor has an output jack 29 adapted to engage and supply power to a power socket (not shown) provided on the laptop 12. An electrical cable 30 links the adaptor 25 to the auxiliary battery 20 (not visible in Figure 2 because it is within a sealed compartment). When the DC power supply 28 is connected to the adaptor 25, it controls the onward supply of power to the laptop and the auxiliary battery.

The power is primarily directed to the laptop 12 if it is in use and then to the auxiliary battery 20. Power directed to the laptop is used to power the laptop 12, if the laptop is switched on, and to recharge the laptop's internal battery 22. Whilst doing this, power may also be directed to the auxiliary battery, depending on the needs of the laptop. For example in the event that the laptop's internal battery 22 is fully charged, the adaptor will redirect more power to the auxiliary battery 20 so that it may be charged faster. Once the auxiliary battery 20 is fully charged the adaptor 25 will prevent further power from being supplied thereto.

The adaptor 25 also includes indicator lights 31 on its uppermost surface which illuminate to indicate the power remaining in the auxiliary battery 20. When the auxiliary battery is fully charged all of the lights 31 illuminate, and as the power in the auxiliary battery 20 depletes, fewer lights 31 remain illuminated or they progressively change colour/appearance. The adapter has a finger grip 33 that assists in connection to and removal from connection with the laptop.

The output rating of each auxiliary battery 20 corresponds to the input voltage required by the laptop 12. In the case where there are two or more auxiliary batteries 20 provided in the case 11 the auxiliary batteries are connected to one another in a parallel arrangement so that their combined output voltage is substantially equal to their individual output voltage, but the available current is effectively doubled.

In use a person wishing to operate the laptop would, if adjacent an external power source, have the laptop 12 in the case 10 and would have the case's adaptor plugged into the laptop's power socket. The external power supply, which is usually a transformer plugged into the mains, would be connected into the input socket 27. Power would then be supplied as required to the laptop and auxiliary battery. Whilst away from external power the laptop can be used by the person with the power of the internal battery and auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery will charge the laptop's internal battery whilst the laptop is switched off and will also supply the laptop with power whilst it is in use. The laptop does not need to be in the case to be connected to the adaptor, because the lead connecting the adaptor to the battery, and hence the case, is flexible and may also be extendable.

Claims

1. A case adapted to store and or transport a battery powered electrical item having an external power connector, the case having an auxiliary power supply including an adaptor and an auxiliary battery, the adaptor being arranged to electrically interconnect the auxiliary power supply with the electrical item and the external power connector; the auxiliary power supply being arranged to receive and store electrical power from the external power connector and supply electrical power to the electrical item as required.

2. A case according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor has an electrical input port connectable to the external power connector and arranged to receive power therefrom.

3. A case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adaptor includes an electrical output port connectable to the electrical item and arranged to transmit power thereto.

4. A case according to any of the preceding claims wherein, the adaptor is adapted to receive external power from a device provided with the electrical item and adapted to connect that electrical item to an external power source.

5. A case according to any of the preceding claims wherein, the adaptor is connected to the auxiliary battery by a flexible cable to enable power to pass thereto and therefrom.

6. A case according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adaptor includes one or more DC to DC converter.

7. A case according claim 6, wherein the or each converter is arranged to alter the voltage between the input port and the auxiliary battery and make -10-the inverse alteration to the voltage between the auxiliary battery and the output port.

8. A case according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary battery is concealed within the case so as to be out of sight during normal use.

9. A case according to any of claim 1 to 6, wherein the auxiliary battery is located in a sealed compartment within the fabric of the case.

10. A case according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical item is a laptop computer or similar device.

11. A case according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.