GB2494896A - Device for retaining and charging rechargeable batteries incorporated into a pattress or wall/junction box. - Google Patents

Device for retaining and charging rechargeable batteries incorporated into a pattress or wall/junction box. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2494896A
GB2494896A GB1116353.2A GB201116353A GB2494896A GB 2494896 A GB2494896 A GB 2494896A GB 201116353 A GB201116353 A GB 201116353A GB 2494896 A GB2494896 A GB 2494896A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
text
switch
pattress
charging
junction box
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1116353.2A
Other versions
GB201116353D0 (en
Inventor
Thomas Mason
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB1116353.2A priority Critical patent/GB2494896A/en
Publication of GB201116353D0 publication Critical patent/GB201116353D0/en
Publication of GB2494896A publication Critical patent/GB2494896A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B1/00—Frameworks, boards, panels, desks, casings; Details of substations or switching arrangements
    • H02B1/26—Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
    • H02B1/46—Boxes; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
    • H02B1/48—Mounting of devices therein
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0042—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by the mechanical construction
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02—Details
    • H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0042—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by the mechanical construction
    • H02J7/0045—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by the mechanical construction concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The device provides a permanently fixed battery charging and retention device, housed within a pattress box or a wall or junction box 1 and incorporates a switch 9 for an external circuit which operates lighting or another hardwired mains-powered device. The device may have cosmetic covering 3, charging status indicators 8 and the ability to charge more than one size of battery 6 through means of movable electrodes 7. A status indicator is included in the device to allow the status of the battery to be monitored 8. The front panel is interchangeable 3, and a variety of cosmetic covers may be used. A method for the conversion of an existing switch is also included.

Description

Battery charpine enclosure This invention relates to a pattress box, wall box or junction box containing a switch for operating lighting or other electrical equipment, or an electrical outlet socket, in or on which is also mounted, affixed or enclosed, circuitry and connections suitable for charging portable secondary cells.
Backuround The environmental benefits of rechargeable batteries can hardly be understated, each year in the UK between twenty and thirty thousand tonnes of used batteries are dumped in landfill sites, leaching potentially harmful chemicals as they corrode.
Currently battery chargers are sold separately at retail outlets, typically with a number of rechargeable cells. The high initial cost, relative to primary (non-rechargeable) cells is a major factor in reluctance to adopt rechargeable batteries.
Battery chargers are typically equipped with mains plugs for connection to a source of power. This not only occupies, on a semi-permanent basis, an electrical outlet, if the contraption is disconnected it could be lost or misplaced, rendering all rechargeable batteries in the household useless until another is bought.
Statement of invention
This invention permanently localises one or more battery charging terminals in a household, in spaces common to nearly all rooms, namely pattress/wall/junction boxes containing the switches used for operating lighting or other hardwired electrical equipment (01 in the diagram). Affixed to, mounted on or in, or enclosed within these boxes will be the necessary circuitry, connections and fixtures suitable for retaining and charging portable secondary cells (02-10).
According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for converting an existing fixture (a pattress, wall or junction box) into a battery charging device (02).
An assembly may be provided that includes both the original functionality of the switch occupying the pattress/wall/junction box, and the fixtures and circuitry necessary to retain and charge batteries.
To aid the understanding of the form and function of this invention, the preferred embodiments of this invention represented in the set of accompanying drawings is accompanied by the following detailed description. The drawings merely represent a preferred embodiment and nothing in the drawings should be taken to limit the scope of the invention.
Detailed description
01 A pattress box enclosure of standard size, incorporating screw holes in the corners.
02 The battery charging device so sized as to fit into the pattress box, connected to the power supply leads and to the pattress box itself by means of the corner screws.
03 The cover of the device, attached by hinge mechanism 04 to the battery charging device. On this cover is a void through which the switch 09 can be operated and the status lights 08 can be seen. The cover is lifted to insert or remove batteries.
04 The hinge mechanism attached to both the device 02 and the cover/fascia 03 The battery charging bays, here depicted as containing space for two batteries side by side 06 Two batteries, demonstrating the variable positioning of electrodes 07 to accommodate batteries in different sizes.
07 Spring-loaded electrodes connected to a charging circuit within device 02 which can be brought into contact with batteries of variable size 06. The batteries are held in place by compression between these electrodes and fixed electrodes lO during the charge cycle. Movement of these electrodes from their rest position may energise the charging circuit.
08 LED lights indicating the status of batteries in each of the four bays 09 The switch closing the circuit for the mains power leads, turning on the current flow to the mains circuit device (e.g. lighting) Fixed electrodes completing the charging circuit Advantages of this invention The presence of such a device within a home will lower the cost of adopting rechargeable battery technology at point of sale.
The presence of such a device will leave all electrical socket outlets free for incidental. temporary or other uses.
The presence of such a device will permanently localise a battery charging terminal to replace easily misplaced or lost battery chargers.
The device will incorporate a signalling method that will indicate the status (charging/charged) of a battery connected to the device.
The device will be fitted with fixtures for the retention of batteries during charging.
Preferably, some of these fixtures will also carry the current required to charge the battery (as in the variable position electrodes of 07 above). These variable position electrodes may also switch the charging circuit on once moved from the rest position.
Prcfcrably. the device will incorporatc a cover or other cosmctic attachment to improve its appearance (03 in diagram).

Claims (1)

  1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A device for retaining and charging portable secondary cells, that is incorporated into a pattress/wafl/junction box also occupied by a switch for the operation of room lighting.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device as described in claim I incorporating an indicator of the status of a battery connected to the device (as 08 in diagram).</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device as described in claim 1 incorporating secondary switch(es) to energise the charging circuit(s).</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device as described in claim 1 and any other previous claims including a cosmetic cover extending over all or part of the battery charging fixtures and circuitry.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device as described in any or all above claims including but not limited to claims I and 4 above with interchangeable cosmetic covers.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A method for converting an existing pattress, wall or junction box housing a switch into a device as described in claim I through the use of an adapter incorporating a switch with the same functionality as the replaced switch, in addition to circuitry and fixtures for charging portable secondary cells and any or all of the subsidiary claims above.</claim-text>
GB1116353.2A 2011-09-22 2011-09-22 Device for retaining and charging rechargeable batteries incorporated into a pattress or wall/junction box. Withdrawn GB2494896A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1116353.2A GB2494896A (en) 2011-09-22 2011-09-22 Device for retaining and charging rechargeable batteries incorporated into a pattress or wall/junction box.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1116353.2A GB2494896A (en) 2011-09-22 2011-09-22 Device for retaining and charging rechargeable batteries incorporated into a pattress or wall/junction box.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201116353D0 GB201116353D0 (en) 2011-11-02
GB2494896A true GB2494896A (en) 2013-03-27

Family

ID=44937661

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1116353.2A Withdrawn GB2494896A (en) 2011-09-22 2011-09-22 Device for retaining and charging rechargeable batteries incorporated into a pattress or wall/junction box.

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2494896A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11394157B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2022-07-19 Snaprays, Llc Active cover plates
EP4170857A1 (en) * 2021-10-25 2023-04-26 Einhell Germany AG Charging device for a battery pack for installation on or in a building wall
US11821215B2 (en) 2016-12-15 2023-11-21 Spear Power Systems, Inc. Architectural materials having integrated energy storage system
US11888301B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2024-01-30 Snaprays, Llc Active cover plates

Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4409536A (en) * 1979-08-13 1983-10-11 General Electric Company Support means for plug-in transformer/charger
US4611264A (en) * 1983-05-04 1986-09-09 Bradley Morgan B Combination switch light and rechargeable flashlight
US4636914A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-01-13 Ave S.P.A. Outlet box with removable self-contained device
GB2204944A (en) * 1987-05-18 1988-11-23 Frederick John Anderson Rechargable light
JPH09102207A (en) * 1995-10-06 1997-04-15 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Footlight
WO2002011266A2 (en) * 2000-08-02 2002-02-07 Simple Devices, Inc. Wall switch device and power outlet device in combination with a charging station
US6593723B1 (en) * 2003-01-21 2003-07-15 Calvin G. Johnson Integrated wall apparatus for delivering uninterrupted electrical power
US6805469B1 (en) * 2003-05-03 2004-10-19 R A Barton Concealed safety lighting device
US6969181B1 (en) * 2001-05-08 2005-11-29 Genlyte Thomas Group Llc Fully recessed unit equipment luminaire
US20080198587A1 (en) * 2007-02-20 2008-08-21 Mark Leslie Warhurst Removable Emergency Light
CN201243135Y (en) * 2008-07-02 2009-05-20 李明 Multifunctional power supply wall socket
EP2149744A1 (en) * 2008-07-31 2010-02-03 Humankind Limited Safety lighting
CN201725988U (en) * 2010-06-10 2011-01-26 贵州大学 Neuro-fuzzy self-adaptive control charger energy-saving plugboard

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4409536A (en) * 1979-08-13 1983-10-11 General Electric Company Support means for plug-in transformer/charger
US4611264A (en) * 1983-05-04 1986-09-09 Bradley Morgan B Combination switch light and rechargeable flashlight
US4636914A (en) * 1984-11-28 1987-01-13 Ave S.P.A. Outlet box with removable self-contained device
GB2204944A (en) * 1987-05-18 1988-11-23 Frederick John Anderson Rechargable light
JPH09102207A (en) * 1995-10-06 1997-04-15 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Footlight
WO2002011266A2 (en) * 2000-08-02 2002-02-07 Simple Devices, Inc. Wall switch device and power outlet device in combination with a charging station
US6969181B1 (en) * 2001-05-08 2005-11-29 Genlyte Thomas Group Llc Fully recessed unit equipment luminaire
US6593723B1 (en) * 2003-01-21 2003-07-15 Calvin G. Johnson Integrated wall apparatus for delivering uninterrupted electrical power
US6805469B1 (en) * 2003-05-03 2004-10-19 R A Barton Concealed safety lighting device
US20080198587A1 (en) * 2007-02-20 2008-08-21 Mark Leslie Warhurst Removable Emergency Light
CN201243135Y (en) * 2008-07-02 2009-05-20 李明 Multifunctional power supply wall socket
EP2149744A1 (en) * 2008-07-31 2010-02-03 Humankind Limited Safety lighting
CN201725988U (en) * 2010-06-10 2011-01-26 贵州大学 Neuro-fuzzy self-adaptive control charger energy-saving plugboard

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11394157B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2022-07-19 Snaprays, Llc Active cover plates
US11888301B2 (en) 2011-08-01 2024-01-30 Snaprays, Llc Active cover plates
US11821215B2 (en) 2016-12-15 2023-11-21 Spear Power Systems, Inc. Architectural materials having integrated energy storage system
EP4170857A1 (en) * 2021-10-25 2023-04-26 Einhell Germany AG Charging device for a battery pack for installation on or in a building wall

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)