Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Cell or battery charger structure – Having plug for a-c receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-10-23
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Cell or battery charger structure
Having plug for a-c receptacle
C320S113000, C455S462000, C455S573000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307348
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to mounting stands for use with AC adapters, such as stands for mounting a device containing a rechargeable battery while the battery is being recharged by an AC adapter.
For many years, electrically-powered devices, and in particular devices that include a rechargeable battery, have been provided with detachable AC adapters. Typically, such adapters include a cord having a plug at one end to connect the adapter to a power source, and a connector at the opposite end to connect the adapter to the device, via a power jack on the device.
Small electronic devices that require frequent recharging, such as wireless telephones, have also been sold with a separate “desk-top stand” that allows the device to be mounted in an upright, stable position during recharging. These stands typically include a housing for holding the device in the desired position, a first connector for connecting the housing to the power jack of the device, a second connector for connecting the housing to the connector of an AC adapter, and a connection between the first and second connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention features a mounting stand for an electrically-powered device that provides the convenience of a desk-top stand at a low cost. The stand of the invention preferably does not include any electronic components or connectors, and thus is both simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable, and virtually unbreakable under normal use conditions.
In one aspect, the invention features a mounting stand for use with an AC adapter that includes a plug, a cord and a connector. The mounting stand includes a housing constructed to allow a device connected to the AC adaptor to be maintained in a desired position. The housing includes a solid inner portion, a first outer surface that is substantially planar and defines a base that allows the stand to rest on a flat surface, a second outer surface having a recess constructed to receive the device, and a bore extending through the solid inner portion and terminating in a well, positioned in the recess, that is constructed to receive the connector. The bore is constructed to receive a portion of the cord and the well is constructed to allow the proximal end of the connector to extend into the recess.
Preferred implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The housing includes an opening, communicating with the bore, in a third outer surface of the housing that is disposed adjacent the first outer surface and at an angle thereto, to prevent the cord from being caught under the housing when the stand is in use. The housing comprises two interlocking pieces that are detachable so that a user of the stand can separate the two pieces to insert or remove the cord. Each piece includes a portion of the solid inner portion and a portion of the recess. Each piece also preferably includes a portion of the first outer surface. The bore is defined by a channel disposed in the solid inner portion of one of the pieces and a flat surface of the solid inner portion of the other piece. Alternatively, the bore is defined by opposed channels in the solid inner portions of the two pieces. The well is defined by a pair of opposed channels, one in the solid inner portion of one of the pieces and the other in the solid inner portion of the other piece. The two pieces are held together by interference engagement of a pair of arms extending beyond side edges of one piece with a pair of corresponding openings on opposed side edges of the other piece. Each of the arms includes a push-tab that is dimensioned for insertion into a respective opening, and the two pieces are disengaged by pressing the push-tabs to cause the arms to resiliently deflect, releasing the push-tabs from the openings. The well is positioned to correspond to the position of the power jack of the device when the device is mounted in the stand. The recess is substantially cup-shaped, or is partially cup-shaped and open on one side. The recess is constructed to receive a device selected from the group consisting of wireless phones, e.g., cellular phones or PCS telephones, or personal digital assistants. The device includes a rechargeable battery and the AC adaptor is used to recharge the battery when the device is mounted in the stand.
The term “cup-shaped recess”, as used herein, means a cavity that is open at its top, and includes side walls constructed to at least partially surround an object placed in the cavity. The cavity may have any desired cross-sectional shape, e.g., rectangular, circular, oval or C-shaped.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment, and from the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5801513 (1998-09-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5847541 (1998-12-01), Hahn
patent: 5867798 (1999-02-01), Inukai et al.
patent: 5907197 (1999-05-01), Faulk
patent: 6029215 (2000-02-01), Watts, Jr. et al.
patent: 6167278 (2000-12-01), Nilssen
Denso Corporation
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Tibbits Pia
Wong Peter S.
LandOfFree
Mounting stands for use with AC adapters does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mounting stands for use with AC adapters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mounting stands for use with AC adapters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2578014