Uninterruptible power supply and method of manufacturing same
View Patent ↗An uninterruptible power supply comprises a power source ( 250 ) and a housing ( 110 ) to contain the power source. The housing comprises an outer surface ( 111 ) in which are located a recess ( 121 ) and a flat region ( 231 ). An electrical outlet ( 241 ) is located at the flat region, and a light source ( 130 ) is removably housed in the recess. The power source is capable of supplying electric power to the electrical outlet in response to a condition external to the uninterruptible power supply.
1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:
a housing containing a first rechargeable battery and comprising:
an outer surface comprising a recess and a flat region;
a first charging contact in the recess;
a plurality of electrical outlets at the flat region; and
a flashlight capable of being removably housed in the recess,
wherein:
the flashlight contains a second rechargeable battery and comprises:
an on/off switch;
a curved outer surface comprising a first portion and a second portion; and
a second charging contact at the second portion;
the second charging contact is physically and electrically coupled to the first charging contact when the flashlight is housed in the recess; and
the first portion of the curved outer surface forms a portion of the outer surface of the housing when the flashlight is housed in the recess.
2. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 wherein:
the housing has a cylindrical shape such that the outer surface further comprises:
a substantially flat top surface;
a substantially flat bottom surface; and
a curved side surface in which the recess and the flat region are located.
3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 2 wherein:
the top surface has a first length;
the bottom surface has the first length;
the curved side surface has a second length, which second length separates the top surface and the bottom surface from each other; and
the second length exceeds the first length by at least a factor of two.
4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 2 wherein:
the flashlight comprises a lens; and
the lens forms a portion of the top surface.
5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 further comprising:
a cord management feature adjacent to the flat region.
6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 5 wherein:
the cord management feature comprises a first arm and a second arm opposing the first arm;
the first arm and the second arm define a space therebetween; and
the first arm and the second arm form an extension of the top surface.
7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 5 wherein:
the housing further comprises a retention mechanism; and
the retention mechanism is capable of retaining the flashlight in the recess.
8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 wherein:
the flashlight automatically illuminates when the first rechargeable battery supplies electric power to at least one of the plurality of electrical outlets.
9. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 8 wherein:
the on/off switch is capable of controlling the flashlight independently of an operation of the first rechargeable battery.
10. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 9 further comprising:
a switch at the housing capable of controlling the flashlight independently of the operation of the first rechargeable battery.
11. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 10 wherein:
the on/off switch is capable of overriding the switch at the housing.
12. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:
a housing containing a first rechargeable battery and comprising:
an outer surface comprising a recess and a first region;
an electrical outlet at the first region; and
a first charging contact; and
a flashlight comprising a second charging contact and containing a second rechargeable battery coupled to the second charging contact;
wherein:
the flashlight is configured to be removably housed in the recess;
the second charging contact is configured to be coupled to the first charging contact when the flashlight is housed in the recess;
the first rechargeable battery is configured to supply electric power to the electrical outlet when the first rechargeable battery does not receive power; and
the flashlight is configured to automatically illuminate when the first rechargeable battery supplies electric power to the electrical outlet.
13. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 wherein:
the flashlight is configured to automatically illuminate only when the first rechargeable battery supplies electric power to the electrical outlet.
14. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 wherein:
the housing has a cylindrical shape such that the outer surface further comprises:
a substantially flat top surface;
a substantially flat bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface; and
a curved side surface configured to separate the top surface and the bottom surface from each other;
the recess and the first region are located at the curved side surface; and
the uninterruptible power supply further comprises at least one of a visual indicator and a switch at the top surface.
15. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 wherein:
the flashlight is configured to automatically illuminate when the first rechargeable battery does not receive power.
16. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 wherein:
the flashlight is configured to automatically illuminate only when the first rechargeable battery does not receive power.
17. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , further comprising:
a connection to a main power supply;
wherein the flashlight is configured to automatically illuminate during an interruption of the main power supply.
18. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , further comprising:
a connection mechanism configured to couple to a main power supply;
wherein the first rechargeable battery is rechargeable via the connection mechanism.
19. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , wherein:
the first rechargeable battery is coupled to the first charging contact; and
the second rechargeable battery is rechargeable by the first rechargeable battery when the second charging contact is coupled to the first charging contact.
20. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , further comprising:
a connection mechanism configured to couple to a main power supply; wherein:
the connection mechanism is coupled to the first charging contact; and
the second rechargeable battery is rechargeable via the connection mechanism when the second charging contact is coupled to the first charging contact.
21. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , further comprising:
a visual indicator;
wherein the visual indicator identifies conditions comprising at least one of:
a normal main power operation;
a battery backup power operation;
an overload status; and
a battery fault.
22. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , wherein:
the flashlight further comprises a flashlight switch
the housing further comprises a housing switch; and
the housing switch is selected from the group consisting essentially of:
an on/off control;
a reset control;
a flashlight control; and
a visual indicator control.
23. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 22 , wherein:
the flashlight switch is capable of overriding the housing switch.
24. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 22 , wherein:
the housing switch is capable of overriding the flashlight switch.
25. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 22 , further comprising:
a connection to a main power supply;
wherein the flashlight switch is capable of controlling the flashlight without regards to the connection to the main power supply.
26. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 further comprising:
a cord management feature adjacent to the first region; wherein:
the cord management feature comprises a first arm and a second arm opposing the first arm; and
the first arm and the second arm define a space therebetween.
27. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12 , further comprising:
a secondary electrical outlet at the first region;
wherein the secondary electrical outlet is not configured to be powered by the first rechargeable battery.