Multiple device charging station with user friendly configurable mount
View Patent ↗A power supply for charging multiple devices that can be adapted to receive and charge practically any type of portable electronic device includes a base that receives an AC wall voltage and converts the wall voltage to DC voltage. The base includes at least two docking cavities that can simultaneously, physically and electrically couple the base to two portable electronic devices such that the devices are supported by the dock while they are being charged. The devices are supported so that there displays are visible and their controls are accessible. Adapters can also be inserted into the docking cavities to reconfigure the cavity to physically support a different type of device.
1. A charger for charging a plurality of electronic devices, said charger comprising:
at least two docks wherein each dock has a docking cavity adapted to receive a first type of portable electronic device having a display and user controls such that an electrical connector in the docking cavity is electrically coupled to an electrical connector of the portable electronic devices and a rechargeable power supply of the device is charged while the device is supported so that the display can be viewed and the user controls accessed;
a rechargeable power supply that is charged when said charger is connected to an external power supply such that said charger can be used to charge said plurality of electronic devices when the charger is not connected to an external power supply; and
at least one dock adapter dimensioned to fit entirely in said docking cavity that alters an internal dimension of the docking cavity such that the docking cavity can support a second portable electronic device having different dimensions than the first portable electronic device.
2. The charger of claim 1 wherein said dock adapter further comprises an input connector that can be coupled to the connector in the docking cavity and an output connector that is adapted to connect to a different type of connector than the input connector.
3. The charger of claim 2 wherein the dock adapter includes a voltage converter for converting a first DC voltage to a second DC voltage.
4. The charger of claim 1 further comprising an FM transmitter for receiving an output signal from a device coupled to one of the docks and producing an FM broadcast signal based upon the output signal.
5. The charger of claim 4 further comprising a display for displaying a transmit frequency of said FM transmitter and user inputs that allow a user to alter the transmit frequency.
6. A charging dock for charging at least two portable electronic devices, said charging dock comprising:
two docking stations wherein each station has a docking cavity that is adapted to mount and hold a portable electronic device in an upright position such that a display of the device is visible while the charging dock is charging a power supply of the device;
a rechargeable battery that is charged when said charging dock is connected to an external power supply such that said charging dock can be used to charge a device when the charging dock is not connected to the external power supply; and
at least one insert dimensioned to be positioned entirely inside one of said docking cavities that alters an interior dimension of the docking cavity to configure the docking cavity to support a different size of portable electronic device.
7. The charging dock of claim 6 wherein said insert further comprises a first connector for electrically connecting to a connector in the docking cavity and a second connector for electrically connecting to a different type of device than the connector in the docking cavity.
8. The charging dock of claim 6 wherein the insert further comprises a unitary piece of plastic.
9. The charging dock of claim 6 further comprising two more docking stations wherein said four docking stations are arranged in a square.
10. The charging dock of claim 6 further comprising an FM transmitter.
11. The charging dock of claim 6 wherein each docking station has a 30 pin connector.
12. The charging dock of claim 6 wherein said portable electronic device is a digital media player.
13. A charging dock for simultaneously charging at least two portable electronic devices, said charging dock comprising:
a wall outlet plug for receiving an AC wall voltage;
a converter for converting the AC wall voltage to a DC voltage;
a first docking station having a cavity with an electrical connector positioned therein for receiving a portable electronic device such that a power supply of the device can be charged wherein the cavity is dimensioned to support a first type of portable electronic device having a display and a user control such that the display is visible and the control is accessible when the device is supported in the cavity;
a second docking station having a cavity with an electrical connector positioned therein for receiving a portable electronic device such that a power supply of the device can be charged wherein the cavity is dimensioned to support a portable electronic device having a display and a user control such that the display is visible and the control is accessible when the device is supported in the cavity;
a rechargeable battery that is charged when said charging dock is connected to an external power supply such that said charging dock can be used to charge a device when the charging dock is not connected to the external power supply; and
at least one adapter that can be entirely inserted into one of the two cavities to alter the dimensions of the cavity such that the cavity can support a second type of portable electronic device having a display and a user control such that the display is visible and the control is accessible when the device is supported in the cavity.
14. The charging dock of claim 13 wherein said adapter further comprises a first connector for electrically connecting to the connector in the cavity and a second connector for electrically connecting to a different type of device than the connector in the cavity.
15. The charging dock of claim 13 further comprising an FM broadcast transmitter for transmitting a broadcast signal based upon a signal received from device mounted in one of said docking stations.
16. The charging dock of claim 13 further comprising a current limiter.