Charging stand
An apparatus includes a main body having an opening and a movable member configured to hold a plug capable of transmitting an electrical current to an external device. At least one of the movable member and the plug include a magnet. The movable member and the plug are arranged such that at least one connector of the plug extends beyond a plane parallel to the opening when the movable member is in a first state, the first state corresponding to a magnetic force between a ferromagnetic material and the magnet above a predetermined magnitude. The movable member transitions from the first state to a second state when the magnetic force is below the predetermined magnitude. When the movable member is in the second state, the at least one connector of the plug remains below the plane parallel to the opening.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a main body having an opening; and
a movable member configured to hold a plug capable of transmitting an electrical current to an external device, wherein
at least one of the movable member and the plug includes a magnet,
the movable member and the plug are arranged such that at least one terminal connector of the plug extends beyond a plane formed over the opening when the movable member is in a first state,
the movable member is in the first state when a magnetic force between a ferromagnetic material and the magnet is greater than a predetermined magnitude, which causes the movable member to move such that the at least one terminal connector is engagable with a corresponding charging terminal of the external device,
the movable member transitions from the first state to a second state when the magnetic force is below the predetermined magnitude, and
when the movable member is in the second state, the at least one terminal connector of the plug is lowered below the plane formed over the opening.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
a tension member connected at one end to the main body and connected at another end to the movable member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the tension member maintains the movable member in the second state until the magnetic force is greater than the predetermined magnitude.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
the tension member is a spring, and
the spring has a spring constant corresponding to a magnetic force capable of moving the movable member from the second state to the first state when a centerline of the magnet is aligned with a centerline of the ferromagnetic material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the main body includes a groove, and
the opening of the main body is disposed in the groove.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising
a holding member disposed in the groove, wherein
the holding member includes an opening that is aligned with the opening of the main body when the holding member is engaged in the groove, and
the movable member is configured such that the at least one terminal connector of the plug extends beyond the plane formed over the opening in the holding member when the movable member is in the first state.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein
the holding member includes a u-shaped groove having an internal width corresponding to a thickness of the external device.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein
the main body is configured to accept a plurality of detachable holding members having varied internal widths.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the movable member is configured such that the plug may be detached and other plugs may be connected to the movable member.
10. A method of providing an electrical charging current to an external device via a charging apparatus, whereby the external device includes a ferromagnetic material, the method comprising:
moving the external device within a predetermined distance of the charging apparatus such that a magnetic attraction develops between the ferromagnetic material and a magnet included in at least one of a movable member disposed on the charging apparatus and an electrical charging plug held by the movable member; and
aligning a first point of the external device with a second point of the charging apparatus such that the movable member is in a first state, wherein
the movable member is in the first state when the magnetic attraction between the ferromagnetic material and the magnet is greater than a predetermined magnitude, which causes the movable member to move such that at least one terminal connector of the electrical charging plug extends beyond a plane formed over an opening of a main body of the charging apparatus and is engagable with a corresponding charging terminal of the external device, and
when the first point and the second point are out of alignment, the movable member is in a second state, the second state being a condition in which the at least one terminal connector of the electrical charging plug is lowered below the plane formed over the opening of the main body of the charging apparatus.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein
the charging apparatus includes a tension member connected at one end to the main body and connected at another end to the movable member.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein
the tension member maintains the movable member in the second state when the first point and the second point are out of alignment.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the tension member is a spring, and
the spring has a spring constant corresponding to a magnetic force capable of moving the movable member from the second state to the first state when the first and second points are aligned.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the main body includes a groove, and
the opening of the main body is disposed in the groove.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
a holding member is disposed in the groove,
the holding member includes an opening that is aligned with the opening of the main body when the holding member is engaged in the groove, and
the movable member is configured such that the at least one terminal connector of the electrical charging plug extends beyond the plane formed over the opening in the holding member when the movable member is in the first state.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein
the holding member includes a u-shaped groove having an internal width corresponding to a thickness of the external device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein
the main body is configured to accept a plurality of detachable holding members having varied internal widths corresponding to thicknesses of other external devices.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein
the movable member is configured such that the electrical charging plug may be detached and other electrical charging plugs may be connected to the movable member.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein
the groove in the main body is open at each end such that a periphery of the external device may extend outside the main body when the external device is engaged in the groove.
20. A battery charging stand comprising:
a main body having a groove configured to sandwich an external device;
a movable member configured to hold a plug capable of transmitting an electrical current to the external device, wherein the plug is arranged in an opening formed in the groove and a movement of the movable member results in the plug moving through the opening; and
a magnet attached to at least one of the plug or the movable member, wherein
when the external device is engaged in the groove, an attraction between the magnet and the external device results in the movable member being in a first state, the first state being a condition where the attraction causes the movable member to move such that at least one terminal connector of the plug extends beyond a plane formed over the opening, and
when the external device is disengaged from the groove, the movable member transitions from the first state to a second state, the second state corresponding to a condition where the at least one terminal connector of the plug is lowered below the plane formed over the opening.