(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0085617 A1
` Bevirt (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 10, 2008
`
`
`
`US 20080085617Al
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`(54) HEADSET CHARGER
`
`Publication Classification
`
`76
`
`1
`t:
`) men or
`
`(
`
`JB B'tStC CA
`(82)” em ’
`an a
`“12’
`
`Correspondence Address:
`MICHAEL A. GUTH
`2-2905 EAST CLIFF DRIVE
`SANTA CRUZ: CA 95062
`
`(21) Appl' No“
`
`11/599,153
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 13, 2006
`
`.
`.
`Related U'S' Appllcatlon Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/849,554, filed on Oct.
`43 2006.
`
`(51)
`
`Int-C'-
`(2006.01)
`H01R 29/00
`(2006.01)
`H011? 4/58
`(52) US. Cl.
`........................................ 439/104; 439/170
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A charging unit for an electrical device such as a headset.
`The charging unit is designed to minimize the envelope of
`the unit when the outlet interface prongs are in the stowed
`position. The charging unit minimizes the use of space when
`plugged into an outlet or into an outlet strip. A kit including
`a charging unit, an coupler adapted to hard mount a headset
`to the charging unit while charging, and a power cord
`adapted to connect to a headset to charge the headset While
`the headset is at a position further from the charging unit.
`
`102
`
`1
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`APPLE 1024
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`1
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`APPLE 1024
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`201
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`FIGURE 1A
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`FIGURE 13
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 2 0f 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`FIGURE 2A
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`FIGURE 23
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`102
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`FIGURE 2C
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 3 0f 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`FIGURE 3A
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`FIGURE . 3B
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 4 0f 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`‘-'
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`FIGURE 4A
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`FIGURE 43
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`FIGURE 4C
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 5 0f 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`202
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`201
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`100
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`FIGURE 5
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 6 0f 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`IGURE 6
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`Patent Application Publication Apr. 10, 2008 Sheet 7 0f 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`FIGURE 7
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`US 2008/0085617 A1
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`Apr. 10, 2008
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`HEADSET CHARGER
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application claims priority to provisional
`Patent Application No. 60/849,554 to Bevirt et al., filed Oct.
`4, 2006.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`[0002]
`[0003] The present invention relates to electronics, and
`specifically to a charging unit and system.
`[0004]
`2. Description of Related Art
`[0005] A headset may be used in conjunction with a
`telephone device for several reasons. With a headset, the
`user is relieved of the need to hold the phone and thus retains
`his or her hands free to perform other functions. Headsets
`also function to position the earphone and microphone
`portions of a telephone close to the user’s head to provide for
`clcarcr rcccption and transmission of audio signals with lcss
`interference from background noise. Headsets may be used
`with telephones, computers, cellular telephones, and other
`devices.
`
`[0006] With a mobile device such as a headset or a cellular
`phone there is an increased need for compactness, portabil-
`ity, and durability. Headsets are used more and more by
`business travelers as well. A charging unit for the electronic
`devices is typically brought along with the unit when the
`user travels. A user may not desire to bring a cable along due
`to space concerns. The user may also desire to have the unit
`to be charged hard mounted onto the charger on a wall outlet
`and out of harm’s way.
`[0007] However, in other uses, the user may desire to use
`a cord with the charger, perhaps leaving the headset on a
`desk or nightstand. In many office environments, and also
`homes, there may be many electronic devices. Typically, an
`outlet strip is used to distribute power. Charger units and
`transformers typically are somewhat bulky and may overlay
`another outlet on the outlet strip besides the one being
`plugged into.
`[0008] What is called for is a single charging Lmit that
`meets a user’s need for compactness, the use of a power cord
`with the charger or hard mounting of the device to the
`charger, and also that does not occupy extra space on a
`power strip.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0009] A charging tmit for an electrical device such as a
`headset. The charging unit
`is designed to minimize the
`envelope of the unit when the outlet interface prongs are in
`the stowed position. The charging unit minimizes the use of
`spacc whcn pluggcd into an outlct or into an outlct strip. A
`kit
`including a charging unit, a coupler adapted to hard
`mount a headset to the charging unit while charging, and a
`power cord adapted to connect to a headset to charge the
`headset while the headset is at a position further from the
`charging unit.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 1A-B are perspective views of a charger in
`[0010]
`the deployed position according to some embodiments of the
`present invention.
`
`[0011] EIGS. 2A-C are orthographic views of a charger in
`the deployed position according to some embodiments of the
`present invention.
`[0012] EIGS. 3A-B are perspective views of a charger in
`the stowed position according to some embodiments of the
`present invention.
`[0013] EIGS. 4A-C are orthographic views of a charger in
`the stowed position according to some embodiments of the
`present invention.
`[0014] BIG. 5 is an illustration of a charging system
`according to some embodiments of the present invention.
`[0015] BIG. 6 is an illustration of a charging system
`according to some embodiments of the present invention.
`[0016] BIG. 7 is an illustration of a charging unit and a
`power strip according to some embodiments of the present
`invention.
`
`
`
`
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`In some embodiments of the present invention, as
`[0017]
`seen in FIGS. 1A-B and 2A-B, a charging unit 100 is
`adapted for efficiency of design with regard to space. The
`main body 101 of the charger is a substantially rectangular
`unit of reduced thickness. The outlet interface plugs 103 are
`seen rotatably attached to the main body 101 with a rotating
`plug unit 108. The rotating plug unit may be of a design such
`that electrical continuity from the outlet interface plugs 103
`to the electronics within the main body 101 is maintained
`only when the plugs are in their fully deployed position. A
`recess 104 is seen in the base surface 105 of the main body
`101.
`
`In somc cmbodimcnts; as sccn in FIG. 2B, thc
`[0018]
`plugs 103 are in very close proximity to the side surface 106
`of the main body 101 when viewed from the base surface.
`The side surface 106 may have a dimension of approxi-
`matcly 1 inch in somc cmbodimcnts. As sccn, thc width 107
`of the main body may be as small as approximately twice the
`width of a conventional set of outlet plugs. The width 107 of
`the main body 101 may be approximately 2 inches in some
`cmbodimcnts. Thc hcight of thc sidc surfacc 106 may bc as
`little as the width of a conventional set of outlet plugs as
`well.
`
`[0019] An outlet port 102 is adapted to receive a standard
`USB type connector in some embodiments. The connector is
`used to route charge to the unit being charged. In some uses
`a male to male adapter from standard to mini-USB may be
`inserted into the outlet port 102 and the device may be hard
`mounted to the charger. In other embodiments, a USB cable
`may be inserted into the outlet port 102 and routed to the
`device, which may be a headset in some embodiments. Thus,
`the charger is adapted to allow for a compact hard mounting
`of the device, or the use of a cable, depending upon the
`desires of the user.
`
`FIGS. 3A-B and 4A-C illustrate a charging unit
`[0020]
`100 with its prongs in the stowed position according to some
`embodiments of the present invention. The prongs 103 have
`been rotated 90 degrees from the deployed position to the
`stowed position. The plugs 103 rest in the recess 104 when
`stowed. The plugs 103 are stowed via the rotation of the
`rotating plug unit 108.
`[0021]
`In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 4C, the
`prongs 103, or the rotating plug unit 108, do not protrude
`beyond the base surface 105 when the plugs 103 are stowed.
`Also, the plugs 103 do not protrude beyond the side surface
`109 of the main body 101 when stowed. This protected
`position of the plugs 103 when stowed minimizes the risk of
`damage to the unit.
`
`9
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`

`

`US 2008/0085617 A1
`
`Apr. 10, 2008
`
`FIG. 5 is an illustration of a charging system 200
`[0022]
`according to some embodiments of the present invention.
`The charging unit 100 is seen plugged into the plug 203 of
`a wall outlet 202. A headset 201 is hard mounted to the
`
`charging unit 100 with an adapter 204. The charging system
`200 allows for the compact wall mounting of an electronic
`device, such as a wireless headset, while being charged. In
`some embodiments, the headset 201 has a miniature USB
`port adapted to receive the power charge from the charger.
`In some embodiments, the charger has a standard USB port
`adapted to deliver the power charge. The adapter 204 may be
`a malc-malc mini-USB to USB adaptcr in somc cmbodi-
`ments.
`
`FIG. 6 is an illustration of a charging system 220
`[0023]
`according to some embodiments of the present invention.
`The charging unit 100 is seen plugged into the plug 203 of
`a wall outlet 202. A removable power cord 221 is seen
`plugged into the charging unit 100 on a first end and into a
`headset 201 on a second end. The power cord 221 may have
`a USB plug 223 on its first end and a mini-USB plug on its
`second end in some embodiments. The use of the charging
`system 220 using a power cord 221 allows the use of the
`same charging unit 100 as seen in the hard mounted embodi-
`ment above.
`
`FIG. 7 illustrates a charging unit and a power strip
`[0024]
`according to some embodiments of the present invention.
`The power strip 240 is seen with multiple outlets 241. The
`user’s hand 242 is sccn plugging in a charging unit 100 into
`an outlet. As seen, the charging unit does not overlap any of
`the other outlets. The region 243 wherein the adapter or
`power cord will be plugged into the charging unit 10 also
`does not interfere with access to any of the other outlets.
`[0025] As evident from the above description, a wide
`variety of embodiments may be configured from the descrip—
`tion given herein and additional advantages and modifica-
`tions will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The
`invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to
`the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative
`examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures
`from such details may be made without departing from the
`spirit or scope of the applicant’s general inventive concept.
`I claim:
`
`1. A charging unit comprising:
`a main body, said main body comprising:
`a base surface;
`a plug unit, said plug unit comprising plugs adapted for
`plugging into a power outlet, said plug unit rotatably
`coupled to said main body; and
`a recess in said main body along said base surface.
`wherein said plug unit is adapted to rotate from
`deployed position substantially perpendicular to said
`base surface to a stowed position substantially within
`said recess.
`
`2. The charging unit of claim 1 wherein said base surface
`comprises a first side substantially parallel to the rotation
`axis of said plug unit, wherein said plug unit is directly
`adjacent to said first side of said base surface.
`3. The charging unit of claim 2 wherein said base surface
`further comprises a second side, substantially perpendicular
`to the rotation axis of said plug unit.
`4. The charging unit of claim 3 wherein said second side
`is approximately twice the width of said plug unit.
`5. The charging unit of claim 4 wherein said plug unit is
`approximately one inch wide.
`
`6. The charging unit of claim 3 wherein said base surface
`further comprises a third side, said third side opposite and
`substantially parallel to said first side, wherein said plugs are
`directly adjacent to said third side when said plug unit is in
`its stowed position.
`7. The charging unit of claim 6 wherein said main body
`further comprises a power port, said power port adapted to
`route power to an electronic device.
`8. The charging umt of claim 7 wherein said power port
`faces a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation
`axis of said plug unit.
`9. Thc charging umt of claim 8 whcrcin said powcr port
`is a standard USB port.
`10. A system comprising:
`a charging unit, said charging unit comprising:
`a main body, said main body comprising:
`a base surface;
`a plug unit, said plug unit comprising plugs adapted for
`plugging into a power outlet, said plug unit rotatably
`coupled to said main body; and
`a recess in said main body along said base surface,
`wherein said plug unit
`is adapted to rotate from
`deployed position substantially perpendicular to said
`base surface to a stowed position substantially within
`said recess;
`a wireless headset, and
`a coupler, said coupler adapted to rigidly couple said
`wireless headset to said charging unit, said coupler
`adapted to electronically couple said wireless headset
`to said charging unit.
`11. The system of claim 10 wherein said base surface
`comprises a first side substantially parallel to the rotation
`axis of said plug unit, wherein said plug unit is directly
`adjacent to said first side of said base surface.
`12. The system of claim 11 wherein said main body
`further comprises a power outlet port, said power port
`adapted to route power to an electronic device, wherein said
`power port faces a direction substantially perpendicular to
`the rotation axis of said plug unit.
`13. A kit comprising:
`a charging unit, said charging Lmit comprising:
`a main body, said main body comprising:
`a base surface;
`a plug unit, said plug unit comprising plugs adapted for
`plugging into a power outlet, said plug unit rotatably
`coupled to said main body; and
`a power port, said power port adapted to route power to
`an electronic device;
`a coupler, said coupler adapted to rigidly couple a wireless
`headset to said charging unit, said coupler adapted to
`electronically couple a wireless headset to said charg-
`ing unit; and
`a power cord, said power cord adapted to plug into said
`power port at a first end, said power cord adapted to
`plug into a wireless headset at a second end.
`14. The kit of claim 13 further comprising a wireless
`headset.
`15. The kit of claim 13 wherein said base surface com-
`prises a first side substantially parallel to the rotation axis of
`said plug unit, wherein said plug unit is directly adjacent to
`said first side of said base surface.
`
`10
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`10
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`