Arrangement comprising an installation device and an inductive charger, as well as a method for inductively charging a terminal device

Abstract

An arrangement is presented comprising an installation device S of the building installation technology, which has at least one opening SÖ, and an inductive charger L for charging a mobile terminal device, comprising a charging coil which is arranged behind a charging plate LP arranged on the front V of the inductive charger L, an electrical connection for connection to a power supply and a holding magnet for holding a mobile terminal device parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface, characterized in that an adapter AD is connected to the installation device S of the building installation technology, to which adapter the inductive charger L is reversibly mechanically coupled via coupling elements KE.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising an installation device of building installation technology having at least one opening and an inductive charger for charging a mobile terminal device, comprising a charging coil arranged behind a charging plate arranged on the front of the inductive charger, an electrical connection for connection to a power supply and a holding magnet for holding a mobile terminal device parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for inductively charging a mobile terminal device with the arrangement according to the invention.

[0003] Classic inductive chargers, previously known under the product name or brand MagSafe®, have a charging coil for charging a mobile device, which is arranged behind a charging plate on the front of the inductive charger, an electrical connection for connecting to a power supply, and a holding magnet for holding a mobile device (www.apple.com / de / shop / product / MHXH3ZM / A / magsafeadegerät?fnode=29611cce37f8e0f1f08e4d5d14d01deb871baad43ad21b7 df6c4ccb5d331efbb6ad88290dd94bd8df05c792cdcbff11bf7f2c472a68766 3655b127bc778ceaf27bd64b4d7c766633f3f96b12bd1f7277654d4165481 2212293cf39021afe1c200400101449bf5b465ef11b54054c892cabdd7d42 40dd636453bcc17583988594).

[0004] US 2022 / 0 224 134 A1 discloses an attachment for an installation device with an integrated charger.

[0005] DE 10 2021 118 431 A1 discloses an inductive charger in the form of a plug-in power supply.

[0006] The problem with these solutions is that they require a separate power adapter and a corresponding charging cable to connect the power adapter and charging electronics. Such charging cables are incompatible with wireless charging, as a cable must be connected to the charger instead of the mobile device. This makes handling more difficult due to the required charging cable. Wall mounts are also available for attaching inductive chargers, particularly the so-called MagSafe®. However, this does not eliminate the need for the cable; instead, it hangs conspicuously on the wall next to a power outlet or must be concealed / disguised by visually striking measures, thus impairing the overall aesthetic appearance.

[0007] Alternatively, inductive chargers for charging a mobile device are known, which can be mounted in an installation box, for example, from EP 3 826 279 B1. The disadvantage is that these pose enormous installation hurdles, as either an installation box must be installed or existing devices must be completely removed and replaced with the inductive charger (as a new device), which is a complex process. Furthermore, the stability of such a configuration is considered suboptimal.

[0008] Based on this discussed prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating an inductive charger for charging a mobile device that enables a true "wireless charging" experience; thus, it does not require cables, is at the same time particularly easy and stable to install, and enables a mobile device to be charged parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface in a particularly compact and unobtrusive manner.

[0009] This task is solved by an inductive charger for charging a mobile device, whereby an adapter is connected to the installation device of the building installation technology, to which the inductive charger is reversibly mechanically coupled via coupling elements.

[0010] Such an inductive charger according to the invention for charging a mobile device comprises a charging coil arranged behind a charging plate arranged on the front of the inductive charger, optionally a power supply, and a holding magnet (usually ring-shaped or at least partially ring-shaped) for holding a mobile device parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface. For electrical connection to a power supply, the inductive charger has, for example, a wireless plug molded onto the back of the inductive charger for insertion into the at least one opening.

[0011] The arrangement according to the invention particularly advantageously utilizes an adapter connected to the building installation device. This connection, for example, by screwing or locking, intelligently enables the inductive charger to be reversibly mechanically coupled to the installation device via coupling elements. Compared to an installation device that is simply plugged into the installation device via a connector, this represents a significant improvement in the stability of the connection, effectively preventing the inductive charger from wobbling or being pulled out—particularly when disconnecting the mobile device from the inductive charger.At the same time, the reversible mechanical coupling significantly simplifies the conversion of an installation device from one that has an inductive charging function to one that no longer has this functionality (since complete removal of the installation device is no longer necessary). This uniquely clever way allows the user to use a single inductive charger for different installation devices by using a number of cost-effective adapters that can be attached to installation devices by screwing or locking them together – without any wobbling of the charger, simple installation, and low costs, as the adapter is particularly cost-effective.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the installation device of the building installation technology is designed as a socket or as a USB socket.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the installation device of the building installation technology is designed as a USB charging socket.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the adapter is screwed to the installation device of the building installation technology, in particular to an existing dome of the installation device of the building installation technology. This takes advantage of the fact that, on the one hand, numerous installation devices of the building installation technology have a dome for securing a central plate and, on the other hand, screwing is particularly stable, reliable, and reversible with regard to the mechanical connection between the installation device and the adapter. Particularly advantageously, the adapter has a recess which, in the manner of an elongated hole, covers different positions of the dome of the installation device or allows the adapter to be secured to the installation device.This increases the compatibility of adapters and installation devices, effectively and cost-effectively expanding the range of potential users of the arrangement according to the invention. For example, this takes advantage of the fact that the domes of the installation devices are typically arranged symmetrically, i.e., in the central area (albeit at different heights, which is reflected by the aforementioned recess that covers different positions of the dome of the installation device).

[0015] In another embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the adapter is snapped onto the installation device of the building installation technology. This enables tool-free installation of the adapter.

[0016] In another exceptionally preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the coupling elements are designed as locking elements. This makes it possible to connect the inductive charger to the adapter without tools, so that changing the inductive charger from one installation device (which only has a (cost-effective) adapter) to another installation device (which has an adapter) is also possible without tools and easily.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the electrical connection of the inductive charger is designed as a wireless plug molded onto the back of the inductive charger for insertion into the opening of the installation device, wherein a central plate is arranged between the charging plate and the plug pins.

[0018] In this respect, the inductive charger according to the invention particularly intelligently utilizes a wireless plug molded onto the back of the inductive charger for insertion into a power outlet. The wireless plug is molded directly onto the back of the inductive charger (either in one piece or in multiple pieces), eliminating the need for an unwanted cable. At the same time, the inductive charger according to the invention allows for particularly flexible use with any power outlet: To install the inductive charger, the plug simply needs to be inserted into the socket openings. In particular, there is no need to connect a power adapter to a power outlet via a plug, nor to connect a power adapter to an inductive charging station via a charging cable. This significantly simplifies installation.In contrast to previously known inductive chargers, which are installed as new devices in an installation box, the installation hurdle is substantially lowered. The compact design of the inductive charger is particularly advantageous, as the central plate of the inductive charger is replaced with the central plate of a socket. This creates the appearance of a building installation device. The inductive charger, which is attached to a socket base, creates the impression of a rotary dimmer and thus integrates harmoniously into an existing installation device range.

[0019] In a further development of the above-described arrangement according to the invention, the plug has a through-hole through which a central screw extends, so that the plug of the inductive charger is secured to a dome of the building installation device. The plug functions as an adapter.

[0020] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for inductively charging a mobile terminal device with the arrangement according to the invention, comprising the steps: - Inserting the inductive charger into the opening of the building installation device, whereby the inductive charger is reversibly mechanically coupled to the adapter, - Attaching the mobile device to be charged to the inductive charger by utilising the magnetic holding force acting between the holding magnet of the inductive charger and the mobile device, - Start the charging process.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in a first step the adapter is fixed to the installation device, in particular screwed or locked.

[0022] The invention is described below with reference to various exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1: a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a first arrangement according to the invention, and Fig. 2: a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a second arrangement according to the invention.

[0023] One in Fig. The first arrangement according to the invention shown in Figure 1 comprises a socket base S having openings SÖ and an inductive charging device L. Furthermore, the socket base S shown has a grounding bracket PE and a support ring T, for example, for securing the socket base S to an installation box. The support ring T is covered all around by a design frame D.

[0024] The electrical connection of the inductive charger L is designed as a wireless plug molded onto the back R of the inductive charger L, which is plugged into the socket base S of the socket having two earthing bars PE. In this case, the plug is designed as a Schuko plug SK and has two plug pins ST for insertion into openings SÖ. The charging plate LP is arranged on the front V of the inductive charger L and preferably has a shoulder A with a height of at least 4 mm, preferably a maximum of 6 mm, wherein the shoulder A is formed into a central plate Z. Such a shoulder A means that the protruding camera of a mobile device does not rest on the charging plate, which would reduce the holding force and impair the charging process.

[0025] Such an inventive arrangement enables a true wireless charging experience without the need for cables. At the same time, the design of the inductive charger L with a wireless plug molded onto the back R of the inductive charger L allows it to be plugged into the socket base S with one hand. This also enables easy disassembly, in particular to flexibly install the inductive charger L in a different socket. The aforementioned advantages are achieved without compromising the typical appearance of an installation device, since the inventive arrangement is particularly compact and unobtrusive thanks to the wireless plug and the shoulder A, allowing a mobile device to be charged parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface.

[0026] In this case, the installation device is a socket, with the adapter AD being screwed to the dome DM of the socket base S by means of a fastening device BM, with the adapter AD having a dome opening DÖ for the fastening device BM. The coupling elements KE ensure that the inductive charger L is held, for example, by locking. The adapter has through-openings Ö so that the plug pins ST can engage through them.

[0027] This creates a visual impression that is no different from a typical installation device, both when the mobile device is held parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface and without holding the mobile device, as the cylindrical inductive charger L looks exactly like established, well-known rotary control elements of rotary dimmers, so that the observer assumes that a classic installation device is present and not a classic charger L that is plugged into a socket - which impairs the overall visual impression due to cables and a space-consuming surface-mounted power supply unit.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows a USB charging socket, to which analogous to Fig.1 an inductive charger L is connected via an adapter AD. The plug can be screwed to the dome DM of the adapter AD using a fastener BM. Since the power supply is housed in the base of the USB charging socket, the inductive charger L can be designed particularly compactly and cost-effectively. This also reduces approval costs.

[0029] The invention is described using exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, numerous further possibilities for implementing it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art without the need for detailed explanation within the scope of these statements. List of reference symbols A paragraph AD adapter BM fasteners D design frame DM Cathedral DÖ Cathedral opening KE coupling elements L Charger LP charging plate Ö Passage opening PE earthing bracket R back S socket base SK Schuko plug SÖ openings ST connector pin T support ring V front Z central plate

Claims

[1] Arrangement comprising an installation device (S) of the building installation technology having at least one opening (SÖ) and an inductive charger (L) for charging a mobile terminal, comprising a charging coil arranged behind a charging plate (LP) arranged on the front side (V) of the inductive charger (L), an electrical connection for connection to a power supply and a holding magnet for holding a mobile terminal parallel to a wall and / or furniture surface, characterized by that an adapter (AD) is connected to the installation device (S) of the building installation technology, to which the inductive charger (L) is reversibly mechanically coupled via coupling elements (KE). [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the installation device (S) of the building installation technology is designed as a socket or as a USB socket. [3] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bythat the installation device (S) of the building installation technology is designed as a USB charging socket. [4] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the adapter (AD) is screwed to the installation device (S) of the building installation technology, in particular to an already existing dome (DM) of the installation device (S) of the building installation technology. [5] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the adapter (AD) is snapped onto the installation device (S) of the building installation technology. [6] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the coupling elements (KE) are designed as locking elements. [7] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the electrical connection of the inductive charger (L) is designed as a wireless plug molded onto the rear (R) of the inductive charger (L) for insertion into the opening (SÖ) of the installation device, wherein a central plate (Z) is arranged between the charging plate (LP) and the plug pins (ST). [8] Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the plug has a through-opening through which a fastening means (BM) extends, so that the plug of the inductive charger (L) is fixed to a dome (DM) of the installation device of the building installation technology (S). [9] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the loading plate (LP) has a step (A) with a height of at least 4 mm. [10] Method for inductively charging a mobile terminal with the arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps: - Inserting the inductive charger (L) into the opening (SÖ) of the building installation equipment, whereby the inductive charger (L) is reversibly mechanically coupled to the adapter (AD), - Attaching the mobile device to be charged to the inductive charger (L) by utilising the magnetic holding force acting between the holding magnet of the inductive charger (L) and the mobile device, - Start the charging process. [11] Method according to claim 10, wherein in a first step the adapter (AD) is fixed to the installation device, in particular screwed or locked.

Images