Mobile Charging Table with Hinged Tabletop Battery Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging stations for portable electronic devices lack mobility and flexibility, often requiring a dedicated power source and limited counter space, which restricts their use in public places like schools and airports where quick and convenient charging is needed.
Innovation Solution
A mobile charging table with a battery-powered hub and a hinged tabletop that can pivot to expose a battery compartment for servicing, allowing for easy battery replacement and use as a workspace without being tethered to a power cord.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a charging station is made mobile with casters or wheels, then mobility is improved, but the charging station remains constrained by a power cord which limits its range and creates inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the power source from the external environment (electrical outlet) and incorporates it into the charging station itself through a removable battery pack. This eliminates the power cord constraint and enables unrestricted mobility while maintaining continuous power supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station transitions from a static, outlet-dependent system to a dynamic, self-powered system. The removable battery pack allows the station to be easily repositioned and redeployed anywhere without being tethered to a power source, significantly enhancing operational flexibility and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If a charging station is designed with limited counter space for quick charging, then portability is improved, but it cannot support larger devices like laptops or provide adequate workspace
Solution Approach 1:
The tabletop is designed with dynamic positioning capability through a hinge mechanism that allows it to transition between a horizontal workspace position and a vertical storage position. When horizontal, it provides ample counter space for laptops and multiple devices; when vertical, it minimizes the footprint for easy mobility and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The tabletop utilizes vertical space by pivoting from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane. This dimensional transformation allows the same surface to serve dual purposes: providing extensive workspace when needed and minimizing spatial occupation when mobility is required, effectively adding a third dimension to the design.
3Ease of operation
If the battery compartment is always accessible, then ease of battery replacement is improved, but security and protection of the battery are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The battery compartment accessibility is made dynamic through the hinged tabletop mechanism. The compartment is accessible only when the tabletop is in the vertical position, providing secure protection during transport and storage. When the tabletop is positioned horizontally for use, the compartment remains protected yet can be easily accessed by lifting the tabletop to replace batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery compartment is segmented from the main body structure and accessed through a separate hinged mechanism. This segmentation allows independent access to the battery without compromising the structural integrity or security of the charging station, enabling easy battery replacement while maintaining protection when closed.
4Ease of repair
If a hinge mechanism is added to allow tabletop movement for battery access, then battery servicing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism segments the tabletop from the base structure, allowing independent movement of the tabletop portion. This simple segmentation provides easy battery access without requiring complex mechanical systems, motors, or electronic controls - just a straightforward hinge joint that enables the tabletop to pivot between horizontal and vertical positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile charging table and a method of use are configured for ease of mobility and ease of service. The table has a tabletop, a base, a battery powered charging hub, and a battery compartment. The tabletop may be connected to the base by a hinge arrangement permitting tabletop movement between its first and second positions. Movement of the tabletop to its second position exposes an opening of the battery compartment for servicing a battery that supplies power to the charging hub. In the flipped down position, the tabletop extends substantially horizontally to overlie the opening in the battery compartment and to allow user(s) to use the tabletop as a workspace.