Portable Charging Module on Power Cord
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall-mounted USB chargers are inconvenient due to limited socket accessibility, short cord lengths, and unsightly designs, and alternative solutions like built-in charging ports in household items can be costly and not universally applicable.
Innovation Solution
A charging apparatus that allows electrical coupling with a hosting device's power-supply cord, using an elongated channel and conductor-penetrating contacts to draw power without needing a wall socket, with a cap member to secure the connection and a circuit board to transfer power to portable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wall-mounted USB charger is used, then charging function is provided, but accessibility to wall sockets is limited and cord length is short
Solution Approach 1:
The charging device is divided into separate components: a charging module that can be detached and repositioned along the power cord, and the main power cord itself. This segmentation allows the charging function to be moved to different locations along the cord length, improving accessibility while maintaining full cord length.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging capability is transformed from a fixed wall-socket-based solution to a mobile solution that can be positioned at any point along the one-dimensional length of the power cord, effectively adding a spatial dimension to charging location choices.
2Ease of operation
If a wall-mounted USB charger is used, then charging function is provided, but the design is unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The charging module employs a sleek, thin-profile housing that can be easily concealed within or alongside the power cord's existing structure, maintaining aesthetic appearance while providing charging functionality. The design integrates smoothly with the cord rather than protruding as a separate bulky unit.
3Ease of operation
If built-in charging ports are incorporated into household items, then charging convenience is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging module is designed as a universal solution that can be applied to any standard power cord regardless of the hosting device type. This multi-functionality allows a single charging module design to serve multiple devices and applications, reducing per-unit costs through standardization and economies of scale.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than integrating expensive charging circuits into each individual household item, the invention uses a standardized charging module that can be replicated and attached to multiple different devices, reducing manufacturing costs through component standardization and mass production.
4Ease of operation
If built-in charging ports are incorporated into household items, then charging convenience is improved, but the solution is not universally applicable
Solution Approach 1:
The charging module is designed with universal compatibility features, including standard electrical connections and adaptable mounting mechanisms that work with various power cord types and hosting devices, making the solution universally applicable across different devices and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging module can be dynamically repositioned along the power cord to different locations based on user needs, and can be easily attached or detached from various hosting devices, providing adaptability and versatility across different applications rather than being fixed to a single device.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for charging at least one portable electrical mobile device includes an outer housing body using a pair of cord-penetrating electrical contacts in an elongated channel defining an elongated open passageway between opposite ends of the outer housing body to electrically couple with and draws electrical current from an electrical power-supply cord of a hosting electrical device and transfer the electrical current to an electrical port on the outer housing body in order to connect at least one portable electronic device to the electrical port to operate or recharge internal rechargeable batteries of the device. The charging apparatus provides adaptability to connect to electrical current without needing an available electrical socket.