PORTABLE POWER SYSTEM DOCKING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A portable power system assembly that includes a portable power system (PPS) and a dock. The dock is mountable to a vehicle and includes a PPS holding tray and an actuator arm, with the actuator arm capable of being pivoted from a first position to a second position, the holding tray including a PPS receiving station and a PPS securing station, and the securing station including electrical supply terminals. The PPS includes a housing with opposing ends, there being mating electrical terminals at one end and at least one abutment region at the other end for engagement with the actuator arm. The actuator arm engages with the abutment region of a PPS in the receiving station to move, during pivoting of the actuator arm from its first position to its second position, the PPS from the receiving station to the securing station for mating electrical engagement of the PPS and dock electrical terminals, and, in its second position, the actuator arm engages with the PPS in the securing station to releasably lock the PPS in the securing station.

Claims

1. A portable power system assembly that includes a portable power system (PPS) and a dock, wherein: the dock is mountable to a vehicle and includes a PPS holding tray and an actuator arm, the actuator arm capable of being pivoted from a first position to a second position, and the holding tray including a PPS receiving station and a PPS securing station, with the securing station including electrical supply terminals; and the PPS includes a housing with opposing ends, there being mating electrical terminals at one end and at least one abutment region at the other end for engagement with the actuator arm; whereby the actuator arm engages with the abutment region of a PPS in the receiving station to move, during pivoting of the actuator arm from its first position to its second position, the PPS from the receiving station to the securing station for mating electrical engagement of the PPS and dock electrical terminals, and, in its second position, the actuator arm engages with the PPS in the securing station to releasably lock the PPS in the securing station.

2. A portable power system assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holding tray includes a floor with upstanding end walls and side walls, forming therewithin an inner region for the PPS that includes the PPS receiving station at one end, overlapped with the PPS securing station at the other end.

3. A portable power system assembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuator arm is a generally U-shaped lever having a base portion and legs with free ends, the free ends of its legs being pivotally secured, each at a fulcrum, to the holding tray, at one end of the holding tray and thus one end of the receiving station.

4. A portable power system assembly according to claim 3, wherein a releasable locking member is positioned centrally along the base portion for engagement with a centrally positioned complementary member on the housing of the PPS.

5. A portable power system assembly according to claim 4, wherein the legs and the base portion are sized so that, in its second position, the actuator arm fits snugly over the housing to assist in retaining the PPS in the securing station.

6. A portable power system assembly according to claim 3, wherein both legs of the actuator arm include a projection at or near its fulcrum for engagement with respective abutment regions of the PPS for creation of the PPS movement from the receiving station to the securing station.

7. A portable power system assembly according to claim 6, wherein the abutment regions are arcuate roller grooves able to receive roller bushings provided at the free ends of the projections to assist with converting the rotational force provided by the pivoting actuator arm into a linear force to move the PPS from the receiving station to the securing station.

8. A portable power system assembly according to claim 1, wherein the PPS housing is a generally rectangular housing, with opposing ends, with its electrical terminals at one end and the abutment regions at the other end.

9. A portable power system (PPS) for use, and/or when used, with a dock in a portable power system assembly, wherein: the dock is mountable to a vehicle and includes a PPS holding tray and an actuator arm, the actuator arm capable of being pivoted from a first position to a second position, and the holding tray including a PPS receiving station and a PPS securing station, with the securing station including electrical supply terminals; and the PPS includes a housing with opposing ends, the housing adapted to include mating electrical terminals at one end and at least one abutment region at the other end for engagement with the actuator arm; whereby the actuator arm engages with the abutment region of a PPS in the receiving station to move, during pivoting of the actuator arm from its first position to its second position, the PPS from the receiving station to the securing station for mating electrical engagement of the PPS and dock electrical terminals, and, in its second position, the actuator arm engages with the PPS in the securing station to releasably lock the PPS in the securing station.

10. A portable power system according to claim 9, wherein the abutment regions are arcuate roller grooves able to receive roller bushings to assist with converting the rotational force provided by the pivoting actuator arm into a linear force to move the PPS from the receiving station to the securing station.

11. A portable power system assembly according to claim 9, wherein the PPS housing is a generally rectangular housing, with opposing ends, with its electrical terminals at one end and the abutment regions at the other end.

12. A dock for use, and/or when used, with a portable power system assembly for a portable power system (PPS), wherein: the dock is mountable to a vehicle and includes a PPS holding tray and an actuator arm, the actuator arm capable of being pivoted from a first position to a second position, and the holding tray including a PPS receiving station and a PPS securing station, with the securing station including electrical supply terminals; and the PPS includes a housing with opposing ends, the housing including mating electrical terminals at one end and at least one abutment region at the other end for engagement with the actuator arm of the dock; whereby the actuator arm engages with the abutment region of a PPS in the receiving station to, during pivoting of the actuator arm from its first position to its second position, move the PPS from the receiving station to the securing station for mating electrical engagement of the PPS and dock electrical terminals, and, in its second position, the actuator arm engages with the PPS in the securing station to releasably lock the PPS in the securing station

13. A dock according to claim 12, wherein the holding tray includes a floor with upstanding end walls and side walls, forming therewithin an inner region for the PPS that includes the PPS receiving station at one end, overlapped with the PPS securing station at the other end.

14. A dock according to claim 12, wherein the actuator arm is a generally U-shaped lever having a base portion and legs with free ends, the free ends of its legs being pivotally secured, each at a fulcrum, to the holding tray, at one end of the holding tray and thus one end of the receiving station.

15. A dock according to claim 14, wherein a releasable locking member is positioned centrally along the base portion for engagement with a centrally positioned complementary member on the housing of the PPS.

16. A dock according to claim 15, wherein the legs and the base portion are sized so that, in its second position, the actuator arm fits snugly over the housing to assist in retaining the PPS in the securing station.

17. A dock according to claim 14, wherein both legs of the actuator arm include a projection at or near its fulcrum for engagement with respective abutment regions of the PPS for creation of the PPS movement from the receiving station to the securing station.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] Having briefly described the general concepts involved with the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. However, it is to be understood that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.

[0041] In the drawings:

[0042] FIGS. 1a and 1b are perspective views from above of one end and of the other end (respectively) of a portable power system (PPS) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are perspective views of a dock in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the views being of the dock with its actuator arm in its first position (FIG. 2a) and in its second position (FIG. 2b looking towards the receiving station—FIG. 2c looking towards the securing station);

[0044] FIGS. 3a and 3b are side views of a portable power system assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a PPS in a dock's receiving station with its actuator arm in its first position (FIG. 3a) and the PPS moved to the securing station with the actuator arm in its second position (FIG. 3b); and

[0045] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the abutment region of the PPS in the position illustrated in FIG. 3a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0046] A portable power system 10 (PPS) suitable for use with the assembly of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b. As mentioned above, the PPS 10 may be any type of PPS and has a housing 12, in this embodiment a generally rectangular housing, with opposing ends 14,16, electrical terminals 18 at one end 16 and, in this embodiment, two abutment regions 20 at the other end 14.

[0047] The abutment regions 20 are specially configured abutment regions, formed in portions of the housing 12 that are adjacent to the projections 60 of the actuator arm 34 (described below in relation to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c) when the PPS is in the receiving station X of the dock 30 (indicated generally as being towards the left end of the dock 30 in the drawing shown in FIG. 3a). Indeed, the specific form of the abutment regions 20 of this embodiment will be further described below with reference to FIG. 3a.

[0048] In relation to the dock 30 shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, the dock 30 includes a holding tray 32 and an actuator arm 34, with the holding tray 32 including a floor 36 with upstanding end walls 38 and side walls 40, forming therewithin an inner region 42 for the PPS that includes the PPS receiving station X at one end of the dock 30 (see FIG. 3a), overlapped with a PPS securing station Y at the other end (indicated generally as being towards the right end of the dock 30 in the drawing shown in FIG. 3b). In this respect, the overlap between the two stations X and Y of the inner region 42 of the dock 30 is substantial given a preference for there to be only a small amount of linear movement for the PPS from the receiving station X to the securing station Y.

[0049] The holding tray 32 also includes electrical supply terminals 44 in its securing station Y, capable of mating with the electrical terminals 18 provided in the end 16 of the PPS housing 12. The electrical terminals 18 of the holding tray are able to be electrically connected to another power supply via cables 46, such as a vehicle in which the PPS assembly is being used, such that when the PPS is held in the securing station Y of the dock 30, with its electrical terminals 18 connected to the dock's terminals 44, the PPS is able to be powered.

[0050] The actuator arm 34 of the dock 30 is shown as a generally U-shaped (and inverted) lever with the two ends 48 of the legs 50 of the U being pivotally secured at a fulcrum 52 (each) to the holding tray 32, at one end of the holding tray 32 (being the receiving station X). The base portion 54 of the U is the “free end” of the actuator arm 34.

[0051] A releasable locking member 56 is positioned centrally along the base portion 54, and the legs 50 and the base portion 54 are sized so that, in its second position (see FIG. 2b), the actuator arm 34 fits snugly over the housing 12 (see FIG. 3b), permitting the releasable locking member 56 to easily engage with a centrally positioned latch 58 (see FIGS. 1a and 1b) on the top of the housing 12 of the PPS. In this position, with a U-shaped actuator arm 34, the configuration of the arm itself assists with the securing of the PPS in the dock 30.

[0052] The fulcrums 52 of the legs 50 of the actuator arm 34 are where the arm 34 is pivotally attached to the holding tray 32. Both legs 50 of the actuator arm 34 include a projection 60 at or near its fulcrum 52 for engagement with the respective abutment regions 20 of the PPS for creation of the PPS movement described above as the actuator arm 34 pivots about both fulcrums 52 from its first position (FIGS. 2a and 3a) to its second position (FIGS. 2b, 2c and 3b).

[0053] Partially visible in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, the actuator arm 34 includes a releasable locking member 56 capable of releasably engaging with, when the arm 34 is in its second position (FIGS. 2b, 2c and 3b), a complementary member 58 on the PPS (see FIGS. 1a and 1b) to provide the releasable locking of the PPS in the securing station Y.

[0054] The releasable locking member 56 may be any suitable type of locking member and the complementary member 58 can thus also of course be any type of member suitable for engagement with the locking member 56. In this embodiment, the releasable locking member 56 is a spring-loaded latch 57 that automatically opens upon closure of the actuator arm 34 (in its second position). The latch 57 is unable to disengage from member 58 without a user pressing the release button on the actuator arm 34.

[0055] As mentioned above, the projections 60 of the actuator arm 34 engage with the abutment regions 20 during pivoting of the actuator arm 34 from its first position to its second position, to move the PPS from the receiving station X to the securing station Y. In this embodiment, and as can be seen in FIGS. 1b and 3a, and more closely in FIG. 4, the housing 12 includes arcuate roller grooves 62 able to receive roller bushings 64 (see FIGS. 2a and 2c) provided at the free ends of the projections 60 to assist with converting the rotational force provided by the pivoting actuator arm 34 into a linear force to move the PPS along the holding tray 32 from the receiving station X to the securing station Y. The roller bushings 64 smooth the engagement between the actuator arm 34 and the PPS and assist with the relative motion between the pivoting actuator arm 34 and the subsequent linear motion of the PPS in the holding tray 32.

[0056] Referring generally now to the assembly of a PPS 10 and a dock 30 shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the assembly of this embodiment may therefore be used to transport a PPS in the rear of a vehicle (not shown), such as a 4WD vehicle when touring for a camping trip. The holding tray 32 of the dock 30 may be mounted in the rear of the cargo space of the vehicle via mounting members 66 to securely retain the dock 30 in place in the vehicle, following which the PPS may be placed in the receiving station X of the holding tray 32.

[0057] The actuator arm 34 may then be operated to move from its first position (FIG. 3a) to its second position (FIG. 3b), in doing so moving the PPS along the holding tray 32 from the receiving station X to the securing station Y, where the electrical terminals 18 of the PPS mate with the electrical terminals 44 of the holding tray 32, both mechanically and electrically.

[0058] In relation to its mechanical connection, the end wall 38 of the tray 32, adjacent to the electrical terminals 44, can be seen in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a as having engagement projections 47 configured to be received by correspondingly shaped and positioned receiving portions 49 in the corners of the housing 12 of the PPS at its end 16. When the PPS moves into its securing station Y (FIG. 3b), the engagement projections 47 are captured by the receiving portions 49 to prevent movement of the PPS 10 up and away from the tray 32 and assist with mechanically securing the PPS in the securing station Y.

[0059] In its second position (FIG. 3b), the actuator arm 34 thus engages with the PPS in the securing station Y to releasably lock the PPS in the securing station Y, with both mechanical mating at both ends of the PPS and electrical mating at one end, and thus securely mount the PPS in the rear of the vehicle during travel whilst electrically connected to the vehicle power supply for the purposes of either charging the PPS or operating the PPS, as necessary.

[0060] Upon arrival at a destination, the disengagement of the actuator arm 34 from the PPS permits the PPS to be manually moved away from the securing station Y and lifted from the holding tray 32, for easy removal from the vehicle when power is required away from the vehicle or when a particular PPS unit (for example, a camping fridge) is required for use away from the vehicle.

[0061] A person skilled in the art will understand that there may be variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications.