ChargerSafe

Abstract

The technical field to which the invention pertains is securing objects from unauthorized use by children at home. ChargerSafe is a child-proofing apparatus to be used by parents to limit children-s screen time. ChargerSafe is a vented metal box with a combination, biometric, or digital lock and round openings with protective grommets in the sides that allow the user to thread charging cables from external electrical outlets to the inside where electronic devices (phones, tablets, chromebooks) are placed, plugged in, and charged with the door locked. Removable dividers are added inside to prevent devices from stacking. The principal use of the invention is locking devices up as a solution to the problem of screen time management at home. ChargerSafe combines the functions of securely storing electronic devices to prevent unauthorized use by children, while charging these devices at the same time.

Claims

1. A secure metal box in combination with pre-drilled holes to thread charging cables through to an inside of the secure metal box.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the door of the secure metal box is locked by any type of safe lock.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein protective grommets are placed over the pre-drilled holes. The invention is novel because it is at the intersection of 3 seemingly unrelated fields: parenting, charging electronic devices and security. The invention is non-obvious: as the problems associated with excessive screen time use by children are relatively new, a drastic approach of locking these devices as dangerous objects has not been adequately explored yet. Obvious solutions (like parental controls) only solve the problem of keeping harmful content from children's screens, not keeping children away from screens altogether.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0070] There are 6 (six) pages of drawings of the ChargerSafe. The drawings depict the invention from different angles and include perspectives, exploded views, sections and cross-sections.

[0071] Page 1: 3D rendering view

[0072] Page 2: Exploding view

[0073] Page 3: Common view: front, left side, right side, top view, back view

[0074] Page 4: Case

[0075] Page 5: Door

[0076] Page 6: Divider

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0077] ChargerSafe is meant to be a child- and teen-proofing device that parents use at home to control the amount of time children spend on the electronic devices. Its function is to protect the children from the dangers of excessive screen time use by creating a physical barrier between the child and electronic devices, with devices securely locked up while charging. Keeping devices inaccessible and out of sight removes temptation for unauthorized use and violation of screen time rules established by the parents, reduces parent-child conflict, makes screen time management easier, and improves physical and mental health of children for better long-term outcomes in life.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0078] ChargerSafe is an invention susceptible to industrial application because it can be manufactured by existing metal products manufacturers.

STATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART

[0079] Prior art search in USPTO system (key words included: “charging”, “safe”, “secure”, “lock”, “device”, “power”, “electronic”, and “station”) resulted in 1254 matches. Relevant prior art patents include but may not be limited to the following patent applications: 10,076,050; 10,169,619; 9,970,217; 9,680,518; 9,680,317; 65,510,642.

STATEMENT OF THE FEATURES FOR WHICH PROTECTION IS SOUGHT

[0080] The subject matter regarded by the applicant as the invention (ChargerSafe) is a secure metal box designed to be used by parents at home as a central location to lock electronic devices from children while charging devices at the same time. The goal of the invention is simplified screen time management to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive technology use. The invention gives parents control over the amount of screen time children are allowed to have by physically preventing unauthorized access to the devices.

[0081] The embodiments of the invention for which protection is sought are defined as follows. ChargerSafe is an apparatus comprising: