Mobile Phone Charging Stand Incorporating Ink Refill Unit

Abstract

A charging stand for charging a mobile phone, includes a base defining a receptacle for receiving the mobile phone; a battery charging circuit for supplying a charging voltage to the mobile phone; a removable ink cartridge received in the receptacle, the removable ink cartridge for supplying ink to a printer of the mobile phone; a hollow cartridge connection pin protruding from the base for effecting fluid communication with the removable ink cartridge; a hollow device connection pin protruding from the base for effecting fluid communication with the mobile phone; an ink connection provided in the base molding, the ink connection connecting the cartridge connection pin and the device connection pin; and an elastomeric molding formed around the cartridge connection pin and device connection pin, the elastomeric molding covering respective outlets of the cartridge connection pin and device connection pin. The elastomeric molding is adapted to compress upon receipt of the mobile phone in the receptacle to expose the respective outlets.

1 . A charging stand for charging a mobile phone, the stand comprising:
 a base defining a receptacle for receiving the mobile phone;   a battery charging circuit for supplying a charging voltage to the mobile phone;   a removable ink cartridge received in the receptacle, the removable ink cartridge for supplying ink to a printer of the mobile phone;   a hollow cartridge connection pin protruding from the base for effecting fluid communication with the removable ink cartridge;   a hollow device connection pin protruding from the base for effecting fluid communication with the mobile phone;   an ink connection provided in the base molding, the ink connection connecting the cartridge connection pin and the device connection pin; and   an elastomeric molding formed around the cartridge connection pin and device connection pin, the elastomeric molding covering respective outlets of the cartridge connection pin and device connection pin, wherein   the elastomeric molding is adapted to compress upon receipt of the mobile phone in the receptacle to expose the respective outlets.   
   
   
       2 . A charging stand as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a backrest and a pair of spaced lateral walls extending from the backrest which together define the receptacle, and the ink cartridge is received between the mobile phone and the backrest. 
   
   
       3 . A charging stand as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the battery charging circuit includes a power cord extending into the base, step-down circuitry for reducing a supplied voltage from the cord, and exposed contacts configured to supply the reduced voltage as the charging voltage to a battery of the mobile phone. 
   
   
       4 . A charging stand as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the step-down circuitry includes a Printed Circuit Board located within the base and a rectifier mounted to the PCB for rectifying an AC supply voltage to a DC output voltage. 
   
   
       5 . A charging stand as claimed in claim  13 , wherein the step-down circuitry includes a Printed Circuit Board located within the base and a voltage regulator means mounted to the PCB for regulating an automotive DC supply voltage to a mobile phone DC supply voltage. 
   
   
       6 . A charging stand as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a speaker connected to a protruding speaker plug in the receptacle. 
   
   
       7 . A charging stand as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a quality assurance integrated circuit arrangement provided in the base to validate authentic ink cartridges.