Computer Servicing Cart

Abstract

A computer servicing cart containing one or more battery servicing compartments or modules for charging and storing batteries for electronic devices, such as computers, cellular phones, and PDAs. One or more computer servicing compartments or modules for charging and storing electronic devices, such as computers, cellular phones, and PDAs. One or more internal power supplies selectively connectable to at external electrical outlet. A power shedding control circuit to prevent the cart from overloading an external outlet.

1 . A computer servicing cart comprising: 
 a first battery servicing compartment disposed in the outer cabinet for selectively charging one or more batteries; and    a first computer storage compartment disposed in the outer cabinet and including a first electrical outlet for selectively charging one or more computers;    a first internal power supply for providing power to at least the first battery servicing compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 1  wherein the first internal power supply is selectively connectable to an external electrical outlet.  
   
   
       3 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 1  wherein the computer storage compartment further comprises: 
 at least one shelf;    at least one electrical outlet adjacent to each shelf; and    at least one compartment adapted to conceal at least one AC/DC adapter for use with a computer.    
   
   
       4 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 2  wherein: 
 each shelf adjusts vertically;    each shelf is tilted downward toward a back end at a predetermined angle;    each shelf has a recessed portion near a front end adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of computers; and    each shelf has a retainer adapted to guide an adapter cord to the computer.    
   
   
       5 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 1  wherein the outer cabinet further comprises a plurality of wheels;  
   
   
       6 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 1  further comprising a cooling system.  
   
   
       7 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 1  wherein the first battery servicing compartment further comprises a storage system adapted for storing the one or more batteries.  
   
   
       8 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 7  wherein the first battery servicing compartment is adaptable to store and charge different battery types.  
   
   
       9 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second internal power supply;    a second computer storage compartment; and    a power shedding circuit, the power shedding circuit comprising: 
 a current sensing device adapted to measure current drawn from the external electrical outlet;  
 a first relay adapted for controlling power to the first computer storage compartment;  
 a second relay adapted for controlling power to the second computer storage compartment; and  
 logic circuitry adapted for: 
 closing the first and second relays, and activating the second power supply in a predetermined order when the first power supply is activated;  
 opening the relays and deactivating the second power supply in a predetermined order when the current sensing device indicates a current being drawn from the external electrical outlet in excess of a predefined limit;  
 recording a relay or power supply and a current drawn by the relay or power supply that caused the current drawn that is over the predefined limit;  
 monitoring the current drawn from the external electrical outlet such that a deactivated power supply or an opened relay can be activated or closed respectively when the current drawn from the external outlet has fallen enough to allow reactivation or closing without causing current to be drawn that is in excess of the predefined limit; and  
 deactivating the second power supply and opening the first and second relays when the first power supply is deactivated.  
 
   
   
   
       10 . A computer servicing cart comprising: 
 a first battery servicing module for selectively charging one or more batteries;    a first computer storage module containing at least one electrical outlet for selectively charging one or more computers; and    a first internal power supply for providing power to at least the first battery servicing module.    
   
   
       11 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 10  wherein the first internal power supply is selectively connectable to an external electrical outlet.  
   
   
       12 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 10  wherein the computer storage module further comprises: 
 at least one shelf;    at least one electrical outlet adjacent to each shelf;    at least one compartment adapted to conceal at least one AC/DC adapter for use with a computer.    
   
   
       13 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 12  wherein: 
 at least one shelf adjusts vertically;    at least one shelf is tilted downward toward at a back end at a predetermined angle; and    at least one shelf has a recessed portion near a front end adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of computers.    
   
   
       14 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 10  wherein the first battery servicing compartment further comprises a storage system adapted to store the one or more of batteries.  
   
   
       15 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 14  wherein the first battery servicing module is adaptable to store and charge different battery types respectively.  
   
   
       16 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 10  further comprising a wheeled transport module, the transport module comprising: 
 a plurality of wheels attached to a frame;    wherein the frame is adapted to detachably receive at least the first computer storage module and the first battery servicing module.    
   
   
       17 . The computer servicing cart of  claim 10  further comprising a ventilation system.  
   
   
       18 . The computer servicing car of  claim 11  farther comprising: 
 a second computer storage module;    a second power supply disposed in the battery servicing module; and    a power shedding circuit comprising: 
 a first and second relay adapted to connect the first and second computer storage modules, respectively, to the external outlet;  
 a current sensing device adapted to measure the current drawn from the external outlet; and  
 logic circuitry adapted for: 
 closing the first and second relays, and activating the second power supply in a predetermined order when the first power supply is activated;  
 opening the relays and deactivating the second power supply in a predetermined order when the current sensing device indicates a current being drawn from the external electrical outlet in excess of a predefined limit;  
 recording a relay or power supply and the current that caused the current drawn from the external outlet that is over the predefined limit;  
 monitoring the current drawn from the external outlet such that a deactivated power supply or an opened relay can be activated or closed respectively when the current drawn from the external outlet has fallen enough to allow reactivation or closing without causing current to be drawn that is in excess of the predefined limit; and  
 deactivating the second power supply and opening the first and second relays when the first power supply is deactivated.  
 
   
   
   
       19 . A power shedding circuit for selective disconnection of loads from a power source to prevent overloading, the power shedding circuit comprising: 
 a current sensing device for monitoring current drawn from an external electrical outlet;    a plurality of logical outputs to indicate a power on or power off state for a plurality of devices powered by the outlet;    logic circuitry adapted for: 
 setting the logical outputs from power oft to power on, in a predetermined order when the power shedding circuit is activated;  
 setting the logical outputs from power on, to power off, in a predetermined order when the current sensing device indicates a current being drawn from the outlet that is in excess of a predetermined limit;  
 recording a logical output, and the current drawn, that caused the current to be drawn from outlet that is in excess of the predefined limit;  
 monitoring the current drawn from the external outlet such that a logical output set to power off can be set back to power on when the total current from the outlet has fallen enough to allow powering on without causing the current in excess of the predefined limit to be drawn from the outlet; and  
 setting the logical outputs to power off when the shedding circuit is deactivated.  
   
   
   
       20 . The power shedding circuit of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the current sensing device comprises a Hall effect sensor;    the logic circuitry comprises a microcontroller;    at least one of the logical outputs is adapted to power up an external device by use of a relay connected from the external device to the outlet.