Battery charger having pocket with multiple sets of charging contacts
US5656914A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A battery charger (100) includes a charging pocket (112) capable of receiving either a first battery (102) in a first orientation or a second battery (104) in a second orientation. The charging pocket (112) includes a first set of contacts (170) and a second set of contacts (152). The contacts (172-175) of the first set of contacts (170) have a first spacing so as to mate with contacts (187) disposed on the first battery (102) when the first battery (102) is inserted into the charging pocket (112). The contacts (154-157) of the second set of contacts (152) have a second spacing so as to mate with contacts (199) disposed on the second battery (104) when the second battery (104) is inserted into the charging pocket (112). By providing two sets of contacts (170, 152) in a single charging pocket (112), the battery charger (100) can charge batteries (102, 104) having dissimilarly positioned contacts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.