Rechargeable battery pack and battery pack charger with safety mechanisms

• US 20020030467A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Small
• Original Assignee: David Small
• Inventors: Small, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,646,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5066 Type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Rechargeable battery packs include one or more key slots along a rear edge in order to distinguish it from other battery pack types and rectangular guide tabs to be backward compatible with former battery pack chargers and former battery operated devices. Battery pack chargers include one or more key tabs in a door and rectangular guide tabs to differentiate rechargeable battery packs that can be safely charged. Door closure switches on a safety switch to activate safe charging of a rechargeable battery pack with matching one or more key slots. The one or more key tabs and the one or more key slots provide a safety mechanism to distinguish rechargeable battery packs which can be safely charged. Rectangular guide tabs on sidewalls of an inner housing allow rectangular guide tabs of the rechargeable battery packs to slide under and further differentiates those that can be safely charged.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery pack comprising:

a plurality of batteries coupled in series to generate electrical capacity for a battery powered device and to receive a charging current from a charger; and

a battery pack housing to house the plurality of batteries, the battery pack housing having an opening to provide access to a battery case of one of the plurality of batteries, and, a left rectangular guide tab and a right rectangular guide tab to guide the rechargable battery pack into a battery powered device or a charger.

2. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the left rectangular guide tab is the first guide tab near the front of the left side of the rechargeable battery pack and the right rectangular guide tab is the first guide tab near the front of the right side of the rechargeable battery pack.

3. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the left rectangular guide tab slides over a ramp of a charger latch to allow insertion into a charger and engages with a vertical face of the charger latch to lock the rechargeable battery pack in place in the charger.

4. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 3 wherein,

a bottom side of the left rectangular guide tab slides over the ramp of the charger latch and a rear side of the left rectangular guide tab engages with the vertical face of the charger latch to lock the rechargeable battery pack in place in the charger.

5. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the right rectangular guide tab slides over a ramp of a right charger latch and engages with a vertical face of the right charger latch to lock the rechargeable battery pack in place in a charger.

6. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 5 wherein,

a bottom side of the right rectangular guide tab slides over the ramp of the right charger latch and a rear side of the right rectangular guide tab engages with the vertical face of the right charger latch to lock the rechargeable battery pack in place in the charger.

7. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 5 wherein,

the left rectangular guide tab slides over a ramp of a left charger latch initially at a front edge and engages with a vertical face of the left charger latch to lock the rechargeable battery pack in place in the charger.

8. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the opening in the battery pack housing allows a temperature sensor of a charger to thermally couple to the battery case of the one of the plurality of batteries.

9. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the battery case is the terminal casing of the one of the plurality of batteries and the opening in the battery pack housing allows a temperature sensor of a charger to mechanically, thermally, and electrically couple to the terminal casing of the one of the plurality of batteries.

10. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the left rectangular guide tab and the right rectangular guide tab are respectively on a left side and a right side and nearest a front side of the rechargeable battery pack and the rechargeable battery pack further includes,

a first mirrored-L shaped guide tab on the left side and a first L shaped guide tab on the right side of the battery pack housing.

11. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 10 wherein,

the first mirrored-L shaped guide tab and first L shaped guide tab are respectively nearest the middle on the left side and the right side of the rechargeable battery pack and the rechargeable battery pack further includes,

a second mirrored-L shaped guide tab on the left side and a second L shaped guide tab on the right side of the battery pack housing nearest a rear side of the rechargeable battery pack.

12. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 10 wherein,

the first mirrored-L shaped guide tab and the first L shaped guide tab engage with rectangular guide tabs of a charger to hold it in place and stop its forward insertion into the charger.

13. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 wherein,

the left rectangular guide tab and the right rectangular guide tab provide backward compatibility to allow the rechargeable battery back to be charged by former battery pack chargers at a slow charge rate and to operate in a plurality of former battery powered devices.

14. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more key tabs to distinguish the rechargeable battery pack.

15. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

an edge having one or more key slots to distinguish the rechargeable battery pack.

16. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 15 wherein,

the rechargeable battery pack is distinguished from others to indicate that it has the opening in the battery pack housing to provide access to the battery case of the one of the plurality of batteries.

17. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

a surface having one or more key slots to distinguish the rechargeable battery pack.

18. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 15 wherein,

the one or more key slots is an elongated key slot.

19. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

a first battery of the plurality of batteries coupled in series has a first terminal case with a first terminal at one end,

a second battery of the plurality of batteries coupled in series has a second terminal at an opposite end, and

the opening in the battery pack housing provides access to the first terminal case of the first battery.

20. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

a first contact on a right side and a second contact on a left side to couple to a charger to charge the plurality of batteries or to couple to a battery powered device to power it with the plurality of batteries.

21. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 20 wherein,

the battery pack housing has an upper half and a lower half, a front side and a back side and,

the first contact is in the upper half on the right side near the front side and the second contact is in the upper half on the left side near the front side.

22. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

a first battery of the plurality of batteries coupled in series has a first terminal case with a first terminal at one end,

a second battery of the plurality of batteries coupled in series has a second terminal at an opposite end,

the opening in the battery pack housing provides access to the first terminal case of the first battery, and

the rechargeable battery pack further includes,

a first contact on a right side, the first contact coupled to the first terminal of the first battery, and

a second contact on a left side, the second contact coupled to the second terminal of the second battery.

23. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein,

the opening is in a front side of the battery pack housing nearer a right side,

the left rectangular guide tab is in a base of a left side of the rechargeable battery pack nearer the front side, and

the right rectangular guide tab is in a base of the right side of the rechargeable battery pack nearer the front side.

25. The battery pack charger of claim 24 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is configured to selectively apply power to a first contact terminal of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

26. The battery pack charger of claim 25 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is activated with the door in a closed position to apply power to the first contact terminal of the battery pack charger and the first safety switch mechanism is deactivated with the door in an open position to remove power from the first contact terminal of the battery pack charger.

27. The battery pack charger of claim 25 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is configured to be activated and deactivated to switch an AC voltage on and off into a power supply of the battery pack charger to selectively apply power to the first contact terminal of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

28. The battery pack charger of claim 25 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is configured to be activated and deactivated to switch a DC voltage from a DC power supply on and off to selectively apply power to the first contact terminal of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

29. The battery pack charger of claim 25 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is configured to be activated and deactivated to selectively apply a DC voltage from a DC power supply into the first contact terminal of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

30. The battery pack charger of claim 24 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is a micro-switch.

31. The battery pack charger of claim 24 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is a leaf spring switch mechanism.

32. The battery pack charger of claim 31 wherein,

the leaf spring switch mechanism includes

a first spring loaded conductive strip and a first leaf spring conductive strip, the first spring loaded conductive strip and the first leaf spring conductive strip having a gap therebetween with the door being opened, the at least one lever arm to couple to the first leaf spring conductive strip upon closure of the door to close the gap and couple the first leaf spring conductive strip to the first spring loaded conductive strip

33. The battery pack charger of claim 32 wherein,

the first spring loaded conductive strip couples to an AC terminal of the battery pack charger and the first leaf spring conductive strip is coupled to an AC input of a power supply of the battery pack charger.

34. The battery pack charger of claim 32 wherein,

the first spring loaded conductive strip couples to one of the contact terminals of the battery pack charger and the first leaf spring conductive strip is coupled to a DC output of a power supply of the battery pack charger.

35. The battery pack charger of claim 25 further comprising:

a second safety switch mechanism configured to selectively apply power to a second contact terminal of the battery pack charger, the second safety switch mechanism responsive to opening and closing of the door.

36. The battery pack charger of claim 35 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are activated with the door in a closed position to apply power to the first and second contact terminals of the battery pack charger and the first and second safety switch mechanisms are deactivated with the door in an open position to remove power from the first and second contact terminals of the battery pack charger.

37. The battery pack charger of claim 35 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are configured to be activated and deactivated to switch an AC voltage on and off into a power supply of the battery pack charger to selectively apply power to the first and second contact terminals of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

38. The battery pack charger of claim 35 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are configured to be activated and deactivated to switch a DC voltage from a DC power supply on and off to selectively apply power to the first and second contact terminals of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

39. The battery pack charger of claim 35 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are activated and deactivated to selectively apply a DC voltage from a DC power supply into the first and second contact terminals of the battery pack charger in response to opening and closing of the door.

40. The battery pack charger of claim 35 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are micro-switches activated and deactivated in response to opening and closing of the door.

41. The battery pack charger of claim 35 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are leaf spring switch mechanisms activated and deactivated in response to opening and closing of the door.

42. The battery pack charger of claim 41 wherein,

each of the leaf spring switch mechanisms includes,

a first spring loaded conductive strip and a first leaf spring conductive strip, the first spring loaded conductive strip and the first leaf spring conductive strip having a gap therebetween with the door being opened, the at least one lever arm to couple to the first leaf spring conductive strip upon closure of the door to close the gap and couple the first leaf spring conductive strip to the first spring loaded conductive strip

43. The battery pack charger of claim 42 wherein,

each of the first spring loaded conductive strips couples to an AC terminal of the battery pack charger and each of the first leaf spring conductive strips is coupled to input AC terminals of a power supply of the battery pack charger.

44. The battery pack charger of claim 42 wherein,

each of the first spring loaded conductive strips couples to one of the contact terminals of the battery pack charger and each of the first leaf spring conductive strips is coupled to a DC output terminal of a power supply of the battery pack charger.

45. The battery pack charger of claim 24 wherein,

the inner housing includes a first rectangular guide tab on a sidwall of the inner housing to guide a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

46. The battery pack charger of claim 45 wherein,

the inner housing includes a second rectangular guide tab on a sidwall opposite the first rectangular guide tab, the second rectangular guide tab to guide a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

47. The battery pack charger of claim 45 wherein,

the first rectangular guide tab is positioned on the sidwall of the inner housing to allow a rectangular tab on a rechargeable battery pack to slide under and to catch an L shaped tab to prevent further insertion of a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

48. The battery pack charger of claim 47 wherein,

the first rectangular guide tab catches a first L shaped tab of a rechargeable battery pack to differentiate recharegable batttery packs that can be safely charged from those that can not be safely charged.

49. The battery pack charger of claim 45 wherein,

the first rectangular guide tab is positioned on the sidwall of the inner housing to allow a rectangular tab on a rechargeable battery pack to slide under and to catch an mirrored-L shaped tab to prevent further insertion of a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

50. The battery pack charger of claim 49 wherein,

the first rectangular guide tab catches a first mirrored-L shaped tab of a rechargeable battery pack to differentiate recharegable batttery packs that can be safely charged from those that can not be safely charged.

51. The battery pack charger of claim 46 wherein,

the first and second rectangular guide tabs are positioned on the sidwalls of the inner housing to allow a pair of rectangular tabs on a rechargeable battery pack to slide under and to catch an L shaped tab and an mirrored-L shaped tab respectively to prevent further insertion of a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

52. The battery pack charger of claim 49 wherein,

the first and second rectangular guide tabs catch a first L shaped tab and a first mirrored-L shaped tab of a rechargeable battery pack on opposite sides to differentiate recharegable batttery packs that can be safely charged from those that can not be safely charged.

53. The battery pack charger of claim 24 further comprising:

one or more key tabs configured to mate with one or more key slots of a rechargeable battery pack in order to distinguish it from other rechargeable battery packs.

54. The battery pack charger of claim 24 wherein,

the charger housing has one or more key slots to mate with one or more key tabs of a rechargeable battery pack in order to distinguish it from other rechargeable battery packs.

55. The battery pack charger of claim 25 further comprising:

a power supply coupled to the first safety switch mechanism to selectively receive an AC voltage and selectively apply DC power to the first contact terminal.

56. The battery pack charger of claim 55 wherein,

the power supply selectively applies a DC power having a DC current of a slow charge rate.

57. The battery pack charger of claim 55 wherein,

the power supply selectively applies a DC power having a DC current of a fast charge rate.

58. The battery pack charger of claim 55 wherein,

the power supply is a switching power supply.

59. The battery pack charger of claim 55 wherein,

the power supply is a linear power supply.

60. The battery pack charger of claim 35 further comprising:

a power supply coupled to the first and second safety switch mechanisms to selectively receive an AC voltage and selectively apply DC power to the first and second contact terminals.

61. The battery pack charger of claim 60 wherein,

the power supply selectively applies a DC power having a DC current of a slow charge rate.

62. The battery pack charger of claim 60 wherein,

the power supply selectively applies a DC power having a DC current of a fast charge rate.

63. The battery pack charger of claim 60 wherein,

the power supply includes a non-isolation transformer.

64. The battery pack charger of claim 60 wherein,

the power supply is a switching power supply.

65. The battery pack charger of claim 60 wherein,

the power supply is a linear power supply.

66. The battery pack charger of claim 24 further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to thermally couple to a rechargeable battery of a rechargeable battery pack to measure a temperature of the rechargeable battery.

67. The battery pack charger of claim 66 wherein,

the temperature sensor is configured to thermally couple to the rechargeable battery through an opening in the rechargeable battery pack.

68. The battery pack charger of claim 66 wherein,

the temperature sensor measures temperature of the rechargeable battery in the rechargeable battery pack to safely control at least one fast charge rate of the battery pack charger.

69. The battery pack charger of claim 24 further comprising:

a catch mechanism to allow insertion of a rechargeable battery pack into the battery pack charger and to hold it in place.

70. The battery pack charger of claim 69 wherein,

the catch mechanism includes a first catch to engage with a first rectangular tab of a rechargeable battery pack.

71. The battery pack charger of claim 70 wherein,

the catch mechanism further includes a second catch opposite the first to engage with a second rectangular tab of a rechargeable battery pack opposite the first rectangular tab.

72. The battery pack charger of claim 70 wherein,

the first catch of the catch mechanism further is ramp shaped from a rear side to engage with a front edge of the first rectangular tab to allow initial insertion and the first catch has a vertical surface on a front side to engage with a rear side of the first rectangular tab to hold the rechargeable battery pack in place.

73. The battery pack charger of claim 70 wherein,

the catch mechanism further includes a release button that upon depression by a user releases the hold of the catch mechanism to allow extraction of a rechargeable battery pack from the battery pack charger.

74. The battery pack charger of claim 73 wherein,

the catch mechanism further includes a spring and a spring arm and when the release button is depressed by a user it retracts the catch mechanism into a surface of the inner housing to allow a rectangular tab of a rechargeable battery pack to slide by to extract it from the battery pack charger.

75. The battery pack charger of claim 24 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is configured to open a first circuit in response to the door being in an open position to avoid power being applied to a first contact terminal of the battery pack charger.

76. The battery pack charger of claim 75 wherein,

the first safety switch mechanism is further configured to close the first circuit in response to the door being in a closed position.

77. The battery pack charger of claim 75 further comprising:

a second safety switch mechanism configured to open a second circuit in response to the door being in an open position to avoid power being applied to a second contact terminal of the battery pack charger.

78. The battery pack charger of claim 78 wherein,

the first and second safety switch mechanisms are further configured to close the first and second circuits in response to the door being in a closed position.

79. The battery pack charger of claim 78 further comprising:

a third safety switch mechanism configured to open a third circuit in response to the door being in an open position to avoid power being applied to a third contact terminal of the battery pack charger,

and wherein,

the first contact terminal of the battery pack charger is a positive contact terminal configured to couple to a positive terminal of a rechargeable battery pack,

the second contact terminal of the battery pack charger is a negative contact terminal configured to couple to a negative terminal of a rechargeable battery pack, and

the third contact terminal of the battery pack charger is a temperature sensing terminal configured to couple to a temperature sense terminal of a rechargeable battery pack.

24. A battery pack charger for charging a rechargeable battery pack, the battery pack charger comprising:

a charger housing having an opening to receive a rechargeable battery pack;

a door configured to cover the opening of the charger housing when closed; and

a first safety switch mechanism.

80. A method of constructing a rechargeable battery pack, the method comprising:

forming a top half and a bottom half of a battery pack housing, the battery pack housing having an opening in a front side to allow insertion of a temperature probe, and a pair of openings on a right and left side to allow protrusion of a pair of contact terminals, the bottom half having a pair of rectangular guide tabs near a front side on the left and right sides to couple the rechargeable battery pack into a battery pack charger or a battery powered device;

coupling a plurality of rechargeable batteries in series together, a first rechargeable battery of the series having a terminal coupled to one of the pair of contact terminals, a last rechargeable battery of the series having an opposite terminal coupled to the other one of the pair of contact terminals;

inserting the plurality of rechargeable batteries into the battery pack housing so that the terminal casing of the first rechargeable battery of the series is contactable by a temperature probe through the opening in the front side of the battery pack housing and the pair of contact terminals protrude through the pair of openings on the left and right side; and

fusing the top half and the bottom half of the battery pack housing together to hold the plurality of rechargeable batteries coupled in series together within the rechargeable battery pack.

81. The method of claim 80 of constructing a rechargeable battery pack wherein,

the battery pack housing further has a first L shaped guide tab near a middle of the right side and a first mirrored-L shaped guide tab near a middle of the left side.

82. The method of claim 81 of constructing a rechargeable battery pack wherein,

the battery pack housing further has a second L shaped guide tab near a near side on the right side and a second mirrored-L shaped guide tab near the rear side on the left side.

83. The method of claim 80 of constructing a rechargeable battery pack wherein,

the battery pack housing further has one or more key slots in a top rear edge to differentiate the rechargeable battery pack as being safe for fast charging by a battery pack charger.

84. The method of claim 80 of constructing a rechargeable battery pack wherein,

the one or more key slots is an elongated key slot in the top rear edge.

85. The method of claim 80 of constructing a rechargeable battery pack wherein,

the battery pack housing provides backward compatibilty by coupling to former battery pack chargers and former battery powered devices.

86. A method of differentiating rechargeable battery packs by a battery pack charger, the method comprising:

providing the battery pack charger with an inner housing for accepting a rechargeable battery pack, a door to enclose an opening into the inner housing and a safety switch mechanism responsive to operation of the door, and one or more key tabs;

providing the rechargeable battery pack, the rechargeable battery pack having one or more key slots;

inserting the rechargeable battery pack into the battery pack charger; and

closing the door of the battery pack charger on the rechargeable battery pack and determining if the one or more key tabs mate and engage with the one or more key slots in the rechargeable battery pack to further determine if the safety switch mechanism should switch on in response to the door being closed and cause the battery pack charger to charge the rechargeable battery pack.

87. The method of claim 86 of differentiating rechargeable battery packs in a battery pack charger wherein,

the one or more key tabs do not mate and engage with the one or more key slots in the rechargeable battery pack so that the door does not close,

and in response, the safety switch mechanism does not switch on to charge the rechargeable battery pack.

88. The method of claim 86 of differentiating rechargeable battery packs in a battery pack charger wherein,

the one or more key tabs do mate and engage with the one or more key slots in the rechargeable battery pack so that the door closes,

and in response, the safety switch mechanism switches on to charge the rechargeable battery pack.

89. The method of claim 86 of differentiating rechargeable battery packs in a battery pack charger wherein,

the inner housing of the battery pack charger has left and right rectangular guide tabs on left and right side walls;

and

the inserting of the rechargeable battery pack into the battery pack charger determines if the rechargeable battery pack being inserted has left and right rectangular guide tabs on left and right sides respectively nearest a front side to slide under the left and right rectanglular guide tabs on the left and right side walls of the battery pack charger to be safely charged therein.

90. The method of claim 86 of differentiating rechargeable battery packs in a battery pack charger wherein,

the rechargeable battery pack does not have left and right rectangular guide tabs on left and right sides respectively nearest a front side and can not slide under the left and right rectanglular guide tabs on the left and right side walls of the battery pack charger and can not be safely charged therein.

91. The method of claim 86 of differentiating rechargeable battery packs in a battery pack charger wherein,

the rechargeable battery pack does has left and right rectangular guide tabs on left and right sides respectively nearest a front side and slides under the left and right rectanglular guide tabs on the left and right side walls of the battery pack charger to be safely charged therein.

92. A battery pack charger for distinguishing rechargeable battery packs, the battery pack charger comprising:

a charger housing having an opening to receive a rechargeable battery pack into an inner housing; and

a first rectangular guide tab on a first sidwall of the inner housing to guide a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

93. The battery pack charger of claim 92 wherein,

the first rectangular guide tab is positioned on the sidwall of the inner housing to allow a rectangular tab on a first rechargeable battery pack to slide under for complete insertion and to catch an L shaped tab on a second rechargeable battery pack to prevent further insertion of it into the inner housing of the battery pack charger,

the first rectangular guide tab catches a first L shaped tab to differentiate recharegable batttery packs that can be safely charged from those that can not be safely charged.

94. The battery pack charger of claim 92 wherein,

the first rectangular guide tab is positioned on the sidwall of the inner housing to allow a rectangular tab on a first rechargeable battery pack to slide under for complete insertion and to catch a mirrored-L shaped tab on a second rechargeable battery back to prevent further insertion of it into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

95. The battery pack charger of claim 92 further comprising:

a second rectangular guide tab on a second sidwall of the inner housing opposite the first rectangular guide tab, the second rectangular guide tab to guide a rechargeable battery pack into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

96. The battery pack charger of claim 95 wherein,

the first and second rectangular guide tabs are positioned on the sidwalls of the inner housing to allow a pair of rectangular tabs of a first rechargeable battery pack to slide under for complete insertion and to catch an L shaped tab and a mirrored-L shaped tab of a second rechargeable battery pack to prevent further insertion of it into the inner housing of the battery pack charger.

97. The battery pack charger of claim 95 wherein,

the first and second rectangular guide tabs catch a first L shaped tab and a first mirrored-L shaped tab to differentiate recharegable batttery packs that can be safely charged from those that can not be safely charged.

98. The battery pack charger of claim 92 further comprising:

a door configured to cover the opening of the charger housing when closed and to prohibit charging of a rechargeable battery pack when open, the door having one or more key tabs on an inside surface.

99. The battery pack charger of claim 92 further comprising:

one or more key tabs to distinguish rechargeable battery packs by mating with one or more key slots of a rechargeable battery pack to allow it to be fully inserted and the door to close into a closed postion for it to be charged.

100. The battery pack charger of claim 98 wherein,

the one or more key tabs is an elongated key tab.

101. The ornamental design for a rechargeable battery pack, substantially as shown and described.