Electrical component, such as a radio, MP3 player, audio component, battery charger, radio/charger, MP3 player/radio, MP3 player/charger or MP3 player/radio/charger, having a selectively connectable battery charger

• US 20050083013A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zick, Jonathan A., Bublitz, Scott D., Ottens-Rendon, Melissa A., Rozwadowski, David J., Santana, George L. Jr., Zeiler, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrical component, such as, for example, a radio, MP3 player, audio component, battery charger, radio/charger, MP3 player/radio, MP3 player/charger, or MP3 player/radio/charger. The electrical component includes a housing and an electrical circuit supported by the housing. In some aspects, the electrical component is an audio component and the electrical circuit is an audio circuit. In other aspects, the electrical component is a battery charger and the electrical circuit is a charging circuit. In further aspects, the electrical component is an MP3 player and the electrical circuit is a MP3 circuit. In yet further aspects, the electrical component is an combination of any or all of a radio, battery charger, and MP3 player and the electrical component can include any combination or all of the audio, radio, and MP3 circuits. A battery may be connectable to the housing and electrically connectable the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. An audio component comprising:

a housing;

a circuit for producing an audio signal, the circuit being supported by the housing, a battery being supportable by the housing and electrically connectable to the circuit; and

a locking assembly operable to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing.

2. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines a receptacle having an open end, the battery being supportable in the receptacle, the housing including a cover selectively closing the open end of the receptacle.

3. An audio component according to claim 2, further comprising a biasing member supported in the receptacle and operable to bias the battery out of the receptacle.

4. An audio component according to claim 3, wherein the cover includes a second biasing member, the second biasing member biasing the battery into the receptacle.

5. An audio component according to claim 2, further comprising an electrical connector assembly for connecting the battery to the circuit, the electrical connector assembly being supported in the receptacle.

6. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the audio component further comprising a biasing member being supportable on the closed end of the receptacle to bias the battery out of the receptacle.

7. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the locking assembly includes a locking projection on one of the battery and the housing and a recess defined by the other of the battery and the housing, the locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the projection engages the recess to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the battery is movable relative to the housing.

8. An audio component according to claim 7, wherein the locking assembly includes a biasing member biasing the locking projection toward the locked position.

9. An audio component according to claim 8, wherein the locking assembly includes an actuator operable to move the locking projection between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the biasing member biases the actuator to a position corresponding to the locked position of the locking projection to bias the locking projection to the locked position.

10. An audio component according to claim 7, wherein the locking assembly includes an actuator operable to move the locking projection from the locked position to the unlocked position.

11. An audio component according to claim 10, wherein the actuator is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking projection being in the locked position thereof when the actuator is in the locked position thereof, and the locking projection being in the unlocked position thereof when the actuator is in the unlocked position thereof.

12. An audio component according to claim 11, wherein the actuator allows the locking projection to move from the locked position of the locking projection to the unlocked position of the locking projection.

13. An audio component according to claim 11, wherein the actuator moves the locking projection from the locked position to the unlocked position of the locking projection.

14. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a power tool battery operable to power a power tool, the circuit being electrically connectable to the power tool battery.

15. An audio component according to claim 14, wherein the battery is a slide-on power tool battery, the housing including a support portion, the support portion selectively supporting the slide-on power tool battery.

16. An audio component according to claim 15, wherein one of the slide-on power tool battery and the support portion include a projection, the other of the slide-on power tool battery and the support portion defining a recess, the projection being engageable in the recess to support the slide-on power tool battery on the support portion.

17. An audio component according to claim 14, wherein the power tool battery includes a battery locking assembly to lock the power tool battery to a power tool, the locking assembly cooperating with the battery locking assembly to lock the power tool battery in a position relative to the housing.

18. An audio component according to claim 17, wherein the battery locking assembly includes a battery locking projection on the power tool battery, the battery locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the projection engages a recess on the power tool to lock the power tool battery to the power tool, and an unlocked position, in which the power tool battery is movable relative to the power tool, wherein the locking assembly includes a locking projection on the housing and the battery locking projection provides a recess, the locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the locking projection engages the recess to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the battery is movable relative to the housing.

19. An audio component according to claim 18, wherein the housing defines a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the battery being supportable in the receptacle, the receptacle defining an axis of insertion extending from the open end of the receptacle to the closed end of the receptacle, and wherein the battery locking projection of the battery locking assembly is movable perpendicularly to the axis of insertion between the locked position and the unlocked position.

20. An audio component according to claim 1, further comprising a charging circuit supported by the housing, the charging circuit being selectively connectable to the battery, the charging circuit being operable to charge the battery.

21. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a power tool battery operable to power a power tool, the circuit being electrically connectable to the power tool battery.

22. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a tower power tool battery, the housing defining an opening, the opening selectively supporting the tower power tool battery.

23. An audio component according to claim 22, wherein the tower power tool battery includes a battery insertion portion, the battery insertion portion being engageable in the opening of the housing to support the tower power tool battery on the housing.

24. An audio component according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector assembly for connecting the battery to the circuit, the electrical connector assembly being supported in the receptacle.

25. An audio component according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting the battery to the circuit, wherein the locking assembly locks the battery to the electrical connector assembly.

26. An audio component according to claim 25, wherein the locking assembly includes a locking projection on one of the battery and the electrical connector assembly and a recess defined by the other of the battery and the electrical connector assembly, the locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the projection engages the recess to lock the battery in a position relative to the electrical connector assembly, and an unlocked position, in which the battery is movable relative to the electrical connector assembly.

27. An electrical component comprising:

a housing;

an electrical circuit supported by the housing; and

a connector assembly for supporting a battery and for connecting the battery to the electrical circuit, the connector assembly being movably supported by the housing.

28. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the electrical component is an audio component, and wherein the electrical circuit is an audio circuit for producing an audio signal.

29. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the electrical component is a battery charger, and wherein the electrical circuit is a charging circuit electrically connectable to the battery and to a power source and operable to charge the battery.

30. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the housing defines a receptacle, and wherein the battery is supportable in the receptacle.

31. An electrical component according to claim 30, further comprising a biasing member to bias the battery toward the open end of the receptacle.

32. An electrical component according to claim 31, wherein the biasing member is supported between the housing and the connector assembly to bias the connector assembly toward the open end of the receptacle.

33. An electrical component according to claim 31, wherein the receptacle has an open end and a closed end, the biasing member being supportable on the closed end of the receptacle.

34. An electrical component according to claim 33, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

35. An electrical component according to claim 30, wherein the battery is one of a first battery having a first dimension and a second battery having a second dimension, the first dimension being different than the second dimension, and wherein the receptacle selectively receives one of the first battery and the second battery.

36. An electrical component according to claim 35, wherein the receptacle accommodates only one of the first battery and second battery at a time.

37. An electrical component according to claim 36, wherein the receptacle has an open end and a closed end, the receptacle defines an axis of insertion extending from the open end of the receptacle to the closed end of the receptacle, wherein the battery is one of a first battery having a first dimension and a second battery having a second dimension, the first dimension and the second dimension being measured generally along the axis of insertion.

38. An electrical component according to claim 37, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal, and wherein the connector assembly includes a connector terminal connected to the electrical circuit, the battery terminal being connectable to the connector terminal, the battery terminal and the connector terminal being supportable in the receptacle.

39. An electrical component according to claim 30, wherein the receptacle has an open end, and wherein the housing includes a cover selectively closing the open end of the receptacle.

40. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the connector assembly includes a support portion, the battery being supportable on the support portion, the support portion being movable relative to the housing.

41. An electrical component according to claim 40, wherein one of the battery and the support portion includes a projection and the other of the battery and the support portion defines a recess, the projection being engageable in the recess to support the battery on the connector assembly.

42. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal, and wherein the connector assembly includes a connector terminal connected to the electrical circuit, the connector terminal being movable relative to the housing, the battery terminal being connectable to the connector terminal to connect the battery to the electrical circuit.

43. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal, and wherein the connector assembly includes a support portion for supporting the battery and a connector terminal connected to the electrical circuit, the support member and the connector terminal being movable relative to the housing, the battery terminal being connected to the terminal to connect the battery to the electrical circuit.

44. An electrical component according to claim 27, further comprising a locking assembly operable to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing.

45. An electrical component according to claim 44, wherein the housing defines a receptacle having an open end, the battery being supportable in the receptacle, and wherein the locking assembly includes a cover supported by the housing, the cover closing the open end of the receptacle to lock the battery to the housing.

46. An electrical component according to claim 44, wherein the locking assembly includes a locking projection on one of the connector assembly and the housing and a recess defined by the other of the connector assembly and the housing, the locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the projection engages the recess to lock the connector assembly in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the connector assembly is movable relative to the housing.

47. An electrical component according to claim 46, wherein the locking assembly includes an actuator operable to control movement of the locking projection between the locked position and the unlocked position.

48. An electrical component according to claim 46, wherein the locking assembly includes a biasing member biasing the locking projection toward the locked position.

49. An electrical component according to claim 48, wherein the locking assembly includes an actuator operable to control movement of the locking projection between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the biasing member biases the actuator to a position corresponding to the locked position of the locking projection to bias the locking projection to the locked position.

50. An electrical component according to claim 27, wherein the electrical component is a MP3 player and the electrical circuit is a MP3 circuit operable to produce a MP3 signal.

51. An electrical component comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle having an open end, the housing including a cover selectively closing the open end of the receptacle; and

an electrical circuit supported by the housing, a first battery being supportable in the receptacle and connectable to the electrical circuit, the first battery having a first dimension, a second battery being supportable in the receptacle and connectable to the electrical circuit, the second battery having a second dimension, the first dimension being different than the second dimension, the receptacle selectively receiving one of the first battery and the second battery.

52. An electrical combination comprising:

an audio component including

a component housing including a component connector, and

an audio circuit supported by the component housing and operable to produce an audio signal, the audio circuit being electrically connectable to a power source; and

a battery charger including

a charger housing including a charger connector, the charger connector being connectable with the component connector to removably connect the charger housing to the component housing, and

a charging circuit connectable to a battery and to a power source and operable to charge the battery.