ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE THAT UTILIZES MULTIPLE POWER SOURCES

• US 20090001816A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Tarter, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,384,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/65
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• 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 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An electrical appliance (20) that accepts multiple different self-contained power sources (24, 33). As an example, an electrical appliance may receive a rechargeable battery pack (24) or a power cartridge (33) that is designed to receive disposable batteries (40). If the user does not have sufficient power left in a battery pack (24), the power cartridge (33) may be filled with disposable dry cell batteries (40), and may be inserted in the electrical appliance (20) to provide power. Another self contained power cartridge (44) may include a fuel cell. The fuel cell power cartridge (44) may include removable fuel cell cartridges (48), for example, each having a fuel therein, such as hydrogen.

Claims

1. An electrical appliance, comprising:

a cavity comprising power contacts for the electrical appliance;

a rechargeable battery comprising first contacts, the rechargeable battery fitting in the cavity with the first contacts connecting to the power contacts so that the rechargeable battery provides power to the electrical appliance; and

a power cartridge comprising second contacts, the power cartridge being designed to receive disposable dry cell batteries and fitting into the cavity with the second contacts connecting to the power contacts to provide power to the electrical appliance.

2. The electrical appliance of claim 1, further comprising a fuel cell cartridge that includes a fuel cell and third contacts and that fits in the cavity with the third contacts connecting to the power contacts to provide power to the electrical appliance.

3. The electrical appliance of claim 1, wherein the power cartridge comprises a compartment for receiving a plurality of disposable dry cell batteries.

4. The electrical appliance of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a first locking feature associated therewith, and wherein the rechargeable battery and the power cartridge each comprise a second locking feature, the first locking feature and the second locking feature cooperating to releasably lock the rechargeable battery and the power cartridge, respectively, into the cavity.

5. A power source for an electrical appliance, the electrical appliance comprising a recess comprising power contacts and the recess for receiving a rechargeable battery pack, the power source comprising:

a power cartridge comprising second contacts, the power cartridge being designed to receive disposable dry cell batteries and fitting into the cavity with the second contacts connecting to the power contacts to provide power to the electrical appliance.

6. The power source of claim 5, wherein the power cartridge comprises a compartment for receiving a plurality of disposable dry cell batteries.

7. The electrical appliance of claim 5, wherein the cavity includes a first locking feature associated therewith for releasably locking the rechargeable battery pack therein utilizing a second locking feature on the rechargeable battery pack, and wherein the power cartridge comprises a second locking feature.

8. A power source for an electrical appliance, the electrical appliance comprising a recess comprising power contacts and the recess for receiving a rechargeable battery pack, the power source comprising:

a fuel cell power cartridge that includes a fuel cell and third contacts and that fits in the cavity with the third contacts connecting to the power contacts to provide power to the electrical appliance.

9. The power source of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell power cartridge comprises a refillable fuel cell cartridge.

10. The power source of claim 9, wherein the refillable fuel cell cartridge stores hydrogen.

11. The electrical appliance of claim 8, wherein the cavity includes a first locking feature associated therewith for releasably locking the rechargeable battery pack therein utilizing a second locking feature on the rechargeable battery pack, and wherein the fuel cell power cartridge comprises a second locking feature.