VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGER WITH IMPROVED CABLE STORAGE

• US 20130099738A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Brockman, Daryl Charles, Roberts, Julie Christine, Demirjian, Gerald Jay, Repp, Timothy Corcoran
• Granted Patent: US 8,901,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/12 Starting of engines by means of mobile, e.g. portable, starting sets
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A vehicle battery charger including a base unit configured to store various cables and clamps are provided. A battery charging cable and pair of battery terminal clamps coupled to the charging cable may be stored in a compartment formed in the base unit when not in use, the clamps secured to pegs mounted within the compartment and a cover closing over the compartment. A grid power cable that provides electrical power to the battery charger may be wrapped around a channel formed in the base unit and secured in the channel with a retainer when not in use.

Claims

1. A vehicle battery charger, comprising:

a battery charging base unit;

a battery charging power supply disposed in the base unit;

a grid power cable coupled to the battery charging power supply and extending from the base unit;

a battery charging cable assembly coupled to the battery charging power supply and extending from the base unit, the battery charging cable assembly comprising a cable and a pair of battery terminal clamps secured to the cable and configured to be secured to terminals of a battery to be charged; and

a compartment formed in the base unit and configured to receive the battery charging cable assembly when not in use.

2. The vehicle battery charger of claim 1, comprising a pair of peg mounts in the compartment, the peg mounts being configured to receive the clamps when not in use.

3. The vehicle battery charger of claim 2, wherein each of the clamps comprises a pivot assembly having an aperture formed therethrough, and wherein each of the peg mounts is configured to be received in the pivot assembly aperture of a respective clamp.

4. The vehicle battery charger of claim 1, comprising a cover configured to substantially close the compartment when the charging cable and the clamps are not in use.

5. The vehicle battery charger of claim 4, wherein the cover is also configured to substantially cover the compartment when the charging cable and clamps are in use.

6. The vehicle battery charger of claim 5, wherein the base unit and/or the cover comprises at least one aperture configured to permit passage of the charging cable therethrough when in use with the cover over the compartment.

7. The vehicle battery charger of claim 4, wherein the cover is hinged to the base unit.

8. The vehicle battery charger of claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a channel configured to receive the grid power cable when not in use.

9. The vehicle battery charger of claim 8, wherein the channel is configured to permit wrapping of the grid power cable around the base unit when not in use.

10. The vehicle battery charger of claim 9, comprising a retainer disposed adjacent to the channel and configured to be secured over the grid power cable when not in use to hold the grid power cable in the channel.

11. The vehicle battery charger of claim 8, wherein the channel is disposed between a main body of the base unit and the compartment.

12. A vehicle battery charger, comprising:

a battery charging base unit;

a battery charging power supply disposed in the base unit;

a charging cable coupled to the battery charging power supply and extending from the base unit;

a pair of battery terminal clamps secured to the cable and configured to be secured to terminals of a battery to be charged; and

a compartment formed in the base unit and configured to receive the battery charging cable and the clamps when not in use.

13. The vehicle battery charger of claim 12, comprising a cover configured to substantially close the compartment when the charging cable and the clamps are not in use.

14. The vehicle battery charger of claim 13, wherein the cover is also configured to substantially cover the compartment when the charging cable and clamps are in use.

15. The vehicle battery charger of claim 14, wherein the base unit and/or the cover comprises at least one aperture configured to permit passage of the charging cable therethrough when in use with the cover over the compartment.

16. The vehicle battery charger of claim 13, wherein the cover is hinged to the base unit.

17. A vehicle battery charger, comprising:

a battery charging base unit;

a battery charging power supply disposed in the base unit;

a charging cable coupled to the battery charging power supply and extending from the base unit;

a pair of battery terminal clamps secured to the cable and configured to be secured to terminals of a battery to be charged; and

a compartment formed in the base unit and configured to receive the clamps when not in use.

18. The vehicle battery charger of claim 17, comprising a pair of peg mounts in the compartment, the peg mounts being configured to receive the clamps when not in use.

19. The vehicle battery charger of claim 18, wherein each of the clamps comprises a pivot assembly having an aperture formed therethrough, and wherein each of the peg mounts is configured to be received in the pivot assembly aperture of a respective clamp.

20. The vehicle battery charger of claim 17, comprising a cover configured to substantially close the compartment when the charging cable and the clamps are not in use.