ADAPTER FOR FOLDABLE BATTERY CHARGER

• US 20140132205A1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bren-Tronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bren-Tronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Paczkowski, Henry, Burke, Peter J., Fung, Sai, Sha, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,276,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

An adapter for a portable battery charging apparatus having two or more battery charging interfaces on separate panels. Wires electrically couple the battery charging apparatuses to a charger unit. The wires are routed for flexibility to fold and unfold the panels. The adapter is configured to nest between two panels of the battery charging apparatus when the panels are stacked together in a compact folded state.

Claims

1. A portable battery charging apparatus comprising:

a first and a second battery charging interface which define a first and second panel respectively;

a charger unit defining a third panel;

electrical wires operatively coupling said charger unit to said first and second battery charging interfaces and having hinge-like flexibility to allow the panels to be configurable between two states comprising 0) a compact folded state in which all three panels are stacked on top of each other thereby conserving space during transport, and (ii) an unfolded operational state in which at least the first and second panels are arranged side-by-side thereby providing clearance to insert batteries into said first and second battery charging interfaces; and

an adapter configured to couple to one of said battery charging interfaces in the compact folded state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein adjacent panels have sides which meet each other along a hinge axis that extends in a longitudinal direction, and wherein said electrical wires have a central section that extends generally parallel to the hinge axis, wherein said central section is twisted when the adjacent panels are pivoted between the two states.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electrical wires have a distal section and a proximal section which extend generally perpendicularly from the central section in opposite directions from each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each battery charging interface includes:

a distal and a proximal end;

a first charging station at the distal end and a second charging station at the proximal end, wherein said adapter couples to one of said charging stations to provide a differently configured charging station.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said charger unit includes means for identifying different battery types when connected to one of said first charging station, said second charging station, and said adapter and means for selectively and independently powering each connected battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein

said first battery charging interface has a raised charging station at the distal end and a depressed charging station at the proximal end;

and

said second battery charging interface has a depressed charging station at the distal end and a raised charging station at the proximal end.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first battery charging interface and said second battery charging interface face each other in the compact folded state, wherein said adapter is sandwiched between said first and second battery charging interfaces.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in the compact folded state the two raised charging stations fit within the two depressed charging stations, wherein said adapter has a low-profile housing disposed between one of said raised charging stations and one of said depressed charging stations.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each battery charging interface includes an insulating pad that resides between the raised charging station and the corresponding fitted depressed charging station in the compact, folded state to prevent short circuits between the charging stations, and wherein said adapter is disposed between said insulating pad and one of said charging stations.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a foldable mat, wherein said charger unit and said battery charging interfaces are mounted to the mat, wherein said mat is made of a flexible material selected from the group consisting of a waterproof material, nylon material, canvas material, a synthetic material, and a thermoplastic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more battery charging interfaces defining a fourth or more panels.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charger unit includes battery status indicators and a control to shut off the indicators, and wherein each battery charging interface includes a circuit to identify at least one of adapter presence, battery presence, battery type, battery state-of-charge, and recharge status, and wherein information is transmitted between the circuit and the charger unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said charger unit includes one of a USB jack and a portable device charging jack, wherein said charger unit further includes a portable device charging circuit for powering one of the USB jack and portable device jack from a battery coupled to one of the battery charging interfaces and the adapter.

14. An adapter for modifying a battery charging station on a portable battery charger comprising:

an adapter having a low-profile housing including;

an input connection for electrically coupling to a battery charging station of a first type located on a panel of a portable battery charger; and

an output connection of a second type; and

said low-profile housing being adapted and configured to nest between two panels of a portable battery charger when the panels are stacked together in a compact folded state.

15. The adapter of claim 14, wherein said low-profile housing includes a centrally-located, depression that is dimensioned and positioned to overlie a depressed charging jack on one panel and to receive a raised charging jack located on a facing panel of a portable battery charger.

16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein said low-profile housing includes an elongated body that spaces said output connection from said input connection, wherein said elongated body is dimensioned to locate said output connection outboard of the panels of a portable battery charger.

17. The adapter of claim 15, wherein said low-profile housing includes an elongated body that spaces said output connection from said input connection, wherein said elongated body is dimensioned to locate said output connection outboard of a mat which supports the panels of a portable battery charger.

18. The adapter of claim 17, wherein said output connection comprises a fixed battery charging station that is adapted and configured to couple to a battery having an interface different than said input connection.

19. The adapter of claim 17, wherein said output connection comprises a cable terminating in a battery charging jack that is adapted and configured to couple to a battery having an interface different than said input connection.

20. The adapter of claim 14, wherein said adapter is configured to cooperate with a circuit to identify at least one of adapter presence, battery presence, battery type, battery state-of-charge, and recharge status.