BATTERY CHARGER INCLUDING MULTIPLE CHARGING PORTS

• US 20150303717A1
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Schneider, Scott, Coulis, Christian, Hull, James S., Rosenbecker, Jay, Bublitz, Scott D.
• Application Number:
  US14/755,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20150303717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery charger for charging a first battery pack and a second battery pack includes a housing having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is angled relative to the second surface. The battery charger also includes a charging circuit positioned within the housing, a first charging port coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the charging circuit, and a second charging port coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the charging circuit. The first charging port configured to support the first battery pack, and the second charging port is configured to support the second battery pack. The battery charger further includes an indicator light associated with the first charging port. The indicator light includes a lens that extends over a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface.

Claims

1. A battery charger for charging a first battery pack and a second battery pack, the battery charger comprising:

a housing having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being connected at an oblique angle to the second surface;

a charging circuit positioned within the housing;

a first charging port coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the charging circuit, the first charging port configured to support the first battery pack;

a second charging port coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the charging circuit, the second charging port configured to support the second battery pack; and

an indicator light associated with the first charging port, the indicator light including a lens that extends over a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface.

2. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the second charging port is configured to support the second battery pack while the first charging port supports the first battery pack.

3. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is operable to blink at a first speed when charging of the first battery pack connected to the first charging port is pending, and wherein the indicator light is operable to blink at a second speed that is different than the first speed when the first charging port detects a fault in the first battery pack.

4. The battery charger of claim 3, wherein the indicator light is operable to blink at the second speed when a temperature of the first battery pack connected to the first charging port is outside of a predetermined range.

5. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the first charging port includes a first connecting structure and the second charging port includes a second connecting structure that is different than the first connecting structure.

6. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the first charging port is configured to support and charge a battery pack having a first voltage, and wherein the second charging port is configured to support and charge a battery pack having a second voltage that is different than the first voltage.

7. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is a first indicator light, and further comprising a second indicator light associated with the second charging port, the second indicator light including a second lens that extends over a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface.

8. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the first charging port defines a first connection axis along which the first battery pack is movable to connect with the charging circuit, and wherein the second surface is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the first connection axis.

9. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a bottom surface for supporting the battery charger, and wherein the second surface is oriented generally perpendicular to the bottom surface.

10. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the first charging port is positioned on the first surface.

11. A battery charger for charging a first battery pack and a second battery pack, the battery charger comprising:

a housing having a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the first surface and the second surface being connected together at a first oblique angle, the second surface and the third surface being connected together at a second oblique angle;

a charging circuit positioned within the housing;

a first charging port coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the charging circuit, the first charging port configured to support the first battery pack;

a second charging port coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the charging circuit, the second charging port configured to support the second battery pack while the first charging port supports the first battery pack;

a first indicator light associated with the first charging port, the first indicator light including a first lens that extends over a portion of the second surface and a portion of the third surface; and

a second indicator light associated with the second charging port, the second indicator light including a second lens that extends over a portion of the second surface and a portion of the third surface.

12. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the first charging port is positioned on the first surface, and the second charging port is positioned on the second surface.

13. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the first indicator light is operable to blink at a first speed when charging of the first battery pack connected to the first charging port is pending, and wherein the indicator light is operable to blink at a second speed that is different than the first speed when the first charging port detects a fault in the first battery pack.

14. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the second surface is positioned between the first surface and the third surface.

15. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the housing further includes a bottom surface to support the battery charger, wherein the first surface and the second surface from a top of the battery charger, and wherein the third surface is a side surface of the battery charger.

16. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the housing defines a width of the housing, and wherein the first indicator light and the second indicator light are offset from a centerline of the width of the housing.

17. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the second surface of the housing defines a plurality of vents.

18. The battery charger of claim 17, wherein the plurality of vents are positioned adjacent to the first surface.

19. The battery charger of claim 17, wherein the plurality of vents remains uncovered when both the first charging port supports the first battery pack and the second charging port supports the second battery pack.

20. The battery charger of claim 11, wherein the first charging port includes a first connecting structure and the second charging port includes a second connecting structure that is different than the first connecting structure.