Battery charger adapter system

• US 4,229,686 A
• Filed: 02/13/1978
• Issued: 10/21/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mullersman, Ferdinand H., Stillwell, Billy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/877,297
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/3, 320/4, 320/5, 320/6, 320/25, 320/35, 429/1, 429/7-9, 429/96, 429/97, 429/100, 429/121, 429/163, 339/184 M, 339/278 M, 339/29 B, 339/228, 339/256 R, 339/256 RT, 339/258 R, 339/258 A
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging system for rechargeable batteries of the 9 volt type includes a charger adapted to accept a plurality of cells of different sizes and electrical characteristics and an adapter module for mechanically and electrically interconnecting the charger to a 9 volt size battery.

Claims

1. In a charging system for secondary batteries having a housing containing a source of charge current including a secondary winding with first, second and third source terminals, said first and third source terminals connected to said winding, said second source terminal connected to said winding at a point intermediate of the connections of said first and third source terminals to said winding;

and a secondary battery having positive and negative terminals, the improvement comprising;

an adapter module comprising housing means having first and second terminals removably connectable to said first and third source terminals and having third and fourth terminals removably connectable to said positive and negative battery terminals, means electrically interconnecting said first and second adapter terminals with said third and fourth adapter terminals, respectively, and means for detachably securing said adapter housing means to said source housing and said battery.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said battery is a multiple cell battery.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said securing means include snap element connected to said terminals whereby both electrical contact and mechanical support for the battery are provided thereby.

4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said adapter includes current limiting means.

5. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said adapter includes rectification means.

6. The charging system of claim 5, wherein said recification means is carried internally of the adapter housing.

7. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said source housing includes a recess, the source terminals being located in said recess, and wherein the adapter housing is dimensioned to be received within said recess.

8. A battery charging adapter for converting a multiple output terminal source into a dual terminal source, comprising:

housing means;

first and second contact means extending from said housing for electrically and mechanically engaging selected ones of said multiple terminals, and third and fourth contact means extending from said housing means for electrically and mechanically engaging the terminals of a rechargeable battery so as to support the battery from said contact means when said first and second contact means engage said selected multiple output terminals;

means electrically interconnecting said first and third and said second and fourth contact means.

9. A charging adapter of claim 8, wherein said contact means are snap-type contacts.

10. A charging adapter of claim 8, wherein said third and fourth contact means are positioned to accept the terminals of a multiple cell battery.

11. A charging adapter of claim 8, wherein said adapter includes rectification means.

12. A charging adapter of claim 11, wherein said rectification means is a diode.

13. A charging adapter of claim 8, wherein said rectification means is connected between said first and third contact means.

14. A charging adapter of claim 8, wherein said adapter includes currect limiting means.

15. A charging adapter of claim 14, wherein said current limiting means is connected between said second and fourth contact means.

16. A battery charging adapter for connection between a charging source and a battery, comprising housing means having first and second opposite major surfaces, first and second snaptype terminal contacts extending from one major surface and third and fourth snap-type terminals extending from the other of said major surfaces;

means within said housing means electrically connecting said first contact with said third contact and said second contact with said fourth contact, said connecting means including current rectification means.

17. A charging adapter of claim 16, wherein said rectification means is connected between said first and third contacts.

18. A charging adapter of claim 17, further comprising a current limiting resistor connected between said second and fourth contacts.

19. A charging adapter of claim 17, wherein said rectification means is a diode.