Multiple-battery battery charger
First Claim
1. A battery charger for simultaneously charging a plurality of cells, comprising:
- a charger housing having a generally elongate chamber adapted to contain a plurality of battery cells in generally side-by-side abutting relation, said housing having an essentially completely open inlet end for introducing battery cells into said chamber and an outlet end for removing battery cells from said chamber;
at least one resiliently deflectable support finger at said outlet end for holding all said battery cells in said chamber, yet permitting removal of one battery cell adjacent said outlet end when desired by resiliently yielding when said one battery cell is pulled from said outlet end; and
electrically conductive means in said housing for connection to a source of charging current, said conductive means including portions that are positioned along opposite sides of said chamber to supply current, in parallel, to battery cells in said housing, such that any desired number of battery cells may be charged by insertion into said housing through said inlet end and charged when said conductive means are connected to a power source, and, charged cells may be removed from said housing through said outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-cell battery charger includes a housing having an open end leading to a chamber in the housing and adapted to receive battery cells of a pre-determined size in side-by-side abutting relation and another end having an opening which is adapted to retain the battery cells in said housing but permit removal when desired, one at a time, in a first in, first out order. An elongate negative contactor strip and an elongate positive connector buss strip are coupled to the leads of a D.C. power supply source and are positioned along opposite sides in the housing. The negative strip is formed with detent contact portions, each for making electrical contact with the negative terminal of a cell. Contact members are electrically coupled to the positive connector strip and are positioned to contact the positive terminal of individual cells. As preferably embodied, each contact member includes a heat generating circuit element, and a liquid crystal indicator is mounted to the housing, adjacent each heat generating circuit element.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A battery charger for simultaneously charging a plurality of cells, comprising:
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a charger housing having a generally elongate chamber adapted to contain a plurality of battery cells in generally side-by-side abutting relation, said housing having an essentially completely open inlet end for introducing battery cells into said chamber and an outlet end for removing battery cells from said chamber; at least one resiliently deflectable support finger at said outlet end for holding all said battery cells in said chamber, yet permitting removal of one battery cell adjacent said outlet end when desired by resiliently yielding when said one battery cell is pulled from said outlet end; and electrically conductive means in said housing for connection to a source of charging current, said conductive means including portions that are positioned along opposite sides of said chamber to supply current, in parallel, to battery cells in said housing, such that any desired number of battery cells may be charged by insertion into said housing through said inlet end and charged when said conductive means are connected to a power source, and, charged cells may be removed from said housing through said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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3. A battery charger for simultaneously charging a plurality of cells, comprising:
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a charger housing having a generally elongate chamber adapted to contain a plurality of battery cells in generally side-by-side abutting relation, said housing having an inlet end for introducing battery cells into said chamber and an outlet end for removing battery cells from said chamber; indicator means for indicating when current is flowing through each battery cell in said chamber, said indicator means including a liquid crystal material; heat generating means electrically coupled to said electrically conductive means, said heat generating means adapted to generate heat in response to the flow of charging current through a battery cell to cause said liquid crystal material to undergo a change in color in response to the heat; and electrically conductive means in said housing for connection to a source of charging current, said conductive means positioned along opposite sides of said chamber to supply current, in parallel, to battery cells in said housing, such that battery cells to be charged may be inserted into said housing through said inlet and charged when said conductive means are connected to a power source, and, charged cells may be removed from said housing through said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification