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Charging system with multiple attachable cellholder modules

  • US 4,319,178 A
  • Filed: 02/04/1980
  • Issued: 03/09/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a charging system comprising:

  • a. a source of charge current comprising (1) a housing, (2) a transformer having a secondary winding disposed in said housing, and (3) 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;

    b. a first cellholder charging module comprising (1) first, second and third module terminals for selective connection to said first, second and third source terminals, respectively;

    (2) compartment means for holding a plurality of cells for charging;

    (3) circuit means connecting at least one cell in series between said first and second module terminals and between said second and third module terminals, respectively; and

    c. a second charging module comprising (1) compartment means for holding at least one cell of a physical size different from said compartment means of said first module and (2) having only first and second module terminals for connection, respectively, to said first and third source terminals,the improvement which comprises charging modules which contain compartments for holding said cells wherein each of said compartments is defined by one or two pair of resilient side wall loading tab means, a pair of partition walls which partially separate adjacent compartments, an end wall in the base of said module, and an upper resilient arm radiating from the central axis of the module, which forms the upper end of said compartment, wherein said resilient loading tabs and resilient upper arm restrict the opening of said compartment to a dimension less than that of the cell type to be accommodated in said compartment but which tabs and arm are capable of being deflected in a manner increasing the dimensions of the opening to allow a cell to be introduced and removed from the compartment.

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