Electrical power packs and charging devices

• US 4,389,469 A
• Filed: 10/02/1981
• Issued: 06/21/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Mettoy Company Limited
• Original Assignee: The Mettoy Company Limited
• Inventors: Nicholls, Bryan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeFevour, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/308,098
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 429/98, 429/99, 429/97, 429/100
• US Class Current: 429/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power pack (1) for use as an alternative to non-rechargeable batteries (3) in a toy (2) comprises a plurality of series connected rechargeable cells (13) accommodated within a casing (7) which is sealed permanently against removal of the cells and carries output terminals (11A-11C) arranged to cooperate with the power input terminals (6A-6D) of the toy when the power pack is inserted in place of the cells and with the contact terminals (25) of a recharging device (18) when the power pack is engaged with this device for recharging the cells. The power pack casing is shaped to cooperate with the toy (2) and recharging device so that it will engage with each in only one predetermined position.

Claims

1. A power pack in combination with a battery operated device, the power pack comprising a casing, means for receiving rechargeable cells within the casing, power output terminals carried by the casing, and conductor means within the casing connecting the rechargeable cell terminals electrically to said output terminals, the casing being sealed permanently against removal of the rechargeable cells, said battery operated device comprising a base member including a recess having opposite sides, and pairs of opposed electrical power input terminals located on said opposite sides of the recess adapted for receiving individual conventional battery cells therebetween, the recess and power pack casing including complementary keying means for said recess to receive the power pack in place of said individual conventional battery cells in one predetermined orientation of said power pack relative to said recess, and said output terminals of the power pack engaging predetermined input terminals of the battery operated device with the power pack in the recess.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable cells extend parallel with said opposite sides of the recess in the battery operated device with the power pack received therein, the casing having a part which is accommodated between the input terminals on opposite sides of said recess and has a width substantially equal to the length of the conventional cells which are replaceable by the power pack.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the output terminals of the power pack are located on one side only of the casing.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the power pack casing includes a first portion of substantially rectangular configuration, a second portion of smaller width than the first portion, a pair of shoulders of unequal width on opposite sides of the second portion and separating said first and second portions, and a projection extending beyond one end of the first portion and of less width than said first portion, said output terminals being positioned on said first portion.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein a plurality of rechargeable cells are received in the power pack causing, and further comprising link means for connecting the cells electrically in series, the terminals of the cells not connected by the link means being connected to positive and negative output terminals of the power pack, and a third output terminal connected to the cells at an intermediate tapping point defined by one of said link means.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the conductor means connecting the cell terminals with the output terminals includes a fuse.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the conductor means connecting the cell terminals with the output terminals includes a printed circuit board and the fuse is integral with the printed circuit board.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least one conductive track having a first part connected to a cell terminal, a second part connected to an output terminal, and a part intermediate said first and second parts and of reduced width to constitute the fuse.

9. A power pack for an electrically operated device having power input terminals, in combination with a recharging device, the power pack comprising a casing, means for receiving rechargeable cells within the casing, power output terminals carried by the casing for cooperation with the electrical power input terminals of the device to be operated, and conductor means within the casing connecting the rechargeable cell terminals electrically to said output terminals, the casing being sealed permanently against removal of the rechargeable cells, the recharging device comprising a housing with a recess therein, and two electrical recharging terminals in said recess, the housing recess and power pack casing having complementary keying means for said recess to receive said casing in one predetermined position, said two electrical recharging terminals being positioned in the housing recess to contact respective output terminals of the power pack for supplying electric current to recharge the cells of the power pack with the power pack engaged in the recess of the recharging device, and said two electrical recharging terminals being so positioned with respect to each other that conventional non-rechargeable cells cannot directly interconnect said terminals.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the output terminals of the power pack are located on one side only of the casing.

11. The combination of claim 9, wherein the power pack casing includes a first portion of substantially rectangular configuration, a second portion of smaller width than the first portion, a pair of shoulders of unequal width on opposite sides of the second portion and separating said first and second portions, and a projection extending beyond one end of the first portion and of less width than said first portion, said output terminals being positioned on said first portion.

12. The combination of claim 9, wherein a plurality of rechargeable cells are received in the power pack casing, and further comprising link means for connecting the cells electrically in series, the terminals of the cells not connected by the link means being connected to positive and negative output terminals of the power pack, and a third output terminal connected to the cells at an intermediate tapping point defined by one of said link means.

13. The combination of claim 9, wherein the conductor means connecting the cell terminals with the output terminals includes a fuse.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the conductor means connecting the cell terminals with the output terminals includes a printed circuit board and the fuse is integral with the printed circuit board.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least one conductive track having a first part connected to a cell terminal, a second part connected to an output terminal, and a part intermediate said first and second parts and of reduced width to constitute the fuse.

16. A power pack adapted for use alternatively with a battery operated device and a recharging device, the power pack comprising a casing, rechargeable cells received within the casing, power output terminals carried by the casing, and conductor means within the casing connecting the cell terminals electrically to said output terminals, the casing being sealed permanently against removal of the cells, said battery operated device comprising means defining a first recess having opposite sides, and pairs of opposed electrical power input terminals located on said opposite sides for receiving individual conventional cells therebetween, said first recess and power pack casing including complementary keying means for said first recess to receive the power pack in place of said conventional cells in one predetermined orientation only of said power pack relative to said first recess, said output terminals engaging predetermined input terminals of the battery operated device with the power pack received in said first recess, the recharging device comprising a housing with a second recess therein, and two electrical recharging terminals in said second recess, said second recess and power pack causing having complementary keying means for said second recess to receive said casing in one predetermined position, said two recharging terminals being positioned in said second recess to contact respective output terminals of the power pack for supplying electric current to recharge the cells of the power pack with the power pack engaged in said first recess of the recharging device, and said two recharging terminals being so positioned with respect to each other than conventional non-rechargeable cells cannot directly interconnect said terminals.