Means indicating a condition of charge in a battery charger

• US 4,396,881 A
• Filed: 09/16/1982
• Issued: 08/02/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clore Automotive, LLC (C3 Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Century Manufacturing Co. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Cook, Gary L., West, John C., Weller, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ault, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US06/419,019
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 320/48, 340/636
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/13 Fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

This invention relates to an electric battery charger for a storage battery such as an automotive battery in which the improvement consists of the visual display of such indicia that it informs the operator of the condition of charging present between the battery charger and the battery to be charged as to whether the battery is being properly charged, whether it can be charged and that it is fully charged.

Claims

1. A battery charger sensing conditions of charge in charging a storage battery such as an automotive battery, having in combination

a battery charger comprising a housing,

a legend bearing element embodying specific legends which respectively indicate conditions of charge with reference to charging a battery,

circuitry which senses conditions of charge being included in the circuitry of said battery charger,

means connecting said first mentioned circuitry with said legend bearing element whereby specific conditions sensed relate to corresponding legends,

said element comprising a housing,

means in said first mentioned housing supporting said element,

an opening in a wall of said first mentioned housing displaying said legends of said element,

said element housing having an open wall,

a recess forming the inner periphery of said open wall,

a legend strip bearing said legends disposed in said recess,

a frame member overlying said legend strip and being pressure fit into said recess, and

said framework having individual frames therein separating said specific legends.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein

said last mentioned means comprises an upstanding plate member having an opening therein receiving said element housing, and

said element housing having yielding means disposed under compression into said last mentioned opening.

3. A battery charger adapted to sense conditions of charge in charging a battery, such as an automotive battery, having in combination

a housing comprising said battery charger,

circuitry which senses conditions of charge of a battery included in the circuitry of said battery charger,

a legend bearing element having the legends thereof each indicating a condition of said charge in charging a battery,

said legends including means adapted to be energized,

means putting said legends into circuit with said circuitry which senses said conditions of charge,

said last mentioned circuitry responsive to the occurrence of a condition of charge energizes said last mentioned means of a corresponding legend alerting attention to such condition,

an opening in a wall of said housing accommodating said element,

said opening receiving therein said element under a holding pressure,

each of said legends being displayed separately, and

a lighting element in connection with each of said legends.

4. A battery charger adapted to sense conditions of charge in charging a battery, such as an automotive battery, having in combination

a housing comprising said battery charger,

circuitry which senses conditions of charge of a battery included in the circuit of said battery charger,

a legend bearing element having the legends thereof each indicating a condition of said charge in charging a battery,

means mounting said element carried with said housing,

said legends including means adapted to be energized,

means putting said last mentioned means into circuit with said circuitry,

said circuitry responsive to the occurrence of a condition of charge energizes said means of a corresponding legend to energize said legend,

said mounting means accommodating said element receiving said element under a holding pressure, and

each of said legends being displayed separately.