Three position switch for portable, rechargeable device
First Claim
1. In a rechargeable device including a battery operated unit, a rechargeable battery for the operation thereof, a recharging circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery, and a common casing for the unit and the battery and the circuit, the improvement comprising:
- a pair of electrical prongs adapted for electrical coupling to an associated power source, means mounting said prongs on said casing for only pivotal movement between a retracted non-use position and an extended use position for coupling to the associated power source, conductive means electrically connecting said prongs to the recharging circuit when said prongs are disposed in the use position thereof, and displacement means on said casing adapted for reciproating movement with respect to said mounting means and said prongs between first and second positions for effecting movement of said prongs between the use and non-use positions thereof, respectively, said displacement means being engageable with said mounting means for moving said prongs to the use position thereof and being engageable with said prongs for moving them to the non-use position thereof.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three position slidable switch for use in a portable, rechargeable electrical device includes ON, OFF, and CHARGE positions. In the ON position a rechargeable battery is coupled in circuit with the device for the operation thereof. In the OFF position the battery is electrically decoupled from the device which is in an OFF state. In the CHARGE position the battery is coupled to a pair of prongs adapted to be plugged into an electrical outlet. Displacement of the switch to the CHARGE position rotates the prongs to an extended position to permit the battery to be recharged by means of a conventional AC outlet. In the ON and OFF positions of the switch, the prongs are retracted within the switch assembly. The switch includes detent means in each of the three aforementioned positions to reduce the possibility of inadvertent re-positioning of the switch and to provide a tactile indication to the user of the switch position. In one embodiment the prongs are spaced apart in the direction of elongation of the device and in another embodiment the prongs are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the device.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a rechargeable device including a battery operated unit, a rechargeable battery for the operation thereof, a recharging circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery, and a common casing for the unit and the battery and the circuit, the improvement comprising:
- a pair of electrical prongs adapted for electrical coupling to an associated power source, means mounting said prongs on said casing for only pivotal movement between a retracted non-use position and an extended use position for coupling to the associated power source, conductive means electrically connecting said prongs to the recharging circuit when said prongs are disposed in the use position thereof, and displacement means on said casing adapted for reciproating movement with respect to said mounting means and said prongs between first and second positions for effecting movement of said prongs between the use and non-use positions thereof, respectively, said displacement means being engageable with said mounting means for moving said prongs to the use position thereof and being engageable with said prongs for moving them to the non-use position thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a rechargeable device including a battery operated unit, a rechargeable battery for the operation thereof, a recharging circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery, and a common casing for the unit and the battery and the circuit, the improvement comprising:
- a pair of electrical prongs adapted for electrical coupling to an associated power source, means mounting said prongs on the casing for movement between a retracted non-use position and an extended use position for coupling to the associated power source, displacement means on said casing movable with respect to said mounting means among first and second and third positions, movement of said displacement means between said first and second positions effecting movement of said prongs between the use and non-use positions thereof, and conductive means electrically connecting said prongs to the recharging circuit when said prongs are disposed in the use position thereof, said conductive means electrically connecting the battery to the battery operated unit when said displacement means is disposed in the third position thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a rechargeable device including a battery operated unit, a rechargeable battery for the operation thereof, a recharging circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery, and a common casing for the unit and the battery and the circuit, the improvement comprising:
- a circuit board carrying the recharging circuit and electrically connecting it to the battery and having first conductive means electrically connected to the battery and to the battery operated unit, a housing positioned on said circuit board, a pair of electrical prongs adapted for electrical coupling to an associated power source, means mounting said prongs on said housing for movement between a retracted non-use position and an extended use position for coupling to the associated power source, said prongs in the use position thereof being electrically connected to the recharging circuit for charging the rechargeable battery, displacement means movable along first and second and third positions on said housing, movement of said displacement means between the first and second positions thereof effecting movement of said prongs between the use and non-use positions thereof, and second conductive means carried by said displacement means and adapted for electrical connection to said first conductive means, said first and second conductive means cooperating to electrically connect the battery to the battery operated unit when said displacement means is in the third position thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification