Structure of battery charger for different size and specification batteries

• US 5,157,318 A
• Filed: 09/18/1991
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen; Jen Jong
• Original Assignee: Chen; Jen Jong
• Inventors: Wang, Fu C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US07/762,554
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/15, 320/20, 320/21
• US Class Current: 320/110
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/19 Charger status, e.g. voltmeter

Abstract

A battery charger comprising an indicator unit which has control switch and indicator lamps, and three charging slots for charging a variety of batteries of different size and specification, wherein one of the charging slots has vertical guide rails for holding the battery inserted therein and positive and negative charging pins and charging terminals, each of the other two charging slots has plate springs and wire spring for holding different size of battery in charging position and charging pins or charging strip springs for charging the battery inserted therein.

Claims

1. A battery charger comprising:

a housing;

an indicator unit in said housing, said indicator unit comprising at least one positive/negative selector switch, a plurality of indicator lamps, a voltage selector switch and a power socket, said selector switches, lamps and power socket being electrically connected together;

a first charging slot for insertion of a first battery to be charged, said first charging slot being a recessed hole in said housing defined by a front wall, two opposite side walls, and a bottom and comprising a first pair of retaining plate springs bilaterally obliquely extending inwards from said opposite side walls and a first wire spring on said front wall for holding said first battery therein, a charging PC board at said bottom of said first charging slot electrically connected to said indicator unit, said charging PC board having a plurality of spring coils mounted thereon, a holder plate mounted over said charging PC board, said holder plate having a plurality of pin holes for the insertion therein of said spring coils respectively, a guide plate mounted over said holder plate and having a plurality of guide holes therein, and a plurality of charging pins inserted in said pin holes on said holder plate and guided by said guide holes on said guide plate;

a second charging slot for insertion of a second battery to be charged, said second charging slot being a recessed hole in said housing defined by a front wall, two opposite side walls and a rear wall and comprising a second pair of retaining plate springs bilaterally obliquely extending inwards from said opposite side wall of said second charging slot and a second wire spring on said front wall of said second slot for holding said second battery therein, and a plurality sets of curved, charging strip springs on said rear wall electrically connected to said indicator unit for charging said second battery; and

a third charging slot for insertion of a third battery to be charged, said third charging slot being a recessed hole in said housing defined by a front wall, two opposite side walls and a rear wall and comprising a pair of guide rails disposed transversely along each one of said two opposite side walls of said third charging slot for guiding and holding said third battery therein, and positive and negative charging pins and charging terminals respectively mounted on said front and rear walls of said third charging slot and connected to said indicator unit for charging said third battery.

2. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the locations of said first, second and third charging slots can be alternatively arranged on said battery housing.

3. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein each of said charging pins comprises a bottom rod inserted in one of said pin holes on said holder plate in contact with one of said spring coils, a top rod inserted in one of said guide holes on said guide plate, and a collar formed between said top rod and said bottom rod of a size greater than said one of said pin holes such that said collar is retained between said holder plate and said guide plate.

4. A battery charger comprising:

a housing;

an indicator unit in said housing, said indicator unit comprising at least one indicator lamp and an electrical circuit for providing a charging voltage for charging a battery; and

a charging slot for insertion of said battery to be charged, said charging slot being a recessed hole in said housing defined by a front wall, two opposite side walls, and a bottom and comprising two retaining plate springs bilaterally obliquely extending inwards from said opposite side walls and a wire spring mounted to said front wall for holding said battery when inserted into said slot, a charging PC board at said bottom of said charging slot electrically connected to said indicator unit, said charging PC board having a plurality of spring coils mounted thereon, a holder plate mounted over said charging PC board and having a plurality of pin holes for the insertion thereon of said spring coils respectively, a guide plate mounted over said holder plate and having a plurality of guide holes therein, and a plurality of charging pins inserted in said pin holes on said holder plate and guided by said guide holes on said guide plate.

5. The battery charger of claim 4, wherein each of said charging pins comprises a bottom rod inserted in one of said pin holes on said holder plate in contact with one of said spring coils, a top rod inserted in one of said guide holes on said guide plate and a collar formed between said top rod and said bottom rod of a size greater than said one of said pin holes such that said collar is retained between said holder plate and said guide plate.