Universally adaptable battery charger connector and method of using same

• US 5,484,668 A
• Filed: 07/27/1992
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Kutz, Donald A., DeSantis, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ivy, C. Warren
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEAMAN, D MARGARET M
• Application Number:
  US07/919,880
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 429/121, 429/50, 320/2, 439/506
• US Class Current: 429/121
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A universally adaptable battery charger connector which couples electrically a battery charger outlet to pairs of terminals of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices. The universal adaptable battery charger includes an attachment arrangement for engaging releasably one of the pairs of battery device terminals. The attachment arrangement includes a pair of electrodes coupled electrically to a battery charger outlet for helping to supply electrical current to the battery device terminals. The universal connector also includes a securing device for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged. Each one of the electrodes includes a resilient contact for pressing resiliently into engagement with the terminals to maintain an electrical and mechanical contact between the securing device and the battery device terminals. Thus, the electrodes can be positioned in engagement with the terminals independent of the size and shape of the battery device as well as of the configuration of the terminals.

Claims

1. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal disposed within a terminal well of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

one-piece deformable contact means for engaging mechanically and electrically the terminal;

said deformable means including a stationary base electrode having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet;

said deformable contact means further including a movable electrode cantilevered relative to the base electrode for moving toward and away from the base electrode to extend into the terminal well associated with the terminal and to engage the terminal mechanically and electrically;

said movable electrode having a free end to enable movement toward and away from said base electrode and being normally biased away from said base electrode and being deformable toward said base electrode when mechanically engaged with the terminal;

said movable electrode having a V-shaped portion disposed intermediate the ends of said movable electrode having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter said terminal well and to engage electrically the terminal;

said deformable contact means further including a reversely-bent U-shaped electrode integrally connected between an opposite end of said base electrode and an opposite end of said movable electrode for enabling said V-shaped portion to move towards and away from the base electrode;

attachment means connected mechanically to said deformable means to facilitate mechanical engagement between the terminal and said V-shaped portion for helping to supply electrical current to the battery device terminal; and

securing means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged to help maintain mechanical contact between the terminal and said contact means;

whereby, the contact means can be positioned relative to the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminal.

4. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal pair of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices according to claim 1,

wherein said securing means is strap means;

wherein said strap means includes means for engaging releasably the rechargeable battery device;

wherein said strap means is elastic means;

wherein said elastic means is a rubber band; and

wherein said means for engaging is bracket means.

12. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said attachment means is a clamp.

2. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal pair of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

attachment means for engaging releasably one of the pairs of battery device terminals;

said attachment means including a pair of electrodes coupled electrically to the battery charger outlet for contacting electrically the pair of terminals to help supply electrical current to the battery device terminals;

securing means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged, each one of said electrodes including resilient contact means for pressing resiliently into engagement with the terminals to maintain electrical and mechanical contact between said securing means and terminals so that the electrodes can be positioned in engagement with the terminals independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminals;

wherein said attachment means is a strap; and

wherein said strap means includes a strap having a pair of slide plates mounted thereon for movement relative to one another.

9. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said slide plates are electrically and mechanically connected to one of said pair of electrodes.

10. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 9, wherein one side of said strap contains piles.

11. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 10, wherein the one side of said strap includes a strip of hooks for engagement with said piles.

3. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal pair of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

electrode means for engaging releasably one of the pairs of battery device terminals;

said electrode means including a pair of electrodes coupled electrically to the battery charger outlet for contacting electrically the pair of terminals to help supply electrical current to the battery device terminals, each one of said electrodes including a resilient contact for pressing resiliently into engagement with the terminals to facilitate electrical and mechanical engagement therebetween;

securing means connected mechanically to said electrode means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged so that the electrodes can be positioned in engagement with the terminals independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminals; and

wherein said securing means is suction cup means.

5. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to a terminal pair of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

deformable contact means for engaging releasably one of the pairs of battery device terminals;

said contact means each including a pair of electrode means coupled electrically to the battery charger outlet for contacting electrically each one of the pair of terminals to help supply electrical current to each one of the battery device terminals, each one of said electrode means including a resiliently movable electrode for pressing resiliently into engagement with one of the terminals to facilitate electrical and mechanical engagement therebetween;

securing means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged so that said electrode means can be positioned in engagement with one of the terminals independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of each one of the terminals;

wherein said securing means is a strap having buckle means for helping to fasten said securing means removably on the battery device to be charged.

6. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal disposed within a terminal well of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

one-piece deformable contact means for engaging mechanically and electrically the terminal;

said deformable means including a stationary base electrode having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet;

said deformable contact means further including a movable electrode cantilevered relative to the base electrode for moving toward and away from the base electrode to extend into the terminal well associated with the terminal and to engage the terminal mechanically and electrically;

said movable electrode having a free end to enable movement toward and away from said base electrode and being normally biased away from said base electrode and being deformable toward said base electrode when mechanically engaged with the terminal;

said movable electrode having a V-shaped portion disposed intermediate the ends of said movable electrode having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter said terminal well and to engage electrically the terminal;

said deformable contact means further including a reversely-bent U-shaped electrode integrally connected between an opposite end of said base electrode and an opposite end of said movable electrode for enabling said V-shaped portion to move towards and away from the base electrode;

attachment means connected mechanically to said deformable means to facilitate mechanical engagement between the terminal and said V-shaped portion for helping to supply electrical current to the battery device terminal;

securing means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged to help maintain mechanical contact between the terminal and said contact means;

whereby, the contact means can be positioned relative to the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminal; and

wherein said attachment means is a strap.

7. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal disposed within a terminal well of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

one-piece deformable contact means for engaging mechanically and electrically the terminal;

said deformable means including a stationary base electrode having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet;

said deformable contact means further including a movable electrode cantilevered relative to the base electrode for moving toward and away from the base electrode to extend into the terminal well associated with the terminal and to engage the terminal mechanically and electrically;

said movable electrode having a free end to enable movement toward and away from said base electrode and being normally biased away from said base electrode and being deformable toward said base electrode when mechanically engaged with the terminal;

said movable electrode having a V-shaped portion disposed intermediate the ends of said movable electrode having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter said terminal well and to engage electrically the terminal;

said deformable contact means further including a reversely-bent U-shaped electrode integrally connected between an opposite end of said base electrode and an opposite end of said movable electrode for enabling said V-shaped portion to move towards and away from the base electrode;

attachment means connected mechanically to said deformable means to facilitate mechanical engagement between the terminal and said V-shaped portion for helping to supply electrical current to the battery device terminal;

securing means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged to help maintain mechanical contact between the terminal and said contact means;

whereby, the contact means can be positioned relative to the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminal; and

wherein said attachment means is an adhesive band.

8. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal disposed within a terminal well of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

deformable electrode means coupled electrically to the battery charger outlet for contacting electrically at least one of the battery device terminals to help supply electrical current thereto;

said deformable electrode means including an elongated electrode portion having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet; and

said deformable contact means further including a movable electrode connected integrally to an opposite end of said elongated electrode portion for moving toward and away from the free end of said elongated electrode to enter the terminal well associated with the terminal and to engage the terminal;

said movable electrode having a free end and being normally biased away from the elongated electrode and having a free end engageable with a portion of the elongated electrode when deformed toward said elongated electrode through mechanical engagement with the terminal;

said movable electrode having a V-shaped portion having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter said terminal well and to engage the terminal electrically;

adjustment means for helping to position said deformable electrode means relative to the rechargeable battery device terminal so that said V-shaped portion engages the terminal resiliently to maintain electrical and mechanical contact therebetween;

whereby the deformable electrode means can be positioned in engagement with the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and the external accessible location of the terminal; and

wherein said adjustment means is strap means.

16. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 8, wherein said strap means includes means for engaging releasably the rechargeable battery device.

17. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 16, wherein said strap means is elastic means.

18. A universally adaptable battery charger connector as recited in claim 17, wherein said elastic means is a rubber band.

13. In combination with a battery charger system, a universally adaptable battery charger connector, said connector being adapted to be coupled electrically between the outlet of a battery charger and at least one terminal disposed within a terminal well of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, the connector comprising:

deformable contact means for engaging mechanically and electrically the terminal;

said deformable means including an elongated electrode portion having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet;

said deformable contact means further including a movable electrode connected integrally to an opposite end of said elongated electrode portion for moving toward and away from the elongated electrode to enter the terminal well associated with the terminal and to engage the terminal;

said movable electrode being normally biased away from the elongated electrode and having a free end engageable with a portion of the elongated electrode when deformed toward said elongated electrode through mechanical engagement with the terminal;

said movable electrode having a V-shaped portion having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter said terminal well and to engage electrically the terminal;

attachment means connected mechanically to said deformable means to facilitate mechanical engagement between the terminal and said movable electrode for helping to supply electrical current to the battery device terminal; and

securing means for mounting removably on the battery device to be charged to help maintain mechanical contact between the terminal and said movable electrode;

whereby, the contact means can be positioned relative to the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminal.

14. A method of using a universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one battery device terminal disposed within a terminal well of any one of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

engaging mechanically and electrically the terminal with deformable contact means;

said deformable means including elongated electrode means having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet;

said deformable contact means further including movable electrode means connected integrally to an opposite end of said elongated electrode means for moving toward and away from the free end of said elongated electrode means to enter the terminal well and to engage the battery device terminal;

said movable electrode means having a free end and being normally biased away from the elongated electrode means and engageable with a portion of the elongated electrode means when said free end is deformed toward said elongated electrode means through mechanical engagement with the terminal;

said movable electrode means having a V-shaped portion having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter the terminal well and to engage electrically the battery device terminal;

using attachment means connected mechanically to said deformable means to facilitate mechanical engagement between the terminal and said movable electrode means for helping to supply electrical current to the battery device terminal; and

mounting removably on the battery device to be charged securing means to help maintain mechanical contact between the terminal and said movable electrode means;

whereby the contact means can be positioned relative to the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and of the configuration of the terminal.

15. A universally adaptable battery charger connector for coupling electrically a battery charger outlet to at least one terminal disposed within a terminal well of different types and kinds of rechargeable battery devices, comprising:

deformable electrode means coupled electrically to the battery charger outlet for contacting electrically at least one of the battery device terminals to help supply electrical current thereto;

said deformable electrode means including an elongated electrode portion having a free end for coupling electrically to the battery charger outlet; and

said deformable contact means further including a movable electrode connected integrally to an opposite end of said elongated electrode portion for moving toward and away from the free end of said elongated electrode to enter the terminal well associated with the terminal and to engage the terminal;

said movable electrode having a free end and being normally biased away from the elongated electrode and having a free end engageable with a portion of the elongated electrode when deformed toward said elongated electrode through mechanical engagement with the terminal;

said movable electrode having a V-shaped portion having an apex of sufficient height to enable the apex to enter said terminal well and to engage the terminal electrically;

adjustment means for helping to position said deformable electrode means relative to the rechargeable battery device terminal so that said V-shaped portion engages the terminal resiliently to maintain electrical and mechanical contact therebetween;

whereby the deformable electrode means can be positioned in engagement with the terminal independent of the size and shape of the battery device and the external accessible location of the terminal.