Magnetically latchable device for electrically coupling a power source to a circuit

• US 6,007,363 A
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Renk, Thomas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US09/040,986
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 439/378, 439/39, 439/38
• US Class Current: 439/378
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

A magnetically latchable device embodied as a battery pack or a platform. The battery pack includes a case, a magnetic component engaging the case to latch the case to a portable device, an alignment member separate from the perimeter of the case to mate with the portable device when the case is magnetically latched to the portable device, an electrical conducting contact disposed within an aperture of the case to be electrically coupled to a circuit housed in the portable device when the case is magnetically latched to the portable device, and a power source disposed within the case and electrically coupled to the electrical conducting contact. The platform includes a case, a magnetic component engaging the case to latch the case to a portable device, an alignment member separate from the perimeter of the case to mate with the portable device when the case is magnetically latched to the portable device, an electrical conducting contact disposed within an aperture of the case to be electrically coupled to a circuit housed in the portable device when the case is magnetically latched to the portable device, and a power jack disposed within an second aperture of the case to electrically couple a power source to the electrical conducting contact.

Claims

1. A device for electrically coupling a power source to a circuit, the circuit being housed in a portable device, said device comprising:

a case having an outer surface;

a magnetic component engaging said case to magnetically latch said case to the portable device;

an alignment member separate from a perimeter of said case to mate with the portable device when said case is magnetically latched to the portable device; and

an electrical conducting contact disposed within a first aperture of said case and adapted to electrically couple the power source to the circuit when said case is magnetically latched to the portable device;

wherein said electrical conducting contact is disposed within an aperture of said alignment member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is integrated with said outer surface of said case and extends from said outer surface.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is disposed in a second aperture of said case and extends from said second aperture.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is integrated with said first aperture of said case and extends from said first aperture.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is disposed within said first aperture of said case and extends from said first aperture.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is integrated with said outer surface of said case and is recessed within said outer surface.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is disposed within a second aperture of said case and is recessed within said second aperture.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is integrated with said first aperture of said case and is recessed within said first aperture.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said alignment member is disposed within said first aperture of said case and is recessed within said first aperture.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said case includes

a container, and

a lid coupled to said container.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the power source is disposed within said case and electrically coupled to said first electrical conducting contact.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said case includes a power jack disposed within a second aperture of said case, electrically coupled to said first electrical conducting contact and adapted to be electrically coupled to the power source.

13. A system for electrically coupling a power source to a circuit, said system comprising:

a first device including

a first case having an outer surface,

a first magnetic component engaging said first case,

a first alignment member separate from a perimeter of said first case, and

a first electrical conducting contact disposed within a first aperture of said first case and electrically coupled to the circuit; and

a second device including

a second case having an outer surface,

a second component engaging said second case and magnetically engaged with said first magnetic component to magnetically latch said second case to said first case,

a second alignment member separate from a perimeter of said second case and mated with said first alignment member, and

a second electrical conducting contact disposed within a first aperture of said second case and electrically coupling the power source to the first electrical conducting contact, whereby the power source is electrically coupled to the circuit;

wherein said electrical conducting contact is disposed within an aperture of said alingment member.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is integrated with said outer surface of said first case and extends from said outer surface of said first case.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is disposed within a second aperture of said first case and extends from said second aperture of said first case.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is integrated with said first aperture of said first case and extends from said first aperture of said first case.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is disposed within said first aperture of said first case and extends from said first aperture of said first case.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is integrated with said outer surface of said first case and is recessed within said outer surface of said first case.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is disposed within a second aperture of said first case and is recessed within said second aperture of said first case.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is integrated with said first aperture of said first case and is recessed within said first aperture of said first case.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein said first alignment member is disposed within said first aperture of said first case and is recessed within said first aperture of said first case.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is integrated with said outer surface of said second case and extends from said outer surface of said second case.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is disposed within a second aperture of said second case and extends from said second aperture of said second case.

24. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is integrated with said first aperture of said second case and extends from said first aperture of said second case, and said second electrical conducting contact is disposed within an aperture of said second alignment member.

25. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is disposed within said first aperture of said second case and extends from said first aperture of said second case, and wherein said second electrical conducting contact is disposed within an aperture of said second alignment member.

26. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is integrated with said outer surface of said second case and is recessed within said outer surface of said second case.

27. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is disposed within a second aperture of said second case and is recessed within said second aperture of said second case.

28. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is integrated with said first aperture of said second case and is recessed within said first aperture of said second case, and wherein said second electrical conducting contact is disposed within an aperture of said second alignment member.

29. The system of claim 13 wherein said second alignment member is disposed within said first aperture of said second case and is recessed within said first aperture of said second case, and wherein said second electrical conducting contact is disposed within an aperture of said second alignment member.

30. The system of claim 13 wherein said second case includes

a container, and

a lid coupled to said container.

31. The system of claim 13 wherein the power source is disposed within said second case and electrically coupled to said second electrical conducting contact.

32. The system of claim 13 wherein said second case includes a power jack disposed in a second aperture of said case, and electrically coupled to said second electrical conducting contact and to the power source.