Charger contact

• US 6,661,196 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amperex Technology Limited (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vine, Douglas Arthur, Friedli, Charles William, Zeng, Quing-Hua "Lucy"
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/222,159
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2442 with a single cantilevered beam
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2464 characterized by the contact point
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This invention includes an electrically-conductive contact, preferably for use in battery chargers. The contact is manufactured from a springy metal material, like stainless steel. The contact includes a triangular shaped contour, capable of withstanding battery insertion force, and further capable of mating to battery contacts of varying depths. The contact includes a mechanical stop for preventing the contour from protruding too far through apertures in the battery charger pocket. A stem preloads the mechanical stop against a retaining wall. A lanced barb on a charger mount allows the contact to reside in the charger without the need of other adhesives, screws or rivets. A protrusion makes contact with an electrical pad on a printed circuit board. A protrusion extensor preloads the protrusion against the pad.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive contact, comprising:

a. a convex contour;

b. a mechanical stop extensor coupled to the convex contour;

c. a mechanical stop coupled to the mechanical stop extensor;

d. a stem coupled to the convex contour;

e. a charger mount coupled to the stem;

f. a protrusion extensor coupled to the charger mount; and

g. a protrusion coupled to the protrusion extensor.

2. The contact of claim 1, wherein the convex contour comprises at least a first and a second sloping side.

3. The contact of claim 2, wherein the convex contour further comprises a plurality of metal flanges.

4. The contact of claim 3, wherein the distance from the mechanical stop extensor to the charger mount is between 15 and 30 mm.

5. The contact of claim 3, wherein the distance from the convex contour to the charger mount is between 7 and 20 mm.

6. The contact of claim 3, wherein the distance from the charger mount to the protrusion is between 6 and 18 mm.

7. The contact of claim 3, wherein the distance from the convex contour to the stem is between 4 and 10 mm.

8. The contact of claim 3, wherein the contact is manufactured from a springy metal material.

9. The contact of claim 8, wherein the convex contour is triangular in shape.

10. The contact of claim 9, wherein the contact is manufactured from stainless steel.

11. The contact of claim 10, wherein the contact is manufactured from a progressive die process.

12. A battery charger comprising the contact of claim 1.

13. The charger of claim 12, wherein the stem is formed so as to preload the mechanical stop against a retaining wall when the contact is mounted in the charger.