Battery charger

• US 7,332,889 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Rozwadowski, David J., Santana, George L. Jr., Glasgow, Kevin L., Zeiler, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/132, 320/DIG.19, 320/DIG.21, 361/600, 361/679, 361/690, 361694-698, 361/622, 361/625, 361676-678, 361/688, 361/692, 361/704, 429/99, 429/100, 454184-186, 165/80.3, 165121-122
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A battery charger. The battery charger includes a housing having an outer surface, a battery being supportable on the outer surface, a charging circuit supported by the housing and electrically connectable to a power source and the battery, and a protective structure connected to and extending from the outer surface of the housing, the protective structure extending from the outer surface beyond the battery.

Claims

1. A battery charger comprising:

a housing;

a charging circuit supported by the housing and electrically connectable to a power source and to a battery;

a vent defined by the housing, the vent releasing heated air from the housing and impeding entry of contaminants into the housing, the vent causing the heated air to turn downwardly through the vent before being released from the housing; and

a drain defined by the housing, the drain releasing contaminants from the housing;

wherein the vent includes

a first protrusion extending into the housing, and

a second protrusion extending into the housing;

wherein a vent passageway is defined between the first and second protrusions, and wherein at least one of the first protrusion and the second protrusion has a stepped shape including a center portion, an outer lip portion extending downwardly from the center portion and an inner lip portion extending upwardly from the center portion.

2. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vent is a first vent, and wherein the battery charger further comprises a second vent defined by the housing at a lower elevation relative to the first vent, the second vent allowing unheated air to enter the housing.

3. The battery charger as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first vent and the second vent are positioned relative to the charging circuit to convect air around the charging circuit.