Electrical component including a battery receptacle for including a battery

• US 7,741,809 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Santana, George L., Schneider, Scott David, Zick, Jonathan A., Rozwadowski, David J., Zeiler, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US11/621,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 320/116, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, D13/103
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrical component, such as, for example, a radio, an audio component, a battery charger or a radio/charger, is provided. The electrical component includes a housing and an electrical circuit supported by the housing. In some aspects, the electrical component is an audio component and the electrical circuit is an audio circuit. In other aspects, the electrical component is a battery charger and the electrical circuit is a charging circuit. In yet other aspects, the electrical component may define a receptacle capable of selectively receiving batteries of different heights. In further aspects, the electrical component may support a battery inclined relative to a surface upon which the battery sits.

Claims

1. An audio component supportable on a support surface, the audio component comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a power tool battery, the power tool battery including a top surface and a bottom surface, at least a portion of the top surface and the bottom surface being substantially planar;

an audio circuit supported by the housing and operable to produce an audio signal; and

a base coupled to the housing, the base including

a front portion protruding from a bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface, and

a rear portion protruding from the bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface,

the front portion having a first height and the rear portion have a second height less than the first height;

wherein at least one of the base bottom surface, the planar portion of the battery top surface and the planar portion of the battery bottom surface is inclined relative to the support surface when the power tool battery is positioned in the receptacle and the front and rear portions of the base engage the support surface.

2. The audio component of claim 1, wherein all of the base bottom surface, the planar portion of the battery top surface and the planar portion of the battery bottom surface are inclined relative to the support surface when the power tool battery is positioned in the receptacle and the front and rear portions of the base engage the support surface.

3. The audio component of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the base is a front cushion coupled to the bottom surface of the base and the rear portion of the base is a rear cushion coupled to the bottom surface of the base, the front cushion having the first height and the rear cushion having the second height less than the first height.

4. An electrical component supportable on a support surface, the electrical component comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a battery, the battery including a top surface and a bottom surface, at least a portion of the top surface and the bottom surface being substantially planar;

an electrical circuit supported by the housing; and

a base coupled to the housing, the base including

a front portion protruding from a bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface, and

a rear portion protruding from the bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface,

the front portion having a first height and the rear portion have a second height less than the first height;

wherein at least one of the base bottom surface, the planar portion of the battery top surface and the planar portion of the battery bottom surface is inclined relative to the support surface when the battery is positioned in the receptacle and the front and rear portions of the base engage the support surface.

5. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the bottom surface of the base is inclined relative to the support surface.

6. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the top surface of the battery is inclined relative to the support surface.

7. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the bottom surface of the battery is inclined relative to the support surface.

8. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein both the top surface and the bottom surface of the battery are inclined relative to the support surface.

9. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein all of the base bottom surface, the planar portion of the battery top surface and the planar portion of the battery bottom surface are inclined relative to the support surface.

10. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the front portion of the base is a front cushion coupled to the bottom surface of the base and the rear portion of the base is a rear cushion coupled to the bottom surface of the base, the front cushion having the first height and the rear cushion having the second height less than the first height.

11. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the electrical component is an audio component and the electrical circuit is an audio circuit capable of producing an audio signal.

12. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the electrical component is a battery charger and the electrical circuit is a charging circuit capable of charging the battery.

13. The electrical component of claim 4, wherein the battery is a power tool battery operable to power a power tool.

14. An audio component supportable on a support surface, the audio component comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle having an open end, the open end having a receptacle height, the housing including a cover selectively closing the open end of the receptacle;

an audio circuit supported by the housing and operable to produce an audio signal, a first power tool battery having a first height being supportable in the receptacle and electrically connectable to the audio circuit, a second power tool battery having a second height different than the first height being supportable in the receptacle and electrically connectable to the audio circuit, wherein the receptacle height is greater than the first height and the second height, and the receptacle selectively receives one of the first power tool battery and the second power tool battery; and

a base coupled to the housing, the base including

a front portion protruding from a bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface, and

a rear portion protruding from the bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface,

the front portion having a first height and the rear portion have a second height less than the first height;

wherein the first power tool battery includes a first top surface and a first bottom surface and the second power tool battery includes a second top surface and a second bottom surface, and

wherein at least one of the base bottom surface, a planar portion of the first power tool battery top surface, a planar portion of the first power tool battery bottom surface, a planar portion of the second power tool battery top surface, and a planar portion of the second power tool battery bottom surface is inclined relative to the support surface when the first or second power tool battery is positioned in the receptacle and the front and rear portions of the base engage the support surface.

15. An electrical component supportable on a support surface, the electrical component comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle having an open end, the housing including a cover selectively closing the open end of the receptacle; and

an electrical circuit supported by the housing, a first battery having a first height being supportable in the receptacle and electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a second battery having a second height different than the first height being supportable in the receptacle and electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, the receptacle selectively receives one of the first battery and the second battery; and

a base coupled to the housing, the base including

a front portion protruding from a bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface, and

a rear portion protruding from the bottom surface of the base and being engageable with the support surface,

the front portion having a first height and the rear portion have a second height less than the first height;

wherein the first battery includes a first top surface and a first bottom surface and the second battery includes a second top surface and a second bottom surface, and

wherein at least one of the base bottom surface, a planar portion of the first battery top surface, a planar portion of the first battery bottom surface, a planar portion of the second battery top surface, and a planar portion of the second battery bottom surface is inclined relative to the support surface when the first or second battery is positioned in the receptacle and the front and rear portions of the base engage the support surface.

16. The electrical component of claim 15, wherein the electrical component is an audio component and the electrical circuit is an audio circuit capable of producing an audio signal.

17. The electrical component of claim 15, wherein the electrical component is a battery charger and the electrical circuit is a charging circuit capable of selectively charging the first battery and the second battery.

18. The electrical component of claim 15, wherein the first battery is a first power tool battery operable to power a power tool and the second battery is a second power tool battery operable to power a power tool.