Electrical appliance that utilizes multiple power sources

• US 8,384,340 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Tarter, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/146,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/107, 429/123, 429/151, 429/153, 429/154, 429/159, 429/163, 429/177, 307/44, 307/46, 307/48, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An electrical appliance (20) that accepts multiple different self-contained power sources (24, 33). As an example, an electrical appliance may receive a rechargeable battery pack (24) or a power cartridge (33) that is designed to receive disposable batteries (40). If the user does not have sufficient power left in a battery pack (24), the power cartridge (33) may be filled with disposable dry cell batteries (40), and may be inserted in the electrical appliance (20) to provide power. Another self contained power cartridge (44) may include a fuel cell. The fuel cell power cartridge (44) may include removable fuel cell cartridges (48), for example, each having a fuel therein, such as hydrogen.

Claims

1. A power source for an electrical appliance, the electrical appliance comprising a recess comprising power contacts and the recess for receiving a rechargeable battery pack, the power source comprising:

a fuel cell power cartridge that includes a fuel cell cartridge removably received therein and first contacts, the fuel cell cartridge, when received in the fuel cell power cartridge, providing power to the first contacts, and the fuel cell power cartridge fitting in the recess with the first contacts connecting to the power contacts to provide power to the electrical appliance, the fuel cell cartridge being refillable with fuel.

2. The power source of claim 1, wherein the refillable fuel cell cartridge stores hydrogen.

3. The electrical appliance of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a first locking feature associated therewith for releasably locking the rechargeable battery pack therein utilizing a second locking feature on the rechargeable battery pack, and wherein the fuel cell power cartridge comprises a second locking feature.

4. The power source of claim 1, wherein the electrical appliance is a lantern.