Contact assembly of a robotic garden tool charging device

• US 9,543,680 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Elonsson, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SUN J
• Application Number:
  US14/366,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20140327389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/001 Accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A contact assembly of a robotic garden tool charging device 10 . The contact assembly 100 is arranged to engage a contact element 200 of a robotic garden tool 20 for a charging operation. The contact assembly 100 comprises a contact member 110 having a plurality of connection points 121 , arranged to provide a plurality of points of contact 30 between the contact member 110 and the contact element 200 . The contact member is configured to be pivotably and translatably connected to a body portion 11 of the charging device 10 . The contact assembly 100 comprises a biasing member 140 arranged to interconnect the contact member 110 and the body portion 11, so as to bias the contact member 110 towards the contact element 200 during the charging operation.

Claims

1. A contact assembly of a robotic garden tool charging device, the contact assembly being arranged to engage a contact element of a robotic garden tool for a charging operation, wherein the contact assembly comprises a contact member having a plurality of connection points, arranged to provide a plurality of points of contact between the contact member and the contact element, wherein the contact member is configured to be pivotably and translatably connected to a body portion of the charging device, and wherein the contact assembly comprises a biasing member arranged to interconnect the contact member and the body portion, so as to bias the contact member towards the contact element during the charging operation.

2. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the contact member comprises an elongate opening arranged to receive a guide member of the body portion.

3. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a helical spring.

4. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the contact member comprises a mounting portion arranged to be connected to the body portion, and a contact portion comprising the connection points.

5. The contact assembly according to claim 4, wherein the contact portion is at least partially resilient.

6. The contact assembly according to claim 4, wherein the mounting portion and the contact portion are integrally formed.

7. The contact assembly according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is made from sheet metal.

8. A robotic garden tool charging device comprising at least one contact assembly, the at least one contact assembly being arranged to engage a contact element of a robotic garden tool for a charging operation, wherein the at least one contact assembly comprises a contact member having a plurality of connection points, arranged to provide a plurality of points of contact between the contact member and the contact element, wherein the contact member is configured to be pivotably and translatably connected to a body portion of the charging device, and wherein the at least one contact assembly comprises a biasing member arranged to interconnect the contact member and the body portion, so as to bias the contact member towards the contact element during the charging operation.

9. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 8, the robotic garden tool charging device comprising two contact assemblies.

10. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 8, wherein the contact member comprises an elongate opening arranged to receive a guide member of the body portion.

11. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 8, wherein the biasing member is a helical spring.

12. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 8, wherein the contact member comprises a mounting portion arranged to be connected to the body portion, and a contact portion comprising the connection points.

13. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 12, wherein the contact portion is at least partially resilient.

14. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 12, wherein the mounting portion and the contact portion are integrally formed.

15. The robotic garden tool charging device according to claim 8, wherein the contact member is made from sheet metal.