Vehicle power charger

• US 20090315513A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superior Communications (Sinclair Broadcast Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Superior Communications (Sinclair Broadcast Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mkhitarian, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A vehicle power charger includes a generally cylindrically-shaped body portion suitable for plugging into a vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle, a spring-loaded metal contact pin for engagement with electrical contacts inside the receptacle, and an oblong end portion formed at an angle to the cylindrically-shaped body portion including a cavity that holds and protects one or more USB ports, and a cavity cover that slides, rotates or flips between open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A vehicle power charger comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped body portion of a size, length and shape suitable for plugging into a vehicle cigarette lighter receptacle and includes, at one end of said body portion, a spring-loaded metal contact pin for engagement with electrical contacts inside said receptacle, and, at second end of said body portion, an oblong portion formed at an angle to said cylindrically-shaped body portion, said oblong portion comprising an opening at its end to receive a cable for connection of said charger to a cellular telephone, said oblong portion further comprising a cavity that holds and protects at least one USB port, said cavity having a cover that slides, rotates or flips between open and closed positions.

2. The charger of claim 1 further comprising, along the outer surface of the sidewall of said body portion, near said contact pin, at least one spring loaded protrusion for engaging the inner surfaces of said receptacle when said charger is inserted into said receptacle.

3. The charger of claim 1 further comprising, inside and cylindrically-shaped body portion, an electrically-conductive connector that connects to said metal contact pin at one end, and to one or more USB connectors that protrude into the USB cavity, below the cover of the USB cavity, at a second end.

4. The charger of claim 3 wherein said electrically-conductive connector comprises a flat metal plate that has a narrowed width at its distal end near the metal contact pin to receive a cylindrical spring that urges said metal contact pin forward.

5. The charger of claim 4 wherein said USB connectors are attached to said plate at an angle suitable for protrusion into said USB cavity.