ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, SUCH AS A RADIO, MP3 PLAYER, AUDIO COMPONENT, BATTERY CHARGER, RADIO/CHARGER, MP3 PLAYER/RADIO, MP3 PLAYER/CHARGER OR MP3 PLAYER/RADIO/CHARGER, HAVING A SELECTIVELY CONNECTABLE BATTERY CHARGER

• US 20100039068A1
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zick, Jonathan A., Bublitz, Scott D., Ottens-Rendon, Melissa A., Rozwadowski, David J., Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Santana, George L. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• 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: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrical component, such as, for example, a radio, MP3 player, audio component, battery charger, radio/charger, MP3 player/radio, MP3 player/charger, or MP3 player/radio/charger. 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 further aspects, the electrical component is an MP3 player and the electrical circuit is a MP3 circuit. In yet further aspects, the electrical component is an combination of any or all of a radio, battery charger, and MP3 player and the electrical component can include any combination or all of the audio, radio, and MP3 circuits. A battery may be connectable to the housing and electrically connectable the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. An audio component comprising:

a housing;

a circuit for producing an audio signal, the circuit being supported by the housing, a battery being supportable by the housing and electrically connectable to the circuit; and

a locking assembly operable to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing.

2. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines a receptacle having an open end, the battery being supportable in the receptacle, the housing including a cover selectively closing the open end of the receptacle.

3. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the audio component further comprising a biasing member being supportable on the closed end of the receptacle to bias the battery out of the receptacle.

4. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the locking assembly includes a locking projection on one of the battery and the housing and a recess defined by the other of the battery and the housing, the locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the projection engages the recess to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the battery is movable relative to the housing.

5. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a power tool battery operable to power a power tool, the circuit being electrically connectable to the power tool battery.

6. An audio component according to claim 1, further comprising a charging circuit supported by the housing, the charging circuit being selectively connectable to the battery, the charging circuit being operable to charge the battery.

7. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a power tool battery operable to power a power tool, the circuit being electrically connectable to the power tool battery.

8. An audio component according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a tower power tool battery, the housing defining an opening, the opening selectively supporting the tower power tool battery.

9. An audio component according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector assembly for connecting the battery to the circuit, the electrical connector assembly being supported in the receptacle.

10. An audio component according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting the battery to the circuit, wherein the locking assembly locks the battery to the electrical connector assembly.

11. An electrical component comprising:

a housing;

an electrical circuit supported by the housing; and

a connector assembly for supporting a battery and for connecting the battery to the electrical circuit, the connector assembly being movably supported by the housing.

12. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the electrical component is an audio component, and wherein the electrical circuit is an audio circuit for producing an audio signal.

13. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the electrical component is a battery charger, and wherein the electrical circuit is a charging circuit electrically connectable to the battery and to a power source and operable to charge the battery.

14. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the housing defines a receptacle, and wherein the battery is supportable in the receptacle.

15. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the connector assembly includes a support portion, the battery being supportable on the support portion, the support portion being movable relative to the housing.

16. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal, and wherein the connector assembly includes a connector terminal connected to the electrical circuit, the connector terminal being movable relative to the housing, the battery terminal being connectable to the connector terminal to connect the battery to the electrical circuit.

17. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal, and wherein the connector assembly includes a support portion for supporting the battery and a connector terminal connected to the electrical circuit, the support member and the connector terminal being movable relative to the housing, the battery terminal being connected to the terminal to connect the battery to the electrical circuit.

18. An electrical component according to claim 11, further comprising a locking assembly operable to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing.

19. An electrical component according to claim 11, wherein the electrical component is a MP3 player and the electrical circuit is a MP3 circuit operable to produce a MP3 signal.

20. An electrical combination comprising:

an audio component including

a component housing including a component connector, and

an audio circuit supported by the component housing and operable to produce an audio signal, the audio circuit being electrically connectable to a power source; and

a battery charger including

a charger housing including a charger connector, the charger connector being connectable with the component connector to removably connect the charger housing to the component housing, and

a charging circuit connectable to a battery and to a power source and operable to charge the battery.