Battery-operated device with wall-mounted support

• US 4,536,694 A
• Filed: 02/21/1984
• Issued: 08/20/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Solid State Chargers Research and Development Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Solid State Chargers Research & Development
• Inventors: McCarty, George W., Smith, Somers H. III, Rebold, Jerome I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/581,774
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-5, 174/54, 174/55, 339/122 R, 307/149, 307/150, 361/388, 361/389, 15/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

A battery-operated device having a passive charging mode and an active discharging mode is combined with a support, which supports the device in its charging mode. The support is integral with a plate which is to be positioned on a wall. The plate may be a replacement cover plate which may be substituted for a cover plate of a conventional A.C. wall outlet. The device includes a short power cord having a plug at its distal end. A D.C. current pulse producing circuit, preferably a solid state integrated circuit is housed within the plug. The D.C. current pulse producing circuit is especially useful as a battery-charging circuit.

Claims

1. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means, means for mounting the plate means on a wall, electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means, means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on the wall, charging means including a heat-producing solid state charger within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means, and a plug on the end of the cord and having a pair of metal prongs for cooperation with the receptacle means in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, said solid state charger being within said plug and having heat sink means in effective thermal communication with at least one of said prongs for transferring and dissipating heat produced by the solid state charger.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the plate means comprises a replacement cover plate for a wall-mounted electrical outlet receptacle.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the plate means includes an upstanding boss for trapping a conventional extension cord against the wall, the upstanding boss having access means for at least one receptacle on the extension cord.

4. The combination of claim 2, further including means on the battery-operated device for storing the cord when the battery-operated device is in use in its discharging mode.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the solid state charger comprises an integrated circuit.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the integrated circuit is integrally within the plug.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein the plug is molded about the integrated circuit and constitutes a housing therefor.

8. The combination of claim 5, wherein the integrated circuit is disposed adjacent to one of the metal prongs within the plug.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the plug is molded about the solid state charger and constitutes a housing therefor.

10. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means, means for mounting the plate means on a wall, electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means, means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on the wall, charging means within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means, and a plug on the end of the cord for cooperation with the receptacle means in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, and wherein the means on the plate means for supporting the battery-operated device on the wall comprises an integral extension on the lower portion of the plate means, the integral extension including a top tab portion, a vertically spaced bottom tab portion and a pair of horizontally spaced-apart fingers intermediately of the top and bottom tab portions, the battery-operated device having a handle with a recess formed therein, and the recess being defined by top, bottom, and side surfaces, respectively, whereby the top and bottom tab portions are lodged against the top and bottom surfaces of the recess, respectively, and whereby the side surfaces of the recess engage the respective fingers and depress the fingers inwardly thereof as the battery-operated device is positioned on the integral extension of the plate means.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said top tab portion, said bottom tab portion and said pair of spaced-apart fingers extend outwardly and upwardly from said plate means at an angle to horizontal, and upwardly from said plate means at an angle to horizontal, and wherein said top surface and said bottom surface of said recess correspondingly extend upwardly from horizontal so as to fittingly receive said top and bottom tab portions.

12. The combination of claim 10, further including outwardly-extending protrusions on the respective fingers, the battery-operated device having side wall portion formed with respective depressions inwardly of the side surfaces thereof, whereby the protrusions are received withing the respective depressions, and whereby the battery-operated device is mounted on the plate means with a detent action.

13. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means, means for mounting the plate means on a wall, electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means, means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on the wall, charging means within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means, and a plug on the end of the cord for cooperation with the receptacle means in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, wherein the plate means comprises a replacement cover plate for a wall-mounted electrical outlet receptacle, and wherein the means on the plate means for supporting the battery-operated device on the wall comprises a saddle formed integrally with the plate replacement cover plate and projecting forwardly therefrom at substantially the lowermost portion thereof, the saddle including a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel supporting members and the battery-operated device having a handle provided with laterally projecting ears, whereby the battery-operated device may be cradled within the saddle with the ears supported upon the respective supporting members of the saddle, and upwardly projecting strut members for the supporting members, respectively, the strut members also being formed integrally with the replacement cover plate.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the plate means is integrally molded from a suitable plastic material.

15. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means, means for mounting the plate means on a wall, electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means, means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on the wall, charging means within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means, and a plug on the end of the cord for cooperation with the receptacle means in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, wherein the plate means comprises a replacemcnt cover plate for a wall-mounted electrical outlet receptacle, and including means on the battery-operated device for storing the cord when the battery-operated device is in use in its discharging mode, and wherein the battery-operated device has a housing including a rearwardly projecting handle, wherein the cord extends rearwardly from a first portion of the end of the handle, and wherein the means for storing the cord when the battery-operated device is in use comprises a recess formed in a second portion of the end of the handle, the second portion being disposed adjacent to the first portion.

16. In combination:

a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the battery-operated device further having a housing including a rearwardly-projecting handle having a rearmost end portion provided with laterally projecting respective ears, a relatively short electrical cord carried by the handle and projecting rearwardly of the end portion thereof, a replacement cover plate for at least one wall-mounted electrical outlet receptacle, the replacement cover plate having a pair of spaced-apart supporting members formed integrally therewith and projecting forwardly therefrom, whereby the handle of the battery-operated device may be removably cradled in the replacement cover plate such that the respective ears are supported upon the supporting members in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, integral struts between the replacement cover plate and the respective supporting members, a plug on the end of the cord for cooperation with the receptacle in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, and a solid state charging means within the molded plug and connected to the cord of the battery-operated device.

17. The combination of claim 16, further including means for bending the cord back upon itself and retaining the plug on the handle when the battery-operated device is in use in its discharging mode.

18. In a battery-operated device having a housing and further having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a relatively short electrical cord carried by the housing of the battery-operated device, a plug on the end of the cord, the plug including a pair of prongs, a solid state charging means comprising an integrated circuit disposed within the plug and adjacent to at least one of the prongs, means electrically connecting the integrated circuit between the plug and cord, means on the battery-operated device for storing the cord in the active discharging mode of the device, and means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on a wall adjacent to an electrical outlet receptacle in the passive charging mode of the device.

19. In a battery-operated device having a housing and further having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of an electrical cord carried by the housing of the battery-operated device;

a plug on the end of the cord, the plug including a pair of metal prongs;

a solid state charging means comprising a heat-producing integrated circuit disposed within the plug, adjacent to at least one of the prongs and in effective thermal communication therewith to transfer heat from said integrated circuit to said one prong;

means electrically connecting the integrated circuit between the plug and the cord;

plate means;

means for mounting the plate means on a wall; and

means carried by the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device adjacent to an electrical outlet receptacle in the passive charging mode of the device.

36. The combination according to claim 19, wherein said integrated circuit includes heat sink means for proving thermal communication to said one of said prongs.

20. In a battery-operated device having a housing and further having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a relatively short electrical cord carried by the housing of the battery-operated device;

a plug on the end of the cord, the plug including a pair of metal prongs;

a heat-producing solid state charging means within the plug and in effective thermal communication with at least one of the metal prongs to transfer and dissipate heat from the solid state charging means;

means electrically connecting the solid state charging means to the cord;

means on the battery-operated device for storing the cord in the active discharging mode of the device;

plate means;

means for mounting the plate means on a wall; and

means carried by the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device adjacent to an electrical outlet receptacle in the passive charging mode of the device.

37. The combination according to claim 20, wherein said solid state charging means comprises an integrated circuit positioned adjacent to said one of said prongs and includes a heat sink means for providing thermal communication to said one of said prongs.

21. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means;

means for mounting the plate means on a wall;

electrical outlet receptacle means carried by said plate means;

means on the plate means for supporting the battery-operated device on the wall; and

charging means within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means and a plug including a pair of prongs on the end of the cord for cooperation with the receptacle means in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, and wherein said charging means comprising a heat-producing solid state charging means within said plug and in effective thermal communication with at least one of said prongs to transfer and dissipate heat from the solid state charging means.

22. The combination according to claim 21, including an extension power cord having a second plug on one end thereof, which may be plugged into a distant electrical recpetacle, said plate means constituting the other end thereof.

23. The combination according to claim 21, including an extension power cord having a male plug on one end thereof which may be plugged into a distant electrical receptacle and a female plug on the other end thereof which may be placed in conductive communication with the electrical receptacle carried by said plate means and within which the plug on the end of the cord is to be positioned.

27. The combination of claim 21, wherein said means on the plate means for supporting the battery-operated device on the wall includes hook means extending from said plate means.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein said hook means extends downwardly and outwardly from said plate means.

29. The combination of claim 28, wherein said plate means and said hook means and said plate means are integral.

38. The combination in accordance with claim 21, wherein said solid state charging means within said plug comprises an integrated circuit positioned adjacent to one of said prongs and includes a heat sink means for providing thermal communication to said one of said prongs.

24. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means, means for mounting the plate means on a wall, electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means, means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on the wall, charging means within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means, and a plug on the end of the cord for cooperation with the recpetacle means in the charging mode of the batter-operated device, and wherein the means on the plate means for supporting the battery-operated device on the wall comprises an integral extension on the lower portion of the plate means, the integral extension including a top tab portion, a vertically spaced apart bottom tab portion, and a pair of horizontally spaced-apart fingers intermediately of the top and bottom tab portions, the battery-operated device having a handle with a recess formed therein, and the recess being defined by top, bottom and side surfaces, respectively, whereby the top and bottom tab portions are lodged against the top and bottom surfaces of the recess, respectively, and whereby the side surfaces of the recess engage the respective finger and depress the fingers inwardly thereof as the battery-operated device is positioned on the integral extension of the plate means.

25. The combination of claim 24, further including outwardly extending protrusions on the respective fingers, the battery-operated device having side wall portions formed with respective depressions inwardly of the side walls thereof, whereby the protrusions are received within the respective depressions, and whereby the battery-operated device is mounted on the plate means with a detent action.

26. In a battery-operated device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the combination of a plate means, means for mounting the plate means on a wall, electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means, means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device on the wall, charging means within the battery-operated device, the battery-operated device including an electrical cord connected to the charging means, and a plug on the end of the cord for cooperation with the receptacle means in the charging mode of the battery-operated device, and wherein the means on the plate means for supporting the battery-operated device on the wall comprises a saddle formed integrally with the plate means and projecting forwardly therefrom at substantially the lowermost portion thereof, the saddle including a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel supporting members and the battery-operated device having a handle provided with laterally projecting ears, whereby the battery-operated device may be cradled within the saddle with the ears supported upon the respective supporting members of the saddle, and upwardly-projecting strut members for the supporting members, respectively, the strut members also being formed integrally with the plate means.

30. In a combination a battery-operated device;

a wall support for the battery-operated device;

plug means on the device, the plug means being provided with a pair of metal prongs;

plate means secured to the wall;

mechanical support means on the plate means for removably supporting the device on the plate means;

electrical receptacle means operatively associated with the plate means for selective cooperation with the prongs on the plug means, the electrical receptacle means being spaced from the mechanical support means; and

solid state charging means in the plug means, said solid state charging means being electrically coupled to at least one of the prongs thereof and being in effective thermal communication with at least one of said metal prongs to transfer and dissipate heat from said solid state charging means.

35. The combination of claim 30, wherein said solid state charging means comprises an integrated circuit including heat sink means positioned adjacent to said one of the prongs with said heat sink means in thermal communication to said at least one of the prongs.

31. In combination, a battery-operated device including a plug having a pair of metal prongs and battery charging means, the device having a passive mode when the device is being charged and an active mode when the device is being discharged in use, the battery charging means including a heat-producing solid state charging means within said plug and being in effective thermal communication with at least one of said prongs for dissipating heat produced by the solid state circuit;

a plate means;

means for mounting the plate means on a wall;

electrical outlet receptacle means associated with the plate means;

support means on the plate means for removably supporting the battery-operated device; and

means for coupling said charging means to the receptacle means when the battery-operated device is supported on the support means in its passive mode.

32. The combination of claim 31, wherein the plate means comprises a replacement cover plate for a wall-mounted electrical outlet receptacle.

33. The combination of claim 31, wherein that the plate means includes at least one electrical outlet receptacle therein, cord means being provided for connecting the at least one outlet receptacle to a wall outlet.

34. The combination of claim 31, wherein the solid state charging means is an integrated circuit and is integrally within the plug.

39. The combination according to claim 31, wherein said solid state charging means comprises an integrated circuit having heat sink means for providing thermal communication to said one of said prongs.