Audio and charging system with audio device, power tool battery, and external battery charger

• US 8,203,307 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zick, Jonathan A., Santana, George L. Jr., Rozwadowski, David J., Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Bublitz, Scott D., Ottens-Rendon, Melissa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/987,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/111, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/116, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, D13/103, D13/108
• 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 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• 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 and charging system comprising:

a power cord including a device end and an outlet end, the outlet end including a plug housing with conductors that are operable to connect to an outlet and receive power;

an audio device including

a device housing,

a cord connector configured to be coupled to the device end of the power cord,

a power tool battery receptacle electrically connectable to the power cord, and

an audio circuit within the device housing and operable to produce an audio signal, the audio circuit being selectively electrically connectable to the power cord and to a power tool battery within the power tool battery receptacle; and

a battery charger external to the device housing and including a charging circuit operable to receive power via the conductors of the outlet end and to charge the battery within the power tool battery receptacle via the device end of the power cord.

2. The audio and charging system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger is positioned within the plug housing.

3. The audio and charging system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger is within a battery charger housing positioned along the power cord between the device end and the outlet end.

4. The audio and charging system of claim 1, wherein the cord connector and device end are removably coupled together via one of a plug-type connection and a quick-lock connection.

5. The audio and charging system of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle cover coupled to the device housing, wherein the receptacle cover includes an open position allowing removal and insertion of the power tool battery and a closed position preventing removal and insertion of the power tool battery.

6. The audio and charging system of claim 5, wherein the receptacle cover is pivotably coupled to the device housing.

7. The audio and charging system of claim 5, wherein the receptacle cover includes a biasing member that, when the receptacle cover is in the closed position, biases the power tool battery into the power tool battery receptacle.

8. An audio and charging system comprising:

a power cord including a device end and an outlet end, the outlet end including a plug housing with conductors that are operable to connect to an outlet and receive power, the plug housing including a charging circuit operable to receive power via the conductors and to provide charging power via the device end of the power cord; and

an audio device including

a device housing,

a cord connector configured to be coupled to the device end of the power cord,

a power tool battery receptacle electrically connectable to the power cord to receive the charging power from the charging circuit, and

an audio circuit within the device housing and operable to produce an audio signal, the audio circuit being selectively electrically connectable to the power cord and to a power tool battery within the power tool battery receptacle.

9. The audio and charging system of claim 8, wherein the cord connector and device end are removably coupled together via one of a plug-type connection and a quick-lock connection.

10. The audio and charging system of claim 8, further comprising a receptacle cover coupled to the device housing, wherein the receptacle cover includes an open position allowing removal and insertion of the power tool battery and a closed position preventing removal and insertion of the power tool battery.

11. The audio and charging system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle cover is pivotably coupled to the device housing.

12. The audio and charging system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle cover includes a biasing member that, when the receptacle cover is in the closed position, biases the power tool battery into the power tool battery receptacle.

14. The audio and charging system of claim 8, wherein the cord connector and device end are removably coupled together via one of a plug-type connection and a quick-lock connection.

15. The audio and charging system of claim 8, further comprising a receptacle cover coupled to the device housing, wherein the receptacle cover includes an open position allowing removal and insertion of the power tool battery and a closed position preventing removal and insertion of the power tool battery.

16. The audio and charging system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle cover is pivotably coupled to the device housing.

17. The audio and charging system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle cover includes a biasing member that, when the receptacle cover is in the closed position, biases the power tool battery into the power tool battery receptacle.

13. An audio and charging system comprising:

a power cord including a device end and an outlet end, the outlet end including a plug housing with conductors that are operable to connect to an outlet and receive power;

an audio device including

a device housing,

a cord connector configured to be coupled to the device end of the power cord,

a power tool battery receptacle electrically connectable to the power cord, and

an audio circuit within the device housing and operable to produce an audio signal, the audio circuit being selectively electrically connectable to the power cord and to a power tool battery within the power tool battery receptacle; and

a battery charger positioned along the power cord external to the device housing, the battery charger including a charging circuit operable to receive power via the conductors of the outlet end and to charge the power tool battery within the power tool battery receptacle via the device end of the power cord.