Universal battery charger with adjustable pocket
View Patent ↗A universal battery charger having an adjustable pocket for receiving batteries having differing dimensions. Each battery, regardless of their differing dimensions, may be firmly supported within the adjustable pocket and receive an electrical charge from a single set of electrical contacts exposed in the adjustable pocket. The adjustable pocket is adjustable, because a battery guide of the charger includes first and second ends that alternately protrude through the plane of the housing, thus providing different dynamic supporting walls for different batteries. The adjustable pocket may accommodate different batteries by utilizing different receiving areas of the pocket. One receiving area may supports one side of a first battery with a first dynamic wall and supports other sides of the first battery with stationary walls. Likewise, another receiving area may support one side of a second battery with a second dynamic wall and supports other sides of the second battery with stationary walls.
1. A universal battery charger with an adjustable pocket for receiving batteries having differing dimensions, the charger comprising:
a housing having a plurality of sides defining an enclosed boundary of the adjustable pocket, a plane defined by the boundary and orthogonal to the plurality of sides, and an inner compartment bounded on one side by the plane opposite the adjustable pocket;
a plurality of electrical contacts exposed at the plane within the boundary of the adjustable pocket, the electrical contacts being capable of providing an electrical charge to conductive elements in contact with the electrical contacts; and
a battery guide supported by the inner compartment of the housing, the battery guide including first and second ends that alternately protrude through the plane of the housing,
wherein the first end protrudes through the plane of the housing and the second end recedes into the inner compartment when the battery guide is at its first position, and the second end protrudes through the plane of the housing and the first end recedes into the inner compartment when the battery guide is at its second position.
2. The universal battery charger of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second ends includes an interference bump that is capable of adjusting upon contact with a battery to securely maintain the battery in the adjustable pocket.
3. The universal battery charger of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second ends further includes a beam that supports the interference bump to other parts of the battery guide and is capable of flexing backward to absorb tolerance of the battery upon contact to the interference bump.
4. The universal battery charger of claim 1 , wherein:
the battery guide includes a guide body having a guide pivot about which the first and second ends rotate, the battery guide having at least first and second positions.
5. The universal battery charger of claim 4 , wherein:
the plane includes a detent molded on an inner surface of the plane;
the battery guide includes a locking tab extending toward the detent of the plane, the locking tab transitions over the detent when the battery guide moves between the first and second positions.
6. The universal battery charger of claim 5 , wherein:
the inner compartment includes a spring mechanism that provides a force against the guide pivot of the battery guide, and maintains the locking tab against the detent and areas of the inner surface of the plane about the detent.
7. The universal battery charger of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical circuit supported by the inner compartment of the housing, the electrical circuit being coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts to provide the electrical charge and operative to connect to an external power source.