IP Library Granted Patent US 8,491,341
Granted Patent B2
US 8,491,341 · App. 12/496,292 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Universal battery connector

Inventors: Clinton R. Bower (Post Falls, ID); David H. Kouche (Hayden Lake, ID); Christian P. Nicastro (Post Falls, ID); Alex B. Worsfold (Post Falls, ID)
Assignee: Vertical Partners West, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,491,341
App. No.
12/496,292
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A universal battery connector and system for R/C devices adaptable for use with different types of battery connection plugs. A battery and universal battery plug may be connected to either a Traxxas® or Molex® brand battery connection plug through the use of a specifically designed adaptor plug. The adaptor plug includes universal contacts for connection to a terminal on the universal battery plug. The adaptor plug also includes adaptor terminals configured for slide-fit reception of either a Traxxas® or Molex® brand battery connection plug.

Claims (30)

1. A universal battery connector system for radio controlled devices, adaptable for interchangeable use with different types of battery connection plugs having electrically conductive contacts, comprising:

a universal battery plug;

a first adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a first type of battery connection plug, wherein the first adaptor includes first adaptor terminals having two generally rectangular terminal openings configured for slide fit reception of the electrically conductive contacts on the first type of battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the electrically conductive contacts on the first type of battery connection plug has first and second generally rectangular electrically conductive male contacts, the first male contact having a first width and the second male contact having a second width narrower than the first width;

a second adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a second type of battery connection plug, wherein the second adaptor includes second adaptor terminals having a first terminal opening with a generally square cross-section and the second terminal opening with a generally semi-circular cross-section, both terminal openings configured for slide fit reception of the electrically conductive contacts on the second type of battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the electrically conductive contacts on the second type of battery connection plug has first and second electrically conductive female contacts, the first female contact having a generally square cross-section and the second female contact having a generally semi-circular cross-section; and

wherein the universal battery plug is configured to interchangeably connect to either the first adaptor or the second adaptor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first type of battery connection plug is a Traxxas® type battery connection plug.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second type of battery connection plug is a Molex® type battery connection plug.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a third type of battery connection plug, the third adaptor including third adaptor terminals configured for receipt of the electrically conductive contacts on the third type of battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the universal battery plug is configured to interchangeably connect to the first adaptor, the second adaptor or the third adaptor, and wherein the third adaptor is configured for slide fit reception with the third type of battery connection plug, the third type of battery connection plug having one electrically conductive male contact and one electrically conductive female contact.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor terminals comprise positive and negative adaptor terminals and the electrically conductive contacts comprise positive and negative electrically conductive contacts, such that the positive and negative electrically conductive contacts are in electrical communication with the corresponding positive and negative adaptor terminals.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the universal battery plug comprises positive and negative universal terminals configured for connection to the universal contacts on the first and second adaptors.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the universal battery plug includes battery contacts on the universal terminals, wherein the battery contacts are configured to receive positive and negative battery terminals from a battery.

8. A universal battery connector system for radio controlled devices, adaptable for interchangeable use with different types of battery connection plugs having electrically conductive contacts, comprising:

a universal battery plug;

a first adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to two electrically conductive male contacts on a first type of battery connection plug, wherein the first adaptor includes first adaptor terminals having two generally rectangular terminal openings configured for slide fit reception of the electrically conductive contacts on the first type of battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the two electrically conductive male contacts on the first type of battery connection plug comprise first and second generally rectangular male contacts, the first male contact having a first width and the second male contact having a second width narrower than the first width;

a second adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to two electrically conductive female contacts on a second type of battery connection plug, wherein the second adaptor includes second adaptor terminals having a first terminal opening with a generally square cross-section and second terminal opening with a generally circular cross-section, both terminal openings configured for slide fit reception of the electrically conductive contacts on the second type of battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the two electrically conductive female contacts on the second type of battery connection plug comprise first and second female contacts, the first female contact having a generally square cross-section and the second female contact having a generally semi-circular cross-section; and

wherein the universal battery plug is configured to interchangeably connect to either the first adaptor or the second adaptor.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first type of battery connection plug is a Traxxas® type battery, connection plug.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second type of battery connection plug is a Molex® type battery connection plug.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a third adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a third type of battery connection plug, the third type of battery connection plug having one electrically conductive male contact and one electrically conductive female contact, the third adaptor including third adaptor terminals configured for receipt of the electrically conductive male and female contacts and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the universal battery plug is configured to interchangeably connect to the first adaptor, the second adaptor or the third adaptor, and wherein the third adaptor is further configured for slide fit reception with the third type of battery connection plug.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adaptor terminals comprise positive and negative adaptor terminals and the electrically conductive contacts comprise positive and negative electrically conductive contacts, such that the positive and negative electrically conductive contacts are in electrical communication with the corresponding positive and negative adaptor terminals.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the universal battery plug comprises positive and negative universal terminals configured for connection to the universal contacts on the first and second adaptors.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the universal battery plug includes battery contacts on the universal terminals, wherein the battery contacts are configured to receive positive and negative battery terminals from a battery.

15. A universal battery connector system for radio controlled devices, adaptable for interchangeable use with different types of battery connection plugs having electrically conductive contacts, comprising:

a universal battery plug;

a first adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to two electrically conductive male contacts on a Traxxas® type battery connection plug, wherein the two electrically conductive male contacts comprise first and second generally rectangular male contacts, the first male contact having a first width and the second male contact having a second width narrower than the first width, the first adaptor further configured for slide fit reception with the Traxxas® type battery connection plug, wherein the first adaptor includes first adaptor terminals having two generally rectangular terminal openings configured for receipt of the electrically conductive male contacts on the Traxxas® type battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug;

a second adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to two electrically conductive female contacts on a Molex® type battery connection plug, wherein the female contacts comprise first and second female contacts, the first female contact having a generally square cross-section and the second female contact having a generally semi-circular cross-section, the second adaptor further configured for slide fit reception with the Molex® type battery connection plug, wherein the second adaptor includes second adaptor terminals having a first terminal opening with a generally square cross-section and a second terminal opening with a generally semi-circular cross-section, both terminal openings configured for receipt of the electrically conductive female contacts on the Molex® type battery connection plug and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug; and

wherein the universal battery plug is configured to interchangeably connect to either the first adaptor or the second adaptor.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a third type of adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a third type of battery connection plug, the third battery connection plug having one electrically conductive male contact and one electrically conductive female contact, the third adaptor including third adaptor terminals configured for receipt of the electrically conductive male and female contacts and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug, wherein the universal battery plug is configured to interchangeably connect to the first adaptor, the second adaptor or the third adaptor, and wherein the third adaptor is further configured for slide fit reception with the third type of battery connection plug.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the universal battery plug comprises positive and negative universal terminals configured for connection to the universal contacts on the first and second adaptors, and the universal battery plug includes battery contacts on the universal terminals, wherein the battery contacts are configured to receive positive and negative battery terminals from a battery.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the adaptor terminals comprise positive and negative adaptor terminals and the electrically conductive contacts comprise positive and negative electrically conductive contacts, such that the positive and negative electrically conductive contacts are in electrical communication with the corresponding positive and negative adaptor terminals.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2022
From: VERTICAL PARTNERS WEST, LLC
To: AGA HOLDING CO., LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061268/0898 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2016
From: VERTICAL PARTNERS WEST, LLC
To: ALADDIN PD FUND I, LLLP
Reel/Frame 039332/0727 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2009
From: BOWER, CLINTON R.; KOUCHE, DAVID H.; NICASTRO, CHRISTIAN P.; WORSFOLD, ALEX B.
To: VERTICAL PARTNERS WEST, LLC
Reel/Frame 022907/0859 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110003512A1 · Jan 6, 2011