Motorola Corporation

Douglas Arthur Vine

William C Phelps, Iii

Charles William Friedli

Sean Nathan Davie

Paul James Faerber

Quing-Hua &ldquo;Lucy&rdquo; Zeng

This invention includes a hybrid housing for rechargeable battery packs. The housing utilizes a thin, plastic film bottom with insert-molded plastic walls. The bottom member is up to 50% thinner than prior art bottom members made by way of an injection molding process. The resultant battery housing is thinner and stronger than prior art housings.

Hybrid battery housing

A cigarette lighter adaptor for a portable electronic device is provided. The adaptor includes a handle and dongle coupled together by way of a mechanical stepper joint. The stepper joint includes a hinge that engages to resist angular forces applied to the handle relative to the dongle. In one preferred embodiment, the stepper joint includes a convex member with protruding members that act as gear teeth. The stepper joint has a corresponding concave member with d&eacute;tentes. When assembled, these features create the d&eacute;tente positions for the stepper joint. The d&eacute;tente positions are accomplished by allowing the dongle to translate along the axis of the adaptor away from the handle. The stepper joint is preferably held together with an elastic member wrapped about a pin within the stepper joint.

Cigarette lighted adaptor with mechanical stepper joint

This invention includes an electrically-conductive contact, preferably for use in battery chargers. The contact is manufactured from a springy metal material, like stainless steel. The contact includes a triangular shaped contour, capable of withstanding battery insertion force, and further capable of mating to battery contacts of varying depths. The contact includes a mechanical stop for preventing the contour from protruding too far through apertures in the battery charger pocket. A stem preloads the mechanical stop against a retaining wall. A lanced barb on a charger mount allows the contact to reside in the charger without the need of other adhesives, screws or rivets. A protrusion makes contact with an electrical pad on a printed circuit board. A protrusion extensor preloads the protrusion against the pad.

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Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Douglas Arthur Vine