Gates Energy Products, Inc.

Eveready Battery Company, Inc.

General Electric Company

Kenneth E Toops

Clifford L Scholefield

Kim B Edwards

Leonardo Aldana

Battery pack casing

A battery powered energy-using device is disclosed which operably distinguishes between batteries having standard and non-standard terminal configurations. The battery compartment in the device is provided with a terminal having first and second insulated contacts, one contact configured to make contact with a battery of standard terminal configuration and the second contact adapted to make contact with a second terminal. In one embodiment the device is associated with charging circuitry which is adapted to recharge a rechargeable battery having the special non-standard terminal configuration, while permitting discharge but not recharge of a primary battery having a standard terminal configuration.

Energy using device

A charger for charging a rechargeable electrochemical cell including: a first conductive terminal having a central opening therein and a first contact end, the first conductive terminal connected to circuitry capable of providing charging current at a first charging rate; and a second conductive terminal positioned within the opening, the second conductive terminal having a second contact end portion extending outwardly from and electrically insulated from the first contact end, the second conductive terminal connected to circuitry capable of providing charging current at a second charging rate. The charger may have an insulator with an insulating contact end portion in place of the second conductive terminal having a second contact end portion. Also, a rechargeable electrochemical cell for use with a charger including: conductive flexible positive and negative plates; the cell having a top end with a perimeter and a bottom end electrically connected preferably to the negative plate; an annular charging contact seat integral to and protruding outwardly from the top end and located on the top end away from the perimeter; and the charging contact seat in electrical connection with the positive plate. Additionally, combinations of a rechargeable electrochemical cell and a charger therefor are included.

Rechargeable cell terminal configuration and charging device

An electrical circuit is provided which is operable in a first mode to deliver electrical energy to the load of an energy-using device and to a rechargeable battery for charging thereof. The circuit is operable in a second mode to deliver energy to the load of the energy-using device alternatively from either the rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. The circuit includes a pair of discharge terminals spaced apart by a first preselected distance so as to engage the power terminals of either the rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. The circuit includes a charging terminal spaced apart from one of the discharge terminals by a distance greater than said first distance so as to engage a terminal extension carried by one of the power terminal contacts of the rechargeable battery whereby only the rechargeable battery may be charged in the circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Kenneth E Toops