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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Universal connector for rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5407111

In an electrical product having battery recharging means and a load adapted for energization from a battery, a battery connector is described which consists of: terminal means adapted to contact the output terminals of either a non-rechargeable battery having a first physical configuration or a rechargeable battery having a second physical configuration, the terminal means coupled to the load of the product such that the load may be energized from either the non-rechargeable battery or the rechargeable battery; circuit means coupling the terminal means and the battery recharging means, the circuit means including a switch having an open state preventing charging through the circuit means of a battery coupled to the terminal means and a closed state permitting charging through the circuit means of a battery coupled to the terminal means; and biased actuating means coupled to the switch for moving the switch between its closed and open sites, the actuating means adapted to coact with the first physical configuration of a non-rechargeable battery to move the switch against a bias to its open state and adapted to coact with the second physical configuration of a rechargeable battery to allow the switch to move with the bias to its closed state; whereby the physical configurations of a battery connected to the battery connector determines whether or not the battery will be charged.

Assignee:
General Electric Co., Portsmouth, VA
Patent Number(s):
US 4602202
OSTI ID:
5407111
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English