Compact battery charger

A battery charger for charging standard consumer batteries comprising a housing having exactly twelve charging stations, the charging stations grouped together in groups of three, each group of charging stations accommodating exactly two cells selected from a first group including only AA and AAA cells and each group of three accommodating exactly one cell selected from a second group including only C and D cells, no group of three charging stations accommodating cells selected from the first group and the second group simultaneously.

A battery charger for charging rechargeable batteries, the charger comprising:

• a) a housing having portions defining at least one compartment wherein the compartment has a first support element having portions defining an upwardly opening first support surface, the first support surface engaging and supporting a battery of the type selected from the group consisting of size C cells and size D cells, and wherein the compartment has two second support elements, one on each side of the first support element, each second support element having portions defining an upwardly opening second support surface, the second support surface engaging and supporting a battery of the type selected from the group consisting of size AA cells, and size AAA cells;
• and
• b) contact elements positioned in the housing to engage the anode and cathode ends of batteries supported therein for electrically contacting and facilitating the charging of the batteries.