US 5,691,618 A · Battery pack charging device

Abstract

A thin charging device having excellent portability is provided for charging a battery pack while the battery pack remains housed within a communication device. The charging device (10) is constructed from a flat rectangular shaped main body (12) and a cover (13) which is fixed to a rotation shaft (23) so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body to allow the cover to be positioned in either an open or closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it covers charging terminals (20) provided on the top of the main body and makes the overall dimensions of the charging device roughly equal to the dimensions of the main body. On the other hand, when the cover is placed in the open position, the cover is maintained at such open position by the provision of support means (34), (35), (37). When a communication device such as a portable telephone (15) is set on the charging device, the back surface (25) of the portable telephone makes contact with the opened cover, whereby the portable telephone is supported in an upright position. In this position, external terminals (30) of the portable telephone make contact with the charging terminals of the charging device and this enables the battery pack (28) housed within the portable telephone to be charged.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A charging device for charging a battery pack housed within a communication device, comprising:

a flat-shaped main body;
first charging terminals provided in the main body, the first charging terminals being adapted to make electrical contact with charge reception terminals of the communication device:
and
a rotatable cover which can be opened and closed by being rotated with respect to the main body, such that when the cover is in a closed position, the cover covers the first charging terminals, and when the cover is in an open position, the cover is in an upright state which enables the cover to act as a support member which is adapted to support at least a back surface of the communication device when the communication device is in a charging position on the charging device.

1 more element

A charging device for charging a battery pack housed within a communication device, comprising:

a main body;
first charging terminals provided in the main body, the first charging terminals being adapted to make electrical contact with charge reception terminals of the communication device;
and
a cover which can be opened and closed with respect to the main body, such that when the cover is in a closed position, the cover covers the first charging terminals, and when the cover is in an open position, the cover acts as a support member which is adapted to support the communication device when the communication device is in a charging position on the charging device;
further comprising:
a depression formed at a prescribed position in the main body for receiving a base portion of the communication device when the communication device is placed on the charging device for charging;
and
an auxilliary support member provided at a prescribed position on the underside surface of the cover, the auxiliary support member being adapted to make contact with a back surface of the communication device when the communication device is being supported by the cover;
wherein the first charging terminals are provided within the depression and the auxiliary support member is adapted to be stored in a space of the depression when the cover is closed.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Battery pack charging device

Life of this patent

Battery pack charging device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9