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US 7,679,320 B2Granted
Amusement apparatus operative as a dynamo battery charger
AssigneeZen Design Group, Ltd.
InventorsSun Yu, David A. Perrin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a dynamo battery charger adapted to provide amusement during the recharging process. The charger housing is shaped or constructed to represent an amusing apparatus that includes optional features that simulate actual components whereby the amusing optional features are operable when the battery charger is being actuated.
Claims19
An amusement battery charger comprising:
- a simulative housing having a simulative feature that provides amusement during grip manipulation;
- a battery receptacle within said housing adapted to removably receive a battery having a battery dimension;
- a manual grip on said housing generating kinetic energy;
- a dynamo within said housing and in mechanical communication with said grip and generating electrical energy from the kinetic energy, said dynamo operative to produce an electrical output;
- an electronic circuit in electrical communication with said dynamo and said battery receptacle, said electronic circuit generating a conditioned electrical output from the electrical output and transmitting the conditioned electrical output to said battery receptacle;
- and
- a power takeoff for transferring a portion of the kinetic energy or the electrical energy to the simulative feature adapted to provide user amusement during grip manipulation wherein said simulative feature is a tachometer on said housing and in electrical communication with said electronic circuit, said tachometer operative to produce a revolutions per minute value in response to receiving said conditioned electrical output from said electronic circuit that is indicative of revolutions per minute of said dynamo during kinetic energy input.
4 more elements
A method of recharging a battery comprising:
- a simulative housing having a simulative feature that provides amusement during grip manipulation;
- a manual grip on said housing generating kinetic energy;
- disposing the battery in a battery receptacle;
- manipulating the manual grip for a predetermined period to transfer energy from a dynamo to the battery and the simulative feature;
- an electronic circuit in electrical communication with said dynamo and said battery receptacle;
- a power takeoff for transferring a portion of the kinetic energy to the simulative feature adapted to provide user amusement during grip manipulation wherein said simulative feature is a tachometer on said housing and in electrical communication with said electronic circuit, said tachometer operative to produce a revolutions per minute value in response to receiving a conditioned electrical output from said electronic circuit that is indicative of revolutions per minute of said dynamo during kinetic energy input,
- monitoring the tachometer providing the revolutions per minute value indication relating to an electrical output from the dynamo;
- sensing a movement of the simulative feature as a visual or auditory input, said simulative feature providing an entertainment inducement to continue said manipulating step;
- and
- removing the battery from the battery receptacle.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.