The present invention relates to a battery charger device activated by the insertion of a battery to provide educational or entertainment routines.
The societal cost of disposable batteries will be felt for generations to come as leachants find their way into soil and ground water. While recent advances in dry cell technology have reduced the toxicity of corroding disposable batteries, the sheer quantity of discarded batteries represents a significant burden on landfills. Annual domestic consumption of disposable batteries exceeds 1.9 billion cells. In most instances, disposable batteries cost a consumer more over time than does a rechargeable battery, yet disposable batteries remain popular owing to the inconvenience of battery charging. Thus, there exists a need for a battery charger device that provides communication with the user other than battery charge status so as to encourage the battery charge. It is intended that with the usage of the present invention, chargeable batteries displace ever more disposable cells.
A battery charger amusement device includes a battery charger having a receptacle adapted to receive a rechargeable battery. A battery recharge electronic circuit monitors the charge status of a battery placed in the receptacle. A mechanical movement signal is activated by the battery attaining a preselected charge status. The device housing is configured as an attractive item retained in sight when not in use. The mechanical movement signal of having a battery or inventive device portion pop up, begin or stop mechanical movement based on preselected battery charge status alerts a user of charge status attainment and encourages device usage.
The present invention is intended to add amusement value to the task of battery charging. Upon a rechargeable battery being coupled to an inventive device, an electronic circuit is activated that communicates information independent of charge status to a user. The form and content of the information so supplied is not critical. In an alternate embodiment, the present invention contains an electronic circuit that monitors battery charge status and triggers a mechanical movement signal to indicate that the battery has achieved a preselected charge status. The housing for the inventive device can take on any shape and color and be modeled into any number of humanoid, animal, vehicle, imaginary or natural forms. Similarly, the housing texture and materials of construction are not critical limitations.
Referring now to
The electronic circuit 18 in simplest form integrates a light source, laser diode or other electronic component so as to communicate sound or light information stored within the device on an integrated circuit or on a replaceable memory storage device to a user upon insertion of a battery B. The inventive device communicates information upon insertion of a rechargeable battery or through any activation switch being engaged. In alternate embodiments, the device communicates information in the form of spoken utterances or motion. Optionally, electronic circuit 18 is coupled to an information communicating component illustratively including an electric motor, a light source, a video display, a sound synthesizer, or combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic circuit 18 includes a microprocessor (not shown) to facilitate more sophisticated communication. In a still more preferred embodiment, a microprocessor is coupled to a memory or data reading device, illustratively including a DRAM chip, CD player, DVD, hard drive, floppy disk drive, and cassette player, and combinations thereof. In still another preferred embodiment, the electronic circuit 18 is coupled to a user input interface 26. A user input interface 26 provides for an interactive question and answer format between a user and the inventive device, or data entry or icon manipulation as part of a gaming system.
The inventive device preferably includes a housing 28. Preferably, the housing is configured to have the appearance of a person, robot, animated character, animal, a vehicle or an object found in nature such as a mountain, tree, or a diorama. The housing 28 is really constructed from a variety of durable materials consistent with proximity to electronic circuitry and a battery charger. These housing materials illustratively include plastics, polymeric resins, textile plush, metal, and recycled forms thereof. In the embodiment depicted in
It is appreciated that in addition to the entertainment or educational information content provided by the inventive device, in a preferred embodiment, information regarding the battery charge status is also provided as per a conventional battery charger. As is conventional to battery chargers, a battery B is monitored as to voltage and current during the charging process.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In actual operation, the battery caddy 54 is loaded into a recharger aperture such that the caddy rests upon a spring-loaded tray 64. The tray 64 has a cutout in the base thereof such that charging contacts 56 protrude from beneath the tray 64. Upon pressing the caddy 54 into the aperture in order to compress a spring 76 coupled to an external lever 78, a catch 80 anchored to the toaster housing engages the spring loaded tray 74 after the caddy contacts 56 are electrically coupled to complementary contacts 55. The contacts 55 in turn being electrically coupled to the battery recharger circuitry 58. Upon coupling between the caddy 54 by way of contacts 56 to the complementary contacts 55, and the verification by battery recharger 58, the LED indicator 70 is illuminated. Upon a battery B completing recharge in inventive recharger 50, the battery recharger 58 activates a solenoid to release the catch and thereby allow the spring loaded tray 64 to eject the caddy 54 from the receptacle. The caddy 54 projecting from the aperture signals to a user the completion of the recharge process. It is appreciated that in addition to a solenoid releasing a catch, other conventional electrical components are operative herein to simulate the action of a toaster and allow the caddy 54 to project from the aperture. In an alternate embodiment, the receptacle 55 is incorporated into the spring-loaded tray 64. The contacts 55 are in electrical communication with the battery charger 58 by way of leads sufficiently long to accommodate the travel of the contacts 55 within the housing 50. It is appreciated that in an alternate embodiment of an inventive battery charger that affords mechanical notice of charge status, and in particular completion of battery recharge, that a caddy need not be used but rather the batteries inserted directly into a charger affording mechanical notice of charge status. In still another inventive embodiment, the charger is configured in the form of a “jack-in-the-box” with a portion thereof being projected in order to signify the completion of charging. Still other configurations include a coffee maker type design where a powder or liquid material moves from one region of the recharger to another consistent with the progression of battery recharge. Still other embodiments illustratively include a carousel that revolves only during battery recharging, a figurine that changes orientation or movement consistent with charge status, and the like that are consistent with the invention as detailed herein. It is further appreciated that one skilled in the art will readily recognize that various spring-loaded and mechanized toys and appliances are readily coupled to a battery charger as detailed herein such that mechanical notice is provided consistent with battery charge status and in particular, the completion of battery recharge.
All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference was individually and specifically incorporated by reference. These references are indicative of the levels of skill in the art at the time of invention.
A particular embodiment of the invention having been detailed herein, it is appreciated the changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The embodiments described herein are considered exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/101,907 filed Mar. 19, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,030,592 issuing Apr. 18, 2006, incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3629680 | Baynes et al. | Dec 1971 | A |
4101818 | Kelly et al. | Jul 1978 | A |
4766361 | Pusateri | Aug 1988 | A |
4891029 | Hutchinson | Jan 1990 | A |
5057761 | Felegyhazi, Sr. | Oct 1991 | A |
5061579 | Ishimoto | Oct 1991 | A |
5115182 | Ehmke et al. | May 1992 | A |
5157320 | Kuriloff | Oct 1992 | A |
5164652 | Johnson et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5371453 | Fernandez | Dec 1994 | A |
5371456 | Brainard | Dec 1994 | A |
5534765 | Kreisinger et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5686811 | Bushong et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5767655 | Ostendorff et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5818197 | Miller et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
5892350 | Yoshikawa | Apr 1999 | A |
6142846 | Ojakaar | Nov 2000 | A |
6171171 | Barthold | Jan 2001 | B1 |
D438171 | Tang et al. | Feb 2001 | S |
D446500 | Krieger et al. | Aug 2001 | S |
6326767 | Small et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6424120 | Chen | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6546436 | Fainmesser et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6652352 | MacArthur et al. | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6696922 | Wong et al. | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6764373 | Osawa et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
7030592 | Yu | Apr 2006 | B2 |
20020063550 | Chen et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060226809 A1 | Oct 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10101907 | Mar 2002 | US |
Child | 11405889 | US |