Charging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11005281-B2
Application number	US-202016989338-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2016
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A charging device is provided. The charging device includes an output terminal unit connected to an input terminal unit of a battery pack. The output terminal unit includes a terminal body including an output terminal connected to the input terminal unit and a terminal cover which covers the output terminal before the input terminal unit of the battery pack is connected to the output terminal unit and through which the output terminal passes while the input terminal unit of the battery pack is connected to the output terminal unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A charging device comprising:
an output terminal unit connected to an input terminal unit of a battery pack; and
a micro switch that is configured to supply power to the output terminal unit,
wherein the output terminal unit comprises:
a terminal body that includes an output terminal that is connected to the input terminal unit;
a terminal cover that is configured to cover the output terminal based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being disconnected from the output terminal unit, the output terminal passing through the terminal cover based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being connected to the output terminal unit; and
a lever that is rotatably connected to the terminal cover, and that is configured to selectively hook into the terminal body, and
wherein the lever is rotated based on the pressing rib passing through the rib penetration part while the input terminal unit of the battery pack is connected to the output terminal unit and causes the lever to release from the hooked state with the terminal body, and wherein the terminal cover comprises a rib penetration part that allows a pressing rib that extends from the battery pack to pass through the terminal cover, and wherein the lever is rotated based on the pressing rib passing through the rib penetration part and pressing the micro switch to provide power to the output terminal unit.

2. The charging device according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal cover comprises a terminal penetration part through which the output terminal passes.

3. The charging device according to claim 2 , wherein, based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being disconnected from the output terminal unit, the output terminal is spaced apart from the terminal penetration part inside the terminal cover.

4. The charging device according to claim 3 , wherein the output terminal unit further comprises an elastic member that is configured to elastically support the terminal cover to maintain the state in which the output terminal is spaced apart from the terminal penetration part based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being disconnected from the output terminal unit.

5. The charging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a holding unit on which the battery pack is seated and the output terminal unit is disposed,
wherein the terminal body is configured to pass through the holding unit to protrude to an outside of the holding unit, and
the terminal cover is configured to cover the output terminal of the terminal body that protrudes to the outside of the holding unit.

6. The charging device according to claim 1 , wherein the lever comprises:
a rotational shaft that is rotatably coupled to the terminal cover;
a first rib that is configured to extend from the rotational shaft and that is configured to hook into the terminal body; and
a second rib that is configured to extend from at least one of the rotational shaft or the first rib, the second rib being pressed by the pressing rib based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being connected to the output terminal unit.

7. The charging device according to claim 6 , wherein the terminal body further comprises:
a frame to which the output terminal is fixed;
a hook part that is disposed on the frame and that is configured to hook into the first rib; and
an insertion part that is defined in one side of the hook part.

8. The charging device according to claim 7 , wherein the first rib is hooked into the hook part based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being disconnected from the output terminal unit, and the lever is rotated by the pressing rib to allow the first rib to be inserted into the insertion part based on the input terminal unit of the battery pack being connected to the output terminal unit.

9. The charging device according to claim 7 , wherein the insertion part comprises:
a first insertion part into which the first rib is inserted; and
a second insertion part that is configured to extend from the first insertion part and into which the second rib is configured to be inserted,

wherein the hook part is disposed on both edges of the second insertion part.

10. The charging device according to claim 9 , wherein an opening of the first insertion part in an extension direction of the rotational shaft has a width greater than that of an opening of the second insertion part in the extension direction of the rotational shaft.

11. The charging device according to claim 7 , further comprising, an elastic member that is configured to provide elastic force to the lever to maintain the state in which the first rib of the lever is hooked with the hook part.

12. The charging device according to claim 2 , wherein the output terminal unit further comprises:
a moving mechanism that is moved by the battery pack based on the battery pack being mounted, the moving mechanism being configured to cause the terminal body to move which causes the output terminal to pass through the terminal penetration part to selectively protrude to the outside of the terminal cover, and

wherein the moving mechanism comprises:
a lever connected to the frame; and
a link pressed by the battery pack which is configured to operate the lever,
wherein the charging device further comprises a fixing unit with a link support part that is configured to guide vertical movement of the link and a lever fixing part to which the lever is rotatably coupled.

13. The charging device according to claim 12 , wherein, in a state in which the battery pack is not mounted, the output terminal is spaced apart from the terminal penetration part, and
wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the terminal body upward based on the battery pack being mounted to cause the output terminal to pass through the terminal penetration part to protrude upward from the terminal cover.

14. The charging device according to claim 12 , wherein the frame comprises a guide part that is configured to guide vertical movement of the frame, and
the fixing unit comprises a terminal body support part disposed to correspond to the guide part and a rib inserted into the guide part.

15. The charging device according to claim 12 , wherein the link comprises:
a link body that is configured to be movable in a vertical direction; and
a guide part disposed on one surface of the link body,
wherein the link support part further comprises a sliding hole into which the guide part is inserted.

16. The charging device according to claim 12 , wherein the lever comprises:
a main body with a rotational shaft;
a pressing part that is configured to extend from the main body in a first direction; and
an elevation part that is connected to the frame and that is configured to extend from the main body in a second direction that is opposite of the second direction.

17. The charging device according to claim 16 , wherein the frame comprises a lever coupling part to which the elevation part is rotatably connected, and
the lever coupling part comprises a curved portion having a same shape as a moving trajectory of the elevation part based on the lever rotating to cause the frame to ascend without an interference between the elevation part and the frame.

18. The charging device according to claim 16 , wherein the link comprises:
a lever accommodation part in which the pressing part is accommodated; and
a pressing rib support part that is disposed on one side of the lever accommodation part and configured to support a pressing

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jung Geunyong
• Park Seongho
• Park Sejong
• Seo Jonghyun
• Lee Jinwoo

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H02J7/751 Primary

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H01R13/701

  the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member · CPC title

• A47L9/2873

  Docking units or charging stations (for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02) · CPC title