US 6,982,541 B2
Electrical component, such as a radio, audio component, battery charger or radio/charger
Jonathan A. Zick, Waukesha, Wis. (US); George L. Santana, Jr., New Berlin, Wis. (US); David J. Rozwadowski, Greenfield, Wis. (US); and Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Delafield, Wis. (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, Wis. (US)
Filed on Nov. 08, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/291,868.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/379068, filed on May 09, 2002.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/344431, filed on Nov. 09, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2003/0117107 A1, Jun. 26, 2003
Int. Cl. H01M 10/46 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 320—114 53 Claims
 
1. A battery charger comprising:
a housing;
a charging circuit supported by the housing, the charging circuit being selectively connectable to a power source, a power tool battery being connectable to the housing and electrically connectable to the charging circuit, the charging circuit being operable to charge the power tool battery; and
a locking assembly operable to lock the power tool battery in a position relative to the housing:
wherein the locking assembly includes a locking projection on one of the battery and the housing and a recess defined by the other of the battery and the housing, the locking projection being movable between a locked position, in which the projection engages the recess to lock the battery in a position relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the battery is movable relative to the housing;
wherein the locking assembly includes a biasing member biasing the locking projection toward a locked position; and
wherein the locking assembly includes an actuator operable to move the locking projection between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the biasing member biases the actuator to a position corresponding to the locked position of the locking projection to bias the locking projection to the locked position.