Modular battery charger

Claim 1

Modular battery charger assembly comprising a power supply module having electrical contacts capable of providing a voltage substantially lower than line voltage; and a plurality of charging modules wherein each charging module is a self-contained unit comprising a supporting member having a cavity adapted to receive a fixed number of cells of specific physical size and of specific electrical characteristics, said cavity having two electrical charging contacts engageable by a cell placed thereinto, a resistor electrically connected in series with one of said electrical charging contacts in said cavity, said supporting member having (a) a first set of two electrical contacts which connect respectively to said resistor and to the terminus of the electrical charging contact of the cavity not linked to the resistor; said first set of electrical contacts of the support member being adapted to operatively engage the electrical contacts of said power supply module; and (b) a second set of two electrical contacts connected to said first set of electrical contacts and connectible with the first set of electrical contacts of the supporting member of an adjacent charging module; and said supporting member being provided with mechanical interconnecting means capable of engaging both said power supply module and an adjacent charging module, said mechanical interconnecting means providing easy detachability of said modules from each other, wherein the charging modules are sequentially mated to each other mechanically and electrically, and wherein a first charging module makes electrical and mechanical contact with said power supply module, to form a circuit in which each charging module forms one leg of a multileg parallel circuit, wherein the charging modules are detachably and replaceably mated to each other and to the power supply module wherein each charging module has plug and jack means by which that module is electrically and mechanically slidably connectible with an adjacent module.