US4360780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual voltage battery tester
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-10-30
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Granted: 1982-11-23
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Expires: 2001-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A battery tester adaptable for testing both 1.5 and 9 volt batteries is disclosed. The tester includes an indicator lamp carried by an arm extending over a base which receives the battery to be tested. The arm is attached to a plunger, vertically slidable within a stem connected to the base. A bias spring urges the arm to an uppermost position on the stem. Conductive means on the base, stem, plunger, and arm provides a partial circuit between the lamp and a first pole of a cylindrical 1.5 volt battery in contact with the base. A resistive terminal is attached to the arm near the indicator lamp. Depression of the arm from its uppermost positions places a protruding terminal on the lamp in contact with a second pole of either a cylindrical or rectangular battery. Such depression of the arm also places the terminal secured on the arm in contact with a first pole of a rectangular battery. Thus, a circuit is completed between either type of battery and the lamp.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Skutch, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
348 words
An apparatus adaptable for alternatively testing a battery shaped as a cylinder, wherein the cylindrical battery has a first pole and a second pole disposed on opposite ends of the cylinder, and a battery shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, wherein the rectangular battery has a first pole and a second pole disposed on the same face of the parallelepiped, comprising: a base; means on said base for establishing electrical contact with the first pole of a cylindrical battery placed thereon; a hollow stem connected to said base having a lower end and an upper end, said stem defining a receiving chamber in said lower end; a plunger positioned in said receiving station in axial sliding contact with said stem; resilient means urging said plunger toward an uppermost position; a horizontal arm connected to an upper end of said plunger and extending over said base; a terminal on said horizontal arm and in electrical contact therewith, said terminal including a resistive body formed of a semiconductor material having an upper metallic end and a lower metallic end, whereby said upper metallic end is in electrical contact with said horizontal arm and said lower metallic end is placed into electrical contact with the first pole of a rectangular battery when said center contact of said test lamp is placed into electrical contact with the second pole of the rectangular battery when said horizontal arm is moved downwardly; a test lamp on said horizontal arm and in electrical contact therewith; and means on said horizontal arm for establishing electrical contact between said terminal and a first pole of a rectangular battery placed on said base and for establishing electrical contact between a center contact of said test lamp and a second pole of a cylindrical or rectangular battery placed on said base; said base, said stem, said plunger, and said horizontal arm comprising an electrically conductive material whereby the downward movement of said horizontal arm, carried by said plunger, creates an electrical circuit between the cylindrical or rectangular battery being tested and said lamp for testing the output of the battery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
348 words
An apparatus adaptable for alternatively testing a battery shaped as a cylinder, wherein the cylindrical battery has a first pole and a second pole disposed on opposite ends of the cylinder, and a battery shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, wherein the rectangular battery has a first pole and a second pole disposed on the same face of the parallelepiped, comprising: a base; means on said base for establishing electrical contact with the first pole of a cylindrical battery placed thereon; a hollow stem connected to said base having a lower end and an upper end, said stem defining a receiving chamber in said lower end; a plunger positioned in said receiving station in axial sliding contact with said stem; resilient means urging said plunger toward an uppermost position; a horizontal arm connected to an upper end of said plunger and extending over said base; a terminal on said horizontal arm and in electrical contact therewith, said terminal including a resistive body formed of a semiconductor material having an upper metallic end and a lower metallic end, whereby said upper metallic end is in electrical contact with said horizontal arm and said lower metallic end is placed into electrical contact with the first pole of a rectangular battery when said center contact of said test lamp is placed into electrical contact with the second pole of the rectangular battery when said horizontal arm is moved downwardly; a test lamp on said horizontal arm and in electrical contact therewith; and means on said horizontal arm for establishing electrical contact between said terminal and a first pole of a rectangular battery placed on said base and for establishing electrical contact between a center contact of said test lamp and a second pole of a cylindrical or rectangular battery placed on said base; said base, said stem, said plunger, and said horizontal arm comprising an electrically conductive material whereby the downward movement of said horizontal arm, carried by said plunger, creates an electrical circuit between the cylindrical or rectangular battery being tested and said lamp for testing the output of the battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A battery tester in accordance with claim 1 further including a guide pin attached to said plunger extending through slot means formed on said stem for limiting axial travel of said plunger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A battery tester in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on said horizontal arm for establishing electrical contact between said test lamp and said second pole of the cylindrical or rectangular battery comprises a threaded open socket member for threadably receiving said test lamp, a contact of said test lamp protruding through said socket member above the cylindrical or rectangular battery, whereby lowering of said horizontal arm connected to said plunger places said contact of said test lamp against the second pole of the cylindrical or rectangular battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
233 words
A battery test device adapted for use with batteries of more than one voltage and size, said device including a single indicator responsive to a voltage applied across its terminals, means for positioning said indicator including movable arm and electrical contact with one terminal of said indicator and effective to suspend the other terminal of said indicator above a fixed base, conductive means in said fixed base for making contact with a battery terminal of a first battery type, circuit means extending from said fixed base to said one terminal of said indicator means whereby movement of said arm towards said base will effect contact of said suspended other terminal with the other battery terminal of said first battery type to close the circuit with said first battery type and said indicator, alternate contact means carried by said arm laterally spaced from said indicator whereby movement of said arm towards said base will effect contact of said alternate contact means and said suspended other terminal of said indicator across the laterally spaced apart terminals of a second battery type to close the circuit with said indicator and said second battery type, and an electrically resistive element incorporated within said device within the closed circuit of one of said battery types and effective to adjust the voltage across said indicator from said one battery type to the approximate value of said other battery type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
233 words
A battery test device adapted for use with batteries of more than one voltage and size, said device including a single indicator responsive to a voltage applied across its terminals, means for positioning said indicator including movable arm and electrical contact with one terminal of said indicator and effective to suspend the other terminal of said indicator above a fixed base, conductive means in said fixed base for making contact with a battery terminal of a first battery type, circuit means extending from said fixed base to said one terminal of said indicator means whereby movement of said arm towards said base will effect contact of said suspended other terminal with the other battery terminal of said first battery type to close the circuit with said first battery type and said indicator, alternate contact means carried by said arm laterally spaced from said indicator whereby movement of said arm towards said base will effect contact of said alternate contact means and said suspended other terminal of said indicator across the laterally spaced apart terminals of a second battery type to close the circuit with said indicator and said second battery type, and an electrically resistive element incorporated within said device within the closed circuit of one of said battery types and effective to adjust the voltage across said indicator from said one battery type to the approximate value of said other battery type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The battery test device of claim 4 wherein said electrically resistive element is a resistor having one terminal engaged with and in electrical contact with said moveable arm and the other terminal suspended below said arm laterally spaced from and in horizontal alignment with said suspended terminal of said indicator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The battery test device of claim 4 wherein said movable arm is positioned in an upper remote position by a resilient means and is movable to a lower contacting position against the force of said resilient means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-22 | 1986-05-24 | 1986-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-22 | 1990-05-24 | 1990-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-22 | 1994-05-24 | 1994-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |