Integral hang-up and battery charging apparatus

Claim 2

A base unit for charging a rechargeable electrical energy storage medium, the base unit comprising: a housing enclosing an electrical energy supply; a first side of the housing having an indentation disposed therein, said indentation having at least a first surface and a second surface, whereby the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium may be removably placed at least partially within said indentation; first and second conductive protrusions disposed on said first and second surfaces, respectively; means for coupling said electrical energy supply to said first and second conductive protrusions, whereby the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium may be charged by said electrical energy supply; and means for retracting said first and second conductive protrusions at least partially within said first surface and said second surface, respectively, of said indentation.

Claim 3

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising said first surface essentially opposite and parallel to said second surface.

Claim 4

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical energy storage medium further comprises at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell.

Claim 5

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a cordless radiotelephone base station.

Claim 6

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical energy storage medium further comprises at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell within a cordless radiotelephone handset.

Claim 7

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second conductive protrusions further comprise first and second conductive battery charging posts, respectively.

Claim 8

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising said first conductive protrusion disposed essentially opposite said second conductive protrusion along a common axis.

Claim 9

A base unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for securing the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium to the base unit.

Claim 10

A base unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for securing further comprises: means for urging said first and second conductive protrusions beyond said first and second surfaces, respectively.

Claim 11

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium charged by a base unit, the base unit having an electrical energy supply coupled to first and second conductive protrusions, the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium comprising: a housing enclosing the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium and having at least a first and a second surface; first and second conductive contacts disposed on said first and said second surfaces, respectively; means for coupling said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium to said first and second conductive contacts, whereby the electrical energy supply may charge said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium when said first and second conductive contacts abut said first and second conductive protrusions; and a first and second recess disposed in said first and said second surfaces, respectively, having said first and second conductive contacts disposed therein, respectively.

Claim 12

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium charged by a base unit, the base unit having an electrical energy supply coupled to first and second conductive protrusions, the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium comprising: a housing enclosing the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium and having at least a first and a second surface; first and second conductive contacts disposed on said first and said second surfaces, respectively; means for coupling said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium to said first and second conductive contacts, whereby the electrical energy supply may charge said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium when said first and second conductive contacts abut said first and second conductive protrusions; and a first and second recess disposed in said first and said second surfaces, respectively, having said first and second conductive contacts disposed therein, respectively.

Claim 13

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 further comprising said first surface essentially opposite and parallel to said second surface.

Claim 14

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 further comprising at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell.

Claim 15

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 further comprising at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell within a cordless radiotelephone handset.

Claim 16

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 wherein said base unit further comprises a cordless radiotelephone base station.

Claim 17

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first and second conductive contacts further comprise first and second conductive battery charging contacts, respectively.

Claim 18

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 further comprising said first conductive contact on said first surface disposed essentially opposite and parallel to said second conductive contact on said second surface along a common axis.

Claim 19

A rechargeable electrical energy storage medium in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for retracting said first and second conductive contacts at least partially within said first and second surfaces, respectively.

Claim 20

A charging system having a base unit and a rechargeable electrical energy storage medium, the charging system comprising: a base unit housing enclosing an electrical energy supply; a first side of the base unit housing having a indentation disposed therein, said indentation having at least a first surface and a second surface, whereby the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium may be removably placed at least partially within said indentation; first and second conductive protrusions disposed on said first surface and said second surface of said indentation, respectively; means for coupling said electrical energy supply to said first and second conductive protrusions; means for retracting said first and second conductive protrusions at least partially within said first surface and said second surface, respectively, of said indentation; a rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing enclosing the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium and having at least a first and a second surface; first and second conductive contacts disposed on said first surface and said second surface of the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing, respectively; means for coupling the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium to said first and second conductive contacts; a first and a second recess disposed in said first and said second surfaces, respectively, having said first and second conductive contacts disposed therein, respectively; and said first and second conductive protrusions of said base unit housing abutting said first and second conductive contacts of said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing, respectively, when the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium is removably placed at least partially within said indentation whereby said electrical energy supply within the base unit may charge the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium within said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing.

Claim 21

A charging system having a base unit and a rechargeable electrical energy storage medium, the charging system comprising: a base unit housing enclosing an electrical energy supply; a first side of the base unit housing having a indentation disposed therein, said indentation having at least a first surface and a second surface, whereby the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium may be removably placed at least partially within said indentation; first and second conductive protrusions disposed on said first surface and said second surface of said indentation, respectively; means for coupling said electrical energy supply to said first and second conductive protrusions; means for retracting said first and second conductive protrusions at least partially within said first surface and said second surface, respectively, of said indentation; a rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing enclosing the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium and having at least a first and a second surface; first and second conductive contacts disposed on said first surface and said second surface of the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing, respectively; means for coupling the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium to said first and second conductive contacts; a first and a second recess disposed in said first and said second surfaces, respectively, having said first and second conductive contacts disposed therein, respectively; and said first and second conductive protrusions of said base unit housing abutting said first and second conductive contacts of said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing, respectively, when the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium is removably placed at least partially within said indentation whereby said electrical energy supply within the base unit may charge the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium within said rechargeable electrical energy storage medium housing.

Claim 22

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising said first surface of said indentation essentially opposite and parallel to said second surface of said indentation.

Claim 23

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium further comprises at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell.

Claim 24

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the rechargeable electrical energy storage medium further comprises at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell within a cordless radiotelephone handset.

Claim 25

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said base unit further comprises a cordless radiotelephone base station.

Claim 26

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said first and second conductive contacts further comprise first and second conductive battery charging contacts, respectively.

Claim 27

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said first and second conductive productive protrusions further comprise first and second conductive battery charging posts, respectively.

Claim 28

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising said first conductive contact disposed essentially opposite and parallel to said second conductive contact along a common axis.

Claim 29

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising said first conductive protrusion disposed essentially opposite said second conductive protrusion along a common axis.

Claim 30

A charging system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising means for retracting said first and second conductive contacts at least partially within said first and second surfaces of said rechargeable electrical storage medium housing, respectively.

Claim 31

A battery charging apparatus for a cordless radiotelephone having a base station and a rechargeable battery, at least a portion of the base station securing at least a portion of the rechargeable battery, the battery charging system comprising: a base station housing enclosing an electrical power supply; a first side of the base station having a indentation disposed therein, said indentation having at least a first surface and a second surface essentially parallel and opposite each other, whereby the rechargeable battery may be removably placed at least partially within said indentation; first and second conductive battery charging posts disposed on said first surface and said second surface of said indentation essentially along a common axis, respectively; means for coupling said electrical power supply to said first and second conductive battery charging posts; means for retracting said first and second conductive protrusions at least partially within said first and second surfaces, respectively, of said indentation; a rechargeable battery housing enclosing the rechargeable battery and having at least a first and second external surfaces essentially parallel and opposite each other; first and second recesses disposed on said first surface and said second surface of the rechargeable battery housing, respectively; first and second conductive contacts disposed within said first and second recesses, respectively; means for coupling the rechargeable battery to said first and second conductive contacts; and said first and second conductive battery charging posts of said base station housing abutting said first and second conductive battery charging contacts of said rechargeable battery housing, respectively, when the rechargeable battery is removably placed at least partially within said indentation whereby said electrical power supply within the base station may charge the rechargeable battery within said rechargeable battery housing.

Claim 32

A battery charging apparatus for a cordless radiotelephone having a base station and a rechargeable battery, at least a portion of the base station securing at least a portion of the rechargeable battery, the battery charging system comprising: a base station housing enclosing an electrical power supply; a first side of the base station having a indentation disposed therein, said indentation having at least a first surface and a second surface essentially parallel and opposite each other, whereby the rechargeable battery may be removably placed at least partially within said indentation; first and second conductive battery charging posts disposed on said first surface and said second surface of said indentation essentially along a common axis, respectively; means for coupling said electrical power supply to said first and second conductive battery charging posts; means for retracting said first and second conductive protrusions at least partially within said first and second surfaces, respectively, of said indentation; a rechargeable battery housing enclosing the rechargeable battery and having at least a first and second external surfaces essentially parallel and opposite each other; first and second recesses disposed on said first surface and said second surface of the rechargeable battery housing, respectively; first and second conductive contacts disposed within said first and second recesses, respectively; means for coupling the rechargeable battery to said first and second conductive contacts; and said first and second conductive battery charging posts of said base station housing abutting said first and second conductive battery charging contacts of said rechargeable battery housing, respectively, when the rechargeable battery is removably placed at least partially within said indentation whereby said electrical power supply within the base station may charge the rechargeable battery within said rechargeable battery housing.

Claim 33

A charging system comprising: a) a portable unit including: 1) first and second conductive contacts disposed on the portable unit essentially opposite each other; and 2) rechargeable energy storage means electrically coupled to the first and second conductive contacts; and b) a base unit including: 1) an indentation formed in the base unit and having a receiving surface shaped to receive at least a portion of the portable unit; 2) first and second conductive protrusions extending outwardly beyond the receiving surface essentially opposite each other; and 3) energy source means electrically coupled to the first and second conductive protrusions wherein the first and second conductive protrusions contact the first and second conductive contacts, respectively, when at least a portion of the portable unit is placed in the indentation.

Claim 34

A charging system comprising: a) a portable unit including: 1) first and second conductive contacts disposed on the portable unit essentially opposite each other; and 2) rechargeable energy storage means electrically coupled to the first and second conductive contacts; and b) a base unit including: 1) an indentation formed in the base unit and having a receiving surface shaped to receive at least a portion of the portable unit; 2) first and second conductive protrusions extending outwardly beyond the receiving surface essentially opposite each other; and 3) energy source means electrically coupled to the first and second conductive protrusions wherein the first and second conductive protrusions contact the first and second conductive contacts, respectively, when at least a portion of the portable unit is placed in the indentation.

Claim 35

A charging system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the base unit is angularly disposed to a horizontal plane, the charging apparatus further comprising means for holding the portable unit in the indentation.

Claim 36

A charging system in accordance with claim 30 wherein the means for holding further comprises means for urging the first and second conductive protrusions beyond the receiving surface.

Claim 37

A charging system in accordance with claim 30 wherein the means for holding further comprises first and second recesses disposed on the portable unit and having the first and second conductive protrusions, respectively, disposed therein.