Safe, rechargeable, battery-containing power pack and method

Claim 1

An electrically safe, transformerless, rechargeable, battery power pack and apparatus which comprises: a) a housing: b) a battery-receiving means in the housing, to receive a rechargeable battery means for periodic recharging and to be used as a source of battery power for an electrical device; c) a rechargeable battery means in the batter-receiving means; d) an external, surface-exposed, electrical outlet means, to supply battery power from the battery means to a separate, battery-powered, electrical device; e) printed-circuit board means in the housing to reduce and rectify AC voltage and to provide reduced DC voltage to recharge the battery means; f) spaced-apart, first and second, electrical contacts, the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with the battery and the printed-circuit means, and the second electrical contacts in electrical communication with the battery and the external outlet means; g) an electrical plug means comprising a pair of spaced-apart metal prongs in an insulating body at the one end, the metal prongs adapted to be inserted in an AC power source, and a pair of spaced-apart, electrical contact extensions at the other end; and h) mounting means to provide for the pivotable movement of the plug means between an outwardly extended, battery-means, rechargeable position, wherein the plug means is adapted to be inserted into an AC power source, to recharge the battery means through the first electrical contacts and the circuit-board means, and wherein, in such position, the electrical output means is electrically isolated by an air gap and a battery-means operating position, wherein the plug means is in electrical contact with the second electrical contacts, the recharged battery means, and with the external outlet means, to provide recharged battery power from the battery means to the external electrical output means.

Claim 12

A method for the transformerless, safe recharging of a battery-containing, power-pack apparatus used to provide battery power to a separate, battery-operated, electrical device, which method comprises: a) providing rechargeable battery means to act as a battery power source for a separate electrical device through an external, exposed, electrical output means; b) providing a transformerless, electrical circuitry, to reduce the DC power from an AC power source, and to rectify the reduced voltage to DC power for use periodically for recharging the battery means; c) providing first and second, spaced-apart, electrical contacts, the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with the electrical circuitry means and the battery means, and the second electrical contacts in electrical communication with the battery means and the external outlet means, and providing electrical plug means having a pair of spaced-apart metal prongs extending from one end and metal contact extensions form the other end; and d) pivotably moving the plug means between the battery-means, rechargeable position, wherein the metal contact extensions from the plug means ar placed into electrical contact with the first electrical contact means, whereby AC power is reduced and rectified an supplied to recharge the battery means, and a battery-means use position, and in such position electrically isolating, by an air gap, the electrical output means, wherein the metal prongs and the metal contact extensions of the plug means are placed in electrical communication with the second electrical contact means, to provide for recharged battery power to the external outlet means.

Claim 13

A method for the transformerless, safe recharging of a battery-containing, power-pack apparatus used to provide battery power to a separate, battery-operated, electrical device, which method comprises: a) providing rechargeable battery means to act as a battery power source for a separate electrical device through an external, exposed, electrical output means; b) providing a transformerless, electrical circuitry, to reduce the DC power from an AC power source, and to rectify the reduced voltage to DC power for use periodically for recharging the battery means; c) providing first and second, spaced-apart, electrical contacts, the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with the electrical circuitry means and the battery means, and the second electrical contacts in electrical communication with the battery means and the external outlet means, and providing electrical plug means having a pair of spaced-apart metal prongs extending from one end and metal contact extensions form the other end; and d) pivotably moving the plug means between the battery-means, rechargeable position, wherein the metal contact extensions from the plug means ar placed into electrical contact with the first electrical contact means, whereby AC power is reduced and rectified an supplied to recharge the battery means, and a battery-means use position, and in such position electrically isolating, by an air gap, the electrical output means, wherein the metal prongs and the metal contact extensions of the plug means are placed in electrical communication with the second electrical contact means, to provide for recharged battery power to the external outlet means.