Universal inductive battery charger system

Claim 1

In combination: an inductive battery charger including a charging coil which creates magnetic flux lines when said charging coil is energized; said inductive battery charger also including a housing having a generally flat battery pack support surface, said charging coil being positioned in said housing adjacent said support surface; a rechargeable battery pack having a generally flat surface for positioning adjacent said battery charger in a non-direct electrical contact relationship with respect thereto; said battery pack including at least one discrete battery cell; said battery pack also including a pick-up coil adjacent said flat surface which will have an electrical current induced therein when said battery pack is positioned adjacent said battery charger and said battery charger is energized; said battery pack including circuit means for utilizing the induced current in said pick-up coil to charge the battery cell in said battery pack; said circuit means comprising a bridge rectifier electrically connected to said pick-up coil, said bridge rectifier being series connected to each battery cell in said battery pack, said battery pack also including a current limiting resistor imposed in the circuitry between said bridge rectifier and said battery cell in said battery pack.