Abstract:
A universal battery connector and system for R/C devices adaptable for use with different types of battery connection plugs. A battery and universal battery plug may be connected to either a Traxxas® or Molex® brand battery connection plug through the use of a specifically designed adaptor plug. The adaptor plug includes universal contacts for connection to a terminal on the universal battery plug. The adaptor plug also includes adaptor terminals configured for slide-fit reception of either a Traxxas® or Molex® brand battery connection plug.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to battery connectors for radio controlled (R/C) devices. More specifically, this invention relates to a universal battery connector for connection to multiple different battery connection plugs, i.e., Traxxas® or Molex® brand plugs. 
         [0002]    The radio controlled hobby market is a popular and fast growing field. One problem that has arisen in the radio controlled hobby market is the existence of several competing battery plug types that are designed so as to not be interchangeable. What this means is that a battery configured with plug type A will only work on an R/C device that accepts plug type A. A battery with plug type B will only work on an R/C device that accepts plug type B. The plug types are not interchangeable such that if a hobbyist buys multiple R/C devices, the hobbyist may very well be required to buy multiple batteries of different plug types to work with each device. 
         [0003]    For retail hobby and toy stores this lack of interchangeability creates a situation whereby they must carry the same battery pack but in two different plug types. In essence the batteries themselves are the same but the plug types on the batteries are different. Retailers who sell and support different brands of R/C devices are forced to carry an excess of battery stock that would otherwise not be needed if plug types were interchangeable. 
         [0004]    The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention resides in a universal battery connector system for radio controlled devices. The system is adaptable for use with different types of battery connection plugs having different types of electrically conductive contacts. The system comprises a universal battery plug, a first adaptor, and a second adaptor. The first and second adaptors each include adaptor terminals configured for receipt of corresponding electrically conductive contacts on different types of battery connection plugs and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug. 
         [0006]    The first adaptor is configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a first battery connection plug. Preferably, the first adaptor is configured for slide fit reception with the first battery connection plug, which has two electrically conductive male contacts. Specifically, the first battery connection plug is a Traxxas® brand battery connection plug. 
         [0007]    The second adaptor is configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a second battery connection plug. Preferably, the second adaptor is configured for slide fit reception with the second battery connection plug, which has two electrically conductive female contacts. Specifically, the second battery connection plug is a Molex® brand battery connection plug. 
         [0008]    The system may also comprise a third adaptor configured for conductively coupling the universal battery plug to electrically conductive contacts on a third battery connection plug. The third adaptor includes adaptor terminals configured for receipt of the electrically conductive contacts and universal contacts configured for connection to the universal battery plug. The third battery connection plug is also configured for slide fit reception with the third battery connection plug, which as one electrically conductive male contact and one electrically conductive female contact. 
         [0009]    The universal battery plug preferably comprises positive and negative universal terminals configured for connection to the universal contacts on the adaptors. The universal battery plug also includes battery contacts on the universal terminals. The battery contacts are configured to receive positive and negative battery terminals from a battery. 
         [0010]    The adaptor terminals preferably comprise positive and negative adaptor terminals and the electrically conductive contacts preferably comprise positive and negative electrically conductive contacts. In this configuration, the positive and negative electrically conductive contacts are in electrical communication with the corresponding positive and negative adaptor terminals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a universal battery connector of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the universal battery connector in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the universal battery plug from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the assembled universal battery plug taken along line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the adaptor plug from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of the adaptor terminals on the adaptor plug of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of the universal contacts on the adaptor plug of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the adaptor plug of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment of the universal battery connector of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exploded view of the universal battery connector of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exploded view of the adaptor plug of the universal battery connector in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  illustrates a view of the adaptor terminals of the adaptor plug of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  illustrates a view of the universal contacts of the adaptor plug of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  illustrates a side view of the adaptor plug of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  illustrates a cross-section along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  illustrates a cross-section along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  illustrates a cross-section along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  illustrates various forms of battery connection plugs having various combinations of male and female electrically conductive contacts; 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  illustrates another embodiment of the universal battery connector of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  illustrates an exploded view of the universal battery connector of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  illustrates an exploded view of the adaptor plug from  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  illustrates the universal contacts of the adaptor plug of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  illustrates a view of the adaptor terminals of the adaptor plug of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 25  illustrates a cross-section along line  25 - 25  of  FIG. 21 ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 26  illustrates a cross-section along line  26 - 26  of  FIG. 21 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a universal battery connector for connection to multiple different battery connection plugs. The universal battery connector is generally designated in the accompanying drawings by the reference numeral  20 . 
         [0040]    In accordance with the present invention, and as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 10 , the universal battery connector  20  is configured for connection to multiple different battery connection plugs  22 ,  24 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the universal battery connection plug  20  coupled to a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the universal battery connector  20  engaged with a Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24 . As discussed above, the Molex® brand battery connection plug  22  has a particular configuration that is incompatible with the Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24 . Accordingly, the present invention of a universal battery connector  20  was conceived so as to provide a battery  21  for an R/C device which is compatible with either a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22  or a Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 1-9  illustrate the universal battery connector  20  which is compatible with a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22 . In this embodiment, the universal battery connector  20  comprises a universal battery plug  26  and an adaptor plug  28 . The universal battery plug  26  includes a housing which encloses a universal terminal  32 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the universal terminal  32  preferably comprises positive  32   a  and negative  32   b  terminals which are positioned within the housing  30 . Biasing springs  34  are positioned beneath the universal terminals  32 . The function of the biasing springs  34  will be described more fully below. 
         [0042]    The adaptor plug  28  includes an adaptor housing  36  which encloses adaptor terminals  38 . The adaptor terminals preferably comprise positive  38   a  and negative  38   b  terminals. Universal contacts  40  which preferably include positive  40   a  and negative  40   b  are partially enclosed by the housing  36 . The universal contacts  40  are in physical contact with the adaptor terminals  38  such that there is electrical communication therebetween. 
         [0043]    The adaptor housing  36  and universal battery plug housing  30  are configured for cooperative engagement. The universal contacts  40  are configured to engage slots  42  in the end of the universal battery plug housing  30 . The slots  42  position the universal contacts  40  between the universal terminals  32  and the terminal springs  34 . The slots  42  and the space between the universal terminals  32  and terminal springs  34  are illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 3   a . When a universal contact  40  enters the slot  42  the terminal spring  34  exerts a force which pushes the universal contact  40  into physical contact with the universal terminal  32 . This physical contact results in electrical communication between the two elements. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 4-9  detail the construction of the adaptor housing  36  and its related components. The adaptor terminals  38  have elongated bodies  44  with a mounting post  46  at one end thereof. The mounting posts  46  are positioned in contact openings  48  on the adaptor housing  36  such that the elongated bodies  44  extend through a cavity  50  on the adaptor housing  36 . The universal contacts  40  include mounting rings  52  which are configured to be positioned in the contact openings  48  and engage the mounting posts  46  on the adaptor terminals  38 . The connection between the mounting rings  52  and mounting posts  46  may be secured by solder or any other common method of securing an electrical connection. The universal contacts  44  include contact legs  54  which are configured to engage slots  42  as described above. 
         [0045]    The universal battery plug housing  30  and adaptor housing  36  include tab lock connectors  56  for securing the two housings together when they are cooperatively engaged. Other commonly used methods of securing two housings together may be utilized to achieve the same purpose. 
         [0046]    The adaptor housing  36  further includes terminal openings  58  on a surface opposite from the contact openings  48 . The terminal openings  58  are configured to receive electrically conductive contacts  60  from a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22 . In a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22  the electrically conductive contacts  60  both have a female configuration one with a square cross-section  60   a  and the other with a semicircular cross-section  60   b . The electrically conductive contacts fit into matching square  58   a  and semicircular  58   b  terminal openings on the adaptor housing  36 . When the Molex® brand battery connection plug  22  is slide-fit into the adaptor housing  36  the female electrically conductive contacts  60  engage the mounting posts  46  on the male adaptor terminals  38 . Because of the particular shapes of the electrically conductive contacts  60  and terminal openings  58  one is assured of making the connection with the proper polarity. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 10-18  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the universal battery connector  20  which is compatible with a Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24 . In this embodiment, the universal battery plug  26  is identical to that described above for the embodiment compatible with a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22 . The difference in construction resides in the adaptor plug  28 . 
         [0048]    In this embodiment, as depicted in  FIGS. 11-18 , the adaptor plug  28  includes an adaptor housing  62  which encloses adaptor terminals  64  that have positive  64   a  and negative  64   b  terminals. Adaptor springs  66  are positioned above the adaptor terminals  64 . 
         [0049]    The adaptor terminals  64  are generally elongated bodies which pass through the adaptor housing from terminal openings  68  on one end to contact openings  70  on an opposite end. The adaptor terminals  64  extend through the contact openings  70  such that a portion of the adaptor terminals comprise universal contacts  72  which include positive  72   a  and negative  72   b  contacts. These universal contacts  72  engage the slots  42  on the universal battery plug  26  as with universal contacts  40  described above. The adaptor housing  62  includes mating tab lock connectors  56  to retain the adaptor plug  28  in cooperative engagement with the universal battery plug  26 . 
         [0050]    One face of the adaptor plug  28  includes terminal openings  68  which function in a manner similar to that described above for the terminal openings  58  of the prior embodiment. In the current embodiment, the terminal openings  68  comprise generally rectangular openings to accommodate the adaptor terminals  64 . The terminal openings  68  have slightly varying sizes, i.e., wide  68   a  and narrow  68   b , such that the Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24  may only engage the adaptor plug  28  in one direction. The electrically conductive contacts  74  have slightly varying sizes, i.e., wide  74   a  and narrow  74   b , to match the terminal openings  68 . This assures that the correct polarity is achieved with each installation. 
         [0051]    When the Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24  is slide-fitted into the adapted plug  28 , electrically conductive contacts  74  are positioned between the adaptor terminals  64  and the adaptor springs  66 . The biasing action of the adaptor springs  66  forces the electrically conductive contacts  74  into physical contact with the adaptor terminals  64 . In this way, electrical connection is achieved between the electrically conductive contacts  74  and the adaptor terminals  64 . 
         [0052]    Thus, a retail store need only carry one type of battery, the universal battery plug  26  and the two embodiments of the adaptor plug  28 . Similarly, a consumer need only purchase one type of battery, the universal battery plug  26  and each type of adaptor plug  28 . In this way, the battery may be connected to an R/C device regardless of whether it has a Molex® brand battery connection plug  22  or a Traxxas® brand battery connection plug  24 . One need only switch the type of adaptor plug  28  which is used to accommodate either brand with a single battery and universal battery plug  26 . 
         [0053]    The universal battery plug  26  includes battery contacts  76  which are configured to receive positive and negative terminals from a battery (not shown). The battery contacts  76  are in electrical communication with the universal terminals  32  and are preferably part of the universal terminal  32 . 
         [0054]    In yet another alternate embodiment, the adaptor plug  28  may have terminal openings  58 ,  68  that can accommodate a combination of male and female electrically conductive contacts  60  on a battery connection plug  22 ,  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , it is contemplated that alternate forms of the battery connection plugs  22 ,  24  can be presented with a combination of male and female electrically conductive contacts  60 . To accommodate these combinations of male and female electrically conductive contacts  60  the adaptor plug  28  accordingly has combinations of terminal openings  58 ,  68  and adaptor terminals  38 ,  64  to accommodate the appropriate male and female electrically conductive contacts  60 . A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand the appropriate combinations of universal contacts  40 , adaptor terminals  38 ,  64  and terminal openings  58 ,  68  to be compatible with the combination male and female electrically conductive contacts  60 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 20-26  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the adaptor plug  28  comprises adaptor housing  80  and universal contacts  82 . The universal contacts include positive  82   a  and negative  82   b  contacts. The adaptor housing  80  also includes tab lock connectors  56 . As with prior embodiments, the adaptor housing  80  is configured to engage the universal battery plug  26  through mated engagement of the universal contacts  82  with the slots  42  on the universal battery plug  26 . 
         [0056]    The universal contacts  82  are one end of elongated members  83  which include adaptor terminals  84  at an opposite second end thereof. One of the elongated members  83  includes a stepped offset  86  such that the universal contact  82   b  is positioned at a different height from the corresponding adaptor terminal  84   b . The other elongated member  83  has a rotated offset  88  such that the universal contact  82   a  is oriented in a plane having an orthogonal relationship to the plane of the corresponding adaptor terminal  84   a . The universal contacts  82  extend through contact openings  90  in the adaptor housing  80 . The adaptor terminals  84  extend through a cavity  92  in the adaptor housing  80  and are disposed proximate to terminal openings  94  in the adaptor housing  80 . The terminal openings  94  have corresponding vertical  94   a  and horizontal  94   b  configurations to match with the orientations of the adaptor terminals  84   a  and  84   b.    
         [0057]    This embodiment of the adaptor plug  28  is configured to engage a battery connection plug 96 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,915 (Deans). The Deans battery connection plug  96  has two electrically conductive contacts  98 . One of these contacts  98   a  has a vertical orientation, whereas the other of these contacts  98   b  has a horizontal orientation. Both of these contacts  98  have a male configuration. The contacts  98  engage the terminal openings  94  on the face of the adaptor housing  80 . These electrically conductive contacts  98  include biasing springs  100  to assure that the contacts  98  come into electrical contact with the adaptor terminals  84  upon insertion into the terminal openings  94 . The vertical  98   a  and horizontal  98   b  orientations of the contacts  98  are configured to match the vertical  94   a  and horizontal  94   b  orientations of the terminal openings  94  on the adaptor housing  80 . 
         [0058]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.