Abstract:
A device for powering battery dependent equipment with AC power includes faux batteries that correspond with standard and non-standard battery sizes and configurations; cables; and a means for connecting the faux batteries to an outlet. Instead of inserting batteries into the battery compartment of equipment, a user inserts the faux batteries, plugs the inventive device into a wall socket, and uses the device as usual. A variety of different configurations and components ensure safety and deliver the desired output.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/603,829, filed Feb. 27, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to powering accessories for battery-dependent equipment, and more specifically, to a device for powering battery depending equipment with AC power, with the device including faux batteries for use with equipment, cables electronically connecting the faux batteries to an outlet, and electronic components that ensure safety and control the voltage, amperage, and current draw. 
         [0003]    Electrically powered equipment is typically configured to be powered either by plugging into an outlet, or by batteries. Whether the specific equipment is a plugged in (AC power), or powered by batteries (DC power) depends on a variety of factors, including the power requirements of the equipment, and intended use of the equipment. By way of example, electric can openers are typically corded, since they are commonly used in kitchens where electrical outlets are in abundance. Flashlights, on the other hand, typically include batteries so the flashlight can be used anywhere. 
         [0004]    There are benefits and drawbacks of powering equipment with AC power, versus DC power. AC powered equipment can be more compact since it isn&#39;t necessary to include space for batteries, but AC powered equipment can only be used in the vicinity of an outlet. DC powered equipment is convenient insofar as an electrical outlet is not necessary, but replacing batteries can be burdensome and expensive. 
         [0005]    Certain electronic equipment is manufactured to be battery powered, but for a variety of reasons it is deemed desirable to use AC power for the equipment. For example, portable store displays having features such as blinking lights are typically configured to run on batteries, since outlets are not necessarily available where it is desirable to position a store display. However, sometimes these store displays are positioned near an outlet, thereby rendering the burden and expense of replacing batteries unnecessary. Rather, it would be desirable to plug the store display into an outlet. 
         [0006]    As can be seen, there is a need for a device that allows battery dependent equipment to be powered by AC power. It is desirable that this device includes components that ensure safety and control the voltage, amperage, and current draw. It is also desirable that this device is easy to use and transport. It is also desirable that little or no retrofitting is required to the underlying equipment when this device is used. It is also desirable that this device can be easily removed from underlying equipment, without damaging said equipment, such that the equipment can subsequently be powered by batteries. It is also desirable that this device can be used with equipment that requires different sized batteries, different power requirements, and different quantities of batteries. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention pertains to powering devices that use AC electrical energy and supply DC electrical energy to battery dependent equipment by providing at least one faux battery; a cable electrically coupled to said at least one faux battery; and an intermediary connector electrically coupled to said cable. The faux battery is substantially similar in size and shape to conventional 6V, D, C, AA, AAA, 9V, and/or other types of batteries. The device may include components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, transistors, fuses and other suitable electronic components, and combinations thereof. The device may include a power supply electrically coupled to the intermediary connector. 
         [0008]    The invention also pertains to a system having battery dependent equipment powered by AC electricity, with the off-the-shelf equipment including at least one wired battery compartment configured to supply DC to said equipment. This system includes at least one faux battery engaged with at least one wired battery compartment; a cable connected to at least one faux battery; and a power supply electrically coupled to said cable. This system may include an intermediary connector electrically spanning said cable and said power supply, with that intermediary connector desirably releasably engaged with said power supply. In this system the quantity of wired battery compartments in the equipment may or may not be equal to the quantity of faux batteries. 
         [0009]    This invention also pertains to a method of modifying battery dependent equipment to operate on AC electricity including the steps of: removing a lid from equipment to expose a first battery compartment; inserting a first faux battery into said first battery compartment, said first faux battery electrically coupled to an power supply; replacing said lid; and plugging said power supply into an AC outlet. This method may further include the step of removing a section of said lid to form a channel, and passing a section of cable through said channel. The method may also include the steps of exposing a second battery compartment and inserting a second faux battery into said second battery compartment, said second faux battery electrically coupled to said power supply. The faux batteries may be the approximate size and shape of conventional 6V, D, C, AA, AAA, 9V, and/or button batteries, or any other size or shape, including cell phone batteries, car batteries and computer batteries. The inventive method may also include the step of electrically coupling said first faux battery with said power supply by engaging an intermediary connector with said power supply. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the present invention, with the component within the right faux battery shown; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a view inside the housing of equipment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  sets forth several steps in a method of the present invention, with  FIG. 3A  depicting the device with faux batteries in place;  FIG. 3B  demonstrating a user snipping off a corner of a lid; and  FIG. 3C  showing a cable passing through a hole created by the snipped corner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
         [0014]    The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    As used herein, the following structure numbers apply to the following parts throughout the various FIGS.:
     10 —Powering device;     15 —Faux battery;     20 —Cable;     25 —Intermediary connector;     30 —Power supply;     35 —Component;     50 —Equipment;     55 —Housing;     57 —Lid; and     60 —Battery compartment.   
 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , powering device  10  generally includes at least one faux battery  15 , each individually connected by cable  20  to intermediary connector  25 , which terminates in power supply  30 . 
         [0027]    Faux batteries  15  depicted in  FIG. 1  are substantially the same size and shape of so-called “AA battery” type, but it should be understood that a variety of standard battery types, including 6V, D, C, AA, AAA, 9V, and button batteries; variable batteries such as cell phone, car and computer batteries; and even custom sized batteries, are all within the scope of this invention. Indeed, the specific type and quantity of faux batteries is dependent upon the configuration and electrical need of the equipment to be powered, and especially the layout of battery compartments  60 . 
         [0028]    In conventional battery-dependent equipment, the batteries, regardless of the quantity, connect only at the positive (+) and negative (−) terminals. Similarly, faux batteries  15  are set up such that the positive current (+) from power supply  30  goes to the positive end of first faux battery  15 , while negative current (−) goes to the other end of last faux battery  15  in series. Both positive end and negative end would be on same faux battery if there is only one faux battery. Accordingly, in the configuration of  FIG. 2  it is possible, although not necessary, to include an unwired “blank” faux battery to fill space in empty battery compartments  60 . Alternatively, if equipment  50  were a flashlight requiring three batteries stacked end-to-end, it would be desirable to include unwired faux battery between two faux batteries  15 , so as to complete the electrical connection. 
         [0029]    In order to achieve the desired power output, voltage and circuit protection, and/or to introduce other features such as light sensors, power switches, motion sensing or timer functions, it may be desirable to include certain components  35  in the electrical circuitry of powering device  10 . For illustrative purposes,  FIG. 1  depicts component  35  within faux battery  15 , although the component may be located in various positions on powering device  10 , including along cable  20 , within power supply  30 , and/or in associated with intermediary connector  25 . Component  35  may be a variety of conventional electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, transistors, fuses, and combinations thereof. 
         [0030]    The following three examples are not exhaustive, but illustrate some configurations and performance parameters achievable by the present invention: 
         [0031]    In a first example, two AA type faux batteries  15  are electrically linked to power supply  30 , as shown in the various FIGS. In addition, a voltage reducing circuit having electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, transistors, fuses and other suitable electronic components is positioned at intermediary connector  25 . The resulting powering device  10  provides 3 volts, and is suitable for use with, for example, lighted canvas wall art from Ohio Wholesale of Seville, Ohio. 
         [0032]    In a second example, three AA type faux batteries  15  are electrically linked to power supply  30 , as shown in the various FIGS. In addition, a timer circuit having electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, transistors, fuses and other suitable electronic components is positioned at cable  20 . The resulting powering device  10  provides 4.5 volts, includes an on/off timing cycle, and is suitable for use with, for example Roman 7.5″ battery operated LED lighted winter village scene, from Bloomingdale, Ill. 
         [0033]    In a third example, three AA type faux batteries  15  are electrically linked to power supply  30 , as shown in the various FIGS. In addition, a light sensing circuit having electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, transistors, fuses and other suitable electronic components is positioned at power supply  30 . The resulting powering device  10  provides 4.5 volts, and includes a light sensing circuit which powers the device on when dark, and off when light, and is suitable for use with, for example, battery operated pillar candles from Oddity, Inc. of Pottsville, Pa. 
         [0034]    Faux batteries  15  are preferably constructed of non-conductive material such as plastic, with terminal ends constructed of conductive material such as copper or other metals. Faux batteries  15  of a given powering device  10  are of suitable size and shape to fit the device to be powered. 
         [0035]    Cable  20  facilitates electrical communication between faux batteries  15  and intermediary connector  25 . Cable  20  is preferably constructed of copper or other suitable conductive materials of proper gauge to support the current necessary for the device to be powered, and is preferably insulated with plastic or other suitable insulating materials. 
         [0036]    Cable  20  preferably terminates in intermediary connector  25 , which electrically links with power supply  30 . It is desirable that intermediary connector is releaseably engaged, preferably slidably engaged, with power supply  30 . Intermediary connector can be of a conventional configuration including USB-type, DIN plug, 1.8 plug, 1/16 plug, and so forth, or of a custom design. Alternatively, cable  20  can be directly hard wired with power supply  30 . 
         [0037]    Device  10  desirably terminates at power supply  30 , of the appropriate specifications. By way of example, equipment  50  of  FIG. 2  requires 4.5 volts for operation, and is therefore configured with three AA (1.5 volts each) battery compartments  60 . The cumulative voltage of three 1.5 volt batteries in series is 4.5 volts. Thus, equipment  50  of  FIG. 2  could be operated using powering device  10  having power supply  30  output of 4.5 volts. An example of a commercially available power supply is the 4.5V/700 mA AC Adaptor Model 273-353 from ENERCELL, available from RadioShack of Ft. Worth, Tex. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , equipment  50  includes housing  55 , which includes a plurality of battery compartments  60 . As used herein, equipment  50  refers to apparatuses that are manufactured to be powered by conventional batteries such as zinc-carbon, alkaline cell and rechargeable batteries. Equipment  50  includes housing  55  for retaining the batteries of a device in a specific region, with battery compartments  60  holding each individual battery.  FIG. 2  depicts three battery compartments  60 , although only the center compartment is numbered, the outlying two each containing one faux battery  15 . Battery compartments  60  conventionally include conductive tabs or coils for contact with positive or negative terminals of battery, and are wired for delivering power to the equipment.  FIG. 2  depicts an unnumbered coil corresponding with negative terminal of unnumbered battery position diagram. 
         [0039]    In use, a user would select the desired configuration of device  10  in accordance with the specifications, for example the power requirements and number of battery compartments  60  of equipment  50 . The user would then access housing  55 , likely by removing lid  57 . Faux batteries  15  would then be positioned in battery compartments  60 , making sure that polarity is correctly oriented. Cable  20  is directed outwards from housing  55 , lid  57  is replaced, and power supply  30  is plugged into standard wall socket. It may also be desirable to ensure that intermediary connector  25  is securely connected with power supply  30 . Finally, equipment  50  is ready for ordinary use. 
         [0040]    Although cable  20  is thin, closure of lid  57  may be impeded by protrusion of cable  20 . In such a situation it may be desirable to form a channel on lid  57 , for example by removing a corner or otherwise creating a notch, that cable  20  can pass through. This is depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. It should also be understood that ranges of values set forth inherently include those values, as well as all increments between.