United States Patent (19)
`Martensson
`
`USOO59231.46A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,923,146
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`54) BATTERY CHARGING UNIT
`NCORPORATED IN A POWER CORD REEL
`HOUSING
`
`75 Inventor: Nils Martensson, Chobham, United
`Kingdom
`
`73 Assignee: IPR Industries, Ltd., Farnborough,
`United Kingdom
`
`Appl. No.: 08/946,664
`21
`22 Filed:
`Oct. 7, 1997
`30
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Oct. 30, 1996 GB United Kingdom ................... 96.22585
`51) Int. Cl. ................................ H02J 7/00; H02M 1/00
`52 U.S. C. ...
`... 320/111; 320/113; 363/146
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 320/105,107,
`320/112, 113, 111; 363/144, 146
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,621,869 11/1971 Albarran .............................. 137/234.6
`3,815,078 6/1974 Fedrick.
`4,079,304 3/1978 Brandenburg ........................... 320/105
`4,108,264 8/1978 Tanaka .............
`... 180/2 R
`4,215,306
`7/1980 Mace ........
`... 320/105
`4.389,608 6/1983 Dahl et al. .............................. 320/137
`4,466,581
`8/1984 Hill.
`4,489,223 12/1984 Puckett et al. ..................... 191/12.2 R
`4,893,037
`1/1990 Schwartz ............................... 310/68 R
`
`5,358,461 10/1994 Bailey, Jr. ................................... 482/2
`5,367,243 11/1994 Wells et al. ............................. 320/105
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`European Pat. Off..
`O 692 849 A1 1/1996
`European Pat. Off..
`0 716 495 A2 6/1996
`United Kingdom.
`1165608 10/1969
`United Kingdom.
`2 095 209 9/1982
`United Kingdom.
`2 1583O8 11/1985
`Primary Examiner Peter S. Wong
`Assistant Examiner-Gregory J. Toatley, Jr.
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oliff & Berridge, PLC
`57
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention relates to a battery charging unit
`comprising a housing having a current Supply means pro
`Vided therein for Supplying current to an electrical or elec
`tronic apparatus located remote from the battery charging
`unit, coupling means provided on the housing for coupling
`the current Supply means to a mains power Supply, means for
`coupling the remote apparatus to the current Supply means,
`comprising a cable, and a reel provided in the housing for
`Storing the cable in the housing when the battery charging
`unit is not in use, and allowing the cable to be dispensed
`when required. This has the advantage that by having a
`device around which the cable remains wound during Stor
`age and from which the cable is simply unwound from the
`charging unit when it is required eliminates the unsightly
`and messy bunching of the cable which is a feature of known
`charging units.
`
`18 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
`Page 1 of 16
`
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Jul. 13, 1999
`Jul. 13,1999
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`Sheet 1 of 11
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
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`IPR USP 8,624,550
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`Jul. 13, 1999
`Jul. 13,1999
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`Sheet 2 of 11
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 13, 1999
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`Sheet 3 0f 11
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`Sheet 4 of 11
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
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`Jul. 13, 1999
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`Sheet 5 of 11
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
`Page 6 of 16
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`Jul. 13, 1999
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`Sheet 6 of 11
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`5,923,146
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`Fig. 6
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
`Page 7 of 16
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Jul. 13, 1999
`Jul. 13,1999
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`Sheet 7 of 11
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
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`Jul. 13, 1999
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`Jul. 13, 1999
`Jul. 13,1999
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`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
`Page 12 of 16
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`5,923,146
`
`1
`BATTERY CHARGING UNIT
`NCORPORATED IN A POWER CORD REEL
`HOUSING
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a battery charging unit for
`an electrical or electronic device, particularly, although not
`exclusively, for a cellular radio telephone.
`Commonly, portable cellular radio telephones are pro
`vided with removable batteries as their current Source.
`Typically, these batteries are Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
`batteries which are rechargeable.
`To recharge the battery, the battery is left attached to the
`cellular radio telephone, and is recharged "in situ' by means
`of a charging unit. The charging unit is coupled to a mains
`alternating current (AC) Supply via a conventional plug
`arrangement (in the United Kingdom, this is a 3-pin arrange
`ment well known to persons skilled in the art), and is
`coupled to the battery via a multi-conductor cable to the
`telephone and through internal circuitry, to the battery to be
`recharged. Respective matching contacts are provided, on
`the casing of the telephone and in a plug terminating the free
`end of the cable, to couple current to the telephone and
`battery. The charger, typically, may be a simple transformer/
`constant current generator or Switch mode power Supply, as
`is well known to persons skilled in the art. The telephone
`may be provided with control logic and means to Sense one
`or more parameters, for example battery temperature, these
`being indicative of the charge State of the battery. By
`monitoring Such parameters, one is able to ensure that the
`battery is optimally recharged. With this method of
`recharging, the battery is “fast-charged', that is where a
`constant current of, for example, 600-1000 mA is supplied
`to the battery to effect recharging. The telephone can Still be
`used whilst the battery is being recharged.
`A problem with Storing these chargerS is that the cable
`becomes entangled with other objects and is difficult to
`Store. The user usually has to Somehow wrap the cable -
`usually around the main body of the charging unit which can
`make it bulky. Commonly, during Storage, this cable comes
`unwrapped and tangled, which can be fiddly and time
`consuming to untangle.
`Among the many accessories available for portable cel
`lular radio telephones, are So-called "travel chargers'. These
`take the form of a charging unit incorporating a transformer/
`constant current generator, with a pin arrangement for
`coupling it to the mains Supply. The casing for the charging
`unit is provided with a receSS for receiving a Spare battery.
`Contacts are provided within the receSS for contacting
`matching contacts on the battery. A “trickle' current is
`Supplied to the battery when the charging unit is coupled to
`the mains Supply, thereby slow charging the battery received
`therein. The charging unit does not incorporate control logic
`for controlling fast charging, and therefore, is only capable
`of Slow-charging a Spare battery. This takes Some time.
`There is the problem, therefore, that should the battery
`currently being used as the power Supply for the telephone
`become discharged before the Spare battery is recharged,
`then the telephone is out of operation. Unfortunately, when
`the receSS may be perfectly located when using a wall
`mounted Socket, should a floor mounted Socket or any type
`of horizontally arranged Socket be used, the receSS may then
`be at Such an angle that the battery will not stay in the receSS
`or, if it does, does not make contact with the contacts
`properly, making charging impossible.
`According to the present invention, there is provided a
`battery charging unit comprising a housing having a current
`
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`Supply means provided therein for Supplying current to an
`electrical or electronic apparatus located remote from the
`battery charging unit, coupling means provided on the
`housing for coupling the current Supply means to a mains
`power Supply, means for coupling the remote apparatus to
`the current Supply means, comprising a cable, and a reel
`provided in the housing for Storing the cable in the housing
`when the battery charging unit is not in use, and allowing the
`cable to be dispensed when required. This has the advantage
`that by having a device around which the cable remains
`wound during Storage and from which the cable is simply
`unwound from the charging unit when it is required elimi
`nates the unsightly and messy bunching of the cable which
`is a feature of known charging units.
`Preferably, the reel of the charging unit is not rotatable,
`and may be mounted within the casing and able to be pulled
`out of the casing to enable the user to manually wind the
`cable around the reel. Preferably the outside reel face
`comprises an opening means by which the user can grip the
`reel and pull it out of the casing when it is desired to wind
`or unwind the cable around the reel. Preferably, all of the
`cable or a part of the cable may be unwound, according to
`a user's requirements, and the casing may be closed when
`the desired amount of cable is unwound. Preferably the cable
`may exit the casing through an aperture in the casing.
`Preferably the reel includes a spindle which is mounted in
`a spindle housing in which the Spindle can be telescopically
`moved and at the same time maintained in the central
`position with respect to the casing. The Spindle and the
`Spindle housing preferably comprise corresponding Stop
`means to Stop further movement of the reel and a cammed
`detent means to resiliently retain the reel in the pulled out
`position. The detent means will provide Sufficient retaining
`force on the reel So that the user has his hands free to hold
`the casing with one hand and wind or unwind the cable
`around the reel with the other without inadvertently pushing
`the reel back in the casing and yet low enough that when the
`winding operation is complete the user may press the reel
`back in the casing with Sufficient force to overcome the
`cammed detent means.
`Preferably, the battery charging unit comprises a releas
`ably attachable cover, which is detachable by a user to reveal
`a non-rotatable reel enclosed by the casing. Preferably cover
`attaching means are provided, and preferably the cover
`attaching means comprise a Snap-fit attaching means. The
`cover attaching means may comprise a locking means Such
`as a press-release locking means. Preferably, the
`transformer/current generator components of the battery
`charging unit are arranged under the reel.
`Alternatively, the cover may be permanently attached to
`Said battery charging unit by means of a hinge, and the cover
`is openable by a user to reveal the reel thereunder.
`Alternatively, the cover may be permanently attached to
`Said battery charging unit, and slidable between a closed
`position and an open position in which the cover is moved
`and the reel is revealed thereunder. Preferably a plug at the
`free end of the cable fits under the closed cover when the
`battery charging unit is not in use. An aperture may be
`provided in the cover, through which the cable exits the
`battery charging unit. Preferably, the cover is provided with
`locking means to retain the cover in the closed position when
`the battery charging unit is not in use, and finger grips which
`are pressed inwards by a user to disengage Said locking
`CS.
`
`65
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The invention will now be described, by example only,
`with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
`Page 13 of 16
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`

`

`5,923,146
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`3
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a charging unit of the
`present invention;
`FIGS. 2a and 2b are views of a first portion of the side
`wall of the unit of FIG. 1 illustrating, in FIG.2a the battery
`receiving receSS uncovered, and, in FIG. 2b the battery
`receiving receSS covered;
`FIG. 3 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of a
`battery charging unit according to the present invention;
`FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
`3 in the closed position;
`FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
`3 in the open position;
`FIG. 5a is a sectional view from the side of a further
`embodiment of a battery charging unit in the closed position.
`FIG. 5b is a sectional view from the side of the embodi
`ment of FIG. 5a in the open position;
`FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the charging unit of FIG.
`1 plugged into a wall mounted mains Socket with a Spare
`battery in situ;
`FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the charging unit of FIG.
`1 plugged into a floor mounted mains Socket with a Spare
`battery in situ;
`FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a further
`preferred embodiment of a battery charging unit according
`to the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a side view of a further preferred embodiment
`of a battery charging unit according to the present invention
`in the open position;
`FIG. 10a is a side view of a further embodiment of a
`battery charging unit according to the present invention, in
`the closed position;
`FIG. 10b is a side view of a further embodiment of a
`battery charging unit according to the present invention, in
`the open position.
`FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional Side View, in enlarged Scale,
`of the press-release locking means of the embodiment of
`FIGS. 10a and 10b.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`A battery charging unit 1 comprises a casing 2, made of
`a plastic material in a known manner. The casing 2 has a
`current Supply means provided therein for Supplying current
`to an electrical or electronic apparatus located remote from
`the battery charging unit 1, coupling means provided on the
`casing 2 for coupling the current Supply means to a mains
`power Supply, means for coupling the remote apparatus to
`the current Supply means, comprising a cable 13, and a reel
`provided in the casing 2 for Storing the cable 13 in the casing
`2 when the battery charging unit 1 is not in use, and allowing
`the cable 13 to be dispensed when required.
`Referring to FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, the casing 2 has
`teardrop-shaped front and rear faces 3,4 and a continuous
`side wall 12. In a portion of the side wall 12 are provided a
`pair of pins 5a,5b adapted to be received into a conventional
`electrical Socket, for example, a wall Socket to couple the
`battery charging unit 1 to a mains power Supply. In the
`embodiment described herein, the pins 5a,5b are those for
`the US mains supply, but may equally well be of the
`three-pin type for the UK, or any other known pin arrange
`ment.
`In another portion of the side wall 12 there is provided a
`recess 6 into which may be placed a battery 7 to be
`recharged. In the interior of the receSS 6 are a number of
`
`4
`contacts (not visible) for contacting matching contacts (not
`shown) provided on the battery 7. These contacts are used
`for Supplying current to the battery 7 for recharging, and to
`monitor the charge State of the battery 7 to ensure optimum
`charging. The recharging of the battery is carried out in any
`known manner. For clarity, the electrical couplings and
`internal circuitry are not illustrated in the drawings. The
`couplings are achieved by any Suitable known means.
`A slidable cover 9 is provided to cover the recess 6 to
`prevent damage to the receSS 6, and, in particular, the
`contacts 8, when the charging unit 1 is not being used to
`charge a battery in this way.
`Referring now to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to
`5b, the numerical indicators for corresponding parts from
`the previous figures are the same numbers preceded by 100.
`The charging units 101 of these preferred embodiments
`comprise a non-rotatable reel 110 mounted within the casing
`102 and Substantially centrally located. The reel 110 com
`prises a circular drum 130, around which a length of cable
`113 is wound. The reel 110 is able to be pulled out of the
`casing 102 to expose the reel to the outside of the casing to
`enable the user to manually wind the cable around the drum
`130. A perspective view of a battery charging unit 101 in the
`open position is shown in FIG. 4b, and a sectional view from
`the side in FIG. 5b. The closed position is shown in FIGS.
`4a and 5a. The reel 110 comprises a reel plate 111 which
`forms part of the rear wall 104 of the casing 102 when the
`reel 110 is in the closed position. The reel plate 111 com
`prises an opening means 134 by which the user can grip the
`reel 110 and pull it out of the casing when it is desired to
`wind or unwind the cable around the reel. In these
`embodiments, the opening means comprises two Snap-fit
`tabs 134 on the reel plate 111 which interact with the side
`wall 112. Other embodiments are possible wherein the
`opening means 134 is Substituted by an alternative opening
`means. The length of cable 113 terminates at its free end in
`a plug (not shown), configured to connect with a corre
`sponding Socket provided in the housing of a remote por
`table mobile cellular radio telephone (not shown). The other
`end is coupled to a transformer/current generator arrange
`ment housed within the casing 102 to couple current from
`the mains power Supply through the pins 5a, 5b to the remote
`cellular radio telephone. AS mentioned above, this coupling
`can be achieved in any known manner, but is not shown in
`the figures for clarity. An aperture (not shown) is provided
`in the side wall 112 through which the cable 113 exits the
`casing 102. In an alternative embodiment, the aperture is
`provided in the reel plate 111.
`The casing 102 is formed in two halves 116a, 116b from
`a rigid plastics material. The reel 110, also made from a rigid
`plastics material, is non-rotatably mounted on one of the
`halves 116a by a spindle 132. The corresponding casing half
`116b has a circular aperture 117 therein which fits around the
`reel plate 111 when the battery charging unit 101 is
`assembled so as to form, together with the reel plate 111, the
`rear face 104.
`The spindle 132 is mounted in a spindle housing 136 in
`which it can be telescopically moved and at the same time
`maintained in the central position with respect to the casing
`102. The spindle 132 and spindle housing 136 do not permit
`the reel 110 to rotate, in order to enable easy winding of the
`cable around the reel by a user, which could be problematic
`were the reel to be rotatable. The spindle 132 and the spindle
`housing 136 comprise corresponding stop means 138,139 to
`stop further movement of the reel 110 when it has been
`pulled out to a pre-determined extent which is Sufficient for
`the user to wind or unwind the cable 113 around the reel 110.
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`IPR USP 8,624,550
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`S
`This corresponding stop means 138, 139 also comprises a
`cammed detent means (not shown) to resiliently retain the
`reel 110 in the pulled out position so that the user has his
`hands free to hold the casing 102 with one hand and wind or
`unwind the cable 113 around the reel 110 with the other
`without inadvertently pushing the reel 110 back in the casing
`102. When the winding operation is complete the user may
`press the reel back in the casing 102 with sufficient force to
`overcome the cammed detent means. The user may unwind
`the cable to any desired length-either completely unwound
`or partially unwound-and then press the reel back into the
`casing, the desired length of cable exiting the casing through
`the opening, and allowing the casing of the battery charging
`unit to be arranged in the closed position during use of the
`battery charging unit. The closed casing can accomodate the
`plug when the cable is fully wound, giving the advantage
`that the cable and plug are retained neatly inside the battery
`charging unit, and are protected when the battery charging
`unit is not in use.
`In use, the charging unit 1 is plugged into the mains
`Supply using the external pins 5a, 5b and the cable plug 14
`plugged into the cellular radio telephone housing to charge
`a battery in Situ on the telephone. If required, another spare
`battery can be placed in the receSS 6 for recharging. The
`proceSS for the recharging of the two batteries is not relevant
`to the present invention, and is therefore not described in any
`detail herein.
`Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, as described above, the
`battery charging unit 1 is provided with means to recharge
`a spare battery 7 by placing it in the receSS 6. In use, the
`cover 9 is retracted and the spare battery 7 inserted in the
`receSS 6 So that the contacts contact the matching contacts on
`the spare battery 7.
`The recess 6 is located in the side wall 12 at Such a
`location, and dimensioned Such that, when the charging unit
`1 is plugged into a Socket mounted on a wall 19 as illustrated
`in FIG. 6, the spare battery 7 is oriented at an acute
`angle-preferably around 45 degrees-to the Vertical So that
`the battery 7 remains in the recess 6 under gravity and the
`frictional fit within the recess 6. Similarly, when the charg
`ing unit 1 is plugged into a Socket mounted on the floor 20,
`as illustrated in FIG. 7, the battery 7 remains at an acute
`angle-again preferably around 45 degrees-to the Vertical,
`and, therefore, also remains in the receSS.
`Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, this
`shows a battery charging unit 201 which is rectangular and
`shaped more like a Standard plug or plug adapter unit,
`having a casing 202 comprising a front face 203, a rear face
`204 and four side faces 212. In this embodiment, a pair of
`pins 205 are provided, as described in relation to the first
`embodiment of a battery charging unit, but in this embodi
`ment these are provided on the rear face 204 of the battery
`charging unit.
`The front face 203 and four side faces 212 together
`comprise a cover 250 which is releasably attachable to the
`rear face 204 by cover attaching means, comprising a
`Snap-fit lip 251 a formed as part of the rear face 204, and
`groove 251b formed in the side walls 212. The cover is
`detachable by a user to reveal a non-rotatable reel 210
`enclosed by the casing 202, permanently fixed to the rear
`face 204 and substantially centrally located. The reel 210
`comprises a hollow circular drum 230, around which a
`length of cable 213 is wound, and a front plate 231 which
`maintains the cable on the reel 210. The cable terminates at
`its free end in a plug 214, which is Storable within the casing
`202 when not in use. The transformer/current generator
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`6
`components of the battery charging unit are arranged under
`the reel 210, within the hollow drum 230. An aperture (not
`shown) is provided in the cover 250, in order that the cover
`250 may be replaced over the reel when the cable is partially
`or fully unwound.
`To use the battery charging unit 210, a user is first
`required to remove said cover 250 to access said cable 213
`wound on said reel 210. The required length of cable 213 is
`then unwound by the user, the cover replaced and the battery
`charging unit 210 used as previously described. When not in
`use, the length of cable 213 is manually wound around the
`reel 210 by the user, and the cover 250 replaced by the user.
`In Similar embodiments, the cover attaching means alter
`natively or additionally comprises a locking means, Such as
`a preSS-release locking means similar to that shown in FIG.
`11 and described in detail in relation to the embodiments of
`FIGS. 10a and 10b. This allows the battery charging unit
`201 to be pulled out of the wall by a user without the cover
`250 accidentally being detached. Thus, to detach the cover
`250, a user must first disengage the preSS-release mecha
`S.
`In a further variation, the embodiment of FIG. 8 is made
`in a cylindrical shape, Said casing 202 comprising a front
`face, a rear face and a single continuous Side wall.
`Referring now to FIG. 9, this shows a third preferred
`embodiment of a battery charging unit 301, in which the
`cover 350 is permanently attached to said rear face 304 by
`means of a hinge 390, and the cover 350 is therefore
`openable by a user to reveal the reel 310 thereunder. This
`embodiment is similar to that of FIG. 8, and corresponding
`numerical identifiers have been used, prefixing them with
`300 in FIG. 9, as opposed to 200 in FIG.8. Note that in this
`embodiment, the aperture 395 in the cover 350, through
`which the cable 313 may exit the casing 302, is visible.
`Referring now to FIGS. 10a and 10b, these show a further
`embodiment of a battery charging unit 401, which is similar
`to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and similarly shaped.
`Corresponding numerical identifiers have been used to label
`corresponding parts in FIGS. 8 and 10a and 10b, those of
`FIGS. 10a and 10b being preceded by 400. However, this
`embodiment differs to the embodiment of FIG. 8 in that the
`cover 450 is permanently attached to Said battery charging
`unit 401, and is slidable between a closed position, shown in
`FIG. 10a, and an open position, shown in FIG. 10b, in which
`the cover 450 is moved away from the rear face 404 and the
`reel 410 is revealed thereunder. The reel 410 is non-rotatable
`as in the embodiment of FIG. 8, and the transformer/current
`generator components of the battery charging unit are
`arranged under the reel 410, within the hollow drum 430. In
`this embodiment, the plug 414 at the free end of the cable
`413 fits under the closed cover 450 when the battery
`charging unit 401 is not in use. An aperture is provided in the
`cover, (not shown), through which the cable exits the battery
`charging unit in order that the cover 450 may be placed in
`the closed position when the desired length of cable has been
`unwound, allowing the battery charging unit to be used,
`whilst the cover is closed.
`To retain the cover 450 in the closed position, when the
`battery charging unit is not in use, the cover 450 is provided
`with press-release locking means 500, which are shown in
`FIG. 11, and finger grips 460 which are pressed inwards, (in
`the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 11), by a user to
`disengage Said press-release locking means. The preSS
`release locking means 500 comprise a first locking Section
`501 formed on the cover 450, which co-operates with a
`second locking section 502 formed as part of the rear face
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1017
`IPR USP 8,624,550
`Page 15 of 16
`
`

`

`7
`404. When the cover 450 is moved towards the rear face 404
`into the closed position, the co-operating first and Second
`locking Sections 501, 502 engage, locking together as shown
`in FIG. 11 to retain the cover 450 in the closed position. To
`disengage the first and second locking sections 501, 502
`from one another and thus to release the cover 450 in order
`that it may be moved into the open position, a user pushes
`on the finger grips 460. This action moves the first and
`second locking sections 501, 502 out of co-operation and
`allows them to disengage.
`AS previously mentioned, the above-described locking
`means 500 may be incorporated into the embodiment shown
`in FIG. 8, to give the advantage that the cover 250 is not
`accidentally removed by a user when the user attempts to
`remove the battery charging unit 201 from a wall socket.
`AS will be understood to a person skilled in the art,
`various modifications are possible within the Scope of the
`present invention. For example, other shapes of battery
`charging unit are possible. The pin arrangement can be
`Selected to correspond with the plug and Socket convention
`of the region where the unit is to be used. Similarly, the
`receSS of those embodiments incorporating a receSS for a
`battery is dimensioned to receive the appropriate battery.
`The receSS can also be dimensioned to receive the whole
`telephone rather than Simply the battery. The battery charger
`can be used to recharge batteries for other electrical or
`electronic apparatus, for example a portable personal com
`puter.
`I claim:
`1. A battery charging unit comprising a housing having a
`current Supply means provided therein for Supplying current
`to an electrical or electronic apparatus located remote from
`the battery charging unit, coupling means provided on the
`housing for coupling the current Supply means to a mains
`power Supply, means for coupling the remote apparatus to
`the current Supply means, comprising a cable, and a reel
`provided in the housing for Storing the cable in the housing
`when the battery charging unit is not in use, but allowing the
`cable to be dispensed when required, wherein Said reel is
`mounted within the housing and is able to be disengaged
`with respect to the housing to enable the user to manually
`wind the cable around the reel.
`2. A battery charging unit according to claim 1, wherein
`the reel includes a reel plate which defines part of the wall
`of the housing.
`3. A battery charging unit according to claim 1, wherein
`the reel includes a reel plate which comprises an opening
`means by which user can grip the reel and pull it out of the
`housing when it is desired to wind or unwind the cable
`around the reel.
`4. A battery charging unit according to claim 1, charac
`terized in that the cable exits the housing through an aperture
`in the housing.
`5. A battery charging unit according to claim 2, charac
`terized in that the cable exits the housing through an aperture
`in the reel plate.
`
`8
`6. A battery charging unit according to claim 5, charac
`terized in that the aperture allows the reel to be pushed into
`the housing when the cable is unwound.
`7. A battery charging unit according to claim 1, charac
`terized in that the reel comprises a spindle mounted in a
`Spindle housing in which it can be telescopically moved and
`at the same time maintained in the central position with
`respect to the housing.
`8. A battery charging unit according to claim 7, charac
`terized in that the Spindle and the Spindle housing comprise
`corresponding Stop means to Stop further movement of the
`reel and a cammed detent means to resiliently retain the reel
`in the pulled out position.
`9. A battery charging unit according to claim 8, charac
`terized in that the detent means provide Sufficient retaining
`force on the reel so that the user has his hands free to hold
`the housing with one hand and wind or unwind the cable
`around the reel with the other without inadvertently pushing
`the reel back in the casing and yet low enough that when the
`winding operation is complete the user may press the reel
`back in the housing with Sufficient force to overcome the
`cammed detent means.
`10. A battery charging unit according to claim 1, charac
`terized in that part of Said housing comprises a cover which
`is openable to provide access to the reel and closeable to
`cover the reel.
`11. A battery charging unit according to claim 10, char
`acterized in that Said cover is releasably attachable to Said
`housing.
`12. A battery charging unit according to claim 10, char
`acterized in that Said cover is pivotally attached to Said
`housing.
`13. A battery charging unit according to claim 10, chlar
`acterised in that Said cover is slidably attached to Said
`housing.
`14. A battery charging unit according to claim 10, char
`acterized in that Said cover is provided with releasable
`locking means to retain the cover in the closed position.
`15. A battery charging unit according to claim 12, char
`acterized in that Said locking means comprise a press-release
`locking means.
`16. A battery charging unit according to claim 1, charac
`terized in that Said battery charging unit also comprises
`means for mounting a battery within the housing Such that
`current is Supplied from the current Supply means to the
`battery mounted therein