Ruggedized tradesworkers radio

Abstract

A tradesworker's radio has a weather and impact resistant features to enable a tradesworker to use the radio under adverse working conditions, such as construction or other work sites. Louvered grills covering moisture resistant loudspeakers are angled downward to protect the speakers from direct splash in case the radio is left outdoors in a heavy downpour. A layer of felt-like material is interspersed between the louvered grills and the loudspeaker cones to offer improved moisture resistance. A non-telescoping antenna of the rubber covered spring type material folds neatly into recess when not in use. The controls include waterproof pushbuttons for on/off, volume adjustment, a weather channel, AM/FM selection and tuning. Elastomeric blocks are bonded to the interior of the housing and the blocks have bonded threaded studs, which are used to shock mount the radio circuit board to the inside of the housing. This circuit board is treated with a conformal coating to improve its moisture resistance. The preferred housing material is a layer of rigid plastic, which is impact resistant and the outer covering is a resilient tough elastomer. The radio can be used with an adapter to convert to a power hand tool battery pack to accommodate a variety of different battery packs and adapters. The battery compartment is generous in size and lined with a soft polyurethane material to protect the battery pack from damage.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 : An audio equipment for tradesworkers comprising: 
 a housing;    a radio receiver disposed within the housing for receiving radio signals and generating audio output signals responsive thereto;    a DC voltage power source for powering a power tool;    an AC powered DC charger disposed within the housing for charging the DC voltage power source;    a power conversion circuit disposed between the DC voltage power source and the radio receiver for providing power to the radio receiver;    wherein the DC voltage power source is detachably connected to the charger.    
   
   
       22 : The audio equipment of  claim 21 , wherein the power conversion circuit is a DC/DC converter.  
   
   
       23 : The audio equipment of  claim 21 , further comprising an electrical cord engageable with an electrical outlet.  
   
   
       24 : The audio equipment of  claim 23 , wherein the electrical cord provides power to the charger.  
   
   
       25 : The audio equipment of  claim 23 , wherein the electrical cord provides power to the radio receiver.  
   
   
       26 : The audio equipment of  claim 21 , wherein the DC voltage power source has a voltage of at least about 9.6 volts.  
   
   
       27 : The audio equipment of  claim 21 , wherein the DC voltage power source has a voltage of about 18 volts.  
   
   
       28 : The audio equipment of  claim 21 , wherein the housing has a hand recess.  
   
   
       29 : The audio equipment of  claim 21 , further comprising a display supported by the housing.  
   
   
       30 : The audio equipment of  claim 29 , wherein the display is an LCD display.  
   
   
       31  The audio equipment of  claim 21 , wherein the housing further comprises a battery compartment for disposing the DC voltage power source within the housing when the DC voltage power source is electrically connected to the charger.  
   
   
       32 : The audio equipment of  claim 31 , wherein the housing further comprises a door for providing access to the battery compartment.  
   
   
       33 : An audio equipment for tradesworkers comprising: 
 a housing;    a DC voltage power source for powering a power tool;    an AC powered DC charger disposed within the housing for charging the DC voltage power source;    an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger;    a power conversion circuit disposed between the DC voltage power source and the audio circuit for providing power to the audio circuit;    wherein the DC voltage power source is detachably connected to the charger.    
   
   
       34 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the audio circuit is a radio receiver disposed within the housing for receiving radio signals and generating audio output signals responsive thereto.  
   
   
       35 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the power conversion circuit is a DC/DC converter.  
   
   
       36 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , further comprising an electrical cord engageable with an electrical outlet.  
   
   
       37 : The audio equipment of  claim 36 , wherein the electrical cord provides power to the charger.  
   
   
       38 : The audio equipment of  claim 36 , wherein the electrical cord provides power to the audio circuit.  
   
   
       39 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the DC voltage power source has a voltage of at least about 9.6 volts.  
   
   
       40 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the DC voltage power source has a voltage of about 18 volts.  
   
   
       41 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the housing has a hand recess.  
   
   
       42 : The audio equipment of  claim 33 , further comprising a display supported by the housing.  
   
   
       43 : The audio equipment of  claim 42 , wherein the display is an LCD display.  
   
   
       44  The audio equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the housing further comprises a battery compartment for disposing the DC voltage power source within the housing and electrically connecting the DC voltage power source to the charger.  
   
   
       45 : The audio equipment of  claim 44 , wherein the housing further comprises a door for providing access to the battery compartment.