Battery charger

Abstract

A battery charger. The battery charger includes a housing having an outer surface, a battery being supportable on the outer surface, a charging circuit supported by the housing and electrically connectable to a power source and the battery, and a protective structure connected to and extending from the outer surface of the housing, the protective structure extending from the outer surface beyond the battery.

1 . A battery charger comprising: 
 a housing having an outer surface, a battery being supportable on the outer surface;    a charging circuit supported by the housing and electrically connectable to a power source and to the battery; and    protective structure connected to and extending from the outer surface of the housing, the protective structure extending from the outer surface beyond the battery.    
   
   
       2 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bumpers supported on the outer surface of the housing, the bumpers absorbing impacts to the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the protective structure includes a base connected to the housing for supporting the battery charger on a surface, the base extending beyond the outer surface of the housing and beyond the battery.  
   
   
       4 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the base is blow molded from an impact-resistant plastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery has a frontal battery surface and a lower battery surface, wherein the base is positioned below the lower battery surface when the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, and wherein the base extends beyond the frontal battery surface.  
   
   
       6 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the protective structure includes a bar connected to the housing, the bar extending from the outer surface of the housing beyond the battery.  
   
   
       7 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the protective structure includes a bar connected to the housing, the bar extending from the outer surface of the housing beyond the battery.  
   
   
       8 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery has a frontal battery surface and a lower battery surface, wherein the bar extends beyond the frontal battery surface and the top battery surface when the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery has a first side surface, a second side surface and a top battery surface, wherein the bar includes an upper bar portion, a first lower bar portion, and a second lower bar portion, wherein the first lower bar portion and the second lower bar portion prevent impacts to the first and second side surfaces of the battery, and wherein the upper bar portion prevents impacts to the top battery surface.  
   
   
       10 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the bar includes a handle grip for carrying the battery charger.  
   
   
       11 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a cushion connecting the housing with the bar, the cushion absorbing impacts to the bar.  
   
   
       12 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a base connected to the housing for supporting the battery charger on a surface, wherein the bar is connected to the base and the housing.  
   
   
       13 . A battery charger comprising: 
 a housing having an outer surface, a battery being supportable on the outer surface;    a charging circuit supported by the housing and electrically connectable to a power source and to the battery;    a base connected to the housing for supporting the battery charger on a surface, the base extending beyond the outer surface of the housing and beyond the battery; and    a bar connected to the housing, the bar extending beyond the outer surface of the housing and beyond the battery.    
   
   
       14 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of bumpers supported on the outer surface of the housing, the bumpers absorbing impacts to the housing.  
   
   
       15 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the base is blow molded from an impact-resistant plastic material.  
   
   
       16 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery has a frontal battery surface and a lower battery surface, wherein the base is positioned below the lower battery surface when the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, and wherein the base extends beyond the frontal battery surface.  
   
   
       17 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery has a frontal battery surface and a lower battery surface, wherein the bar extends beyond the frontal battery surface and the top battery surface when the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing.  
   
   
       18 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the battery is supported on the outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery has a first side surface, a second side surface and a top battery surface, wherein the bar includes an upper bar portion, a first lower bar portion, and a second lower bar portion, wherein the first lower bar portion and the second lower bar portion prevent impacts to the first and second side surfaces of the battery, and wherein the upper bar portion prevents impacts to the top battery surface.  
   
   
       19 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the bar includes a handle grip for carrying the battery charger.  
   
   
       20 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising a cushion connecting the housing with the bar, the cushion absorbing impacts to the bar.  
   
   
       21 . The battery charger as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the bar is connected to the base and the housing.