The present invention relates to rechargeable appliances and more particularly but not exclusively to an electric tooth brush and charger therefor.
Typically, rechargeable tooth brushes are provided with a stand that rests on a bench surface. The stand has a primary coil that interacts with a secondary coil in the tooth brush to charge the batteries within the tooth brush. Extending from the stand is an electric cord terminating with the plug that is engaged within a wall socket to provide the primary coil in the stand with alternating electric power.
The above-described charger for tooth brushes suffers from the disadvantage that the stand occupies bench space and inhibits cleaning of the bench space. This problem is exacerbated by the cord.
Also known are wall-mounted chargers. These have the disadvantage that attachment to a wall is required. They also require a cord.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.
There is disclosed herein a battery charger for an article having a charging secondary circuit including a secondary coil, the charger including:
a body having a socket with a passage to receive the articles so that the article is supported by the socket with the secondary coil located at least partly in the socket;
a charging primary circuit in the body and including a primary coil, the primary coil being positioned so as to surround the passage so as to be adjacent the secondary coil when located in the socket;
at least two connection pins rigidly mounted in the body to engage a wall-mounted AC power supply, the pins being electrically connected to the primary circuit; and wherein:
the body and pins are adapted to engage the power supply so that the body is supported thereby together with the article supported in the socket.
Preferably, the socket includes an open top and open bottom to receive the article so that the article is generally vertically oriented.
Preferably, the body further includes a sleeve mounted in the socket, the sleeve having an open top and open bottom to receive the article so that the article is generally vertically oriented.
There is further disclosed herein a combination of the above battery charger and the article, and wherein the article is a rechargeable tooth brush including rechargeable batteries electrically associated with the secondary circuit.