Rechargeable device with operational inhibit during recharging

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a device having an electrical load supplied with power from a rechargeable secondary battery and adapted to mate with a charger that provides a source of recharging electrical energy to the battery and having a device on-off switch operable between a first on condition in which the device on-off switch connects the electrical load to the secondary battery and a second off condition in which the device on-off switch disconnects the electrical load from the secondary battery, the device further having: a charger interlock circuit, adapted to connect the rechargeable secondary battery to the source of recharging electrical energy, including an electrical switch operable in a conducting and non-conducting state, wherein the electrical switch is automatically placed in the non-conducting state when the device is mated with the charger irrespective of the setting of the device on-off switch and, when the device is not mated with the charger, the electrical switch is automatically placed in the conducting state only when the device on-off switch is in the on condition.
In this way, electrical loads within the device are prevented from consuming electrical energy when the device is mated with the charger, regardless of the position of the device on-off switch.
The secondary battery of the device therefore will receive the electrical recharging energy even if the device on-off switch is mistakenly left in an on condition.
This ensures that the battery will be recharged and ready for use.
Other features and advantages of the present invention should be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.