Battery terminal sealing and supporting device and method
First Claim
1. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
- an electrical apparatus having a first connection component, said first connection component having a terminal socket;
a battery unit having a second connection component;
said second connection component comprising a terminal post for insertion into said terminal socket, said battery unit detachably connectable to said electrical apparatus; and
a seal mounted to one of said first and second connection components, whereby connection of said first connection component to said second connection component prevents intrusion of contaminants and provides mechanical stability between said electrical apparatus and said battery unit, and whereby insertion of said terminal post into said terminal socket provides electrical connection from said battery unit to said electrical apparatus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an efficient and economical battery sealing and supporting device and method. Among a variety of possible applications, the present invention may be utilized as an improved device and method that facilitates the use of cochlear stimulators designed to allow deaf and near deaf patients to experience the sensation of sound waves through electromechanical stimulation. The present invention eliminates the introduction of sweat, body fluid and other contaminants to the battery terminal connection area, which results in corrosion and eventually disables the connected device. Given its broad scope, the technology associated with the present invention is useful in medical and other areas, such as in military applications, hand-held computer and Internet systems and personal entertainment devices.
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Citations
83 Claims
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1. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first connection component, said first connection component having a terminal socket;
a battery unit having a second connection component;
said second connection component comprising a terminal post for insertion into said terminal socket, said battery unit detachably connectable to said electrical apparatus; and
a seal mounted to one of said first and second connection components, whereby connection of said first connection component to said second connection component prevents intrusion of contaminants and provides mechanical stability between said electrical apparatus and said battery unit, and whereby insertion of said terminal post into said terminal socket provides electrical connection from said battery unit to said electrical apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first connection component, said first connection component having a terminal post;
a battery unit having a second connection component, said second connection component comprising a terminal socket for inserting said terminal post, said battery unit detachably connectable to said electrical apparatus; and
a seal mounted to one of said first and second connection components, whereby connection of said first connection component to said second connection component prevents intrusion of contaminants and provides mechanical stability between said electrical apparatus and said battery unit, and whereby insertion of said terminal post into said terminal socket provides electrical connection from said electrical apparatus to said battery unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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a medical apparatus having an integral male insert, said male insert having a pair of terminal sockets;
a battery unit having a female acceptor integral to said battery unit, said female acceptor comprising a pair of terminal posts for insertion into said pair of terminal sockets, said battery unit detachably connectable to said medical apparatus; and
an o-ring mounted to said male insert. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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a housing containing a microprocessor and electronic circuitry, said housing having a first slide;
a battery unit having a second slide designed to slidingly connect to said first slide;
a pair of terminal posts having a base portion mounted within said first slide;
a pair of terminal sockets disposed within said second slide for inserting said pair of terminal posts; and
a seal mounted to said base portion of said pair of terminal posts. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first slide;
a battery unit having a second slide, said second slide designed to slidingly connect to said first slide;
a pair of terminal sockets disposed within said first slide;
a pair of terminal posts having a base portion mounted within said second slide for insertion into said pair of terminal sockets; and
a seal mounted to said base portion of said pair of terminal posts. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first slide, a pair of terminal posts, and a sheath at least partly surrounding said pair of terminal posts;
a battery unit having a second slide designed to slidingly connect to said first slide, a housing located in the region of said second slide, said housing having an outer portion and an inner portion, and a pair of terminal sockets disposed in said inner portion of said housing for insertion of said terminal posts; and
a gasket mounted to said outer portion of said housing for sealing against said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first slide, a housing having an outer portion and an inner portion, and a pair of terminal sockets disposed in said inner portion of said housing;
a battery unit having a second slide designed to slidingly connect to said first slide, a pair of terminal posts for insertion into said terminal sockets, and a sheath at least partly surrounding said pair of terminal posts; and
a gasket mounted to said outer portion of said housing for sealing against said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first slide, a pair of terminal sockets, and a sheath at least partly surrounding said pair of terminal sockets;
a battery unit having a second slide designed to slidingly connect to said first slide, a housing located in the region of said second slide, said housing having an outer portion and an inner portion, and a pair of terminal posts mounted to said inner portion of said housing for insertion into said terminal sockets; and
a gasket mounted to said outer portion of said housing for sealing against said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first slide, a housing located in the region of said second slide, said housing having an outer portion and an inner portion, and a pair of terminal sockets disposed in said inner portion of said housing;
a battery unit having a second slide designed to slidingly connect to said first slide, a pair of terminal posts for insertion into said terminal sockets, and a sheath at least partly surrounding said pair of terminal posts; and
a gasket mounted to said outer portion of said housing for sealing against said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. A battery sealing and supporting method comprising:
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mounting a seal on a male insert;
said male insert formed integral with an electrical apparatus;
mechanically connecting said electrical apparatus to a battery unit by inserting said male insert into a female acceptor, said female acceptor formed integral with said battery unit; and
electrically connecting said electrical apparatus to said battery unit by inserting a pair of terminal posts into a pair of terminal sockets, said pair of terminal posts housed inside said female acceptor of said electrical apparatus, said pair of terminal sockets disposed on said male insert of said battery unit. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A battery sealing and supporting method comprising:
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mounting a pair of miniature o-rings on a pair of terminal posts, said pair of terminal posts mounted within a first slide;
said first slide formed integral with an electrical apparatus;
mounting a gasket on a housing, said housing mounted integral with a second slide, said second slide formed integral with a battery unit;
mechanically connecting and sealing said electrical apparatus to said battery unit by locking said second slide with said first slide; and
electrically connecting said electrical apparatus to said battery unit by inserting said pair of terminal posts into a pair of terminal sockets, said pair of terminal sockets disposed within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65)
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66. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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a hearing device wearable behind an ear and having a first connection component, said first connection component having a terminal socket;
a battery unit detachably mountable to said hearing device, said battery unit having a second connection component, said second connection component comprising a terminal post for insertion into said terminal socket; and
a seal mounted to one of said first and second connection components, whereby connection of said first connection component to said second connection component prevents intrusion of contaminants and provides mechanical stability between said hearing device and said battery unit, and whereby insertion of said terminal post into said terminal socket provides electrical connection between said battery unit and said hearing device. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69)
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70. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first connection component, said first connection component comprising a male insert having a periphery and a terminal socket;
a battery unit having a second connection component;
said second connection component comprising a female acceptor having a terminal post for insertion into said terminal socket, said battery unit detachably connectable to said electrical apparatus; and
a seal mounted to one of said first and second connection components, whereby insertion of said male insert into said female acceptor prevents intrusion of contaminants and provides mechanical stability between said electrical apparatus and said battery unit, and whereby insertion of said terminal post into said terminal socket provides electrical connection from said battery unit to said electrical apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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74. A battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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an electrical apparatus having a first connection component, said first connection component comprising a female acceptor having a terminal post;
a battery unit having a second connection component, said second connection component comprising a male insert having a periphery and a terminal socket for inserting said terminal post, said battery unit detachably connectable to said electrical apparatus; and
a seal mounted to one of said first and second connection components, whereby insertion of said male insert into said female acceptor prevents intrusion of contaminants and provides mechanical stability between said electrical apparatus and said battery unit, and whereby insertion of said terminal post into said terminal socket provides electrical connection from said electrical apparatus to said battery unit. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77)
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78. A method for using a battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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providing an electrical apparatus having a male insert formed integral with the electrical apparatus and having a pair of terminal sockets disposed on the male insert and a seal on a periphery of the male insert;
providing a rechargeable battery unit having a female acceptor formed integral with the battery unit and having a pair of terminal posts housed inside the female acceptor; and
inserting the male insert into the female acceptor simultaneous with inserting the pair of terminal posts into the pair of terminal sockets. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80)
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81. A method for using a battery sealing and supporting device comprising:
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providing an electrical apparatus having a first slide formed integral with the electrical apparatus pair of terminal posts mounted within a first slide;
providing a battery unit having a second slide formed integral with a battery unit, housing mounted integral with the second slide, pair of terminal sockets disposed within the housing, and a gasket mounted on the housing;
inserting the pair of terminal posts into the pair of terminal sockets simultaneous with sliding the first and second slides together. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83)
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Specification