Battery holder mechanism

• US 4,842,966 A
• Filed: 02/23/1988
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Omori, Makoto, Banjo, Toshinobu, Onoda, Shigeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osborn, David
• Application Number:
  US07/158,733
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/96, 429/100, 320/2, 368/203, 368/204, 368/88, 307/150, 439/627, 439/628, 439/629, 439/626, 364/708, 361/334, 361/392
• US Class Current: 429/96
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery holder mechanism for holding a battery in an electronic device having a package has a battery holder body adapted to be received in a receiving hole of the package. The battery holder body has a circular-arc portion extending along the circumferential direction of the battery. First and second supporting projection project from the inner peripheral edges of the circular-arc portion and support the battery from both sides. A supporting projecting portion disposed in the package within the receiving hole at a position corresponding to a circumferential interval between the second supporting projection so as to support the battery from the same side as the second supporting projection when the battery holder body is inserted in the battery receiving hole. Engagement pauls resiliently lock the battery holder body within the battery receiving hole. The battery is held by the projections from both sides, so the vertical displacement of the battery can be restricted.

Claims

1. A battery holder mechanism comprising:

a battery holder body having a circular-arc portion which has an inner peripheral surface which extends partway along the circumference of a circle and which has two sides, first supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from one of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting a battery at its periphery from one side thereof, and second supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from the other of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting the battery at its periphery from a side opposite the one side thereof, said second supporting projection means extending only partway along said circular-arc portion to define a circumferential gap through which the battery can be inserted into said battery holder body;

a device having a receiving hole which receives said battery holder body and a battery which is carried thereby, said device having a supporting portion which projects into the receiving hole at a position corresponding to said circumferential gap and which is engageable with the battery at its periphery to support the opposite side of the battery when said battery holder body is inserted into the receiving hole; and

resilient stop means for resiliently locking said battery holder body within the receiving hole.

2. A battery holder mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second supporting projection means comprises at least two projections, and said projections of said first and second supporting projection means are disposed alternately in the circumferential direction of said circular-arc portion.

3. A battery holder mechanism comprising:

a battery holder body having a resilient circular-arc portion extending for at least 180 degrees along a circle and having an inner peripheral surface which has two sides, first supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from one of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting a battery from one side thereof, and second supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from the other side of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting the battery from a side opposite the one side thereof; and

resilient stop means for resiliently locking said battery holder body with a battery receiving hole of a device into which said battery holder mechanism is inserted.

4. A battery holder mechanism according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second supporting projection means comprises at least two projections, and said projections of said first and second supporting projection means are disposed alternately in the circumferential direction of said circular-arc portion.

5. A battery holder mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising lateral support means formed on an inner wall of the receiving hole for laterally supporting the peripheral portion of the battery where said circular-arc portion does not extend when said battery holder body is received in the battery receiving hole.

6. A battery holder mechanism according to claim 5, wherein each of said first and second supporting projection means comprises at least two projections, and said projections of said first and second supporting projection means are disposed alternately in the circumferential direction of said circular-arc portion.

7. A battery holder mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said lateral support means comprises a supporting projection for supporting said battery which is formed on the inner wall of the receiving hole.

8. A battery holder mechanism comprising:

a battery holder body having a resilient circulararc portion extending for at least 180 degrees along a circle and having an inner peripheral surface which has two sides, first supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from one of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting a battery from one side thereof, and second supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from the other of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting the battery from a side opposite the one side thereof; and

resilient stop means for resiliently locking said battery holder body within a battery receiving hole of a device into which said battery holder mechanism is inserted, wherein each of said first and second supporting projection means extends over the entire circumferential length of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion.

9. A battery holder mechanism comprising:

a battery holder body having a resilient circular-arc portion extending for at least 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees along a circle and having an inner peripheral surface which has two sides, first supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from one of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting a battery from one side thereof, and second supporting projection means projecting radially inwardly from the other of the sides of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion for supporting the battery from a side opposite the one side thereof;

resilient stop means for resiliently locking said battery holder body within a receiving hole of a device into which said battery holder mechanism is inserted; and

lateral support means formed on an inner wall of the receiving hole for laterally supporting the battery at a peripheral portion thereof where said circular-arc portion does not extend when said battery holder body is received in the receiving hole, wherein each of said first and second supporting projection means extends over the entire circumferential length of the inner peripheral surface of said circular-arc portion.