Electronic apparatus with on-switch to conserve battery before closing switch

• US 5,057,824 A
• Filed: 07/30/1990
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WanderGuard, Inc.
• Inventors: Stokes, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/559,642
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 340/693, 200/61.19, 455/100, 455/128, 361/380, 341/176
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 27/04 Insulating plug or plate inserted between normally closed contacts

Abstract

To provide a novel electrical personnel security system in which a battery is open circuited until ready for use and then energized while permitting a casing to remain sealed; a case for a transmitter supports a circuit board having a battery opening in it. The battery is supported within this opening by positive and negative battery contacts which are conductive springs that hold the battery between them and exert force against them. One of the battery contacts is in direct electrical contact with the battery while the other is separated by a spacer member aligned with a guideway to prevent closing of the circuit as long as the spacer member is in place between the contact and the battery. The casing includes an aperture for the insertion of a pin that results in removing the spacer by moving it along the guideway without tilting the circuit board. The aperture may be sealed by a plug against water.

Claims

1. Electronic apparatus adapted to withstand moisture conditions and adapted to contain a battery for power, comprising:

a watertight casing;

a battery;

closable switch means for closing a circuit means including electrical circuitry connected to said battery, whereby said electrical circuitry may be energized by said battery upon closing of said closable switch means; and

means for causing closing of said closable switch means to apply energy from said battery to said circuit means without permanently permitting the entrance of moisture within said casing;

said closable switch means including at least one movable electrical contact and one insertable member;

said insertable member including means for causing said movable electrical contact to move at least in one of two directions;

wherein motion in said one of said two directions closes said switch and the other opens said switch.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said switch means comprises a flexible conductor biased to contact said battery and said insertable member includes a means for spacing said flexible conductor from said battery and means for removing said means for spacing whereby said flexible conductor contacts said battery.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said means for spacing fits between said flexible conductor and said battery and the means for spacing said flexible conductor overlaps within a range of 0.1 inches and 0.25 inches in the direction of motion of said means for spacing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said closable switch means comprises a reed switch and said means for causing activation comprises a ferromagnetic member.

5. A method of energizing a battery within a casing comprising the steps of:

inserting a pin into the casing and moving a spacer positioned between a flexible conductor and a battery terminal, whereby said spacer is removed to cause said flexible conductor to contact said battery terminal;

and inserting an additional sealing member, whereby said casing is rendered watertight.