Device to permit the use of non-standard batteries to power battery operated devices

• US 5,296,315 A
• Filed: 04/29/1993
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clifford J. Rein
• Original Assignee: Clifford J. Rein
• Inventors: Rein, Clifford J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/055,970
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96-100, 429/123, 429/1, 429/9, 429/121, 439/628, 439/500, 439/504
• US Class Current: 429/100
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A device for providing power from a non-standard battery or batteries to a battery operated device powered by one or more batteries contained within a battery compartment. The device includes an adapter, which is placed inside of the battery compartment of the battery operated device; electrical contacts, which are positioned inside of the battery compartment by the adapter so as to create an electrical connection between said contacts and the battery contacts of the battery operated device; a battery box, which is designed to contain a battery or batteries not standard for use inside the battery compartment; an electrical connection between said contacts and the non-standard battery or batteries when placed within said battery box; an electronic or mechanical controller of the direction of flow of the electrical current provided by this invention through a battery operated device, said controller directly or indirectly electrically connected to said contacts; and an electronic or mechanical limiter of the maximum voltage that may occur across said contacts.

Claims

1. A device to permit the use of non-standard batteries to power battery operated devices comprised of:

an adapter, which is placed inside of the battery compartment of the battery operated device;

electrical contacts, which are positioned inside of the battery compartment of the battery operated device by the adapter so as to create an electrical connection between said contacts and the battery contacts of the battery operated device;

a battery box, which is designed to contain a battery or batteries not standard for use inside the battery compartment of the battery operated device;

an electrical connection between said contacts and the non-standard battery or batteries when said battery or batteries are placed within said battery box;

an electronic or mechanical means of regulating the direction of current flow from the non-standard batteries to the battery operated device, directly or indirectly electrically connected to said contacts; and

an electronic or mechanical means of limiting the maximum voltage that may occur across said contacts;

or

an apparatus to limit the maximum voltage that may occur across said contacts. Said apparatus may consist of a Zener diode or other electronic or mechanical means of limiting voltage, directly or indirectly electrically connected to said contacts, or/and the interior cavity of the battery box, specifically sized and shaped with the placement of contacts within said cavity such that only a specific type, or types, of batteries may be placed within, in a specific quantity, or quantities, in accordance with the type used.

2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter holds at least two contacts in a manner which will permit the contacts to be electrically connected to the battery contacts contained within the battery powered device'"'"'s battery compartment when the adapter is inserted into the compartment.

3. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter has the same shape as the standard battery or batteries as placed singly or collectively into the battery operated device'"'"'s battery compartment.

4. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of said adapter is employed solely or in part to locate the contacts as defined in claim 1.

5. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter employs a spring or springs to locate the contacts as defined in claim 1.

6. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter body is comprised of two halves which are fitted with respect to each other in a manner which permits them to be movable in relation to each other in a longitudinal direction so that the length of the adapter body may be varied by the compression or decompression of a spring or springs.

7. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter body is comprised of two halves which are fitted with respect to each other in a manner which permits them to be movable in relation to each other in a longitudinal direction so that the length of the adapter body may be varied by the rotation of a threaded means.

8. A battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery box contains a limited number of batteries not standard for use inside the battery compartment of the battery operated device so as to limit the maximum voltage that the invention may supply to the battery operated device.

9. A battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery box contains electrical connections so as to permit the electrical potential of the non-standard batteries placed therein to be electrically connected directly or indirectly to the contacts as defined in claim 1.

10. A battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery box contains electrical connections so as to permit the electrical potential of the non-standard batteries placed therein to be electrically connected directly or indirectly to the contacts as defined in claim 1.

11. A battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery box contains electrical connections so as to permit the non-standard batteries placed therein to be electrically connected in series.

12. A battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery box contains electrical connections so as to permit the non-standard batteries placed therein to be electrically connected in parallel.

13. The adapter, the battery box and the electrical connections as defined in claim 1, wherein said adapter, said battery box or said electrical connections contain or support an electronic or mechanical means of regulating the direction of current flow.

14. The adapter, the battery box and the electrical connections as defined in claim 1, wherein said adapter, said battery box or said electrical connections contain, support or comprise in whole or in part an electronic or mechanical means of limiting the maximum voltage that may occur across said contacts.

15. A battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery box is attached to or contains a mounting device which permits said battery box to be transported in conjunction with the device powered.