Pivoting battery compartment and door

• US 5,337,215 A
• Filed: 10/29/1993
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lane, John A., Sunderland, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/145,719
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96-100, 200/43.01, 200/43.11, 200/43.22, 200/333, 361/610, 361/622, 361/642, 361/643, 361/724-727
• US Class Current: 361/726
• 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 battery compartment for a device having a housing is provided. The battery compartment pivots around an axis that is generally parallel with a wall of housing. The battery compartment is generally an elongated wedge or sector shape with an elongated pivoting axis extending along the apex of the wedge. One planar side of the wedge becomes a portion of the wall of the housing as the battery compartment is pivoted about the elongated axis into a closed position. This planar side becomes a door into the housing that is opened or closed as the battery compartment is pivoted around its pivoting axis. As the battery compartment is pivoted around its pivoting axis, the battery compartment rotates out and away from the plane that previously encompassed the wall of the device so that access to the batteries may be had. The battery compartment encloses the batteries and segregates them from the other components in the housing. Furthermore, the battery compartment of the instant invention prevents foreign objects from being introduced into the interior of the housing when the door of the battery compartment is in either of its open or closed positions, or being moved therebetween. In one embodiment of the instant invention, switches, such as DIP switches, are attached to the battery compartment so that as the battery compartment is rotated around its pivoting axis, access may be had to the switches.

Claims

1. In a housing comprising a housing end wall, a housing opening in the housing end wall, and an elongated substantially sector-shaped battery compartment having a planar door and a planar wall each extending outwardly from the apex of said battery compartment, and including means, located along the apex of said sector-shaped battery compartment, for pivoting the battery compartment into and out of the housing through the housing opening in the housing end wall, said means for pivoting the battery compartment pivoting the battery compartment along the apex of the sector-shaped battery compartment, the battery compartment pivoting from an open position to a closed position, the battery compartment further including means for electrically connecting batteries contained in the battery compartment with any desired components held within the housing, said sector-shaped battery compartment has a curved outer surface positioned equidistant from the apex and which terminates a distance from the apex slightly less than the distance from said means for pivoting and the boundary between the housing opening and the housing end wall to provide a close fit between the battery compartment and the housing to prevent foreign objects from inadvertently entering the housing, said door closing said housing opening when said battery compartment is pivoted into said housing;

whereby the battery compartment positions batteries, provides electrical connection between the batteries and desired components and provides access to the batteries.

2. The housing of claim 1 further comprising means for securing the battery compartment in the closed position.

3. The housing of claim 1 further comprising means for preventing said sector shaped battery compartment from pivoting entirely out of the housing.

4. The housing of claim 1 further comprising means for preventing said sector shaped battery compartment from pivoting entirely into the housing.

5. The housing of claim 1 further comprising at least one electrical switch for controlling various operating parameters of the components contained within the housing and being attached to said battery compartment and directed away from the apex of said battery compartment so that access may be had to said switch when said battery compartment is in its open position.

6. A battery compartment for a housing having a housing end wall and a housing opening in the housing end wall, the battery compartment positioning batteries and providing electrical connection between the batteries and desired components, the battery compartment providing access to the batteries, the battery compartment comprising:

a) a substantially planar first wall having a first wall edge, said first wall terminating in a lip along said first wall farthest from said first wall edge, said lip extending from said first wall away from said first wall edge;

b) a substantially planar second wall having a second wall edge wherein said second wall edge is connected to said first wall edge so that an angle is formed between said first wall and said second wall, said second wall terminating in a stop along said second wall farthest from said second wall edge, said stop extending from said second wall away from said second wall edge;

c) means, located in the angle formed between said first wall and said second wall and attached to either one or both of said first or second walls, for positioning batteries comprising;

i) a battery chamber side wall opposed to said first wall;

ii) a battery chamber outer wall opposed to said second wall; and

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iii) a battery chamber end wall attached at substantially a right angle to said first wall, said second wall, said battery chamber side wall and said battery chamber outer wall so that an enclosure for holding batteries is formed that is open only opposite said battery chamber end wall;

d) means, connected to said means for positioning batteries, for electrically connecting the batteries to the desired components;

e) means, located along the axis extending along both said first wall edge and said second wall edge, for pivoting the battery compartment into and out of the housing through the housing opening in the housing end wall, the battery compartment pivoting from an open position to a closed position;

f) means for securing the battery compartment in the closed position including;

i) a retaining screw positioning plate located substantially parallel to and away from said second wall in the space between said first wall and said second wall, said second wall being open opposite said retaining screw positioning plate to define a support post chamber extending into the battery compartment from said second wall, said retaining screw positioning wall having a retaining screw hole extending therethrough;

ii) a support post attached to the housing and extending into said support post chamber when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the housing into the closed position, said support post aligned with said retaining screw hole when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the closed position, said support post having a threaded recess directed away from the housing, said support post contacting said retaining screw positioning plate when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the closed position in the housing;

iii) a retaining screw having a relatively narrow diameter threaded end and a relatively larger diameter body, said relatively narrow threaded end being selectively placeable through said retaining screw hole into threaded contact with said threaded recess in said support post,

whereby rotating said retaining screw into contact with said threaded recess brings said body of said retaining screw into secure contact with said retaining screw plate which is in turn brought into secure contact with said support post;

g) at least one electrical switch; and

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h) means for attaching said switch to either said first wall or said second wall or both including a switch compartment cover extending away from said second wall forming a switch compartment between said switch compartment cover and said means for positioning batteries, said switch compartment cover having a curved outer surface defined by being equidistant from said means for pivoting;

wherein said lip extends from said first wall away from said first wall edge a distance so that said lip contacts the housing end wall near the housing opening when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the closed position whereby said first wall becomes a door to the housing opening;

wherein said second wall terminates in a stop along said second wall farthest from said second wall edge, said stop extending from said second wall away from said second wall edge a distance so that said stop contacts the housing end from inside the housing when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into an open position whereby the battery compartment is prevented from pivoting entirely out of the housing by the contact of said stop with the housing end wall;

wherein said battery chamber outer wall has a curved outer surface defined by being equidistant from said means for pivoting; and

,

wherein the housing includes a retaining screw access hole aligned with said threaded recess in said support post and wherein said retaining screw has a sufficient length to allow said retaining screw to be placed through the retaining screw access hole so that said threaded end of said retaining screw is placed into contact with said threaded recess in said support post.

7. A battery compartment in combination with a housing having a housing end wall and a housing opening in the housing end wall, the battery compartment positioning batteries and providing electrical connection between the batteries and desired components within the housing, the battery compartment providing access to the batteries, the battery compartment comprising:

a) a first planar wall having a first wall edge and a perimeter generally conforming to the perimeter of said housing opening;

b) a second planar wall having a second wall edge wherein said second wall edge is connected to said first wall edge so that an angle is formed between said first wall and said second wall;

c) a curved outer wall extending between said first and second walls at a position distant from the angle formed between said walls, said curved outer wall being equidistant from the angle formed between said walls a first distance slightly less than a second distance from said angle formed between said walls and the boundary between the housing opening and the housing end wall farthest from said angle formed between said walls to provide a close fit between the battery compartment and the housing to prevent foreign objects from inadvertently entering the interior of the housing;

d) means, located in the angle formed between said first wall and said second wall and attached to either one or both of said first or second walls, for positioning batteries;

e) means for electrically connecting the batteries to the desired components; and

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f) means, located along the axis extending along both said first wall edge and said second wall edge, for pivoting the battery compartment into and out of the housing through the housing opening in the housing end wall, the battery compartment pivoting from an open position to a closed position.

8. The battery compartment of claim 7 wherein said first wall is substantially planar.

9. The battery compartment of claim 7 wherein said second wall is substantially planar.

10. The battery compartment of claim 7 wherein said means for electrically connecting the batteries is connected to said means for positioning batteries.

11. The battery compartment of claim 7 wherein said means for positioning batteries includes a battery chamber comprising:

a) a battery chamber side wall opposed to said first wall;

b) a battery chamber outer wall opposed to said second wall; and

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c) a battery chamber end wall attached at substantially a right angle to said first wall, said second wall, said battery chamber side wall and said battery chamber outer wall so that an enclosure for holding batteries is formed that is open only opposite said battery chamber end wall.

12. The battery compartment of claim 11 wherein said battery chamber outer wall has a curved outer surface defined by being equidistant from said means for pivoting.

13. The battery compartment of claim 7 further comprising means for securing the battery compartment in the closed position.

14. The battery compartment of claim 13 wherein said means for securing includes:

a) a retaining screw positioning plate located substantially parallel to and away from said second wall in the space between said first wall and said second wall, said second wall being open opposite said retaining screw positioning plate to define a support post chamber extending into the battery compartment from said second wall, said retaining screw positioning wall having a retaining screw hole extending therethrough;

b) a support post attached to the housing and extending into said support post chamber when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the housing into the closed position, said support post aligned with said retaining screw hole when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the closed position, said support post having a threaded recess directed away from the housing, said support post contacting said retaining screw positioning plate when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the closed position in the housing;

c) a retaining screw having a relatively narrow diameter threaded end and a relatively larger diameter body, said relatively narrow threaded end being selectively placeable through said retaining screw hole into threaded contact with said threaded recess in said support post,

whereby rotating said retaining screw into contact with said threaded recess brings said body of said retaining screw into secure contact with said retaining screw plate which is in turn brought into secure contact with said support post.

15. The battery compartment of claim 14 wherein the housing includes a retaining screw access hole aligned with said threaded recess in said support post and wherein said retaining screw has a sufficient length to allow said retaining screw to be placed through the retaining screw access hole so that said threaded end of said retaining screw is placed into contact with said threaded recess in said support post.

16. The battery compartment of claim 7 wherein said first wall terminates in a lip along said first wall farthest from said first wall edge, said lip extending from said first wall away from said first wall edge a distance so that said lip contacts the housing end wall near the housing opening when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into a closed position whereby said first wall becomes a door to the housing opening.

17. The battery compartment of claim 7 wherein said second wall terminates in a stop along said second wall farthest from said second wall edge, said stop extending from said second wall away from said second wall edge a distance so that said stop contacts the housing end from inside the housing when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into an open position whereby the battery compartment is prevented from pivoting entirely out of the housing by the contact of said stop with the housing end wall.

18. The battery compartment of claim 7 further comprising:

a) at least one electrical switch for controlling various operating parameters of the device contained within the housing;

b) means for attaching said switch to either said first wall or said second wall or both.

19. The battery compartment of claim 18 wherein said means for attaching said switch includes a switch compartment cover extending away from said second wall forming a switch compartment between said switch compartment cover and said means for positioning batteries.

20. The battery compartment of claim 19 wherein said switch compartment cover has a curved outer surface defined by being equidistant from said means for pivoting.

21. The battery compartment in combination with a housing having a housing end wall and a housing opening in the housing end wall, the battery compartment positioning batteries and providing electrical connection between the batteries and desired components, the battery compartment providing access to the batteries, the battery compartment comprising:

a) a substantially planar first wall having a first wall edge, said first wall terminating in a lip along said first wall farthest from said first wall edge, said lip extending from said first wall away from said first wall edge;

b) a substantially planar second wall having a second wall edge wherein said second wall edge is connected to said first wall edge so that an angle is formed between said first wall and said second wall, said second wall terminating in a stop along said second wall farthest from said second wall edge, said stop extending from said second wall away from said second wall edge;

c) a curved outer wall substantially extending between said first wall and second wall defined by being equidistant from where said first and second walls are connected a first distance slightly less than the distance from where said first and second walls are connected and the boundary between the housing opening and the housing end wall to provide a close fit between the battery compartment and the housing to prevent foreign objects from inadvertently entering the housing;

d) means, located in the angle formed between said first wall and said second wall and attached to either one or both of said first or second walls, for positioning batteries comprising;

i) a battery chamber side wall opposed to said first wall;

ii) a battery chamber outer wall opposed to said second wall; and

,

iii) a battery chamber end wall attached at substantially a right angle to said first wall, said second wall, said battery chamber side wall and said battery chamber outer wall so that an enclosure for holding batteries is formed that is open only opposite said battery chamber end wall;

e) means, connected to said means for positioning batteries, for electrically connecting the batteries to the desired components;

f) means, located along the axis extending along both said first wall edge and said second wall edge, for pivoting the battery compartment into and out of the housing through the housing opening in the housing end wall, the battery compartment pivoting from an open position to a closed position; and

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g) means for securing the battery compartment in the closed position;

wherein said lip extends from said first wall away from said first wall edge a distance so that said lip contacts the housing end wall near the housing opening when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting into the closed position whereby said first wall becomes a door to the housing opening; and

,

wherein said second wall terminates in a stop along said second wall farthest from said second wall edge, said stop extending from said second wall away from said second wall edge a distance so that said stop contacts the housing end from inside the housing when the battery compartment is pivoted by said means for pivoting entirely out of the housing by the contact of said stop with the housing end wall.