Zero insertion force battery receptacle
First Claim
1. In an electrical device adapted to be powered by batteries of the type having a battery contact at each end, a zero insertion force receptacle for said batteries comprising:
- a housing;
a battery storage area in said housing, said battery storage area being sized and shaped to receive a first one of said batteries therein through a battery storage area opening;
a battery cover sized and shaped to cover said battery storage area opening when said cover is placed in a closed position;
a first electrical contact mounted in said battery storage area in a position where it can make electrical contact with one of said battery contacts of said first battery when said first battery is inserted in said battery storage area;
a first movable electrical contact positioned in said battery storage area adjacent the other of said battery contacts of said first battery when said first battery is inserted in said battery storage area; and
an actuating mechanism mounted in said housing and coupled to said first movable contact, said actuating mechanism movable between a first position in which said actuating mechanism displaces said first movable contact against the other of said battery contacts, and a second position in which said actuating mechanism allows said first movable contact to be spaced apart from the other of said battery contacts, said actuating mechanism making contact with said cover to move said actuating mechanism from said second position to said first position as said cover is placed in its closed position whereby said first movable contact is spaced apart from the other of said battery contacts when said first battery is inserted in said battery storage area and said first movable contact is thereafter placed in contact with the other of said battery contacts as said cover is placed in its closed position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A zero insertion force receptacle for a battery powered device including a battery storage area having a pair of parallel battery cradles. A pair of stationary contacts are positioned at the first end of the cradles and a pivotable connector is positioned at the second end of the cradles. The pivotable connector includes a pair of actuator arms which are engaged by a shoulder on a removable cover as the cover is closed. The shoulder displaces the actuator arms and causes the pivotable connector to rotate about a pair of pivot pins to bring a pair of contact arms into engagement with the batteries. As the closing of the cover increases, the actuator arms are pivoted further about the pivot pins to increase the force between the contact arms and the batteries. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator arms are linked to the contact arms by spring sections. Because the pivotable connector includes a conductive path between the contact arms, the pivotable connector forms an electrical connection between the batteries.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an electrical device adapted to be powered by batteries of the type having a battery contact at each end, a zero insertion force receptacle for said batteries comprising:
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a housing; a battery storage area in said housing, said battery storage area being sized and shaped to receive a first one of said batteries therein through a battery storage area opening; a battery cover sized and shaped to cover said battery storage area opening when said cover is placed in a closed position; a first electrical contact mounted in said battery storage area in a position where it can make electrical contact with one of said battery contacts of said first battery when said first battery is inserted in said battery storage area; a first movable electrical contact positioned in said battery storage area adjacent the other of said battery contacts of said first battery when said first battery is inserted in said battery storage area; and an actuating mechanism mounted in said housing and coupled to said first movable contact, said actuating mechanism movable between a first position in which said actuating mechanism displaces said first movable contact against the other of said battery contacts, and a second position in which said actuating mechanism allows said first movable contact to be spaced apart from the other of said battery contacts, said actuating mechanism making contact with said cover to move said actuating mechanism from said second position to said first position as said cover is placed in its closed position whereby said first movable contact is spaced apart from the other of said battery contacts when said first battery is inserted in said battery storage area and said first movable contact is thereafter placed in contact with the other of said battery contacts as said cover is placed in its closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an electrical device adapted to be powered by batteries of the type having a negative terminal at a first end and a positive terminal at a second end, a zero insertion force receptacle for said batteries comprising:
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a battery storage area in said electrical device having a first end and a second end, said battery storage area being sized and shaped to receive a plurality of said batteries therein through a battery storage area opening and to hold a first one of said batteries adjacent and parallel to a second one of said batteries with said negative terminal of said first battery and said positive terminal of said second battery facing said first end of said battery storage area; a battery cover sized and shaped to cover said battery storage area opening when said cover is placed in a closed position; a first electrical contact mounted in said battery storage area in a position where it can make electrical contact with said negative terminal of said first battery when said batteries are inserted in said battery storage area; a second electrical contact mounted in said battery storage area in a position where it can make electrical contact with said positive terminal of said second battery when said batteries are inserted in said battery storage area; a pivotable connector mounted in said battery storage area and pivotable about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position; a first movable electrical contact carried by said pivotable connector and pivoting with said pivotable connector to contact said positive terminal of said first battery when said pivotable connector is in said first position and to disengage said positive terminal of said first battery when said pivotable connector is in said second position; and a second movable electrical contact electrically connected to said first movable contact and carried by said pivotable connector and pivoting with said pivotable connector to contact said negative terminal of said second battery when said pivotable connector is in said first position and to disengage said negative terminal of said second battery when said pivotable connector is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A pivotable connector for connecting adjacent batteries in a battery receptacle by pivoting about a pivot axis, the batteries being of a type having a terminal exposed at each end of the battery, comprising:
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an actuating lever intersecting said pivot axis at a first location and projecting away from said pivot axis in a first direction normal to the pivot axis; a first contact arm intersecting said pivot axis at a second location and coupled to pivot in correspondence with said actuating lever, said first contact arm projecting away from said pivot axis in a second direction normal to said pivot axis, said second direction being different from said first direction; a second contact arm coupled to pivot in correspondence with said actuating lever, said second contact arm intersecting said pivot axis at a third location spaced apart from said second location, said second contact arm projecting away from the pivot axis in said second direction; a first electrical contact carried by said first contact arm for contacting one of the terminals of a first one of the batteries; and a second electrical contact electrically connected to the first electrical contact and carried by said second contact arm for contacting one of the terminals of a second one of the batteries. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification