Remote battery extension apparatus

• US 5,876,242 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hugh D. Williams
• Original Assignee: Hugh D. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Hugh D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANDIG, BARRY
• Application Number:
  US08/897,640
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/500, 439/501, 439/502, 439/504, 439/518, 439/581, 439/391, 429/98
• US Class Current: 439/500
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Extension apparatus for locating a battery remotely from an appliance, and accessibly. An extension cord has male and female terminals at each end. Each end has one female terminal and one male terminal. The terminals connected to the appliance are either snap fit terminals or coaxial terminals. At one end, the terminals correspond to those of the battery. At the other end, they manually connect to wiring terminals compatible with the battery terminals. The extension cord may terminate in a "dummy" battery, so that it occupies and is stably retained in the battery compartment of the appliance when connected to the appliance wiring. A battery enclosure stores a battery for powering the appliance and accepts penetration of the extension cord for internal connection to the battery. Terminals of the extension cord at the battery enclosure are snap fit terminals. The battery enclosure preferably has internal spool structure for winding and storing excess length of the extension cord. Optionally, the battery enclosure has a push-to-test momentary contact pushbutton.

Claims

1. Battery extension apparatus for connecting an appliance to a battery remotely located from the appliance, said battery extension apparatus comprising an extension cord readily insertable serially between the appliance and the battery, said extension cord comprising:

a first conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, a first male snap terminal disposed at said proximal end of said first conductor, and a first female snap terminal disposed at said distal end of said first conductor; and

a second conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, a second male snap terminal disposed at said distal end of said second conductor, and a second female snap terminal disposed at said proximal end of said second conductor,

said first conductor and said second conductor each exceeding six feet in length.

2. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 1, said first conductor further comprising a substantially rigid first plate connected thereto at said proximal end of said first conductor and said second conductor, said first male snap terminal and said second female snap terminal mounted on said first plate and arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation to one another.

3. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 2, said first conductor further comprising a substantially rigid second plate connected thereto at said distal end of said first conductor and said second conductor, said second male snap terminal and said first female snap terminal mounted on said second plate and arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation to one another.

4. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 1, said extension cord further comprising an anchorage member forming a parallelepiped disposed at said proximal end of said first conductor and at said proximal end of said second conductor, said first rigid plate joined to said anchorage member, whereby said anchorage member occupies battery holding structure formed in the appliance, thereby stably securing said first male snap terminal and said first female snap terminal within the appliance.

5. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a battery enclosure having lateral walls, a cover, an opening for admitting passage of said extension cord into said battery enclosure, and structure for surroundingly retaining a battery cell within said battery enclosure, whereby a battery cell may be stored within said battery enclosure and simultaneously connected to said extension cord.

6. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 5, said battery enclosure further comprising spool structure disposed within and fixed to said battery enclosure, for windingly storing excess length of said extension cord within said battery enclosure.

7. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 5, said battery enclosure further comprising a momentary contact pushbutton accessible from the exterior of said battery enclosure, and

said extension cord further comprising a third conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, and a distal end, and a fourth conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said third conductor and said distal end of said fourth conductor operably connected to said momentary contact pushbutton, whereby remote testing of the appliance is enabled when said proximal end of said third conductor and said proximal end of said fourth conductor are connected into a testing circuit of the appliance.

8. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 5, said battery enclosure and said cover further including attachment structure for manually and removably attaching said cover to said battery enclosure, whereby said extension cord and said lateral walls of said battery enclosure may remain undisturbed when the battery is being renewed.

9. Battery extension apparatus for connecting an appliance to a battery remotely located from the appliance, said battery extension apparatus comprising an extension cord readily insertable serially between the appliance and the battery, said extension cord comprising:

a first conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, a male coaxial terminal disposed at said proximal end of said first conductor, and a female snap terminal disposed at said distal end of said first conductor; and

a second conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, a male snap terminal disposed at said distal end of said second conductor, and a female coaxial terminal disposed at said proximal end of said second conductor coaxially with respect to said male coaxial terminal,

said first conductor and said second conductor each exceeding six feet in length.

10. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a battery enclosure having lateral walls, a cover, an opening for admitting passage of said extension cord into said battery enclosure, and structure for surroundingly retaining a battery cell within said battery enclosure, whereby a battery cell may be stored within said battery enclosure and simultaneously connected to said extension cord.

11. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 9, said battery enclosure further comprising spool structure disposed within and fixed to said battery enclosure, for windingly storing excess length of said extension cord within said battery enclosure.

12. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 9, said battery enclosure further comprising a momentary contact pushbutton accessible from the exterior of said battery enclosure, and

said extension cord further comprising a third conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, and a distal end, and a fourth conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said third conductor and said distal end of said fourth conductor operably connected to said momentary contact pushbutton, whereby remote testing of the appliance is enabled when said proximal end of said third conductor and said proximal end of said fourth conductor are connected into a testing circuit of the appliance.

13. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 9, said battery enclosure and said cover further including attachment structure for manually and removably attaching said cover to said battery enclosure, whereby said extension cord and said lateral walls of said battery enclosure may remain undisturbed when the battery is being renewed.

14. Battery extension apparatus for connecting an appliance to a battery remotely located from the appliance, said battery extension apparatus comprising

an extension cord readily insertable serially between the appliance and the battery, having

a first conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, a first male terminal disposed at said proximal end of said first conductor, and a first female terminal disposed at said distal end of said first conductor, and

a second conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, a second male terminal disposed at said distal end of said second conductor, and a second female terminal disposed at said proximal end of said second conductor, said first conductor and said second conductor each exceeding six feet in length;

and

a battery enclosure having lateral walls, a cover, an opening for admitting passage of said extension cord into said battery enclosure, and structure for surroundingly retaining a battery cell within said battery enclosure, whereby a battery cell may be stored within said battery enclosure and simultaneously connected to said extension cord.

15. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 14, said battery enclosure further comprising spool structure disposed within and fixed to said battery enclosure, for windingly storing excess length of said extension cord within said battery enclosure.

16. Thle battery extension apparatus according to claim 14, said battery enclosure further comprising a momentary contact pushbutton accessible from the exterior of said battery enclosure, and

said extension cord further comprising a third conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, and a distal end, and a fourth conductor having an insulation jacket, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said third conductor and said distal end of said fourth conductor operably connected to said momentary contact pushbutton, whereby remote testing of the appliance is enabled when said proximal end of said third conductor and said proximal end of said fourth conductor are connected into a testing circuit of the appliance.

17. The battery extension apparatus according to claim 14, said battery enclosure and said cover further including attachment structure for manually and removably attaching said cover to said battery enclosure, whereby said extension cord and said lateral walls of said battery enclosure may remain undisturbed when the battery is being renewed.