Structure of terminal for coin-shaped battery

• US 5,931,693 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ta, Tho Dac
• Application Number:
  US08/966,191
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 439/500, 439/38, 439/39, 439/40, 439/627, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100
• US Class Current: 439/500
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2492 multiple contact points
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An improved terminal apparatus is provided for electrical connections to a coin-shaped battery of a kind which may be employed in portable electronic equipment. The terminal apparatus includes a positive terminal plate for engaging a side surface (i.e., a positive electrode) of the coin-shaped battery and a negative terminal plate for engaging the bottom (i.e., a negative electrode) of the battery. The positive terminal plate is geometrically oriented so as to establish constant engagement with the side surface of the battery when placed in a battery holder. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positive terminal plate is made of a spring member and is curved toward the battery holder to elastically urge the side surface of the battery for constant engagement therewith. Alternatively, the positive terminal plate includes a hook portion engaging the side surface of the battery when placed in the battery holder. Further, the positive terminal plate has formed thereon a magnetized portion for attracting the side surface of the battery when placed in the battery holder for establishing constant engagement therewith.

Claims

1. A terminal apparatus for electrical connections to a coin-shaped battery comprising:

a battery holder having a substantially semi-circular inner wall that defines an opening in which the coin-shaped battery is received with a side surface thereof in engagement with the semi-circular inner wall;

a single first terminal plate for establishing engagement with the side surface of the coin-shaped battery;

a second terminal plate for establishing engagement with a bottom of the coin-shaped battery;

a first hook portion provided on said first terminal plate for producing a bias which urges a first portion of the coin-shaped battery toward said second terminal plate; and

a second hook portion provided on said first terminal plate so as to face the semi-circular inner wall of said battery holder, said second hook portion producing a bias which urges the side surface of the coin-shaped battery into constant engagement with the semi-circular inner wall of said battery holder.

2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first hook portion is oriented at a given angle to said first terminal plate for making a connection to the first portion of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery when placed on said second terminal plate, and wherein said second hook portion is oriented at a given angle to said first terminal plate for making a connection to the second portion of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery.

3. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetized portion formed on a portion of said first terminal plate for attracting the side surface of the coin-shaped battery to establish constant engagement therewith.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first portion of the coin-shaped battery is an upper corner thereof, and the second portion of the coin-shaped battery is a side surface thereof.

5. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first terminal plate has a given length to form a stationary end portion and a movable end portion opposite the stationary end portion, the movable end portion being provided for making an electrical connection to the side surface of the coin-shaped battery, and

said first hook portion is provided on the movable end portion and has elasticity to urge the first portion of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery toward the second terminal plate, said second hook portion being provided on the movable end portion and having elasticity to urge the second portion of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery in a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness of the coin-shaped battery.

6. The terminal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the inner wall of said battery holder engages a first area of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery when placed on said second terminal plate, and

said second hook portion is formed so as to urge the second portion defined on a second area of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery opposite the first area.

7. The terminal apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a stopper urging the side surface of the coin-shaped battery toward the inner wall of said battery holder.

8. The terminal apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a stopper restricting movement of the movable end portion of said first terminal plate in a direction away from the side surface of the coin-shaped battery when the coin-shaped battery engages the movable end portion.

9. A terminal apparatus for electrical connections to a coin-shaped battery comprising:

a battery holder having a substantially semi-circular inner wall that defines an opening in which the coin-shaped battery is received in a manner wherein the semi-circular inner wall engages a first portion of a side surface of the coin-shaped battery;

a single first terminal plate having an end portion which is curved so as to be contoured to a second portion of the side surface of the coin-shaped battery which is out of engagement with the semi-circular inner wall, and which establishes engagement with the side surface of the coin-shaped battery;

a second terminal plate for establishing engagement with a bottom of the coin-shaped battery;

a first hook portion provided on the end portion of said first terminal plate for biasing a first portion of the coin-shaped battery toward said second terminal plate; and

a second hook portion provided on the end portion of said first terminal plate so as to face the semi-circular inner wall of said battery holder, said second hook portion biasing a second portion of the coin-shaped battery into constant engagement with the semi-circular inner wall of said battery holder.

10. A terminal apparatus for electrical connections to a coin-shaped battery comprising:

a battery holder having a substantially semi-circular inner wall defining an opening for receiving the battery in a manner wherein a portion of a peripheral side wall of the battery is in engagement with the semi-circular inner wall;

a single first terminal strip for establishing engagement with the peripheral side wall of the battery, said first terminal strip having a length facing the peripheral side wall of the battery;

a second terminal plate for establishing engagement with a lower surface of the battery;

a first hook portion extending from an upper portion of said first terminal strip, said first hook portion engaging an upper edge portion of the peripheral side wall and producing a spring bias urging the upper edge portion toward the second terminal plate; and

a second hook portion extending from a lower portion of said first terminal strip, said second hook portion engaging a lower edge portion of the side wall and producing a spring bias urging the lower edge portion of the peripheral side wall of the battery toward the semi-circular inner wall.

11. The terminal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said first terminal plate has a stationary end portion and a movable end portion, the movable end portion establishing an electrical connection with the peripheral side wall of the battery, said first hook portion is provided on a free end of the movable end portion and has elasticity to urge the upper edge portion of the peripheral side wall of the battery toward the second terminal plate, and

said second hook portion is also provided on the movable free end of the movable end portion and has elasticity to urge the lower edge portion of the peripheral side wall of the battery in a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness of the battery.

12. The terminal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said first hook portion is oriented at a first given angle with respect to said first terminal plate for making a connection with the upper edge portion of the side wall of battery when the battery is seated on said second terminal plate, and wherein said second hook portion is oriented at a second given angle with respect to said first terminal plate for making a connection with the lower edge portion of the side wall of the battery.

13. The terminal apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a magnetized portion formed on a portion of said first terminal plate which is located below and adjacent said first hook portion, for attracting the side wall of the battery and for establishing constant engagement between the battery and said first terminal plate.

14. The terminal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the inner wall of said battery holder engages a first area portion of the side wall of the battery when seated on said second terminal plate, and

said second hook portion engages a lower edge portion of a second area portion of the peripheral wall which is diametrically opposite the first area portion.

15. The terminal apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a first stopper for engaging the side wall of the battery and for urging the battery toward the inner wall of said battery holder.

16. The terminal apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a second stopper for engaging and restricting movement of the free end of said first terminal plate away from the side wall of the battery when the battery engages the movable end portion.