Auxiliary power source device for portable electronic instrument

• US 6,221,526 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tanishita Industries Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tanishita Industries Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanishita, Isamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERSTEEG, STEVEN H
• Application Number:
  US09/262,294
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96, 429/97, 429/123, 429/179, 429/121, 429/178
• US Class Current: 429/123
• 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: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An auxiliary power source device for a portable electronic instrument is formed of a main body, an attaching terminal disposed, at one side of the main body, which is detachably fitted into an external connection terminal of the portable electronic instrument to provide electricity to the same, a battery disposed in the main body and connected to the attaching terminal, and an elastic engaging member disposed at a side portion of the attaching terminal. When the attaching terminal is fitted into the external connection terminal, the engaging member is engaged with an inner wall of the external connection terminal by an elastic force of the engaging member. In case a battery of the portable electronic instrument is dead, the auxiliary power source device can be securely connected to the portable electronic instrument by an easy operation, so that the battery of the portable electronic instrument can be charged, or the portable electronic instrument can be used immediately. Also, the auxiliary power source device can be detached easily after use.

Claims

1. An auxiliary power source device for a portable electronic instrument, comprising:

a main body,

an attaching terminal projecting outwardly from one side of the main body and adapted to be freely detachably fitted into an external connection terminal of the portable electronic instrument to provide electricity to the same, said attaching terminal having an outer side portion, and at least one concave groove formed at the outer side portion of the attaching terminal,

a battery disposed in the main body and connected to the attaching terminal, and

an engaging member having a base plate with a front end disposed in the at least one concave groove formed at the outer side portion of the attaching, terminal and a holding member attached to the front end of the base plate and disposed over the base plate to have a space at a free end, thereof relative to the base plate, said holding member projecting laterally outwardly from the attaching terminal and having a resiliency so that when the attaching terminal is fitted into the external connection terminal, the holding member decreases a projecting amount from the base plate and engages an inner wall of the external connection terminal by virtue of the resiliency of the engaging member to thereby firmly connect the attaching terminal to the portable electronic instrument.

2. An auxiliary power source device according to claim 1, wherein said engaging member is disposed to be able to project from and retract in the concave groove.

3. An auxiliary power source device according to claim 1, further comprising a luminous member disposed at an exterior of the main body and connected to the battery, and a switch connected between the luminous member and the battery.

4. An auxiliary power source device according to claim 1, wherein two engaging members are provided at side portions of the attaching terminal.

5. An auxiliary power source device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover for detachably covering the attaching terminal disposed at an upper portion of the main body.

6. An auxiliary power source device according to claim 1, wherein said main body has an upper surface, said attaching terminal being smaller than the upper surface of the main body and extending outwardly therefrom, two engaging members being provided at two opposite sides of the attaching terminal so that the auxiliary power source and the portable electronic instrument are fixed together by resiliencies of the holding members of the two engaging members without clamping means.