Latching mechanism for removable cell battery pack

• US 6,225,777 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garcia, Jorge L., Crawford, Christopher D., Hooks, Larry K. Jr., Dzung, Danielle P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/578,364
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, D13/103, 429/97, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/112
• 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: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A latching mechanism is provided. The latching mechanism includes a first member (2) having a first catch (4) and lateral catches (6), and a second member (1) having a notch (7) and lateral catches (8). In a first position, the first catch of the first member engages the notch of the second member. In a second position, the lateral catches of the first member engage the lateral catches of the second member. Further, when in the first position, the first catch and the notch are disengaged by squeezing one of the members at lateral points while sliding the members relative to one another until the lateral catches are engaged and the members are in the second position. Also provided is a battery pack (1, 2) having such a latching mechanism. Additionally, there is provided an electronic device that includes an operational unit (3), a tray (2) for holding battery cells, and a cover (1). The tray is removably coupled to the operational unit, and the cover is removably coupled to the tray. In an operating position, the operational unit is latched to the tray, and the cover is latched to the tray. The cover can be slid from the operating position to a maintenance position in which the cover and tray are coupled together so that either the tray and cover can be removed from the operational unit together, or the cover can be slid further and removed from the tray while the tray remains latched to the operational unit.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism for use with an electronic device, said latching mechanism comprising:

a first member having a first catch; and

a second member having a notch corresponding in position to the first catch of the first member,

wherein in a first position, the first catch of the first member engages the notch of the second member,

the second member has a region forming an orifice such that the second member overlaps the first member and an end portion of the electronic device in the first position so as to prevent the electronic device and the first and second members from being separated, and

when in the first position, the first catch and the notch are disengaged by squeezing one of the first and second members at lateral points while sliding the members relative to one another until the members are in a second position.

2. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein in the second position, the second member does not overlap the end portion of the electronic device so as to allow the electronic device to be separated from the first and second members.

3. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein in the second position, either the first member and the second member can be removed from the electronic device together, or the second member can be removed from the first member while the first member remains latched to the electronic device.

4. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 1,

wherein the first member also includes lateral catches,

the second member also includes lateral catches corresponding in position to the lateral catches of the first member, and

in the second position, the lateral catches of the first member engage the lateral catches of the second member.

5. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein when in the second position, the lateral catches are disengaged by ceasing squeezing of the one member and applying a sufficient force to allow the lateral catches of the first and second members to slide past one another.

6. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein in the second position, the lateral catches of the first and second members engage one another to resist movement of the second member in one direction relative to the first member, and the first catch of the first member provides resistance against the second member to resist movement of the second member in an opposite direction relative to the first member.

7. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 6, wherein the first member slides inside the second member, and the lateral catches of the first member point outward and the lateral catches of the second member point inward.

8. The latching mechanism as defined in claim 1,

wherein the second member is constructed of a flexible material, and

squeezing the second member at points lateral to the notch causes the second member to bow outward away from the first catch in order to disengage the first catch and the notch.

9. A battery pack for an electronic device, said battery pack comprising:

a tray having one portion of a first snap and lateral catches; and

a cover having a corresponding portion of the first snap and lateral catches corresponding in position to the lateral catches of the tray,

wherein in a first position, the first snap is engaged such that the portion of the first snap of the tray engages the portion of the first snap of the cover,

in a second position, the lateral catches of the tray engage the lateral catches of the cover, and

when in the first position, the first snap is disengaged by squeezing the cover at lateral points while sliding the cover relative to the tray until the lateral catches are engaged and the tray and cover are in the second position.

10. The battery pack as defined in claim 9, wherein when in the second position, the lateral catches are disengaged by ceasing squeezing of the cover and applying a sufficient force to allow the lateral catches of the cover and tray to slide past one another.

11. The battery pack as defined in claim 9, wherein in the second position, the lateral catches of the cover and tray engage one another to resist movement of the cover in one direction relative to the tray, and the portion of the first snap of the tray provides resistance against the cover to resist movement of the cover in an opposite direction relative to the tray.

12. The battery pack as defined in claim 11, wherein the tray slides inside the cover, and the lateral catches of the tray point outward and the lateral catches of the cover point inward.

13. The battery pack as defined in claim 9, wherein the tray holds battery cells and routes electricity to the electronic device.

14. The battery pack as defined in claim 9, wherein the cover has a region forming an orifice such that the cover overlaps the tray and an end portion of the electronic device in the first position so as to prevent the electronic device and battery pack from being separated.

15. The battery pack as defined in claim 14, wherein in the second position, the cover does not overlap the electronic device so as to allow the electronic device to be separated from the battery pack.

16. The battery pack as defined in claim 15, wherein in the second position, either the tray and cover can be removed from the electronic device together, or the cover can be removed from the tray while the tray remains latched to the electronic device.

17. An electronic device comprising:

an operational unit;

a tray for holding battery cells, the tray being removably coupled to the operational unit; and

a cover removably coupled to the tray,

wherein in an operating position, the operational unit is latched to the tray, and the cover is latched to the tray,

the cover can be slid from the operating position to a maintenance position, and

in the maintenance position, the cover and tray are coupled together so that either the tray and cover can be removed from the operational unit together, or the cover can be slid further and removed from the tray while the tray remains latched to the operational unit.

18. The electronic device as defined in claim 17, wherein the cover has a region forming an orifice such that the cover overlaps the tray and an end portion of the operational unit in the operating position so as to prevent the operational unit, tray, and cover from being separated.

19. The electronic device as defined in claim 18, wherein in the maintenance position, the cover does not overlap the operational unit so as to allow the operational unit to be separated from the battery pack.

20. The electronic device as defined in claim 17,

wherein the tray has one portion of a first snap and lateral catches,

the cover has a corresponding portion of the first snap and lateral catches corresponding in position to the lateral catches of the tray,

in the operating position, the first snap is engaged such that the portion of the first snap of the tray engages the portion of the first snap of the cover, and

in the maintenance position, the lateral catches of the tray engage the lateral catches of the cover.

21. The electronic device as defined in claim 20, wherein when in the operating position, the first snap is disengaged by squeezing the cover at lateral points while sliding the cover relative to the tray until the lateral catches are engaged and the tray and cover are in the maintenance position.

22. The electronic device as defined in claim 21, wherein when in the maintenance position, the lateral catches are disengaged by ceasing squeezing of the cover and applying a sufficient force to allow the lateral catches of the cover and tray to slide past one another.

23. The electronic device as defined in claim 17, wherein the operational unit is a portable two-way communication device.