Battery vibration control apparatus

• US 6,319,053 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Andrews, Jonathan Neal, Cooper, Stephen V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/191,661
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 439/500, 439/247, 439/248, 320/112, 320/113, 429/96-100, 429/170
• US Class Current: 439/500
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A multi-axis restraining system for releasably restraining a battery pack installed in an instrument battery pocket such that the battery terminals and instrument contacts are rigidly secured to each other. The instrument contacts are loosely mounted within the instrument so that they may float, traveling with the battery pack in response to shocks and vibration. The present invention significantly eliminates relative motion between the battery terminals and instrument contacts, substantially eliminating welding and fretting of the contacts and terminals. The present invention is particularly beneficial in instruments such as defibrillators which require reliable and efficient use of the battery power.

Claims

1. A battery interface adapter for use in an instrument battery pocket for maintaining a constant electrical connection between non-snap battery pack terminals disposed on an end of a battery pack and instrument contacts located on a base of the battery interface adapter, said battery pack having elongate sides substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis thereof, opposing front and rear sides adjacent to said elongate sides, and a first recess in a surface of a first elongate side and said front side, said battery interface adapter, comprising:

a multi-axis restraining system that rigidly connects the battery interface adapter to the battery pack when the battery pack is installed within the battery pocket to substantially eliminate relative motion between said terminals and said contacts in a first and second lateral directions substantially orthogonal with respect to each other and with a longitudinal axis of the battery pack, wherein said multi-axis restraining system comprises a corresponding first protrusion extending from said battery interface adapter substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis and aligned with said first recess, said first recess and first protrusion constructed and arranged to prevent motion of the battery pack in said first lateral direction within a plane defined by said first protrusion; and

a biasing element disposed between a wall of the instrument battery pocket and the base of the battery interface adapter.

2. The battery interface adapter of claim 1,

wherein the battery pack further includes a second recess in a surface of a second elongate side substantially orthogonal to said first elongate side and said front side, and

wherein said multi-axis restraining system further comprises a corresponding second protrusion extending from said battery interface adapter substantially parallel with said longitudinal axial direction and aligned with said second recess, said second recess and second protrusion constructed and arranged to interoperate to prevent motion of the battery pack in said second lateral direction within a plane defined by said second protrusion.

3. The battery interface adapter of claim 1, wherein the battery pack further includes a third recess in a surface of a third elongate side substantially parallel to said first elongate side and said front side, wherein said multi-axis restraining system further comprises:

a corresponding third protrusion extending from said battery interface adapter substantially parallel with said longitudinal axial direction and aligned with said third recess, said third recess and third protrusion constructed and arranged to prevent motion of the battery pack in said first lateral direction within a plane defined by said third protrusion wherein a second terminal of the battery pack is disposed within said third recess and an associated instrument contact of said battery interface adapter is disposed on said corresponding third protrusion.

4. The battery interface adapter of claim 1, wherein said multi-axis restraining system further comprises:

an axial restraining system constructed and arranged to substantially eliminate relative motion between said terminals and said contacts along a longitudinal axis of the battery pack.

5. A battery interface adapter for use in an instrument battery pocket, comprising:

a base including a printed circuit board having traces terminating in instrument contacts;

a multi-axis restraining system that rigidly connects the instrument contacts to battery pack terminals when a battery pack is installed within the battery pocket to substantially eliminate relative motion between the battery pack terminals and the instrument contacts; and

opposing tracks secured in the instrument battery pocket that constrain the base by providing a limited range of movement in at least first and second lateral directions with respect to the instrument battery pocket.

6. A battery interface adapter for use in a battery pocket, the battery interface adapter, comprising:

a base having a plurality of instrument contacts to electrically couple a battery disposed within the battery pocket;

a plurality of opposing tracks defining a channel suitable for receiving the base, the opposing tracks serving as guides constraining movement of the base within the battery pocket;

a multi-axis restraining system; and

a means for biasing the base from a surface of the battery pocket wherein the battery interface adapter and a battery pack move as a unit when the battery pack is disposed within the battery pocket.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a printed circuit board electrically and mechanically coupled to an electrical instrument.

8. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the opposing tracks comprise a U-shaped cross section for receiving opposing edges of the base.

9. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

10. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the multi-axis restraining system comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to receive the battery pack.

11. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instrument contacts are secured to a plurality of protrusions arranged to electrically couple the battery pack to the base.