Battery holder

• US 6,421,885 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Encore Medical Asset Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Rehabilicare, Inc. (Compeq Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mowers, Charles T., Wingrove, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/397,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 24/31.2, 24/31.1, 241/82, 245/28, 224/668, 224/269, 224/272, 337/68, 337/69, 337/70
• US Class Current: 24/3.12
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip

Abstract

An assembly for use in a portable device casing to allow solderless electrical contact members to be used in cooperation with a power supply and components designed to be powered by the power supply.

Claims

1. A fully-retractable clip assembly for carrying a device, the clip assembly providing a clip that is fully retracted in a retracted position, the clip being usable as a clipping apparatus in an extended position, the clip assembly comprising:

a clip comprising a front portion and a back portion;

a means for attaching the clip to the device;

wherein the clip is movable between the retracted position and the extended position; and

wherein a locking mechanism to lock the clip comprises a tab and an indention for receiving the tab.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip is proportioned to associate with the device so that the clip does not protrude from the device in the retracted position.

3. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip is slidably movable between the retracted position and the extended position.

4. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the clip comprises a slot in the device.

5. The clip assembly of claim, 1 wherein the locking mechanism locks the clip in the extended position.

6. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the tab comprises a V-shape and the indentation comprises a groove.

7. The clip assembly of claim 8 wherein the clip comprises the tab and the device comprises the groove.

8. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a tab and a surface that abuts the tab.

9. The clip assembly of claim 8 wherein the tab is V-shaped and the surface is flat and not parallel to a portion of the clip supporting the V-shaped tab.

10. The clip assembly of claim 9 wherein the device comprises the surface and the clip comprises the V-shaped tab.

11. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip comprises a lip, said lip serving as a stop that prevents the removal of the clip from the device.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the device comprises a recess that accommodates the lip, whereby the lip does not protrude from the device.

13. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip comprises gripping protrusions.

14. The clip assembly of claim 13 wherein the gripping protrusions comprise at least one ridge.

15. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip comprises gussets.

16. The clip assembly of claim 1 made of a plastic material.

17. The clip assembly of claim 16 comprising high-impact polystyrene.

18. The clip assembly of claim 17 comprising high-impact polystyrene with fiberglass fill.

19. The clip assembly of claim 16 comprising ABS plastic.

20. A fully-retractable clip assembly for carrying a device, the clip assembly providing a clip that is fully retracted in a retracted position, the clip being usable as a clipping apparatus in an extended position, the clip assembly comprising:

a clip comprising a front portion and a back portion, wherein the clip is movable between the retracted position and the extended position;

a means for attaching the clip to the device;

means for facile assembly, wherein the assembly means comprises a slot in the device, the slot proportioned for receiving the clip, wherein the slot is proportioned so that only one portion of the clip may be passed through the slot; and

wherein the device comprises slide channels and the clip comprises slide ears, wherein the slide channels are proportioned to receive the slide ears, and wherein the slide ears, the slide channels, the slot, and the clip, are proportioned and positioned so that the clip may be inserted into the slot and repositioned so that the slide ears engage the slide channels.

21. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein the slide ears, the slide channels, the slot, and the clip, are proportioned and positioned so that the clip may be inserted into the slot and rotated approximately ninety degrees so that the slide ears engage the slide channels.