Medical device having a side loading battery compartment

• US 6,549,423 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Brodnick, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E.
• Application Number:
  US09/683,076
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 361/798, 361/814, 361/726, 600/300, 600/509, 600/523, 600/386, 600/390, 128/903, 429/96, 429/98-100, 206/703-705
• US Class Current: 361/798
• 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: H05K 5/0095 hermetically-sealed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention provides an electronic device including a housing having a plurality of sidewalls defining a generally rectangular cavity within the housing to support therein a predetermined number of generally cylindrical batteries. One of the sidewalls defines an aperture extending through the sidewall and opening into the cavity. A support member is mounted in the housing and includes a support portion extending into the cavity to support inserted batteries in a position transverse to at least one of the sidewalls until all of the predetermined number of batteries are inserted into the cavity.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing including a plurality of sidewalls defining a generally rectangular cavity within the housing to support therein a plurality of generally cylindrical batteries, one of the sidewalls defining an aperture extending through the sidewall and opening into the cavity; and

a support member mounted in the housing and including a support portion extending into the cavity to support inserted batteries in a position transverse to at least one of the sidewalls until all of the batteries are inserted into the cavity.

2. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the aperture is a round aperture.

3. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a sealing member dimensioned to fit within the aperture to enclose and seal the cavity.

4. An electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sealing member includes a biasing member, the biasing member being supportable by the sealing member and being operable to compress at least one of the predetermined number of generally cylindrical batteries into the cavity.

5. An electronic device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the biasing member is electrically conductive for electrically connecting two of the predetermined number of generally cylindrical batteries.

6. An electronic device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a second sealing member supported by the housing, the second sealing member positionable around the aperture and being operable to create a water tight seal between the sealing member and the housing upon the sealing member enclosing the cavity.

7. An electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second sealing member is an O-ring.

8. An electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second sealing member is a gasket.

9. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support member is slidably mounted on the housing for movement between a first and second position.

10. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a track for supporting the support member for sliding movement between a first and second position.

11. An electronic device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the track is generally angled.

12. An electronic device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the track is generally straight.

13. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support member is electrically conductive for electrically connecting two of the plurality of generally cylindrical batteries.

14. An electronic device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a biasing member mounted in the housing and being operable to bias the support member between a first and second position.

15. A support member for supporting batteries in a battery pack having a generally rectangular housing, the support member comprising:

a base portion adapted to be slidably mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between first and second positions;

a lip connected to the base portion for at least partially supporting batteries in the housing at least temporarily in a position transverse to a sidewall of the housing;

a conducting member connected to the base portion; and

a spring assembly connected to the support member to bias the support member toward the first position.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a housing including a plurality of sidewalls defining a generally rectangular cavity within the housing to support therein a plurality of generally cylindrical batteries, one of the sidewalls defining a single generally round aperture extending through the sidewall and opening into the cavity;

a round sealing member dimensioned to fit within the aperture to enclose and seal the cavity; and

a support member, the support member mounted in the housing and including a support portion extending in the cavity to support inserted batteries in a position transverse to at least one of the sidewalls until all of the plurality of generally cylindrical batteries are inserted into the cavity.

17. An electronic device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the round sealing member includes a biasing member, the biasing member being supportable by the round sealing member and being operable to compress at least one of the plurality of generally cylindrical batteries into the cavity.

18. An electronic device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the biasing member is electrically conductive for electrically connecting two of the plurality of generally cylindrical batteries.

19. An electronic device as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a second sealing member supported by the housing, the second sealing member positionable around the round aperture and being operable to create a water tight seal between the round sealing member and the housing.

20. An electronic device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the support member is slidably mounted on the housing for movement between a first and second position.

21. An electronic device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the housing includes a track for supporting the support member for sliding movement between a first and second position.

22. An electronic device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the track is generally angled.

23. An electronic device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the track is generally straight.

24. An electronic device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the support member is electrically conductive for electrically connecting two of the plurality of generally cylindrical batteries.

25. An electronic device as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a biasing member mounted in the housing and being operable to bias the support member between a first and second position.