Mechanism for assuring proper loading of battery packs in electronic equipment
First Claim
1. A battery loading system, comprisinga plurality of battery packs, each of said plurality of battery packs having a casing, each of said casings having a length extending in a longitudinal direction and a width extending in a first direction substantially transverse to said longitudinal direction;
- and a battery loading portion adapted to receive selected ones of said plurality of battery packs in an assembled position;
said battery loading portion in an assembly orientation having a length extending in said longitudinal direction and a width extending in said first direction, and including a receiving surface and a discrimination projection member protruding outwardly from said receiving surface, said discrimination projection member having a predetermined dimension extending in said first direction;
said casing of each of said plurality of battery packs having a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a discrimination recess disposed therein, said discrimination recess including a bottom surface formed with a discriminating groove located substantially on a width-wise centerline of said bottom surface of said discrimination recess, said discrimination projection member being insertable in said discrimination recess in said selected ones of said plurality of battery packs and not being insertable in said discrimination recess in a group of said battery packs other than selected ones such that only said selected ones of said plurality of battery packs are loadable in said assembled position on said battery loading portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery pack is positively prevented from being loaded in an incorrect manner in a battery loading portion inappropriate for the battery pack. To this end, the battery pack includes a battery cell, a casing housing this battery cell, and first to third output terminals outputting the power of the battery cell. The casing has a front surface on which the output terminals are arranged, and a bottom surface extending substantially at right angles to the front surface. A discriminating recess having a discriminating groove is formed at a mid portion of the bottom surface. The discriminating recess and/or discriminating groove are sized and positioned to receive the discriminating projections in some battery loading portions, but not those in other battery loading portions.
78 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A battery loading system, comprising
a plurality of battery packs, each of said plurality of battery packs having a casing, each of said casings having a length extending in a longitudinal direction and a width extending in a first direction substantially transverse to said longitudinal direction; - and
a battery loading portion adapted to receive selected ones of said plurality of battery packs in an assembled position;
said battery loading portion in an assembly orientation having a length extending in said longitudinal direction and a width extending in said first direction, and including a receiving surface and a discrimination projection member protruding outwardly from said receiving surface, said discrimination projection member having a predetermined dimension extending in said first direction;
said casing of each of said plurality of battery packs having a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a discrimination recess disposed therein, said discrimination recess including a bottom surface formed with a discriminating groove located substantially on a width-wise centerline of said bottom surface of said discrimination recess, said discrimination projection member being insertable in said discrimination recess in said selected ones of said plurality of battery packs and not being insertable in said discrimination recess in a group of said battery packs other than selected ones such that only said selected ones of said plurality of battery packs are loadable in said assembled position on said battery loading portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A power source loading system, comprising
a plurality of power sources; - and
a loading portion adapted to receive selected ones of said plurality of power sources and having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a first direction substantially transverse to said longitudinal direction, said loading portion including a first end, a receiving surface and a shaped member projecting outwardly from said receiving surface, said shaped member having a predetermined dimension in said first direction;
said plurality of power sources each having a bottom surface adapted to engage said receiving surface in an assembled position of said power source and said loading portion, and a recess formed in said bottom surface, said recess in said selected ones of said power sources in said assembled position having a dimension in said first direction greater than said predetermined dimension;
said recess in each of said plurality of power sources in an assembly orientation extending in said longitudinal direction between first and second ends; and
said shaped member being positioned between said first and second ends of said recess of one of said power sources in said assembled position indicating that said one of said power sources is one of said selected ones of said power sources suited to said loading portion, and said shaped member not being positioned between said first and second ends of said recess of another of said power sources indicating that said another of said power sources is not one of said selected ones of said power sources and is not suited to said loading portion.
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10. A battery pack, comprising:
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a casing having a front surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a length extending in a longitudinal direction and a width extending in a first direction orthogonal to said longitudinal direction;
a first discrimination recess formed in said bottom surface, said first discrimination recess extending in said longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end, said first discrimination recess having a bottom surface formed with a substantially rectangular first discrimination groove at substantially a width-wise centerline of said casing, said first discrimination groove having ends that co-terminate with said first and second ends of said first discrimination recess;
an output terminal arranged on said front surface of said casing; and
a battery cell contained in said casing, said battery cell having an output electrically connected to said output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification