Cordless alignment system having conveniently interchangeable batteries

• US 6,763,594 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SNAP Vision Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Foreman, Matthew Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, AMY COHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/137,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 332/031.8, 332/031.9, 332/032, 332/03, 332/86, 332/88, 33D/IG.21, 439/76.1, 439/147, 439/136, 429/96, 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 429/123
• US Class Current: 33/203.18
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/26 for testing wheel alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/28 Beam projector and related sensors, camera, inclinometer or other active sensing or projecting device
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1004 Measuring tapes without casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A cordless vehicle wheel alignment sensor head with interchangeable batteries includes easy to replace rechargeable batteries, thus eliminating the need for a service call to replace the batteries and allows the operator to swap a nearly depleted battery set with a fully or partially charged battery set. The sensor head includes a battery compartment door which slides upwards without pivoting about or detaching from the sensor head, and allows the batteries to pop out and be replaced. The battery compartment door also includes at least one battery engaging protrusion which presses against the battery at a non-contacting end of the rechargeable battery when the battery compartment door is closed. Accordingly, with the battery compartment door closed, the battery is tightly held in place and pressed into a pair of retractable pins that result in electrically coupling the battery to the sensor circuitry.

Claims

1. An alignment system comprising:

a sensor head including;

a battery compartment having an open end and enclosed end, the enclosed end having a printed circuit board and a retractable conductive pin such that when a battery is placed in the compartment and pressed against the retractable conductive pin, the battery becomes electrically coupled with the printed circuit board; and

a door slideably attached to the open end of the battery compartment, having an inward protrusion positioned such that when the door is closed, the protrusion engages with a first end of the battery causing the battery to securely remain in place.

2. The alignment system of claim 1, in which the protrusion presses against the first end of the battery.

3. The alignment system of claim 2, wherein one end of the battery has a battery cap.

4. The alignment system of claim 3, wherein the door slides on the battery compartment between open and closed positions.

5. The alignment system of claim 1, wherein the inward protrusion is molded on the inner surface of the door.

6. A sensor head comprising:

a sensor housing module; and

a battery compartment electrically coupled to the sensor housing module, the battery compartment configured for retaining at least one rechargeable battery that includes a battery cap;

a battery compartment door configured to slide on the compartment between open and closed positions, the battery compartment door having an inward protrusion, the protrusion positioned to press into a battery end when the battery compartment door is slid into the closed position; and

an interface board including one or more retractable pins to electrically couple the battery to the interface board when the battery is placed in the battery compartment and the battery compartment door is slid into the closed position.

7. The sensor head of claim 6, wherein one end of the battery has a ring-shaped cap.

8. The alignment system of claim 6, wherein the battery compartment door is slideably attached to the battery compartment and further comprises a door handle.

9. The alignment system of claim 6, wherein the battery compartment door is non-pivoting about or removable from the battery compartment.

10. The alignment system of claim 6, wherein the battery compartment door slides upwards into a cavity within the sensor housing module.

11. The alignment system of claim 6, wherein the inward protrusion of the battery compartment door is located at the inner surface of the battery compartment door such that when the battery compartment door is slid into the closed position, the protrusion presses into the non-contacting battery end and holds the battery firmly intact.

12. A battery compartment for housing a rechargeable battery for a cordless sensor comprising:

a battery housing having an open end and an enclosed end;

means fixedly attached to the enclosed end of the battery housing for electrically coupling the battery to the cordless sensor; and

a battery door slideably connected at the open end of the battery housing for engaging the battery and holding the battery securely in place inside the battery housing when the door is closed;

wherein the battery door has a protrusion such that when the battery door is closed, the protrusion presses against the battery so as to cause the battery to make electrical contact with the means for electrically coupling the battery to the sensor, and the protrusion does not form a path of current flow upon contact with the battery.

13. The battery compartment of claim 12, wherein the means for electrically coupling the battery to the sensor further comprises a first retractable pin to electrically connect to the positive terminal of the battery and a second retractable pin to electrically connect to the negative terminal of the battery.

14. The battery compartment of claim 13, wherein the battery door comprises a surface protrusion for pressing against the battery when the door is closed.

15. The battery compartment of claim 14, wherein the surface protrusion is molded on the inner surface of the battery door.

16. The battery compartment of claim 15, wherein the battery comprises a non-contacting end placed at the open end of the battery housing and a contacting end having a ring-shaped cap at the enclosed end of the battery housing, and the first pin contacts the battery inside the battery cap ring, and the second pin contacts the battery outside the battery cap ring.

17. The battery compartment of claim 16, wherein the battery door includes a handle.

18. A method of changing a rechargeable battery of a cordless alignment head that includes a battery compartment including a slideably attached door having an inward protrusion located at an inner surface of the battery door, comprising:

sliding the battery compartment door from a closed position to open position;

removing a battery stored in the battery compartment and replacing the battery with another battery;

sliding the battery compartment door from the open position to the closed position; and

pressing the inward protrusion against an exposed end of the battery such that the battery is substantially secured inside the battery compartment;

wherein the inward protrusion does not form a path of current flow upon contact with the battery.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising causing the battery to become electrically coupled to a circuit board.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sliding the battery compartment into a cavity of the alignment head to provide access to the battery.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising sliding the battery compartment door closed such that the protrusion presses against the battery and holds the battery substantially in place.

22. A cordless vehicle wheel alignment sensor head, comprising:

a main sensor body;

a battery compartment, electrically coupled to the main sensor body, including a battery compartment door with an inward protrusion; and

one or more rechargeable batteries electrically coupled to the battery compartment, the battery compartment being configured and arranged on the main sensor body such that the rechargeable batteries are accessible for replacement;

wherein;

the inward protrusion presses against the battery when the battery compartment door is closed, such that the one or more rechargeable batteries are substantially secured inside the battery compartment; and

the inward protrusion does not form a path of current flow upon contact with the one or more rechargeable batteries.

23. The cordless vehicle wheel alignment sensor head of claim 22, wherein the battery compartment includes a contact that electrically couples the one or more batteries to a battery interface printed circuit board.

24. The cordless vehicle wheel alignment sensor head of claim 23, wherein the battery compartment door slides into a cavity without detaching from the main sensor body.