Battery holder

• US 6,806,681 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zpower, Inc. (ZPower, LLC)
• Original Assignee: ZINC Matrix Power Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheiky, Michael, Nimocks, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/136,793
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 429/7, 429/27, 429/96-100, 429/123, 361/380-399, 396/277-278, 396/439, 396/535, 396/539, 396/301, 348/372
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/26 Power supplies; Circuitry or arrangement to switch on the power source; Circuitry to check the power source voltage

Abstract

An increased capacity battery holder, which allows a device to be used for a longer time duration than can be achieved from solely internally contained batteries, capable of providing additional energy to the device, beyond internal space and volume limitations of the device, having additional battery holding capacity external to the device, with the additional battery holding capacity self contained within the battery holder. The battery holder provides maximum energy output, a portion of the battery holder being matingly removably attachable and optionally removably lockable to the device. The battery holder is safe, of simple construction, easy to install and remove therefrom the device, acts as an additional means for holding and/or handling the device, and is capable of forming an integral assembly with the device. The battery holder has means for preventing inadvertent shorting and/or reversing polarity of the batteries, and optionally recharging means for recharging the batteries.

Claims

1. A camera battery holder for use with a camera having a battery compartment having an exterior wall, comprising:

a first battery pack;

a second battery pack; and

a base adjoining said first battery pack and said second battery pack;

said first battery pack configured to be removably inserted into said battery compartment with said second battery pack exterior to said camera;

said first battery pack and said second battery pack substantially parallel one to the other, having a gap therebetween, and configured to removably receive said exterior wall therebetween.

2. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said camera has at least one latch and said camera battery holder has at least one latching tab configured to have said at least one latch releasably hold thereto and releasably lock said camera battery holder and said camera one to the other.

3. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said camera has at least one spring loaded latch and said camera battery holder has at least one latching tab configured to force said at least one spring loaded latch about said at least one latching tab, releasably holding said spring loaded latch to said at least one latching tab and releasably locking said camera battery holder and said camera one to the other.

4. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said camera battery holder has an interlock switch, which connects said first battery pack and said second battery pack to the battery terminals of said camera battery holder when said first battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment, and disconnects said first battery pack and said second battery back from said battery terminals when said first battery pack is removed from said battery compartment.

5. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said camera battery holder has an interlock switch, which connects said first battery pack and said second battery pack to the battery terminals of said camera battery holder when said interlock switch contacts said wall, and disconnects said first battery pack and said second battery back from said battery terminals when said interlock switch is out of contact with said wall.

6. The camera battery holder according to claim 5, wherein said interlock switch comprises a hinged switch leaf control.

7. The camera battery holder according to claim 6, wherein said first battery pack has a first notch and said second battery pack has a second notch, said first notch and said second notch adjacent said base, said hinged switch leaf control within and extending between said first notch and said second notch.

8. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack and said second battery pack are connected in parallel.

9. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack and said second battery pack are connected in series.

10. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack has at least two batteries and said second battery pack has at least two batteries, said first battery pack batteries connected in parallel and said second battery pack batteries connected in parallel.

11. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack has at least two batteries and said second battery pack has at least two batteries, said first battery pack batteries connected in series and said second battery pack batteries connected in series.

12. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack has battery terminals.

13. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said second battery pack has battery charging sense terminals.

14. The camera battery holder according to claim 12, wherein said second battery pack has battery charging sense terminals.

15. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said camera battery holder has a battery circuit, battery terminals, and battery charging sense terminals, said camera battery holder has at least one fuse connected between said battery circuit and at least one of said battery charging sense terminals.

16. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said second battery pack is adjacent the bottom of said camera, when said first battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment.

17. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said second battery pack is adjacent a side of said camera, when said first battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment.

18. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said second battery pack is adjacent the front of said camera, when said first battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment.

19. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack is configured to be matingly inserted into said battery compartment.

20. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack has at least one keyed notch configured to facilitate matingly inserting said first battery pack into said battery compartment.

21. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said first battery pack and said second battery pack matingly receive said exterior wall therebetween.

22. The camera battery holder according to claim 19, wherein said first battery pack and said second battery pack matingly receive said exterior wall therebetween.

23. The camera battery holder according to claim 1, wherein said camera battery holder is constructed of materials from the group consisting of metals, thermoplastics, thermosetting polymers, and rubber.

24. A camera battery holder for use with a camera having a battery compartment having an exterior wall and at least one latch, comprising:

a first battery pack;

a second battery pack; and

a base adjoining said first battery pack and said second battery pack;

said first battery pack configured to be removably inserted into said battery compartment with said second battery pack exterior to said camera;

said first battery pack and said second battery pack substantially parallel one to the other, having a gap therebetween, and configured to removably receive said exterior wall therebetween;

at least one latching tab configured to have said at least one latch releasably hold thereto and releasably lock said camera battery holder and said camera one to the other;

an interlock switch, which connects said first battery pack and said second battery pack to the battery terminals of said camera battery holder when said first battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment, and disconnects said first battery pack and said second battery back from said battery terminals when said first battery pack is removed from said battery compartment.

25. The camera battery holder according to claim 24, wherein said first battery pack and said second battery pack matingly receive said exterior wall therebetween.

26. A camera battery holder for use with a camera having a battery compartment having an exterior wall and at least one spring loaded latch, comprising:

a first battery pack;

a second battery pack; and

a base adjoining said first battery pack and said second battery pack;

said first battery pack configured to be removably inserted into said battery compartment with said second battery pack exterior to said camera;

said first battery pack and said second battery pack substantially parallel one to the other, having a gap therebetween, and configured to removably matingly receive said exterior wall therebetween;

at least one latching tab configured to force said at least one spring loaded latch about said at least one latching tab, releasably holding said spring loaded latch to said at least one latching tab and releasably locking said camera battery holder and said camera one to the other;

an interlock switch, which connects said first battery pack and said second battery pack to the battery terminals of said camera battery holder when said interlock switch contacts said wall, and disconnects said first battery pack and said second battery back from said battery terminals when said interlock switch is out of contact with said wall.

27. The camera battery holder according to claim 26, wherein said interlock switch comprises a hinged switch leaf control, said first battery pack has a first notch and said second battery pack has a second notch, said first notch and said second notch adjacent said base, said hinged switch leaf control within and extending between said first notch and said second notch.