Modular battery package

• US 7,780,009 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casanova, Julio
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGAN, JENINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/789,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20050191544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 206461-471, 206/806, 206703-705
• US Class Current: 206/705
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/50 Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins apparatus or devices for forming pockets in or from sheets, blanks or webs B65B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/367 and forming several compartments
• 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

Abstract

A package for batteries comprising at least two separate modules and a cover placed over the at least two separate modules. Each module includes a base having a first face and a second face, with each module further including at least one pocket extending outwardly from the first face. Each pocket is configured and sized to accept a battery therein. Two of the at least two separate modules have the first faces thereof facing each other, with at least one pocket of a first one of the two of the at least two separate modules being located between a pair of pockets of a second one of the two of the at least two separate modules. The at least two separate modules are easily separated upon removal of the cover from over the at least two separate modules.

Claims

1. A battery package comprising:

at least two separate modules, each module including a base having a first face and a second face, each module further including at least one pocket extending outwardly from the first face;

at least one battery placed into each pocket; and

a cover placed over the at least two separate modules;

two of the at least two separate modules have the first faces thereof facing each other, with at least one pocket of a first one of the two of the at least two separate modules being located between a pair of pockets of a second one of the two of the at least two separate modules;

wherein the at least two separate modules will easily separate upon removal of the cover from over the at least two separate modules; and

wherein none of the modules are able to be removed from within the cover while the cover is over all of the at least two separate modules.

2. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

the at least two separate modules comprise at least three separate modules.

3. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each module includes a lid over the second face of the base.

4. The battery package of claim 3, wherein:

the lid is transparent.

5. The battery package of claim 3, wherein:

the base and the lid each include perforations between each of the pockets, whereby each pocket of each module can easily be separated from a remainder of the module by tearing the module along one of the perforations.

6. The battery package of claim 3, further including:

a card positioned over the lid and the second face of each module.

7. The battery package of claim 1, further including:

a card positioned over the second face of each module.

8. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each pocket includes a non-rotation feature for maintaining batteries in place therein in a selected rotated position.

9. The battery package of claim 8, wherein:

the non-rotation feature comprises at least one tab extending into the pocket, the at least one tab being configured to frictionally engage the battery placed within the pocket.

10. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each of the modules are identical.

11. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each module includes only four pockets.

12. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each module includes only five pockets.

13. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

every pocket on one of the at least two modules is identical.

14. The battery package of claim 13, wherein:

every pocket is identical.

15. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

at least two of the pockets have different configurations.

16. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

at least two of the batteries have different configurations.

17. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

at least one pocket includes batteries having a different configuration therein.

18. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each pocket includes more than one battery therein.

19. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each module includes perforations between each pocket.

20. The battery package of claim 1, wherein:

each module includes the pockets in a single row.

21. A battery package comprising:

at least two separate modules, each module including a base having a first face and a second face, each module further including at least one pocket extending outwardly from the first face;

at least one battery placed into each pocket; and

a cover placed over the at least two separate modules;

two of the at least two separate modules have the first faces thereof facing each other, with at least one pocket of a first one of the two of the at least two separate modules being located between a pair of pockets of a second one of the two of the at least two separate modules;

wherein the at least two separate modules will easily separate upon removal of the cover from over the at least two separate modules;

wherein the cover comprises shrink wrap plastic.

22. A method of packaging batteries comprising:

providing at least two separate modules, each module including a base having a first face and a second face, each module further including at least one pocket extending outwardly from the first face;

placing at least one battery in each pocket;

positioning the first face of at least two of the plurality of separate modules facing each other, with at least one pocket of a first one of the at least two of the at least two separate modules being located between a pair of pockets of a second one of the at least two of the at least two separate modules; and

placing a cover over the at least two separate modules;

wherein none of the modules are able to be removed from within the cover while the cover is over all of the at least two separate modules.

23. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, further including:

placing a lid over the second face of the base of each module.

24. The method of packaging batteries of claim 23, wherein:

the lid is transparent.

25. The method of packaging batteries of claim 23, further including:

making perforations in the base and the lid between each of the pockets, whereby each pocket of each module can easily be separated from a remainder of the module by tearing the module along one of the perforations.

26. The method of packaging batteries of claim 23, further including:

positioning a card over the lid and the second face of each module.

27. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, further including:

a card positioned over the second face of each module.

28. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, further including:

providing each pocket with a non-rotation feature; and

maintaining batteries in place in the pockets in a selected rotated position.

29. The method of packaging batteries of claim 28, wherein:

the non-rotation feature comprises at least one tab extending into the pocket, and further including frictionally engaging the battery placed within the pocket with the at least one tab.

30. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

each of the modules are identical.

31. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

each module includes only four pockets.

32. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

each module includes only five pockets.

33. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

every pocket on one of the at least two modules is identical.

34. The method of packaging batteries of claim 33, wherein:

every pocket is identical.

35. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

at least two of the pockets have different configurations.

36. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

at least two of the batteries have different configurations.

37. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

at least one pocket includes batteries having a different configuration therein.

38. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

each pocket includes more than one battery therein.

39. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, further including:

perforating each module between each pocket.

40. The method of packaging batteries of claim 22, wherein:

each module includes the pockets in a single row.

41. A method of packaging batteries comprising:

providing at least two separate modules, each module including a base having a first face and a second face, each module further including at least one pocket extending outwardly from the first face;

placing at least one battery in each pocket;

positioning the first face of at least two of the plurality of separate modules facing each other, with at least one pocket of a first one of the at least two of the at least two separate modules being located between a pair of pockets of a second one of the at least two of the at least two separate modules; and

placing a cover over the at least two separate modules;

wherein placing the cover comprises shrink wrapping plastic over the at least two separate modules.