Use extender device

• US 8,343,670 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Peter F., Weinstein, Nir, Librus, Michael, Moore, William J., Toye, Russell H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S
• Application Number:
  US12/508,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20100190040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 429/407
• US Class Current: 429/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The use extender device (100) and method (700) thereof is provided, wherein the device (100) includes a housing (102) with a top cover (108) having a back side wall, front side wall, and lateral side walls. The device (100) further includes a bottom cover (106) operably attached to the top cover (108), and a battery cavity (130). The housing (102) can also include a circuit board cavity (116) defined by at least one of the top cover (108) and the bottom cover (106), a closing mechanism (114) attached to the top cover (108) and removably attaching the top cover (108) to the bottom cover (106), such that the battery cavity (130) is accessible, and at least one aperture (110) defined by at least one of the top cover (108) and bottom cover (106), wherein air flow into the battery cavity (130) is regulated by the aperture (110).

Claims

1. A use extender device for supplying power to a separate electronic device, said use extender device comprising:

a housing comprising;

a top cover having a back side wall, front side wall, and lateral side walls;

a bottom cover operably attached to the back side wall of the top cover;

a battery cavity defined by the top cover and the bottom cover;

a circuit board cavity defined by at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover, wherein the circuit board cavity is adapted to receive a circuit board;

a closing mechanism attached to the top cover and removably attaching the top cover to the bottom cover, such that the battery cavity is accessible; and

at least one aperture, wherein air flow into the battery cavity is regulated by the at least one aperture;

a fluid consuming battery in the battery cavity, wherein the fluid is air and the at least one aperture in the housing regulates a flow of air into the fluid consuming battery;

a connector, coupled to the housing, that is capable of electrically connecting the battery to a separate electronic device, wherein the connector is interchangeable to be compatible with the electronic device; and

a plurality of interchangeable circuit boards each configured for a different electronic device, a different electrical output or electrical input from a different battery type, wherein a selected one of the plurality of interchangeable circuit boards is connected in the circuit board cavity such that the selected interchangeable circuit board corresponds to an electronic device electrically connected to the use extender device through the connector.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a metal air battery.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery includes an air manager, wherein the air manager regulates the air flow in the battery cavity.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a least one protrusion extending from an interior surface of at least one of the top cover and bottom cover, wherein the at least one protrusion defines an air volume in the battery cavity.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected interchangeable circuit board is mechanically connected in the circuit board cavity.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected interchangeable circuit board is connected in the circuit board cavity by at least one electrical connection point of the interchangeable circuit board.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one aperture regulates the air flow in the battery cavity at a rate of approximately 17-35 cc air/minute.

8. The use extender device of claim 1, wherein the connector and the selected circuit board are combined in an integral interchangeable unit.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the use extender device supplies power to the separate electronic device to extend operation times beyond that of internal batteries provided inside the separate electronic device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected interchangeable circuit board and interchangeable connector are parts of a single integral interchangeable unit.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the top cover pivots relative to the bottom cover between open and closed positions.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the top cover pivots about 180°

relative to the the bottom cover.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the top cover slides relative to the bottom cover to open and close the housing.

14. A use extender device for supplying power to a separate electronic device, said use extender device comprising:

a housing comprising a top cover, a bottom cover, and side walls defining a battery cavity, the housing further comprising at least one aperture for regulating fluid flow into the battery cavity;

a fluid consuming battery disposed in the battery cavity, wherein the at least one aperture in the housing regulates a flow of fluid into the fluid consuming battery;

an electrical connector coupled to the housing and capable of electrically connecting the battery to an input of a separate electronic device to supply power from the fluid consuming battery to extend operations beyond that of internal power provided inside the separate electronic device, wherein the connector is interchangeable to be compatible with the separate electronic device, wherein the connector is compatible only with a certain type of electronic device;

an interchangeable circuit board removably connected in a circuit board cavity, such that the interchangeable circuit board corresponds to an electronic device electrically connected to the use extender device through the connector, and wherein the circuit board is compatible only with the certain type of electronic device, and further comprising a plurality of interchangeable circuit boards, each configured for a different electronic device, a different electrical output or electrical input from a different battery type, wherein one of the plurality of interchangeable circuit boards is employed in the circuit board cavity at a time.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the interchangeable circuit board and interchangeable connector are parts of a single integral interchangeable unit.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the top cover pivots relative to the bottom cover between open and closed positions.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the top cover pivots about 180°

relative to the bottom cover.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the top cover slides relative to the bottom cover to open and close the housing.