Monolithic battery holder having resilient retention strap for use in battery-powered sensor

• US 9,263,716 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Szoke, Brandon L., Ogden, Peter W., Bhate, Nikhil Vithal, Corrigan, Keith Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US13/773,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20140232348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 320/127, 320/112, 320/114, 429/96, 429/100
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• 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: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2442 with a single cantilevered beam
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery holder for use with a battery-powered sensor may be configured such that removing the battery involves at least two distinct motions. The battery holder may include a cradle and a resilient retention strap configured to be deflectable between relaxed and deflected positions. With the retention strap in the relaxed position, the cradle and the retention strap may cooperate to retain the battery in the inserted position within the battery holder. The battery may be removed by first manipulating the retention strap from the relaxed position to the deflected position, and then using a distinct second motion to remove the battery from the holder. The battery holder may be configured to substantially prevent movement of the battery relative to the cradle when the battery is in the inserted position. The battery holder may be configured to facilitate insertion of the battery into the holder in a desired orientation.

Claims

1. A battery-powered sensor configured to wirelessly communicate with a load control system, the sensor including a battery holder configured to retain a battery in the sensor, the battery holder comprising:

a cradle that includes a base plate having an abutment surface that abuts at least a portion of a lower surface of the battery when the battery is in an inserted position in the battery holder, and that further includes a wall that extends upward from the abutment surface along a perimeter of the base plate from a first wall end to a second wall end, the cradle defining an opening through which the battery may be inserted into and removed from the battery holder, the opening at least partially bound by the first and second wall ends and the base plate; and

a retention strap, the retention strap extending from a first strap end that is fixed proximate to the first wall end to a second strap end that is fixed proximate to the second wall end, the retention strap having a resilient portion between the first and second strap ends that is operable from a relaxed position in which the resilient portion is spaced from the base plate through a first distance, to a deflected position in which the resilient portion is spaced from the base plate through a second distance that is shorter than the first distance,

wherein the battery holder is monolithic, and

wherein the cradle and the retention strap cooperate to retain the battery in the battery holder when the retention strap is in the relaxed position.

2. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein the battery may be removed by sliding the battery through the opening and over the resilient portion when the retention strap is in the deflected position.

3. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein the base plate defines a substantially circular perimeter.

4. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein the retention strap is made of a non-conducting material.

5. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein a section of the resilient portion of the retention strap is curved.

6. The battery-powered sensor of claim 5, wherein the curved section defines an apex that is located substantially equidistant between the first and second strap ends.

7. The battery-powered sensor of claim 6, wherein the curved section extends from the first strap end to the second strap end.

8. The battery-powered sensor of claim 7, wherein the retention strap defines a lower surface that faces the abutment surface of the base plate, and

wherein the curved section is curved such that the lower surface is concave relative to the abutment surface.

9. The battery-powered sensor of claim 8, wherein the retention strap defines an inner surface that faces inward relative to the opening, and

wherein the curved section is curved such that the inner surface is concave relative to the opening.

10. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein the battery defines an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface, and wherein when the battery is inserted in the cradle and the retention strap is in the relaxed position, at least a portion of the retention strap is located between the upper and lower surfaces of the battery.

11. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein the retention strap defines an abutment tab configured to abut at least a portion of the battery when the battery is in an inserted position in the battery holder.

12. The battery-powered sensor of claim 11, wherein when the battery is in the inserted position, a first portion of the battery abuts the cradle and a second portion of the battery abuts the abutment tab.

13. The battery-powered sensor of claim 11, wherein the battery defines a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface, and wherein the abutment tab defines an abutment surface that is configured to substantially conform to the peripheral surface of the battery.

14. The battery-powered sensor of claim 1, wherein the cradle further includes an alignment member that is configured to properly orient the battery during insertion of the battery into the cradle.

15. A battery holder configured to retain a battery in a battery-powered control device, the battery holder comprising:

a cradle that includes a base plate having an abutment surface that abuts at least a portion of a lower surface of the battery when the battery is in an inserted position in the battery holder, and that further includes a wall that extends upward from the abutment surface along a perimeter of the base plate from a first wall end to a second wall end, the cradle defining an opening through which the battery may be inserted into and removed from the battery holder, the opening at least partially bound by the first and second wall ends and the base plate; and

a retention strap, the retention strap extending from a first strap end that is fixed proximate to the first wall end to a second strap end that is fixed proximate to the second wall end, the retention strap having a resilient portion between the first and second strap ends that is operable from a relaxed position in which the resilient portion is spaced from the base plate through a first distance, to a deflected position in which the resilient portion is spaced from the base plate through a second distance that is shorter than the first distance,

wherein the battery holder is monolithic, and

wherein the cradle and the retention strap cooperate to retain the battery in the battery holder when the retention strap is in the relaxed position.

16. The battery holder of claim 15, wherein the battery may be removed by sliding the battery through the opening and over the resilient portion when the retention strap is in the deflected position.

17. The battery holder of claims 15, wherein the base plate defines a substantially circular perimeter.

18. The battery holder of claim 15, wherein the retention strap is made of a non-conducting material.

19. The battery holder of claim 15, wherein a section of the resilient portion of the retention strap is curved.

20. The battery holder of claim 19, wherein the curved section defines an apex that is located substantially equidistant between the first and second strap ends.

21. The battery holder of claim 19, wherein the curved section extends from the first strap end to the second strap end.

22. The battery holder of claim 21, wherein the retention strap defines a lower surface that faces the abutment surface of the base plate, and

wherein the curved section is curved such that the lower surface is concave relative to the abutment surface.

23. The battery holder of claim 22, wherein the retention strap defines an inner surface that faces inward relative to the opening, and

wherein the curved section is curved such that the inner surface is concave relative to the opening.

24. The battery holder of claim 15, wherein the battery defines an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface, and wherein when the battery is inserted in the cradle and the retention strap is in the relaxed position, at least a portion of the retention strap is located between the upper and lower surfaces of the battery.

25. The battery holder of claim 15, wherein the retention strap defines an abutment tab configured to abut at least a portion of the battery when the battery is in an inserted position in the battery holder.

26. The battery holder of claim 25, wherein when the battery is in the inserted position, a first portion of the battery abuts the cradle and a second portion of the battery abuts the abutment tab.

27. The battery holder of claim 25, wherein the battery defines a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface, and wherein the abutment tab defines an abutment surface that is configured to substantially conform to the peripheral surface of the battery.

28. The battery holder of claim 15, wherein the cradle further includes an alignment member that is configured to properly orient the battery during insertion of the battery into the cradle.