Battery with strength indicator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A battery having a battery strength indicating means to indicate the strength of the battery comprising a battery having a first terminal and a second terminal;
- a battery indicator and switch means comprising a non-conductive base layer, a non-conductive top layer disposed over the base layer, a first chamber formed between the top layer and the base layer, and a second chamber spaced from the first chamber and formed between the top layer and the base layer;
indicating means disposed in the first chamber;
first conductive means electrically connected to one terminal of the battery and to one end of the indicating means;
second conductive means connected to the opposite end of the indicating means and extending into the second chamber;
third conductive means extending from within the second chamber and extending to contact the other terminal of the battery; and
whereby the second conductive means and the third conductive means in the second chamber are spaced apart and said second chamber being deformable so that upon pressing of the second chamber the second conductive means will electrically contact the third conductive means thereby placing the indicating means in electrical contact across the terminals of the battery to indicate the strength of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery strength indicating and switch means on a battery which is coupled across the terminals of the battery and which is provided with an indicating means to indicate the strength of the battery and in addition, the battery strength indicating means is also provided with an in-line switch which can easily be depressed to complete the circuit so as to place the indicator means across the terminals of the cell and display the charge of the battery.
90 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A battery having a battery strength indicating means to indicate the strength of the battery comprising a battery having a first terminal and a second terminal;
- a battery indicator and switch means comprising a non-conductive base layer, a non-conductive top layer disposed over the base layer, a first chamber formed between the top layer and the base layer, and a second chamber spaced from the first chamber and formed between the top layer and the base layer;
indicating means disposed in the first chamber;
first conductive means electrically connected to one terminal of the battery and to one end of the indicating means;
second conductive means connected to the opposite end of the indicating means and extending into the second chamber;
third conductive means extending from within the second chamber and extending to contact the other terminal of the battery; and
whereby the second conductive means and the third conductive means in the second chamber are spaced apart and said second chamber being deformable so that upon pressing of the second chamber the second conductive means will electrically contact the third conductive means thereby placing the indicating means in electrical contact across the terminals of the battery to indicate the strength of the battery.
- a battery indicator and switch means comprising a non-conductive base layer, a non-conductive top layer disposed over the base layer, a first chamber formed between the top layer and the base layer, and a second chamber spaced from the first chamber and formed between the top layer and the base layer;
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2. The battery of claim 1 wherein the indicating means in said first chamber undergoes a visible change when subject to at least a pre-determined voltage value.
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3. The battery of claim 1 wherein at least the top layer of the first chamber is transparent.
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4. The battery of claim 1 wherein at least the top layer of the first chamber is translucent.
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5. The battery of claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a chemical redox composition which changes color when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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6. The battery of claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a liquid crystal composition that changes phases when the electric field across the chamber exceeds a pre-determined value.
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7. The battery of claim 1 wherein the second chamber upon being depressed will remain depressed thereby completing the circuit and placing the indicating means across the terminals of the cell.
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8. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first conductive means comprises a conductive layer which has a reduced cross-sectional area in said first chamber and the indicating means in said first chamber comprises a heat sensitive color indicating material adapted to undergo a color change when the temperature in said first chamber rises to a pre-determined temperature when the voltage of the current flowing through the conductive layer exceeds a pre-determined value.
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9. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first conductive means comprises a conductive layer which has a reduced cross-sectional area in said first chamber and wherein the indicating means comprises a pyrotechnic material adapted to decompose when the temperature of the conductive layer in said first chamber exceeds a pre-determined temperature, the conductive layer in said first chamber is adapted to exceed said pre-determined temperature when the voltage of the current through said conductive layer exceeds a pre-determined value.
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10. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first conductive means comprises a conductive layer which has a reduced cross-sectional area in said first chamber such that when the voltage of the current flowing through the conductive layer in said first chamber exceeds a pre-determined value the current flowing through said conductive layer in said first chamber raises the temperature of the conductive layer in the chamber to the melting point of the conductive layer causing the conductive layer to melt at the reduced cross-sectional area.
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11. The battery of claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a light emitting diode that undergoes a visible change when the voltage applied to the light emitting diode crosses a pre-determined value.
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12. A battery having a battery strength indicator comprising:
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a nonrechargeable dry cell battery having a first terminal and a second terminal;
a battery strength indicator formed in a layer attached to a side of said battery which undergoes a visible change when subject to a predetermined voltage output of said battery and a first conductor electrically connected between one end of said indicator and said first battery terminal; and
a battery switch comprising a resilient, nonconductive, deformable layer on a side of said battery, a switch chamber disposed beneath said resilient layer, and a second conductor extending from said switch chamber and connected to the other end of the indicator, said portion of said second conductive lead within said switch chamber comprising a switch contact, said battery switch being biased in an electrically open position, whereby upon pressing of the resilient layer over said switch chamber, the switch contact will be placed in electrical contact with a conductive layer in electrical contact with said second battery terminal, thereby placing the indicator in electrical contact across the terminals of the battery to indicate to the user the strength of the battery.
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13. The battery of claim 12 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises:
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A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer, one end of said conductive layer being electrically connected to said first battery terminal and the other end of said conductive layer being electrically connected to said switch chamber; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that;
1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and ii) means to transfer sufficient heat generated by the conductive layer to the temperature sensitive color indicator material to change the color thereof and indicate voltage when the voltage indicator is in contact with a battery housing.
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14. The battery of claim 12 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a chemical redox composition which changes color when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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15. The battery of claim 12 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a liquid crystal composition that changes phases when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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16. The battery of claim 12 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a conductive layer which has a reduced cross-sectional area in contact with a heat sensitive color indicating material adapted to undergo a color change when the temperature of the reduced cross-sectional area of the conductive layer rises to a pre-determined temperature when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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17. The battery of claim 12 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a light emitting diode that undergoes a visible change when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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18. A battery having a voltage indicator comprising:
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1) a battery having first and second terminals;
2) a voltage indicator attached to a side of said battery comprising;
A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below one of the surfaces of the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that the conductive layer has i) a portion of a sealed chamber, cell or bubble below one of its surfaces and ii) sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material; and
3) an electrical switch on a side of said battery which, when activated, places said conductive layer in electrical contact across the terminals of the battery to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and indicate the voltage of the battery.
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1) a battery having first and second terminals;
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19. The battery of claim 18 wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator material is formed from a material which undergoes a non-permanent color change when exposed to a predetermined temperature.
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20. The battery of claim 18 wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator material undergoes visible color change when exposed to a predetermined temperature.
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21. An article comprising an integral battery voltage indicator having:
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A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that;
1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and ii) sufficient means under one of its surfaces to permit the heat generated by the conductive layer to change the color of the temperature sensitive color indicator material and indicate voltage when the voltage indicator is in contact with a battery housing, and 2) the voltage indicator includes means for forming an electrical switch with an electrically conductive portion of the battery housing.
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22. An article according to claim 21 including a nonconductive material under the conductive layer.
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23. An article according to claim 21 wherein the means forms a sealed chamber, cell or bubble.
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24. A battery having an article with an integral battery voltage indicator, wherein the voltage indicator comprises:
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A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that;
1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and ii) sufficient means under one of its surfaces to permit the heat generated by the conductive layer to change the color of the temperature sensitive color indicator material and indicate voltage when the voltage indicator is in contact with a battery housing, and 2) the voltage indicator includes means for forming an electrical switch with an electrically conductive portion of the battery housing.
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25. A battery according to claim 24 including a non conductive material between the battery surface and the conductive layer.
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26. A battery according to claim 24 wherein the means comprises means for forming a sealed chamber, cell or bubble.
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27. A battery with an integral voltage indicator comprising:
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a battery having an anode and a cathode and being defined by a battery housing, and a voltage indicator integral with said battery, said voltage indicator comprising;
a conductive layer;
a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer wherein the conductive layer has sufficient heat-generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material;
means between the conductive layer and the battery housing to permit the heat generated by the conductive layer to change the color of the temperature sensitive color indicator material and indicate voltage when the voltage indicator is in contact with the battery housing; and
electrical switch means positioned, when activated, to electrically connect the conductive layer and a conductive portion of the battery housing to effect a color change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material.
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28. A battery according to claim 27, wherein the conductive layer has a portion reduced to a small cross sectional area and is positioned so that current can flow between the conductive layer and reduced cross section area when the electrical switch means is activated, wherein the extent to which the conductive layer is heated at the reduced cross sectional area is related to the battery'"'"'s voltage and the extent to which the temperature sensitive color indicator material undergoes a color change indicates the voltage and level of heating.
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29. A battery according to claim 27, wherein the means is a nonconductive material.
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30. A battery according to claim 27, wherein the means comprises a sealed chamber, cell or bubble.
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31. A battery according to claim 27, wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator material is formed from a material which undergoes a non-permanent color change when exposed to a predetermined temperature.
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32. A battery according to claim 27, wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator material undergoes a visible color change when exposed to a predetermined temperature.
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33. A battery having a voltmeter comprising:
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1) a battery having first and second terminals;
2) a voltmeter attached to a side of said battery comprising;
A) dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below one of the surfaces of the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator layer in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that the conductive layer has i) an air pocket under one of its surfaces and ii) sufficient heat generating capacity to affect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator layer; and
3) an electrical switch on a side of said battery which, when activated, places said conductive layer in electrical contact across the terminals of the battery to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and indicate the voltage of the battery.
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34. The battery of claim 33 wherein the color indicator changes from:
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A) a color to colorless;
B) colorless to a color;
C) one color to a second color.
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35. The battery of claim 33 wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator layer is formed from a color reversible temperature sensitive material selected from the group consisting of thermochromic inks, liquid crystalline material and thermochromic inks, liquid crystalline materials and thermochromic tapes.
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36. A label comprising an integral battery voltmeter having:
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A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator layer in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that 1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to affect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator layer and ii) sufficient thermal insulating means under one of its surfaces to overcome heat sinking when the voltmeter is in contact with a battery having an electrically conductive housing and 2) the voltmeter includes means for forming an electrical switch with the electrically conductive battery housing.
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37. A label according to claim 36 wherein the temperature insulating means is formed by placing a temperature insulating material under the conductive layer.
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38. A label according to claim 36 wherein the temperature insulating means forms an air pocket.
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39. A battery having a label with an integral voltmeter;
- wherein the voltmeter comprises;
A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator layer in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that 1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to affect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator layer and ii) sufficient thermal insulating means under one of its surfaces to overcome heat sinking when the voltmeter is in contact with a battery having an electrically conductive housing and 2) the voltmeter includes means for forming an electrical switch with the electrically conductive battery housing.
- wherein the voltmeter comprises;
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40. A battery according to claim 39 wherein the insulating means is formed by inserting a temperature insulating material between the battery surface and the conductive layer.
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41. A battery according to claim 39 wherein insulating means is an air pocket under the dielectric substrate under the area of the conductive layer.
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42. A battery with an integral voltmeter comprising:
a battery having terminals of opposite polarity and being defined by a battery can and a voltmeter integral with said voltmeter comprising;
a conductive layer;
a temperature sensitive color indicator layer in thermal contact with the conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer has sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator layer;
means to provide thermal insulation between the conductive layer and the battery can to prevent the battery from acting as a heat sink for the conductive layer; and
electrical switch means positioned, when activated, to couple electrically the conductive layer and the battery can so that current may flow through the conductive layer to effect a color change in the temperature sensitive color indicator layer.
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43. A battery according to claim 42, wherein the conductive layer has a narrow portion which widens along at least part of the conductive layer to a wide portion and is positioned so that current can flow between the narrow and wide portions when the electrical switch means is activated, wherein the extent to which the conductive layer is heated between the wide and narrow portions is related to the battery'"'"'s voltage and the extent to which the temperature sensitive color indicator layer undergoes a color change indicates the voltage and level of heating.
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44. A battery according to claim 42, wherein the means to provide thermal insulation is a thermal insulation material.
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45. A battery according to claim 42, wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator layer is formed from a color reversible temperature sensitive material selected from group consisting of thermochromic inks, liquid crystalline materials, and thermochromic tapes.
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46. A battery according to claim 42, wherein the temperature sensitive color indicator layer changes from:
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A) a color to colorless;
B) colorless to a color;
C) one color to a second color.
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47. A battery having an integral battery voltage indicator, wherein the voltage indicator comprises:
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A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that;
1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and ii) means to transfer sufficient heat generated by the conductive layer to the temperature sensitive color indicator material to change the color thereof and indicate voltage when the voltage indicator is in contact with a battery housing, and 2) the voltage indicator includes means for forming an electrical switch with an electrically conductive portion of the battery housing.
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48. A battery having a battery strength indicator comprising:
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a rechargeable dry cell battery having a first terminal and a second terminal;
a battery strength indicator formed in a layer attached to a side of said battery which undergoes a visible change when subject to predetermined voltage output of said battery and a first conductor electrically connected between one end of said indicator and said first battery terminal; and
a battery switch comprising a resilient, non-conductive, deformable layer on a side of said battery, a switch chamber disposed beneath said resilient layer, and a second conductor extending from said switch chamber and connected to the other end of the indicator, said portion of said second conductive lead within its said switch chamber comprising a switch contact, said battery switch being biased in an electrically open position, whereby upon pressing of the resilient layer over said switch chamber, the switch contact will be placed in electric contact with a conductive layer in electrical contact with said second battery terminal, thereby placing the indicator in electrical contact across the terminals of the battery to indicate to the user the strength of the battery.
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49. The battery of claim 48 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises:
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A) a dielectric layer;
B) a conductive layer above or below the dielectric layer, one end of said conductive layer being electrically connected to said first battery terminal and the other end of said conductive layer being electrically connected to said switch chamber; and
C) a temperature sensitive color indicator material in thermal contact with the conductive layer, characterized in that;
1) the conductive layer has i) sufficient heat generating capacity to effect a change in the temperature sensitive color indicator material and ii) means to transfer sufficient heat generated by the conductive layer to the temperature sensitive color indicator material to change the color thereof and indicate voltage when th voltage indicator is in contact with a battery housing.
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50. The battery of claim 48 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a chemical redox composition which changes color when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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51. The battery of claim 48 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a liquid crystal composition which changes color when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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52. The battery of claim 48 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a conductive layer which has a reduced cross-sectional area in contact with a heat sensitive color indicating material adapted to undergo a color change when the temperature of the reduced cross-sectional area of the conductive layer rises to a pre-determined temperature when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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53. The battery of claim 48 wherein said battery strength indicator comprises a light emitting diode that undergoes a visible change when the voltage potential across the terminals of the battery crosses a pre-determined voltage.
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54. A battery package having a battery strength indicator comprising:
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a package frame;
rechargeable batteries mounted on said package frame, each of said batteries having first and second terminals;
a battery strength indicator mounted on said package frame and electrically connected to a first terminal of one of said batteries; and
a battery switch comprising a resilient, non-conductive layer disposed over said package frame, a switch chamber disposed beneath said resilient layer, a pair of switch contacts normally spaced apart in said chamber, one of said switch contacts being electrically connected to said battery strength indicator and the other of said switch contacts being electrically connected to a second terminal of one of said batteries, said battery switch being biased in an electrically open position, whereby upon pressing of the resilient layer over said switch chamber, the switch contacts will place said indicator in electrical contact across the terminals of said batteries.
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Specification