COMPLETE DISCHARGE DEVICE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for completely discharging a battery enclosed within a battery case, comprising:
- a discharging circuit operatively coupled to a first pole of the battery; and
a switch electrically coupled between the discharging circuit and a second pole of the battery;
said switch including a first contact, a second contact and an actuator, the actuator having a tab extending therefrom through an aperture in the battery case, wherein upon pulling the tab, the actuator causes relative movement between the first and second contacts to complete an electrical connection of the discharging circuit to the poles of the battery, and where the tab becomes detached from the actuator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for completely discharging a battery by use of a tab that initiates activation of a discharging circuit when the tab is pulled out of the battery case. The tab is operatively coupled with the actuator of a switch which in turn is coupled to a discharging circuit. The tab extends from the battery case and may be covered by a protective cover, or may also be attached to the protective cover. The tab is attached to an actuator of a switch and detaches from the actuator after actuation, thereby indicating actuation and preventing the switch from subsequently being moved. The switch completes the circuit, initiating the discharging process, when a movable contact engages a stationary contact and completes the discharge circuit.
55 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for completely discharging a battery enclosed within a battery case, comprising:
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a discharging circuit operatively coupled to a first pole of the battery; and a switch electrically coupled between the discharging circuit and a second pole of the battery; said switch including a first contact, a second contact and an actuator, the actuator having a tab extending therefrom through an aperture in the battery case, wherein upon pulling the tab, the actuator causes relative movement between the first and second contacts to complete an electrical connection of the discharging circuit to the poles of the battery, and where the tab becomes detached from the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A single-use electrical switch, comprising:
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a base having stationary contacts therein, wherein the stationary contacts are electrically insulated from one another; at least one sliding contact wherein upon actuation of the switch a sliding contact engages a stationary contact causing an electrical connection therebetween; an actuator, operatively coupled to the slide contacts, the actuator further comprising a tab wherein upon pulling the tab, the switch is activated and the tab then becomes detached from the actuator so as to prevent the actuator from being deactivated; and a spring operatively coupled to the actuator, the spring controlling the activation force for the switch. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for completely discharging a battery enclosed within a battery case, comprising:
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a discharging circuit operatively coupled to a first pole of the battery; and an optical switch electrically coupled between the discharging circuit and a second pole of the battery, said optical switch being responsive to light energy to complete the connection to the battery in response to light energy; a light energy source; and a mechanical switch adapted to control the application of power from the battery to said light energy source, said mechanical switch including a first contact, a second contact and an actuator for causing relative motion between the first and second contacts, the actuator having a tab extending therefrom through an aperture in the battery case, where upon pulling the tab, the actuator moves the first and second contacts to complete an electrical connection and activate the light energy source, and then detaches from the actuator, the activation of. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method for completely discharging a battery enclosed within a battery case, comprising:
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removing a protective cover from the battery case, the protective cover attached to the battery case and covering one end of a tab extending through an aperture in the battery case, wherein removing the protective cover exposes the tab for grasping by a user; pulling the tab through the aperture, the tab being connected on an opposite end thereof to a switch, wherein upon pulling the tab, the switch is moved to complete an electrical connection of a discharging circuit to the poles of the battery, thereby discharging the battery; and after moving the switch and completing the electrical connection, the tab becomes detached from the switch to prevent interruption of the discharging of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for initiating the complete discharge of a battery enclosed within a battery case, comprising:
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pulling a tab through an aperture in the battery case, a first end of the tab being operatively attached to an actuator of a switch and an opposite end of the tab extending through the aperture in the battery case, wherein upon pulling the opposite end of the tab the actuator is moved to complete an electrical connection and thereby initiate a discharging circuit connected to poles of the battery; and the tab detaching from the actuator upon continued pulling. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification