Battery housing

• US 4,880,712 A
• Filed: 03/08/1988
• Issued: 11/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gordecki, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/320,434
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96-100, 206/333, 220/346
• US Class Current: 429/97
• 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 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/088 with parts of the receiver detachable or collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery housing (4) for a radio pager (1) comprises a slidable cover (5) movable between a first position, where it closes off an opening (3) for insertion and removal of a battery, and a second position where it leaves the opening accessible. The cover (5) is only allowed to move from its closed position when a slidable locking member (8) is moved to its unlocked position. Movement of the cover (5) from its closed position to its open position automatically causes the locking member (8) to be moved back to its locked position so that when the cover (5) is closed again it is automatically locked in the closed position.

Claims

1. A battery housing for a battery-powered electrical product having an opening for inserting and removing the battery into and from the housing, wherein the housing comprises a cover slidably movable between a first position where it closes off the opening and a second position where it leaves the opening accessible, and locking means slidably movable transversely to the cover movement between a first position where it locks the cover in its first position and a second position where it allows the cover to move to its second position.

2. A battery housing according to claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a member having at least one spigot thereon which abuts an edge of the cover when the member and cover are in their respective first positions thereby preventing the cover from moving to its second position.

3. A battery housing according to claim 1 further comprising means associated with the cover and the locking means for moving the locking means from its second position to its first position when the cover is moved between its first and second positions.

4. A battery housing according to claim 3 wherein said means associated with the cover and the locking means comprises at least one channel provided in a surface of the cover and at least one spigot attached to the locking means and cooperating with the channel, whereby movement of the channel causes the spigot to follow cam surfaces defined by the channel such that the locking means is moved from its second position to its first position.

5. A battery housing according to claim 1 wherein said locking means is bistable between its first and second positions.

6. A battery housing according to claim 1 wherein said cover is wholly captive within said housing between its first and second positions.

7. A battery housing according to claim 4 wherein said channel further defines a ramp surface over which the spigot travels as the cover is moved to its first position, the end of the ramp providing an edge of the cover against which the spigot abuts to lock the cover in its first position.

8. A battery housing according to claim 1 for a radio pager.