One-piece battery charge indicator cage

• US 6,393,910 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Krupa, Rafal, Korb, Holger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): CYGAN, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US09/491,116
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 73/291,290 R,293,305,309,311,315,327,447 136/290
• US Class Current: 73/447
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/14 the body being built into a container
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/484 for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The battery charge indicator cage is molded as a single integral piece with two cores coming in and shutting off against each other. The battery charge indicator cage includes an internal diagonal channel in which a colored ball or balls traverse dependent upon the presence of a fluid of at least a predetermined density. A stem is formed within the diagonal channel in order to form the one-ball embodiment. This stem is removed in order to form the two-ball embodiment.

Claims

1. A liquid level indicator cage comprising:

a body with two side walls, a front surface, a rear surface, a top surface, and a lower surface;

a diagonal channel formed within said body between said two side walls;

a mounting aperture with a mouth formed on said top surface and extending in communication with said diagonal channel;

said diagonal channel including a detachable member formed at an intermediate location therein and extending inwardly from an interior wall of said diagonal channel, said detachable member confining a single indicator ball of a predetermined density to traversing within a reduced length of said diagonal channel, subsequent detachment and removal of said detachable member lengthening said diagonal channel thereby allowing a plurality of indicator balls of predetermined densities to travel within said diagonal channel.

2. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 1 wherein said single indicator ball and said plurality of indicator balls traverse within said diagonal channel in response to a presence of liquid of a specific gravity greater than said predetermined density or densities.

3. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 2 wherein two side walls, a front surface, a rear surface, a top surface, and a lower surface are molded as a single integral piece.

4. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 3 wherein the cage is formed by two molding cores which shut off against each other.

5. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 3 wherein said lower surface includes a notch for consistent engagement by automated assembly devices.

6. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 5 wherein said mounting aperture includes an oblique throat for positioning of a transparent mounting rod therein.

7. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 6 wherein an interior surface of said detachable member is substantially aligned with an interior diameter of said oblique throat.

8. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 7 wherein said mounting aperture includes an interior circumferential detent groove for engaging a corresponding circumferential detent ridge on the transparent mounting rod.

9. The liquid level indicator cage of claim 8 wherein a first of said front and rear surfaces includes a first diagonal opening to a lower diagonal portion of said diagonal channel, and a second of said front and rear surfaces includes a second diagonal opening to an upper diagonal portion of said diagonal channel.