GB2146832A

GB2146832A - Battery compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2146832A
Application number: GB08324476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Bruce Carr; Evan Johnathan Kitsell
Original assignee: Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Current assignee: STC PLC
Priority date: 1983-09-13
Filing date: 1983-09-13
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: GB8324476D0; GB2146832B

Abstract

To provide a local battery supply, e.g. for a telephone subscriber's terminal, a battery box has two parallel compartments to receive cylindrical batteries. At one end there is a metal strip (3) to interconnect the batteries, while at the other end there are spring contacts (1,2) for contact to the terminal's circuitry. The box fits into the terminal behind its bottom face, and it has two elongated recesses (e.g.4) for receipt of pivot pins. To get access to the batteries, the box is slid endways to disengage a tab (8) from the terminal, after which it is rotated, the rotation being aided by the springs which are thus disengaged from the circuitry. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Battery compartment The present invention relates to a battery-retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device.

With the provision of additional facilities in a telephonesubscriber'sterminal it is in some cases necessaryfortheterminal to have access to a power supply, usually one or more batteries. This invention has as its object the provision of a battery retaining arrangementfor an electrical or electronic device, such as a telephone subscriber's terminals.

According to the invention, there is provided a battery retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device, in which the battery or batteries are located in a generally rectangular box-like member with electrical contact members at its ends, which contactmembersfirmlyengage the contract portions ofthe batteries, in which the box-like members is located in a recess in the body of the electrical or electronic device, the box-like member being retained in place by slidable pivot means including slots on the box-like member (orthe innerwall of the recess) co-operating with pins on the innerwall ofthe recess (or the box-like member), in which to gain access to the battery or batteries the box-like member is slid lengthwise until one of its ends disengages from the recess in the device body, whereafterthe box is pivotted about the the pivot means so as to give access to the battery or batteries in the box-like member, and in which to restore the box-like member to its normal position it is pivotted back into the recess and then slid back to its original position, and in which the contact means on the box-like member establishes contact from the battery or batteries to the circuitry of the device when the box-like member is in its original position.

An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery box which forms part of an arrangement embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a scrap plan view of part of the body of an electrical or electronic device, in this case a telephone subscriber's terminal, in which the box of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic side views showing how the box is moved to gain access to its interiorto insert orchangethe batteries.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 ,the box has two parallel compartments each of which can receive a cylindrical dry battery cell, or perhaps two such cells in series.

There are curved spring contacts 1 and 2 at one end of the box and a strip contact3 atthe other end. Thus the battery cells in the box are connected together at one end but not atthe other. This allows the cells in the compartmentstobeinseriesorin parallel, dependent ortthe requirements of the associated circuitry.

For retention in the device, the box has on each side a recess4 into which a projecting pin in the device fits (see Fig. 2). The outer walls of the box have cut-out portions 5, 6 so thatthe user can get at the cells with his fingers. The box also has an end tab 8,whose purpose will beclearwhen Figs. 3,4 and 5 are described.

We now referto Fig. 2, which is a scrap plan view of part of the underside of the body of a telephone su bscriber's terminal in which the box of Fig. 1 is fitted. This figure is notto the same scale as Fig. 1.

Thus the body provides a recess for that box, which recess has two pins 9,10 in its side walls, for co-operation with the recesses 4 on the box sides.

Notethatthe pins could equally be on the box, with the recesses on the recess wall. The device body has a cut-away portion 11.

We nowturn to Figs. 3, and 5, which respectively show the three stages in obtaining access to the box's interior. The end-portion of the box which carries the springs 1, 2 overlays the end of a printed circuit board 12, where each ofthe springs 1,2 engages a pad with a wire linksuch as 13. In this condition the springs 1, 2 are deformed and provide good contact pressure to the connections to the associated circuitry.

In Fig. 3 it can also be seen thatthetab 8 overlays a corresponding step region ofthe device's lower face.

Further, the box has a knurled outerface as indicated at14.

To open the batterycompartment,the box is slid left-wards until the tab 8 disengages from the step on the lower face of the device. When this happens, the springs 1 and 2 assert themselves to cause the battery to rotate so that its right-hand end comes out, as shown in Fig. 4. This movement is indicated schemeti callybythearrow 15.

In Fig. 4, as mentioned, we see that due to the rotation, the contact springs have disengaged from the printed circuit board. The user now rotates the box manually until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 5.

This gives access to the batteries, either to change spent batteries orto insert new batteries.

The disconnection of the circuit for battery loading provides an importantsafetyfactorwhen used in a telephoneterminal, as it isolatesthe userfrom hazards due, for instance, to lightning-induced surges on the line. The pivotaction and the shape of the contact springs provide positive (solderless) contact and also a wiping action giving a measure of self-cleaning. The contact springs are identical which is a good economyfeature. It is also possible, for high current use, to use inlaid or one-side plated contacts not onlyforthe springs 1,2 but also for the contact strip 3 atthe other end of the box. The arrangement is relatively cheap to make, being well suited for automated assembly, since flying leads are not needed. Hence the wire links can be "auto-inserted" on the printed circuit board.

1. A battery retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device, in which the battery or batteries are located in a generally rectangular box-like memberwith electrical contact members at its ends, which contact members firmly engage the contact portions ofthe batteries, in which the box-like member is

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Battery compartment The present invention relates to a battery-retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device. With the provision of additional facilities in a telephonesubscriber'sterminal it is in some cases necessaryfortheterminal to have access to a power supply, usually one or more batteries. This invention has as its object the provision of a battery retaining arrangementfor an electrical or electronic device, such as a telephone subscriber's terminals. According to the invention, there is provided a battery retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device, in which the battery or batteries are located in a generally rectangular box-like member with electrical contact members at its ends, which contactmembersfirmlyengage the contract portions ofthe batteries, in which the box-like members is located in a recess in the body of the electrical or electronic device, the box-like member being retained in place by slidable pivot means including slots on the box-like member (orthe innerwall of the recess) co-operating with pins on the innerwall ofthe recess (or the box-like member), in which to gain access to the battery or batteries the box-like member is slid lengthwise until one of its ends disengages from the recess in the device body, whereafterthe box is pivotted about the the pivot means so as to give access to the battery or batteries in the box-like member, and in which to restore the box-like member to its normal position it is pivotted back into the recess and then slid back to its original position, and in which the contact means on the box-like member establishes contact from the battery or batteries to the circuitry of the device when the box-like member is in its original position. An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery box which forms part of an arrangement embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a scrap plan view of part of the body of an electrical or electronic device, in this case a telephone subscriber's terminal, in which the box of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic side views showing how the box is moved to gain access to its interiorto insert orchangethe batteries. As can be seen from Fig. 1 ,the box has two parallel compartments each of which can receive a cylindrical dry battery cell, or perhaps two such cells in series. There are curved spring contacts 1 and 2 at one end of the box and a strip contact3 atthe other end. Thus the battery cells in the box are connected together at one end but not atthe other. This allows the cells in the compartmentstobeinseriesorin parallel, dependent ortthe requirements of the associated circuitry. For retention in the device, the box has on each side a recess4 into which a projecting pin in the device fits (see Fig. 2). The outer walls of the box have cut-out portions 5, 6 so thatthe user can get at the cells with his fingers. The box also has an end tab 8,whose purpose will beclearwhen Figs. 3,4 and 5 are described. We now referto Fig. 2, which is a scrap plan view of part of the underside of the body of a telephone su bscriber's terminal in which the box of Fig. 1 is fitted. This figure is notto the same scale as Fig. 1. Thus the body provides a recess for that box, which recess has two pins 9,10 in its side walls, for co-operation with the recesses 4 on the box sides. Notethatthe pins could equally be on the box, with the recesses on the recess wall. The device body has a cut-away portion 11. We nowturn to Figs. 3, and 5, which respectively show the three stages in obtaining access to the box's interior. The end-portion of the box which carries the springs 1, 2 overlays the end of a printed circuit board 12, where each ofthe springs 1,2 engages a pad with a wire linksuch as 13. In this condition the springs 1, 2 are deformed and provide good contact pressure to the connections to the associated circuitry. In Fig. 3 it can also be seen thatthetab 8 overlays a corresponding step region ofthe device's lower face. Further, the box has a knurled outerface as indicated at14. To open the batterycompartment,the box is slid left-wards until the tab 8 disengages from the step on the lower face of the device. When this happens, the springs 1 and 2 assert themselves to cause the battery to rotate so that its right-hand end comes out, as shown in Fig. 4. This movement is indicated schemeti callybythearrow 15. In Fig. 4, as mentioned, we see that due to the rotation, the contact springs have disengaged from the printed circuit board. The user now rotates the box manually until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 5. This gives access to the batteries, either to change spent batteries orto insert new batteries. The disconnection of the circuit for battery loading provides an importantsafetyfactorwhen used in a telephoneterminal, as it isolatesthe userfrom hazards due, for instance, to lightning-induced surges on the line. The pivotaction and the shape of the contact springs provide positive (solderless) contact and also a wiping action giving a measure of self-cleaning. The contact springs are identical which is a good economyfeature. It is also possible, for high current use, to use inlaid or one-side plated contacts not onlyforthe springs 1,2 but also for the contact strip 3 atthe other end of the box. The arrangement is relatively cheap to make, being well suited for automated assembly, since flying leads are not needed. Hence the wire links can be "auto-inserted" on the printed circuit board. CLAIMS

1. A battery retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device, in which the battery or batteries are located in a generally rectangular box-like memberwith electrical contact members at its ends, which contact members firmly engage the contact portions ofthe batteries, in which the box-like member is located in a recess in the body of the electrical or electronic device, the box-like member being retained in place byslidable pivot means including slots on the box-like member (orthe innerwall ofthe recess) co-operating with pins on the innerwall of the recess (orthe box-like member), in which to gain access to the battery or batteries the box-like member is slid lengthivise until one of its ends disengages from the recess in the device body, whereafter the box is pivotted about the pivot means so as to give access to the battery or batteries in the box-like member, and in which to restore the box-like member to its normal position it is pivotted back into the recess and then slid back to its original position, and in which the contact means on the box-like member establishes contact from the battery or batteries to the circuitry of the device when the box-like member is in its original position.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the box has two parallel compartmentsforthe reception ofthe batteries, and in which the outer side walls ofthe box have cut-out portions to facilitate access to the batteries.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which at one end of the batterythere is a tab which fits under a portion ofthe device's outer casing, being disengaged therefrom afterthe initial sliding, and in which at the other end there are one or more spring contacts which provide good contact pressure with contacts on the body, and also bytheirspringyness facilitate the opening of the box.

4. A battery retaining arrangementforatelephone su bscriber's terminal, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Newortextuallyamended claims have been filed as follows: New claim 5.

5. A battery retaining arrangement for an electrical or electronic device, in which the battery or batteries are located in a generally rectangular box-like memberwith electrical contact members at its ends, which contact members firmly engage the contact portions ofthe batteries, in which the box-like memberwhen in use is located in a recess in the body ofthe electrical or electronic device, the box-like member being retained in place by slidable pivot means including slots on the box-like member (orthe innerwall of the recess) co-operating with pins on the innerwall ofthe recess (orthe box-like member), in which to gain access to the battery or batteriesthe box-like member is slid lengthwise until one of its ends disengages from the recess in the device body, whereafterthe box is pivotted about the pivot means so asto give access to the battery or batteries in the box-like member, in which to restore the box-like member to its normal position it is pivotted back into the recess and then slid backto its original position, and in which contact means on the box-like member establishes contact from the batten or batteries to the circuitry of the device when the box-like member is in its original position, which contact means comprises two curved spring members which are under pressure when in engagement wiTh control means on the inside ofthe body ofthe device, so as to provide good contact pressure and so thatwhen the battery box isto be opened the springyness ofthe curved spring mem bers facilitates the opening of the box.