GB2313949A

GB2313949A - Battery receptacle module

Info

Publication number: GB2313949A
Application number: GB9611934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zing-Ching Wang
Original assignee: WANG ZING CHING
Current assignee: WANG ZING CHING
Priority date: 1996-06-07
Filing date: 1996-06-07
Publication date: 1997-12-10
Also published as: GB9611934D0

Abstract

A battery receptacle module includes a plurality of housings 1,2,3 each adapted for receiving batteries of different sizes therein.

Description

BATTERY RECEPTACLE MODULE The present invention relates to a receptacle module, and more particularly to a receptacle module for receiving a battery therein.

In our daily life, batteries or dry cells are useful for powering electrical devices such as radios, clocks, torches and the like. The sizes of the batteries most commonly used are divided into size D, size C, size AA and size AAA wherein the battery of size D has a diameter and height greater than that of the battery of size C which has a diameter greater than and a height equal to that of the battery of size AA which has a diameter and height greater than that of the battery of size AAA. Clearly, batteries of different sizes cannot be used synchronously in an electrical device, thereby greatly limiting the utility of the battery.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional battery.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a receptacle module suitable for batteries of different sizes.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery receptacle module comprising at least one housing for receiving a battery therein.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery receptacle module in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan cross-sectional view of a large housing; Fig. 3 is a top plan cross-sectional view of a middle housing; Fig. 4 is a top plan cross-sectional view of a small housing; Figs. 5-7 are top plan cross-sectional assembly views of the battery receptacle module; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a middle housing in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1-4, a battery receptacle module in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of housings for receiving batteries of different sizes therein. Preferably, the receptacle module comprises three housings, namely, a large housing 1, a middle housing 2, and a small housing 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the large housing 1 has a dimension substantially equal to that of a battery of size D and includes a well 11 longitudinally defined therein for receiving a battery 4 of size C therein such that the battery 4 of size C together with the large housing 1 can function as a battery of size D.

A conducting member 13 is mounted on a bottom portion 12 of the large housing 1 and is electrically connected with the battery 4. An elongated slot 14 is longitudinally defined along a periphery of the large housing 1 and communicates with the well 11 such that the battery 4 can easily be removed from the well 11 of the large housing 1 by means inserting a pointed object into the elongated slot 14. Preferably, a Braille inscription 15 is formed on the periphery of the large housing 1 for a blind user to identify the housing.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the middle housing 2 has a dimension substantially equal to that of a battery of size C and has a passage 21 longitudinally defined therethrough for receiving a battery 5 of size AA therein such that the battery 5 of size AA together with the middle housing 2 can function as a battery of size C. Preferably, a Braille inscription 22 similar to the Braille inscription 15 is formed on a periphery of the middle housing 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the small housing 3 has a dimension substantially equal to that of a battery of size AA and includes a well 31 longitudinally defined therein for receiving a battery 6 of size AAA therein such that the battery 6 together with the small housing 3 can function as a battery of size AA.

A conducting member 33 is mounted on a bottom portion 32 of the small housing 3 and is electrically connected with the battery 6. An elongated slot 34 is longitudinally defined along a periphery of the small housing 3 and communicates with the well 31 such that the battery 6 can easily be removed from the well 31 of the small housing 3 by means inserting a pointed object into the elongated slot 34. Preferably, a Braille inscription 35 is formed on the periphery of the small housing 3 similar to the Braille inscriptions 15 and 22.

In assembly, referring to Fig. 5, the battery 6 of size AAA is received in the well 31 of the small housing 3 which is in turn received in the passage 21 of the middle housing 2 such that the battery 6 together with the small and middle housings 3 and 2 can function as a battery of size C.

Referring to Fig. 6, the battery 6 of size AAA is received in the well 31 of the small housing 3 which is in turn received in the passage 21 of the middle housing 2 which is in turn received in the well 11 of the large housing 1 such that the battery 6 of size AAA together with the small, middle and large housings 3, 2 and 1 can function as a battery of size D.

Referring to Fig. 7, the battery 5 of size AA is received in the passage 21 of the middle housing 2 which is in turn received in the well 11 of the large housing 1 such that the battery 5 of size AA together with the middle and large housings 2 and 1 can function as a battery of size D.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 with reference to Fig. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the middle housing 2 has an annular slit. 25 defined in a bottom portion thereof, and a conducting member 26 is mounted on the bottom portion of the middle housing 2 and includes an annular flange 260 securely fitted in the annular slit 25. Preferably, a through hole 27 is defined in the conducting member 26 and communicates with the passage 21.

Accordingly, by such an arrangement, the batteries of sizes AAA, AA, C, and D can be interchangeably combined with the plurality of housings of different dimensions such that batteries of different sizes can be employed synchronously by a user who does not have to buy different sizes of batteries for use.

It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A battery receptacle module comprising at least one housing for receiving a battery therein.

2. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing includes identifying means formed on a periphery thereof so that a visually-impaired user may easily identify said housing size.

3. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing has a dimension substantially equal to that of a battery of size D and includes a well longitudinally defined therein for receiving a battery of size C therein, and a conducting member mounted on a bottom portion of said housing and electrically connected with said battery of size C.

4. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 3, wherein said housing has an elongated slot defined in a periphery thereof and communicating with said well.

5. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing has a dimension substantially equal to that of a battery of size C and includes a passage longitudinally defined therethrough for receiving a battery of size AA therein.

6. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 5, wherein said housing has an annular slit defined in a bottom portion thereof, and a conducting member mounted on the bottom portion of said housing and including an annular flange securely fitted in said annular slit.

7. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 6, wherein said conducting member has a through hole defined therein and communicating with said passage.

8. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing has a dimension substantially equal to that of a battery of size AA and includes a well longitudinally defined therein for receiving a battery of size AAA therein, and a conducting member mounted on a bottom portion of said housing and electrically connected with said battery of size AAA.

9. The battery receptacle module in accordance with claim 8, wherein said housing has an elongated slot defined in a periphery thereof and communicating with said well.

10. The battery receptacle module, in accordance with claim 2, wherein said identifying means is a Braille character.

11. A battery receptacle module substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.