Battery cartridge having a recess for detecting misuse and/or recessed terminals

Claim 2

The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a locking aperture (108) formed adjacent in said detection aperture (102, 104, 106) in width in the direction perpendicular to said center line (X-X) and wherein said detection aperture is smaller than said locking aperture.

Claim 3

The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein columnar batteries are accommodated in two rows in said casing (14, 16) and said detection aperture (102, 104, 106) is disposed between said batteries of two rows along said center line (X-X) of said bottom surface.

Claim 4

The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein columnar batteries are accommodated in two rows in said casing (14, 16) and said detection aperture (102, 104, 106) is disposed between said batteries of two rows along said centerr line (X-X) of said bottom surface.

Claim 5

The battery pack according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising information elements (130, 132) disposed along said center line (X-X).

Claim 6

The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein said information elements (130, 132) include a temperature detector and a voltage detector for detecting the remaining capacity of said battery.

Claim 7

The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising an identification marker (118A) disposed along said center line (X-X) of the bottom surface for indicating that the battery was finished in use or that the battery was already charged.

Claim 8

The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein said identification marker includes a slidable slider (118) and said slider has a protruded portion (118A).

Claim 9

A battery pack comprising: at least one output terminal (36, 38) formed on the inside of a hole (36, 38) formed through an outer surface of a casing (14, 16).

Claim 10

A battery pack in which an output terminal (36, 38) is disposed within a concave portion formed on an outer surface of a casing comprising: an aperture (102, 104) formed through the inner surface of said concave portion.

Claim 11

The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said aperture (102, 104) is extended from a bottom portion of said concave portion to the outer surface of said casing (14, 16).

Claim 12

The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said aperture is extended from the bottom portion of said concave portion to the inside of said casing.

Claim 13

A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a casing (14, 16) for housing said battery, said casing having an upper portion (14) and a bottom portion (16); a plurality of electrodes (36, 38) formed in said bottom portion of said casing for electrical connection with said battery, said electrodes functioning as charging electrodes when said battery pack is connected to a battery charger and said electrodes functioning as power supply electrodes when said battery pack is connected to an electrical apparatus; and a detection aperture (102, 104, 106) formed along a center line (X-X) of a bottom surface of said bottom portion of said casing for detecting when said pack is properly positioned in a battery charger.

Claim 14

A battery pack according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of columnar batteries is accommodated in said casing (14, 16) in two rows, one row each along one side of said center line (X-X) of said bottom surface and wherein said detection aperture (102, 104, 106) formed along said center line (X-X) is in between said two rows.

Claim 15

A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a casing (14, 16) for housing said battery, said casing having an upper portion (14) and a bottom portion (16), a bottom surface of said bottom portion having a concave portion (114) at one end thereof; a plurality of electrodes (36, 38) formed in said bottom portion of said casing for electrical connection with said battery, said electrodes functioning as charging electrodes when said battery pack is connected to a battery charger and said electrodes functioning as power supply electrodes when said battery pack is connected to an electrical apparatus; a marker (118) slidably disposed on said concave portion of said bottom surface, said marker forming a sliding plate and said marker having an enlarged protruding section (118A) at one end thereof; a hole (114A) formed in said concave portion for receiving the sliding plate of said marker opposite the protruding section; and an aperture (116) formed adjacent to said concave portion in said bottom portion for viewing the position of said sliding plate; whereby said sliding marker slides into said hole when said pack is connected to an electrical apparatus and said aperture visually showing such position thereby indicating that the battery has been used, and said sliding marker is moved in the opposite direction to an opposite position by said protruding section when said pack is removed from a battery charger and said aperture visually showing such position thereby indicating that the battery has been charged.

Claim 16

A battery pack according to claim 15, wherein sliding plate (118) is marked in different colors, whereby one color will be visible through said aperture (116) when said sliding plate is in said position showing said battery has been used and another color will be visible through said aperture when said sliding plate is in said position showing said battery has been charged.

Claim 17

A battery pack according to claim 15 further comprising a detection aperture (110) formed along a center line (X-X) of a bottom surface of said bottom portion (16) of said casing for detecting when said pack is properly positioned in a battery charger.

Claim 18

A battery pack according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of columnar batteries is accommodated in said casing (14, 16) in two rows, one row each along one side of said center line (X-X) of said bottom surface of said bottom portion of said casing and wherein said detection aperture formed along said center line is in between said two rows.

Claim 19

A battery pack having a battery accommodated therein comprising: a casing (14, 16) for housing said battery inside, said casing having an upper portion (14) and a bottom portion (116); a plurality of electrodes (36, 38) formed in a plurality of apertures in a side of said bottom portion of said casing for electrical connection with said battery, said electrodes functioning as charging electrodes when said battery pack is connected to a battery charger and said electrodes functioning as power supply electrodes when said battery pack is connected to an electrical apparatus, said plurality of apertures extending through said bottom portion to a bottom surface of said bottom portion of said casing, whereby any dust accumulating on said electrodes may be discharged through said aperture and said bottom surface.

Claim 20

A battery pack according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of apertures (88) extend through to the inside of said casing (14, 16), whereby any dust accumulating on said electrodes may be discharged through said aperture into the inside of said casing.