Patent US3823367A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3823367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Battery package with end of life condition indicator
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A battery pack for small portable and hand-operable devices, arranged to be detent-locked in operating position so long as the battery voltage exceeds minimum satisfactory operating value for the device and to be released and ejected, partially for visible indication, when battery voltage drops below minimum satisfactory operating value.
Inventors
- 👤 G Kaye
- 👤 G Sussingham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/50; H01M6/5044; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/382; G01R31/3835; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/244; G01R19/00; G01R19/165; G01R19/16533; G01R19/16538; G01R19/16542; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/15; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A battery end-of-life condition detector, comprising, in combination: a battery case adapted to hold several electrochemical cells; an associated device to be energized by said battery case, said associated device having a housing embodying a receiving chamber for said battery case, said receiving chamber having an end wall and two side walls, one of said side walls having an aperture therein; spring means affixed to the end wall of said receiving chamber to be mechanically energized by pressure of said battery case, to store energy in response to pressure of the battery case when moved into operative position in said device to be operated by said battery; latching means extending through the aperture in the wall of said receiving chamber to releasably latch said battery case in operative position; and means responsive to a predetermined voltage of the battery for controlling said latching means to release said battery case for movement by said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A battery end-of-life condition detector, comprising, in combination: a battery case adapted to hold several electrochemical cells; an associated device to be energized by said battery case, said associated device having a housing embodying a receiving chamber for said battery case, said receiving chamber having an end wall and two side walls, one of said side walls having an aperture therein; spring means affixed to the end wall of said receiving chamber to be mechanically energized by pressure of said battery case, to store energy in response to pressure of the battery case when moved into operative position in said device to be operated by said battery; latching means extending through the aperture in the wall of said receiving chamber to releasably latch said battery case in operative position; and means responsive to a predetermined voltage of the battery for controlling said latching means to release said battery case for movement by said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 1, in which said spring means serve also as receiving terminal contacts to be engaged by the battery terminals to supply energy to an electric circuit to operate said device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 1, in which said latching means serves also to detect the insertion mode of the battery and permits complete insertion only if the battery is properly aligned for the detenting action.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 1, in which said latching means serves also to detect the insertion mode of the battery, and permits complete insertion only if the battery is properly aligned to engage the spring circuit terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 1, in which said latching means includes (a) a detent finger to engage a detent slot in the battery case while the battery voltage is adequate for operation of said device; and (b) a retracting element to disengage said detent finger from said slot to release said battery case for expelling movement by said spring means when the battery voltage drops below minimum operating value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 1, in which said means responsive to the battery voltage includes latch-releasing means and means for energizing said latch-releasing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 6, in which said latch-releasing means includes a thermally-responsive bimetal strip, and a heating coil for said strip, with means for energizing said heating coil from the residue battery energy after the battery voltage drops to a voltage value too low to be effective for the associated device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 1, in which a blocking detent prevents insertion of the battery case to full operating position, if the case is inserted in wrong polarity position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 8, in which the circuit to be energized by the battery includes a polarity-sensitive device, and said blocking detent compels insertion of the battery in proper position to achieve correct polarity disposition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A battery condition detector, as in claim 7, Wherein said means for energizing the latch-releasing means includes a transistor which is biased so that above a minimum operating battery voltage, current through the heating coil will be insufficient to heat the bi-metal strip, but at a voltage at or below the predetermined minimum operating voltage, the transistor will be in full conducting condition so that the battery current to the heating coil rises to heat the bi-metal strip, thereby bending and withdrawing the detent latch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |