Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A sealed feed-through for interconnecting two cells of an alkaline storage battery by passing through a wall of said battery in a sealed manner, said battery including a monobloc casing of plastic material defining at least two battery cell compartments which are separated by said wall, said wall having an orifice for receiving said feed-through; said feed-through comprising: a first portion for electrical connection to electrodes of a first polarity in a first of said two cells to be interconnected by means of the feed-through; and a second portion for electrical connection to electrodes of a second, opposite, polarity in the second of said two cells to be interconnected by means of the feed-through; the improvement wherein said first and second portions include interfitting male and female portions suitable for passing through said orifice from opposite sides thereof and for engaging each other in a force fit; wherein said first and second portions further include respective skirts surrounding said interfitting portions and serving to compress at least one deformable sealing member around said orifice; and wherein said first and second portions include interacting abutment surfaces to define a fully-home position in which the portions are prevented from moving into closer relationship, thereby ensuring that the act of forcing the portions together does not crush the plastic wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A sealed feed-through for interconnecting two cells of an alkaline storage battery by passing through a wall of said battery in a sealed manner, said battery including a monobloc casing of plastic material defining at least two battery cell compartments which are separated by said wall, said wall having an orifice for receiving said feed-through; said feed-through comprising: a first portion for electrical connection to electrodes of a first polarity in a first of said two cells to be interconnected by means of the feed-through; and a second portion for electrical connection to electrodes of a second, opposite, polarity in the second of said two cells to be interconnected by means of the feed-through; the improvement wherein said first and second portions include interfitting male and female portions suitable for passing through said orifice from opposite sides thereof and for engaging each other in a force fit; wherein said first and second portions further include respective skirts surrounding said interfitting portions and serving to compress at least one deformable sealing member around said orifice; and wherein said first and second portions include interacting abutment surfaces to define a fully-home position in which the portions are prevented from moving into closer relationship, thereby ensuring that the act of forcing the portions together does not crush the plastic wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A feed-through according to claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a central peg and the second portion includes a central bore to receive said peg, the peg being surrounded by an abutment surface for engaging the end of the second portion surrounding said bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A feed-through according to claim 1, wherein each of said skirts includes a recessed portion on its wall-facing side for receiving the at leat one deformable sealing member, and wherein at least a part of each skirt bears lightly on the face of the wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A feed-through according to claim 1, wherein said deformable sealing member comprises a single grommet fitted round the edge of the orifice prior to forcing the first and second portions together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A feed-through according to claim 1, wherein said at least one deformable sealing member comprises a pair of sealing rings, each of which is compressed between the skirt of a respective one of the first and second members and the facing surface of the wall.