Battery pack

Claim 2

A battery-pack power supply which operates between upper and lower voltage limits, said battery-pack comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells connected to provide a main power supply having a voltage which does not exceed a predetermined upper voltage limit and a reserve power supply having a voltage which does not exceed the difference between the upper and lower voltage limits; switch means in said battery pack for interconnecting in a first position only the main power supply into an electronic circuit to be powered by said battery-pack and, alternately for connecting in a second position both the reserve power supply the circuit and the main power supply into the electronic circuit to be powered by the battery-pack; and means for ensuring that the switch means is in the first position when cells are installed in the battery-pack whereby only the main power supply becomes interconnected upon installation.

Claim 3

A battery-pack power supply for operating a device, wherein said device operates between upper and lower voltage limits, said battery-pack comprising a housing having a removable cover; first and second external terminals mounted on said housing; a main power supply contained within the housing and comprising one or more electrochemical cells having a combined voltage which does not exceed the upper voltage limit wherein said main power supply has first and second terminals, and said first terminal being connected to the first external terminal of the battery-pack; a reserve power supply contained within the housing and comprising one or more electrochemical cells having a combined voltage which does not exceed the difference between the upper and lower voltage limits, said reserve power supply having first terminal and second terminals; a switch having a first position and a second position, said switch being operatively connected to the main power supply, the reserve power supply, and the second external terminal of the battery-pack, whereby in the first position of the switch, the second terminal of the main power supply is connected to the second external terminal of the battery-pack, and in the second position of the switch the first terminal of the reserve power supply is connected to the second terminal of the main power supply and the second terminal of the reserve power supply is connected to the second external terminal of the battery-pack; and means for preventing installation of the cells in the battery-pack unless the switch is in the first position.

Claim 4

A battery-pack power supply for operating a device, wherein said device operates between upper and lower voltage limits, said battery-pack comprising a housing having a removable cover; first and second external terminals mounted on said housing; a main power supply contained within the housing and comprising one or more electrochemical cells having a combined voltage which does not exceed the upper voltage limit wherein said main power supply has first and second terminals, and said first terminal being connected to the first external terminal of the battery-pack; a reserve power supply contained within the housing and comprising one or more electrochemical cells having a combined voltage which does not exceed the difference between the upper and lower voltage limits, said reserve power supply having first terminal and second terminals; a switch having a first position and a second position, said switch being operatively connected to the main power supply, the reserve power supply, and the second external terminal of the battery-pack, whereby in the first position of the switch, the second terminal of the main power supply is connected to the second external terminal of the battery-pack, and in the second position of the switch the first terminal of the reserve power supply is connected to the second terminal of the main power supply and the second terminal of the reserve power supply is connected to the second external terminal of the battery-pack; and means for preventing installation of the cells in the battery-pack unless the switch is in the first position.

Claim 5

The battery-pack of claim 2 wherein the cells are primary cells.

Claim 6

The battery-pack of claim 2 wherein the cells are alkaline manganese cells.

Claim 7

The battery-pack of claim 4 wherein said switch is a single pole, double throw switch.

Claim 8

In combination a battery-pack power supply and a camcorder which is adapted to operate between an upper voltage limit of about 12 volts and a lower voltage limit of about 9 volts, said battery-pack comprising a housing; a cover for the housing; first and second external terminals mounted on said housing; a main power supply contained within the housing comprising eight AA alkaline-manganese cells having a combined voltage of about 12 volts; a reserve power supply contained within the housing comprising two AA alkaline-manganese cells having a combined voltage of three volts; and switching means having first position and second positions, said switching means being operatively associated with the main power supply, the reserve power supply, and the external terminals of the battery-pack to provide a first position in which the switching means connects the main power supply to the external terminals of the battery-pack, and a second position in which both the main and reserve power supplies are connected in series to the external terminals of the battery-pack.

Claim 9

In combination a battery-pack power supply and a camcorder which is adapted to operate between an upper voltage limit of about 12 volts and a lower voltage limit of about 9 volts, said battery-pack comprising a housing; a cover for the housing; first and second external terminals mounted on said housing; a main power supply contained within the housing comprising eight AA alkaline-manganese cells having a combined voltage of about 12 volts; a reserve power supply contained within the housing comprising two AA alkaline-manganese cells having a combined voltage of three volts; and switching means having first position and second positions, said switching means being operatively associated with the main power supply, the reserve power supply, and the external terminals of the battery-pack to provide a first position in which the switching means connects the main power supply to the external terminals of the battery-pack, and a second position in which both the main and reserve power supplies are connected in series to the external terminals of the battery-pack.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 and further including a member attached to the cover which engages with the switch such that the switch must be in the first position while the cover is removed orreplaced thus ensuring that only the main power supply is initially connected to the external terminals of the battery-pack when fresh cells are installed.