US5496658A — Storage battery state-of-charge indicator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 86 words

In a battery cover including a body having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, the improvement comprising a recess in the cover opening to a top surface thereof; a battery condition indicator assembly including at least one display light secured within said recess, and a thin seal adhered to said cover overlying said recess and sealing said indicator assembly therein, said indicator assembly activated through said film, and with said display light visible through said seal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 86 words

In a battery cover including a body having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, the improvement comprising a recess in the cover opening to a top surface thereof; a battery condition indicator assembly including at least one display light secured within said recess, and a thin seal adhered to said cover overlying said recess and sealing said indicator assembly therein, said indicator assembly activated through said film, and with said display light visible through said seal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said battery condition indicator assembly includes a plurality of indicator lights, and said seal includes a substantially transparent window overlying, said indicator lights.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said battery condition indicator assembly comprises an elongated housing having an upper surface with a switch aperture and a plurality of indicator light apertures formed therein; and a circuit board assembly mounted in said housing and including a push button switch and said plurality of indicator lights thereon.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said circuit board includes a pair of terminal wires attached to respective extensions of said negative and said positive terminals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said battery condition indicator is a state-of-charge indicator.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The improvement of claim 5 wherein said battery condition indicator displays state-of-charge, and has five indicator lights to indicate, incrementally, 0-25-50-75-100 percent charge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 125 words

A battery cover including a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt; said top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top; said negative and positive terminals having extensions exposed at opposite ends of said recess; a state-of-charge- indicator assembly mounted in said recess and electrically connected to said negative and positive terminals; said state-of-charge indicator assembly being sealed in said recess by a membrane applied over said open top and adhered to the top surface, said membrane having percent charge and test switch indicia thereon, and wherein said state-of-charge indicator is activated by pressure applied through said film.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 125 words

A battery cover including a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt; said top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top; said negative and positive terminals having extensions exposed at opposite ends of said recess; a state-of-charge- indicator assembly mounted in said recess and electrically connected to said negative and positive terminals; said state-of-charge indicator assembly being sealed in said recess by a membrane applied over said open top and adhered to the top surface, said membrane having percent charge and test switch indicia thereon, and wherein said state-of-charge indicator is activated by pressure applied through said film.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The battery cover of claim 7 wherein said state-of-charge indicator assembly includes a plurality of display lights and a test button.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The battery cover of claim 7 wherein said state-of-charge indicator includes a circuit board mounting a Zener diode, a test switch, a pair of microprocessor chips, and a plurality of display lights and associated resistors.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The battery cover of claim 9 and further including terminal connection wires extending from opposite ends of the board and soldered to said terminal extensions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

The battery cover of claim 10 wherein said board is seated within a housing having a top wall and a peripheral side wall, said housing top wall having an aperture for receiving a button actuator of said test switch and a plurality of display apertures overlying said display lights.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The battery cover of claim 11 wherein said housing is ultrasonically fastened within said recess.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The battery cover of claim 11 wherein said top wall includes a pair of integrally hinged extensions at opposite ends thereof, overlying said terminal connection wires.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 115 words

A storage battery including a casing and a cover secured to the casing, the cover including a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt; said top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top; said negative and positive terminals having extensions exposed at opposite ends of said recess; a battery condition indicator assembly mounted in said recess and electrically connected to said negative and positive terminals; said battery condition indicator assembly sealed in said recess by a membrane applied over said open top and adhered to said top surface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 115 words

A storage battery including a casing and a cover secured to the casing, the cover including a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt; said top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top; said negative and positive terminals having extensions exposed at opposite ends of said recess; a battery condition indicator assembly mounted in said recess and electrically connected to said negative and positive terminals; said battery condition indicator assembly sealed in said recess by a membrane applied over said open top and adhered to said top surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The battery of claim 14 wherein said battery condition indicator assembly includes a plurality of indicator lights which displays battery state-of-charge in terms of percent.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The battery of claim 15 wherein said state-of-charge indicator assembly includes a test button.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

The battery of claim 15 wherein said state-of-charge indicator includes a circuit board mounting a Zener diode, a test switch, a pair of microprocessor chips, and a plurality of display lights and associated resistors.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The battery of claim 17 and further including terminal connection wires extending from opposite ends of the board and soldered to said terminal extensions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

The battery of claim 17 wherein said board is seated within a housing having a top wall and a peripheral side wall, said housing top wall having an aperture for receiving a button actuator of said test switch and a plurality of display apertures overlying said display lights; and wherein said housing is ultrasonically fastened within said recess.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 56 words

A battery cover having an elongated recess therein, said recess having an open upper end; a battery condition indicator assembly mounted in said elongated recess and including a button switch actuator; and a thin adhesive seal covering said recess and adhered to said, such that said button switch is activated by applying force through said seal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 56 words

A battery cover having an elongated recess therein, said recess having an open upper end; a battery condition indicator assembly mounted in said elongated recess and including a button switch actuator; and a thin adhesive seal covering said recess and adhered to said, such that said button switch is activated by applying force through said seal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-03-05	1999-09-04	2000-03-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-03-05	2003-09-04	2004-03-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-03-05	2007-09-04	2008-03-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Storage battery state-of-charge indicator

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