BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is the schematic of any single battery station when no battery is present showing the current flow path bypassing that station.
FIG. 2 is the schematic of said battery station when a battery is present, resulting in operation in the conventional mode of passing the current through the battery.
FIG. 3 is the schematic of a battery holder of 6 stations when only two batteries are present. The output voltage is the sum of the two batteries.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the construction details of my preferred embodiment of a switching battery contact.
FIG. 5 is the contact of FIG. 4 having been deflected by the installation of a battery and opening the NC contacts.
FIG. 6 is my contact of FIG. 4 when in contact with an installed battery and is deflected to open the NC contacts.
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of my invention showing a single clip to be used in an array of batteries on a planar surface.
FIG. 8 is the use of my alternate embodiment of FIG. 7 in a multiple battery, series connected, array.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the attached figures illustrate a battery contact that is basically a normally closed contact switch. If a battery is present, the NC contact is automatically opened by physical interference and current flow is diverted through the battery. If the battery is removed, the contact closes and the current flow bypasses that battery position with no voltage increase.
It has been noted earlier that the output voltage of a battery array can be modified by the selection of type and quantity of installed batteries.
FIG. 1 depicts the schematic of each battery station 10 in the absence of an installed battery. Item 20 is a Normally Closed contact switch, which is conductive past the battery station. Note that the output conductors are shorted together.
FIG. 2 depicts the schematic of each battery station in the presence of an installed battery 30. Item 20 has been forced open by the presence of the installed battery 30 thereby deleting conductivity across the station. At this time battery voltage appears across the battery station.
FIG. 3 is a 6-position battery array 40. A battery is installed in two random positions. Output voltage of the array is the sum of the two batteries due to the N.C. contacts passing current through unused positions.
FIG. 4 is the preferred embodiment of my invention. Contact 505 is the contact that is destined for being conductive to the negative end of an installed battery. The battery station negative output conductor is electrically attached to 505. Lanced clip 525 can receive the positive terminal of a prior battery if present. Before battery installation, contact 505 is electrically conductive with positive contact 510 at interface 20. Contact 510 is electrically conductive with the battery positive contact and also the positive output conductor.
FIG. 5 is the contact of FIG. 4 but deflected as a cantilever beam in the vicinity of 520 by the presence of a battery. The side portions are not constrained and so rotate with the upper portion of the clip. This rotation lifts the NC contact side portions 20 of 505 from the positive side of the battery station 510 and thereby opens the bypassing path. This places the battery in the path of through electrical current flow.
FIG. 6 is a battery 30, in place and having deflected contact 505 away from contact 510 at 20 resulting in a current path thru the battery in a normal mode. When a battery is installed, the length of the battery forces contact 505 to flex resulting in the electrical separation of 505 and 510 at 20.
A Brief Description of my Alternate Embodiment
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of my invention specifically intended to accommodate numerous batteries in series on a planar surface. Clip 50 is used between batteries. Construction details are of the two battery holding clips 60, the shorting bar 20, which is inserted into hole 90 in the next clip, and the two battery retaining tabs 80. The battery retaining tabs 80 also serve to assure the NC actuating end of the battery, the positive in this design, is inserted first. This assures contact 20 will “break before make” in order to prevent shorting of the battery during installation.
FIG. 8 is of three clips of my alternate embodiment 50A, 50B and 50C used in tandem accommodating two batteries. The clip 50A contains no battery so its shorting bar 20A is sprung up to short at the hole 90 B in the next position. The next clip 50B contains a battery, not shown, and the shorting bar 20 B is forced down away from the top edge of hole 90C and no longer makes contact across that battery location. Electrical current flowing into 50A passes thru to 50B. At 50B the flowing current passes thru the battery and on to 50C.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070275593
