Patent Application
20130090023
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
Generally, the present application relates to battery contacts for electronic devices. Electronic devices, such as a flameless candle or flashlight, may use batteries for power. An electronic device may have a housing including a hollow interior region that houses one or more batteries. As used here, the term batteries can mean one battery or a plurality of batteries. Similarly, the term battery can mean one battery or a plurality of batteries. The electronic device may also have a cap (for example, completely removable, partially removable, detachable, etc.) to keep the batteries in the housing. One terminal of the battery (positive terminal, for example) may contact an electronics portion. The other terminal of the battery (negative terminal, for example) may be distal from the electronics portion.
Different techniques may be used to make contact with the distal terminal and thus complete a circuit so that the electronics portion may operate. One technique is to construct the housing with a conductive material such as metal. However, using such conductive materials may be relatively expensive as compared, for example, to some plastics. Another technique is to have a conductor within the hollow interior region that makes an electrical connection with both the electronics portion and a conductor on the cap or bottom. However, such existing techniques may be prone to failure.
Therefore, it may be useful to have a conductor that includes a battery terminal contact to reliably maintain a connection with a distal terminal of a battery.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle an electronic device includes a shell, a first electrical conductor, and a cap. The shell has an opening that receives one or more batteries into a hollow interior region.
The first electrical conductor is located (at least partially) within the shell. The first electrical conductor has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion at the bottom of the vertical portion. The horizontal portion may have one or more loops. The first electrical conductor may be one piece of solid wire.
The cap has a second electrical conductor and mates with the shell through the opening. For example, the cap may have male threads that mate with female threads on the shell. When the cap is mated with the shell, the second electrical conductor contacts the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor. The second electrical conductor may include a spring that contacts a battery terminal when the cap is mated
The inner wall of the shell may have a groove that receives the vertical portion of the first electrical conductor. Also, the inner wall of the shell may have a projecting portion which is located above the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor. When the cap is mated with the shell, the second electrical conductor and the projecting portion may compress the horizontal portion. The second electrical conductor may include a recessed area and a rim. In such a case, the rim would compress and contact the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor.
The flameless candle may also include an electronics portion connected to the top of the vertical portion of the first electrical conductor. The electronics portion may include a lamp (for example, an LED).
According to embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes a first electrical conductor located in a shell. The first electrical conductor has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion at the bottom of the vertical portion. A cap has a second electrical conductor and can be mated with the shell. After mating, the second electrical conductor contacts the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor.
The horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor may have a plurality of loops. The second electrical conductor of the cap may have a spring configured to contact a battery terminal when the cap is mated with the shell. The inner wall of the shell may have a projecting portion. When the cap is mated with the shell, the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor may be compressed between the projecting portion and the second electrical conductor of the cap. The second electrical conductor may include a recessed area and a rim, and the rim may compress the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor. The inner wall of the shell may have a groove that receives the vertical portion of the first electrical conductor.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the stated functions of the system.
The shell 110 may be made of a wax or waxen material. The housing 110 may have a hollow interior region to house the batteries 150 (for example, two batteries in series). The shell 110 may also have a compartment to house the separation portion 160, the lamp 170, or the insert 130. The shell 110 may have an opening (for example, through the bottom) to receive the batteries 150. A mating portion (for example, female threads) may also be located near the bottom of the shell 110 to mate with the cap 120. The shell 110 may include a sidewall that may be formed of or include a waxen material.
The separation portion 160 may separate the lamp 170 (for example, an LED) from a terminal of one of the batteries 150. The separation portion 160 may accommodate one or more conductors to provide power to the lamp 170. The separation portion 160 or the lamp 170 may also accommodate additional electronics (for example, a flickering circuit, a current limiting resistor, etc.) for the candle 100. Thus, the lamp 170 may be part of an electronics portion.
The first conductor 140 may be located at least partially in the shell 110. The first conductor 140 may extend from the separation portion 160 or electronics portion including a lamp 170 and past the distal battery terminal. The first conductor 140 may extend through the separation portion and to the lamp 170. For example the first conductor 140 may be directly soldered or connected to one of the leads of the lamp 170.
The cap 120 may mate with the shell 110 through the opening in the shell. The cap 120 may include a second conductor as will be explained in more detail below.
The cap 120 may include a mating portion 124 and a mounting portion 122. The mounting portion 122 may adapt the flameless candle 100 to mount in a candleholder. The mating portion 124 may include male threads that mate with female threads on the shell 110. The cap 120 may also include a second electrical conductor 126. The second conductor 126 may include a rim 126, a recessed area and a spring 128.
Although not shown, the vertical portion 142 may be received by a groove in the inner wall of the shell 110. Using such a configuration, it may be possible to maintain the orientation of the first conductor 140 in a more stable manner. It also may be possible to prevent the vertical portion 142 from interfering with the side of the batteries 150, for example, during insertion of the batteries 150.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the disclosed techniques may be applicable to other electronic devices, such as flashlights. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
