1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable battery charging module and, more specifically, to the battery engagement structure used in a portable battery charging module and adapted to lock a battery pack for charging.
2. Description of Related Art
The battery charging system of a portable computer is provided inside the mainframe, and adapted to charge the battery during the use of the AC power socket.
Following the development of high technology, improved battery charging modules are developed. A battery charging module generally comprises a battery engagement opening adapted to receive the battery pack to be charged, a battery engagement structure adapted to engage the battery pack to be charged for charging, and power input/output terminals. The power input terminal is connectable to external power source for charging.
The aforesaid battery engagement structure generally comprises a locking bar and a control button. The control button is operated to move the locking bar to the locking position to lock the inserted battery pack for charging. Because the moving direction of the locking bar in the battery charging module is same as the control button, pressing the control button causes the locking bar to move in the same direction. This design requires much internal space to accommodate the control button and the locking bar and their movement. Further, the control button and the locking bar must be arranged in close proximity to each other to facilitate the action. Due to the aforesaid problem, the arrangement of the component parts of the portable battery charging module must consider the space for the operation of the battery engagement structure.
It is the main object of the present invention to provide a battery engagement structure, which requires less installation space in the portable battery charging module, for enabling the internal space of the portable battery charging module to be fully utilized.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the battery engagement structure comprises a housing, a button, an operation mechanism, and a spring member. The housing comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first side panel having an inner face, the second side panel abutted against one end of the first side panel, a battery engagement opening disposed at the first side panel, a sliding groove disposed at the first side panel in parallel to the inner face of the first side panel, a button hole disposed at the second side panel, and a pivot holder upwardly extended from the bottom panel adjacent to the connection area between the first side panel and the second side panel. The button is mounted in the button hole. The operation mechanism comprises a locking bar and a link. The locking bar is mounted in the sliding groove and movable along the sliding groove in and out of the battery engagement opening, having a front end insertable into the battery engagement opening. The link has a first end, a second end, and a middle part, the first end coupled to the locking bar, the second end stopped against the button, and the middle part pivoted to the pivot holder. The spring member is adapted to impart a prestress to the locking bar to force the front end of the locking bar inserted into the battery engagement opening.
When charging a battery pack, insert the battery pack into the battery engagement opening. At this time, the battery pack pushes the locking bar of the operation mechanism toward the inside of the housing, and at the same time, the spring member imparts a prestress to the locking bar, thereby causing the front end of the locking bar to be moved into the battery engagement opening to engage the battery pack, and therefore the battery pack is locked in the charging position.
After charging, press the button to pull the link to cause the locking bar outwards moving from the battery engagement opening toward the inside of the housing and to further unlock the battery pack, for enabling the battery pack to be removed from the engagement structure of the portable battery charging module.
As indicated above, when pressing the button, the locking bar outwards from the battery engagement opening in a direction reversed or inclined to the direction of the press motion of the button. Therefore, the invention fully utilizes the internal space of the portable battery charging module, eliminating the drawback of the prior art design in which the button and the locking member are arranged in close proximity to each other.
Referring to
As illustrated, the button 2 is mounted in the button hole 121. The operation mechanism 3 is comprised of a locking bar 31, and a link 32. The locking bar 31 is slidably mounted in the sliding groove 113 inside the housing 1 in parallel to the first side panel 11, having a front end 311 insertable into the battery engagement opening 111, a supporting rod 33, and an oblong guide hole 312. The oblong guide hole 312 is coupled to the guide rod 14. Further, the link 32 of the operation mechanism 3 has a middle part 321, a first end 322, and a second end 323. The middle part 321 defines a pivot hole 320. A screw 5 is inserted through the pivot hole 320 and threaded into the pivot holder 13 to pivotally secure the link 32 to the pivot holder 13, keeping the first end 322 of the link 32 movably coupled to the locking bar 31 and the second end 323 stopped at the button 2.
Further, the spring member 4 has one end supported on the supporting rod 33 of the locking bar 31 and the other end stopped against one rib 110, imparting a prepress to the locking bar 31 to force the front end 311 of the locking bar 31 inserted into the battery engagement opening 111.
Referring to
After charging, press the button 2, as shown in
As indicated above, when pressing the button 2, the link 32 is turned about the pivot holder 13 to pull the locking bar 31 outwards from the battery engagement opening 111 in a direction different from the direction of the press motion of the button 2. According to this embodiment, the operation mechanism 3 is so designed that the locking bar 31 is moved in direction reversed to the direction of the press motion of the button 2. By means of angle or shape design of the link 32, the operation mechanism 3 can be made to let the locking bar 31 move in an oblique direction upon pressing of the button 2 by the user. Therefore, proper arrangement of the button 2 and the locking bar 31 in the portable battery charging module 7 with the link 32 coupled between the button 2 and the locking bar 31 achieves quick engagement of a battery pack. Therefore, the invention fully utilizes the internal space of the portable battery charging module 7, eliminating the drawback of the prior art design in which the button and the locking member are arranged in close proximity to each other.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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92215419 | Aug 2003 | TW | national |