The present invention generally relates to portable battery storage devices and methods for their use. Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for storing batteries in accordance with their full or empty status.
Dry cell batteries are well known household items. They provide a source of electrical current for common items such as flashlights, computer game consoles, compact disc players, digital cameras, and many other devices. The batteries come in different sizes known as AA, AAA, C, D, etc. Batteries are shaped either as cylinders or parallelepipeds. Unfortunately, the users are frequently unsure about the usability of the battery, i.e. whether a battery is full or empty, because batteries do not have readily available indication of their full/empty charge status. Thus, a potential battery user is often left with a question whether a particular battery is usable or not. Furthermore, a convenient and compact storage for the batteries is also frequently not available.
A variety of devices for storing batteries exist in the field. Some devices have separated compartments for storing full and empty batteries. Therefore, a usability status of the battery is known by the location of the battery in a particular compartment within the storage device. However, these devices are bulky and, depending on a particular mix of empty and full batteries, they can have large proportion of unused storage space.
Some other devices have battery storage that is irreversibly changed by the act of removal of a full battery from the package. Therefore, even though the geometry of a battery compartment could make it useful for either a full or empty battery, once the original battery is removed from a given compartment, that compartment is supposed to house only an empty battery, if at all. In such a package a full battery is not stored back in the battery compartment, because the full battery would be mistaken for an empty battery. Hence, that device only provides storage for empty batteries and the original, but not the replacement, full batteries.
Yet some other devices provide for storage of different sizes of the batteries, but the batteries are arranged such that they make electrical contact in serial or parallel fashion. That device can output electrical current through the attached electrodes, but the usability status of the batteries is not available.
Therefore, a need remains for a portable battery storage devices capable of signaling usability status of a battery in the storage. It would be particularly beneficial if such battery storage devices could provide high degree of utilization of the available battery storage compartments.
The invention is generally directed toward a battery holder for portable storage of disposable or rechargeable batteries. The battery holder can have several battery compartments, each suitable for securely holding a battery of a certain size. Additionally, the battery holder has visible indicia instructing a user as to how to orient the battery in the compartment depending on whether the battery is empty or full. Thus, the orientation of the battery in the holder signals battery's empty or full status to the user. The battery compartments for round batteries can have a non-round cross section, thus enabling air escape from the compartment as the battery is inserted. The compartments can be slightly conical along the axis (draft tapered walls), therefore capable of securing batteries having somewhat different sizes due to tolerances. The battery holder can be made of elastic material for securely keeping the battery in place. The battery compartments can be arranged in one or more rows, circularly, or in a honeycomb orientation. A lid for covering batteries can be attached with the battery holder. The battery holder can have a tab for keychain attachment.
In one embodiment, a device for storing batteries has: at least one battery compartment for holding a battery; the battery compartment further has an opening for inserting the battery and substantially vertical walls for containing the battery. The device has a battery orientation indicia affixed to the battery compartment to indicate a first battery orientation for a full battery and a second battery orientation for an empty battery, such that the battery is stored in the battery compartment in the first orientation if the battery is full or in the second orientation if the battery is empty.
In one aspect, the battery orientation indicia is chosen from a group consisting of a battery icon oriented downwards, a battery icon oriented upwards, letter E, letter F, white battery, black battery, green battery, red battery, solid battery icon, hatched battery icon, non-crossed out battery icon, crossed out battery icon, or a combination thereof.
In another aspect, the battery compartment is made of elastic polymer capable of deforming when the battery is inserted in the compartment, thus securely holding the battery in place.
In yet another aspect, the device further has one or more air vents for air escape when the battery is inserted or removed, thus making the battery insertion or removal easier.
In another aspect, the walls have a wall draft, thus improving a holding grip on the battery inserted into said battery holder.
In another aspect, the device further has an arrangement of the battery compartments which is chosen from a group consisting of a honeycomb arrangement, a circular arrangement, two or more substantially parallel columns, or a combination thereof.
In another aspect, the device further has a cap adapted and configured to engage with the walls around the opening, thus covering the battery in the battery compartment.
In another embodiment, a method for storing batteries has the steps of: determining full or empty status of a battery, reading a battery orientation indicia from a battery holder, and inserting the battery into the battery holder in a first direction if said battery is full, or in a second direction if said battery is empty.
In one aspect, the method has a further step of attaching a cap on the battery holder, thus further securing the battery in the battery holder.
In another embodiment, a method for determining full or empty status of batteries, has the steps of: ascertaining an orientation of a battery inside a battery holder, reading a battery orientation indicia from the battery holder, and comparing the orientation of the battery to the battery orientation indicia to determine if the battery is full or empty.
For further understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the embodiments of the present invention.
a-d show schematic views of several arrangements of battery compartments in the battery holders.
a shows the plan and perspective views of one embodiment of the battery holder and cap arrangement.
b shows the plan and perspective views of one embodiment of the battery holder and the cap.
c shows a perspective view of the battery holder with the keychain tab.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards battery holder for portable storage of batteries. The invention is especially well suited for storing a mix of full and empty batteries. The battery holder has indicia that signal proper orientation of the battery insertion into a battery compartment and, consequently, the status of the battery in the battery compartment. The present invention has features that secure batteries inside the battery holder. The details of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained with reference to
Referring now to
a-d show top views of several arrangements of the battery compartments in battery holders.
Still referring to
a-b show several embodiments of the battery holder with a lid.
c shows an embodiment of the battery holder having a keychain tab 145 suitable for a keychain or similar attachment of the battery holder 10. The keychain tab may be attached at different positions of the battery holder. A battery holder configured for two cylindrical batteries is illustrated, but the battery holders with a different number of battery compartments or for non-circular batteries can also have keychain tab 145.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. For example, the battery holder can be made of a transparent or semitransparent material, thus making the battery position immediately clear to a user. Furthermore, a battery holder can be made of the battery compartments suitable for different types and sizes of the batteries, for instance as a combination of AA and AAA battery compartments, or, as another example, combination of cylindrical and non-cylindrical batteries. Additionally, a person skilled in the art would understand that both chargeable and non-chargeable batteries can be used with the invention. Many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. These other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.