CA2524510A1

CA2524510A1 - Battery pack

Info

Publication number: CA2524510A1
Application number: CA002524510A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Lawrence J. Green; H. Nicholas Herbert
Original assignee: Pabban Development Inc
Current assignee: Pabban Development Inc
Priority date: 2005-10-26
Filing date: 2005-10-26
Publication date: 2007-04-26

Abstract

A battery pack for supporting one or more batteries on a helmet in an ergonomically suitable manner.

Description

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention. This invention is directed to a battery pack, in general, and to a battery pack for supporting one or more batteries which battery pack can be removably mounted to a helmet, in particular.

2. Prior Art. There are many battery packs known in the prior art. There are many helmets known in the prior art as described, for example, in U.S. Patents 5,054,480;
5,711,033 and co-pending application S.N. 10/6577,417. There are instances where these components are used together such as environmental respiratory systems, medical protection systems and the like. However, in the prior utilization of these components together, the battery (or batteries) in the pack have been connected to the helmet by a cable or other elongated connector line. Typically, the helmet which is to be powered is connected to the cable and the battery pack is wom by the user, for example attached to the belt or other element of clothing. Sometimes the battery pack is located remotely from the location of the user.

These known techniques have limitations in terms of the freedom of movement of the user (in the case of the remote battery source) or the annoyance of a connector cable dangling from the helmet of the user which dangling cable can become entangled with external cable or the like.

However, it is clear that merely attempting to place a battery (or battery pack) on a helmet has several serious drawbacks or problems. For example, the battery pack must be properly located to reduce strain on the user. It must not interfere with the other functions of the helmet and/or the user, as well as other considerations.
These objectives require a new type of battery pack without making current helmet designs totally obsolete.

CO-PENDING APPLICAITON

Reference is made to the co-pending design patent application entitled BATTERY
PACK FOR HELMETS by Lawrence Green filed on even date herewith and bearing Serial No.

SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION

This invention is directed to a battery pack for supporting one or more batteries which battery pack can be removably mounted to a helmet. The battery pack attaches to a helmet headband such that the batteries are ergonomically mounted. The battery pack provides access to the batteries for obtaining power therefrom and providing recharging thereto. A control switch controls the operation of the battery pack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a left rear perspective view of the battery pack of the instant invention mounted to a helmet.

Figure 2 is a right rear perspective view of the battery pack of the instant invention mounted to a helmet headband with the helmet removed for clarity.

Figure 3 is a lower right rear perspective view of the assembly shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the battery pack separate from the helmet.
Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of the electrical circuitry of the battery pack.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a left rear perspective view of the helmet 100 which is, typically, fabricated of a lightweight plastic.

The helmet 100 is pivotally mounted to the adjustable headband 101 by suitable screws 102 on each side of the helmet. The headband 101 includes the adjustment knob 103 which is used to loosen or tighten the headband for adjustment thereof to comfortably fit the head of the wearer.

The headband, typically, includes an over the head strap 104 (seen better in Figure 2) which is frequently integrally formed with the headband 101. The rear portion of the headband 101 serves as the support for the battery pack 200.

The battery pack includes battery cases 201 and 202 mounted on opposite ends of the crossbar 203. Crossbar 203 is, preferably, attached to headband 101 by pins 204 and 205 (see details in Figure 4).

A charging jack 206 is mounted in the battery pack 200 adjacent to battery case 201 for recharging the batteries in battery pack 200. Battery output jack 208 is also mounted in the battery pack 200, typically, adjacent to charging jack 206. Output jack 208 is used to connect the electronic gear (not shown) on or in helmet 100 to the batteries in battery cases 201 and 202.

Switch 207 is mounted in the battery pack 200 adjacent to battery case 201 for convenience and balance. The switch 207 is operative to selectively connect the batteries in the battery pack 200 to the electrical components (e.g., a fan motor or the like) also mounted in or on the helmet 100 via output jack 208 or to the external battery charging source via charging jack 206.

Caps 211 and 212 are attached to the ends of battery cases 202 and 201 via latches 222 and 221 (shown in Figure 4) on case liners 420 and 450 (shown in Figure 4) in communication with apertures 453 and 452 (shown in Figure 4). Finger holds 225 and 224 (shown in Figure 4) are provided to facilitate the removal of the cap and case liner assemblies.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown another view of the battery pack 200 with the helmet 100 removed for convenience.

The battery pack 200 is mounted to the headband 101 as discussed supra. For example, the attachment pins 204 and 205 pass through the crossbar 203 and engage the headband 101.

In Figure 2, the over the head strap 104 is shown connected to (or integrally formed with) the headband 101. A forehead cushion 110 of any suitable material can be mounted to the forward portion of the headband, if so desired.

The support arms 120 and 121 are formed on opposite sides of the headband 101 for receiving the appropriate mounting screws 102 (see Figure 1) for pivotally attaching the helmet 100 to the headband.

Again, the battery cases 201 and 202 with respective caps 212 and 211 are mounted to the crossbar 203. Switch 207 is mounted in the battery pack 200 adjacent to battery case 202 in this embodiment.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown another view of the instant invention. The headband 101 with strap 104 and mounts 120 and 121 is shown. The mounting pins and 205 are shown extending through the headband 101 on opposite sides of adjustment knob 103.

The crossbar 203 is shown resting atop the headband 101. The crossbar 203 may include a groove on the under side thereof to receive the upper edge of the headband, if desired.

The battery cases 201 and 202 are shown joined to the opposite ends of the crossbar 203 as discussed supra.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown an exploded view of the battery pack which is adapted to be attached to the headband of a helmet as described supra.

The crossbar 203 is, typically, fabricated of a suitable lightweight plastic material such as polycarbonate. A suitable reinforcement bar 401 is fabricated of a lightweight material of appropriate strength, such as, but not limited to, aluminum to provide added strength to the battery pack. The reinforcement bar 401 is placed within a groove 402 in the crossbar 203. The reinforcement bar includes threaded apertures 404 and 405 which align with associated holes in crossbar 203 and are adapted to receive the attachment pins 204 and 205, described supra. The threaded portions 430 and 431 of pins 204 and 205, respectively, engage the threaded apertures 404 and 405 wherein the reinforcement bar is securely retained in crossbar 203.

At the opposite ends of crossbar 203 are found the battery case support struts and 407, respectively.

Support strut 407 includes an opening 409 therethrough for receiving switch which is secured in opening 409 by means of spring loaded teeth integral to the switch.
Support strut 406 includes openings 408 and 410 therethrough for receiving the jacks 206 and 208 which are secured therein by conventional lock nuts or the like.

Battery case 202 is formed of a suitable plastic such as polycarbonate. Case 202 is attached to reinforced bar 401 by screws 411 which pass through openings 413 in upper end of case 202 into threaded openings 415 in the end of reinforcement bar 401 which is attached to crossbar 203, as described supra. In addition, screws 231 pass through strut 407 and engage the front surface of case 202 (see also Figure 1). This arrangement provides a strong secure assembly. Case 201 is a mirror of case 202 and is attached to the crossbar 203 in a similar manner.

Batteries 418 and 419 (of appropriate size to energize the electrical components in helmet 100) are inserted into battery case liner 420. The conductive ends of the batteries, preferably rechargeable batteries, interface with connectors 421 and 421A
which interconnect with connectors 422 and 423 at the interior end of case liner 420. The connectors 422 and 423 engage the pin connectors 424 and 425, respectively, on the circuit board 426 mounted on the interlocking end of case 202 which interconnects with conductors within the battery case 202.

Circuit connectors 428 and 428A, which connect to a pair of connectors mounted to circuit board 427 at the interior of cap 211 which engages the open end of case liner 420.
Circuit board 427 is connected to contacts 422 and 423 with wires inside the liner 420.

The assembly of battery case 201 is, essentially, a duplicate of battery case 202.
Thus, the latch 221 (see also Figure 1) protrudes outwardly, slightly from the surface of case liner 450 (which is shown partially inserted therein). The latch 221 is depressed when the liner case 450 is pushed further into the battery case 201 until the latch is released and engages the latch holder 452 which is an aperture in the inner surface of battery case 201.

To remove the liner case 450, the latch 221 is pressed inwardly and the liner case is grasped at finger grip 225 (see Figure 1) and pulled outwardly. Liner case 420 is similarly removed by pressing on the latch 222 thereof (see Figure 1) grasping finger grip 224 (see Figure 2) and pulling outwardly.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a schematic drawing of the circuitry included in the battery pack 200. The circuit includes the removable and rechargeable battery 500 which represents the combination of the individual batteries 418 and 419 in liner cases 420 and 450 as shown and described relative to Figure 4.

The individual batteries 418 and 419 are connected together electrically as shown and described relative to Figure 4. The battery 500 is connected to the battery case circuitry via contacts 422 and 423 in conjunction with controls 424 and 425 which are represented by the contacts 501 and 502 shown in Figure 5. Contact 501 connects battery 500 to the toggle arm of switch 207 while contact 502 connects battery 500 to the common line 503.

The common line 503 is connected to one terminal of the charging jack 206 and one terminal of the power output jack 208. The other terminal of each of the jacks is connected to an output terminal of switch 207. Thus, by operating switch 207, the battery 500 is selectively connected to the power jack 208 to supply power to the electrical devices in the helmet or, alternativeiy, to the charging jack 206 for recharging the battery 500.

The conductors shown in Figure 5 can comprise individual wires or plated conductors mounted in the components of the battery pack 200.

Thus, there is shown and described a unique design and concept of a battery pack.
While this description is directed to particular embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations which within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. It is understood that the description herein is intended to be illustrative only and is not intended to be limitative.

Rather, the scope of the invention described herein is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising, at least one battery case for receiving and supporting at least one battery, a support bar attached to said battery case, output means attached to said battery case to selectively provide an output from the battery in said battery case, and switch means connected intermediate said battery case and said output means to selectively connect the battery in said battery case to said output means.

2. A battery pack comprising, first and second battery cases for respectively receiving at least one battery therein, a support bar connected between said first and second battery cases, input means mounted to said first battery case to permit a connection to the batteries in said first and second battery cases, output means mounted to said first battery case to permit a connection from the batteries to a utilization device, and switch means mounted to said second battery case and connected intermediate said first and second battery cases and said input means and said output means to selectively connect the battery to one of said input means and said output means.

3. The battery pack recited in claim 2 including, reinforcement means mounted in said support bar to provide additional structural strength thereto.

4. The battery pack recited in claim 2 wherein, each of said input means and said output means comprises a jack.

5. The battery pack recited in claim 2 wherein, said switch means comprises a toggle switch.

6. A headgear with a least one electrical component thereon including, a battery support for supporting a battery to be electrically connected to the electrical component, said battery support mounted to said headgear such that the battery is suspended below the helmet.

7. The headgear recited in claim 6 including, a headband mounted to said headgear for supporting the headgear on the head of a wearer.

8. The headgear recited in claim 7 wherein, said battery support is mounted to said headband such that a battery is suspended below said headband.

9. The headgear recited in claim 7 including, a switch mounted in said battery support to selectively control the electrical connection between said battery and said electrical components.

10. The headgear recited in claim 7 including, locking pins for locking said battery support to said headband.

11. The headgear recited in claim 6 wherein, said battery support includes a crossbar for supporting a battery case for supporting the battery.

12. The headgear recited in claim 11 wherein, said crossbar includes a separate reinforcement bar.

13. The headgear recited in claim 6 wherein, said battery support includes first and second battery cases for mounting batteries therein.

14. The headgear recited in claim 13 including, electrical conductors mounted in each of said first and second battery cases to interconnect the batteries supported therein.