CN1164148A

CN1164148A - Battery latch

Info

Publication number: CN1164148A
Application number: CN97102097A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 乔治·L·加西亚; 克莱格·F·希多威; 法里斯·S·哈巴巴
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1996-02-05
Filing date: 1997-01-28
Publication date: 1997-11-05

Abstract

A removable battery package has a latch assembly for attaching to a latch coupler of an electronic device. The removable battery package includes a socket that mates with the latch coupler. A resilient, deflectable latch member is secured within the socket. The latch member has a latch portion to engage a portion of the latch coupler. A button, mounted on the latch member, is depressible to deflect the latch member.

Description

Battery latch

The present invention relates to locking devicen (latch device) generally speaking, more properly says the locking devicen that relates to the interchangeable battery pack of portable type electronic product.

Portable electron device as two-way radio and phone, all uses interchangeable battery-powered usually.In many these class formations, interchangeable battery pack is to be fixed on the main electronic installation by latch system.Latch system generally includes part that is arranged on the battery pack and the part that is arranged on the main electronic installation, and these two parts cooperate is fixed on the main device battery pack.

Previous a kind of technical method is: latch system comprises the locking key (catch) on the battery pack, blocks active latch latch fitting on the main device with this locking key.The end user wants to take off battery pack from main device, needs to promote the active latch latch fitting, makes it withdraw from locking key.The problem that this method exists is need spend to repair when the active latch latch fitting on the main device breaks down or damages.Main device must usually be opened to change active latch latch fitting, the expense that the result must cost a lot of money.

Previous another kind of method is that latch system includes structural member that rigidity is very big in the radio station and the active latch latch fitting that is installed on the battery pack.In general, the life-span of interchangeable battery pack is shorter than the life-span of main electronic installation, and the expense of cost is much less also.Therefore, the latch piece on the interchangeable battery pack breaks down or when damaging, its renewal cost can not surpass the expense of changing electronic installation.And, before not damaging, the active latch latch fitting just needs to change battery pack probably.

In having the typical battery stack structure of active latch latch fitting, button or other activate key (actuator) and realize mechanical connection with deflectable fork, install locking key on the fork, in order to battery pack is installed on the fixed position of main device.The common issue with that these latch systems exist is that the adhesive force between battery pack and the main device is very little.Another problem is an operating difficulties.Desirable latch system be solid, reliable, be easy to use.In addition, latch system also should be easy to make with method worthwhile on the expense.Previous technology can not fully satisfy these requirements.So new latch system that needs the interchangeable battery pack of a kind of confession to use.

Fig. 1 is the perspective view according to electronic installation of the present invention and battery pack.

Fig. 2 is the partial, exploded perspective view according to battery pack of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is the fragmentary, perspective view that shows according to the following or bottom surface of battery cover among Fig. 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is according to battery pack part sectioned view of the present invention, has shown the latch assembly that assembles fully.

Fig. 5 is according to the local figure of battery pack of the present invention, shows button and is in the unlocked position.

Fig. 6 is according to the local figure of battery pack of the present invention, shows button and is in latched position.

Fig. 7 is the fragmentary, perspective view according to radio station of the present invention shell, shows the breech lock connector emphatically.

Fig. 8 is the fragmentary, perspective view according to a radio station of the present invention and a battery pack part, shows the situation that connects of breech lock connector and latch assembly.

Generally speaking, the invention provides and a kind ofly can make interchangeable battery pack be fixed in battery latch system on the electronic installation.The battery latch system comprises breech lock connector on the electronic installation and the latch assembly on the battery pack.Latch assembly comprises the holder (socket) on the battery-pack exterior casing, and this holder and breech lock connector are complementary.The resilient latch latch fitting that can swing is fixed in the holder.The part of latch piece is connected with the breech lock connector.The button that is installed on the latch piece can be pressed downwards with the swing latch piece.In one embodiment, button can slide between the locking and unlocking position along latch piece.When being in the unlocked position, button can slide with the swing latch piece.When being in latched position, in fact be restricted by key motion.

Fig. 1 is the perspective view according to electronic installation of the present invention and battery component 100.In most preferred embodiment, electronic installation is the portable two-way radios with the Circuits System that communicates through radio-frequency channel.Battery provides power supply for radio station's work.Assembly 100 comprises radio station's shell 110 and the interchangeable battery pack 120 that is contained in radio station's shell 110.Battery pack 120 is fixed in radio station's shell 110 by the mouthpiece in the radio station (lip) part 112 and battery latch system 130, and the part of battery latch system 130 is positioned on the battery pack 120, and another part is positioned on radio station's shell 110.

Fig. 2 is the partial, exploded perspective view according to battery pack 120 of the present invention.Battery latch assembly 200 has constituted the part of battery latch system on battery pack.Battery latch assembly 200 is made up of the part 230 of battery case, a part or battery cover 250, latch piece 260 and the button 270 of second battery case.

Preferably one Unitarily molded of battery case 230.Battery case 230 has latch fixation seat 232, and this seat is rendered as groove or cavity shape in battery case 230.Latch fixation seat 232 limits boundary by several sidewalls 241,242 and 243, and these sidewalls have constituted the interface (surface) of latch fixation seat 232.Each projection (projection) 245 will extend out from an interface 243 at least, to form latch fixation groove long and narrow or that provide constraints.Latch fixation seat 232 also comprises a projection 235, and this projection forms the retention means (retention member) or the retainer (stop) of latch piece 260 in the cavity internal projection.Like this, several projections 245 have formed the fixedly guide groove (mountguide) of device latch piece 260, and projection 235 then is used to fixedly latch piece 260.Latch piece 260 is elastic cantilever structures, the most handy stamped sheet metal manufacturing.In most preferred embodiment, latch piece 260 comprises two

elastic cantilevers

262 and 264 that linked together by bridge (bridge member) 265.

Cantilever

262 and 264 respectively has a lock part or lock slots (catch) 266 and 268.Lock slots is a groove that is extended out by the end of cantilever preferably.

Button 270 is molded item preferably.Button 270 has finger buckle part (a finger grip portion) 275 who forms on the flat surface 271.Holder 273 stretches out below flat surface, forms tongue and groove (groove) 274 between flat surface 271 and holder 273.Protuberance (portrusion) 272 is overhanging by holder 273, forms the stop or the interlock feature of latch assembly.Battery cover 250 is molded item preferably.Battery cover 250 forms shell attached on the battery case 230.The wall 252 that overhangs of battery cover 250 stretches out, and covers the latch fixation part 232 of battery case 230.Battery cover 250 has a key hole 255 that holds button 270.The size of key hole 255 preferably can make the finger clamping part of button 270 that the scope that laterally moves is arranged in key hole.Battery cover 250 also has one by outward extending passage 251 in the box, can touch latch piece 260 by this passage.The recess (notch) 253 that forms along passage 251 interfaces is admitted button protuberance 272, to support the locking and unlocking characteristics of latch assembly.Fig. 3 shows below the battery cover 250 or the fragmentary, perspective view of bottom surface.On the bottom surface, battery cover 250 comprises projection 358, and these two projections have constituted biasing and the cantilever 266 of

prestrain latch piece

260 and 264 separating pad (spacer).Latch piece retainer 357 also is produced on the battery cover 250, so that assist latch piece 260 is fixed in the latch assembly 200.

Fig. 4 is according to battery pack part sectioned view of the present invention, has shown the latch assembly that assembles fully.Battery cover 250 is fixed on the battery case 230.Latch fixation seat 232 recessed on wall that overhangs of battery cover (overhang wall) 252 and the battery case is equipped, and forms opening surface shell or the breech lock seat 432 that holds latch piece 260 together with the passage 251 of battery cover 250.Because latch piece 260 is to be encapsulated in breech lock seat 432 the insides, in case accidentally drop when making battery pack born, can protect the unlikely damage of latch piece.

When latch piece 260 installs in latch fixation seat 232, should make bridge 265 and retention means 235 interlocks, so that latch piece 260 is fixed on latch fixation seat 232 the insides, and then latch piece 260 further firmly is fixed in the latch fixation seat 232 by latch piece retainer 357.Latch piece 260 disposes or is fixed in the breech lock seat that keeps elasticity and energy beat.

Elastic cantilever

262 and 264 stretches in the breech lock seat.Button 270 is installed on the latch piece 260, preferably between

cantilever

262 and 264, and can slide.Key hole 255 on the battery cover 250 should be positioned at the top of latch piece 260, and aims at button 270.Passage 251 has constituted the opening surface of breech lock seat 432, can touch latch piece 260 by passage 251.

Button 270 can slide to form the locking and unlocking state along latch piece.Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are the part figure of interchangeable battery pack, have shown the locking and unlocking characteristics of latch assembly emphatically.In Fig. 5, button 270 is laterally to slide along latch piece in key hole 255, and protuberance 272 is aimed at the respective notches 253 in the breech lock seat 432.On this orientation, button 270 can move or press, thereby makes the

elastic cantilever

262 and 264 of latch piece 260 produce significant beat.Demonstrating button 270 in Fig. 6 is to shift to latched position in key hole 255.At this moment, in order to push button 270, in fact the motion of button 270 is restricted.When pushing button 270 the time, protuberance 272 can support the part battery cover, produces obvious beat with the

cantilever

262 and 264 that prevents or suppress latch piece 260.Correspondingly, button 270 can slide between the locking and unlocking position along cantilever 262 and 264.In an alternative embodiment, also can cause the locking and unlocking state by the position of conversion protuberance 272 and respective notches 253.For example can be arranged at recess in the button 270, protuberance is extended in the breech lock seat 432.

Fig. 7 is the fragmentary, perspective view according to radio station of the present invention shell 700 assemblies, shows the part of latch system emphatically.Radio station's shell 110 comprises breech lock connector or the plug (plug portion) 700 with latch assembly 200 coupling of battery pack 120.Breech lock connector 700 has locking key 715, and these two locking keys are corresponding with latch piece 260 upper locking grooves 266 and 268 of latch assembly 200 respectively.In most preferred embodiment, locking key is a surface 710 extended protuberances from breech lock connector 700.Breech lock connector 700 also comprises contact pin (tab) 720, in case when breech lock connector 700 is installed inappropriately, this breech lock connector can be disassembled from holder by contact pin.Concave surface 705 is used for holding or accepts button 270, just is unlikely to hinder button assembly like this when breech lock connector 700 is connected with latch assembly 200.

Fig. 8 is the fragmentary, perspective view according to part radio station of the present invention and battery component 800, shows the situation that engages of breech lock connector 700 and latch assembly 200.Breech lock connector 700 should make latch piece 260 be the bias shape and be associated in breech lock connector 700 cards when connecting with breech lock seat 432.The lock slots 266 of latch piece 260 and 268 and the locking key 715 of breech lock connector be interlocked so that battery pack is fixed on radio station's shell.Can push button, make the latch piece beat,, thereby battery pack be taken off from radio station's shell so that free being connected of latch piece and breech lock connector.

The present invention can bring tangible benefit.The battery latch system can provide a kind of reliable, solid and easy operating, bolt lock mechanism of adopting certain locking scheme.The part of most of latch system all can be molded as an integral body with battery-pack exterior casing, and other parts also all are easy to assembling, provide like this to have very high manufacturability and economical manufacture method.

Although most preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrates with illustration, and is described, obviously the present invention is not limited to these.The technical staff can expect various remodeling, variation, variation, substitute and equivalent under the situation of the spirit and scope of the invention that appended claims limited.

Claims

1. the interchangeable battery pack of being convenient to the latch assembly that is connected with electronic installation is housed, the breech lock connector is housed on the electronic installation, this interchangeable battery pack comprises:

The battery case that has the breech lock seat that links mutually with the breech lock connector;

Be fixed on the latch piece in the breech lock seat, this latch piece has elasticity, but beat, and primary importance is the bias shape, and the lock part of kayser breech lock connector is arranged;

Be installed in the button on the latch piece, this button can be pressed, and makes the latch piece beat to the second place.

2. the battery pack of claim 1 is characterized in that:

Button can slide between locked along latch piece;

When button was in the unlocked position, button can move, and made the latch piece beat to the second place;

When button is in latched position, in fact be restricted by key motion.

3. the battery pack of claim 1, it is characterized in that: the breech lock seat is to be limited by several sidewalls, wherein has at least a sidewall to have through key hole wherein.

4. the battery pack of claim 3, it is characterized in that: battery case comprises first battery case, this battery case has one by first and second cavity part that limits, extended projection is arranged on first, second face also has some projections, these projections become with first on the projection that adjoins mutually of respective bump, thereby form long and narrow passage; First battery case has the bossing that extends in the cavity part.

5. the battery pack of claim 4, it is characterized in that: the breech lock seat is limited by second battery case, second battery case is fixed on first battery case, thereby and have an overhanging wall that overhangs to cover the top formation breech lock seat of cavity part, the above-mentioned wall that overhangs has constituted a sidewall at least.

6. electronic installation and battery pack comprise:

The electronic device housing that has the breech lock connector;

The battery case that has the breech lock seat;

Be configured in the latch piece in the breech lock seat, latch piece has elasticity, but and beat;

Be installed in the button in the battery case, button can be movable, so that beat latch piece optionally;

The feature of electronic installation and battery pack is:

The breech lock connector is connected with the breech lock seat selectively, that is to say to make latch piece be bias shape and the interlock mutually of breech lock connector, thereby battery case is fixed on the shell of electronic installation;

Button can followingly be pressed, and with the beat latch piece, latch piece and breech lock connector is thrown off, and then makes battery case break away from the shell of electronic installation.

7. the electronic installation of claim 6 and battery pack, it is characterized in that: button can slide between locked along latch piece;

When button is in the unlocked position, can mobile button, with the beat latch piece;

When button was in latched position, the motion reality of button was restricted.

8. the electronic installation of claim 6 and battery component, it is characterized in that: the breech lock seat is limited by several sidewalls, has at least on the sidewall to have through key hole wherein, and it is characterized in that button stretches out sidewall by this key hole.

9. radio station and battery component comprise:

The radio station's shell that has the breech lock connector;

Interchangeable battery pack can be installed on radio station's shell, also can take off from this shell, and interchangeable battery apparatus has latch assembly, and when interchangeable battery pack was fitted on radio station's shell, latch assembly just was linked together with the breech lock connector, and latch assembly comprises:

The battery case of latch fixation seat and the key hole that adjoins with holder are arranged;

Be fixed on the cantilever part in the holder, this cantilever part has locking key;

Be installed in the button on the cantilever part, button is by the cantilever part bias, and placing the button in the key hole is movably;

The feature of radio station and battery component is: the locking key of cantilever part and the snap-in of breech lock connector, simultaneously can mobile button, and make the cantilever part beat, thereby make locking key and the disengagement of breech lock connector.

10. the radio station of claim 9 and battery component is characterized in that:

Button can slide between locked along cantilever part;

When button was in the unlocked position, button can move, with the beat cantilever part; When button was in latched position, the motion of button was restricted in fact.