GB2038755A

GB2038755A - Packing pieces for battery cases

Info

Publication number: GB2038755A
Application number: GB7850114A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Chloride Group Ltd
Current assignee: Chloride Group Ltd
Priority date: 1978-12-07
Filing date: 1978-12-28
Publication date: 1980-07-30

Abstract

A multicell electric battery case is provided with a packing piece which locates and protects the intercell partitions (13), and prevents the ends of the case from bowing inwards, while stopping dirt from getting into the case. The packing piece is fitted into the open top of the battery case so as to engage the tops of the partitions (13) and bear against the inside surfaces of the two sides (11) of the case which are parallel with the partitions. As shown in Figure 1 a packing piece is folded to embrace the tops of the partitions and includes portions (16) extending down the sides (11) to the bottom of the case. In another embodiment shown in Figure 7 the central region of a packing piece is folded and provided with parallel slots through which portions of respective partitions extend. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Battery case packing This invention relates to the packing of a multicell electric battery case for protection during storage, and during transmission from the case manufacturer to the battery manufacturer. The present practice is to stack the inverted moulded multi-cell battery cases on pallets in layers with cardboard pads between layers after which the layers are strapped to the pallet and a polythene bag is shrunk over the strapped pack.

That method has resulted in some damage or distortion to the partitions or end walls, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved method of packing battery cases which provides reasonable protection for the exposed edges of the various walls while yet is not excessively expensive.

According to the present invention, a multicell electric battery case has a packing piece fitted to its open top engaging the tops of the partitions and bearing against the sides which are parallel with the partitions. Preferably the packing piece substantially closes the top of the case also to stop dirt getting in.

The packing piece can be economically made of card with appropriate fold lines enabling it to be quickly packed into position.

When in position the packing piece may have ends extending along the inside of the sides of the case which are parallel with the partitions, and may also have sides extending along the inside of the case sides which are perpendicular to the partitions.

In one form of the invention, the packing piece is folded into a number of inverted 'U' folds each embracing the top of one of the partitions substantially along the whole length of the partition. Then at the sides an inverted 'U' fold leads to an elongate piece extending right down the inside of the side of the battery case to the bottom of the case to locate the top of the packing piece along the inside of the case side to prevent the case side from being bowed inwardly. There may be one or more tabs to enable the packing piece to be easily pulled away when the battery is to be assembled in the case.

In a simpler form of the invention, the packing piece has a number of slots opposite edges of each ofwhich embraces the top of one of the partitions while there are wing pieces at each end of the slots fitting into the top of the battery case to prevent the sides being bowed inwardly.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, and two embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure lisa diagrammatic elevation of one form of packing piece in a battery case, Figure 2 is a plan view of the packing piece of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the packing piece of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of a second form of packing piece, Figure 5 is a plan view of the packing piece of Figure 4, Figure 6 is an end view of the packing piece of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of the second form of packing piece.

In each case, the battery case is a moulded box of polypropylene or other plastics material, consisting of a pair of end walls 11, a pair of side walls 12, five partitions extending across the box parallel with the end walls 11, and dividing the interior of the box into six compartments of equal size, the top of the partitions 13 being a little below the top of the sides 11 and 12 which define an open top for the complete case.

In the embodiment of Figures 1,2 and 3 the packing piece consists of a piece of card which is folded in a number of folds parallel with the length of the partitions to have an inverted 'U' shaped portion 14 embracing the top of each partition 13, and an inverted fold 15 at each end leading to a depending leg 16, the lower edge of which sits on the bottom of the case. The folds 15 prevent the ends 11 of the case from becoming bowed inwardly, and the folds 14 protect the top edges of the partitions from damage due to accidental knocks. The card packing piece extends throughout the full width of the case, and so also locates against the inside faces of the case sides 12, and prevents dirt from getting into the case. A tab 17 is formed, or fastened to one or each of the end folds 15 for ease in removal of the packing piece when the case is to be used.

The second embodiment shown in Figures 4-7 does not give perhaps quite the full protection of the embodiment just described, but it is substantially cheaper and simpler to fit.

The packing piece is a rectangular sheet of cardboard 21, which is folded along four fold lines 22, parallel with the length of the sheet, so that it takes the shape shown in end view in Figure 6. The part between the two outer most folds 22 is formed with five parallel slots 23 extending perpendicularly to the fold lines, and corresponding to the positions of the battery partitions 13 which divide the case into six equal sized compartments.

The packing piece is merely folded, fitted over the partitions as shown in Figure 7, and pressed down so that the two flanges 24 on the outer sides of the fold lines 22 lie against the inside faces of the sides 12 of the battery case resting on top of the partitions 13. The ends 25 rest against the inner side faces of the ends 11 of the battery case, and prevent inward bowing.

The packing piece also locates the partitions to reduce the likelihood of them being distorted or damaged, and keeps dirt out of the interior of the case.

1. A multicell electric battery case having a packing piece fitted to its open top engaging the tops of the intercell partitions and bearing against the inside surfaces of the two sides of the case which are parallel with the partitions.

2. A case as claimed in Claim 1 in which the packing piece substantially closes the top of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Battery case packing This invention relates to the packing of a multicell electric battery case for protection during storage, and during transmission from the case manufacturer to the battery manufacturer. The present practice is to stack the inverted moulded multi-cell battery cases on pallets in layers with cardboard pads between layers after which the layers are strapped to the pallet and a polythene bag is shrunk over the strapped pack. That method has resulted in some damage or distortion to the partitions or end walls, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved method of packing battery cases which provides reasonable protection for the exposed edges of the various walls while yet is not excessively expensive. According to the present invention, a multicell electric battery case has a packing piece fitted to its open top engaging the tops of the partitions and bearing against the sides which are parallel with the partitions. Preferably the packing piece substantially closes the top of the case also to stop dirt getting in. The packing piece can be economically made of card with appropriate fold lines enabling it to be quickly packed into position. When in position the packing piece may have ends extending along the inside of the sides of the case which are parallel with the partitions, and may also have sides extending along the inside of the case sides which are perpendicular to the partitions. In one form of the invention, the packing piece is folded into a number of inverted 'U' folds each embracing the top of one of the partitions substantially along the whole length of the partition. Then at the sides an inverted 'U' fold leads to an elongate piece extending right down the inside of the side of the battery case to the bottom of the case to locate the top of the packing piece along the inside of the case side to prevent the case side from being bowed inwardly. There may be one or more tabs to enable the packing piece to be easily pulled away when the battery is to be assembled in the case. In a simpler form of the invention, the packing piece has a number of slots opposite edges of each ofwhich embraces the top of one of the partitions while there are wing pieces at each end of the slots fitting into the top of the battery case to prevent the sides being bowed inwardly. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, and two embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure lisa diagrammatic elevation of one form of packing piece in a battery case, Figure 2 is a plan view of the packing piece of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the packing piece of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of a second form of packing piece, Figure 5 is a plan view of the packing piece of Figure 4, Figure 6 is an end view of the packing piece of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of the second form of packing piece. In each case, the battery case is a moulded box of polypropylene or other plastics material, consisting of a pair of end walls 11, a pair of side walls 12, five partitions extending across the box parallel with the end walls 11, and dividing the interior of the box into six compartments of equal size, the top of the partitions 13 being a little below the top of the sides 11 and 12 which define an open top for the complete case. In the embodiment of Figures 1,2 and 3 the packing piece consists of a piece of card which is folded in a number of folds parallel with the length of the partitions to have an inverted 'U' shaped portion 14 embracing the top of each partition 13, and an inverted fold 15 at each end leading to a depending leg 16, the lower edge of which sits on the bottom of the case. The folds 15 prevent the ends 11 of the case from becoming bowed inwardly, and the folds 14 protect the top edges of the partitions from damage due to accidental knocks. The card packing piece extends throughout the full width of the case, and so also locates against the inside faces of the case sides 12, and prevents dirt from getting into the case. A tab 17 is formed, or fastened to one or each of the end folds 15 for ease in removal of the packing piece when the case is to be used. The second embodiment shown in Figures 4-7 does not give perhaps quite the full protection of the embodiment just described, but it is substantially cheaper and simpler to fit. The packing piece is a rectangular sheet of cardboard 21, which is folded along four fold lines 22, parallel with the length of the sheet, so that it takes the shape shown in end view in Figure 6. The part between the two outer most folds 22 is formed with five parallel slots 23 extending perpendicularly to the fold lines, and corresponding to the positions of the battery partitions 13 which divide the case into six equal sized compartments. The packing piece is merely folded, fitted over the partitions as shown in Figure 7, and pressed down so that the two flanges 24 on the outer sides of the fold lines 22 lie against the inside faces of the sides 12 of the battery case resting on top of the partitions 13. The ends 25 rest against the inner side faces of the ends 11 of the battery case, and prevent inward bowing. The packing piece also locates the partitions to reduce the likelihood of them being distorted or damaged, and keeps dirt out of the interior of the case. CLAIMS

2. A case as claimed in Claim 1 in which the packing piece substantially closes the top of the case.

3. A case as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the packing piece has portions which engage the lateral surface of each partition and the inside surface of the two sides of the case which are parallel with the partitions.

4. A case as claimed in Claim 3 in which the packing piece is folded into a number of inverted U folds, the top of each partition being embraced by one of the folds.

5. A case as claimed in Claim 4 in which the packing piece has at each end an inverted U fold leading to an elongate portion which extends down the inside of the sides of the battery case parallel to the partitions to the bottom of the case.

6. A case as claimed in Claim 3 in which the packing piece has a number of parallel slots formed in it over a proportion of its width, those portions of the packing piece between the slots being bent into a reentrant form and extending down into a cell compartment so that a partition extends up through each slot, there being a wing portion at each end of the slots which fits within the top of the battery container and rests on the tops of the partitions.

7. A case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the packing piece includes one or more tabs to enable it to be easily removed.

8. A multicell electric battery case having a packing piece substantially as specifically herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.