GB2231711A

GB2231711A - Battery carrying belt

Info

Publication number: GB2231711A
Application number: GB8910911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Harmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-23
Filing date: 1989-05-12
Publication date: 1990-11-21
Also published as: GB8910911D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a rechargeable, portable power supply for a miner's cap lamp or the like. The rechargeable, portable power supply assembly comprises a plurality of co-operating battery units operatively supported on a flexible belt at spaced positions along the length thereof. The portable power supply is particularly well suited for transportation on the body of a person and conveniently includes a plurality of dry cell batteries.

Description

"PORTABLE POWER SUPPLY ASSEMBLY FOR A MINER'S LAMP OR THE LIKE" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a portable power supply for a miner's cap lamp or the like and, more particularly, to a rechargeable power supply in the form of a portable battery assembly particularly well suited for transportation on the body of a person.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION /Power supplies Power supplies for miners' cap lamps as at present used widely in underground mines generally comprise a single rechargeable battery unit contained in a housing therefor and which is adapted to be suspended, in releasable manner, from a belt worn around the torso of a miner.

Such battery units are relatively heavy, and accordingly provide a lopsided or uneven load to a belt on which they are carried and, in consequence lead to discomfort, at least over a prolonged period of usage.

It is the object of this invention to provide a rechargeable portable power supply for a miner's cap lamp or the like which is better suited to being transported on the body of a person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a portable power supply assembly comprising a plurality of co-operating battery units operatively supported on a flexible belt at spaced positions along the length /thereof, the thereof, the battery units being operatively electrically interconnected.

Further features of the invention provide for there to be multiple battery units extending over an appreciable proportion of the length of the belt, preferably over at least a third of the length thereof, and even more preferably over at least a half of the length of the belt; for each battery unit to be of a generally cylindrical nature with the axis thereof extending at right angles to the length of the belt; for each battery unit optionally to comprise two or more co-axially arranged individual batteries preferably located in a tubular housing therefor; for the plurality of battery units to be rechargeable; for the belt to be provided with an input socket whereby a recharging power supply may be connected thereto; and for each battery unit to be defined by one or more conventional cylindrical dry cell rechargeable batteries.

Conveniently one or more sub-assemblies of battery units, conveniently carried by a flexible strap, are accommodated removably within co-operating pouches /extending along extending along the length of a belt and wherein the belt includes resilient padding material operatively located between the battery units and body of a wearer in use. Such sub-assemblies, in the case where the batteries are dry cell cylindrical batteries of conventional shape have cap units interconnecting the terminal ends of spaced juxtaposed parallel batteries, such cap units conveniently simply clipping over the end region of a battery.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment as well as a number of variations thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings : FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a belt and power pack assembly according to this invention; / FIG. 2 is FIG. 2 is a similar view but illustrating one pouch containing a plurality of battery units in the open condition; FIG. 3 is an isometric schematic illustration of a locating strip for the plurality of battery units; FIG. 4 illustrates cap units interconnecting adjacent battery units electrically and physically.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a housing containing two co-axial dry cell batteries defining a battery unit; and, FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional isometric view of a short length of belt showing the battery secured thereby.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS /In the In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a miner's belt, generally indicated by numeral 1, has two independent sections 2 of its length, each of which extends over approximately one-third of the length of the belt, formed into pouches 3, each of which has a closure flap 4 and is adapted to contain a sub-assembly of individual battery units 5. Each battery unit 5 is preferably of cylindrical shape with the axis extending transversely at right angles to the length of the belt and located by means of locating loops 6 on a carrier strap 7.One of these sub-assemblies consisting of a carrier strap 7 and series of parallel battery units 5 located by the loops 6 is introduced into each of the pouches and interconnected with a central connection zone 8 adapted to be located at the rear of a person when the belt is being worn.

Each battery unit may consist of a single dry cell, rechargeable battery of conventional commercially available type and which may be of a size commonly referred to as "penlight" of "AA". Alternatively, and as illustrated in Fig. 5, each battery unit may comprise a pair of co-axial batteries 9 preferably located in a locating housing 10 of tubular shape. In /the latter the latter case the tubular housing 10 is located by the locating loops 6 on the carrier strap 7.

In either event electrical and physical interconnection of the opposite ends of each battery unit is achieved by the use of cap units 11 which snap onto the ends of a battery unit and serve to locate them in a parallel relationship relative to each other, to electrically connect the terminals thereof, and also to define articulated joints between them. The articulated joints thus defined mean that the entire battery unit and carrier strap assembly is flexible, at least in a direction transverse to the length thereof.

Each of the pouches as well as the connection zone 8 have a layer 12 of foamed resilient material located between the carrier strap 7 and the rear 13 of the belt which is in contact with a wearer in use.

Conveniently the flaps 4 can be maintained in a closed position by press-studs 14 and, in addition, by cover straps 15 which can be used to cover the entire length of the flap 4 in the closed position.

/The connection The connection zone 8 is provided with a socket 16 adapted for receiving of an electrical plug 17, the socket 16 being electrically connected to the battery units. This socket 16 can be employed either for receiving the plug 17 connected to a miner's cap lamp, for example, or, alternatively, for receiving a plug connected to a charging power supply in order to recharge the battery units.

It will be appreciated that, in use, the above described power supply and belt assembly, in consequence of the multiple battery units carried by the belt but extending over a substantial part of the length thereof, distribute evenly over an appreciable length of the belt the weight of the battery assembly.

It is believed that such an assembly will be substantially more comfortable for prolonged wearing by a user thereof.

Clearly the belt itself can be made of any suitable flexible material such as, for example, canvas or any other woven or non-woven flexible sheet material.

/It will It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the above described embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope hereof which is limited only to the provision of a plurality of battery units supported by a single belt assembly and spaced apart along the length thereof in order to distribute the weight of the battery assembly. Also, the belt and power supply assembly could be used for any other suitable purpose without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A portable power supply assembly comprising a plurality of co-operating battery units operatively supported on a flexible belt at spaced positions along the length thereof, the battery units being operatively electrically interconnected.

2. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which multiple battery units extend over an appreciable portion of the length of the belt.

3. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the multiple battery units extend over at least a third of the length of the belt.

4. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the multiple battery units extend over at least half of the length of the belt.

5. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which each battery unit is of a generally cylindrical nature with the axis thereof extending at right angles to the length of the belt.

6. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which each battery unit comprises two or more co-axially arranged individual batteries located in a tubular housing therefor.

7. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the plurality of co-operating battery units are rechargeable.

8. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which the flexible belt is provided with an input socket to which a recharging power supply may be connected.

9. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which each battery unit is defined by one or more conventional, cylindrical, dry, cell, rechargeable batteries.

lo. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 in which one or more sub-assemblies of battery units are carried by a flexible strap.

11. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in claim 10 in which the sub-assemblies are accommodated removably within co-operating pouches extending along the length of the belt.

12. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 in which the belt includes resilient padding material operatively located between the battery units and body of a wearer in use.

13. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in which the battery units include cylindri cal dry cell batteries of conventional shape, and cap units interconnect the terminal ends of spaced juxtaposed parallel batteries.

14. A portable power supply assembly as claimed in claim 13 to 13 in which each cap unit clips over the associated end region of a battery.

15. A portable power supply assembly substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.