GB2270832A

GB2270832A - Battery pack

Info

Publication number: GB2270832A
Application number: GB9318792A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Howard Lavender
Original assignee: Pag Ltd
Current assignee: Pag Ltd
Priority date: 1992-09-29
Filing date: 1993-09-10
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-10
Also published as: GB9220538D0; GB9318792D0; GB2270832B

Abstract

A portable battery pack comprises a battery holder 10 detachably mounted on a body pad 30 that fits the user's waist or hip. A shoulder strap 40 and a waist belt 50 attach the battery pack to the user. <IMAGE>

Description

BATTERY PACK The present invention relates to battery packs.

Battery packs are units holding a number of batteries to provide an electrical power source. For some applications, such as television filming, a battery pack must be transportable by a single person. For operations such as film lighting up to twenty five nickel-cadmium cells may be required. This means that the battery pack is heavy (typically about 7.35kg) and may be uncomfortable to wear for long periods.

The present invention seeks to provide a battery pack that is comfortable for use even with a large number of batteries.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a portable battery pack comprising a holder formed to contain a plurality of batteries, a shaped member on one side of the holder formed to contact one side of the wearer's hip or waist region, first strap means to allow tithe battery pack to be slung over one shoulder and second strap means passing around the waist to hold the shaped member against the hip or waist region.

In a preferred arrangement, the shaped member is attached to the holder by releasable locking means.

The shaped member may be detached whilst the battery pack is being worn. The holder may be attached to the shaped member by a movement that comprises only downward vertical components.

Preferably, the second strap means passes through the shaped member. The shaped member may contain jamming means which prevent the second strap means moving relative to the shaped member when the strap means is taut around the wearer's waist.

Preferably, the first strap means is attached to the shaped member. The first strap means may be connected to the holder.

Preferably, the holder comprises an inner container holding said batteries.

Preferably, the battery pack comprises connection means to allow the batteries to be electrically connected to an electrical appliance. The pack may comprise transformer or inverter means.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pack comprising a holder, a shaped member on one side of the holder formed to contact one side of the wearer's hip or waist region, first strap means to allow the pack to be slung over one shoulder and second strap mans passing around the waist to hold the shaped member against the hip or waist region, wherein the shaped member may be detached whilst the pack is being worn.

In order that the invention and its various other features may be understood more easily, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the battery pack with the body pad detached; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack; Fig. 3 shows the shoulder strap; Fig. 4 shows a clip on the end of the shoulder strap; Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the body pad with the waist belt attached; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the jamming member contained in the body pad; and Fig. 7 is an end view of the battery pack with the body pad shown in cross-section (in dotted lines).

The battery pack comprises a box 10, a body pad 30, a shoulder strap 40, and a waist belt 50.

Fig. 2 shows the construction of the box 10. In the middle of the box is an inner battery container 20.

This is a moulded unit formed in two halves and is vented. There are four protrusions 21 on the outside of the container. The container has battery contacts inside (not shown in drawings) which are connected to output wires 16. The box 10 is also formed in two parts, 11, 12. The parts are held together by a stainless steel band 13. The edges of the box are rounded. Attached to one part 12 of the box is a fixing plate 14. This is screwed 15 to the box. The plate has three keyhole slots 16 through it (not shown in Fig. 2). Behind the keyhole slots are larger oval apertures in the box wall. There are feet 20 formed on the bottom of the box which extend below the stainless steel band.

Also contained in the box is a circuit board 25 which connects the output wires 16 to one or more sockets 26.

An XLR-4 or EP 4 output connector can be fitted.

The circuit board contains a low capacity indicator having an LED which begins to flash three minutes before the batteries are discharged and need recharging. As the discharge value gets nearer the LED flashes more quickly. After three minutes the pack is protected from over discharge by a protection circuit that prevents the batteries discharged so much that they are damaged and not capable of being recharged correctly thereafter. This cuts the power output from the pack. The circuit is reset by pressing a button (not shown) protruding from the circuit board. This must be done prior to charging. This facility prevents cell reversal. The unit is closed by a top insert 27.

On each end of the stainless steel strap 13 is a stud 28. Each stud is mushroom shaped and has a protruding shaft with an enlarged end. There is a nylon sleeve (not shown) on the shaft.

The body pad 30 is formed in two parts as a curved section 31 and a flat section 29. The shape of the curved section conforms to the shape of the wearer's hip. On the flat of the pad are three studs 32 that have flat, expanded heads (shown in Fig. 7 only). A release stud 33 also extends from the flat section.

The release stud is attached to a spring 34 that extends through the pad and is anchored to the inside of the pad. A release button 35 is fixed to the top of the spring and is movable in a slot 36.

Inside the body pad 30 is a jamming member 37 (shown in Figs. 5 & 6 only). This consists of a plastic member having transverse slots 38 through it. There are two slots 39 in the pad through which the waist belt 50 extends.

The waist belt 50 is a section of webbing with a quick release buckle 51 on it. The two parts of the buckle push together to secure the belt.

The shoulder strap 40 is a webbing strap having a nylon collar member 41 at either end. Each collar member has an elongate slot 42 to receive the strap and a key slot 43. The key slot has a narrow portion that is narrower than the width of the nylon sleeve on the studs but widens at its end. Along the length of the shoulder strap are load spreading pads 44, 45 that can slide along the strap.

The battery pack is assembled by placing twenty four nickel-cadmium high capacity cells having a 7Ah nominal capacity in the inner battery container 20 and closing the two halves together. The circuit board 25 is then connected to the output wires 16. The inner battery container and the circuit board are then enclosed between the two halves 11, 12 of the box 10. The protrusions 21 hold the battery container in place in the box. The top insert 27 is placed over the circuit board to protect it. The box is then closed by the stainless steel strap 13. The fixing plate 14 is then secured to the box. The unit is splash proof.

The body pad 30 is assembled with the pad in two parts.

The waist belt 50 is passed through the jamming member 37 and the ends of the straps through the slots 39.

The parts of the buckle 51 are then fastened to the ends of the waist belt. Studs 32, 33 are then fitted to the flat section 29 of the pad and the flat section and curved section 31 are fixed together.

The shoulder strap 40 is attached to the studs 28 on the box 10 by pushing the keyhole slots 43 in the collar members over the studs and pushing the studs to the ends of the keyhole slots (Fig. 4). As the stud passes through the narrow portion of the slot the nylon sleeve deforms. This provides a positive locking action.

To use the battery pack the wearer first straps the body pad onto their hip with the waist belt 50. When the belt is tight the jamming member 37 prevents the belt moving relative to the pad. The box 10 is then slung over the wearer's shoulder so that it hangs adjacent to the pad. The shoulder strap 40 extends diagonally over the wearer's torso, over the shoulder on the opposite side to the pad.

The body pad 30 is fitted to the box 10 by inserting the heads of the studs 32 into the wide parts of the keyhole slots 16 so that the enlarged heads of the studs are behind the fixing plate 14. The box is then pushed downwards so that the shafts of the studs extend through the narrow part of the keyhole slots and the heads extend behind the fixing plate. The box is pushed downwards until the shafts of the studs are at the top of the keyhole slot. In this position the release stud 33 engages the lower part of one of the upper keyhole slots 16, thereby locking the box and the pad together. The load spreading pads 40, 45 are then adjusted for optimum wearer comfort. The upper keyhole slots 16 are positioned adjacent to the waist belt 50 to spread the weight of the batteries as much as possible.

To remove the battery pack the box 10 and body pad 30 are separated by pushing the release button 35 towards the curved surface 31 and pushing the box upwards.

This disengages the release stud 33 from the keyhole slot 16 and moves the shafts of the studs 32 into the wider part of the keyhole slots 16. The box is then swung away from the body pad and unslung from the wearer's torso. The body pad and waist belt 50 can then be removed.

The battery pack is a closed unit and the batteries are recharged in situ. To replace damaged cells the pack must be dismantled.

The battery pack achieves an even distribution of weight across the wearer's torso.

The body pad 30 has two advantages. It fits the human body profile both vertically and horizontally whilst the waist strap 50 distributes the load into the hip reducing the load on the shoulder strap 40 to make this one of the most comfortable and acceptable methods of transporting a high volume of relatively heavy cells for portable power requirements, i.e. lighting.

The pack can be worn using the body pad 30 and both belts 40, 50 or just using the box 10 and the shoulder strap. This provides two types of battery packs to satisfy two user preferences. In a study by the Applicants it was found that 50% of their customers preferred a straight-sided battery pack and 50% preferred a pack having a curved body pad.

Once the body pad 30 has been removed a number of packs can be stacked together for storage or transport.

The construction of the battery pack means that it is easy to put on. This is because the weight of the box can be taken by the shoulder-strap 40 whilst the box 10 and the pad 30 are engaged.

The locking mechanism of the pack means that the box 10 and pad can be engaged without lifting the box, except to bring the pad and box to the same level. This makes it easier to align the studs 32 with the keyhole slots 16.

The release stud 33 prevents the studs 32 jumping out of the keyhole slots 16 whilst the wearer is running or jumping. The jamming member 37 stops the body pad 30 sliding on the waist belt 50 when the user runs or swings around.

Both the shoulder strap 40 and waist belt 50 have quick release fitting to allow the wearer to put on and remove the battery pack quickly.

A number of modifications can be made to the battery pack described. the number of cells can be varied.

the box 10 can itself be curved.

The circuit board 25 can incorporate a transformer for charging the batteries or to increase the voltage of the battery pack output. The circuit board can incorporate an inverter to produce an AC output.

The studs 32 can be on the box 10 and the keyhole slots 16 can be on the body pad 30. The body pad and box can be joined by a single protruding member engaging a slot. The release stud 33 can engage a separate recess.

The release stud 33 can be replaced by a magnetic catch.

The battery pack can be waterproofed.

It is envisaged that the basic principle of the battery pack can be extended to other pack carrying applications. For instance, the pack may be adapted for carrying radio equipment or military hardware.

Claims

1. A portable battery pack comprising a holder formed to contain a plurality of batteries, a shaped member on one side of the holder formed to contact one side of the wearer's hip or waist region, first strap means to allow the battery pack to be slung over one shoulder and second strap means passing around the waist to hold the shaped member against the hip or waist region.

2. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the shaped member is attached to the holder by releasable locking means.

3. A battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the shaped member can be detached whilst the battery pack is being worn.

d, A battery pack according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the holder is attached to the shaped member by a movement that comprises only downward vertical components.

5. A battery pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the second strap means passes through the shaped member.

6. A battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the shaped member contains jamming means which prevent the second strap means moving relative to the shaped member when the strap means is taut around the wearer's waist.

7. A battery pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the first strap means is attached to the shaped member.

8. A battery pack according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first strap means is attached to the holder.

9. A battery pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the holder comprises an inner container holding said batteries.

10. A battery pack according to any preceding claim, further comprising connection means to allow the batteries to be electrically connected to an electrical appliance.

11. A battery pack according to any preceding claim, further comprising transformer or inverter means.

12. A portable battery pack substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A pack comprising a holder, a shaped member on one side of the holder formed to contact one side of the wearer's hip or waist region, first strap means to allow the pack to be slung over one shoulder and second strap means passing around the waist to hold the shaped member against the hip or waist region, wherein the shaped member may be detached whilst the pack is being worn.

14. A pack substantially as herein described.