GB2311409A

GB2311409A - Improvements in or relating to electric cells

Info

Publication number: GB2311409A
Application number: GB9705715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Coleman; Gregory Phillip Spencer
Original assignee: TAMURA HINCHLEY Ltd
Current assignee: TAMURA HINCHLEY Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-21
Filing date: 1997-03-19
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-19
Also published as: GB9705715D0; GB9605953D0; GB2311409B

Abstract

An electric cell (10) includes a physical feature (16) adapted to be engageable with a complementary feature of a device into which the cell (10) is capable of being, inserted, engagement of the two features ensuring that the cell is inserted into the device with the correct polarity. The physical feature (16) may be incorporated into the casing (14) of the cell (10). The physical feature (16) may additionally be positioned upon the cell to indicate the type of cell e.g. non-rechargeable, re-chargeable, The complementary feature with which the physical feature (16) engages may be part of the structure of the device, or of means such as a discrete container or housing incorporated within the device.

Description

Improvements in or relating to Electric Cells The present invention relates to electric cells, which term includes a battery of such cells interconnected to form a unit within a common casing or container.

When an electric cell is inserted into a device intended to receive it e.g a piece of battery-operated equipment or a battery charger, it may be possible to insert the cell in the incorrect sense, which may prevent the device from operating or give rise to a malfunction which may be destructive or dangerous.

In a battery-operated device having two or more cells it may be possible to incorrectly insert one of the two cells, preventing the device from operating.

In a battery-operated device with three or more cells, even if it is not possible to incorrectly insert the cells at either end of the assembly, the, or an, intermediate cell may be incorrectly positioned, preventing the device from operating, and possibly causing the incorrectly positioned cell to charge instead of discharge, because of its reversed polarity in the battery, with the danger of electrolytic leakage or failure.

The foregoing disadvantages apply equally to rechargeable and non-rechargeable cells, and will also apply to the positioning of rechargeable cells in battery chargers.

A further problem can arise if non-rechargeable cells are loaded into battery chargers, with the possibility of electrolytic leakage and/or catastrophic failure.

The present invention has as its object the provision of means for overcoming such shortcomings.

In accordance with one aspect, an electric cell comprises a physical feature adapted to be engageable with a complementary feature of a device into which it is capable of being inserted, whereby engagement of the two features ensures that the cell is inserted into the device with the correct polarity.

The physical feature may be incorporated into the casing of the cell, and may be an indentation in, or a protusion on, the casing of the cell.

The physical feature is preferably a groove or notch arranged around part or all of the circumference of the case of the cell.

The positioning of the physical feature upon the cell may be indicative of a characteristic of the cell whereby a cell of an inappropriate type may be prevented from being inserted into a device. The positioning of the feature may indicate that the cell is re-chargeable, and may further indicate the type of rechargeable cell From another aspect the invention is an assembly including a cell and a device as referred to above in which the complementary feature of the device intended to engage with the cell is incorporated in an engaging face of the structure of the device or in an engaging face of means such a separate container or housing for the cell or cells, mounted upon or within the device.

By way of example only an embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompany drawing of which Figure 1 shows an electric cell provided with a physical feature in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows that part of the structure of a device intended to receive the cell of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows an electric cell 10, for example a type AAA, AA, C OR D cell, with a terminal 12 of one polarity, and having a conductive casing 14, which may serve as the terminal of the other polarity.

Casing 14 is provided with a circumferential groove 16 adjacent one end thereof.

Figure 2 shows a battery compartment 20 for a device, having a conductive strip 22 intended to engage the terminal 12 of the cell of Figure 1, and contact means (not shown) to engage the other terminal of the cell. The compartment 20 is also provided with a ridge feature 24 complementary to the the circumferential groove 16 upon cell 10 and positioned to engage the circumferential groove 16 to ensure correct positioning of the cell 10 within compartment 20 in order to ensure correct cell polarity within the compartment 20.

If the cell 10 was to be inserted into the compartment 20 in the wrong sense, it would be immediately apparent to a user as the cell would sit proud of the compartment 20 until the cell 20 was reversed relative to the compartment 20 and there was engagement between the circumferetial groove 16 and ridge 24.

The circumferential groove 16 may be positioned along the length of the cell and be in such location as to provide an unambiguous indication of the nature of the cell e.g. rechargeable or non-rechargeable, and, given that the device with which it is to be used is provided with the complementary feature 24 in the same position, thereby to prevent inadvertent insertion of a cell of the incorrect type into a device not intended to receive it.

It will be apparent that many different types of physical feature may be employed in place of the circumferential groove 16, for example a logitudinal groove, provided that a corresponding complementary feature is provided in the device into which the cell is required to be fitted.

The advantage of using a recessed feature, such as a groove or notch, is that cells so constructed may be employed with devices provided with the necessary complementary engaging feature, whilst still allowing the cells to be employed with existing devices not so provided with a complementary engaging feature.

It will be understood that the invention extends to to a battery of cells made up as a unit from a number of individual, interconnected cells contained within a common casing or container, which common casing or container may carry the physical feature intended to engage with the complementary feature of the device with which the battery is to be used.

Claims

1. An electric cell comprising a physical feature adapted to be engageable with a complementary feature of a device into which it is capable of being inserted, whereby engagement of the two features ensures that the cell is inserted into the device with the correct polarity.

2. A cell in accordance with Claim 1 in which the physical feature is incorporated into the casing of the cell.

3. A cell in accordance with Claim 2 in which the physical feature is an indentation in the casing of the cell.

4. A cell in accordance with Claim 2 in which the feature is a protusion upon the casing of the cell.

5. A cell in accordance with Claim 3 in which the physical feature is a groove or notch.

6. A cell in accordance with Claim 5 in which the groove or notch is arranged around part of the circumference of the case of the cell.

7. A cell in accordance with Claim 5 in which the groove or notch is arranged around the whole of the circumference of the case of the cell.

8. A cell in accordance with any preceding claim in which the positioning of the physical feature upon the cell is indicative of a characteristic of the cell whereby a cell of an inappropriate type may be prevented from being inserted into a device.

9. A cell in accordance with Claim 8 in which the positioning of the feature indicates that the cell is rechargeable.

10. A cell in accordance with Claim 9 in which the positioning of the feature further indicates the type of rechargeable cell

11. An assembly including a cell and a device according to any one preceding claim in which the complementary feature of the device intended to engage with the cell is incorporated in an engaging face of the structure of the device.

12. An assembly including a cell and a device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 in which the complementary feature of the device intended to engage with the cell is incorporated in an engaging face of means mounted upon or within the device.

13. An assembly in accordance with Claim 12 in which the means is a separate container or housing for the cell or cells.

14. An electric cell substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

15. An assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

16. A container or housing substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.