JP2001332233A - Battery-housing case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery-housing case that can house alternatively various- kind of batteries which differ much in shape. SOLUTION: This exterior case is a battery-housing case, comprising the first housing portion which houses the first battery 20, and the second housing portion, which possesses commonly part of the first housing portion and houses the second battery 21 having a shorter total length than that of the first battery. A movable terminal 16 is arranged reciprocatingly, which retreats when the first battery 20 is housed and intrudes into the first housing portion, when the second battery 21 is housed to enable to contact with the retain the second battery 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a battery storage case for storing different types of batteries in electronic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, devices using batteries have continued to increase, and most of cameras and the like also use high-capacity lithium batteries and the like. In addition to the lithium battery, the number of batteries having different shapes and the like is large, and specific different types of batteries such as Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-32932 can be selectively stored so that the user is not inconvenienced. Battery storage cases have been proposed.

[0003]

In electronic equipment such as cameras, which are often carried around, there are many voices who desire the use of conventional AA alkaline batteries in terms of availability and price, and use of both AA batteries and camera bodies. It is desirable to provide accessories such as a power supply pack that can use the lithium battery alternatively. However, the battery that can be selectively used in the battery storage case in the above cited reference is only a combination of a plurality of single-cell batteries and a pack type, each of which occupies almost the same space. The output voltage of the AA battery is different from that of the lithium battery in a single cell state. In a camera which normally operates at a rated voltage of 6 V, four lithium batteries are used instead of four AA batteries. In addition, many lithium batteries have much different shapes, such as a larger outer diameter and shorter overall length, compared to AA batteries.Therefore, a battery storage case that can selectively store both of these batteries is used. It was very difficult to configure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a battery storage case capable of storing different types of batteries having extremely different shapes in an electronic device such as a camera as described above. With the goal.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first storage space for storing a first battery, and a part of the first storage space. Has a second storage space for storing a second battery having a shorter overall length than the first battery, and can selectively store either the first battery or the second battery. Battery storage case, retract when storing the first battery,
When storing the second battery, a heterogeneous battery is provided with a movable terminal that can move in and out of the shared first storage space so as to be able to contact and hold the second battery. This is a battery storage case that can store a battery.

In this configuration, a first storage portion for storing a first battery such as an AA battery and a lithium battery having a shorter overall length than the first battery sharing a part of the first storage portion are provided. A battery storage case including a second storage portion for storing a second battery, a battery storage case capable of selectively storing the two types of batteries, retracts when storing the first battery, When a battery is stored, it can be realized by providing a movable terminal that can enter and return to the shared first storage space and contact and hold the second battery.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the battery storage case according to the first aspect, the battery storage case includes a rotatable terminal pedestal to which the movable terminal is mounted, and is stored in the terminal pedestal. A stage extending in the longitudinal direction of the battery is connected, at least the terminal pedestal and the stage constitute a parallel link, and the terminal pedestal is rotated to allow the first battery to be stored and the second battery to be stored. When displacing between the state, the stage performs a parallel movement in the radial direction of the battery that is stored,
This is a battery storage case that can store different types of batteries.

In this configuration, a stage extending in the longitudinal direction of the battery to be stored is connected to the rotatable terminal pedestal to which the movable terminal is attached, thereby forming a parallel link, and the first battery storage state. The stage is accompanied by a parallel movement in the radial direction of the battery in conjunction with the rotation of the terminal pedestal in the switching of the storage state of the second battery and the second battery, so that an appropriate storage space for batteries having different diameters. Can be provided.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the battery storage case according to the second aspect, the first stage is capable of abutting on the outer cylinder of the first battery at the position where the first battery is stored in the first stage. A battery capable of storing different types of batteries, characterized in that two surfaces are formed, a surface and a second surface that can be brought into contact with the outer cylinder of the second battery at the position when the second battery is stored. It is a storage case.

[0010] In this configuration, the first surface which can be brought into contact with the outer cylinder of the first battery at the position when the first battery is stored on the stage, and the second surface at the position when the second battery is stored. By forming the two surfaces of the second surface that can be brought into contact with the outer cylinder of the battery, the radial support of each battery can be ensured.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera power supply pack which is a battery storage case capable of storing different types of batteries using the present invention.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a state in which four AA batteries 20 as the first batteries in the claims of the present invention can be stored.

The power supply pack according to the present embodiment is fixed to the camera body by operating a mounting knob (not shown) and tightening a mounting screw 17 protruding from the battery cover 5 to a tripod screw on the lower surface of the camera body (not shown). A chimney 2 projecting above the power pack is inserted into a battery compartment (not shown) of the camera body, and each of the camera connection terminals 3 and 4 attached to the tip of the chimney 2 is connected to a power supply (not shown) inside the battery compartment of the camera body. Contact with terminal.

In the battery housing portion 18 formed mainly by the outer case 1, common terminals 6, 7 are mounted on the chimney portion 2 side, and a terminal terminal 10 is mounted on the side opposite to the chimney portion 2, between the two terminals. An intermediate contact 8 fixed to an intermediate contact seat 11 fixed to a central portion is provided.
9 are installed. Terminal 10 of outer case 1
On both sides of the intermediate contact seat 11, rails 1a and 11a for supporting the lower surface of the outer cylinder of the AA battery 20 are formed integrally.

AA batteries 20 housed in two rows in the battery housing 18 are connected in series using intermediate terminals 8 and 9 and terminal terminals 10, and the output of the batteries connected in series is shared terminals 6 and 7. And supplied to the camera from the above-mentioned camera connection terminals 3 and 4 which are electrically connected inside.

In the AA type battery storage state, a terminal base 12 and a stage 13 which are main components of the present invention and are described later are arranged between the intermediate contact seat 11 and the common contacts 6 and 7 in a state shown in FIG. You can see that it is.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the power pack according to the present embodiment can accommodate two lithium single cell batteries (hereinafter referred to as lithium batteries) 21 as a second battery in the claims. FIG.

The movable terminal 16 fixed to the terminal base 12 appears between the common terminals 6 and 7 and the intermediate terminals 8 and 9 by raising the terminal base 12 described above. The two lithium batteries 21 are composed of the movable terminal 16 and the common terminal 6 described above.
7 and connected in series by the movable terminal 16, the output of the shared terminals 6 and 7 is the same as in the case of AA batteries.
And supplied to the camera.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are a perspective view and a side view showing main components of the power supply pack according to the present invention corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. FIGS. 3 and 5 show the AA battery 20. 4 and 6 show a state in which the lithium battery 21 can be stored.

The above-mentioned terminal base 12 has a rotating shaft 12a formed on both sides thereof, which is placed on a bearing (not shown) integrally formed with the outer case 1, and is narrowed by fixing the intermediate terminal seat 11 to the outer case 1. It is rotatably held by the urging forces of the two arms 14a of the click plate 14 held. Connecting shaft 1 formed on terminal pedestal 12 and parallel to rotating shaft 12a
One end of the stage 13 is rotatably fitted to 2b.
An auxiliary link 15 that is rotatable about a shaft 15a on a bearing (not shown) integrally formed with the outer case is disposed near the common terminals 6 and 7, and the auxiliary link 15 is connected to a connecting shaft 15b of the auxiliary link 15. The other end of the stage 13 is rotatably fitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the terminal pedestal 12, the stage 13, and the auxiliary link 15 are connected to the respective axes 12a, 12a.
A parallel link mechanism having b, 15b, and 15a as rotating parts is configured, and the stage 13 is moved in parallel in the vertical direction by the rotation of the terminal base 12.

In this embodiment, the rotating auxiliary link 15 is used. However, one end of the stage 13 connected to the auxiliary link 15 is a sliding pair on a predetermined cam surface. Needless to say, the same operation can be performed.

The stage 13 moves up and down to support the external cylinders having different diameters of the AA batteries 20 and the lithium batteries 21 which are selectively stored. FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the stage in a state where each battery is stored.
(A) is an AA battery 20, (b) is a lithium battery 21
Is stored. The stage 13 has two supporting curved surfaces 13a, 1
3b are integrally formed, the support curved surface 13a when the AA battery 20 is stored, and the support curved surface 13b when the lithium battery 21 is stored, are placed at appropriate positions by moving the stage 13 up and down. It is supported by contacting the outer cylinder surface. Both outer surfaces of each battery are supported by an outer case 1 (not shown).

A curved surface 12c conjugate with the support curved surface 13a is formed on the back side of the mounting surface of the terminal base 12 on which the movable terminal 16 is mounted, and the movable terminal 16 faces downward when the AA battery 20 is stored. The terminal pedestal 12 in the above has a surface which is continuous with the support curved surface 13a of the stage 13 moved upward to provide a storage space for AA batteries which is the first storage space in the claims.

When the lithium battery 21 is loaded, a finger is put on the finger holder 12d of the terminal pedestal to hold the terminal pedestal 12 to 90 degrees.
° Rotate it. The terminal pedestal 12 and the movable terminal 15 protruding into the storage space of the AA battery, and the stage 13 moved downward provide the storage space for the lithium battery, which is the second storage space in the claims.

As described above, the power supply pack according to the embodiment can provide an appropriate size storage space for AA batteries and lithium batteries having different lengths and diameters with a simple operation. .

In this embodiment, an AA battery and a single-cell lithium battery are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a combination of different types of batteries having different shapes is possible. Power pack can be provided. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a camera but also to any device using a battery.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, a battery storage case capable of selectively storing an AA battery and a lithium battery having a different length from the AA battery is used for storing an AA battery. When the battery is retracted and the lithium battery is stored, it is realized with a simple configuration in which a movable terminal is provided which can be moved into and out of the storage space for the AA battery.

A parallel link is formed by a terminal base on which the movable terminal is mounted and a stage connected to the terminal base.
By moving the stage up and down by rotating the terminal base when switching between AA battery storage and lithium battery storage,
The storage space of an appropriate size is provided for each battery having a different diameter, thereby improving the operability when loading the battery.

Further, by forming two surfaces on the upper surface of the stage in contact with the outer cylinders of the AA battery and the lithium battery according to the moving position of the stage, the support of the battery is ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a power supply pack of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention can accommodate AA batteries.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a power supply pack of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention can accommodate a lithium battery.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing main members of a power supply pack capable of storing AA batteries according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing main members of a power pack capable of storing a lithium battery according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing main members of a power pack capable of storing AA batteries according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing main members of a power pack capable of storing a lithium battery according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a stage showing a state where each battery is stored in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exterior case 6, 7 Shared terminal 8, 9 Intermediate terminal 10 Unterminated terminal 11 Intermediate terminal seat 12 Terminal pedestal 12a Rotating shaft 12b Connecting shaft 13 Stage 14 Click plate 15 Auxiliary link 16 Movable terminal 20 AA battery 21 Lithium battery

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first storage space for storing a first battery and a second storage space for sharing a part of the first storage space and storing a second battery having a shorter overall length than the first battery. A battery storage case that has a second storage space and can selectively store either the first battery or the second battery, and retracts when storing the first battery. A battery storage case, comprising a movable terminal which can enter and return to the shared first storage space when the second battery is stored and which can contact and hold the second battery; . 2. The battery storage case according to claim 1, wherein the battery storage case includes a rotatable terminal pedestal to which the movable terminal is attached, and the terminal pedestal extends in a longitudinal direction of the stored battery. Stages are connected, at least the terminal pedestal and the stage constitute a parallel link, and the terminal pedestal is displaced between the stored state of the first battery and the stored state of the second battery by a rotation operation. A battery housing case that moves parallel to the radial direction of the battery in which the stage is housed. 3. The battery storage case according to claim 2, wherein the first stage includes a first surface capable of contacting an outer cylinder of the first battery at a position where the first battery is stored, and a second battery. A battery storage case, wherein two surfaces are formed, a second surface capable of contacting an outer cylinder of a second battery at a storage position.