JP4404603B2 - Battery pack with lock knob - Google Patents

Description

 The present invention relates to a battery pack provided with a lock knob that can be attached to and detached from an electric device and is locked in a mounted state.

The battery pack is configured with a battery cell housed in a case, is attached to an electrical device such as a notebook personal computer, and is used to supply power to the electrical device.
Some of the battery packs are provided with a lock knob in order to lock the battery pack while it is mounted on an electric device. In particular, in the type in which the case of the battery pack also serves as a part of the housing of the electric device, a lock knob is often attached to the housing of the electric device or the case of the battery pack.

  The lock knob is formed with an operation portion for applying a force to be operated by an operator, and an engagement claw for engaging with a housing of an electric device, and the engagement claw projects or retracts from the case. It is mounted so as to be movable with respect to the case. The case incorporates an elastic body such as a spring that urges the lock knob in a direction in which the engagement claw protrudes from the case (see Patent Document 1).

The housing of the electric device is provided with an engaged portion, and when the battery pack is mounted on the electric device, the engaging claw is fitted into the engaged portion and locked. By applying a force to the operation part of the knob, the lock can be released and the battery pack can be removed from the electric device.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a lock knob mounting portion in a battery pack with a lock knob according to a conventional example. In this example, a lock knob 103 is mounted on one peripheral edge of the case 110. The lock knob 103 includes a base portion 130 extending along the peripheral wall portion 112 of the case 110 and a pair of locking claws at both ends of the base portion 130. 131 is formed, and a knob portion 132 to which an operator applies force is attached at the center of the base portion 130. Further, a pair of support portions 115 for slidingly holding both end surfaces 133 of the lock knob 103 are provided on the peripheral portion of the case 110.

Between the rib wall 116 provided on the inner surface of the case 110 and the base portion 130, a spring 140 that urges the lock knob 103 in a direction in which the locking claw 131 protrudes from the case is installed.
That is, the spring 140 is bent in a U-shape, the central portion thereof is attached to the central portion of the base portion 130, and both ends of the spring 140 are attached to the rib wall 116.

Such a lock knob 103 is normally located at a position where the locking claw 131 protrudes from the notch of the peripheral wall portion 112 by the urging force of the spring 140 (lock position), but when the operator pushes the knob portion 132, the lock knob 103 is pressed. And the pair of locking claws 131 are retracted into the cutouts of the peripheral wall portion 112.
JP-A-11-162429

  In the battery pack with the lock knob shown in FIG. 6, the lock knob 103 tends to be inclined when the lock knob 103 is pushed and slid. In particular, when the lock knob 103 is rotated and inclined along the inner surface of the case 110, Since the latching claw 131 is not sufficiently retracted, there may be a problem that the lock cannot be sufficiently released. Further, the smooth claw movement may be hindered by catching on the wall surface of the notch where the locking claw 131 appears and disappears.

In addition, there is also a problem that it takes time to construct the spring 140 as described above during assembly.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to smoothly slide a lock knob without tilting the battery pack with a lock knob, and to make it possible to easily attach the lock knob to a fixed position.

  The battery pack according to the present invention includes an exterior body in which battery cells are stored, and a lock knob provided with a locking claw that is mounted in a slidable state with respect to the exterior body and that protrudes and retracts from the exterior body with a sliding operation. A battery pack that is attached to a device to be mounted and supplies power to the device to be mounted, and includes a plurality of lock knobs that extend in the sliding direction. These pins were attached in parallel, and on the inner surface of the exterior body, there were provided a plurality of support portions having an inner peripheral surface facing the outer peripheral surface of each pin and supporting each pin slidably in the longitudinal direction.

In this battery pack, the locking claw provided on the lock knob is urged in a direction protruding from the exterior body and is locked by the locked portion on the mounting target device side, whereby the battery pack is locked to the mounting target device. The
The plurality of support portions are arranged on the inner surface of the exterior body in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pins slide, and the plurality of pins may be attached to the lock knob at positions corresponding to the plurality of support portions. preferable.

In the lock knob, it is preferable to form a knob portion to which an operator applies a force within a range where a plurality of pins are arranged in parallel.
Each support portion can be realized by forming a rib shape protruding from the inner wall of the exterior body and forming a hole through which the pin passes.
Here, when the exterior body is provided with an opening through which the locking claw protrudes and protrudes, the locking claw comes into contact with the wall surface of the opening as the lock knob is inclined along the inner surface of the exterior body. It is preferable to set a gap between a plurality of pins and a hole through which the pin penetrates so as to be suppressed.

It is preferable to set a gap between a plurality of pins and a hole through which the pin penetrates so that the locking claw can be prevented from coming into contact with the exterior body as the lock knob is inclined along the inner surface of the exterior body. .
It is preferable to form a groove in the support portion so that the pin can be fitted into the hole from the side surface.

  It is preferable to use a plurality of coiled springs as the elastic body and to fit each into a pin.

  According to the battery pack of the present invention, a plurality of pins extending in the sliding direction are attached in parallel to the lock knob, and the inner surface of the exterior body has an inner peripheral surface facing the outer peripheral surface of each pin. In addition, since a plurality of support portions that support the pins so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction are provided, the lock knob does not incline along the plane including the pins, and smoothly slides in the extending direction of the pins.

In particular, the plurality of support portions are arranged on the inner surface of the exterior body in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pins slide, and the plurality of pins are also attached to the lock knob at positions corresponding to the plurality of support portions. For example, the lock knob can be prevented from inclining along the inner surface of the exterior body, so that it always slides smoothly.
Here, if the knob portion to which the operator applies force is formed within the range in which a plurality of pins are arranged side by side, the rotational force is less likely to be applied to the lock knob during operation. it can.

In addition, when the exterior body is provided with an opening through which the locking claw protrudes and protrudes, the locking claw comes into contact with the wall surface of the opening as the lock knob is inclined along the inner surface of the exterior body. If a gap between a plurality of pins and a hole through which the pin passes is set so as to be able to be suppressed, the locking claw will not catch on the wall surface of the opening.
Each support portion can be easily realized by forming a rib shape protruding from the inner wall of the exterior body and forming a hole through which the pin passes. Here, if a groove is formed so that the pin can be fitted into the hole from its side surface,
Since the pin can be easily fitted into the support portion, it is easy to attach the lock knob when assembling the battery pack.

  If a plurality of coiled springs are used as the elastic body and each is fitted into a pin, the elastic body acts in a direction to eliminate the inclination when the lock knob is about to incline, so that the lock knob can be slid more stably. Can do. Further, the elastic body does not come off during the slide.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The battery pack shown in the figure includes a plastic exterior body 1, a battery (not shown) accommodated in the exterior body 1, and external connection terminals 2 provided exposed on the surface of the exterior body 1. The lock knob 3 is slidably attached to the exterior body 1 and an elastic body (not shown in FIG. 1; see the coil spring 40 in FIGS. 2 and 3) that biases the lock knob 3 is used. .

The battery to be stored is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a nickel-hydrogen battery. In the battery pack, the shape of the battery stored in the exterior body may be cylindrical or rectangular, but the battery pack shown in FIG. 1 stores a plurality of rectangular secondary batteries side by side.
And the external connection terminal 2 is connected to the electrode of each battery via the printed circuit board arrange | positioned on the battery in the exterior body 1. FIG.

  This battery pack is fitted in and attached to a recess 51 formed in a casing 50 of a notebook personal computer as an electric device, and a pair of locking claws 31 provided on the lock knob 3 protrude from the exterior body 1 to form a housing. The lock 50 is locked by being locked to the locked portion of the body 50, but when the operator pushes the knob portion 32 of the lock knob 3, the locking claw 31 is retracted and the lock is released. Yes.

The exterior body 1 includes an outer case 10 and an inner case 20, and the lock knob 3 is slidably held on the peripheral portion of the outer case 10.
When the exterior body 1 is mounted on the housing of the electric device, the outer case 10 is mounted on the outer side and the inner case 20 is positioned on the inner side, and the outer case 10 is exposed on the surface of the electric device.
Both the outer case 10 and the inner case 20 have a shape in which a peripheral wall portion is formed on the outer periphery of a rectangular flat plate portion. The lock knob 3, the outer case 10, and the inner case 20 can be produced by injection molding plastic.

The outer case 10 and the inner case 20 are joined with the peripheral wall portions 12 and 22 attached to each other. Although this joining is performed by welding, in addition to welding, it may be bonded with an adhesive or may be bonded with an adhesive tape.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the lock knob 3 is slidably attached to one peripheral edge portion of the outer case 10 and is viewed from the inner surface side of the outer case 10. FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram when the lock knob 3 is attached to the outer case.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer case 10 is formed by integrally molding the peripheral wall portion 12 along the peripheral edge of the flat plate portion 11.
(Sliding mechanism of lock knob 3)
A slide mechanism of the lock knob 3 will be described.
For the sake of explanation, the direction in which the lock knob 3 slides is referred to as “sliding direction”, and the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction along the inner surface of the outer case 10 is referred to as “width direction”.

The lock knob 3 is provided with a locking claw 31 and a knob part 32 to which an operator applies force on the outside in the sliding direction with respect to the base part 30 extending in the width direction.
In the present embodiment, the knob portion 32 is provided in the center portion of the base portion 30, and a pair of locking claws 31 are provided apart in the width direction with the knob portion 32 interposed therebetween.
A pair of slide pins 33 extending in the slide direction are provided in parallel at intervals in the width direction on the inner side in the slide direction of the base portion 30, and a slide plate 34 that assists the slide is provided between the pins 33. It is provided in parallel with the slide pin 33.

A knob window 13 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the outer case 10 to expose the knob portion 32 of the lock knob 3 to the outside of the exterior body 1, and a pair of locking tabs 31 are provided on the peripheral wall portion 12. A pair of notches 14 are formed as openings that are exposed to the outside.
The length of the locking claw 31 in the sliding direction is such that the locking claw 31 protrudes outside the outer case 10 with the base portion 30 in contact with the peripheral wall portion 12 as shown in FIG. The locking claw 31 is set to be retracted into the notch 14 when the knob 3 is pushed.

Furthermore, a pair of support portions 15 that support the pair of slide pins 33 are provided on the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion of the outer case 10.
Thus, in the lock knob 3, the two slide pins 33 provided parallel to each other at a distance are supported by the support portion 15 so as to be slidable only in the axial direction. When the portion 32 is pressed, the lock knob 3 slides stably in the extending direction of the slide pin 33.

(Details and effects of slide mechanism)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support portion 15 and the slide pin 33 supported by the support portion 15 cut perpendicularly to the axis.
The support portion 15 is erected in a rib shape on the inner surface of the flat plate portion 11, and a circular hole is formed so that the slide pin 33 can pass therethrough. The diameter of this hole is set slightly larger than the outer diameter of the slide pin 33.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the slide pin 33 is fitted into the support portion 15, the inner peripheral surface 15a of the hole and the outer peripheral surface of the slide pin 33 face each other, that is, the inner peripheral surface 15a of the hole is the slide pin. A part of the outer peripheral surface 33 is surrounded. Therefore, the slide pin 33 is supported by the support portion 15 in a state in which the slide pin 33 can slide only in the axial direction (the front and back direction in FIG. 4).

Further description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a cross section in which the lock knob 3 and the support portion 15 are cut along a plane including the axes of the two slide pins 33.
In the lock knob 103 of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, only both end surfaces 133 in the width direction are sandwiched between the support portions 115. However, in the lock knob 3 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The pins 33 are arranged at intervals in the width direction, and the outer peripheral surface of each slide pin 33 is supported by being sandwiched between the inner peripheral surfaces 15 a of the support portions 15. As shown in A, when a force is applied to the center between the two slide pins 33 in the extending direction of the slide pin, it is shifted from the center between the slide pins 33 as indicated by the white arrow B1 or B2. Even when a force is applied to the lock pin 3, the lock knob 3 slides in the extending direction of the slide pin 33 with almost no inclination.

Therefore, when the lock knob 3 is pushed in, both the locking claws 31 are reliably retracted into the notch 14 and the lock is reliably released.
At this time, the slide plate 34 provided between the pins 33 slides along the flat plate portion 11, that is, with the slide pin 33 kept parallel to the flat plate portion 11.

  In addition, the inner peripheral surface 15a of the hole is set to have a slightly larger diameter than the outer peripheral surface of each slide pin 33 so that each slide pin 33 can slide smoothly with respect to the support portion 15, and there is a slight gap between the two. It is preferable to make it occur. However, if this gap is large, the lock knob 3 may be inclined to cause the locking claw 31 to get caught on the wall surface of the notch 14, so that the locking claw 31 does not contact the wall surface of the notch 14. Is preferably set small.

Further, the support portion 15 is formed with a communication groove 15c that communicates with the hole from the upper surface 15b.
The support portion 15 is formed of an elastic material, and the groove width of the communication groove 15 c is set slightly smaller than the diameter of the slide pin 33. As a result, it is possible to force the slide pin 33 to forcibly pass through the communication groove 15c and fit the slide pin 33 into the hole, but the slide pin 33 fitted into the hole does not force the force. As long as it does not pass through the communication groove 15c.

  The positions of the two slide pins 33 in the width direction are not necessarily located at both ends of the base portion 30 as long as they are separated from each other with the central portion of the lock knob 3 interposed therebetween, but the knob portion 32 occupies. It is preferable that the knob portion 32 is located outside the range, in other words, the knob portion 32 is formed within the range where the slide pins 33 are arranged in parallel. Furthermore, it is preferable that the slide pins 33 are located at both ends of the base portion 30 as in the present embodiment.

With this setting, even when the operator presses a position (white arrow B1 or B2) deviated from the center of the knob portion 32, the pressing point is located between the two slide pins 33, so the lock knob. This is because no large rotational force is applied to 3.
Therefore, when the operator pushes the knob portion 32 of the lock knob 3 and slides it inward, or when it slides outward by the force of the elastic body after being pushed, it is always slid smoothly. In addition, even if the position of the slide pin and the support portion is switched, the slide pin is provided on the inner surface of the flat plate portion 11 in parallel with the inner surface, and the support portion is attached to the lock knob 3, the slide mechanism can be similarly configured. However, since the lock knob 3, the outer case 10, and the inner case 20 are usually manufactured by injection molding, it is difficult to form the slide pin on the flat plate portion 11 in actual manufacturing. On the other hand, it is relatively easy to form the slide pin on the lock knob 3 as in this embodiment.

(Biasing of the lock knob 3 by the coil spring 40)
Each slide pin 33 is fitted with a coil spring 40 in a compressed state. One end of the coil spring 40 abuts on the support portion 15, and the other end abuts on the end portion of the base portion 30 (the base portion of the slide pin 33). Yes.
Therefore, both end portions of the lock knob 3 are urged by the coil springs 40 outward in the sliding direction (in the direction of the white arrow C) with substantially the same force.

Since each coil spring 40 is fitted to the slide pin 33 as described above, the lock knob 3 does not come off with the slide operation.
Further, since the lock knob 3 is biased at a position where the two coil springs 40 are separated from each other in the width direction, there is also an effect of preventing the posture of the lock knob 3 from being inclined.
For example, when the operator presses a position deviated from the center in the width direction of the lock knob 3 as indicated by the white arrow B 1, the operator tries to incline with the force of rotating the lock knob 3 along the inner surface of the flat plate portion 11. In this case, the coil spring 40 on the side pushed closer to the inclination (the side closer to the white arrow B1) is compressed more than the other coil spring 40, and the urging force is also increased. Therefore, an action of returning the lock knob 3 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the lock knob 3 is inclined occurs.

Thus, since the pair of coil springs 40 also has an effect of suppressing the inclination of the lock knob 3, the lock knob 3 is translated more smoothly.
Note that the two coil springs 40 are not necessarily located at both ends of the base portion 30 as long as they are spaced apart from each other in the width direction. Since the distance is as large as possible, it is preferable that the coil springs 40 are located at both ends of the base portion 30 as in the present embodiment.

(Assembly method of battery pack)
The lock knob 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the outer case 10, and the external connection terminal 2, the printed board, the battery, and the like are attached to the outer case 10 or the inner case 20. Then, the outer case 10 and the inner case 20 are joined to produce a battery pack.
When the lock knob 3 is attached to the outer case 10, the coil spring 40 is fitted into each slide pin 33, and the knob portion 32 of the lock knob 3 is passed from the inside to the outside of the knob window 13 as shown in FIG. 3. The locking claw 31 is passed from the notch 14 to the outside from the inside. Then, while the coil spring 40 fitted to each slide pin 33 is in a compressed state, the slide pin 33 is easily attached by passing it through the communication groove 15c from above the support portion 15 and fitting it into the hole.

(Modification)
In the battery pack, two slide pins 33 and two coil springs 40 are provided. However, three or more slide pins 33 may be provided in parallel, and three or more coil springs 40 may be provided.
Further, in the battery pack, one support portion 15 is provided for each slide pin 33, but a plurality of support portions 15 are provided in the slide direction, and each slide pin 33 is supported by the plurality of support portions 15. You may make it do. In this case, the length of the slide pin 33 needs to be set longer, but the effect of suppressing the inclination of the lock knob 3 is further increased.

  In the battery pack described above, a coil spring is used as an elastic body and fitted into each slide pin. However, a coil spring is not necessarily used as the elastic body, and an elastic body such as a leaf spring can also be used. However, as described above, if a plurality of coil springs are fitted to each slide pin, the coil springs also have an effect of suppressing the inclination of the lock knob 3, so that the lock knob 3 can be translated more smoothly.

  The present invention can be applied to a battery pack with a lock knob attached to an electric device such as a notebook computer, PDA, electric tool, video camera, digital camera, and the lock knob can always be slid smoothly. A product excellent in operability when attaching and detaching can be obtained.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the battery pack concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that the lock knob is attached to one peripheral part of a case so that a slide is possible. It is an assembly drawing at the time of attaching a lock knob to a case. It is sectional drawing which cut the support part and the slide pin perpendicularly | vertically to the axis | shaft. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the lock knob and the support part along the plane containing the axis | shaft of two slide pins. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the lock knob part in the battery pack concerning a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exterior body 3 Lock knob 10 Outer case 11 Flat plate part 12 Perimeter wall part 13 Knob window 15 Support part 15a Inner peripheral surface of a hole 15b Upper surface of a support part 15c Communication groove 20 Inner case 30 Base part 31 Locking tab 32 Knob part 33 Slide Pin 34 Slide plate 40 Coil spring

Claims (7)

An exterior body in which battery cells are stored, a lock knob provided in a slidable state with respect to the exterior body and provided with a locking claw that protrudes and retracts from the exterior body with a sliding operation, and the lock knob In a battery pack that includes an elastic body that biases in a direction in which the locking claw comes out, is mounted on the mounting target device, and supplies power to the mounting target device.
A plurality of pins extending in the sliding direction are attached to the lock knob in parallel,
On the inner surface of the exterior body,
A battery pack with a lock knob, comprising a plurality of support portions each having an inner peripheral surface opposed to an outer peripheral surface of each pin and supporting each pin so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of support portions are arranged on the inner surface of the exterior body in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the pins slide.
2. The battery pack with a lock knob according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are attached to the lock knob at positions corresponding to the plurality of support portions. The lock knob includes
3. The battery pack with a lock knob according to claim 2, wherein a knob portion to which an operator applies force is formed within a range in which the plurality of pins are arranged in parallel. Each of the support parts is
3. The battery pack with a lock knob according to claim 2, wherein a hole is formed in the shape of a rib protruding from the inner wall of the exterior body and through which the pin passes. The exterior body is provided with an opening through which the locking claw appears and disappears,
The plurality of pins and a hole through which the pins pass so that the locking claw can be prevented from contacting the wall surface of the opening as the lock knob is inclined along the inner surface of the exterior body. The battery pack with a lock knob according to claim 4, wherein the gap is set. In the support part,
5. The battery pack with a lock knob according to claim 4, wherein a groove is formed so that the pin can be fitted into the hole from a side surface thereof. The elastic body is
A plurality of coiled springs, lock handle with the battery pack according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein, each of which characterized by being fitted into the pin.

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