WO2002103820A2 - Battery adaptor - Google Patents

Battery adaptor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002103820A2
WO2002103820A2 PCT/GB2002/002786 GB0202786W WO02103820A2 WO 2002103820 A2 WO2002103820 A2 WO 2002103820A2 GB 0202786 W GB0202786 W GB 0202786W WO 02103820 A2 WO02103820 A2 WO 02103820A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
battery
adaptor
adaptors
length
standard commercial
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2002/002786
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2002103820A3 (en
Inventor
Jules Anthony Sherrington
Original Assignee
Jules Anthony Sherrington
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jules Anthony Sherrington filed Critical Jules Anthony Sherrington
Priority to AU2002304446A priority Critical patent/AU2002304446A1/en
Publication of WO2002103820A2 publication Critical patent/WO2002103820A2/en
Publication of WO2002103820A3 publication Critical patent/WO2002103820A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • H01M50/218—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by the material
    • H01M50/22—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by the material of the casings or racks
    • H01M50/227—Organic material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • H01M50/202—Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/10—Primary casings, jackets or wrappings of a single cell or a single battery
    • H01M50/102—Primary casings, jackets or wrappings of a single cell or a single battery characterised by their shape or physical structure
    • H01M50/107—Primary casings, jackets or wrappings of a single cell or a single battery characterised by their shape or physical structure having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus facilitating the use of a battery, and to a method of using the battery, for example in electrical equipment with a battery compartment for one or more batteries of particular sizes.
  • Battery-operated electrical devices and appliances usually accommodate one or more batteries in a compartment, and the compartment is designed to accommodate and retain batteries only of one specific standard size.
  • These standard sizes are known commercially as AAA, AA, C and D cells, in particular, and the approximate outer diameters and lengths of these batteries are as follows:
  • Examples of battery-operated equipment include remote controllers, personal audio players, pocket memos, radios, televisions, camcorders, torches and toothbrushes. Some of these take just one battery, but many take two or more batteries, usually of the same size.
  • the present invention is intended to solve this problem in certain situations.
  • the invention has arisen from this observation, and provides a battery adaptor consisting of a hollow tube whose inner and outer diameters match two standard commercial battery outer diameters respectively and whose length matches the length of at least one of those standard commercial batteries.
  • the battery adaptor can therefore effectively enlarge the diameter of a smaller battery to enable it fit a compartment intended for a larger battery.
  • the battery adaptor may comprise a closed end with an electrically conductive end, such as a plate, connected to an axially resiliently deformable internal connector.
  • the overall length to the end matches the length of one standard commercial battery and the inner length to the connector matches the length of another, smaller, standard commercial battery.
  • the battery adaptors will be sold in sets, in some cases the members of the set all being the same size, but in other cases the members of the set including adaptors of different sizes so that they can nest within each other. Appropriate sets of adaptors would therefore be devised to meet the potential need for a plurality of equally sized batteries, or a number of differently sized batteries, or a mixture.
  • the adaptors would typically be sold together with batteries of standard commercial size, and/or with electrical appliances such as torches.
  • the tube or tubes are preferably of plastics.
  • the invention provides a corresponding method of accommodating and retaining a battery in a compartment intended for a larger battery, comprising inserting the battery lengthwise into an adaptor according to the invention as defined above such that there is a snug fit, the adaptor matching the size of the intended larger battery, and inserting the adaptor in the compartment.
  • Figure 1 is an axial section across the diameter of a battery adaptor embodying the invention
  • Figure 2 is a side view of a standard commercial battery which fits snugly within the adaptor of figure 1 so that it can be. used in place of the standard commercial battery on figure 4;
  • Figure 3 is a view corresponding to figure 1 , but of a larger battery adaptor, intended to accommodate snugly the battery of figure 4 so that it can be used in place of the battery of figure 6;
  • Figure 4 is a view corresponding to figure 2, of a standard commercial battery
  • Figure 5 is a view corresponding to that of figures 1 and 3, of a still larger battery adaptor embodying the invention, and intended to accommodate the battery of figure 6;
  • Figure 6 is a view corresponding to figures 2 and 4, of a larger standard commercial battery.
  • a nesting set of three adaptors embodying the invention is intended to be used selectively to adapt a AAA cell for use as a AA cell and/or a AA cell to be used as a C cell and/or a C cell to be used as a D cell.
  • the standard commercial AAA cell is shown in figure 2, and it is intended to fit snugly into the tubular plastics adaptor of figure 1 , which is about 5 mm longer and whose inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the cell.
  • the open end of the tube exposes the positive end terminal of the cell for normal connection in use.
  • the other end is closed by an electrically conductive cap or plate 11 to which is bonded a cylindrical compression spring 10 for establishing a good contact with the negative battery terminal when fully inserted.
  • the standard AA cell is shown in figure 4, and is intended to fit snugly, in a similar way, into the tubular adaptor of figure 3, whose outer diameter matches that of a C cell, as shown in figure 6.
  • the adaptor of figure 3 is open-ended at both ends, because AA and C cells have the same length so no length adaptation is required.
  • Standard C and D cells have different lengths, and in order to adapt a C cell, as shown in figure 6, for use as a D cell, the adaptor of figure 5 has a closed end with an electrically conductive end plate 1 connected electrically to an axially resiliently deformable internal connector, in the form of a spiral spring 2. When inserted into the adaptor of figure 5, the cell of figure 6 deforms the spring 2, to establish a good electrical connection.
  • two or more of the adaptors of figures 1 , 3 and 5 may be used in the nested configuration, to provide a further level of adaptation.
  • the AAA cell of figure 2 could be used as though it were a standard commercial D cell, by inserting it into all three nested adaptors.
  • the tubes are preferably of plastics material, such as PTFE, but any appropriate material could be used, conductive or non-conductive. A degree of resilient deformability is desirable, in order to provide a snug friction fit between the battery and the adaptor, and between the adaptor and any nested adaptors. Whilst the tubes may be of solid construction as illustrated, this is not essential, and they could have an open construction, for example using radial walls dividing the space into cells, or using a material which has an open structure such as expanded polystyrene.
  • the adaptor or sets of adaptors would typically be sold adjacent to batteries, or as a kit with batteries or with torches or other appliances. . In this sense, they are regarded as complementary accessories.

Abstract

A battery adaptor consisting of a hollow tube whose inner and outer diameters match two standard commercial battery outer diameters respectively and whose length matches the length of at least of one those standard commercial batteries.

Description

Apparatus for use with a Battery, and Method of using a Battery
This invention relates to apparatus facilitating the use of a battery, and to a method of using the battery, for example in electrical equipment with a battery compartment for one or more batteries of particular sizes.
Battery-operated electrical devices and appliances usually accommodate one or more batteries in a compartment, and the compartment is designed to accommodate and retain batteries only of one specific standard size. These standard sizes are known commercially as AAA, AA, C and D cells, in particular, and the approximate outer diameters and lengths of these batteries are as follows:
Cell type Diameter Length (mm) D 33 57 C 25 48
AA 14 48 AAA 10 43
Examples of battery-operated equipment include remote controllers, personal audio players, pocket memos, radios, televisions, camcorders, torches and toothbrushes. Some of these take just one battery, but many take two or more batteries, usually of the same size.
A frequent problem arises when the battery or batteries run out of energy, and there are no replacements readily to hand. The present invention is intended to solve this problem in certain situations.
It has been observed that the shortage of a specific standard battery could be overcome by using a smaller standard battery, if only there were a way of accommodating and retaining the smaller battery in the compartment or space intended for the larger battery. The invention has arisen from this observation, and provides a battery adaptor consisting of a hollow tube whose inner and outer diameters match two standard commercial battery outer diameters respectively and whose length matches the length of at least one of those standard commercial batteries. The battery adaptor can therefore effectively enlarge the diameter of a smaller battery to enable it fit a compartment intended for a larger battery.
Some standard commercial batteries differ not only in diameter but also in length, and in order to adapt for changes in both dimensions the battery adaptor may comprise a closed end with an electrically conductive end, such as a plate, connected to an axially resiliently deformable internal connector.
Thus it is preferred that the overall length to the end matches the length of one standard commercial battery and the inner length to the connector matches the length of another, smaller, standard commercial battery.
It is contemplated that the battery adaptors will be sold in sets, in some cases the members of the set all being the same size, but in other cases the members of the set including adaptors of different sizes so that they can nest within each other. Appropriate sets of adaptors would therefore be devised to meet the potential need for a plurality of equally sized batteries, or a number of differently sized batteries, or a mixture. The adaptors would typically be sold together with batteries of standard commercial size, and/or with electrical appliances such as torches.
The tube or tubes are preferably of plastics.
The invention provides a corresponding method of accommodating and retaining a battery in a compartment intended for a larger battery, comprising inserting the battery lengthwise into an adaptor according to the invention as defined above such that there is a snug fit, the adaptor matching the size of the intended larger battery, and inserting the adaptor in the compartment.
In order that the invention may be better understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an axial section across the diameter of a battery adaptor embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a standard commercial battery which fits snugly within the adaptor of figure 1 so that it can be. used in place of the standard commercial battery on figure 4;
Figure 3 is a view corresponding to figure 1 , but of a larger battery adaptor, intended to accommodate snugly the battery of figure 4 so that it can be used in place of the battery of figure 6;
Figure 4 is a view corresponding to figure 2, of a standard commercial battery;
Figure 5 is a view corresponding to that of figures 1 and 3, of a still larger battery adaptor embodying the invention, and intended to accommodate the battery of figure 6; and
Figure 6 is a view corresponding to figures 2 and 4, of a larger standard commercial battery.
In this example, a nesting set of three adaptors embodying the invention is intended to be used selectively to adapt a AAA cell for use as a AA cell and/or a AA cell to be used as a C cell and/or a C cell to be used as a D cell. The standard commercial AAA cell is shown in figure 2, and it is intended to fit snugly into the tubular plastics adaptor of figure 1 , which is about 5 mm longer and whose inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the cell. The open end of the tube exposes the positive end terminal of the cell for normal connection in use. The other end is closed by an electrically conductive cap or plate 11 to which is bonded a cylindrical compression spring 10 for establishing a good contact with the negative battery terminal when fully inserted.
The standard AA cell is shown in figure 4, and is intended to fit snugly, in a similar way, into the tubular adaptor of figure 3, whose outer diameter matches that of a C cell, as shown in figure 6. The adaptor of figure 3 is open-ended at both ends, because AA and C cells have the same length so no length adaptation is required.
Standard C and D cells have different lengths, and in order to adapt a C cell, as shown in figure 6, for use as a D cell, the adaptor of figure 5 has a closed end with an electrically conductive end plate 1 connected electrically to an axially resiliently deformable internal connector, in the form of a spiral spring 2. When inserted into the adaptor of figure 5, the cell of figure 6 deforms the spring 2, to establish a good electrical connection.
It will be appreciated that two or more of the adaptors of figures 1 , 3 and 5 may be used in the nested configuration, to provide a further level of adaptation. For example, the AAA cell of figure 2 could be used as though it were a standard commercial D cell, by inserting it into all three nested adaptors.
This ability to adapt cells relies upon their common voltage, typically around 1.5 volts. The energy would of course drain more quickly than normal, when an appliance is used with a smaller battery than is intended, but the use of the adaptor does at least provide a temporary solution to the problem of a lack of power. Where two or more batteries are required to power an appliance, and insufficient batteries of the correct size are available, one or more adaptors could be used with a smaller battery or batteries, to supplement the correctly-sized batteries.
The tubes are preferably of plastics material, such as PTFE, but any appropriate material could be used, conductive or non-conductive. A degree of resilient deformability is desirable, in order to provide a snug friction fit between the battery and the adaptor, and between the adaptor and any nested adaptors. Whilst the tubes may be of solid construction as illustrated, this is not essential, and they could have an open construction, for example using radial walls dividing the space into cells, or using a material which has an open structure such as expanded polystyrene.
The adaptor or sets of adaptors would typically be sold adjacent to batteries, or as a kit with batteries or with torches or other appliances. . In this sense, they are regarded as complementary accessories.
Whilst the invention has been illustrated in the context of tubular batteries of standard cylindrical shape, the invention could be used with other shapes of battery. Also, adaptors could be arranged to accommodate two or more batteries lengthwise; in other words, their length may be two or more standard battery lengths.

Claims

1. A battery adaptor consisting of a hollow tube whose inner and outer diameters match two standard commercial battery outer diameters respectively and whose length matches the length of at least of one those standard commercial batteries.
2. A battery adaptor according to claim 1, comprising a closed end with an electrically conductive end connected to an axially resiliently deformable internal connector.
3. A battery adaptor according to claim 2, in which the overall length to the end matches the length of one standard commercial battery and the inner length to the connector matches the length of another, smaller, standard commercial battery.
4. A set of two or more nesting battery adaptors each according to Claim 1.
5. A set of three or more nesting battery adaptors in which the largest is in accordance with claim 3 and the smallest and intermediate battery adaptors are each in accordance with claim 1. .
6. A battery adaptor according to Claim, in which the tube or tubes are of plastics.
7. A set of battery adaptors according to claim 4, in which the tube or tubes are of plastics.
8. A set of battery adaptors according to claim 4, and at least one standard commercial battery whose outer diameter matches the inner diameter of one of the battery adaptors.
9. A set of battery adaptors according to claim 5, and at least one standard commercial battery whose outer diameter matches the inner diameter of one of the battery adaptors.
10. A method of accommodating and retaining a battery in a compartment intended for a larger battery, comprising inserting the battery lengthwise into an adaptor, the adaptor consisting of a hollow tube whose inner and outer diameters match two standard commercial battery outer diameters respectively and whose length matches the length of at least of one those standard commercial batteries such that there is a snug fit, the adaptor matching the size of the intended larger battery, and inserting the adaptor in the compartment.
1. A method according to claim 10, comprising using at least two such nested battery adaptors in place of the said adaptor.
PCT/GB2002/002786 2001-06-18 2002-06-18 Battery adaptor WO2002103820A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002304446A AU2002304446A1 (en) 2001-06-18 2002-06-18 Battery adaptor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0114835A GB2377076A (en) 2001-06-18 2001-06-18 Apparatus for use with battery and method of using a battery
GB0114835.2 2001-06-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002103820A2 true WO2002103820A2 (en) 2002-12-27
WO2002103820A3 WO2002103820A3 (en) 2003-11-27

Family

ID=9916825

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2002/002786 WO2002103820A2 (en) 2001-06-18 2002-06-18 Battery adaptor

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002304446A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2377076A (en)
WO (1) WO2002103820A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2430303B (en) * 2005-09-20 2008-03-12 Strax Uk Ltd Universal battery

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2676596A1 (en) * 1991-05-17 1992-11-20 Wurtz Gilbert Sockets with batteries
GB2266405A (en) * 1992-04-22 1993-10-27 Paul Bracchi A Battery conversion kit
DE29700824U1 (en) * 1997-01-18 1997-03-13 Wagner Gerhard Battery sleeves for enlarging round batteries
DE19646285A1 (en) * 1996-11-11 1997-04-24 Axel Oster Combinations of battery adaptors for replacing of larger by smaller batteries
GB2313949A (en) * 1996-06-07 1997-12-10 Wang Zing Ching Battery receptacle module
DE19646047A1 (en) * 1996-11-08 1998-05-14 Werner Preuss Battery carrier with adaptor for differently sized batteries e.g. for pocket torch

Family Cites Families (13)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3998516A (en) * 1973-05-15 1976-12-21 Mabuchi Motor Co. Ltd. Adapter
US4020245A (en) * 1974-11-06 1977-04-26 Mabuchi Motor Co. Ltd. Cell adapter
US4142026A (en) * 1977-04-22 1979-02-27 Zordan Macario J Dry cell adapter
US4352052A (en) * 1980-11-03 1982-09-28 Opper Ray C Adaptor for charging small cells in large-cell charger
GB2104716A (en) * 1981-08-18 1983-03-09 John Derek Guinn Battery conversion apparatus
US4397920A (en) * 1981-08-31 1983-08-09 Trattner Burton C Adapter permitting smaller size battery cell to function in larger size applications
US4767358A (en) * 1987-06-12 1988-08-30 Richard Nullmeyer Battery adapter for C and D size applications
US5172042A (en) * 1991-08-19 1992-12-15 Singhal Tara C Battery size changer aid
NZ272495A (en) * 1995-12-03 1998-05-27 Philip Edward Frew Sales Physical size adaptors for dry cell batteries
DE19640628A1 (en) * 1996-10-01 1998-04-02 Fer Fahrzeugelektrik Gmbh Bicycle headlamp with axially arranged light source
DE19640604A1 (en) * 1996-10-01 1998-04-02 Andreas Dipl Ing Gifhorn Apparatus for purifying exhaust gases
GB2325333A (en) * 1997-05-17 1998-11-18 John William Parkes Battery adaptor
GB2360396A (en) * 2000-03-14 2001-09-19 Chang Chih Chang Battery adapter

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2676596A1 (en) * 1991-05-17 1992-11-20 Wurtz Gilbert Sockets with batteries
GB2266405A (en) * 1992-04-22 1993-10-27 Paul Bracchi A Battery conversion kit
GB2313949A (en) * 1996-06-07 1997-12-10 Wang Zing Ching Battery receptacle module
DE19646047A1 (en) * 1996-11-08 1998-05-14 Werner Preuss Battery carrier with adaptor for differently sized batteries e.g. for pocket torch
DE19646285A1 (en) * 1996-11-11 1997-04-24 Axel Oster Combinations of battery adaptors for replacing of larger by smaller batteries
DE29700824U1 (en) * 1997-01-18 1997-03-13 Wagner Gerhard Battery sleeves for enlarging round batteries

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002103820A3 (en) 2003-11-27
GB2377076A (en) 2002-12-31
GB0114835D0 (en) 2001-08-08
AU2002304446A1 (en) 2003-01-02

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