Patent ID: 7962420
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: G06Q,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of shipping a battery assembly comprising: providing a first battery subassembly that houses a plurality of first battery cells and includes a first battery subassembly outer mating surface, wherein at least one first battery subassembly coupling member is located adjacent a first side of the first battery subassembly outer mating surface, at least one first battery subassembly securing member is located adjacent a second side of the first battery subassembly outer mating surface that is opposite the first battery subassembly outer mating surface from the first side of the first battery subassembly outer mating surface, and at least one first battery subassembly electrical connector is located adjacent the first battery subassembly outer mating surface; providing a second battery subassembly that houses a plurality of second battery cells and includes a second battery subassembly outer mating surface, wherein at least one second battery subassembly coupling member is located adjacent a first side of the second battery subassembly outer mating surface, at least one second battery subassembly securing member is located adjacent a second side of the second battery subassembly outer mating surface that is opposite the second battery subassembly outer mating surface from the first side of the second battery subassembly outer mating surface, and at least one second battery subassembly electrical connector is located adjacent the second battery subassembly outer mating surface; shipping the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly such that an additional shipping fee is not incurred, wherein the additional shipping fee is based on a battery characteristic that is not the total weight of a battery assembly that includes the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly; coupling the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly together to form the battery assembly by coupling the at least one second battery subassembly coupling member to the at least one first battery subassembly coupling member to form a rotatable coupling, then rotating the second battery subassembly relative to the first battery subassembly about the rotatable coupling, wherein the rotating results in the first battery subassembly outer mating surface being located immediately adjacent the second battery subassembly outer mating surface, the at least one first battery subassembly electrical connector mating with the at least one second battery subassembly electrical connector, and the at least one second battery subassembly securing member being located adjacent the at least one first battery subassembly securing member; and securing the at least one second battery subassembly securing member to the at least one first battery subassembly securing member such that the first battery subassembly outer mating surface is secured in position relative to the second battery subassembly outer mating surface.