Battery contact for an electronic device

According to embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes a first electrical conductor located in a shell. The first electrical conductor has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion at the bottom of the vertical portion. A cap has a second electrical conductor and can be mated with the shell. After mating, the second electrical conductor contacts the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present application relates to battery contacts for electronic devices. Electronic devices, such as a flameless candle or flashlight, may use batteries for power. An electronic device may have a housing including a hollow interior region that houses one or more batteries. As used here, the term batteries can mean one battery or a plurality of batteries. Similarly, the term battery can mean one battery or a plurality of batteries. The electronic device may also have a cap (for example, completely removable, partially removable, detachable, etc.) to keep the batteries in the housing. One terminal of the battery (positive terminal, for example) may contact an electronics portion. The other terminal of the battery (negative terminal, for example) may be distal from the electronics portion.

Different techniques may be used to make contact with the distal terminal and thus complete a circuit so that the electronics portion may operate. One technique is to construct the housing with a conductive material such as metal. However, using such conductive materials may be relatively expensive as compared, for example, to some plastics. Another technique is to have a conductor within the hollow interior region that makes an electrical connection with both the electronics portion and a conductor on the cap or bottom. However, such existing techniques may be prone to failure.

Therefore, it may be useful to have a conductor that includes a battery terminal contact to reliably maintain a connection with a distal terminal of a battery.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle an electronic device includes a shell, a first electrical conductor, and a cap. The shell has an opening that receives one or more batteries into a hollow interior region.

The first electrical conductor is located (at least partially) within the shell. The first electrical conductor has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion at the bottom of the vertical portion. The horizontal portion may have one or more loops. The first electrical conductor may be one piece of solid wire.

The cap has a second electrical conductor and mates with the shell through the opening. For example, the cap may have male threads that mate with female threads on the shell. When the cap is mated with the shell, the second electrical conductor contacts the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor. The second electrical conductor may include a spring that contacts a battery terminal when the cap is mated

The inner wall of the shell may have a groove that receives the vertical portion of the first electrical conductor. Also, the inner wall of the shell may have a projecting portion which is located above the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor. When the cap is mated with the shell, the second electrical conductor and the projecting portion may compress the horizontal portion. The second electrical conductor may include a recessed area and a rim. In such a case, the rim would compress and contact the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor.

The flameless candle may also include an electronics portion connected to the top of the vertical portion of the first electrical conductor. The electronics portion may include a lamp (for example, an LED).

According to embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes a first electrical conductor located in a shell. The first electrical conductor has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion at the bottom of the vertical portion. A cap has a second electrical conductor and can be mated with the shell. After mating, the second electrical conductor contacts the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor.

The horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor may have a plurality of loops. The second electrical conductor of the cap may have a spring configured to contact a battery terminal when the cap is mated with the shell. The inner wall of the shell may have a projecting portion. When the cap is mated with the shell, the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor may be compressed between the projecting portion and the second electrical conductor of the cap. The second electrical conductor may include a recessed area and a rim, and the rim may compress the horizontal portion of the first electrical conductor. The inner wall of the shell may have a groove that receives the vertical portion of the first electrical conductor.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the stated functions of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 1Bshow a flameless candle100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flameless candle100may include a shell110, a cap120, an insert130, a first electrical conductor140, one or more batteries150, a separation portion160, a lamp170(for example, LED), and a wick (for example, simulated wick).

The shell110may be made of a wax or waxen material. The housing110may have a hollow interior region to house the batteries150(for example, two batteries in series). The shell110may also have a compartment to house the separation portion160, the lamp170, or the insert130. The shell110may have an opening (for example, through the bottom) to receive the batteries150. A mating portion (for example, female threads) may also be located near the bottom of the shell110to mate with the cap120. The shell110may include a sidewall that may be formed of or include a waxen material.

The separation portion160may separate the lamp170(for example, an LED) from a terminal of one of the batteries150. The separation portion160may accommodate one or more conductors to provide power to the lamp170. The separation portion160or the lamp170may also accommodate additional electronics (for example, a flickering circuit, a current limiting resistor, etc.) for the candle100. Thus, the lamp170may be part of an electronics portion.

The first conductor140may be located at least partially in the shell110. The first conductor140may extend from the separation portion160or electronics portion including a lamp170and past the distal battery terminal. The first conductor140may extend through the separation portion and to the lamp170. For example the first conductor140may be directly soldered or connected to one of the leads of the lamp170.

The cap120may mate with the shell110through the opening in the shell. The cap120may include a second conductor as will be explained in more detail below.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of a portion of the flameless candle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first electrical conductor140may include a vertical portion142and a horizontal portion144. The first conductor140may be formed from one piece of wire, such as solid wire. The horizontal portion144may be located at the bottom of the vertical portion142. The horizontal portion144may include a plurality of loops. Such loops may act as a spring.

The cap120may include a mating portion124and a mounting portion122. The mounting portion122may adapt the flameless candle100to mount in a candleholder. The mating portion124may include male threads that mate with female threads on the shell110. The cap120may also include a second electrical conductor126. The second conductor126may include a rim126, a recessed area and a spring128.

FIGS. 3A-3Cshow cross-sectional views of a portion of a flameless candle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3Aillustrates a situation where no battery is present and the mating portion124of the cap120has been only partially mated with the female threads112of shell110. There is no contact between the horizontal portion144of the first conductor140and the second conductor126.

Although not shown, the vertical portion142may be received by a groove in the inner wall of the shell110. Using such a configuration, it may be possible to maintain the orientation of the first conductor140in a more stable manner. It also may be possible to prevent the vertical portion142from interfering with the side of the batteries150, for example, during insertion of the batteries150.

FIG. 3Billustrates a situation where no battery is present and the mating portion124of the cap has been fully mated with the female threads112of the shell110. The second conductor126now makes contact with the horizontal portion144. This contact can be enhanced by compressing the horizontal portion144between the rim of the second conductor126and a projecting portion114of the shell110. Furthermore, if the horizontal portion144has a spring (as shown with loops), this may further improve the contact.

FIG. 3Cillustrates a situation where a battery is present and the mating portion124of the cap has been fully mated with the female threads112of the shell110. The spring128of the second conductor126is now contacting the negative terminal of the battery150. Compressible nature of the spring128helps improve this contact. Thus,FIG. 3Cin conjunction withFIG. 1Billustrate that the flameless candle100completes a circuit between the lamp170and the batteries150by having the compressed spring128contact the most distal terminal of the batteries150. The spring128is part of the second conductor126. The horizontal portion144of the first conductor is then compressed between the projecting portion114of the shell110and the rim of the second conductor126. Current will now flow from the lamp170, through the vertical portion142of the first conductor140, through the rim of the second conductor126, through the spring128of the second conductor, and to the distal terminal of the battery150.