INTEGRATED BATTERY CONTACT AND MECHANICAL LATCH

Abstract: An integrated battery contact and mechanical latch (50), comprises a battery pack (56), a pair of conductive latches (52 and 54) on said battery pack (56) for simultaneously, mechanically coupling the battery pack (56) to an electronic portable product (70) and for electronically coupling the battery (56) via said conductive latch (52 and 54) to said electronic portable product (70).

Description: INTEGRATED BATTERY CONTACT AND MECHANICAL LATCH Technical Field This invention relates generally to battery contacts and mechanical latches and more specifically to a battery contact that serves as a mechanical latch. Background Electronic portable products typically have battery packs having both supply contacts and charger contacts. In addition, the battery packs have a means of attaching themselves to the portable electronic product. The contacts to the portable electronic product and the attachment means to the electronic product are always two separate and distinct mechanisms having two separate purposes. Having separate supply contacts and attachment means (on the battery) to the portable product requires additional parts and tooling to manufacture the battery pack. Furthermore, in manufacturing different capacities or sizes of battery packs, separate designs and tooling would be required for the supply contacts. Thus, having separate supply contacts and separate battery latch mechanisms on a battery for a portable electronic product creates a redundancy in parts, tooling, and a decrease in manufacturing efficiency. In other words, an increased number of parts and tooling means an increased cost for the battery. Finally, separate battery contacts and latch mechanism increases the concern of wear, fatigue and corrosion in each of those parts. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, in integrated battery contact and mechanical latch comprises a battery pack and a pair of conductive latches on the battery pack for simultaneously mechanically coupling the battery pack to an electronic portable product and for electronically coupling the battery via the conductive latch to the electronic portable product. Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack and electronic product. FIG. 1 A is a rear plan view of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery pack and electronic product in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2A is a rear plan view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a battery pack in accordance witht the present invention. FIG 4 is a perspective view of a battery pack in accordance with the present invention. FIG 4A is an electronic product in accordance with the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a battery pack 10 having a housing 16 and latch mechanisms 13 and 36. Additionally, battery pack 10, optionally includes charger contacts and sensor contacts 18, 19, and 20. Referring to FIG. 1 A there is shown a rear plan view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 1. The battery pack 10 shown in FIG. 1 A shows further the supply contacts, 26 and 28 on the housing portion 22. The housing 16 and housing portion 22 can either be two separate housings coupled together or one integrated housing. The battery pack 10 can typically be used for a two way radio represented by electronic portable product or a radio 30. Radio 30 includes a housing 32 having a battery receiving area 34, an antenna 42, a volume control knob 44, and a squelch control knob 46. Within the battery receiving area 34, the radio 30 has radio supply contacts 40 and 38 and latch receiving areas 14 and 24 for mechanically coupling the battery 10 to the radio 30 via the latch mechanism 13 and 36 respectively on the battery 10. The contacts 38 and 40 match and electronically couple to the contacts 26 and 28. The contacts 38 and 40 also have their own respective metallic leaf springs 37 and 39 respectively biased outwardly, to provide better conductivity between the contacts on the radio 30 and the contacts on the battery 10. Now Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a battery pack 50 in accordance with the present invention. As in FIG. 1 , battery pack 50 preferably comprises a housing 56, sensing contacts and charger contacts 58, 59, and 60 and latch means 52 and 54 which also serve as the positive and negative supply contacts. The latch means 52 and 54 preferably comprises of molded-in circuitry (in the housing 56) coupled to the positive and negative terminals of a cell or a series of cells (not shown) within the battery 50. The latch means 52 and 54 could also alternatively comprise of metallic leaf springs as described in reference to FIG. 3. The latch means also preferably includes the protruding latch members 86 which do not serve as electrical contacts. FIG. 2A shows a rear plan view of the battery 50 shown in FIG. 2. Once again, the rear portion of the housing portion 62 can be integrally formed with the housing 56 or could be separately attached. Also latch members 86 are formed on the housing portion 62. Note that the separate supply contacts in this embodiment do not exist, they have been incorporated into the latch mechanisms 52 and 54, thus providing a savings in tooling and parts in the manufacture of this battery for portable products. The battery pack 50 can typically be used for a two way radio represented by electronic portable product or a radio 70. Radio 70 preferably comprises a housing 82 having a battery receiving area 84, an antenna 72, a volume control knob 74, and a squelch control knob 56. Within the battery receiving area 84, the radio 70 has radio supply contacts 78 and 80 recessed within the latch receiving area 66. In conjunction with latch receiving areas 64, the latch receiving areas 66 are used for receiving the latch means 52, 54, and 86 of the battery 50 for mechanically coupling the battery 50 to the radio 70 and for electronically coupling the battery to the radio via latch means 52 and 54. The contacts 78 and 80 match and electronically couple to the contacts or the conductive latch means 52 and 54. The contacts 78 and 80 also have their own respective metallic leaf springs 77 and 79 respectively biased outwardly, to provide better conductivity between the contacts on the radio 70 and the contacts on the battery 50. Of course, other alternative embodiments using the latch mechanisms as the supply contacts are within contemplation of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 there is shown a perspective view of the battery housing 100 having a body 106 and further having a negative and a positive supply contact (102 and 104 respectively) As opposed to having the negative and positive supply contacts integrally formed in the housing (as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, where contacts 52 and 54 are shown), the supply contacts 102 and 104, serving as mechanical latches, preferably comprise of conductive leaf springs made of metal. Contacts 102 and 104 serve as the mechanical latches and the electronic coupling means of the battery to a portable electronic product. The conductive leaf springs 102 and 104 each have a kink or bend 107 for engaging the aperture or cavity (78 and 80) in the electronic product as shown previously in FIG. 2. These metallic leaf springs 102 and 104 each emanate from openings 112 and 114 and protrudes from the battery housing 106. The conductive leaf spring or contact 104 couples to either the positive or negative terminal of a cell or series of cells (not shown) within the housing 106. The contact 102 couples to cell terminal having the opposite polarity to contact 104 (either negative or positive.) The bend 107 is preferably biased outwardly to provide both a secure latching means and good conductivity between the battery and the portable electronic product. Referring to FIG.4 and FIG.4A, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the protruding conductive latch members 278 and 280 are formed on a radio 200 having a housing 282. The battery pack 250 having a housing 256, in this instance, would have cavities or recessed conductive areas 252 and 254 for receiving the latch members 278 and 280 on the radio 200. Again, this embodiment is merely one of many embodiments within contemplation of the present invention. What is claimed is:

Claims: 1. A battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch, comprising: a housing; at least one conductive latch on said housing for simultaneously mechanically coupling the battery to an electronic portable product and for electrically coupling the battery via said conductive latch to said electronic portable product. 2. The battery having an intergrated battery contact and mechanical latch of claim 1 , wherein said battery comprises of rechargeable cells. 3. The battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch of claim 1 , wherein said battery comprises of primary cells. 4. The battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch of claim 1 , wherein said conductive latch on said battery comprises of a protruding conductive male member for electrically and mechanically coupling to a female conductive member on said electronic portable product. 5. The battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch of claim 1 , wherein said conductive latch on said battery comprises of a female conductive member for electrically and mechanically receiving and coupling to a protruding conductive male member on said electronic portable product. 6. The battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch of claim 1 , wherein said conductive latch comprises of a metallic leaf spring. 7. The battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch of claim 1 , wherein said battery has two conductive latches and another two nonconductive latches. 8. A battery having an integrated battery contact and mechanical latch, comprising: a housing having at least a first and a second opening; at least one cell within said housing having a positive supply terminal and a negative supply terminal; a first conductive latch means coupled to said positive supply terminal and protruding through said first opening for providing mechanical and electrical coupling of the battery to an electronic portable product. a second conductive latch means coupled to said negative supply terminal and protruding through said second opening, for providing mechanical and electrical coupling of the battery to said electronic portable product. 9. A radio having an integrated latch and battery contact system, comprising: a battery having at least one cell having at least a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a housing for retaining said battery; a conductive latch means formed on said housing; a conductive latch receiving means on said radio for receiving said conductive latch means and for electrically and mechanically coupling said battery to said radio. 10. The radio of claim 9, wherein said conductive latch means formed on said housing comprises of molded-in circuitry coupled to said positive and said negative terminals.

Inventors: MENNONA VINCENT JR, MENNONA, VINCENT, JR.
Applicants: MOTOROLA INC, MOTOROLA, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04B1
IPC codes: H04B1