Abstract:
A holder for consumer batteries and, more particularly, to an open-sided holder from which batteries can easily be accessed. The holder includes a central panel dividing first and second battery sheaths that project from either face thereof. Each sheath defines at least two cylindrical battery receptacles that are open at both ends and have a lumen diameter that closely receives a consumer battery, such as AA or AAA size. The central panel extends longitudinally beyond the sheaths and terminates in thickened end edges that retain the batteries within the receptacles. The thickness of the end edges relative to the rest of the central panel is small enough so that a user can push each battery out of its receptacle and past one of the end edges without much trouble.

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to a holder for consumer batteries and, more particularly, to an open-sided holder from which batteries can easily be accessed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A common type of battery (electric cell) for consumer electronic equipment is cylindrical, with top and bottom battery terminals separated by more than the battery diameter. Perhaps the most common of this type of battery is the AA battery which has a diameter of 14 millimeters, a body length of 48 mm, and a length between the ends of its opposite terminals of 50 mm. AAA batteries are smaller, and have a diameter of 10.5 millimeters, a body length of 44.5 mm, and a length between the ends of its opposite terminals of about 47.0 mm. While the batteries used for electronic devices are relatively small, it is not convenient to carry spare batteries in one&#39;s pocket or elsewhere on the person since they create an annoyance, and such loosely held spares may be forgotten. Further, if a consumer carries loose batteries for replacing dead batteries, and then mixes the two, he/she cannot readily (without testing) tell whether or not the battery is charged or discharged. 
     Battery holders are available, and usually include a molded plastic case with multiple receptacles or divider-created slots for holding batteries so that they do not move around. The case lid, when closed, secures the batteries within the case (and often from rolling around), and when the lid is opened the batteries can easily be lifted out. For instance, a case-type battery storage box with dividers for different battery sizes can be seen at http://www.spacesavers.com/Storage/Battery-Storage/Multi-Size-Battery-Storage-Box-by-Dial. Boxes and cases have their merits, but don&#39;t permit rapid access to the batteries and are often formed of opaque plastic which prevents seeing how many batteries are left at a glance. 
     PowerPax of St. Charles, Ill. manufactures a line of battery holders or caddies under the StoraCell™ battery management systems name. The holders include cylindrical receptacles that are not fully enclosed so one can see the battery, each with one closed end and one end having one or more small cantilevered pawls that hold the battery in place. To remove a battery one must push on an end corner of the battery nearest the closed end so that the top end forces the cantilevered pawls apart. 
     Despite several designs of prior consumer battery holders, there remains a need for a one-piece, unitary holder that permits easier access to the batteries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A one-piece, unitary holder for consumer batteries and, more particularly, to an open-ended holder from which batteries can easily be inserted, stored or extracted. The holder includes a central panel dividing first and second battery sheaths that project from either face thereof. Each sheath defines at least two cylindrical battery receptacles that are open at both ends and have a lumen diameter that closely receives a consumer battery, such as AA or AAA size. The central panel extends longitudinally beyond the sheaths and terminates in thickened end edges that retain the batteries within the receptacles. The increased thickness of the end edges relative to the rest of the central panel is small enough so that a user can push each battery out of its receptacle and past either of the end edges without much trouble. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of an open-sided consumer battery holder of the present application showing two good AA batteries held within a first sheath on one face thereof; 
         FIG. 1B  is a rear perspective view of the battery holder showing two dead AA batteries held within a second sheath on an opposite face; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of the battery holder showing a AA battery held within a sheath on one face thereof; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the battery holder showing a user pushing the AA battery out of the sheath; and 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the battery holder and showing a single AA battery within one of the sheaths. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present application provides a holder for batteries, in particular consumer batteries such as AA or AAA. Although the holder is particularly well-suited for elongated cylindrical consumer batteries such as AA or AAA, it may also be used to hold more squat D batteries or even rectilinear 9 V batteries. As will be described below, the holder includes sheaths defining receptacles for the batteries that are open on both ends. There are no electrical contacts, this being merely a holder and not a battery pack with a housing and contacts and an integral electrical circuit for insertion into a powered device. Both sheaths may hold live or dead batteries. Although a preferred embodiment of the holder has a capacity for holding eight batteries total, with one side having four live batteries and the other side having four dead batteries, the holder can be modified to receive more or less than eight batteries. For instance, for AA batteries, four receptacles for four batteries on each side of a panel is preferred, while a AAA battery unit may have more or less batteries, such as 3 or 6 batteries/side since many/most flashlights use 3 AAA batteries, and 3 or 6 battery/side is more useful. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the front of an open-sided consumer battery holder  20  of the present application is shown holding two good AA batteries  22  within a first sheath  24  on a first face  26  thereof. The first sheath  24  projects normally away from a planar central panel  30  having a width W along a width axis x, and a height H along a height axis y. A main portion of the central panel  30  is desirably relatively thin, with a thickness t along a thickness axis z that is perpendicular to both the width and height axes. 
     The first sheath  24  extends outward from the first face  26  along the thickness axis z and defines a plurality of first battery receptacles  40 . The receptacles  40  are aligned with the height axis y. More particularly, the sheath  24  desirably comprises a generally rectilinear shape with rounded outer corners  28  parallel to the height axis y. The two good AA batteries  22  reside within the two middle receptacles  40  out of four total receptacles. In a preferred embodiment, each sheath  24  of the holder  20  is sized to hold at least two batteries  22 , preferably at least four, and thus the width W of the holder  20  is greater than the consumer battery diameter times the number the sheath can hold. In the illustrated embodiment, the width W of the holder  20  is greater than four times the consumer battery diameter. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the entire holder  20  is molded from a suitable polymer, so that the sheath  24 , central panel  30 , and preferably a second sheath (described below) are formed integrally of a homogeneous material. The term, “one-piece, unitary” refers to the construction of the holder using a single molded piece, with no moving parts (aside from an optional wrist strap, as shown). 
     With reference to the empty receptacles  40  shown in  FIG. 1A , and also to  FIG. 2A , each battery receptacle  40  defines a cylindrical lumen  42  that is open on both ends and extends parallel to the height axis y. Each lumen  42  has an inner diameter d that is approximately the same as and preferably slightly greater than the consumer battery diameter. That is, the cylindrical batteries  22  fit closely within each lumen  42  so as to be slightly frictionally engaged therewith while at the same time being able to easily slide therethrough. According to both the Energizer Corp. and Duracell Corp. Product Data Sheets, an AA (or R6) battery measures 49.2-50.5 mm (1.94-1.99 in) in length including the button terminal—and 13.5-14.5 mm (0.53-0.57 in) in diameter. The positive terminal button is a minimum 1 mm high and a maximum 5.5 mm in diameter, and the flat negative terminal is a minimum diameter of 7 mm. According to both Energizer and Duracell, a AAA battery measures 43.3-44.5 mm (1.71-1.75 in) in length and 9.5-10.5 mm (0.37-0.41 in) in diameter. The length includes the positive terminal button which is a minimum 0.8 mm high and 3.8 mm in diameter, and the flat negative terminal has a minimum diameter of 4.3 mm. Therefore, for example, for AA batteries with an OD of 0.555″, the inside cylindrical diameter d=0.570″, while for AAA batteries with an OD of 0.404″, the inside cylindrical diameter d=0.554″. 
     Each of the first battery receptacles  40  has a length e that is less than the consumer battery length such that the batteries  22  are held within each receptacle with both ends projecting therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, for either AA or AAA batteries, the length  1  is about 1.0″, and the receptacles are centered in the holder  20 , so that about 0.35-0.50 inches of each battery sticks out from each end of the receptacle, depending on the type of battery. 
     To more securely retain the batteries  22  within the receptacles  40  (supplementing the frictional retention forces), the holder  20  includes two end edges  50  that project outward from the central panel  30 . More particularly, the two end edges  50  extend parallel to the width axis x and are spaced from each other a distance S slightly greater than the consumer battery length, as seen in  FIG. 2A . Each receptacle  40  is tangent on one side along the length axis with the first face  26  of the panel  30  such that a battery in the receptacle lies against or is otherwise coincident with the first face. The end edges  50  project outward from the first face  26  along the thickness axis z sufficiently far to interfere with linear movement of the batteries  22  out of the receptacles  40 . However, the thickness of the end edges  50  is not so great as to prevent removal of the batteries  22 , as will be explained below. In general, the end edges  50  retain the batteries  22  within the receptacles  40 , but permit their removal. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates the holder  20  from the rear, opposite from that shown in  FIG. 1A . The central panel  30  defines a second face  60  opposite the first face  26 , and a second sheath  62  projecting outward therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, the second sheath  62  is identical to the first sheath  24  so as to enable retention of the same number and type of consumer batteries. However, it will be understood that the sheaths  24 ,  62  may be configured differently so is to hold different numbers or types of batteries. 
     As with the front side of the battery holder  20 , the second sheath  62  defines a plurality of second battery receptacles  64  for holding consumer batteries  22 , two of which are shown in the middle two receptacles out of four total receptacles. Once again, the receptacles  64  each define a lumen  66  having a diameter d that is approximately the same as the battery diameter. Furthermore, the length of the receptacles  64  is less than the consumer battery length such that both ends of the consumer batteries extend out of the receptacles. Finally, the end edges  50  of the central panel  30  also project away from a second face  68  of the holder and retain the batteries  22  within the receptacles  64 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the front side of the battery holder  20  is indicated for retention of “live” or charged batteries  22 , while the rear side is used to store “dead” or discharged batteries. Embossed indicia or lettering on both sides of the sheaths  24 ,  62  as shown may be used to indicate the condition of the batteries. In the illustrated embodiment, the words “CHARGED” and “DISCHARGED” are provided, though other terminology may be used. In use, a wearer of the battery holder  20  may carry a number of live batteries on one side of the central panel  30 , for use in replacing dead batteries in one more devices. The dead batteries can then be inserted into the receptacles  64  in the second sheath  62  to avoid confusion. The particular indicia on the respective battery sheaths that symbolize whether that sheath holds “live” or “dead” batteries may be lettering as shown, plus (“+”) or minus (“−”) signs, green (live) or red (dead) icons, or other such easily understood indicia. 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of the battery holder  20  showing a AA battery  22  held within a first sheath  24  on one face thereof. The length of the consumer battery  22  is slightly less than the spacing S between the end edges  50  on the central panel  30 . Corners  70  on the end edges  50  that face the consumer battery  22  are rounded, as are typical consumer battery corners. Consequently, a user may easily push the AA battery  22  out of the sheath  24 , as seen in  FIG. 2B . The material of the holder  20  is desirably polypropylene or other such moldable plastic which permits the user to easily push the battery  22  past the end edges  50 . That is, the end edges  50  either deform or flex when the battery is pushed past. 
     To maintain the batteries in place within the holder  20  while facilitating their removal, the corners  70  on the end edges  50  are spaced apart (spacing S) farther than the battery length. The interference of the projecting corners  70  that gets in the way of freely sliding the batteries in either direction out of the receptacles  40  is the only structure retaining the batteries in place, to enable easy removal. In a preferred embodiment, about 1.6 mm ( 1/16 in) spacing between the cylindrical corners of a battery and the end edges  50  is provided to prevent significant linear movement of the battery while permitting a minimum of movement to help in the removal from the sheath  24 . At the same time, the thickness t of the central panel  30  is desirably about 1.90 mm (0.075 in), and each end edge  50  has a total thickness of about 4.75 mm (0.187 in), so that each end edge  50  sticks out from the central panel  30  by about 1.4 mm (0.56 in), such as between about 1.0 and 2.0 mm. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a wrist strap  80  or other such strap is desirably secured to an upper corner of the battery holder  20 . More particularly, the wrist strap  80  may loop through an aperture formed through the central panel  30 . A wrist strap is an option for the battery holder, the battery holder may or may not be packaged with one. 
     While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art, and can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.