Abstract:
A battery contact apparatus has one fixed contact formed on a printed circuit board and a displaced movable contact. At least one battery is insertable into the space between the contacts. The movable contact biases the battery toward the fixed contact to provide a complete electrical circuit.

Description:
FIELD 
   The invention pertains to battery powered products. More particularly, the invention pertains to low cost and robust electromechanical structures to connect batteries to electrical components. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A variety of cost sensitive products incorporate one or more batteries. These include toys, thermostats, various types of audio or video players, calculators, or various types of sensors. 
   In known products contact pairs can be affixed by soldering. At times double spring contacts have been used to assure contact with the battery(s). Flashlights have long used a compressible spring as one contact to a string of batteries. The other contact is usually on a base of the electric light. 
   There is a continuing need to reduce product cost and complexity. It would be desirable to be able to do so while at the same time providing ease of insertion and reliable contact to the battery(s) required by the product. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an end, perspective-type view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial, enlarged view looking toward batteries of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIGS. 4A , B, C illustrate alternate product configurations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
   Embodiments of the invention provide reliable and low cost battery connections by providing one contact on a non-movable printed circuit board of the respect product and a second, spring biased contact. As a result, bill of material and assembly costs can be reduced. 
     FIGS. 1-3  illustrate different view of a two battery product  10  which embodies the invention. Product  10  includes a housing  12  which carries a printed circuit board  14 . 
   Printed circuit board  14  carries electronic, or electrical circuitry generally indicated at  16 . Printed conductors  18   a, b  couple circuitry  16  to battery contacts  20   a ,  20   b  printed on the board  14 . The contacts  20   a, b  are formed at an edge  14   a  of the board  14 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , contacts  20   a,b  include an elongated body portion  26   a,b  and a shaped battery terminal engaging central region  28   a,b . The regions  28   a, b  preferably extend at ninety degrees along the edge  14   a , perpendicular to the plane of the board  14 , so as to provide a contact surface which abuts an adjacent battery terminal. 
   Housing  12 , defines two battery receiving slots  12   a ,  12   b . Slots  12   a,b  each slidably and removably receive a respective battery B 1 , B 2  which energize product  10 . In the exemplary product  10 , a negative terminal of battery B 1  abuts and forms an electrical path with contact portion  28   b . A positive terminal of battery B 2  abuts and forms an electrical path with contact portion  28   a.    
   Spring biased contacts  34 ,  36  carried by housing  12  slidably engage a positive terminal of battery B 1  and a negative terminal of battery B 2 , see  FIG. 2 . Contacts  34 ,  36  are electrically shorted together by conductor  38 . It will be understood that conductor  38  could be formed on a printed circuit board. Other implementations come within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In view of the above, each of batteries B 1 , B 2  is biased toward edge  14   a  by the respective spring contact  34 ,  36  to provide a completed electrical circuit relative to circuitry  16 . As illustrated, each contact portion  28   a,b  is rigidly supported by insulating printed circuit board  14  while the respective battery B 1 , B 2  is biased theretoward by the respective, movable, spring contact  34 ,  36 . 
     FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C illustrated additional product configurations indicated by  10 - 1 , - 2 , - 3 . Product  10 - 1  incorporates two batteries coupled together in series as in  FIG. 1-3 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates in product  10 - 2  a three battery configuration.  FIG. 4C  illustrates a single battery configuration. 
   All of the products  10 - 1 , - 2  and - 3  can use a common housing  12 - 1  with a respectively configured printed circuit board  14 - 1 , - 2 , - 3  which supports a two battery, a three battery or a single battery product and connects to the associated battery(s). In each instance, the respective printed circuit board  14 - i  carries positive and negative terminal contacts such as  20   a - i ,  20   b - i  configured in combination with one or more batteries. 
   From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.