Abstract:
A device is provided for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle and has a receptacle element for receiving a battery, a bracket element, which at least partially encloses the receptacle element and/or the battery, and a fixing element, which is fastenable on the bracket element, the battery being fixed inside the receptacle element using the fixing element. It is thus possible to provide a device for retaining a battery which offers the greatest possible protection for the battery even in case of an accident.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102008059680.9, filed Nov. 29, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a device for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A battery situated in a motor vehicle, in particular an automobile battery, is typically situated in the engine compartment or the luggage compartment of a motor vehicle. In order that the battery cannot slip so easily during travel, it is typically fastened in a retaining device for fixing the battery in a specific position using retaining elements. However, the known devices for retaining a battery do not have sufficient fixing of the battery in its position in case of an accident, so that the battery can easily and rapidly slip out of its position in case of an accident, which results in very rapid power supply interruption, so that electrical elements in a vehicle may no longer be operated. In particular, this has the result that doors locked by a central locking system may no longer be opened. The battery can additionally not only lose its position in case of an accident, but rather also can easily be damaged so that a power supply is also no longer provided. 
     At least one object of the invention therefore comprises providing a device for retaining a battery, which offers the greatest possible protection for the battery even in case of an impact. In addition, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
     The device according to an embodiment of the invention for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle has a receptacle element for receiving a battery, a bracket element, which at least partially encloses the receptacle element and/or the battery to be retained, and a fixing element, which is fastenable on the bracket element, the battery being fixed inside the receptacle element using the fixing element. 
     The battery is situated in a receptacle element in the form of a preferably rectangular container, six of the five [sic; five of the six] lateral surfaces of the battery preferably being at least partially enclosed and/or covered by the receptacle element. For secure fixing of the battery in the receptacle element, the receptacle element is enclosed by a bracket element, preferably a U-shaped bracket element, the bracket element having two ends on which a fixing element is fastenable. The bracket element can be attached on the inner or outer side of the receptacle element. In the fixed state, the periphery of the receptacle element and/or the periphery of the battery positioned in the receptacle element are spanned by the bracket element together with the fixing element. The battery is thus securely fixed in the desired position inside the receptacle element, even in case of an accident, the battery being able to be held for at least a specific time in its position, so that the power supply is at least not interrupted as rapidly and electrical elements inside the vehicle, such as central locking of the doors, are still capable of functioning for a longer time. The safety of the vehicle occupants can thus be increased. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing element spans at least one lateral surface of the battery, the fixing element preferably spanning a lateral surface of the battery which is not at least partially covered by the receptacle element. The battery is preferably situated having its lateral surface oriented toward the roadway on the bottom surface of the receptacle element, the lateral surfaces of the receptacle element also at least partially covering the two longitudinal sides and the two transverse sides of the battery. The lateral surface of the battery opposite to the lateral surface oriented toward the roadway, i.e., the lateral surface of the battery facing away from the roadway, is preferably not covered by the receptacle element in the fixed state. This lateral surface is preferably spanned by the fixing element, so that all lateral surfaces of the battery are at least partially covered by one element of the retaining device. The battery is thus fixed on all of its lateral surfaces in the desired position, so that possible slipping of the battery out of its position can be prevented as extensively as possible at least as long as the receptacle element itself is not destroyed by the impact during an accident. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing element at least partially comprises an elastic material, in particular a rubber. The fixing element preferably has a steel element, which is provided with the elastic material, such as a rubber pad, the elastic material being situated on the side of the fixing element on which the fixing element presses against the battery. Because the fixing element is implemented as elastic, the fixing element, which preferably presses directly against one lateral surface of the battery, can compensate for vibrations occurring during the travel of the motor vehicle, so that movements of the battery inside the receptacle element during travel are reduced as much as possible. Occurring tolerances are simultaneously compensated for. 
     Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing element is removably fastened on the bracket element using a screw connection and/or a clamp connection. For example, the preferably oblong strip-shaped fixing element can be fastened at one end using a screw connection on the bracket element and can be fastened at its other end using a clamp connection on the bracket element. For the clamp connection, the fixing element can have a hook on one of its ends, for example, which can be hooked into an opening provided on the bracket element. By using a clamp connection and/or a screw connection, the fixing element can be fastened and detached again easily and rapidly. 
     In order to achieve additional fixing of the battery in the receptacle element and/or in the retaining device, the bracket element at least partially presses against two lateral surfaces of the battery. The bracket element preferably partially presses against the two lateral surfaces of the battery pointing transversely to the travel direction, so that the battery is additionally clamped between these two lateral surfaces using the bracket element and particularly reliable fixing is thus ensured. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a protective plate is provided, the protective plate being situated on a lateral surface of the receptacle element pointing in the travel direction. The protective plate is used for the purpose of absorbing the forces acting on the receptacle element during a frontal impact of the motor vehicle and damping them, so that the battery is damaged as little as possible by the forces acting during a frontal impact. The protective plate preferably comprises a reinforced metal plate and preferably has a ribbed structure, whereby the protective plate is implemented as particularly stable. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective plate has a nose-shaped angled area, which at least partially covers the lateral surface of the battery which is spanned by the fixing element. The nose-shaped angled area is preferably situated at a right angle to the longitudinal side of the protective plate. Because, in addition to the fixing element, the nose-shaped angled area of the protective plate covers a lateral surface of the battery, particularly secure fixing of the battery inside the receptacle element is ensured. The protective plate can be used in different positions in the receptacle element depending on the size of the battery. The protective plate is preferably situated directly in front of the battery, which is inserted into the receptacle element. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receptacle element is produced from a plastic material. The receptacle element thus has a particularly low weight and therefore hardly increases the total weight of the vehicle. The receptacle element can also be produced from a metal, however, such as aluminum. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bracket element is produced from a metal. The bracket element thus has a particularly high stability, whereby the receptacle element can additionally be supported by the receptacle element in case of an accident. The bracket element can also be produced from a particularly stable plastic material, however. 
     The embodiments of the invention also relate to a motor vehicle, comprising a device implemented and refined as described above for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first perspective schematic illustration of a device according to an embodiment of the invention for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  shows a second perspective schematic illustration of the device according to an embodiment of the invention for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  shows a third perspective schematic illustration of the device according to an embodiment of the invention for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic illustration of a receptacle element according to an embodiment of the invention having a bracket element situated thereon; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic illustration of a fixing element according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of a protective plate according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective schematic illustration of possible fixing of the device according to the an embodiment of invention in a motor vehicle; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a further perspective schematic illustration of possible fixing of the device according to an embodiment of the invention in a motor vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a device according to the invention for retaining a battery in a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment. The device has a receptacle element  10  for receiving a battery (not shown here). The receptacle element  10  is designed as a rectangular container, the battery being inserted into the receptacle element  10  for fixing in a desired position. In the inserted state, the battery is at least partially covered on five of its six lateral surfaces by the receptacle element  10 . 
     A U-shaped bracket element  12 , which encompasses the bottom surface  14  of the receptacle element  10  directed toward the roadway and the longitudinal sides  16  of the receptacle element  10  oriented transversely to the travel direction of the motor vehicle, is situated on the receptacle element  10 , in particular on the external surface of the receptacle element  10 . A fixing element  18  is situated on the two ends of the bracket element  12 , which can be removably fastened on the bracket element  12  using a screw connection  20  and a clamp connection  22 . The fixing element  18  spans the lateral surface of the battery which is not at least partially covered by the receptacle element  10 . In the clamp connection  22 , the fixing element  18  can have a hook  34  on one or both of its ends, which can be hooked in an opening  32  provided on the bracket element  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The fixing element  18  preferably has a metal plate, made of steel or aluminum, for example, which is provided on at least one side with an elastic material, preferably a rubber, the elastic material preferably being situated in the area of the fixing element  18  which presses against the battery in the installed state. The elastic material of the fixing element  18  is used for the purpose of compensating for the movements of the battery occurring during the travel of the motor vehicle. 
     To increase the stability of the retaining device, the bracket element  12  is fixed on the external surface of the receptacle element  10  via a plate  24 , which is fastened on one side on the bracket element  12  and on the other side on the receptacle element  10 . The plate  24  at least partially encompasses the receptacle element  10 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     A protective plate  28  is situated on the lateral surface  26  of the receptacle element  10  pointing in the travel direction, which is used for the purpose of reinforcing the receptacle element  10  in particular in this area, which is critical in the event of an accident, in that the forces acting on the receptacle element  10  during a frontal impact of the motor vehicle may be absorbed and damped by the protective plate  28 , so that the battery is damaged as little as possible by the forces acting during a frontal impact. The protective plate  28  has a nose-shaped angled area  30 , which at least partially covers the lateral face of the battery which is spanned by the fixing element  18 . The nose-shaped angled area  30  is preferably situated at a right angle to the longitudinal side  32  of the protective plate  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bracket element  12  can be at least partially guided on the inner side of the receptacle element  10 , whereby the stability of the receptacle element  10  can be increased. 
       FIG. 3  shows the retaining device in a bottom view, it being recognizable in this case that the bracket element  12  preferably has a bend  38  in the area where it spans the bottom surface  14  of the receptacle element  10 . The two ends of the bracket element  12  are thus not directly opposite to one another, as recognizable in  FIG. 1 , but rather are situated offset to one another, whereby the stability of the bracket element and thus the entire retaining device can be significantly increased, because the forces acting on the retaining device in case of an accident may be compensated for better. In order to be able to connect the ends of the bracket element  12  situated offset to one another with one another, the fixing element  18  also has a bend  40 , as recognizable in  FIG. 1 . The bend  38  of the bracket element  12  and the bend  40  of the fixing element  18  are situated at different positions parallel to the bottom surface  14  of the receptacle element  10 , whereby the stability of the entire device is also increased. However, the bracket element  12  and the fixing element  18  may also be designed without a bend, but rather as linear. 
       FIG. 4  shows a further illustration of a receptacle element  10  according to an embodiment of the invention having a bracket element  12  situated thereon, the fixing element  18  not yet being situated on the retaining device in this case, so that the battery can be inserted into the receptacle element  10  and subsequently fixed using the fixing element  18 . 
       FIG. 5  schematically shows a fixing element  18  according to an embodiment of the invention, which has an oblong strip-shaped form and has a hook on one end for fixing the fixing element  18  on the bracket element  12  using a clamp connection and has a through hole  42  on its other end for fixing the fixing element  18  on the bracket element using a screw connection. 
       FIG. 6  schematically shows a protective plate  28  according to an embodiment of the invention. The protective plate  28  preferably comprises a reinforced metal plate and preferably has a ribbed structure in the area of the longitudinal side  32  of the protective plate  28 , whereby the protective plate  28  is implemented as particularly stable. The protective plate  28  has a nose-shaped angled area  30 , preferably at a right angle to the longitudinal side  32  of the protective plate  28 , which preferably does not have a ribbed structure. 
     To be able to achieve secure fixing of the battery in the receptacle element  10 , the bracket element  12  and/or the protective plate  28  are preferably adaptable in their dimensions to the size of the particular battery inserted into the receptacle element  10 . 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  schematically show a possible embodiment for fixing the device according to an embodiment of the invention for retaining a battery. The device is preferably fastened on the vehicle body of the vehicle on its bottom side oriented toward the roadway, the fastening being able to be performed via one or more fasteners  44 ,  46  is situated on the bracket element  12  and/or via one or more fasteners  48  situated on the receptacle element  10 , as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . 
     While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.