Abstract:
A retainer clip for holding a battery to an electronic device is disclosed. The retainer clip includes at least three arms that join together at an intersecting point. The intersecting point is urged toward the electronic device to which the retainer clip is coupled to hold more securely the battery in position. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present intention relates to a retainer clip and, more particularly, to a retainer clip that secures a battery to an electronic device. 
     2. Background 
     Batteries are regularly used as a convenient source of power in electronic devices because of their small size, ease of use, and low maintenance. For example, batteries are often used in computers and servers to support certain functions of the particular devices. Specifically, batteries are regularly connected to multi-function computer cards, such as printed circuit boards (“PCBs”), to support clock functions and back-up functions of a device, even when the particular device is not otherwise powered. Such a battery should be firmly secured to the PCB to ensure reliable connection to the electrical circuit. However, because of the limited area available on a PCB to secure a battery, the securing apparatus must occupy as small amount of space as possible. 
     Several methods have been used to secure batteries to PCBs, including soldering, spot welding, taping, and holders. Each of these securing techniques, however, has drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a device that secures a battery to an electronic component and method of performing the same. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a retainer clip that includes at least three arms, each having a free end and an intersecting end. For the three arms, the respective intersecting ends join together at an intersecting point and the opposed free ends are adapted to couple to the electronic device. When the retainer clip is coupled to the electronic device, the intersecting point is spaced apart from the component at a distance to receive a battery therebetween. The battery is then movable between a separated position, in which the battery is spaced apart from the intersecting point, and a mounted position, in which the battery is disposed intermediate the intersecting point and the electronic device. 
     To secure better the battery, the retainer clip preferably urges the intersecting point toward the electronic device. In one exemplary embodiment, the intersecting point is bendable and is normally concave in side view. When the battery is moved or slid to the mounted position, at least a portion of the intersecting point flexes to be substantially straight. Since the intersecting point is biased to be concave, it more securely positions the battery than an embodiment that is not predisposed to be concave. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retainer clip, battery, and PCB, wherein the battery is in the mounted position and secured to the PCB by the retainer clip coupled to the PCB; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the retainer clip, battery, and PCB; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retainer clip, battery, and PCB, wherein the battery is in the separated position and spaced apart from the retainer clip and PCB; 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the retainer clip; and 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the retainer clip. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, “a,” “an,” or “the” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. The preferred embodiment is now described with reference to the figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures. 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a retainer clip  10  of the present invention shown securing a battery  20  to a printed circuit board (“PCB”)  30 . One skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the retainer clip  10  may secure the battery  20  to other electronic devices, such as electronic cards and chassis, but the exemplary embodiment is discussed in the context of a PCB for convenience and continuity. 
     The retainer clip  10  preferably comprises at least three arms, namely, a first arm  12 , a second arm  14 , and a third arm  16 . Each of the respective arms includes opposed ends—an intersecting end and a free end. The intersecting end  11  of the first arm  12 , the intersecting end  13  of the second arm  14 , and the intersecting end  15  of the third arm  16  join together at an intersecting point  18 . The intersecting ends are preferably integrally formed together at the intersecting point  18 , but, if desired, may be connected together after they are manufactured. 
     The free end  1  of the first arm  12 , the free end  3  of the second arm  14 , and the free end  5  of the third arm  16  couple to the PCB  30 . As shown best in FIG. 2, the free ends  1 ,  3 , and  5  have tabs  2 ,  4 , and  6  that are complementarily received into holes  32 ,  34 , and  36 , respectively, in the PCB  30  and then expand to detachably “lock” into position. The tabs  2 ,  4 , and  6  in the exemplary embodiment are designed to engage a PCB with thickness of 0.062 inches +/−0.04 inches. Other designs are contemplated to couple the respective free ends to the holes in or surface of the PCB, including using fusing, soldering, spot welding, chemical adhesives, or other mechanical systems, such as the tip of the free end having threads that complementarily engage a nut or the like on the opposite side of the PCB. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-5, moving away from the intersecting point  18 , the three arms  12 ,  13 , and  14  of the retainer clip  10  are spaced apart to form a “T” shape in plan view in the exemplary embodiment. This “T” shape is preferred for receiving a battery  20  that is substantially rectangular in plan view, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Other shapes of the retainer clip  10  are contemplated, particularly if the clip uses more than three arms (not shown). 
     Furthermore, the retainer clip may include additional segments (not shown) that additionally support the battery. As an example, such a segment may extend from the intersection point  18  in a direction away from the second arm  14  and not have a free end that couples to the PCB. This segment would provide supplemental support for retaining the battery  20  in position. 
     The retainer clip  10  of the present invention may be designed to accept batteries  20  having different dimensions, such as varying widths and thicknesses. This is achieved by varying the distance between the free ends  1 ,  2 , and  3  to accommodate batteries of different widths and lengths and altering the spacing between the surface of the PCB and the intersecting point  18  to accept batteries of different thicknesses. Moreover, the retainer clip of the present invention may further be designed to receive batteries having different shapes, such as circular, elliptical, tetragonal, polygonal, and the like. 
     When the retainer clip  10  is coupled to the PCB  30 , the battery  20  is movable or slidable between a separated position and a mounted position. In the separated position, the battery  20  is spaced apart from intersecting point  18  and PCB  30 , as shown in FIG.  3 . In comparison, FIG. 1 shows the battery in the mounted position, in which battery  20  is disposed intermediate intersecting point  18  and PCB  30 . Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, the interior surfaces  7 ,  8 , and  9  of the respective arms  12 ,  14 , and  16  of the retainer clip  10  contact portions of battery  20  when the battery  20  is in the mounted position. 
     It is preferred that the retainer clip  10  further comprises a means for biasing or urging the intersection point  18  toward the PCB or other component to which the clip  10  is coupled. Thus, when the battery  20  is in the mounted position, the intersecting point  18  of the retainer clip  10  exerts a compressive force on the battery  20  to hold it in position more securely. This compressive force hinders the battery  20  from shifting or becoming dislodged when the PCB  30  is installed onto the electronic equipment or when the battery and its surrounding components are subject vibrations during operations. 
     As shown best in FIGS. 2-5, the first arm  12  of the retainer clip  10  has a bend  42  located intermediate its intersecting end  11  and free end  1 . The second arm  14  similarly has a bend  45  located intermediate its intersecting end  13  and free end  3  and the third arm  16  likewise has a bend  48  intermediate its intersecting and free ends  15 ,  5 . Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, the intersecting point  18  is located below a horizontal plane defined by tangentially contacting the bends  42 ,  45 , and  48  and, more specifically, the intersecting point  18  is concave in side view when the battery  20  is in the separated position. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, however, the term “concave” is not limited to a smooth arcuate shape, but encompasses any design in which at least a portion of the intersecting point drops downwardly toward the tips of the free ends  1 ,  3 , and  5  of the retaining clip  10 . 
     When the operator moves or slides the battery  20  to the mounted position, the intersecting point  18  may be bent or flexed to be substantially straight to allow the battery  20  to be received intermediate the PCB  30  and portions of the interior surfaces  7 ,  8 , and  9  of the respective arms  12 ,  14 , and  16 . Thus, when the battery  20  is in the mounted position, the intersecting point  18  is urged back to its normally concave position, which more securely holds the battery  20  in the mounted position. That is, the battery  20  is “sandwiched” between the intersecting point  18  and the component to which the retainer clip  10  is mounted because the intersecting point  18  is urged or biased toward the battery  20 , and this design more securely retains the battery  20  in the mounted position. 
     The retainer clip  10  is preferably formed of a bendable material such as plastic. Plastic is also advantageous when the retainer clip  10  is used in conjunction with the PCB  30  or other electronic component because it is non-conductive. Examples of plastics that may be used to form the retainer clip include, but are not limited to, ABS and nylon. 
     The present invention, however, also contemplates the retainer clip  10  being formed of a metal or elastomeric material, either alone or in combination with each other or plastic. More specifically, a leaf spring may be used to form the biasing means. In still another design, it is contemplated that at least portions of the retainer clip  10  be formed of a “memory” material, such as the metal alloy nitinol, that can be bent to a given position for moving the battery into the mounted position and then can be made to return to its normal position that better holds the battery  20  in place. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims. For example, the retainer clip of the present invention may be used outside of the context of electronics or computers and may be used to hold components other than batteries.