Patent Description:
A "mortise" is a recess cut into a part which is designed to receive an insert. A door mortise along an edge of a door is a common type of mortise, and is commonly used to receive a mortise lock for locking and unlocking the door when the door is in a closed position. Electronic locks for doors are known, but have typically located batteries on an exterior of the door, outside of a door mortise.

<CIT> discloses a holder of the type defined in the pre-characterising portion of claim <NUM>.

Viewed from a first aspect, the invention provides a battery carrier including an elongated body having opposing first and second walls that extend longitudinally between a first end portion and a second end portion of the elongated body. A handle extends outwards from the first end portion. First and second sloped walls extend between the first and second end portions and at least partially define respective battery recesses. Each sloped wall is sloped inwardly from a respective side of the first wall to the second wall. The battery carrier is characterized in that the second wall comprises: a plurality of cavities that are coaxial and are disposed between the first end portion and second end portion; and a plurality of support ribs that separate the plurality of cavities.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the battery carrier includes a battery retention wall disposed at the second end portion that extends outwardly from the second wall in a direction generally perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first and second sloped walls terminate at the battery retention wall.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the battery carrier includes a first guide feature that extends outwardly from the first wall, and a second guide feature that extends outwardly from the second wall.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first guide feature includes a ridge that extends outward from the first wall and extends longitudinally between the first end portion and second end portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the second guide feature includes a tab, and a flexible tongue biases the tab outwardly from the second wall.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the handle is T-shaped.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a radius of curvature of the first and second sloped walls is approximately the same.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first battery recess and second battery recess are each dimensioned to at least partially receive at least one cylindrical battery.

Viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a battery storage system that includes a battery housing that at least partially defines a cavity that has a first battery storage area and a second battery storage area. A battery carrier is moveable relative to the battery housing between a battery storage position, in which the battery carrier is disposed within the cavity and between the first and second battery storage areas, and a battery removal position in which the battery carrier extends outside of the cavity. The battery carrier is as described above.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the battery storage system includes a battery retention wall disposed at the second end portion and extending outwardly from the second wall in a direction generally perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the battery storage system includes a carrier guide feature of the first wall or second wall that engages a housing guide feature of the housing to support movement of the battery carrier between the battery storage position and the battery removal position.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the carrier guide feature includes a ridge that extends outward from the first wall, and the housing guide feature includes a slot that receives the ridge, wherein the ridge is slidable in the slot between the battery storage position and the battery removal position.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the carrier guide feature includes a tab, a flexible tongue biasing the tab outwardly from the second wall, and the housing guide feature includes a slot that receives the tab and extends between a first end and a second end. The first end of the slot limits movement of the carrier in the battery removal position.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a radius of curvature of the each of the sloped walls is approximately the same.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the battery storage system includes a hinged door that is rotatable between an open position which enables the battery carrier to advance to the battery removal position, and a closed position that prevents the battery carrier from advancing to the battery removal position.

The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an example door lock system <NUM> for a door <NUM>. The door lock system <NUM> includes an electronic mortise lock <NUM> received into a first door mortise 13A, and a battery storage system <NUM> that is received into a second door mortise 13B. The battery storage system <NUM> includes batteries configured to power the electronic mortise lock <NUM>. A rib <NUM> is provided between the two door mortises 13A-B to provide structural support. An access door <NUM> is removable to provide access to the battery storage system <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the battery storage system <NUM>, with the access door <NUM> having been removed. As shown in <FIG>, the battery storage system <NUM> includes a battery housing <NUM> that at least partially defines a cavity <NUM> for storing batteries that power the electronic mortise lock <NUM>. Wires <NUM> electrically connect the batteries (not shown in <FIG>) to the electronic mortise lock <NUM>.

A hinged door <NUM> is provided, and is depicted in a closed position in <FIG>. The hinged door <NUM> rotates about an axis A between the closed position, shown in <FIG>, and an open position, as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the battery storage system <NUM> with the hinged door <NUM> in an open position, which provides access to batteries 23A and 23B within the battery housing <NUM>. Electrical contacts 21A-B are provided for providing an electrical connection between the batteries 23A-B when the hinged door <NUM> is in the closed position. A battery carrier <NUM> is provided for removing the batteries 23A-B (and batteries 23C-D, not shown in <FIG>) from the battery housing <NUM> and inserting the batteries 23A-D into the battery housing <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the battery carrier <NUM> is depicted in a battery storage position in which the batteries <NUM> and battery carrier <NUM> are stored within the cavity <NUM> of the battery housing <NUM>. The battery carrier <NUM> is movable relative to the battery housing <NUM> between the battery storage position and a battery removal position, shown in <FIG>, in which the batteries 23A-D are easily removable. When the hinged door <NUM> is in the open position, the battery carrier <NUM> can advance to the battery removal position. When the hinged door <NUM> is in the closed position, movement of the battery carrier <NUM> is limited, and the battery carrier <NUM> cannot advance to the battery removal position.

<FIG> is a perspective view the battery storage system <NUM> with the hinged door <NUM> in an open position, and the battery carrier <NUM> in the battery removal position. As shown in <FIG>, in the battery removal position, the battery carrier <NUM> extends outside of the cavity <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a majority of the battery carrier <NUM> is outside of the battery housing <NUM> and cavity <NUM> in the battery removal position. The batteries 23A-D can be easily removed, replaced, and/or inserted in the battery removal position.

A T-shaped handle <NUM> is provided at an end portion of the battery carrier <NUM> for translating the battery carrier <NUM> between the battery storage position and the battery removal position. The hinged door <NUM> includes an opening <NUM>, and when the hinged door <NUM> is in the closed position, the T-shaped handle <NUM> extends at least partially into the opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the battery housing <NUM> taken along line C-C of <FIG>, but with the batteries <NUM> not shown. As shown in <FIG>, the battery housing <NUM> includes two exterior walls 30A-B that are secured together by clamping members 32A-B. The cavity <NUM> is provided between the exterior walls 30A-B, and includes a first battery storage area 34A for storing batteries 23A, 23C, and a second battery storage area 34B for storing batteries 23B, 23D. In the closed position, the battery carrier <NUM> is provided between the two battery storage areas 34A-B.

The battery carrier <NUM> includes a first wall <NUM> and a second wall <NUM> that is opposite the first wall <NUM>. First and second sloped walls 44A-B are provided that are disposed on opposing sides of the first wall <NUM>. Each sloped wall <NUM> has a convex geometry and is sloped inwardly from a respective side of the first wall <NUM> to the second wall <NUM>. The first sloped wall 44A has a radius of curvature R1, and the second sloped wall 44A has a radius of curvature R2. In the example of <FIG>, the R1 and R2 are substantially the same.

The first sloped wall 44A at least partially defines a battery recess 46A that is dimensioned to at least partially receive the batteries 23A, 23C. In a similar fashion, the second sloped wall 44B at least partially defines a battery recess 46B that is dimensioned to at least partially receive the batteries 23B, 23D.

The battery carrier <NUM> includes a first carrier guide feature and a second carrier guide feature which each engage a respective housing guide feature of the battery housing <NUM> to support movement of the battery carrier <NUM> between the battery storage position and the battery removal position. The guide features also provide for alignment of the battery carrier <NUM> with respect to the battery housing <NUM> as the battery carrier <NUM> it moves between the battery storage position and the battery removal position.

In the example of <FIG>, the first carrier guide feature is a ridge <NUM> that extends outward from the first wall <NUM> and is received into a slot <NUM> in the exterior wall 30A. The ridge <NUM> is slidable in the slot <NUM> between the battery storage position and the battery removal position. The second carrier guide feature includes a tab <NUM> that extends outward from the second wall <NUM> and engages a slot <NUM> in the exterior wall 30B.

Referring again to <FIG> and <FIG>, the slot <NUM> extends between a first end 54A and a second end 54B. The first end 54A of the slot <NUM> limits movement of the battery carrier <NUM> in the battery removal position (see <FIG>), and the second end 54B of the slot <NUM> limits movement of the battery carrier <NUM> in the battery storage position (see <FIG>).

In an alternative embodiment, the ridge <NUM> and slot <NUM> could be switched so that the ridge <NUM> is part of the exterior wall 30A and the slot <NUM> is part of the first wall <NUM>.

<FIG> is perspective view of the batter carrier <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the battery carrier <NUM> has an elongated body <NUM> that extends longitudinally along a central longitudinal axis B between a first end portion 62A and a second end portion 62B. The first and second sloped walls 44A-B and ridge <NUM> also extend longitudinally between the first end portion 62A and the second end portion 62B. The T-shaped handle <NUM> extends outwards from the first end portion 62A. The batteries 23A-D extend generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis B.

A battery retention wall <NUM> is disposed at the second end portion 62B, and extends outwardly from the second wall <NUM> in a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis B. As shown in <FIG>, the first and second sloped walls 44A-B terminate at the battery retention wall <NUM>, such that the battery retention wall <NUM> also partially defines the battery recesses 46A-B. The battery retention wall <NUM> prevents batteries in the battery recesses 46A-B from extending beyond the second end portion 62B.

<FIG> is another perspective view of the batter carrier <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second wall <NUM> includes a plurality of cavities <NUM> that are coaxial, extend along the central longitudinal axis B, and are disposed between the first end portion 62A and second end portion 62B. A plurality of support ribs <NUM> separate the plurality of cavities <NUM> and extend between edges 76A-B of the second wall <NUM>.

The tab <NUM>, which is receivable into the slot <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. A tongue <NUM> provides a bias force that biases the tab <NUM> outwardly from the second wall <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> can be flexed inward towards the first wall <NUM> for initial insertion of the tab <NUM> into the slot <NUM>, and for removal of the tab <NUM> from the slot <NUM> (e.g., so that the battery carrier <NUM> can extend beyond the battery removal position for complete removal of the battery carrier <NUM> from the cavity <NUM> of the battery housing <NUM>).

<FIG> is perspective view of the second end portion 62B of the battery carrier <NUM> which shows the tab <NUM> and tongue <NUM> in greater detail.

<FIG> is an end view of the battery carrier <NUM> that shows the second end portion 62B, and illustrates a recess <NUM> in the battery carrier <NUM> that accommodates inward flexing of the tab <NUM> and tongue <NUM> towards the first wall.

Electronic mortise locks generally require a plurality of batteries. Unlike typical prior art electronic mortise locks, which have located a battery pack on the exterior of a door, the battery storage system <NUM> provides for convenient storage of the batteries 23A-D within the second door mortise 13B.

Excessively large door mortises are undesirable because they can weaken the structure of a door. The small footprint of the battery storage system <NUM> avoids any substantial weakening of the door <NUM>, while also providing for convenient insertion, removal, and replacement of the batteries 23A-D without requiring any complex external tools.

Also, by separating the second door mortise 13B, which houses the battery storage system <NUM>, from the first door mortise 13A, which houses the electronic mortise lock <NUM>, a greater degree of structural strength of the door <NUM> is maintained.

Claim 1:
A battery carrier, comprising:
an elongated body (<NUM>) including opposing first and second walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) that extend longitudinally between a first end portion (62A) and a second end portion (62B) of the elongated body;
a handle (<NUM>) extending outwards from the first end portion; and
first and second sloped walls (44A, 44B) that extend between the first and second end portions and at least partially define respective battery recesses (46A, 46B), each sloped wall sloped inwardly from a respective side of the first wall to the second wall;
characterized in that the second wall comprises:
a plurality of cavities (<NUM>) that are coaxial and are disposed between the first end portion and second end portion; and
a plurality of support ribs(<NUM>) that separate the plurality of cavities.