Battery holder having means for securely retaining battery in position

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to a battery holder for holding and mounting a battery to for example a circuit board, and more particular to a battery holder having improved conductive contacts for both electrically engaging and reliably retaining the battery in place when the battery is inserted into the battery holder.

#2. Description of Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery holder in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is another exploded perspective view of the battery holder of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 1;

#With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4, a preferred embodiment of a battery holder 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention is adopted for holding a battery 40 (FIG. 10) having a cylindrical body 42 and opposite end surfaces respectively forming a flat negative terminal 44 and a protruded positive terminal 46 (both see FIG. 12) for electrically connecting with an underlying circuit board (not shown). The battery holder 1 comprises a one-piece insulative housing 10 and first and second conductive contacts 20, 60 attached to opposite ends of the housing 10.

#The housing 10 comprises a body 12 having a bottom surface 13 to be positioned on the circuit board. The body 12 further comprises front and rear end blocks 14, 16 connected by two opposite side walls 18 whereby a receiving space 15 is defined therebetween for receipt of the battery 40. Each side wall 18 has a curved inner face 182 in the space 15 for supporting the battery 40 in the holder body 12. The inner faces 182 of the side walls 18 are space from each other, thereby defining a bottom opening 184 therebetween. The bottom opening 184 communicates with the receiving space 15.

#Further referring to FIG. 7, the front end block 14 defines an elongate recess 142 communicating with the receiving space 15 for receiving the first conductive contact 20 and a pair of slits 149 in the bottom surface 13 and communicating with the recess 142. The front end block 14 forms a stopping bar 143 at an upper portion thereof and a pair of flanges 146 projecting from opposite ends of the stopping bar 143 toward the receiving space 15. The rear end block 16 of the holder body 12 has an inner surface 162 on which two opposite raised portions 164 are formed and connected by a cross bar 168 therebetween. A notch 163 is defined therebetween the raised portions 164 and the cross bar 168. A receiving slit 166 is formed between each raised portion 164 and the inner surface 162 of the rear end block 16 and communicates with the notch 163 for receiving the second conductive contact 60. Additionally, a through hole 132 is defined in the bottom face 13 of the housing 10 and communicates with the receiving slit 166.