Battery vibration control apparatus
OwnerJonathan Neal Andrews, Stephen V. Cooperinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-axis restraining system for releasably restraining a battery pack installed in an instrument battery pocket such that the battery terminals and instrument contacts are rigidly secured to each other. The instrument contacts are loosely mounted within the instrument so that they may float, traveling with the battery pack in response to shocks and vibration. The present invention significantly eliminates relative motion between the battery terminals and instrument contacts, substantially eliminating welding and fretting of the contacts and terminals. The present invention is particularly beneficial in instruments such as defibrillators which require reliable and efficient use of the battery power.
Claims11
A battery interface adapter for use in an instrument battery pocket for maintaining a constant electrical connection between non-snap battery pack terminals disposed on an end of a battery pack and instrument contacts located on a base of the battery interface adapter, said battery pack having elongate sides substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis thereof, opposing front and rear sides adjacent to said elongate sides, and a first recess in a surface of a first elongate side and said front side, said battery interface adapter, comprising:
- a multi-axis restraining system that rigidly connects the battery interface adapter to the battery pack when the battery pack is installed within the battery pocket to substantially eliminate relative motion between said terminals and said contacts in a first and second lateral directions substantially orthogonal with respect to each other and with a longitudinal axis of the battery pack, wherein said multi-axis restraining system comprises a corresponding first protrusion extending from said battery interface adapter substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis and aligned with said first recess, said first recess and first protrusion constructed and arranged to prevent motion of the battery pack in said first lateral direction within a plane defined by said first protrusion;
- and
- a biasing element disposed between a wall of the instrument battery pocket and the base of the battery interface adapter.
A battery interface adapter for use in an instrument battery pocket, comprising:
- a base including a printed circuit board having traces terminating in instrument contacts;
- a multi-axis restraining system that rigidly connects the instrument contacts to battery pack terminals when a battery pack is installed within the battery pocket to substantially eliminate relative motion between the battery pack terminals and the instrument contacts;
- and
- opposing tracks secured in the instrument battery pocket that constrain the base by providing a limited range of movement in at least first and second lateral directions with respect to the instrument battery pocket.
A battery interface adapter for use in a battery pocket, the battery interface adapter, comprising:
- a base having a plurality of instrument contacts to electrically couple a battery disposed within the battery pocket;
- a plurality of opposing tracks defining a channel suitable for receiving the base, the opposing tracks serving as guides constraining movement of the base within the battery pocket;
- a multi-axis restraining system;
- and
- a means for biasing the base from a surface of the battery pocket wherein the battery interface adapter and a battery pack move as a unit when the battery pack is disposed within the battery pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.