JPH11307072A - Battery-pack misloading preventing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a structure and assembling process, by providing engagement members in unified positions of battery packs of a plurality of kinds different in shape and size, providing guide members engaging with the engagement members in male/female relation on the side of a battery-pack insertion hole for insertion of such a battery pack, and thereby causing different kinds of battery packs to have positions for engagement and protection in common. SOLUTION: This device comprises battery packs 33, 34 each storing batteries and a battery-pack insertion hole 31 allowing any of the battery packs 33, 34 to be inserted/mounted therein and provided in an electronic apparatus. the battery packs 33, 34 comprise at least two battery packs 33, 34 of a plurality of kinds different in shape and size, each individual battery pack 33, 34 is provided with engagement members (projection parts) 38, 42 in common positions thereof, and the battery-pack insertion hole 31 has a structure provided with guide members (recessed parts) 39 capable of engaging with the engagement members (projection parts) 38, 42 in male/female relation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device that unifies erroneous insertion prevention structures for a plurality of types of battery packs having different shapes and sizes and simplifies an assembly process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Battery packs 11 and 12 which can be attached to an electronic device 10 such as a video camera in the prior art are:
As shown in FIG. 3, it is well known that a plurality of rechargeable lithium ion batteries are incorporated as unit cells 13. A battery pack insertion hole 14 into which the battery packs 11 and 12 are mounted is provided on a part of the electronic device 10 and is engaged with an engaging member 15 (recess) provided on a part of the battery pack 12. The structure has a member 16 (convex portion).

A battery pack 11 includes two cells 13 (batteries) each having a charge / discharge time capable of withstanding the driving operation of an ordinary electronic device, and a long-time driving operation of the electronic device. There are two types of battery packs 12 equipped with four cells 13 that have a withstandable charge / discharge time.

[0004] The battery pack 11 which can withstand normal use is composed of a rectangular parallelepiped upper case 17 and a lower case 18 which can store two cells 13.

The top surface of the upper case 17 has a structure in which a reverse insertion protection groove 19 having a predetermined width is provided at a central position on one side in the longitudinal direction.

When the battery pack 11 having such a structure is inserted into the battery pack insertion hole 14 and mounted, the upper end of the upper case 17 contacts the lower end of the guide member 16 and is guided and inserted. Be attached.

Battery pack 1 that can withstand long use
2, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the insertion opening is formed in the size of the battery pack insertion hole 14 and the four cells 1
3 includes an upper case 20, an intermediate case 21, and a lower case 22 which form a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a space in which the space 3 can be stored.

The upper case 20 and the lower case 22 have the same shape as the battery pack 11 described above, and a band-shaped projecting cell positioning portion 23 is provided inside the lower case 22 at an intermediate position along the longitudinal direction. (See FIG. 4).

The intermediate case 21 is formed in a frame having an opening at the top and bottom, and is located on the inner side wall surface in the longitudinal direction and at a position of a predetermined length L from one end to the back at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction. And a trapezoidal engaging member (recess) 15 which is linearly recessed from the other end to the other end. Since the engaging member (concave portion) 15 is formed to have the same thickness as the other side wall surface, the inner side wall portion of the portion where the concave portion 15 is provided has a linear protrusion 24 having the same shape as the concave shape. Structure.

In order to assemble the battery pack 12 having such a structure, first, two cells 13 are placed on the lower case 22, and then the intermediate case 21 is placed. Then, two more cells 13 are placed in the intermediate case 21, and the upper case 20 is put on and welded to complete the battery pack 12, and terminals and the like for connection to electronic devices are omitted.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the battery pack insertion hole 14 is formed to have a size for accommodating the battery pack 12 which can be used for a long time. It has a structure in which a guide member (projection) 16 that protrudes in a belt shape in the direction is provided.

In the case of the battery pack 11 which can withstand normal time, the guide member (convex portion) 16 not only guides the insertion, but also, for example, the upper space of the battery pack insertion hole 14 when the battery pack 11 is dropped in the direction A in FIG. There is also a role of protecting the battery pack 11 from moving.

In the case of the battery pack 12 which can withstand a long time, the guide member (projection) 16 is fitted to the engagement member (recess) 15 by fitting the guide member (projection) 16 in a male and female relationship. Installing.

[0014]

However, a battery pack having a different shape according to the above-mentioned prior art, for example, a battery pack capable of inserting and mounting two or more types of battery packs having two different shapes and sizes. It is necessary to provide a guide member (projection) projecting from the inner wall surface of the insertion hole. Therefore, at least the side wall surface of the battery pack having the size of the insertion hole has male and female guide members (projection). It is necessary to provide an engaging member (recess) that fits in the relationship. This engaging member (recess)
However, there is a problem that not only the structure of providing an intermediate case between the lower case and the upper case and providing the intermediate case is complicated, but also the assembly thereof is complicated.

Therefore, in a plurality of types of battery packs having different shapes and sizes, it is necessary to provide an engaging member at a uniform position and to simplify the assembling process of the battery pack itself. ing.

[0016]

In order to solve the above problems, a battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device according to the present invention can be inserted and mounted in a battery pack insertion hole provided on a device side, and a battery is stored. A battery pack insertion device, wherein the battery pack has a plurality of types having different shapes and sizes, each of which can be individually inserted and mounted in the battery pack insertion hole. A common engaging member is provided in a part thereof, and a guide member that engages with the engaging member in a male and female relationship is provided in the battery pack insertion hole.

Further, the engaging member is formed in a convex portion, and the guide member is formed in a concave portion.

An engagement member is provided at a common position of a plurality of types of battery packs having different shapes and sizes as described above, and a guide member which engages with this engagement member in a male and female relationship is provided on the battery pack insertion hole side. As a result, the erroneous insertion prevention mechanism can be shared irrespective of the shape and size of the battery pack, and the position at which the erroneous insertion prevention member is provided can be determined in advance. The structure of the battery pack itself can be simplified.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of a battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a battery pack insertion hole 31 provided in a part of an electronic device 30 such as a video camera for inserting and mounting a plurality of types of battery packs having different shapes and sizes.
And a plurality of types of battery packs 33 and 34 having different shapes and sizes in which a plurality of cells 33 are built.

A plurality of types of battery packs are composed of two cells 32 (battery) that can withstand the driving operation of ordinary electronic equipment.
And a battery pack 34 equipped with four cells 32 that withstands a long-time driving operation of the electronic device 30. In addition, it is needless to say that the battery pack is not limited to these, and may be, for example, a battery pack equipped with six cells.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 33, which can withstand normal use, is composed of a rectangular parallelepiped upper case 35 and a lower case 36 having a size capable of storing two cells 32.

On the top surface of the upper case 35, a reverse insertion protection groove 37 having a predetermined width is provided at a central position on one side in the longitudinal direction, and an engaging member having a predetermined width is formed around the lower end portion so as to protrude outside the side wall surface. (Protrusions) 38 are provided.

The lower case 36 has a structure in which the periphery of the opened end is formed in a size that can be aligned with the engaging member (convex portion) 38, and a cell positioning portion (not shown) is provided inside the lower case 36.

In the battery pack 33 having such a structure, the two cells 32 are placed on the lower case 36, the upper case 35 is covered from above, and the engaging member (convex portion) 3
8 is aligned with the opening end of the lower case 36, and ultrasonic welding is performed at the joint to complete the assembly.

When the battery pack 33 thus assembled is inserted into the battery insertion hole 31 and mounted, the engaging member (projection) 38 is inserted into the battery insertion hole 31.
May be engaged with the guide member (concave part) 39 in a male and female relationship. Since the mounted battery pack 33 is guided by the guide member (recess) 39 even if a space is formed above the battery insertion hole 31, for example, the arrow A
The guide member (concave portion) 39 even if a shock in the direction is applied.
The upward movement (direction A) of the battery pack 33 is protected by the engagement member (convex portion) 38 that is engaged in a male-female relationship.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery pack 34, which can withstand long-term use, is formed in the size of the battery pack insertion hole 31 and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a space for accommodating four cells. And an upper case 40 and a lower case 41.

The upper case 40 is provided with an engaging member (convex portion) 42 projecting outward from the periphery of the opening end thereof, and has a top surface having a predetermined width at a central position on one side in the lateral direction. The structure has an insertion protection groove 43.

The lower case 41 is the same as the above-described lower case 36 for the battery pack 33 (see FIG. 1) which can withstand normal use. The lower case 41 is fitted with an engaging member (convex portion) 42 of the upper case 40 at the opening end. The inner surface of the bottom has a structure in which a belt-shaped cell positioning portion 44 (see FIG. 2) is provided at an intermediate position along the longitudinal direction.

In order to assemble the battery pack 34 having such a structure, first, four cells 32 are simultaneously placed on the lower case 41, the upper case 40 is covered, and the engaging member (convex portion) 42 and the lower case 41 The assembly is completed by aligning and joining the opening end 45 and welding the joined portion by ultrasonic waves. Thus, the battery pack 34 having the size of the battery pack insertion hole 31 is formed.
Even in the case of (1), it is not necessary to provide the engaging member 15 (see FIG.
1 (see FIG. 3) is not required, and the size of the upper case 40 may be made large enough to accommodate four cells 32.
It should be noted that terminals for supplying power by connecting to the electronic device are omitted. When the battery pack 34 thus assembled is inserted into the battery pack insertion hole 31 and mounted, the guide member (recess) 39 is engaged with the engaging member (projection).
What is necessary is just to mount 42 by engaging 42 in a male-female relationship.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack insertion hole 31 provided in the electronic device 30 is formed to have a size capable of accommodating the battery pack 34 that can withstand long-time use. A groove is provided along the longitudinal direction of the portion, that is, a guide member (recess) 39 is provided.

When inserting a plurality of types of battery packs (33, 34 in the embodiment) having different shapes and sizes, the guide member (recess) 39
There is a common positional relationship in which the engagement members (projections) 38, 42 of the third and the third 34 are engaged in a male and female relationship.

As described above, the battery pack insertion hole 31
When the engagement members (convex portions) 38 and 42 at the time of inserting and mounting the battery packs are provided at the positions of the lower end portions of the battery packs 33 and 34, even if the battery packs have different shapes and sizes, Since the joining member (convex portion) can be provided at a common common position, even if the structure and configuration are simplified,
It is possible to protect by the external force applied to the guide and the electronic device at the time of insertion.

In the embodiment, the engaging members (convex portions) 3 provided at both lower ends of the battery packs 33 and 34 are provided.
Although the shapes of 8, 42 are left-right symmetrical shapes, they may be left-right asymmetrical shapes. In this case, the erroneous insertion direction can be more clearly determined.

[0035]

As described above, in the battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device according to the present invention, an engagement member (convex portion) is provided at the lower end portion of the battery pack, and the convex portion and the male and female are inserted into the battery pack insertion hole. By adopting a structure in which guide members (recesses) that engage with each other are provided, the engagement members can be provided at a uniform position even for a plurality of types of battery packs having different shapes and sizes. Can be simplified.

Further, in the case of a battery pack that matches the size of the battery pack insertion hole, it is not necessary to separately provide a guide member, so that the structure is simplified and the assembling process can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery pack that matches the size of the battery pack insertion hole.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device according to the related art.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a battery pack according to the related art, which fits a size of a battery pack insertion hole.

[Explanation of symbols]

30; electronic equipment; 31; battery pack insertion hole, 3
2; cell, 33; battery pack, 34; battery pack, 35; upper case, 36; lower case, 37; reverse insertion protection groove, 38; engagement member (convex portion), 39; Upper case, 41; lower case, 4
2; engagement member (convex portion); 43; reverse insertion protection groove, 4
4: Cell positioning part, 45: Open end

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An insertion device for a battery pack which can be inserted and mounted in a battery pack insertion hole provided on a device side and in which a battery is stored, wherein the battery pack comprises:
There are a plurality of types having different shapes and sizes, each of which can be individually inserted and mounted in the battery pack insertion hole, and each battery pack is provided with a common engaging member in a part thereof, The battery pack insertion hole is provided with a guide member that engages with the engaging member in a male and female relationship. 2. The battery pack erroneous insertion prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging member is formed in a convex portion, and the guide member is formed in a concave portion.