Battery box and electronic device

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery box and electronic device with further reduced thickness. [Solution] The battery box body 11 has a battery storage area 13. The center shaft 12 is provided in the dead space DS of the battery storage area 13 other than the battery storage area RB in which the batteries are stored, and contacts the battery BT to hold the battery BT. The center shaft 12 is detachably attached to the battery box body 11. At least one end of the center shaft 12 is fixed to the contact-side end of the battery box body 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery box and an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a battery box including a battery box body in which adjacent batteries are housed in contact with each other. Inside the battery box body, a column is formed that stands in the center of adjacent batteries and contacts the batteries on four sides to assist in holding the batteries.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When using a battery box for a small electronic device such as a small recording device, in line with the miniaturization of the electronic device, further miniaturization of the battery box is required. Where miniaturization of the battery box is required, further reduction in the thickness of the cover member of the battery box has been an issue. However, the cover member also requires strength to hold the battery, and it has been difficult to achieve both strength and thinness.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery box and an electronic device with further reduced thickness.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The battery box of the present invention includes a battery box body having a battery storage area, and a center shaft provided in a dead space other than the battery area in the battery storage area, which abuts against the battery and holds the battery.

[0007] Preferably, the center shaft is detachable from the battery box body. Preferably, at least one end of the center shaft is fixed to the contact-side end of the battery box body. Preferably, one of the contact-side ends of the battery box body has a first contact-side end including a first insertion hole, and the other has a second contact-side end including a second insertion hole. Preferably, by inserting the center shaft into the first and second insertion holes along the insertion direction, the first end of the center shaft is brought into contact with the first contact-side end, while the end face of the second end opposite the first end does not come into contact with the second contact-side end, and the first end is fixed to the first contact-side end.

[0008] The shape of the first insertion hole is preferably U-shaped. The second end has a smaller diameter second end than the first end, and it is preferable that a first gap is formed between the larger diameter second end face of the larger diameter second end and the second contact side end, and a second gap is formed between the smaller diameter second end face of the smaller diameter second end and the inner wall of the bottom of the second insertion hole. It is preferable that an elastic member is provided on the contact surface of the first contact side end to which the first end abuts. It is preferable that a first upper side cover member is provided which is attached to the battery box body and covers the battery exposed from the upper opening of the battery storage area.

[0009] Preferably, the second upper cover member, which is attached to the battery box body and covers the batteries exposed from the upper opening side of the battery storage area, has a pressing portion that presses against the center shaft provided between the sides of adjacent batteries, causing the center shaft to come into contact with the side of the battery.

[0010] The battery box of the present invention comprises a battery box body having a battery storage area, and a shaft-equipped cover member provided in the dead space of the battery storage area other than the battery storage area in which the batteries are stored, and which has an integrated center shaft that contacts and holds the batteries, and is attached to the battery box body and covers the batteries that are exposed from the upper opening side of the battery storage area.

[0011] The dead space is preferably an area formed between the sides of adjacent batteries and does not protrude above the height of the adjacent batteries. The center shaft preferably has an elastic member on its surface. The bottom surface of the battery box body preferably has a bottom opening that exposes a portion of the bottom side of the battery's side. It is preferable to have a bottom-side cover member that covers the battery exposed through the bottom opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, a center shaft is provided in the dead space outside the battery area within the battery storage region, and the battery is held in contact with the center shaft. This configuration makes it possible to hold the battery with the center shaft. Therefore, even when the battery is covered with a cover member, the cover member does not need to hold the battery, so the thickness of the cover member can be further reduced. Furthermore, if the center shaft is fixed to the battery box body, it is possible to eliminate the cover member for holding the battery. As a result, it becomes possible to miniaturize the small device into which the battery box is incorporated, and by thinning or eliminating the cover member, the heat dissipation efficiency when the battery generates heat is also improved, thereby preventing adverse effects on the small device due to heat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the battery box. [Figure 2] (A) is an explanatory diagram showing the battery area, and (B) is an explanatory diagram showing the dead space. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of the battery box. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the battery box when a center shaft is not provided. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the battery box. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the first upper cover member and the battery box. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the battery box to which the first upper cover member is attached. [Figure 8] It is a plan view of a battery box without a battery stored therein. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view of a battery box to which a bottom side cover member is attached. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of a second upper surface side cover member and a battery box in the second embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a cross-sectional view of a battery box to which a second upper surface side cover member in the second embodiment is attached. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view of a cover member with a shaft and a battery box in the third embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a cross-sectional view of a battery box to which a cover member with a shaft in the third embodiment is attached.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] [First Embodiment] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(A), (B), the battery box 10 includes a battery box main body 11 and a center shaft 12. The battery box main body 11 has a battery storage area 13. In the battery storage area 13, two batteries BT are loaded side by side in parallel. At the contact side end portions 11a, 11b of the battery box main body 11, contacts 15, 16 (see FIG. 3) connected to the electrodes of the two batteries BT are provided respectively.

[0015] The center shaft 12 is detachable from the battery box main body 11 and is provided in a dead space DS (see FIG. 2(B)) other than the battery area RB (see FIG. 2(A)) in the battery storage area 13 where the battery BT is stored, and abuts on the battery BT to hold the battery BT. Thus, since the battery is held by the center shaft 12, there is no need to give the first upper surface side cover member 22 described later the strength for battery holding.

[0016] The dead space DS is preferably formed between the side surfaces of adjacent batteries BT and is an area that does not protrude beyond the height H of the adjacent batteries BT. Also, on the center shaft 12, an elastic member 14 is provided on the surface of the center shaft in order to absorb the error in the diameter of the battery BT housed in the battery storage area 13 and eliminate play. The elastic member 14 is preferably composed of rubber, sponge, or the like. Particularly preferably, it is composed of sponge (for example, PORON (registered trademark) of Rogers Inoaak Co., Ltd., etc.).

[0017] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that at least one end of the center shaft 12 is fixed at the contact side end of the battery box body 11. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for fixing the center shaft 12, on one of the contact side ends of the battery box body 11, a first contact side end 18 including a first insertion hole 18a is provided, and on the other, a second contact side end 19 including a second insertion hole 19a is provided. Regarding the shape of the first insertion hole 18a, it is preferably U-shaped so that the center shaft 12 can be fitted from the upper surface side.

[0018] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, by inserting the center shaft 12 into the first insertion hole 18a and the second insertion hole 19a along the insertion direction DI, the first end 12a is made to abut against the first contact side end 18, and the small-diameter second end surface 12b2 of the small-diameter second end portion, which is smaller in diameter than the first end 12a among the second ends 12b on the opposite side of the first end 12a, is not made to abut against the second contact side end 19, and the first end 12a is fixed at the first contact side end 18.

[0019] More specifically, in this embodiment, when the center shaft 12 is composed of a large-diameter shaft 12c and a small-diameter shaft 12d, the second end portion 12b includes a small-diameter second end surface 12b2, which is the end surface on the small-diameter shaft 12d side, as well as a large-diameter second end surface 12b1, which is the end surface on the large-diameter shaft 12c side and is larger in diameter than the small-diameter second end surface 12b2. At the second contact side end portion 19, it is preferable to form a first gap CL1 between the large-diameter second end surface 12b1 and the second contact side end portion 19 in order to prevent the small-diameter second end surface 12b2 from coming into contact with the second contact side end portion 19. In addition, it is preferable to form a second gap CL2 between the small-diameter second end surface 12b2 of the small-diameter second end portion and the inner wall 19c of the bottom of the second insertion hole 19a.

[0020] Furthermore, in order to stabilize the position of the center shaft 12, it is preferable to provide a second contact-side end 19 on the outside of the battery box body 11 that detachably holds the small-diameter second end. It is also preferable that the small-diameter second end has a stepped threaded portion and that the second insertion hole 19a is a threaded hole and fastened with a screw. On the other hand, it is preferable that the first end 12a does not have a threaded structure. In this embodiment, the center shaft 12 is composed of two shafts with different diameters, such as a large-diameter shaft 12c and a small-diameter shaft 12d, but the center shaft 12 may be made of shafts with uniformly the same diameter. In that case, it is preferable to form a gap between the end face of the second end and the inner wall 19c of the bottom of the second insertion hole 19a.

[0021] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an elastic member 20 on the contact surface to which the first end portion 12a of the first contact side end portion 18 abuts. In the first embodiment, the elastic member 20 is provided in accordance with the shape of the U-shaped first insertion hole 18a (see Figure 4). By providing the elastic member 20 between the first end portion 12a and the contact surface, the adhesion of the center shaft 12 to the battery box body 11 is enhanced. The elastic member 20 is preferably made of rubber, sponge, or the like. From the viewpoint of anti-slip, it is more preferable to use rubber.

[0022] As shown in Figure 6, it is preferable that the battery box 10 is attached to the battery box body 11 and includes a first upper cover member 22 that covers the batteries BT exposed from the upper opening 13a of the battery storage area 13. The first upper cover member 22 has insertion holes 22a and 22b into which the center shaft 12 is inserted. To insert the center shaft 12, after attaching the first upper cover member 22 to the battery box body 11, the center shaft 12 is inserted in the order of insertion hole 22a, first insertion hole 18a, insertion hole 22b, and second insertion hole 19a. In this way, the first upper cover member 22 is fixed to the battery box body 11.

[0023] As shown in Figure 7, the thickness T1 of the first upper cover member 22 is preferably 0.01 mm or more and less than 1 mm, and more preferably 0.1 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less. The reason why the thickness T1 can be made so thin is that the battery BT is held by the center shaft 12, so the first upper cover member does not need to have the strength to hold the battery. As a result, the overall thickness of the battery box 10 can be made thinner in terms of space, with only a slight protrusion from the outer shape of the battery BT. Furthermore, considering the heat dissipation of the battery BT, the first upper cover member 22 is preferably made of a metal plate with good thermal conductivity, and more preferably a stainless steel plate or an aluminum plate.

[0024] As shown in Figure 8, it is preferable that a bottom opening 13b is formed on the side bottom surface of the battery box body 11, exposing a portion of the bottom side of the battery BT. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, it is preferable that the battery box 10 includes a bottom-side cover member 24 that covers the battery BT exposed through the bottom opening 13b. The thickness T2 of the bottom-side cover member 24 is also preferably 0.01 mm or more and less than 1 mm, and more preferably 0.1 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less, similar to the first top-side cover member 22. This allows the overall thickness of the battery box 10 to be reduced in terms of space, with only a slight protrusion from the outer shape of the battery BT. It is also preferable that the bottom-side cover member 24 be made of a metal plate, and more preferably a stainless steel plate or an aluminum plate, similar to the first top-side cover member 22.

[0025] [Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the center shaft 32 is fixed by the second upper cover member 30. The second upper cover member 30 is attached to the battery box body 11 and covers the battery BT exposed from the upper opening side of the battery storage area 13. The second upper cover member 30 also has a pressing portion 30a that presses the center shaft 32, which is provided between the sides of adjacent battery BTs, and brings the center shaft 32 into contact with the side of the battery BT. By pressing the center shaft 32 with the pressing portion 30a, the battery BT is held inside the battery box 10 and the center shaft 32 is fixed inside the battery storage area 13. In the second embodiment, it is preferable that the second upper cover member 30 is a metal plate, the pressing portion 30a is made of resin, and the center shaft 32 is made of metal.

[0026] In the second embodiment, the second upper cover member 30 is fixed to the battery box body 11 in a different way than in the first embodiment. Specifically, after the battery BT is placed in the battery storage area 13, the center shaft 32 is fitted into the dead space DS. Therefore, the length of the center shaft 32 is shorter than that of the center shaft 12 in the first embodiment so that it fits within the length of the battery storage area 13. After the center shaft 32 is fitted, the second upper cover member 30 is attached to the battery box body 11. The second upper cover member 30 is provided with mounting protrusions (not shown), and the second upper cover member 30 is fixed to the battery box body 11 by engaging these mounting protrusions with mounting holes (not shown) on the battery box body 11 side. In the second embodiment, the protrusions and holes are engaged, but the structure is not limited to this, and any structure that allows the second upper cover member 30 and the battery box body 11 to be engaged is acceptable (the same applies to the third embodiment).

[0027] [Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the center shaft 34 is integrated with the shaft-attached cover member 35. Specifically, the shaft-attached cover member 35 is attached to the battery box body 11 and covers the battery BT exposed from the upper opening side of the battery storage area 13. The center shaft 34 is positioned so as to fit into the dead space DS when the shaft-attached cover member 35 is attached to the battery box body 11. Therefore, by attaching the shaft-attached cover member 35 to the battery box body 11, the center shaft 34 is fitted into the dead space DS and contacts the side surface of the battery BT, thereby holding the battery BT within the battery storage area 13.

[0028] In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the center shaft 34 is fitted into the dead space DS. Therefore, the length of the center shaft 34 is shorter than that of the center shaft 12 in the first embodiment so that it fits within the length of the battery storage area 13. The shaft-attached cover member 35 is also provided with mounting protrusions (not shown), and the shaft-attached cover member 35 is fixed to the battery box body 11 by engaging these mounting protrusions with mounting holes (not shown) on the battery box body 11 side.

[0029] The battery box of the present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as notebook personal computers, electronic dictionaries, portable recording devices, and portable audio devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10 Battery box 11 Battery box main unit 11a, 11b Contact side end 12 Center shaft 12a First end 12b Second end 12b1 Large diameter second end face 12b2 Small diameter second end face 12c Large Diameter Shaft 12d Small diameter shaft 13 Battery compartment 13a Top opening 13b Bottom opening 14 Elastic members 18 First contact side end 18a First insertion hole 19 End of second contact 19a Second insertion hole 19b Inner wall 19th century interior wall 20 Elastic members 22 First upper side cover member 22a, 22b Insertion holes 24 Bottom side cover member 30 Second upper side cover member 30a Pressing part 32 Center Shaft 34 Center Shaft 35 Shaft-equipped cover component

Claims

1. A battery box body having a battery storage area, A battery box comprising a center shaft provided in the dead space of the battery storage area other than the battery storage area in which the batteries are stored, and which abuts against the batteries and holds the batteries.

2. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein the center shaft is detachably attached to the battery box body.

3. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the center shaft is fixed to the contact-side end of the battery box body.

4. One of the contact-side ends of the battery box body is formed with a first contact-side end including a first insertion hole, and the other is formed with a second contact-side end including a second insertion hole. The battery box according to claim 3, wherein the first end of the center shaft is brought into contact with the first contact side end by inserting the center shaft into the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole along the insertion direction, and the end face of the second end opposite the first end is not brought into contact with the second contact side end, and the first end is fixed at the first contact side end.

5. The battery box according to claim 4, wherein the shape of the first insertion hole is U-shaped.

6. The second end has a smaller diameter second end than the first end, The battery box according to claim 4, wherein a first gap is formed between the large-diameter second end face of the large-diameter second end, which is larger in diameter than the small-diameter second end, and the second contact-side end, and a second gap is formed between the small-diameter second end face of the small-diameter second end and the inner wall of the bottom of the second insertion hole.

7. The battery box according to claim 4, wherein the contact surface of the first contact side end to which the first end abuts is provided with an elastic member.

8. The battery box according to claim 3, further comprising a first upper side cover member attached to the battery box body and covering the battery exposed from the upper opening of the battery storage area.

9. The battery box according to claim 1, comprising a second upper cover member attached to the battery box body and covering the batteries exposed from the upper opening side of the battery storage area, the second upper cover member having a pressing portion that presses the center shaft provided between the sides of adjacent batteries, causing the center shaft to come into contact with the side of the battery.

10. A battery box body having a battery storage area, A battery box comprising a cover member with a shaft, which is provided in the dead space of the battery storage area other than the battery storage area in which the battery is stored, and which has an integrated center shaft that abuts against the battery and holds the battery, and which is attached to the battery box body and covers the battery exposed from the upper opening side of the battery storage area.

11. The battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the dead space is formed between the sides of adjacent batteries and does not protrude above the height of the adjacent batteries.

12. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein the center shaft has an elastic member on its surface.

13. The battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bottom surface of the battery box body has a bottom opening formed therein that exposes a part of the side surface of the battery that is on the bottom surface side.

14. The battery box according to claim 13, further comprising a bottom-side cover member that covers the battery exposed from the bottom opening.

15. An electronic device having a battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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