Battery box

Abstract

A battery box includes a housing, a main base, a holding frame, and a driving mechanism. The main base is affixed in the housing. The holding frame is rotatably disposed in the housing. The driving mechanism is disposed in the housing. The battery is configured to be placed between the main base and the holding frame. The holding frame is rotated from a storage position to an expansion position by operating the driving mechanism, and the battery is lifted by the driving mechanism.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery box for holding batteries. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Batteries can be installed in mobile devices to provide power to the mobile devices. In order to facilitate battery replacement, a battery compartment is usually provided in the mobile device to allow batteries of a fixed size to be installed in the battery slot of the battery compartment. In addition, the battery slot in the battery compartment is also adapted to the size of the battery to prevent the battery from shifting in the battery slot and thus separating from the electrode of the battery compartment.

[0003] However, batteries in the battery compartment may swell due to factors such as lifespan or inherent defects, especially rechargeable batteries, which are more prone to swelling due to excessive charging and discharging. Users usually install batteries when they are brand new or fully charged, and then remove them after a period of time when the batteries are depleted or have insufficient power. At this time, the batteries may have swelled and become stuck in the battery slot, making them difficult to remove and replace, and thus unable to provide power to the mobile device. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a battery box, including: a housing, a fixing base, a limiting frame, and a driving mechanism. The fixing base is fixed inside the housing. The limiting frame is rotatably disposed inside the housing. The driving mechanism is disposed inside the housing. The battery is used to place between the fixing base and the limiting frame. By operating the driving mechanism, the limiting frame is rotated from a stored position to an unfolded position, and the battery is lifted.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing base includes a main battery slot, the limiting frame includes an outer battery slot, and the battery is located in the main battery slot and the outer battery slot.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the free end of the limiting frame and the fixed seat in the unfolded position is greater than the distance between the free end of the limiting frame and the fixed seat in the retracted position.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drive mechanism is disposed in the fixed base, and the housing further includes a lower opening through which the drive mechanism is exposed.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes: a rotating member rotatably disposed within the fixed base; and a movable member movably disposed on the rotating member. When the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the rotating member lifts the movable member, thereby causing the movable member to lift the battery.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member includes a wavy groove, and the moving member includes a guide post located within the wavy groove. When the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the moving member moves relative to the rotating member in the moving direction.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fixed base includes a limiting groove, and the moving member further includes a lifting block, the lifting block passing through the limiting groove, the limiting groove being used to restrict the moving member from moving along the moving direction.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism further includes a pushing member disposed on the movable member and located on the fixed base. When the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the pushing member rotates the limiting frame from the stored position to the unfolded position.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the limiting frame further includes a wedge-shaped block adjacent to the free end of the limiting frame and includes an inclined surface. When the rotating member lifts the moving member, the pushing member slides along the inclined surface.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the limiting frame includes an elastic arm that abuts against the outer shell to maintain the limiting frame in the storage position.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the battery box further includes a cover connected to the outer shell and includes a cushioning member. When the cover is closed on the outer shell, the cushioning member is located between the free end of the limiting frame and the outer shell, so as to maintain the limiting frame in the storage position.

[0015] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a battery box, including a housing, two limiting frames, a fixing base, and a driving mechanism. The two limiting frames are rotatably disposed within the housing. The fixing base is fixed within the housing and located between the two limiting frames. The driving mechanism is disposed within the housing. Multiple batteries are used to place between the fixing base and the two limiting frames. By operating the driving mechanism, the two limiting frames are rotated from a stored position to an unfolded position, and the multiple batteries are lifted.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the two pivot ends of the two limiting frames are rotatably disposed on the bottom of the housing. The distance between the two free ends of the two limiting frames at the unfolded position is greater than the distance between the two free ends of the two limiting frames at the retracted position. The two free segments of the two limiting frames are opposite to the two pivot ends of the two limiting frames.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the drive mechanism includes a rotating member rotatably disposed within the fixed base; and a movable member disposed on the rotating member. When the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the rotating member lifts the movable member, thereby causing the movable member to lift the plurality of batteries.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism further includes a pushing member disposed on the movable member and located on the fixed base. When the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the pushing member rotates the two limiting frames from the storage position to the unfolded position.

Implementation Method

[0019] To facilitate understanding and implementation of the present invention by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, which can be implemented in various specific forms. Those skilled in the art can utilize the details described in these or other embodiments, as well as other available structural, logical, and electrical variations, to implement the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0020] This specification provides different embodiments to illustrate the technical features of different implementations of the present invention. The configuration of the elements in the embodiments is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the repetition of some reference numerals in the embodiments is for simplification and does not imply any correlation between different embodiments. The same element numbers used in the illustrations and specification indicate the same or similar elements. The illustrations in this specification are simplified and not drawn to precise scale. For clarity and convenience, directional terms (e.g., top, bottom, upper, lower, and diagonal) are used in relation to the accompanying illustrations. The directional terms used in the following description, unless explicitly used within the scope of the appended claims, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] FIG1 is a perspective view of a battery box 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 is an exploded view of the battery box 1 of FIG1. ​​FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of section AA in FIG1. ​​The battery box 1 is used to provide power to an electronic device. The battery box 1 may be disposed in the electronic device or detachably installed in the electronic device. The battery box 1 may accommodate multiple batteries B1. The batteries B1 may be dry batteries or cylindrical batteries. In another embodiment, the battery box 1 may accommodate one battery B1.

[0022] The battery box 1 includes a housing 10, a cover 20, a fixing base 30, two limiting frames (a first limiting frame and a second limiting frame) 40, and a drive mechanism 50. The housing 10 includes a bottom 11 and a side wall 12. The bottom 11 has a lower opening 111. The side wall 12 may extend perpendicularly to the bottom 11 and may have an annular structure. The side wall 12 has an upper opening 121. The upper opening 121 may be separate from the lower opening 111 and may be parallel to the lower opening 111. A virtual central axis AX1 may pass through the center of the lower opening 111 and the upper opening 121, and the side wall 12 may surround the virtual central axis AX1.

[0023] The cover 20 is connected to the outer casing 10. In this embodiment, the cover 20 is rotatably connected to the top of the side wall 12 and is used to cover the upper opening 121 of the side wall 12. The cover 20 includes a snap fastener 21, a plurality of electrode springs 22, and a plurality of protective posts 23. When the cover 20 is closed on the upper opening 121 of the side wall 12, the snap fastener 21 is engaged with the side wall 12 of the outer casing 10, and the electrode springs 22 are in contact with the battery B1. The protective posts 23 may be located inside the electrode springs 22. When the cover 20 is closed on the upper opening 121, the protective posts 23 may be in contact with the negative terminal of the battery B1 as shown in FIG. 1. If the battery B1 is installed in the battery case 1 in the opposite direction, the protective post 23 will contact the positive terminal of the battery B1, which will further cause the snap fastener 21 to fail to engage with the side wall 12 of the outer casing 10, thereby prompting the user that the battery B1 should be installed in the battery case 1 in the wrong direction.

[0024] The fixing base 30 is fixed inside the housing 10. In this embodiment, the fixing base 30 is fixed to the bottom 11 of the housing 10. The side wall 12 of the housing 10 can surround the fixing base 30 and can be separated from the fixing base 30. The fixing base 30 may include a receiving groove 31, a plurality of limiting grooves 32, and a plurality of main battery slots 33. The receiving groove 31, the plurality of limiting grooves 32, and the plurality of main battery slots 33 can extend along a moving direction D1. In other words, the receiving groove 31, the plurality of limiting grooves 32, and the plurality of main battery slots 33 can extend parallel to each other. The moving direction D1 can be parallel to the virtual central axis AX1. In addition, the virtual central axis AX1 can pass through the center of the receiving groove 31, and the receiving groove 31 can extend along the virtual central axis AX1. In other words, the receiving groove 31 corresponds to the lower opening 111. The limiting grooves 32 are arranged around the virtual central axis AX1 and communicate with the receiving groove 31. The main battery slot 33 is arranged around the virtual central axis AX1 and is connected to the limiting slot 32.

[0025] In this embodiment, each main battery slot 33 corresponds to a limiting slot 32. In other words, each limiting slot 32 is located between the receiving slot 31 and a communicating main battery slot 33. The mounting base 30 may include four main battery slots 33 and four limiting slots 32. Each battery B1 is used to place in one main battery slot 33.

[0026] Two limiting frames 40 are rotatably disposed on the outer casing 10, and the fixing base 30 is located between the two limiting frames 40. In Figures 1 and 3, the two limiting frames 40 are located in a storage position. Each battery B1 is used to place between the fixing base 30 and the two limiting frames 40. The pivot end of each limiting frame 40 is rotatably disposed on the bottom 11 of the outer casing 10.

[0027] Each limiting frame 40 includes a limiting body 41, a pivot shaft 42, an elastic arm 43, and a wedge block 44. The limiting body 41, pivot shaft 42, elastic arm 43, and wedge block 44 may be integrally formed and may be made of the same material, such as plastic. Each limiting body 41 is located between the fixing base 30 and the side wall 12 of the housing 10. Each limiting body 41 includes one or more external battery slots 411. An adjacent external battery slot 411, a main battery slot 33, and the area between them form a battery slot, and the battery B1 is placed in the battery slot. However, the number of external battery slots 411 is not limited. Each external battery slot 411 may correspond to one main battery slot 33. Each battery B1 may be located in an adjacent main battery slot 33 and an external battery slot 411.

[0028] A pivot shaft 42 is disposed at the pivot end of the limiting body 41 of the limiting frame 40 and is rotatably connected to the bottom 11 of the housing 10. An elastic arm 43 is disposed on the limiting body 41 and faces the side wall 12 of the housing 10. The elastic arm 43 abuts against the side wall 12 of the housing 10 and is used to maintain the limiting frame 40 in a retracted position. A wedge block 44 is disposed on the limiting body 41 and faces the virtual central axis AX1. In this embodiment, the wedge block 44 is adjacent to the free end of the limiting body 41 of the limiting frame 40. The free end of the limiting body 41 is opposite to the pivot end. The free end of the limiting body 41 is adjacent to the upper opening 121 or the cover 20. The pivot end of the limiting body 41 is adjacent to the bottom 11 of the housing 10. In other words, the pivot end of the limiting body 41 is closer to the pivot shaft 42 or the bottom 11 of the housing 10 than the free end of the limiting body 41.

[0029] In this embodiment, the cover 20 further includes a buffer 24. When the cover 20 is closed on the outer shell 10, the buffer 24 is located between the free end of the limiting frame 40 and the outer shell 10, so as to maintain the limiting frame 40 in the storage position.

[0030] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism 50 in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of section AA in Figure 1, with the limiting frame 40 rotated to the unfolded position by the drive mechanism 50. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism 50 in Figure 2, with the moving member 52 moved to the lifted position. The drive mechanism 50 is disposed inside the housing 10. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 50 is located in the receiving groove 31 of the fixed base 30, and the drive mechanism 50 protrudes from the lower opening 111 of the housing 10. When the aforementioned drive mechanism 50 is operated to rotate the limiting frame 40 from the storage position in Figure 3 to the unfolded position in Figure 5, the drive mechanism 50 lifts the battery B1 together, causing the battery B1 to move upward along the moving direction D1 and toward the upper opening 121.

[0031] The drive mechanism 50 includes a rotating member 51, a moving member 52, and a pushing member 53. The rotating member 51 is rotatably disposed within the receiving groove 31 of the fixed base 30. The rotating member 51 can rotate around a virtual central axis AX1. In other words, the virtual central axis AX1 passes through the center of the rotating member 51. The rotating member 51 may include a protrusion 511 and a wavy groove 512. The protrusion 511 is located within the lower opening 111 of the housing 10. The wavy groove 512 is located on the side wall of the rotating member 51. The wavy groove 512 can surround the virtual central axis AX1.

[0032] The movable member 52 is movably disposed on the rotating member 51, and the movable member 52 is movably disposed within the receiving groove 31 of the fixed base 30. In this embodiment, the movable member 52 may be a hollow structure and may cover the side wall of the rotating member 51. The virtual central axis AX1 can pass through the center of the movable member 52. The movable member 52 includes a plurality of lifting blocks 521 and a plurality of guide posts 522. The lifting blocks 521 pass through the limiting groove 32 respectively. The limiting groove 32 is used to limit the movement of the movable member 52 along the moving direction D1. The guide posts 522 are disposed on the movable member 52 and are located within the wavy groove 512. Therefore, when the rotating member 51 rotates relative to the housing 10, the movable member 52 is limited to moving relative to the rotating member 51 along the moving direction D1.

[0033] Furthermore, the lifting block 521 can be located below the bottom of the battery B1. When the rotating member 51 rotates relative to the outer casing 10, the rotating member 51 can lift the moving member 52, moving the moving member 52 from the initial position in Figures 3 and 4 to the lifted position in Figures 5 and 6, thereby causing the lifting block 521 of the moving member 52 to lift the battery B1 along the moving direction D1. When the rotating member 51 continues to rotate relative to the outer casing 10, the rotating member 51 can lower the moving member 52 along the moving direction D1, moving the moving member 52 from the lifted position in Figures 5 and 6 to the initial position in Figures 3 and 4.

[0034] The pusher 53 is disposed on the movable member 52 and located on the fixed base 30. In this embodiment, a portion of the pusher 53 may be located within the receiving groove 31. When the rotating member 51 rotates relative to the outer casing 10, the movable member 52 may be raised along the moving direction D1, thereby causing the pusher 53 to be raised along the moving direction D1. After the pusher 53 is raised, the pusher 53 will push the free end of the limiting frame 40, so that the limiting frame 40 rotates from the storage position to the unfolded position.

[0035] In this embodiment, the wedge-shaped block 44 of the limiting frame 40 includes an inclined surface 441. When the rotating member 51 lifts the moving member 52, the pushing member 53 slides along the inclined surface 441, thereby pushing the limiting frame 40 to rotate and causing the free end of the limiting frame 40 to move away from the virtual central axis and move toward the side wall 12 of the outer shell 10.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the limiting frame 40 is in the retracted position, and the moving member 52 is in the initial position. As shown in Figure 4, when the moving member 52 is in the initial position, the guide post 522 is located at the lower end of the wavy groove 512. The battery B1 is placed in the main battery slot 33 of the fixing base 30 and the outer battery slot 411 of the limiting frame 40. When the cover 20 is closed on the outer shell 10, the latch 21 of the cover 20 is engaged with the outer shell 10 to prevent the cover 20 from opening relative to the outer shell 10. The electrode spring 22 can contact the battery B1 so that the battery box 1 can start supplying power. In addition, the buffer member 24 is located between the free end of the limiting frame 40 and the outer shell 10 to maintain the limiting frame 40 in the retracted position to prevent the battery B1 from separating from the electrode spring 22 due to a collision with the battery box 1.

[0037] If battery B1 becomes stuck in the battery compartment due to expansion or other factors, making it difficult to remove from the battery box 1, the user can open the cover 20 relative to the outer casing 10 and use a screwdriver or other tools to rotate the protrusion 511, thereby rotating the rotating member 51 relative to the moving member 52. At this time, the guide post 522 can move from the lower end of the wavy groove 512 in Figure 4 to the upper end of the wavy groove 512 in Figure 6, thereby moving the moving member 52 from the initial position in Figures 3 and 4 along the moving direction D1 to the raised position in Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the aforementioned lower end of the wavy groove 512 is closer to the bottom 11 of the outer casing 10 than the upper end, and can be close to the protrusion 511 of the rotating member 51.

[0038] In this embodiment, when the rotating member 51 rotates further relative to the moving member 52, the guide post 522 can move from the high end of the wavy groove 512 in Figure 6 to the low end of the wavy groove 512 in Figure 4, thereby moving the moving member 52 from the raised position in Figures 5 and 6 to the initial position in Figures 3 and 4. In other words, when the rotating member 51 continues to rotate relative to the moving member 52, the moving member 52 repeatedly moves between the initial position and the raised position. When the moving member 52 rotates from the raised position to the initial position, the elastic arm 43 can rotate the limiting frame 40 from the unfolded position back to the retracted position.

[0039] When the movable member 52 is in the raised position, it drives the pusher 53 to rise. The pusher 53 slides along the inclined surface 441, thereby pushing the two limit frames 40 to rotate and causing the free ends of the limit frames 40 to move away from the virtual central axis AX1. In other words, after the pusher 53 is raised, the limit frame 40 rotates from the storage position in Figure 3 to the unfolded position in Figure 5. The distance between the free ends of the limit frame 40 in the unfolded position and the fixed base 30 is greater than the distance between the free ends of the limit frame in the storage position and the fixed base 30. The distance between the two free ends of the two limit frames 40 in the unfolded position is greater than the distance between the two free ends of the two limit frames 40 in the storage position. When the limit frame 40 is in the unfolded position, the space of the battery compartment increases, and the limit frame 40 can release the expanded battery B1, allowing the user to easily remove the battery B1 from the battery box 1.

[0040] Furthermore, when the moving part 52 moves from the initial position to the raised position, the lifting block 521 located under the bottom of the battery B1 is also raised. Therefore, the lifting block 521 will lift the battery B1 toward the upper opening 121 of the outer casing 10, so that the user can take the battery B1 out of the battery box 1 more conveniently.

[0041] In summary, the battery case 1 of the present invention expands the space of the battery compartment by unfolding the limiting frame 40 through the operation drive mechanism 50, allowing the limiting frame 40 to release the expanded battery B1. In addition, when operating the drive mechanism 50, the drive mechanism 50 can also lift the battery B1 to facilitate the user to remove the expanded battery B1 from the battery case 1.

[0042] This invention meets the requirements for an invention patent, and therefore a patent application is filed in accordance with the law. However, the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All equivalent modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the spirit of the present invention should be covered within the scope of the following patent application. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0043] FIG1 is a perspective view of a battery box according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 is an exploded view of the battery box of FIG1. ​​FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of section AA in FIG1. ​​FIG4 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of FIG2. FIG5 is a cross-sectional view of section AA in FIG1, wherein the limiting frame is in the unfolded position. FIG6 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of FIG2, wherein the moving member is in the raised position. [Biomaterial Storage]

[0045] None

Claims

1. A battery box, comprising: shell; The mounting base is fixed inside the aforementioned outer casing; A limiting bracket is rotatably disposed within the aforementioned housing; a drive mechanism is disposed within the aforementioned housing; wherein the battery is used to place between the aforementioned fixed base and the aforementioned limiting bracket, and by operating the aforementioned drive mechanism, the aforementioned limiting bracket is rotated from the storage position to the unfolded position, and the aforementioned battery is lifted.

2. The battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting base includes a main battery slot, the limiting frame includes an outer battery slot, and the battery is located in the main battery slot and the outer battery slot.

3. The battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the free end of the limiting frame in the unfolded position and the fixed base is greater than the distance between the free end of the limiting frame in the retracted position and the fixed base.

4. The battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is disposed within the mounting base, and the housing includes a lower opening through which the drive mechanism is exposed.

5. The battery box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises: a rotating member rotatably disposed within the fixed base; and a movable member movably disposed on the rotating member, wherein when the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the rotating member lifts the movable member, thereby causing the movable member to lift the battery.

6. The battery box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotating member includes a wavy groove, and the moving member includes a guide post located within the wavy groove, wherein when the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the moving member moves relative to the rotating member in a moving direction.

7. The battery box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mounting base includes a limiting groove, and the movable member further includes a lifting block passing through the limiting groove, the limiting groove being used to limit the movement of the movable member along the moving direction.

8. The battery box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises: a pusher disposed on the movable member and located on the fixed base, wherein when the rotating member rotates relative to the outer casing, the pusher rotates the limiting frame from the storage position to the unfolded position.

9. A battery box, comprising: The outer casing; two limiting frames, each rotatably disposed within the aforementioned outer casing; A fixing base is fixed inside the aforementioned housing and located between the aforementioned two limiting frames; and a drive mechanism is disposed inside the aforementioned housing; wherein a plurality of batteries are used to place between the aforementioned fixing base and the aforementioned two limiting frames, and by operating the aforementioned drive mechanism, the aforementioned two limiting frames are rotated from the storage position to the unfolded position, and the aforementioned plurality of batteries are lifted.

10. The battery box as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two pivot ends of the two limiting frames are rotatably disposed at the bottom of the outer shell, and the distance between the two free ends of the two limiting frames at the unfolded position is greater than the distance between the two free ends of the two limiting frames at the stored position, wherein the two free ends of the two limiting frames are opposite to the two pivot ends of the two limiting frames.

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