Battery Case Rail Structure to Prevent Incorrect Battery Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic price indicators using serially connected batteries are prone to safety incidents and damage due to incorrect battery insertion, which can cause overheating or malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A battery case design featuring a first and second battery accommodating portion, a rail, and a structure that moves along the rail to prevent contact between same terminals of the batteries, ensuring proper alignment and preventing incorrect insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If batteries are serially connected to power the electronic price indicator, then the device can operate with standard battery sizes (AA or AAA), but incorrect insertion of batteries can cause same terminals to contact, leading to overheating and safety incidents
Solution Approach 1:
The battery accommodating portions are designed with asymmetric structures where positive terminal accommodating portions and negative terminal accommodating portions have different configurations. This asymmetry ensures that batteries can only be inserted in the correct orientation, preventing same-terminal contact and the associated safety hazards while maintaining compatibility with standard battery sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
A contact structure is introduced as an intermediary element between batteries in the battery case. This contact structure includes contact portions that extend toward batteries and are positioned to prevent same-terminal contact. The contact structure acts as a mediator that ensures proper electrical connection while blocking incorrect insertion configurations.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple battery case design is used, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but it cannot prevent incorrect battery insertion and terminal contact
Solution Approach 1:
The battery case is segmented into distinct functional regions: positive terminal accommodating portions, negative terminal accommodating portions, and contact structures with contact portions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall design both manufacturable and effective at preventing terminal contact while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Specific regions of the battery case are designed with local quality variations - the contact portions are strategically positioned only where needed to prevent same-terminal contact, while other regions maintain simple battery-holding structures. This localized approach adds safety functionality only where required, preserving overall manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery case includes: a first battery accommodating portion accommodating at least one first battery; a second battery accommodating portion arranged apart from the first battery accommodating portion and accommodating at least one second battery serially connected with the at least one first battery; a rail arranged between the first battery accommodating portion and the second battery accommodating portion; and a structure configured to move along the rail between the first battery accommodating portion and the second battery accommodating portion and prevent contact between same terminals of the at least one first battery and the at least one second battery at a point at which the at least one first battery and the at least one second battery touch each other.