Flashlight Movable Battery Tray for Multi-Size Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered devices, such as flashlights, often require specific battery sizes, complicating emergency preparedness planning and making it difficult to obtain replacements during emergencies or non-emergency situations where the required batteries are not readily available.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered device with a movable battery tray and a dual-sided battery contact support that allows for the use of different battery sizes, ensuring compatibility and accessibility of batteries, and includes features like emergency contact information prompts and a whistle for signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flashlight is designed to accept only specific battery sizes, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the adaptability to different battery sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery contact support is designed with dual-sided contacts that can accommodate different battery sizes (AA, AAA, C, D, or 9V batteries) while maintaining reliable electrical connection. The movable battery tray and adjustable contact support allow the flashlight to function with multiple battery types, making the device universal and adaptable to various power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery contact support is movably attached to the battery tray, allowing it to adjust its position dynamically. This dynamic adjustment enables the contact support to maintain proper electrical connection with different battery sizes, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and adaptability to various battery dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flashlight accepts multiple battery sizes, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery compartment is segmented into a movable battery tray and a movably attached contact support. This segmentation allows each component to move independently, simplifying the mechanism needed to accommodate different battery sizes while maintaining adaptability. The tray and contact support can adjust separately to fit various battery dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable battery tray acts as an intermediary between the fixed housing and the adjustable contact support. This intermediate component facilitates the adaptation to different battery sizes by providing a movable platform that works in conjunction with the adjustable contact support, managing the complexity through functional decomposition.
3Ease of manufacture
If the battery contact support is fixed, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery contact support is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing users to easily adjust it when installing different battery sizes. This dynamic design improves ease of operation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of basic movable attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable battery tray and contact support enable users to easily install and remove batteries without requiring complex tools or procedures. The self-adjusting nature of the movable components allows users to simply insert the battery and the mechanism automatically accommodates it, improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery powered electrical appliance (100) operates using batteries (406, 408) of more than one size and provides preparedness information (120) which may be used to assist in preparing for an emergency or otherwise obtaining desired supplies. The electrical appliance (100) may be employed to provide a first task illumination function, at least a first visible signaling function, and an audible signaling function.