Slotted Battery Cavity With Asymmetric Projections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery compartments often restrict the use of different battery sizes, leading to user error and safety issues, as they require specialized or moving parts to accommodate varying sizes, which can result in accidental mixing and potential leakage.

Innovation Solution

A battery compartment design with multiple slots of varying cross-sectional shapes and axial lengths, using projections to immobilize batteries radially without compressive force, and a unitary contact element that moves within a channel to establish electrical connections, preventing improper battery insertion and ensuring secure retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a battery compartment is designed with a single fixed cavity size, then manufacturing is simple and reliable, but it restricts users to a single battery size and limits versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery size compatibilityVSAvoidcompartment structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery compartment is divided into multiple slots with different cross-sectional shapes and axial lengths. Each slot is designed to accommodate a specific battery size (e.g., AA, AAA, C, D cells), allowing the compartment to accept various battery types while maintaining a simple overall structure without moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the compartment have locally optimized geometries. Each slot has specific dimensional characteristics (cross-sectional shape, axial length) tailored to its intended battery size, while the rest of the compartment structure remains uniform and simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple battery slots are provided without restrictions, then versatility is improved, but accidental mixing of different battery sizes becomes possible leading to safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery size optionsVSAvoidprevention of battery mixing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each battery slot has a unique asymmetric cross-sectional shape and axial length that corresponds to a specific battery size. This geometric asymmetry creates a mechanical key-lock system where only the correct battery size can be inserted into its designated slot, preventing accidental mixing of different battery types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The compartment design proactively prevents battery mixing by making it physically impossible to insert incorrect batteries. The geometric constraints of each slot preemptively block incompatible batteries before they can cause safety issues, eliminating the need for active monitoring or control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If projections are used to immobilize batteries radially, then battery retention is improved without compressive force, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery retention securityVSAvoidslot geometry tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The projections are pre-formed as integral features of the compartment structure during manufacturing. These projections extend into the slots at predetermined positions and angles, creating built-in mechanical retention features that secure batteries radially without requiring additional assembly steps or adjustable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If a unitary contact element is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ensuring reliable electrical contact with different battery sizes becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact mechanismVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The unitary contact element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical contact for different battery sizes, maintains proper contact pressure through its flexible design, and ensures reliable electrical connection across all slot configurations. This single component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate contacts and adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The unitary contact element is designed with variable geometric parameters that allow it to adapt to different battery sizes. Its flexible structure enables it to change its contact parameters (position, pressure, angle) depending on which battery is inserted, maintaining reliable electrical connection across all configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9954205B2Slotted battery cavity for multiple cell sizes

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 ENERGIZER BRANDS LLC

AI summary

A battery compartment for a device has a single cavity that is segmented into discrete slots, each slot associated with projections that secure and immobilize any batteries inserted into the compartment. Each slot is sized to receive a different size of battery, and the slots are positioned relative to one another to prevent batteries of different sizes from being inserted into the compartment. A shelf may be integrated within the slot(s), and the shelf may include a channel or a multi-planar yet unitary contact member to establish a single point of electrical connection between the battery compartment and the device.