Telephonic communications – Terminal – Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-01-16
Chiang, Jack (Department: 2742)
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of connecting a battery circuit in a cellular telephone and more particularly to an electrical connection for telephone and charge connection in a battery pack.
2. Description of the Related Art
Battery packs for use with cellular telephones or the like normally employ a plurality of battery cells generally comprised of nickel metal hydride material. The battery cells are positioned in a battery pack housing and are electrically connected together. Previous electrical connectors or connections have been provided for connecting the battery cells in the battery pack to the telephone and to a battery charger. One old method of providing the connection was to utilize a flexible circuit board to connect the spring rails to the connector as well as the thermistor. The batteries were connected to the flexible circuit board by a spot weld joint between a nickel ribbon and a bare copper pad. The flexible circuit board is soldered to the spring rails with the thermistor being soldered to the flexible circuit board. The prior art method described hereinabove results in a more costly construction and the flexible circuit board does not normally have the necessary strength for connection between the battery cells and the spring rails of the connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electrical connection is described for connecting the battery cells in a battery pack in a suitable manner for enabling the battery cells to be connected to the telephone and to a battery charger. The battery pack comprises an elongated hollow housing having a plurality of battery cells positioned therein. A contact assembly or connection is positioned in the housing and comprises an elongated, substantially flat, electrically conductive, positive contact leg which is spaced from a substantially flat, electrically conductive, negative contact leg. The negative and positive contact legs are positioned substantially parallel with respect to one another in a spaced-apart relationship. An elongated, electrically conductive tab member has one end thereof electrically connected to the negative contact leg and extends therefrom towards the positive contact leg. A thermistor has one lead electrically connected to the tab member and a second lead electrically connected to the positive contact lead. An electrically conductive, first contact pad is electrically connected to the positive contact leg and extends therefrom towards the negative contact leg. An electrically conductive second contact pad is electrically connected to the negative contact leg and extends therefrom towards the positive contact leg. The first and second contact pads are comprised of a nickel material. The contact pads are bent so that end portions thereof will be positioned in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the contact legs. The end portions of the contact pads are soldered to a pair of the battery cells. The ends of the first and second contact legs have contact portions protruding therefrom. A cover is secured to the housing to close the same and had four spaced-apart openings formed therein which receive the contact portions of the positive contact leg and the negative contact leg. When the battery pack is installed in a cellular telephone or the like, the contact portions provide an electrical connection for telephone and charge connection.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved electrical connection for use in a battery pack.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connection for use in a battery pack which enables the battery cells to be connected to the telephone or the battery charger.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector of the type described which utilizes stamped nickel pads to connect the spring rails and thermistor thereof.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector of the type described which results in a reduction of cost in fabricating the battery pack in to which the connector is installed.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector of the type described hereinabove which results in a more sturdy connector.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5857148 (1999-01-01), Weisshappel et al.
Brundieck Shane R.
Rohde Monty D.
Centurion International, Inc.
Chiang Jack
Thomte Dennis L.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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