Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Illuminated Battery Holder And Dispenser
Technical Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a battery holder for use in storing
batteries.
Background Of The Invention
In the field of aviation, an airplane pilot is required to use many battery-
powered devices, which devices serve either a primary or backup function. It
is
imperative that a pilot have ready access to a fresh supply of batteries in
the
event that batteries become inoperative or spent during flight. Some of these
battery-powered devices include: handheld global positioning systems (GPS),
handheld emergency radio transceivers, handheld calculators, "EGB"s,
flashlights, and intercom systems for additional communication headsets.
Different battery-powered devices use different size batteries. Batteries
are available in standard sizes and voltages, such &
AiV1, ,, C, D and
9V. It has been known for pilots to carry an assortment of batteries loosely
in a
pilot's flight bag, a hand carried case used by pilots to carry personal items
or
small items needed in the performance of piloting an airplane. However, when a
battery is required it must be located within the flight bag by the pilot
during flight.
During an emergency, if cabin lighting is lost or the pilot is preoccupied
with
controlling the aircraft, finding batteries loosely stored in a flight bag can
be
troublesome and time-consuming.
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U.S. patents 5,670,268; 4,109,980; D490,375 and D301,575 describe
various battery holding and storage devices.
The present inventors have recognized that in the aviation field
particularly, there is a need for a battery holding and dispensing device that
is
compact, easy to locate in a dark environment, is convenientlji sized to be
carried
in a pilot's flight bag, is easy to manipulate to dispense a desired battery
even
when in a dark environment, and can hold an assortment of batteries.
Summary Of The Invention
The present invention provides a battery holding and dispensing device
that holds a plurality of batteries. The battery holding and dispensing device
includes a frame having a plurality of compartments or bays for releasably
retaining a battery in each compartment. The compartments are preferably sized
and shaped to each receive a battery of the battery size corresponding to the
compartment.
According to one aspect of the -inventIon, the compartments in the frame
are preferably sized and shaped to correspond to the batteries needed by a
particular profession. For example, for an airline pilot, the frame includes
compartments for the following battery sizes: (2)C's, (12)AA's, (4)AAA's and
(1)
9V.
Although the invention is particularly advantageous for pilots, it also
encompasses a battery holding and dispensing device that is adaptable for
other
professions that use batteries, such as for photographers, medical personnel
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such as paramedics, military personnel, etc. The invention is also suitable
for
home use as it provides a convenient holder for storing and dispensing
batteries.
Preferably, each compartment of the frame of the present invention has an
open top end and is open at least through an edge portion of a bottom thereof,
to
permit contact of a user's thumb or finger onto a bottom surface of the
battery
held within the compartment. Each compartment is also open along a lower
portion of the sidewall of the compartment contiguous with the open edge
portion. These openings allow the finger or thumb of the user to contact the
bottom of the battery and induce ejection of a battery from the compartment,
by
moving the battery past the detent, and through the top open end of the
compartment.
One or both ends of the compartment can be partially closed by a
releasable detent. The detent preferably extends into the compartment near to
the open face and retains a battery within the compartment. If detents are
used
on both ends of the compartment, a battery held therein can be ejected through
either top or bottom end. As an alternate to-detents, bumps extending into the
compartment from an inside surface of the compartment sidewalls, or ribs, or a
soft liner portion within each compartment that is resiliently compressible to
grip a
battery held therein, or resilient compartment walls, can be used to
releasably
retain a battery within the frame.
One or more of the compartments can be formed with a lid. The
corresponding compartment can be used to store small items, such as small
watch batteries, flashlight bulbs, keys, pills, film, fuses, etc.
Alternatively, a
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container corresponding substantially to the shape and volume of a battery,
can
be provided as an accessory item to be inserted into a corresponding battery
compartment in the frame and to be releasably retained within the compartment
in the same manner as a battery could be held within the compartment.
According to another aspect of the invention, the frame can be composed
of a luminescent ("glow in the dark") plastic material. Accordingly, the
battery
holder and dispensing device can be easily located by a user in a dark
environment, such as in a dark airplane cabin.
According to another aspect of the invention, the frame can be illuminated
by one or more lamps that are powered by a battery within the frame. The lamps
are preferably light emitting diodes (LED's). The lamps are preferably located
within an interior portion of the frame and the frame is composed of a
translucent
or transparent plastic. The light emitted by the lamps will then diffuse
throughout
the frame to effectively provide a luminescent effect without the need for
constructing the frame from a special luminescent plastic material. A switch
can
be provided to selectively power the lamps.
According to another aspect of the invention, a light accessory can be
provided that comprises a separate sub frame having contacts and carrying at
least one lamp wired to the contacts. A battery fit into the sub frame engages
its
terminals with the contacts and illuminates the lamp. The lamp is positioned
to
illuminate the frame when the sub frame is inserted into one of the bays of
the
frame. A switch usable to selectively power the lamp from the battery can be
provided as part of the accessory.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the frame can be assembled
from modular sections or modules that releasably engage together. The
modules can each contain a plurality of batteries of a single battery size, or
can
each contain a collection of different battery sizes. Thus, the particular
battery
needs of a selected profession can be accommodated by the selection of
modules to be assembled together into a frame. The battery needs of the
selected profession would depend on the battery-powered equipment used by
that profession.
According to another aspect of the invention, the device is easily held in a
user's one hand while a thumb or finger of the user's one hand can be used to
eject a desired battery. Additionally, the user's hand can locate by feel the
appropriate size battery due to the contour of the frame conforming to the
battery
sizes.
According to another aspect of the invention, a handle or bracket can be
provided on an end of the frame for holding or hanging the frame. If the
device is
used in the home or workshop, the bracket can be used tu hang the trame.for
convenient access to the batteries.
The devices of the present invention provide further advantages over the
known storage containers for batteries. The convenient and compact
configurations of the frames of the devices allow the devices to be used in
homes, planes, cars, offices and shops. The frames described herein keep
batteries separated compared to loose batteries, to avoid inadvertent
electrical
contact between batteries. The compact arrangement and ergonomic shaping of
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the frames allows for easy handling of the frames and one-handed holding and
dispensing of a selected battery. The open design of the sidewalls and a
bottom
wall of the frames allow the frames to shed debris which would otherwise
collect
in the compartments.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be
become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention
and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of a device in accordance with the
invention shown holding batteries;
Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 with
batteries removed;
Figure 2A is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate embodiment
of the device shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a bottom perspective-view of:the-devie.,e shown in Figwe 2;
Figure 3A is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view taken from Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of Figure 4
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view taken from Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 2;
Figure 9 a sectional view taken generally along 9-9 of Figure 8;
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Figure 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line 10-10 of Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a sectional view taken generally along line 11-11 of Figure 8;
Figure 12 is a bottom view of the device of Figure 2;
Figure 13 is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment device of
the present invention;
Figure 14 is a sectional view taken generally along line 14-14 of Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of the device
in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 16 is a sectional view taken generally along line 16-16 of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a top perspective view of an accessory usable with one or
more of the previous embodiment devices;
Figure 18 is a top perspective view of a further accessory usable with one
or more of the previously described embodiments;
Figure 19 is a fragmentary, exploded elevational view of a further
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional viawtaken; gr3ne:ai!) al:mg !in 3 20-20
of Figure 19;
Figure 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 20-20
of Figure 19, but showing the device in an assembled condition;
Figure 22 is a fragmentary, schematical sectional view of an alternate
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 23 is a front side view of a further accessory useable with the
present invention;
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Figure 24 is a right side view of the accessory of Figure 23; and
Figure 25 is a top view of the accessory of Figure 23.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms,
there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail,
specific
embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to
be
considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Figure 1 illustrates a battery holding device 18 including a frame 20 that
holds a plurality of batteries "B". The frame 20, as well as each of the
alternate
embodiment frames or modules described herein, is preferably a unitary molded
piece. The frame 20 includes a bottom wall 26 sidewalls 28, 30 and end walls
32, 34. A bracket 35 extends from the end wall 34. The bracket can include an
aperture 36 for hanging of the frame 20. The sidewalls 28, 30 include an upper
row of openings 38 and a lower row-of openings 44 The sidewalis 26, 3C: have
outside partial-cylindrical contours that are substantially parallel to the
outside
contours of the batteries held within the frame 20. Thus, even in a dark
environment, a user can, by feel of the outside contour of the frame 20,
ascertain
the size of a battery held within the frame. Furthermore, the openings, either
the
upper row 38 or the lower row 44 can be sized sufficiently such that a user's
finger can actually directly feel the outside contour of a battery held within
the
frame to determine the size of the battery, even in the dark.
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The batteries held within the frame are exposed through the openings 38,
44. Furthermore, the bottom wall 26 is recessed adjacent each of the lower row
of openings 44 such that a bottom surface "S" of a battery held within the
frame
is exposed to a user's touch.
According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the frame
has an overall length "L" (Figure 12), without the bracket 35, of about 197
mm, an
overall height "H" (Figure 3A) of about 54 mm, and an overall width "W"
(Figure
3A) of about 35 mm. The frame is preferably injection molded plastic having an
average thickness "TH" (Figure 3A) of about 2 mm.
Figure 2 illustrates the frame 20 in more detail with the batteries removed.
The frame 20 includes compartments or bays for receiving an assortment of
batteries. According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and 2, the frame 20
is
substantially mirror image identical across a longitudinal vertical center
plane
indicated by the centerline 50 and a lateral vertical center plane indicated
by the
centerline 52, except for the bracket 35.
In Figure 2, an assortment of bays-is provided.to thcc light of thc,, :atcl al
centerline 52. Straddling the centerline 52 is a first bay 60 for holding a
rectangular 9V battery. Adjacent first bay 60 are two rows of three bays for
holding cylindrical, size AA batteries. These bays are marked 61-66. Adjacent
to
the bays 63, 66 is an eighth bay 67 for holding a size C battery. Adjacent to
the
bay 67 are bays 68, 69 for holding size AAA batteries. The bays to the left of
the
lateral centerline 52 are mirror image identical. Thus, the frame 20
illustrated can
hold 19 batteries.
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The bays 61-66 are formed as cylindrical tubes with open top and bottom
ends and with portions removed. For example, the bay 65 includes an open top
and 65a and an open bottom end 65b that is partially closed by the bottom wall
26. The bay 65 includes a lower sidewall opening 44a that is about 3/8 inch
tall
and circumscribes about 900 of the circumference of the cylindrical lube. The
bay 65 includes an upper sidewall opening 38a that is about 7/8 inch in height
and circumscribes about 1800 of the cylindrical tube circumference. The
remaining bays 61-64 and 66 are substantially identical to the bay 65 except
that
the bays 61, 64 have upper openings 38a that circumscribes about 1300 of the
circumference of the cylindrical tube.
The bays 61, 64 form an interior end wall 72 of the first bay 60. Likewise,
the mirror image bays on the left side of the lateral centerline 52 form an
opposite
interior end wall 74 of the first bay 60. The first bay 60 includes a
substantially
flat first sidewall 78 and a substantially flat second sidewall 80. Lower
substantially rectangular openings 44b are formed between the sidewalls 78, 80
and the bottom wall 26. Upper openings'38b are formed through the sidevidil 78
and through the sidewall 80.
The bays 63, 66 form an interior sidewall 86 and the bays 68, 69 form an
interior sidewall 88 of the bay 67. A cylinder that forms the bay 67, with
portions
removed as described below, blends into the sidewalls 86, 88. The cylinder
includes an open top end 67a and an open bottom end 67b at least partially
closed by the bottom wall 26. The cylinder includes two lower sidewall
openings
44c, one on each side of the centerline 50, that are approximately 3/8 inch in
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height and each circumscribes approximately 90 of the circumference of the
cylinder. The cylinder includes two upper sidewall openings 38c, one on each
side of the centerline 50, that are approximately 7/8 inch in height and each
circumscribes approximately 120 of the circumference of the cylinder.
The bays 68, 69 are each formed by a cylinder having portions removed
as described below. For example, the bay 69 includes an open top end 69a and
an open bottom end 69b. A lower opening 44d is approximately 3/8 inch in
height and circumscribes about 180 of the circumference of the cylinder. An
upper opening 38d is about 5/8 inch in height and circumscribes approximately
180 of the circumference of the cylinder.
As shown in Figure 3, the bottom wall 26 includes an irregular longitudinal
edge 126 that extends along the longitudinal extent of the frame 20 except for
the
bays 68, 69. The edge 126 is recessed from a lateral extent of the bays to
form
bottom openings to expose the bottom surface "S" of the batteries "B" held
within
the bays to a user's touch to allow the user's finger to press the batteries
from
below. The lower sidewall openings 44-a,44d ofthe-bays are contiejuouz: with
the
bottom openings formed by the edge 126 to allow the user's finger to not only
press the bottom surface "S" of the batteries but to slide the batteries
toward the
top open ends of the bays to eject the batteries.
The bottom wall provides apertures 128 for the bays 61-66 to receive the
positive terminal "T" of a typical battery "B". The bottom wall also includes
an
aperture 132 in bay 67 for receiving the terminal of a typical battery. As
shown in
Figure 3A, because of the apertures 128, a battery can be put into the
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compartment with the extending terminal either oriented at the top or bottom
of
the battery.
The bays 68, 69 include a support gusset 136 that supports a bottom wall
portion 138 for holding batteries within the bays 68, 69. The bottom wall
portion
138 includes a partial aperture 142 for receiving a terminal of a typical
battery.
Each of the bays 60-69 includes a mechanism for releasably holding a
battery within the individual bays. According to the preferred embodiment, the
mechanism comprises one or two resilient detents or hooks which overlies or
protrudes into the bay near to the otherwise open end of each bay. The detents
Figure 2 illustrates two variations of the detent structures. Although two
variations are described, in practice, probably one detent structure or the
other
would be used for all the detent structures. A first variation in shown in
Figures
the bay 62 having a slot opening 139-and-a datent 140 formed !hat slot.
opening. The detent 140, due to the cantilever arrangement, exhibits a
resilient
flexibility. The detent includes a neck portion 142 and a head portion 144
extending therefrom. The head portion 144 includes a ramp surface 146 which
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternate embodiment for the detent, a detent
160 which is shaped similarly to the detent 140. However, according to this
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embodiment the detent is formed within a closed opening 162 in the sidewall of
the bay 67, not a slotted opening.
As can be observed in the figures, the smaller bays 61-66 and 68, 69 each
include a single detent, while the larger bay 60, 67 include two detents, that
are
opposing across a width of the bays 60, 67.
Figure 2A illustrates an alternate embodiment frame 190 wherein each
bay includes a top open end 192 and a bottom open end 193, and at least one
central sidewall opening 194. Each bay includes one or two detents 160 (or
140)
adjacent the open ends 192, 193. A battery can be ejected through either the
top
open end or the bottom open end. According to this embodiment, the frame 190
is also configured to be mirror image identical across a horizontal plane that
contains the centerline 50, 52.
As an alternate to detents, bumps extending into the compartment from an
inside surface of the compartment sidewalls, or ribs, or a soft liner portion
within
each compartment that is resiliently compressible to grip a battery held
therein,
or resilient compartment walls, can be tised-to-releasablpretan battely with
the frame.
Figures 8 through 12 illustrate additional views of the device 20 for further
understanding of the structure.
Figures 13 and 14 illustrate an alternate embodiment device 200 wherein
the bay 60 of the previous embodiment is replaced with a box-like container
206.
The box-like container 206 includes substantially solid sidewalls 208, 210,
212,
214 and a solid bottom wall 216. A film hinge 222 connects a lid 224 to the
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sidewall 214. The lid 224 includes a resilient catch 228 which, once the lid
is
pressed closed onto the container 206, resiliently engages a groove 232 to
hold
the lid closed onto the container 206. The container 206 is conveniently used
for
holding small items, such as small watch batteries, flashlight bulbs, keys,
pills,
film, fuses, etc.
Figure 13 also illustrates that the compact arrangement of batteries in the
frame 200, or similarly the first described frame 20, is such that the frame
can be
held in a user's hand 260 (shown in phantom), clasped between a user's thumb
266 and fingers 268, and resting in a user's palm, whereas a finger 270 can
simultaneously be used to eject a battery "B" from a bay, in this example the
bay
65.
Figure 15 and 16 illustrate a further embodiment device 300, similar to the
embodiment 200 described in Figures 13 and 14 but with a modified container
306. Rather than a film hinge, a rounded pin 308 is formed onto a sidewall 314
of the container 306. A lid 320 is hingedly engaged to the pin 306, by C-
shaped
portions 322, in snap fit fashion. The lid '320-nzedTkotcompletsly co.,ba an
opbil
top 326 of the container 306 as shown. Such a configuration would allow a user
to view into the container 306, through the areas on opposite sides of the lid
320,
at least to a limited extent. The remaining portions of this container 306 are
similar to the container 206.
Figure 17 illustrates an accessory container 350 that can be used in any of
the heretofore described embodiments. The container 350 includes a cylindrical
body 354 having an open top 356 and a closed bottom 360. A lid 362 is
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connected to the body 354 by a film hinge 366. As can be readily understood,
the lid 362 can be folded over and pressed down around the body 354 to close
the open top 356 to form an enclosed container. Sidewalls 370 of the lid 362
are
sized to the resiliently engaged by the body 354 to hold the lid in the closed
configuration. The container 350-is-sized and shaped substantially identically
to a
C size battery. Thus, the container 350 can be held in any of the compartments
sized and shaped to hold a C size battery, such as the bay 67 shown in Figure
2.
Figure 18 illustrates a further accessory container 380 that can be used in
any of the heretofore described embodiments. The container 380 includes a
rectangular body 384 having an open top 386 and a closed bottom 390. A lid
392 is connected to the body 384 by a film hinge 396. As can be readily
understood, the lid 392 can be folded over and pressed down around the body
384 to close the open top 386 to form an enclosed container. Sidewalls 400 of
the lid 392 are sized to the resiliently engaged by the body 384 to hold the
lid in
the closed configuration. The container 380 is sized and shaped substantially
= identically to a 9V size battery. Thus, the-container3811ean be held in
any ofth
compartments sized and shaped to hold a 9V size battery, such as the bay 60
shown in Figure 2.
Figures 19 and 20 illustrate a further aspect of the invention wherein a
device 600 includes a frame 604 that is modular in construction. A first frame
module 604a is connectable to a second frame module 604b. The first frame
module 604a includes a plurality of bays 606. The bays 606 illustrated are
configured and sized to hold D size batteries. The second frame module 604b
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includes a plurality of bays 610. The bays 610 illustrated are configured and
sized to hold AAA size batteries.
The first frame module 604a includes a base frame rail 614 that is
connected to, or molded with, the bays 606. The second frame module 604b
includes a base frame rail 616 that is connected to, or molded with, the bays
610.
The first frame module 604a includes hooks 620, 622 that curve away from each
other. The hook 620 is molded with the base frame rail 614. The hook 622 is
molded with an upper portion of one of the bays 606. The hooks 620, 622 are
substantially vertically aligned. The second frame module 604b includes hooks
630, 632 that curve toward each other. The hook 630 is molded with the base
frame rail 616. The hook 632 is molded with an upper portion of one of the
bays
610. The hooks 630, 632 are substantially vertically aligned.
To assemble the frame 604, the modules 604a, and 604b are relatively
slid along the direction "Z" to interlock the hooks as shown in Figure 21.
To enhance versatility of assembling modules, each module 604a, 604b
includes, on a side opposite to the heretofore doscrbed,hooks'f320, 022 and
C,30,,
632, additional hooks having an opposite curvature. For example, the module
604b includes hooks 640, 642 that curve away from each other, identically
configured to the hooks 620, 622 of the module 604a. Thus, a series of modules
identical to the module 604b could be assembled together, with hooks 630, 632
engaged to hooks 640, 642 of a like module, engaged in similar fashion to that
shown in Figure 21. A stack of modules of like or unlike types can be
assembled
in series, or "daisy chained", to form a modular frame.
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Thus, one group of bays 606 that are sized and shaped for holding one or
more batteries can be attached to one or more bays 610 sized and shaped to
hold one or more batteries of a same size as the batteries held in bays 606,
or a
different size as illustrated in Figures 19 and 20. Figures 19 and 20, for
simplicity
of illustration, illustrate only a few bays 606 and a few bays 610, it should
be
understood however that any number of bays within a module could be
configured into a modular frame. Also, the parting plane of the modules could
be
across a vertical lateral plane, or across a vertical longitudinal plane, or
across a
horizontal plane, taken with the device oriented upright as shown in Figure 2.
According to the preferred embodiments, the heretofore described frames
are composed of a suitable plastic such as polypropylene or polycarbonate, and
are preferably injection molded. As an enhancement, the plastic can be a
phosphorescent resin such as a Resin Series 100(PP) polypropylene or Series
300(PC) polycarbonate available from RTP Company of Winona, Minnesota,
USA. Such plastics will make the frames luminescent ("glow in the dark").
Accordingly, the frames will glow after absorbinglight and can be aa3:1;,.
lucated
and handled even in a dark room or in a dark airplane cabin.
Figure 22 illustrates an alternate embodiment 700 that can be configured
in accordance with any of the heretofore described embodiments except as
modified as described. For example the frame 700 can be configured
substantially identically to the frame 20 shown in Figure 1. The frame 700
includes contacts 706, 708 imbedded into, or otherwise carried by, the bottom
wall 26 of the frame. The contacts 706, 708 are configured to engage the
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corresponding contacts 712, 714 of an inverted, rectangular 9 volt battery
716. A
plurality of lamps 720a, 720b, 720c, 720d are arranged each within one void
722a, 722b, 722c, 722d that are arranged within the frame 20, 700.
As illustrated in Figures 12 and 22, the void 722c is formed centrally
between the four bays 61, 62, 64, 65 and the void 722d is formed centrally
between the four bays 62, 63, 64, 65. The voids 722a, 722b are similarly
formed
on an opposite longitudinal side of the frame 20, 700.
The lamps 720a, 720b, 720c, 720d are preferably light emitting diodes
(LED's). Although four lamps are shown, any number equal to or greater than
one is encompassed by the invention.
One contact, such as the negative contact 708, is wired in parallel to a first
contact of each lamp 720a, 720b, 720c, 720d, via a wire system or bus 730. The
respective other contact, such as the positive contact 706 is wired via a lead
732
to a switch 734. The switch 734 includes a button or slide 734a operable by
the
user to change the open/closed state of the switch 734. The switch 734 is
wired
via a wire system or bus 738 to a second contact aroach,lamp- 72Qa, 720b,
720c1
720d. Preferably the wire systems and lead 730, 732, 738 are embedded into
the bottom wall 26 of the frame 700. The wire systems and lead can be actual
wires or printed or deposited conductors, such as used in a printed circuit
board.
The lamps 720a, 720b, 720c, 720d can be embedded into the bottom wall 26 or
frictionally or adhesively fit or otherwise fixed into the voids 722a, 722b,
722c,
722d.
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The switch 734 can be located on either end of the frame or anywhere
else on the frame. The switch can be embedded into a wall of the frame or
otherwise secured to the frame.
Figures 23-25 illustrates an alternate accessory 800 that can be
configured to be usable with any of the heretofore described embodiments. For
example the accessory 800 can be configured to fit within the central bay 60
of
the frame 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The accessory 800 includes a sub frame
802 having a bottom wall 803 and upright side walls 804, 805. The sub frame
can be composed of an optical grade plastic. Contacts 806, 808 are imbedded
into, or otherwise carried by, the bottom wall 803 of the sub frame 802. The
contacts 806, 808 are configured to engage the corresponding contacts of an
inverted, rectangular 9 volt battery 716 (shown in phantom).
Lamps 820a, 820b are carried by the upright walls 804, 805 respectively
at an elevation approximately half way up the height of the battery 716. The
lamps 820a, 820b can be wired to the contacts 806, 808 by leads 806a, 806b;
308a, 808b embedded into, or guided by, thevalls.'804; 805,ond bottom A,val;
of the sub frame 802. The contacts 806, 808 and the leads 806a, 806b, 808a,
808b can be overmolded with the optical grade plastic of the sub frame.
A switch 810 can be provided wired into said leads. The switch provides a
lever or button 811 which selectively connects the lamps 820a, 820b to the
battery 716 via the contacts 806, 808. The button is preferably located on the
sub frame 802 at a position to be finger accessible through the frame 20, when
the sub frame is installed on the frame. The switch 810 can be located on any
19
CA 02614150 2013-02-12
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4
side or bottom of the frame or anywhere else on the frame. The switch can be
embedded into a wall of the frame or otherwise secured to the frame. The
switch
810 is optional as the means of turning on the lamps can be merely the
snapping
of the battery 716 down onto the contacts 806, 808. When the sub frame 802 is
placed into the bay 60, the lamps 820a, 820b are received into triangular
voids
822a, 822b shown in Figure 8. When powered by the battery 716, the lamps
820a, 820b will illuminate the frame 20 by conduction of light throughout the
frame 20, given a selection of translucent material for the construction of
the
frame.
The lamps 820a, 820b are preferably light emitting diodes (LED's).
Although two lamps are shown, any number equal to or greater than one is
encompassed by the invention.
The side walls 804, 805 each include a prong 804a, 805a for removably
securing the sub frame 202 to the frame 20 in a snap fitting fashion.
The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in
the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described
without departing from the scope of the described subject matter.
Modifications
which fall within the scope of the described subject matter will be apparent
to
those skilled in the art in light of a review of this disclosure, and such
modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims.
