GB2432878A

GB2432878A - Latch release for battery

Info

Publication number: GB2432878A
Application number: GB0524596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng-Jy Tien
Original assignee: Karma Medical Products Co Ltd
Current assignee: Karma Medical Products Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-02
Filing date: 2005-12-02
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-02
Also published as: GB2432878B; GB0524596D0

Abstract

A battery 3 for an electric mobility scooter is secured to a scooter chassis 1 by pivoted latch bolts 4 on the battery engaging strikers 5 on the chassis under the bias of springs 8 acting between each bolt and the chassis. A handle 7 is connected via connection rods 6 to the bolts 4 and can be pulled upwards to release the bolts and allow battery removal. A pin and slot arrangement can guide the movement of the rods 6.

Description

BATTERY QUICK-RELEASE STRUCTURE FOR AN ELECTRIC

MOBILITY SCOOTER

The present invention relates to a battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter, and more particularly, to one that has a battery case pivoted with hasps to be automatically locked to a chassis and can be easily picked up by pulling up a handle to release the hasps.

For a battery as a must to electric mobility scooters generally available in the market, it rests on a chassis simply by its weight and is fastened to the chassis with a locking bracket. It prevents easy assembly and disassembly and practically a torture to a driver who is handicapped or senile citizen.

A quick-release mechanism of the prior art also takes advantage of the weight of the battery to snap a battery case into the chassis. However, the battery case is not secured to run the risk of safety concerns as it could easily fall out of the chassis when driving on a bumpy road.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a quick-release structure for a battery case in an electric mobility scooter that overcomes the shortcomings found with the prior art and achieves easy and safe operation by locking the battery case to a chassis and allowing it to be picked up simply by pulling up a handle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter comprising a chassis, a support unit, a battery case, hasps, retainers, connection rods, a handle, and elastic members; the support unit being fixedly connected to the chassis and comprising a lever and bracket rods, the bracket rods holding the edge of the battery case, the lever stretching over and being fixed to the chassis, the retainers being disposed on the lever, the battery case being disposed with a slot to engage with the lever, the hasp made in o curved shape being pivotally connected to the battery case, a first end of the hasp being a hook portion having an outer slope in relation to the retainer, a second end of the hasp being pivotally connected to a first end of the connection rod, a second end of the connection rod being connected to the handle, both ends of the is elastic member being respectively connected to the second end of the hasp and the battery case.

Wherein the second end of the connection rod is disposed with a slide pinto connect to the handle.

Wherein hasp holders further extend from both sides of the battery case to rest on the bracket rods of the support unit.

Wherein a guide plate is further fixed to the hasp holder; a chute being disposed on the guide plate; and a slide pin being disposed on the second end of the connection rod, the slide pin penetrating through the chute.

The present invention provides the following advantages: 1. Easy operation. Simply grab the handle of the battery case to put it down or pull it up.

2. Safe operation. The battery case is secured in place S without shaking up and down when the scooter is on the road.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention before assembly; Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled; Figure 4 is a side sectional view showing disassembling operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis (1), a support unit (2), a battery case (3), hasps (4), retainers (5), connection rods (6), a handle (7), and elastic members (8). The support unit (2) is pivotally connected to the chassis (1). The support unit (2) includes a lever (21) and a pair of bracket rods (22). The bracket rods (22) hold the edge of the battery box (3). Hasp holders (31) are further provided on both sides of the battery case (3) to rest on the bracket rods (22) of the support unit (2). Each hasp holder (31) comprises a flap (311) and upstanding ribbed plates (312). The ribbed plates (312) are located underneath the flap (311) to serve as reinforcement while providing a configuration together with the flap (311) and the edge of the upper section of the ribbed plate (312) i5 to facilitate the placement of the hasp holder (31) in relation to the bracket rod (22). A guide plate (32) is fixed to the hasp holder (31) arid a chute (321) is disposed on the guide plate (32). The lever (21) stretches over and is fixed to the chassis (1). The retainers (5) are provided on the lever (21). A slot (33) is disposed on the battery case (3) to be engaged by the lever (21). Each hasp (4) is made in curved shape and pivotally connected to the battery case (3). A first end of the hasp (4) is a hook portion (41) having an outer slope (411) in relation to the retainer (5). A second end of the hasp (4) is pivotally connected to a first end of the connection rod (6). A second end of the connection rod (6) is disposed with a slide pin 61). The handle (7) is connected to the middle section of the slide pin (61). Both ends of the slide pin (61) respectively penetrate through their respective chutes (321). Both ends of the elastic member (8) are respectively connected to the second end of the hasp (4) and the battery case (3). A socket is disposed on the lever (21) and a plug is disposed to the battery case (3) for electric connection to the power source. The socket and the plug are not the essence of the present invention, and therefore they are not marked and will not be elaborated in the description.

As illustrated in Figure 2, while mounting the battery case (3) to the chassis (1), the outer slope (411) of the hook portion (41) is pressed in relation to the retainer (5). The force from the elastic member (8) causes the second end of the hasp (4) to be pulled down, resulting in that the hasp (4) pivots to the hook portion (41) to lock up the retainer (5) as illustrated in Figure 3. Accordingly, the entire battery case (3) is secured to the chassis (1) without shaking up and down while the scooter is on the road.

Meanwhile, the battery case (3) is firmly accommodated by the chassis (1) and the bracket rods (22) of the support unit (2), and the battery case (3) is further secured by having the slot (33) to ride on the lever (21).

To remove the battery case (3) as illustrated in Figure 4, simply pull up the handle (7) to raise the connection rods (6). The linked hasps (4) are turned to have the hook portions (41) of the

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hasps (4) retreat from the retainers (5).

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 5, includes the chassis (1), the support unit (2) having the lever (21) and the bracket rods (22), hasp holders (31A) of a battery case (3A) having a flap (311A) and ribbed plates (312A), a slot (33A), the retainers (5), the connection rods (6) with the slide pins (61) and the handle (7). In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the battery case (3A) can also be easily picked up by pulling up the handle (7) even with the absence of o the guide plates (32) as provided in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter comprising a chassis, a support unit, a battery case, hasps, retainers, connection rods, a handle, and elastic members; the support unit being fixedly connected to the chassis and comprising a lever and bracket rods, the bracket rods holding the edge of the battery case, the lever stretching over and being fixed to the chassis, the retainers being disposed on the lever, the battery case being disposed with a slot to engage with the lever, the hasp being made in curved shape and pivotally connected to the battery case, a first end of the hasp being a hook portion in relation to the retainer, a second end of the hasp being pivotally connected to a first end of the connection rod, a second end of the connection rod being connected to the handle, and both ends of the elastic member being respectively connected to the second end of the hasp and the battery case.

2. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 1, wherein the second end of the connection rod is disposed with a slide pin to connect to the handle.

3. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 1, wherein hasp holders further extend from both sides of the battery case to rest on the bracket rods of the support unit.

4. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 3, wherein a guide plate is further fixed to each of the hasp holders; a chute being disposed on the guide plate; a slide pin being disposed on the second end of the connection rod, the slide pin penetrating through the chute.

5. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 3, wherein each of the hasp holders comprises a flap and ribbed plates, the ribbed plates being located underneath the flap.

6. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 1, wherein the hook portion of the hasp has an outer slope.

7. A battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

CLAIMS

1. A battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter comprising a chassis, a support unit, a battery case, two detents, two retainers, two connection rods, a handle, and elastic members; the support unit being securely connected to the chassis and comprising a bar and bracket members, the bracket members holding the edge of the battery case, the bar stretching across the bracket members and being fixed to the chassis, each retainer being disposed on the bar, the battery case being provided with a recessed portion for engagement with the bar, each detent being curved in shape and pivotally connected to the battery case, a first end of each detent being a barb-type portion for engagement with a respective retainer in order to secure the battery case to the chassis, a second end of each detent being pivotally connected to a first end of a respective connection rod, a second end of each connection rod being connected to the handle, and each elastic member being connected to the second end of a respective detent and the battery case respectively.

2. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 1, wherein the second end of each connection rod is provided with two outwardly extending pins to connect the connection rod to the handle.

3. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 1, further comprising detent housings extending from both sides of the battery case to be rested on the bracket members of the support unit.

4. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 3, wherein a support bracket is further fixed to each of the detent housings; a slot is provided in the support bracket; two outwardly extending pins are disposed on the second end of each connection rod, a respective pin extending through the slot.

5. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 3, wherein each of the detent housings comprises a cover plate and side plates, the side plates being located underneath the cover plate.

6. The battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter of Claim 1, wherein the barb-type portion of each detent has an outer slope extending in the direction of the retainer.

7. A battery quick-release structure for an electric mobility scooter as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ID