Printed circuit board battery pack

Claim 2

In combination with a plurality of batteries of the type having male and female snap connectors mounted at their opposite ends, the improvement comprising: first circuit board means comprising a substantially flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; at least one male snap connector mounted on one side of the first circuit board means for engagement with a female snap connector of one of the batteries to form an electrical connection therewith; at least one female snap connector mounted on the same side of the first circuit board means for engagement with a male snap connector of one of the batteries to form an electrical connection therewith; printed circuit means formed on the first circuit board means and electrically interconnecting the male and female snap connectors mounted thereon; a layer of electrically insulative material formed on the side of the first circuit board means having the printed circuit means thereon and extending over the printed circuit means; second circuit board means comprising a substantially flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; at least one male snap connector mounted at one side of the second circuit board means for engagement with a female snap connector of one of the batteries to form an electrical connection therewith; at least one female snap connector mounted on the same side of the first circuit board means for engagement with a male snap connector of one of the batteries to form an electrical connection therewith; printed circuit means formed on the second circuit board means and forming electrical terminals extending to the male and female snap connectors mounted thereon; a layer of electrically insulative material formed on the side of the second circuit board means having the printed circuit means thereon and extending over the printed circuit means; and means positioning the first and second circuit board means in a spaced apart relationship to receive the batteries therebetween with the male snap connector of the first circuit board means facing and aligned with the female snap connector of the second circuit board means and with the female snap connector of the first circuit board means facing and aligned with the male snap connector of the second circuit board means.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1 further characterized by means positioning the first and second circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship whereby the snap connectors mounted thereon mechanically engage the snap connectors of the batteries to form electrical connections therewith while permitting at least a predetermined amount of relative movement between the batteries and the circuit board means whereby the batteries are floatingly supported in the snap connectors of the circuit board means.

Claim 4

The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the printed circuit means are formed on the opposite sides of the circuit board means from the mounting of the snap connectors thereon, and further including means forming an electrical connection through the circuit board means between the snap connectors mounted thereon and the printed circuit means.

Claim 5

A battery pack comprising: first and second circuit board means each comprising a flat, thin member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; at least one male snap connector and at least one female snap connector mounted on one of the circuit board means on the same side thereof and positioned a predetermined distance apart; printed circuit means formed on the other circuit board means and defining electrical terminals extending to the male and female snap connectors mounted thereon; layers of electrically insulative material formed on the circuit board means and extending over the printed circuit means; means positioning the circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with the male and female snap connectors on said one of the circuit board means aligned with and facing the female and male snap connectors on said other circuit board means, respectively; and at least two batteries each having a male snap connector at one end and a female snap connector at the other end; the snap connectors of the batteries being mechanically engaged with the snap connectors of the circuit board means and electrically connected thereto whereby the batteries are retained between the circuit board means and an electrical potential is established between the terminals comprising the printed circuit means on the circuit board means.

Claim 6

A battery pack comprising: first and second circuit board means each comprising a flat, thin member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; at least one male snap connector and at least one female snap connector mounted on one of the circuit board means on the same side thereof and positioned a predetermined distance apart; printed circuit means formed on the other circuit board means and defining electrical terminals extending to the male and female snap connectors mounted thereon; layers of electrically insulative material formed on the circuit board means and extending over the printed circuit means; means positioning the circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with the male and female snap connectors on said one of the circuit board means aligned with and facing the female and male snap connectors on said other circuit board means, respectively; and at least two batteries each having a male snap connector at one end and a female snap connector at the other end; the snap connectors of the batteries being mechanically engaged with the snap connectors of the circuit board means and electrically connected thereto whereby the batteries are retained between the circuit board means and an electrical potential is established between the terminals comprising the printed circuit means on the circuit board means.

Claim 7

The battery pack according to claim 4 wherein the snap connectors on the circuit board means are positioned to permit limited relative movement between the batteries and the circuit board means whereby the batteries are floatingly supported.

Claim 8

The battery pack according to claim 4 wherein the printed circuit means are formed on the opposite side of the circuit board means from the positioning of the snap connectors thereon.

Claim 9

The battery pack according to claim 6 further characterized by fastener means for securing the snap fasteners to the circuit board means and forming electrical connections through the circuit board means to the printed circuit means formed thereon.

Claim 10

A battery pack comprising: first and second circuit board means each comprising substantially thin, flat member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; the first circuit board means having at least two male snap connectors and at least two female snap connectors mounted on the same side thereof and in a predetermined array; the second circuit board means having at least two male snap connectors and at least two female snap connectors mounted on the same side thereof and in the same predetermined array as the arrangement of the snap connectors on the first circuit board means; printed circuit means formed on the first circuit board means and electrically connecting a first male snap connector to a first female snap connector and a second male snap connector to a second female snap connector, respectively; printed circuit means formed on the second circuit board means and electrically connecting a first male snap connector to a first female snap connector, said printed circuit means on the second circuit board means also forming terminals electrically connected to a second male snap connector and a second female snap connector thereon; layers of electrically insulative material formed on the first and second circuit board means and extending over the printed circuit means thereon; means positioning the first and second circuit boards in a predetermined facial relationship with the male snap connectors on the first circuit board means aligned with the female snap connectors on the second circuit board means and with the female snap connectors on the first circuit board means aligned with the male snap connectors on the second circuit board means, respectively; and at least four batteries each having male and female snap connectors mounted at the opposite ends thereof; said batteries being mounted between the first and second circuit board means with the snap connectors of the batteries mechanically engaged with and in electrical contact with the snap connectors mounted on the circuit board means.

Claim 11

A battery pack comprising: first and second circuit board means each comprising substantially thin, flat member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; the first circuit board means having at least two male snap connectors and at least two female snap connectors mounted on the same side thereof and in a predetermined array; the second circuit board means having at least two male snap connectors and at least two female snap connectors mounted on the same side thereof and in the same predetermined array as the arrangement of the snap connectors on the first circuit board means; printed circuit means formed on the first circuit board means and electrically connecting a first male snap connector to a first female snap connector and a second male snap connector to a second female snap connector, respectively; printed circuit means formed on the second circuit board means and electrically connecting a first male snap connector to a first female snap connector, said printed circuit means on the second circuit board means also forming terminals electrically connected to a second male snap connector and a second female snap connector thereon; layers of electrically insulative material formed on the first and second circuit board means and extending over the printed circuit means thereon; means positioning the first and second circuit boards in a predetermined facial relationship with the male snap connectors on the first circuit board means aligned with the female snap connectors on the second circuit board means and with the female snap connectors on the first circuit board means aligned with the male snap connectors on the second circuit board means, respectively; and at least four batteries each having male and female snap connectors mounted at the opposite ends thereof; said batteries being mounted between the first and second circuit board means with the snap connectors of the batteries mechanically engaged with and in electrical contact with the snap connectors mounted on the circuit board means.

Claim 12

The battery pack according to claim 8 wherein the snap connectors and the batteries define a linear array wherein the batteries are positioned adjacent one another along a single, substantially straight line.

Claim 13

The battery pack according to claim 8 wherein the snap connectors and the batteries define a rectangular array wherein at least two batteries are positioned adjacent one another along at least two substantially parallel lines.

Claim 14

The battery pack according to claim 8 wherein the printed circuit means are formed on the opposite sides of the circuit board means from the positioning of the snap connectors thereon, and further including means forming electrical connections extending through the circuit board means between the snap connectors and the printed circuit means.

Claim 15

The battery pack according to claim 11 wherein the means forming electrical connections extending through the circuit board means comprising fastener means for securing the snap connectors to the circuit board means.

Claim 16

The battery pack according to claim 8 wherein the circuit board means are positioned to retain the snap connectors thereon in mechanical engagement and electrical contact with the snap connectors on the batteries while permitting limited movement of the batteries relative to the circuit board means so that the batteries are floatingly supported.

Claim 17

The battery pack according to claim 13 wherein the circuit board means positioning means comprises spacer members extending between the circuit board means to maintain the predetermined positioning therebetween and fastener means for retaining the circuit board means in engagement with the spacer members.

Claim 18

A battery pack comprising: first circuit board means comprising a flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrical conductive material; at least one male snap connector and at least one female snap connector mounted on the same side of the first circuit board means and in a predeterined spaced apart relationship; printed circuit means forming an electrical connection between the male snap connector and the female snap connector on the first circuit board means; second circuit board means comprising a flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrical insulative material; first male and first female snap connectors mounted on the same side of the second circuit board means and in the same predetermined spaced apart relationship as the snap connectors of the first circuit board means; means positioning the first and second circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with the first male snap connector of the second circuit board means facing and aligned with the female snap connector of the first circuit board means and with the first female snap connector of the second circuit board means facing and aligned with the male snap connector of the first circuit board means, respectively; a first pair of batteries of the type having male and female snap connectors mounted on opposite ends thereof; said first pair of batteries being positioned between the first and second circuit board means with the snap connectors at the opposite ends thereof mechanically engaged by and in electrical contact with the snap connectors of the circuit board means; second male and second female snap connectors mounted on the opposite side of the circuit board means from the positioning of the first male and first female snap connectors thereon and being positioned in a predetermined spaced apart relationship; third circuit board means comprising a substantially flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; male and female snap connectors mounted on the same side of the third circuit board means and positioned in the same predetermined spaced apart relationship as the second male and second female snap connectors of the second circuit board means; printed circuit means formed on the third circuit board means and extending into electrical contact with the male and female snap connectors thereon to form electrical terminals extending thereto; means positioning the third circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with respect to the second circuit board means with the male snap connector of the third circuit means facing and aligned with the second female snap connector of the second circuit board means and with the female snap connector of the third circuit board means facing and aligned with the second male snap connector of the second circuit board means, respectively; a second pair of batteries of the type having male and female snap connectors mounted on the opposite ends thereof; the second pair of batteries being received between the second and third circuit board means with the snap connectors at the opposite ends thereof mechanically engaged by and in electrical contact with the snap connectors of the circuit board means.

Claim 19

A battery pack comprising: first circuit board means comprising a flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrical conductive material; at least one male snap connector and at least one female snap connector mounted on the same side of the first circuit board means and in a predeterined spaced apart relationship; printed circuit means forming an electrical connection between the male snap connector and the female snap connector on the first circuit board means; second circuit board means comprising a flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrical insulative material; first male and first female snap connectors mounted on the same side of the second circuit board means and in the same predetermined spaced apart relationship as the snap connectors of the first circuit board means; means positioning the first and second circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with the first male snap connector of the second circuit board means facing and aligned with the female snap connector of the first circuit board means and with the first female snap connector of the second circuit board means facing and aligned with the male snap connector of the first circuit board means, respectively; a first pair of batteries of the type having male and female snap connectors mounted on opposite ends thereof; said first pair of batteries being positioned between the first and second circuit board means with the snap connectors at the opposite ends thereof mechanically engaged by and in electrical contact with the snap connectors of the circuit board means; second male and second female snap connectors mounted on the opposite side of the circuit board means from the positioning of the first male and first female snap connectors thereon and being positioned in a predetermined spaced apart relationship; third circuit board means comprising a substantially flat, planar member formed from a dimensionally stable, electrically insulative material; male and female snap connectors mounted on the same side of the third circuit board means and positioned in the same predetermined spaced apart relationship as the second male and second female snap connectors of the second circuit board means; printed circuit means formed on the third circuit board means and extending into electrical contact with the male and female snap connectors thereon to form electrical terminals extending thereto; means positioning the third circuit board means in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with respect to the second circuit board means with the male snap connector of the third circuit means facing and aligned with the second female snap connector of the second circuit board means and with the female snap connector of the third circuit board means facing and aligned with the second male snap connector of the second circuit board means, respectively; a second pair of batteries of the type having male and female snap connectors mounted on the opposite ends thereof; the second pair of batteries being received between the second and third circuit board means with the snap connectors at the opposite ends thereof mechanically engaged by and in electrical contact with the snap connectors of the circuit board means.

Claim 20

The battery pack according to claim 15 wherein the printed circuit means are formed on the opposite sides of the circuit board means from the positioning of the snap connectors thereon, and further including means forming electrical connections extending through the circuit board means between the snap connectors and the printed circuit means.

Claim 21

The battery pack according to claim 16 wherein the means forming electrical connections extending through the circuit board means comprises fastener means for securing the snap connectors to the circuit board means.

Claim 22

The battery pack according to claim 17 wherein each of the first and third circuit board means has a layer of electrically insulative material formed on the side thereof opposite the positioning of the snap connectors and overlying the printed circuit means.

Claim 23

The battery pack according to claim 15 wherein the circuit board means are positioned to retain the snap connectors thereon in mechanical engagement and electrical contact with the snap connectors on the batteries while permitting limited movement of the batteries relative to the circuit board means so that the batteries are floatingly supported.

Claim 24

The battery pack according to claim 19 wherein the circuit board means positioning means comprises spacer members extending between the circuit board means to maintain the predetermined positioning therebetween and fastener means foor retaining the circuit board means in engagement with the spacer members.