US3215304A

US3215304A - Battery case

Info

Publication number: US3215304A
Application number: US289585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rohe Andreas Karl
Original assignee: WALTER GLASS
Current assignee: WALTER GLASS
Priority date: 1963-06-21
Filing date: 1963-06-21
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02

Description

A. K. ROHE/ Nov. 2, 1965 BATTERY CASE Filed June 21, 1963 i I NVENTOR- gid fidfilz di'w MM, @WW

United States Patent 3,215,304 BATTERY CASE Andreas Karl Roh, Konigstein, Taunus, Germany, assignor to Walter Glass, N orthfield, Ill. Filed June 21, 1963, Ser. No. 289,585 Claims. (Cl. 220-45) This invention relates generally to containers, more particularly to containers for corrosive fluids, and most particularly to cases for storage batteries of the type that are used in automobiles for starting purposes.

In the past, battery cases have been constructed from hard rubber; and the covers have been secured in place by means of a sealant material. Although the hard rubber from which the prior art battery cases have been made possesses adequate resistance to the chemical activity of the battery acid, battery production has been impeded by the time required to mold the cases. Contrary to hard rubber articles which require appreciable time to mold, injection molded plastic parts may be produced both rapidly and economically; and many of the plastics which are susceptible of molding by the injection method are sufficiently inert chemically to be considered for battery cases. However, serious difliculties have been encountered heretofore in sealing the plastic covers to the plastic cases, due to least in part to the lack of a perfect fit between the covers and the cases resulting in imperfect adhesive bonds.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a plastic battery case in which the cover is effectively sealed to the case.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved container for corrosive fluids.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for corrosive fluids in which the cover is hermetically sealed to the case.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel joint for containers that must be leakproof.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following disclosure.

A container in accord with the invention includes a case and a cover for closing the case. A groove is provided at the top edge of the case, and a cooperative tongue is fashioned adjacent the periphery of the cover for fittedly entering the groove of the case. A suitable number of laterally projecting ribs of deformable material are disposed on the tongue spaced relative to each other; and the total thickness of the tongue and one of the ribs is arranged to be greater than the width of the groove whereby to deform the ribs into intimately contacting relationship with the confronting wall of the groove upon insertion of the tongue therein. Solvent cement is coated on the walls of the groove to bond the tongue to the groove particularly at positions interjacent the ribs.

In order that the principles of the invention may be readily understood, two embodiments thereof applied to storage battery cases, but to which the application is not to be restricted, are shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery case structure arranged in compliance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view in cross-section and in elevation, showing the details of the tongue and groove which are fashioned respectively on the cover and the case of the battery case structure of FIG. 1, the tongue and groove being shown in disassembled condition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the showingof FIG. 3 but illustrating the tongue and the groove in assembled relationship, the deformation experienced by the ribs of the tongue upon such assembly being exaggerated for purposes of illustration; and FIG. 5 is an enlarged, crosssectional view of a modified cover and tongue constructed in compliance with the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, a battery case structure indicated generally by the numeral 10 is seen to include a body or case proper 12 and a cover 14. The body 12 includes a bottom 16 and a continuous sidewall 18 that upstands from the bottom 16 merging into the edges thereof. The body 12 also includes internal partitions 20 which divide the case into three separate cells. Of course, the body 12 may be provided with any number of partitions to divide the case into whatever number of cells is desired. According to conventional practice, the body may be provided with bridge elements, not shown, rising from the bottom 16 to define sediment chambers in each of the cells. In compliance with a feature of the invention, however, the sidewall 18 of the body 12 is provided at its upper edge with a channel 22 that defines a continuous groove 24.

The cover 14 is intended to provide a closure for all of the cells incorporated in the body 12; and in accord with conventional practice, the cover 14 is fashioned with threaded, aperture-defining formations 26 opening individually into the cells of the battery case structure. The cover 14 is also perforated with holes 28 for the respective terminal posts and with holes 30 for the cell connectors. Adjacent its peripheral edge, the cover 14 is provided with a tongue or skirt 32 which is adapted to enter the groove 24 in a closely fitted manner. The tongue 32 is a continuous or endless element to promote its cooperation with the continuous groove 24.

In compliance with an important feature of the invention, a number of ribs 34 are situated on the tongue 32 projecting laterally outwardly therefrom. The ribs 34 are fabricated of a resiliently deformable material and are spaced vertically in parallel relationship, each rib 34 encircling the tongue 32 in a continuous manner. Turning to FIG. 3, each of the ribs 34 is seen to be fabricated to possess a base which is wider than its tip, the ribs 34 being specifically fabricated to be pointed. With further regard to FIG. 3, the tongue 32 is seen to be fashioned so as to be tapered slightly toward its free edge whereas the groove 24 is formed so that its sidewalls converge toward the bottom. In addition, the total thickness of the tongue 32 and a rib 34 is particularly fashioned to be greater than the width of the groove. Accordingly, when the tongue 32 is forced into the groove 24, the ribs 34 are deformed into intimately contacting relationship with t-he confronting wall of the groove.

In one specific embodiment of the invention, the ribs 34 have been fashioned from a modified polystyrene plastic, preferably a styrene-butadiene copolymer or an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer. Advantageously, the ribs 34, the tongue 32 and the remaining portions of the cover 14 are fabricated from the same material, being formed integral therewith by the injection molding method. The case 12 is fashioned as a one-piece unit from the same material and by similar fabricating techniques. Of course, other resinous plastics and other polymers may be used in the present invention; and polyolefinic plastics of the rigid type represent one such alternate material.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 3, the use of a bonding medium acting between the tongue 32 and the walls of the groove 24 is contempated to produce a leakproof joint at this juncture of the cover 14 and the body 12. More specifically, a layer 36 of a suitable adhesive is applied to the walls of the groove 24, and the adhesive material of layer 36 may take the form of a solvent acting to soften the surface of the walls of the groove or a solvent solution of a suitable resin or elastomer. The layer 36 of adhesive material is applied to the walls of groove 24 while in an active state; and thereupon, the cover 14 is assembled to the body 12 with the tongue 32 fittedly inserted in the groove 24. Considering FIG. 4 for the moment, it will be noted that a portion of the layer 36 of adhesive material is collected between the tongue 32 and the walls of groove 24 interjacent the ribs 34, the cooperating tapers of both the tongue and the groove serving to insure situation of the adhesive material at these regions upon assembly of the cover and the case. In use, the ribs 34 and the layer 36 of adhesive material join the surfaces of tongue 32 and groove 24 and act to compensate for or accommodate irregularities in the joined surfaces. A hermetic seal results.

The groove 24, the tongue 32, and the ribs 34 act to seal the cover 14 and the body 12. It is also desirable to provide a seal between the individual cells defined in the body 12 by the partitions 20. Therefore and returning to FIG. 2, a channel 38 is seen to be fashioned at the top edge of the partitions 20, the channel 38 defining a groove 40 which opens at its ends into the groove 24. cooperatively, the cover 14 includes depending plates 42 which are alignable with the grooves 40 and which terminate in tongues 44. The tongues 44 are fashioned similarly to the tongue 32 whereby to enter the grooves 40 in wedged fashion. In addition, the tongues 44 are provided with laterally protruding ribs 46 which are constructed and function similarly to the ribs 34.

While one embodiment of the invention has been thus far shown and described, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not strictly limited thereto since many modifications may be made. Therefore and in order to enhance the understanading of the invention, a modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5, like numerals having been used to designate like parts and the sufiix letter at having been utilized to distinguish those elements associated with the embodiment of FIG. 5.

The modified embodiment of the invention is particularly characterized by the shaping of the ribs 34a to be truncated in nature, that is, frusto-pyramidal in shape. The modified embodiment is also characterized by the provision of ribs 48 which project laterally inwardly from the tongue 32a in horizontal alignment with the ribs 340:, ribs 34a extending laterally outwardly from the tongue 32a. The ribs 48, like the ribs 34a, are of truncated nature; and because of the provision of the ribs on both sides of the tongue 32a, the total thickness of the tongue and the ribs on the opposite sides thereof is arranged to be only sufficiently greater than the width of the corresponding groove to cause deformation of the ribs upon assembly of the tongue to the groove, the total thickness of the tongue and the ribs being selected, of course, to be insufficiently great to prevent entry of the tongue into the groove.

The specific examples herein shown and described are to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes beyond those described will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and such changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A container comprising: case means; cover means for closing said case means; a groove member on one of said means; a tongue member on the other of said means for fittedly entering said groove member; a laterally projecting rib formation of deformable material on one of said tongue and said groove members, the total thickness of said tongue member and said rib formation being greater than the width of said groove member whereby said formation is deformed into intimately contacting relationship with a confronting wall of the other of said tongue and said groove members upon insertion of said tongue member into said groove member; and bonding means acting generally between said tongue member and said groove member.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said tongue member is a continuous element, wherein said rib formation is a continuous element and wherein said deformable material is resiliently deformable.

3. A container comprising: case means; cover means for closing said case means; a groove on one of said means; a tongue on the other of said means for fittedly entering said groove; a laterally projecting rib of deformable material on said tongue, the total thickness of said tongue and said rib being greater than the width of said groove whereby to deform said rib into intimately contacting relationship with a confronting wall of said groove upon insertion of said tongue therein; and bonding means acting between said tongue and. said confronting wall.

4. A container comprising: case means; cover means for closing said case means; a groove on one of said means; a tongue on the other of said means for fittedly entering said groove; a plurality of laterally projecting ribs of deformable material on said tongue spaced relative to each other; the total thickness of said tongue and a said rib being greater than the width of said groove whereby to deform said ribs into intimately contacting relationship with a confronting wall of said groove upon insertion of said tongue therein; and bonding means acting between said tongue and a wall of said groove interjacent said ribs.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said rib formation is wider at its base than at its tip.

6. A container according to claim 5 wherein the tip of said rib formation is pointed.

7. A container according to claim 5 wherein the tip of said rib formation is truncated.

8. A container according to claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of said groove member converge toward the bottom thereof and wherein said tongue member tapers towards its free edge.

9. A container comprising: case means; cover means for closing said case mean; a groove on one of said means; a tongue on the oth' r of said means for fittedly entering said groove; rib means of deformable material projecting laterally from bpth sides of said tongue, the total thickness of said tongue and the rib means on the opposite sides thereof being greater than the width of said groove whereby to deform said rib means into intimately contacting relationship with the confronting walls of said groove upon insertion of said tongue therein; and bonding means acting generally between said tongue and said groove.

10. A container for corrosive fluids comprising: case means; cover means for closing said case means; a continuous groove on one of said means; a continuous tongue on the other of said means for fittedly entering said groove; a plurality of laterally projecting, continuous ribs of resiliently deformable material on said tongue spaced relatively to each other, the total thickness of said tongue and a said rib being greater than the width of said groove whereby to deform said ribs into intimately contacting relationship with a confronting wall of said groove upon insertion of said tongue therein; and bonding means acting between said tongue and a wall of said groove interjacent said ribs whereby to form a hermetic seal between said cover and said case at said tongue and groove.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,252 6/ 25 Chamberlain. 2,748,677 6/56 Berlant 22045 X FOREIGN PATENTS 535,068 5/55 Belgium. 924,722 3 /5 5 Germany.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

10. A CONTAINER FOR CORROSIVE FLUIDS COMPRISING: CASE MEANS; COVER MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID CASE MEANS; A CONTINUOUS GROOVE ON ONE OF SAID MEANS; A CONTINUOUS TONGUE ON THE OTHER OF SAID MEANS FOR FITTEDLY ENTERING SAID GROOVE; A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY PROJECTING, CONTINUOUS RIBS OF RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE MATERIAL ON SAID TONGUE SPACED RELATIVELY TO EACH OTHER, THE TOTAL THICKNESS OF SAID TONGUE AND A SAID RIB BEING GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID GROOVE AND WHEREBY TO DEFORM SAID RIBS INTO INTIMATELY CONTACTING RELATIONSHIP WITH A CONFRONTING WALL OF SAID GROOVE UPON INSERTION OF SAID TONGUE THEREIN; AND BONDING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID TONGUE AND A WALL OF SAID GROOVE INTERJACENT SAID RIBS WHEREBY TO FORM A HERMETIC SEAL BETWEEN SAID COVER AND SAID CASE AT SAID TONGUE AND GROOVE.