Secondary battery
A battery is provided with a battery cover having a first cover mold insert and a second cover mold insert which are interchangeable in the cover prior to molding depending at least in part on the battery's polarity configuration. The first cover mold insert has a bushing that is relatively different in dimension, size and/or shape than the bushing of the second cover mold insert, such that each bushing is adapted to receive a cast-on-strap post of a relatively different dimension, size and/or shape. The first cover mold insert may also have a terminal that is relatively different in dimension, size and/or shape than the terminal of the second cover mold insert, such that each terminal is adapted to engage a formation connector contact of a relatively different dimension, size and/or shape.
1. A secondary battery comprising:
a battery housing having a battery cover thereon, the battery cover comprising a first cover mold insert and a second cover mold insert;
the first cover mold insert having a first bushing portion defining a first bushing having a first aperture of a first lateral cross-section;
the second cover mold insert having a second bushing portion defining a second bushing having a second aperture of a second lateral cross-section;
wherein the first aperture of the first bushing couples around a first terminal post passing into and/or through the cover from an interior of the battery housing and the second aperture of the second bushing couples around a second terminal post passing into and/or through the cover from an interior of the battery housing; wherein the first lateral cross-section is different from the second lateral cross-section;
wherein the first cover mold insert has a first terminal portion offset from the bushing portion and extending away from the battery housing and the second cover mold insert has a second terminal portion offset from the second bushing portion and extending away from the battery housing, and wherein the first terminal portion is sized or shaped differently from the second terminal portion.
2. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral cross-section defines a first cross-sectional shape, the second lateral cross-section defines a second cross-sectional shape, and the first cross-sectional shape and second cross-sectional shape are different.
3. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral cross-section defines a first cross-sectional area, the second lateral cross section defines a second cross-sectional area, and the first cross-sectional area and second cross-sectional area are different.
4. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first cover mold insert and second cover mold insert are interchangeable in the battery cover.
5. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal portion has a first width and the second terminal portion has a second width, and wherein the first width and second width are different.
6. The secondary battery of claim 5 , further comprising a battery assembly wherein the first terminal portion is releasably coupleable to a first cable connector having a first connector width and the second terminal portion is releasably coupleable to a second cable connector having a second connector width, and wherein the first connector width and the second connector width are different.
7. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal portion defines a third circular aperture and the second terminal portion defines a fourth circular aperture.
8. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first bushing portion has a first side opposite a second side and a third side perpendicularly coupled to the first and second side, the third side being opposite a fourth side.
9. The secondary battery of claim 8 , wherein the first terminal portion perpendicularly couples to the fourth side.
10. The secondary battery of claim 9 , wherein the first terminal portion couples along an entire length of the fourth side.
11. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal portion has a rounded top.
12. The secondary battery of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal portion has a first terminal portion width and the first base portion has a first base portion width, and wherein the first base portion width and first terminal portion width are approximately equal.
13. A secondary battery comprising:
a battery housing having a battery cover thereon, the battery cover comprising a first cover mold insert and a second cover mold insert;
the first cover mold insert having a first bushing portion defining a first bushing having a first aperture of a first lateral cross-section;
the second cover mold insert having a second bushing portion defining a second bushing having a second aperture of a second lateral cross-section;
wherein the first aperture of the first bushing couples around a first terminal post passing into and/or through the cover from an interior of the battery housing and the second aperture of the second bushing couples around a second terminal post passing into and/or through the cover from an interior of the battery housing; wherein the first lateral cross-section is different from the second lateral cross-section;
wherein the first cover mold insert has a first terminal portion offset from the bushing portion and extending away from the battery housing and the second cover mold insert has a second terminal portion offset from the second bushing portion and extending away from the battery housing, and wherein the first terminal portion is sized or shaped differently from the second terminal portion, and wherein the first terminal portion has a first width and the second terminal portion has a second width, the first width being different from the second width.