Expandable battery compartment for handheld electronic devices
View Patent ↗In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes.
1. In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removable cover therefor, the improvement comprising:
the battery compartment and cover being configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes,
wherein the cover has a generally rigid outer frame and a generally rigid center portion, the outer frame and center portion being connected by a springy material biasing the center portion to a position to accommodate a relatively thin battery, the center portion being displaceable outwardly to accommodate a thicker battery.
2. The improvement in claim 1 , wherein the springy material extends the perimeter between the generally rigid outer frame and the generally rigid center portion.
3. The improvement in claim 1 , wherein the springy material is molded with both the generally rigid outer frame and the generally rigid center portion.
4. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein the at least two sizes are discrete sizes.
5. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein the at least two sizes are various sizes along a continuum of sizes.
6. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein the generally rigid outer frame and the generally rigid center portion are made of hard plastic.
7. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein the generally rigid outer frame and the generally rigid center portion are made of metal.
8. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein the springy material forms a web between the generally rigid outer frame and the generally rigid center portion.