Spill resistant battery cover and vent cover

Abstract

A vented battery cover with a vent cover is disclosed. The vent cover may be capable of attachment to the battery at a first position and a second position using one or more first snap features and one or more second snap features. The vent cover may also provide a fluid path from a fill tube hole in the battery cover to a vent wherein the path is a labyrinth.

1 . A battery, comprising:
 one or more fill tube holes defined by a battery cover;   a vent cover aligned adapted to align with the one or more fill tube holes;   one or more first snap features;   one or more second snap features; and   one or more recesses;   wherein each one or more first snap features is adapted to mate with a recess when the vent cover is installed on the battery to a first position; and   wherein each one or more second snap features is adapted to mate with a recess when the vent cover is installed on the battery to a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the one or more first snap features are located on the vent cover and the one or more recesses are located on the battery cover. 
     
     
         3 . The battery of  claim 2  wherein the one or more second snap features are provided on the vent cover and the one or more recesses are provided on the battery cover. 
     
     
         4 . The battery of  claim 3  wherein, when the vent cover is in the second position, the one or more first snaps extend beyond the one or more recesses mated by the one or more first snaps when the vent cover is in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein a top surface of the vent cover is substantially flush with at least a portion of a top surface of the battery cover when the vent cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the one or more first snap features and one or more second snap features mate to the one or more recesses to allow the vent cover to be installed onto and removed from the battery cover. 
     
     
         7 . The battery of  claim 1 , further comprising a leak resistant seal between an inner volume of the battery and the environment. 
     
     
         8 . The battery of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more vent barrels in the vent cover; and   a projecting ring on at least one of the one or more vent barrels;   wherein the vent barrels are provided into the one or more fill tube holes and the projecting rings help provide a liquid-tight seal between the projecting ring and the inner walls of the one or more fill tube holes.   
     
     
         9 . The battery of  claim 1 , further comprising including one or more keyed features to permit only properly aligned installation of the vent cover. 
     
     
         10 . The battery of  claim 9  wherein the keyed features comprise a recessed portion on the vent cover and a projection on the battery cover that mate when the vent cover and battery cover are properly aligned. 
     
     
         11 . A battery, comprising:
 one or more fill tube holes defined by a battery cover;   a vent cover adapted to align with the one or more fill tube holes; and   a labyrinth in the vent cover between the one more fill tube holes and one or more vents wherein the labyrinth comprises a plurality of projections.   
     
     
         12 . The battery of  claim 11  further comprising
 one or more snap features provided on the vent cover, and one or more recesses provided on the battery cover, wherein the vent cover is adapted to be installed in a first position when the one or more first snap features mate with one or more recesses in the battery cover. 
 
     
     
         13 . The battery of  claim 12  wherein the one ore more snap features are first snap features, and further comprising one or more second snap features distinct from the first snap features, wherein the vent cover is adapted to be installed in a second position when the one or more second snap features mate with one or more recesses in the battery cover. 
     
     
         14 . The battery of  claim 13  wherein, when the vent cover is in the second position, the one or more first snaps extend beyond the one or more recesses mated by the one or more first snaps when the vent cover is in the first position. 
     
     
         15 . The battery of  claim 13  wherein a top surface of the vent cover is substantially flush with at least a portion of a top surface of the battery cover when the vent cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The battery of  claim 11  wherein the mating arrangement of first snap features, second snap features, and recesses provide the vent cover to be installed onto and removed from the battery cover. 
     
     
         17 . The battery of  claim 11 , further comprising a leak resistant seal between an inner volume of the battery and the environment. 
     
     
         18 . The battery of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 one or more vent barrels in the vent cover; and   a projecting ring on at least one of the one or more vent barrels;   wherein the vent barrels are provided into the one or more fill tube holes and the projecting rings help provide a liquid-tight seal between the projecting ring and the inner walls of the one or more fill tube holes.   
     
     
         19 . The battery of  claim 11 , further comprising including one or more keyed features to permit only properly aligned installation of the vent cover. 
     
     
         20 . The battery of  claim 19  wherein the keyed features comprise a recessed portion on the vent cover and a projection on the battery cover that mate when the vent cover and battery cover are properly aligned.