[0001] The present disclosure described herein, in general, belongs to the technical field of battery tray structures. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a battery tray structure to accommodate different size batteries.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Batteries are used in a wide variety of vehicles, such as trucks, cars, and the like. Such batteries typically are referred to as SLI (starting, lighting, and ignition) batteries. Although they may have various features, such as vents, terminals, handles, and the like, the batteries typically have a generally rectangular shape with a top, bottom, end, and sidewalls.
[0003] Such batteries are required to be mounted in a secured manner within an engine bay of a vehicle. The engine bay typically includes a relatively flat support surface, often referred to as a "battery tray", on which a battery may be placed. The battery then is secured to the battery tray by a variety of locking assemblies.
[0004] However, for a particular variant or model, it is usually determined that the battery tray is designed by vehicle manufacturers with specific battery dimensions in mind. The result of this approach of the vehicle manufacturers is that the battery tray of a particular vehicle may accept a battery of a specific dimension only.
[0005] Over the years, vehicle manufacturers have been facing with the seemingly ever-increasing proliferation of battery sizes, considerable attention has been directed to the problems associated with providing so many different sizes of batteries for different variants of vehicles. This considerable effort has resulted in a wide variety of suggested solutions; some of which are still being used and

many of which were never commercialized or were commercialized but have fallen out of use.
[0006] In an effort to achieve even greater standardization, battery manufacturers have provided smaller batteries with height and/or width spacers to make them compatible with battery trays designed for larger batteries, e.g., to adapt a low profile battery to high profile battery trays or a standard width battery to wide battery trays. Such spacers include height spacers, which increase the effective height of a battery, width spacers, which increase the effective width of a battery, and length spacers, which increase the effective length of a battery. Despite the advantages of spacers of this type, however, they still do not provide a battery with complete compatibility with the full range of battery trays. For example, a height spacer would not facilitate the accommodation of a small battery into a battery trays designed for wider batteries, and vice versa.
[0007] Moreover, the manner in which spacers are to be used often is unclear to a consumer. It is not always easy or practical, however, to provide printed instructions on the battery or on packaging associated with the battery. The battery might not accommodate such instructions, or they may detract from the appearance of the battery.
[0008] Despite the considerable efforts over the years or so, however, there still exists a need for a system that can be readily adjustable to accommodate different battery sizes into a single battery tray designed for a range of battery dimensions.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0010] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a battery tray structure to accommodate different battery sizes.

[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a battery tray structure which can be easily and economically manufactured.
[0012] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide instructions or marking on the battery tray structure as to how to accommodate different battery sizes.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0014] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a battery tray structure to accommodate different battery sizes. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a battery tray structure to accommodate different battery sizes. The structure includes at least one boss, having a polygonal shape, formed adjacent to a lateral side and on a base portion of the battery tray structure; and at least one cam having polygonal-shaped shaft bore to engage with the at least one boss. Further, in an aspect, the at least one cam is engageable with at least one boss in predefined positions to accommodate different size of the battery in the battery tray structure.
[0016] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a battery tray structure to accommodate different battery sizes. The structure includes at least one slot, having a polygonal shape, formed adjacent to a lateral side and on a base portion of the battery tray structure; and at least one cam having polygonal-shaped boss formed on its lower surface to engage with the at least one slot. In an aspect, the at least one cam is engageable with the at least one slot in predefined positions to accommodate different size of the battery in the battery tray structure.

[0017] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a battery tray structure to accommodate different battery sizes. The structure includes at least one protrusion formed adjacent to a lateral side and on a base portion of the battery tray structure, and at least one cam having a shaft bore to engage with the at least one protrusion. In an aspect, the at least one cam is engageable with the at least one protrusion in predefined positions to accommodate different size of the battery in the battery tray structure. The purpose of the at least one protrusion is to lock the at least one cam at predetermined position using different types of welding techniques like ultrasonic/vibration etc. The examples of the welding techniques do not limit the scope of the types of welding. The protrusion shape can be used with both types of arrangements (boss & slot).
[0018] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0019] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems,

and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded view of a battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 1B-1C illustrate a perspective view the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. ID-IE illustrate a cross-sectional view of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0024] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a first embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0025] FIGS. 3 A-3D illustrate an implementation of the first embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0026] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate an operation for accommodating a battery having a length longer than a standard size in the first embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0027] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an operation for accommodating a battery having a length shorter than a standard size in the first embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0028] FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate different views of a second embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view a third embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view the third embodiment pf the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 7C illustrates a perspective view an alternative implementation of the third embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 7D illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative implementation of the third embodiment pf the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure; and
[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view a fourth embodiment of the battery tray structure in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0034] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0036] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

[0037] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0038] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0040] FIG. 1A shows a battery tray structure 100 to accommodate different battery sizes in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The structure 100 includes bosses 102-1, 102-2, 103-3,..., 102-N, which are collectively referred to as bosses 102 and individually referred to as boss 102. The bosses 102 are molded on a base portion 104 of a battery tray. In particular, the bosses 102 are formed adjacent to lateral sides of the base portion 104. In an aspect, the bosses 102 may have a polygonal shape or gear-tooth or some other

shapes. For example, as can be seen from FIG. 1A, the bosses 102 are having a pentagonal shape and thus the bosses.
[0041] In an aspect, instead of bosses 102, metallic inserts can be co-molded with the battery tray structure 100.
[0042] The structure 100 further includes cams 106-1, 106-2, 106-3,..., 106-N, which are collectively referred to as cams 106 and individually referred to as cam 106. Each of the cams 106 includes a tooth-gear or polygon-shaped shaft bore 108. In an aspect, the number of sides in a polygon-shape of the shaft bore 108 corresponds to the number of sides of the polygon-shape of the corresponding boss 102. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1A, both the shaft bore 108 and the bosses 102 have pentagonal shape. Also, by having a pentagonal shape, the cams 106 can be positioned in five different positions on the bosses 102, thereby allowing the battery tray structure 100 to accommodate different sizes of batteries by choosing different available cams 106 position.
[0043] Now, once the shaft bore 108 of the cams 106 are engaged into the corresponding bosses 102, corresponding fasteners 110-1, 110-2, 110-3,..., HO-IST, which are collectively referred to as fasteners 110 and individually referred to as fastener 110, are inserted from the top of the cams 106 till the internal threads formed in the bosses 102. In this way, the cams 106 and the bosses 102 are locked with each other. Also, for person having skill in the art, the fasteners 110 can be in such a way that it has a head and integrated to protrusion or pin, i.e., 110-1 and 110-2 as single fastener and 110-3 and 110-N as another fastener which will reduce TACT time while assembling as parts of the fastener 110. Also, the cams 106 can be fixed to bosses 102 using snap fitment, i.e., fasteners 110 can be snap-clip.
[0044] FIGS. IB and IC illustrate perspective views of the assembled first embodiment of the battery tray structure 100. In FIG. IB, lobes of the cams 106 are in a first or initial position, facing away the battery, while in FIG. IC, lobes of the cams 106 are in a second or initial position, facing towards the battery.

[0045] Further, FIGS. ID and IE illustrate cross-sectional views of the battery tray structure 100 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen from FIG. ID, the fasteners 110 can be self-tapping screws inserted in the through the bores of the cams 106 and the bosses 102. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. IE, each bore of the bosses 102 can be provided with a nut 112 by way of insert molding or by assembling from outside when the screws or bolts are used as the fasteners 110.
[0046] However, before locking the cams 106 and the bosses 102 using the fasteners 110, the cams 106 can be placed on the corresponding bosses 102 in one of the predefined positions, as shown in FIGS, 2A, 2B, and 2C. As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cams 106 are positioned in such a way that the battery tray structure 100 can accommodate a battery having a length longer than a standard battery size. Likewise, as can be seen from FIG. 2C, the cams 106 are positioned in such a way that the battery structure can accommodate a battery having shorter than a standard battery size.
[0047] Also, as shown in FIG. 3A, in order to achieve a precise locking or fixing or a battery, each of the bosses 102 is provided with indexing mark 302 for selection of the size of the battery to be accommodated in the battery tray. In an aspect, each indexing mark 302 corresponds to a particular standard size of a battery.
[0048] Likewise, as shown in FIG. 3B, each of the cams 106 is provided with indexing mark 304 to match with the indexing mark 302 of the corresponding bosses 102 for selection of the size of the battery to be accommodated in the battery tray. In an aspect, each indexing mark 304 corresponds to a particular standard size of a battery. The number of indexing marks can be in "N" numbers depending on the size of battery to be accommodated.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, two indexing marks 302, 304 are marked on the bosses 102 and the cams 106. Out of which two indexing marks 302, 304, one indexing mark is to position the lobes of the cams 106 in a first

position in which battery tray structure 100 can accommodate a battery having length longer than a standard battery size, while second indexing mark is to position the lobes of the cams 106 in a second position, towards the battery, in which battery tray structure 100 can accommodate a battery having length shorter than a standard battery size.
[0050] In an aspect, for positioning the lobes of the cams 106 in the first position, the indexing mark 304 of the cams 106 is aligned with the indexing mark 302 of the bosses 102 (FIG. 4A), then the shaft bores 108 of the cams 106 are engaged with the bosses 102 using fasteners 110 (FIG. 4B), and thereafter a battery 402 having length longer than a standard battery size is positioned on the base portion 104 of the battery tray structure 100 (FIG. 4C).
[0051] In another aspect, for positioning the lobes of the cams 106 in the second position, the indexing mark 304 of the cams 106 is aligned with the indexing mark 302 of the bosses 102 (FIG. 5A), then the shaft bores 108 of the cams 106 are engaged with the bosses 102 using fasteners 110 (FIG. 5B), and thereafter a battery 502 having length shorter than a standard battery size is positioned on the base portion 104 of the battery tray structure 100 (FIG. 5C).
[0052] With the implementation of the battery tray structure 100 described herein, the battery tray structure 100 can accommodate different battery sizes without performing major modifications to the basic structure of the battery tray structure 100. This also provides the freedom to the vehicle manufacturers for the issue of proliferation of battery sizes.
[0053] Further, in a second embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in FIGS. 6A-6F, the battery tray structure 100 includes slots 602 in the base portion 104 of the battery tray, in place of bosses 102 formed or molded in the base portion 104. Further, the slots 602 may have polygonal-shape are formed adjacent to lateral sides of the base portion 104. In the slots 602, polygon-shaped bosses 604 formed or molded on a lower surface of the cams 106 are engaged.

[0054] Further, as shown in FIGS. 6C, in order to achieve a precise locking or fixing of a battery, each of the slots 602 is provided with indexing mark 606 for selection of the size of the battery to be accommodated in the battery tray. In an aspect, each indexing mark 606 corresponds to a particular standard size of a battery.
[0055] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6D, each of the cams 106 is provided with indexing mark 608 to match with the indexing mark 606 of the corresponding slots 602 for selection of the size of the battery to be accommodated in the battery tray. In an aspect, each indexing mark 608 corresponds to a particular standard size of a battery.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F, two indexing marks 606, 608 are marked on the slots 602 and the cams 106. Out of which two indexing marks 606, 608, one indexing mark is to position the lobes of the cams 106 in a first position in which battery tray structure 100 can accommodate a battery having length longer than a standard battery size, while second indexing mark is to position the lobes of the cams 106 in a second position, towards the battery, in which battery tray structure 100 can accommodate a battery having length shorter than a standard battery size.
[0057] Further, in a third embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, the battery tray structure 100 includes protrusions 702 in the base portion 104 of the battery tray, in place of bosses 102 or in place of slots 602 formed or molded in the base portion 104. In an aspect, as shown in FIGS, 7C and 7D, the protrusions 702 may have polygonal-shape and are formed adjacent to lateral sides of the base portion 104. In the protrusions 702, shaft bores 108 of the corresponding cams 106 are engaged.
[0058] Yet further, in a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in FIG 8, in all the first, second, and third embodiments, the battery tray structure 100, the bosses/slots/protrusions 102/602/702 formed and engaged with the cams

106 on the base portion 104 adjacent to both longitudinal sides of the battery tray structure 100, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0059] The present disclosure provides a battery tray structure which can accommodate different battery sizes without performing major modifications to the basic structure of the battery tray structure.
[0060] The present disclosure provides a battery tray structure which can be easily and economically manufactured.
[0061] The present disclosure provides instructions or marking on the battery tray structure as to how to accommodate different battery sizes
[0062] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

WE CLAIM

1.A battery tray structure (100) for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one boss (102), having a polygonal shape, formed adjacent to a lateral side and on a base portion (104) of the battery tray structure (100); and
at least one cam (106) having polygonal-shaped shaft bore (108) to engage with the at least one boss (102),
wherein the at least one cam (106) is engageable with at least one boss (102) in predefined positions to accommodate different sizes of the battery in the battery tray structure (100).
2. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fastener (110) to lock the at least one cam (106) on the at least one boss (102).
3. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one boss (102) is provided with indexing mark (302) for selection of the size of a battery (402, 502) to be accommodated in the battery tray structure (100).
4. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one cam (106) is provided with indexing mark (304) to match with the indexing mark (302) of the at least one boss (102) for selection of the size of the battery (402, 502) to be accommodated in the battery tray structure (100).
5. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one further boss formed and engaged with at least one further cam on the base portion (104) adjacent to a further lateral side of the battery tray structure (100).
6. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least
one further boss formed and engaged with at least one further cam on the base
portion (104) adjacent to both longitudinal sides of the battery tray structure (100).
7. A battery tray structure (100) for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one slot (602), having a polygonal shape, formed adjacent to a lateral side and on a base portion (104) of the battery tray structure (100);
at least one cam (106) having a polygonal-shaped boss (604) formed on its lower surface to engage with the at least one slot (602);
wherein the at least one cam (106) is engageable with the at least one slot (602) in predefined positions to accommodate different size of the battery in the battery tray structure (100).
8. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 7, comprising a fastener (110) to lock the at least one cam (106) on the at least one slot (602).
9. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one slot (602) is provided with indexing mark (606) for selection of the size of the battery (402, 502) to be accommodated in the battery tray structure (100).
10. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one cam (106) is provided with indexing mark (608) to match with the indexing mark (606) of the at least one slot (602) for selection of the size of the battery (402, 502) to be accommodated in the battery tray structure (100).
11. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least one further slot formed and engaged with at least one further cam on the base portion (104) adjacent to a further lateral side of the battery tray structure (100).
12. The battery tray structure (100) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least
one further slot formed and engaged with at least one further cam on the base
portion (104) adjacent to both longitudinal sides of the battery tray structure (100).