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Fuel supplies including multiple valve components and fuel cell systems having increased operational resistance to the insertion and/or removal of fuel supplies are disclosed. The increased operational resistance is provided by increased insertion or removal forces, multiple relative motions for ins

Fuel supplies including multiple valve components and fuel cell systems having increased operational resistance to the insertion and/or removal of fuel supplies are disclosed. The increased operational resistance is provided by increased insertion or removal forces, multiple relative motions for insertion and/or removal, latches, actuators, ON/OFF switches, cognitive ability of the user, visual alignment, audio feedback, size of the user's hand, inter alia.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and

1. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell, wherein the actuator is pivotally connected to the fuel supply and operatively associated with the valve, wherein when the actuator is depressed at a first end a second end of the actuator engages the valve wherein the receptacle further comprises a coupling member adapted to receive the valve and wherein during insertion the actuator is depressed by the receptacle. 2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is pivotally connected to the receptacle. 3. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet wherein the actuator is at least partially attached to the fuel supply and is connected to the valve, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell;wherein the actuator is pivotally connected to the fuel supply and operatively associated with the valve;wherein when the actuator is depressed at a first end a second end of the actuator engages the valve;wherein the receptacle comprises a plunger that depresses the actuator at said first end when the fuel supply is inserted into the receptacle. 4. The fuel cell system of claim 3, wherein the plunger is biased by a spring, or comprises a spring. 5. The fuel cell system of claim 3, wherein the plunger is slidable relative to the receptacle to engage said first end, or the actuator is slidable relative to the fuel supply to engage the valve. 6. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell, anda latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve. 7. The fuel cell system of claim 6, wherein the latch is removably attached to the fuel supply and in the non-interfering position is separated from the fuel supply. 8. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the latch is movable in at least two directions to be separated from the fuel supply. 9. The fuel cell system of claim 6, wherein the latch is movable in at least one direction to move between the interfering position and the non-interfering position. 10. The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein said direction is (i) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply,(ii) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply, or(iii) substantially perpendicular to a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel supply. 11. The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein the latch is movable in at least two directions to move between the interfering position and the non-interfering position. 12. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein one of the two directions is (i) a direction substantially along the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply,(ii) a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply, or(iii) a direction substantially perpendicular to a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel supply. 13. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein (i) a first direction is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a second direction is substantially along the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply,(ii) a first direction is substantially toward a longitudinal axis of the fuel supply, or(iii) first direction is substantially perpendicular to a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel supply and a second direction is substantially along the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply. 14. The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein (i) said direction is a rotation about an axis,(ii) said direction is a pivotal motion about an axis, or(iii) said direction is a translational direction. 15. The fuel cell system of claim 6, wherein the latch is biased into the interfering position. 16. The fuel cell system of claim 15, wherein the latch comprises a live joint, and is bent into the non-interfering position. 17. The fuel cell system of claim 15, wherein the latch is supported by a spring. 18. The fuel cell system of claim 6, wherein the latch comprises a cam. 19. The fuel cell system of claim 6, wherein the latch is (i) pivotally attached to the fuel supply,(ii) is located at least partially within the fuel supply, or(iii) is located at least partially on the housing of the fuel supply. 20. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the latch comprises a user actuation portion spaced apart from an actuation portion of the actuator, such that two hands are necessary to simultaneously act on the latch user actuation portion and the actuator actuation portion. 21. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve,a second latch, wherein each latch comprises a user actuation portion spaced apart from an actuation portion of the actuator, such that two fingers are necessary to simultaneously press the finger actuation portions to move the latches to the non-interfering position. 22. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the latch comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a user actuation portion and the second portion is movable between the interfering and non-interfering positions. 23. The fuel cell system of claim 22, wherein when the user actuation portion is actuated, the second latch portion is moved to the non-interfering position. 24. The fuel cell system of claim 23, wherein after the user actuation portion is actuated, the second latch portion is held in the non-interfering position. 25. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the latch comprises a high force spring resisting the actuation of the actuator, such that in the interfering position the actuator is movable to move the valve to an open position when a force of at least about 3 kg is applied to the actuator. 26. The fuel cell system of claim 25, wherein the force is at least about 4 kg. 27. The fuel cell system of claim 26, wherein the force is at least about 5 kg. 28. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the latch is moved to the non-interfering position before the fuel supply to the receptacle can be inserted. 29. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the receptacle moves the latch to the non-interfering position when the fuel supply is received into the receptacle. 30. The fuel cell system of claim 29, wherein the receptacle comprises a detent to move the latch to the non-interfering position when the fuel supply is inserted into the receptacle. 31. The fuel cell system of claim 30, wherein the detent is spring-loaded. 32. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the latch automatically moves to the interfering position when the fuel supply is withdrawn from the receptacle. 33. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,a latch operably associated with the actuator and is movable between an interfering position and a non-interfering position, wherein in the interfering position the latch increases the difficulty of actuating the valve and in the non-interfering position the actuator is movable to actuate the valve, wherein the receptacle comprises a detent to move the latch to the interfering position when the fuel supply is withdrawn from the receptacle. 34. A fuel cell system comprising: a receptacle having an outlet fluidly connected to a fuel cell;an actuator; anda fuel supply including a valve, wherein the fuel supply is removably connectable to the receptacle such that a flow path is selectively established between the valve and the outlet, and the actuator selectively opens the valve to establish a flow path for a fuel stored in the fuel supply to be transported to the fuel cell,wherein the receptacle comprises a first key and a second key wherein a spring is located between the first and second key and the fuel supply comprises a third key and wherein when the fuel supply is connected to the receptacle the third key fits within the second key and the second key fits within the first key. 35. The fuel cell system of claim 34, wherein when the fuel supply is not connected to the receptacle the first key and the second key are not connected to each other. 36. The fuel cell system of claim 35, wherein during the connection process the third key is inserted into the second key and then the fuel supply is rotated and pushed to compress said spring to insert the second key into the third key. 37. The fuel cell system of claim 36, wherein the receptacle further comprises a retainer to retain the fuel supply to the receptacle. 38. The fuel cell system of claim 37, wherein the retainer is movable to disconnect the fuel supply from the receptacle. 39. The fuel cell system of claim 37, the fuel supply is movable in at least two directions to connect to the receptacle and the fuel supply is movable in at least one direction to disconnect from the receptacle. 40. The fuel cell system of claim 35, wherein the compressed spring assists in the disconnection of the fuel supply from the receptacle.