It seems like something you've seen before, because it is. There are lots of devices that require batteries to be inserted.

Perhaps there's no prior art, because it's an unobvious advancement to battery technology. Is that so hard to believe? Why do you find it hard to believe the guys at Microsoft were the first to think of it? They create lots of battery operated devices like mice and keyboards and microsoft has a ton of geniuses working for them to boot.

I've never seen anything like this before. I wish all batteries were as easy to insert as this invention makes them.