Cordless power tool system

• US 20010000945A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 05/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woods, Samuel G., Walter, Richard T., Ayala, Adan, Brotto, Daniele C., White, Daniel J., Buck, John E., Yahnker, Christopher R., Watson, James B., Puzio, Daniel, Bradus, Robert, White, Paul S., Bodine, Thomas J., Harrison, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,304,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 9/02 Arrangements for adjusting the cutting depth or the amount of tilting
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The system further includes a battery pack charger and a converter for converting AC electricity to DC electricity. A battery pack interface block is captured between clam shell halves of a battery pack housing and includes a plurality of male blade terminals. The male blade terminals are received within recessed female terminals of a tool terminal block and similarly received by recessed female terminals of the charger. The tool terminal block further includes a pair of male terminals which engage recessed female terminals of the converter.

Claims

1. A system of power tools comprising:

a power tool having a tool housing defining a pair of laterally spaced engagement portions, the power tool further including a first terminal block having a pair of male terminals and a pair of female terminals; and

a power source removably attachable to the power tool, the power source having a power source housing slidably engaging the pair of laterally spaced engagement portions, the power source further having a second terminal block adapted to interface with the first terminal block, the power source housing further having a clearance for receiving one of the pair of male terminals.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

3. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the pair of laterally spaced engagement portions are a pair of outwardly stepped portions which are slidably engaged by a corresponding pair of inwardly extending rails of the power source housing.

4. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the power source includes at least one movable latch member for engaging at least one of the pair of laterally spaced engagement portions.

5. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the power source includes a pair of movable latch members each releasably engaging one of the laterally spaced engagement portions.

6. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the power source includes a pair of outwardly extending rails and wherein the power source includes a female terminal for receiving the pair of male terminals of the power tool, each of the female terminals of the power source aligned with a groove defined by one of the pair of outwardly extending rails.

7. A system of power tools comprising:

a power tool having a housing defining a pair of laterally spaced grooves, the tool further including a first terminal block having a pair of male terminals and a pair of female terminals; and

a power source removably attachable to the power tool, the power source having a second terminal block adapted to interface with the first terminal block, the terminal block including a terminal for connecting to one of the pair of male terminals.

8. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

9. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the power source includes a pair of outwardly extending rails and wherein the power source includes a pair of female terminals for receiving the pair of male terminals of the power tool, each of the female terminals of the power source aligned with a groove defined by one of the pair of outwardly extending rails.

10. A system of power tools comprising:

a power tool having a power tool housing defining a pair of laterally spaced grooves, the tool further including a first terminal block having a pair of male terminals and a pair of female terminals; and

a power source removably attachable to the power tool, the power source having a second terminal block adapted to interface with the first terminal block, the power source further including a mechanism for locking the power source to at least one of the pair of laterally opposed grooves.

11. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

12. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the power source includes a pair of outwardly extending rails defining the pair of laterally spaced grooves.

13. The system of

claim 12

, wherein the pair of outwardly extending rails are configured to outwardly bend the pair of male terminals upon engagement of the power source to the power tool.

14. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the power source includes at least one movable latch member for engaging at least one of the pair of laterally spaced engagement portions.

15. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the mechanism for locking the power source to the at least one pair of laterally opposed grooves includes a rotatable member rotatable about an axis upwardly extending from the power source, the rotatable member including a pair of locking protrusions for engaging the pair of laterally spaced grooves upon rotation of the rotatable member in a first direction.

16. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the mechanism for locking the power source to the at least one pair of laterally opposed grooves includes a pair of locking members each mounted to the power source for rotation about an upwardly extending axis, the locking members each adapted to engage one of the pair of laterally spaced apart grooves.

17. The system of

claim 10

, further comprising a tab pivotally interconnected to the power source and operative for rotating the locking members between engaged and disengaged positions.

18. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the mechanism for locking the power source to the at least one pair of laterally opposed grooves includes a pair of spring elements deflectably mounted to an upper surface of the power source.

19. The system of

claim 18

, wherein each of the spring elements includes a free end extending beyond a length of the power source, the free ends each being resiliently deflectable towards one another to a release position for releasing the power source from the power tool housing.

20. The system of

claim 10

, wherein the mechanism for locking the power source to the at least one pair of laterally opposed grooves includes a pinion gear rotatably about an axis upwardly extending from the battery pack and a pair of rack members meshingly engaging the pinion gear, each rack member including an end for engaging one of the pair of laterally spaced apart grooves in response to rotation of the pinion gear in a first direction.