Slide type battery ejection mechanism

• US 20040242043A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: One World Technologies (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ohi, Taku, Buck, William C., Brazell, Kenneth M., Hornick, George Michael, Liu, Xiao Ping, Lewis, Chris, Lu, Feng Kun
• Granted Patent: US 7,125,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/160
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

A battery ejection mechanism for ejecting a battery housing removably attached to an electrical device housing. The mechanism includes at least one ejection member having a button and an arm. The arm is adapted to transfer a force applied on the button to the electrical device housing to assist in the removal of the battery pack from the electrical device housing.

Claims

1. A battery ejection mechanism for ejecting a battery housing that is removably secured to a portion of an electrical device housing, the mechanism comprising an ejection member secured to the battery housing and comprising a button and an arm, wherein the ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the button through the arm to the portion of the electrical device housing.

2. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the arm applies a mechanical force to the portion of the electrical device housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which a mechanical force is applied to the button.

3. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a spring adapted to bias the ejection member in a first position.

4. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 3, wherein the first position corresponds to the first arm not contacting the portion of the electrical device housing.

5. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the electrical device housing has at least one electrical contact and wherein the first arm is in physical contact with the portion of the electrical device housing when the mechanical force is applied to the button.

6. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a cam.

7. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a second ejection member comprising a second button and a second arm, wherein the second ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the second button through the second arm to the portion of the electrical device housing.

8. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 7, wherein the first ejection member is positioned on a first side of the battery housing and the second ejection member is positioned on a second side of the battery housing.

9. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 7, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

10. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 9 further comprising at least one rail structure formed substantially along at least one of the first side and the second side for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on the portion of the electrical device housing.

11. The battery ejection mechanism of claim 1 wherein the electrical device housing is selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger.

12. A battery ejection mechanism for ejecting a battery housing that is removably secured to a portion of an electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger, comprising an ejection member secured to the battery housing and including a button and an arm, wherein the ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the button through the arm to the portion of the electrical device housing.

13. A method of ejecting a battery housing removably attached to an electrical device housing, comprising:

a. providing a first ejection member rotatably secured to the battery housing and operable to transfer a mechanical force to the electrical device housing; and

b. providing a second ejection member rotatably secured to the battery housing and operable to transfer a mechanical force to the electrical device.

14. A battery housing comprising,

a. at least one rechargeable cell;

b. a battery housing adapted to house the at least one rechargeable cell;

c. at least one electrical contact electrically connected to the at least one cell;

d. an ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and comprising a first button and a first arm wherein the first ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the first button through the first arm to a portion of an electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger

15. A battery housing, comprising

a. a top having a first aperture and a second aperture;

b. a bottom opposed to the top and connected to the top by a first side and a second side;

c. at least one cell disposed within the housing;

d. at least one electrical contact electrically connected to at least one of the at least one cells and adapted to be accessible through the second aperture;

f. a first ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and having a first button disposed on the first side, a first release arm, and a first ejection arm wherein the first ejection arm is adapted to transfer a force applied to the first button through the first ejection arm to a portion of an electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger and through the first release arm to the first latch arm; and

g. a second ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and having a second button disposed on the second side, a second release arm, and a second ejection arm wherein the second ejection arm is adapted to transfer a force applied to the second button through the first ejection arm to the portion of an electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger and through the second release arm to the second latch arm.