Battery pack - cordless power device interface system

• US 20050218867A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yahnker, Christopher R., Francis, Jeffrey J., Trinh, Danh Thanh, Carrier, David A., Brotto, Daniele C., Phillips, Steven J., Seman, Andrew E. Jr., White, Daniel J., Watson, James B.
• Application Number:
  US11/093,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218867A1
• 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: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• 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 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/975 Holders with resilient means for protecting apparatus against vibrations or shocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/953 with latch rod to be retainingly received by opening of mating connector

Abstract

A battery pack for a cordless power tool and a cordless power tool and battery pack combination includes the battery pack having a retention member that pivotally engages a retention member of the power tool and a latch system in which one of the battery pack and power tool has a ball and the other of the power tool and battery pack has a latch that engages the ball. The cordless power tool and battery pack combination may additionally include the battery pack having a modular interface section that interfaces with the power tool and a battery cup section mated to the modular interface section where the battery cup section has one of a plurality of different battery/voltage configurations.

Claims

1. A cordless power tool and battery pack combination, comprising:

a. each of the power tool and battery pack having at generally a first end at least one retention member that pivotally engages the retention member of the other of the power tool and battery pack;

b. a latch system including the power tool having a ball extending from a bottom of a foot of the power tool at generally a second end of the power tool opposite the first end and the battery pack having a latch that engages the ball, the latch including inner and outer sleeves that extend laterally across at least a portion of the battery pack, each sleeve including a recess therein, a portion of the inner sleeve slidably received in a portion of the outer sleeve, the latch including at least one spring for each sleeve, the springs urging the sleeves together so that the ball is captured between the recesses of the sleeves; and

c. the battery pack including a modular interface section that interfaces with the power tool and a battery cup mated to the modular interface section, the battery cup having one of a plurality of different battery voltages/configurations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include different cell chemistries.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup also include different form factors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include different form factors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including a controller that regulates a speed of a motor of the power tool based on a coefficient which is a ratio of a rated voltage of the motor to a voltage of the battery pack and upon a position of a trigger switch of the power tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is a rated voltage of the battery pack.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is an actual voltage of the battery pack.

8. A battery pack for a power tool, comprising:

a. at least one retention member at generally a first end that pivotally engages a corresponding retention member of the power tool;

b. a latch at generally a second end opposite the first end that engages a ball of the power tool;

c. a modular interface section that interfaces with the power tool; and

d. a battery cup mated to the modular interface section, the battery cup having one of a plurality of different battery voltages/configurations.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include at different cell chemistries.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup also include different form factors.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include different form factors.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 including a controller that regulates a speed of a motor of the power tool based on a coefficient which is a ratio of a rated voltage of the motor to a voltage of the battery pack and upon a position of a trigger switch of the power tool.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is a rated voltage of the battery pack.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is an actual voltage of the battery pack.

15. A cordless power tool and battery pack combination, comprising:

a. each of the power tool and battery pack having at generally a first end at least one retention member that pivotally engages the retention member of the other of the power tool and battery pack;

b. each of the power tool and battery pack having at generally a second end at least one latch member, the latch members engaging each other to latch the battery pack to the cordless power tool; and

c. the battery pack including a modular interface section that interfaces with the power tool and a battery cup mated to the modular interface section, the battery cup having one of a plurality of different battery voltages/configurations.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include different cell chemistries.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup also include different form factors.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include different form factors.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 including a controller that regulates a speed of a motor of the power tool based on a coefficient which is a ratio of a rated voltage of the motor to a voltage of the battery pack and upon a position of a trigger switch of the power tool.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is a rated voltage of the battery pack.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is an actual voltage of the battery pack.

22. A battery pack for a power tool, comprising:

a. at least one retention member generally at a first end that pivotally engages a corresponding retention member of the power tool;

b. at least one latch member at generally a second end that engages a corresponding latch member of the power tool to latch the battery pack to the power tool;

c. a modular interface section that interfaces with the power tool; and

d. a battery cup mated to the modular interface section, the battery cup having one of a plurality of different battery voltages/configurations.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include at different cell chemistries.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup also include different form factors.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the different battery voltages/configurations of the battery cup include different form factors.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 including a controller that regulates a speed of a motor of the power tool based on a coefficient which is a ratio of a rated voltage of the motor to a voltage of the battery pack and upon a position of a trigger switch of the power tool.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is a rated voltage of the battery pack.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the voltage of the battery pack is an actual voltage of the battery pack.