Device for locking an electric tool with a rechargeable battery pack

• US 20060055369A1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Duesselberg, Achim
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A device for locking an electric tool with a rechargeable battery pack has at least one locking bar mounted on one element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and rechargeable battery pack in a manner that allows it to move against a spring force, whereby when the electric tool and rechargeable battery pack are joined, the locking bar is engaged in succession in a first and a second recess of the other element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and rechargeable battery pack, and is retained tightly in the second recess by a force of a spring and, to release a lock, is manually disengaged from the second recess, wherein the locking bar is engaged in the first recess while being disengaged from the second recess.

Claims

1. A device for locking an electric tool with a rechargeable battery pack, comprising at least one locking bar mounted on one element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack in a manner that allows it to move against a spring force, whereby when the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack are joined, said locking bar is engaged in succession in a first and a second recess of the other element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack, and is retained tightly in said second recess by a force of a spring and, to release a lock, is manually disengaged from said second recess, wherein said locking bar is engaged in said first recess while being disengaged from said second recess.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking bar and said recesses are configured so that, when the rechargeable battery pack is being detached from the electric tool, said locking bar is disengaged from said first recess by the force of said spring.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking bar and said recesses are formed so that when the electric tool and rechargeable battery pack are joined, said locking bar is automatically engaged in said first recess against the force of said spring.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said locking bar has a slanted edge that interacts with another slanted edge when the electric tool and rechargeable battery pack are joined, to move the locking bar into said first recess.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first recess is larger than said second recess.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking bar is movable transversely to a direction of motion during joining and engages in said first or second recess with diametrically opposite ends.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking bar is pivotable and has two arms that engage with said first or second recess when said locking bar is swiveled.

8. A device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising another locking bar, said locking bars being located in succession in said one element selected from group consisting of the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack and engage in said recesses in diametrically opposed surfaces of the other element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack.

9. An electric tool system, comprising an electric tool;

a rechargeable battery pack; and

a device for locking said electric tool with said rechargeable battery pack, said locking device including at least one locking bar mounted on one element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack in a manner that allows it to move against a spring force, whereby when the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack are joined, said locking bar is engaged in succession in a first and a second recess of the other element selected from the group consisting of the electric tool and the rechargeable battery pack, and is retained tightly in said second recess by a force of a spring and, to release a lock, is manually disengaged from said second recess, wherein said locking bar is engaged in said first recess while being disengaged from said second recess.

10. An electric tool system as defined in claim 9, wherein said locking bar is provided in said electric tool while said recesses are provided in said rechargeable battery pack.