Battery charge indicator

• US 20060251958A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adan Ayala, Michael J. Proakis, Peter E. Morris, Robert Bradus
• Original Assignee: Adan Ayala, Michael J. Proakis, Peter E. Morris, Robert Bradus
• Inventors: Proakis, Michael J., Morris, Peter E., Ayala, Adan, Bradus, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/410,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251958A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/99
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• 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 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system including a cordless device having device terminals, a battery pack detachably engageable to the cordless device, and a charger electrically connectable to the battery pack for charging the battery pack. The battery pack has a housing, at least one cell disposed within the housing, pack terminals connectable to the device terminals, and a movable member disposed within the housing. The member is movable between first and second positions to indicate a condition of the battery pack. At least one of the cordless device and the charger have a protrusion for moving the member between the first and second positions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a cordless device having device terminals;

a battery pack detachably engageable to the cordless device, the battery pack comprising a housing, at least one cell disposed within the housing, pack terminals connectable to the device terminals, a movable member disposed within the housing, the member being movable between first and second positions to indicate a condition of the battery pack; and

a charger electrically connectable to the battery pack for charging the battery pack;

wherein at least one of the cordless device and the charger have a first protrusion for moving the member between positions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the housing and the member has a detent engaging a detent notch disposed on the other of the housing and member for maintaining the member in at least one of the first and second positions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cordless device is a power tool.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cordless device is a drill.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is disposed on the cordless device for moving the member from the first position to the second position.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a second protrusion is disposed on the charger for moving the member from the second position to the first position.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first position indicates that the battery pack is charged and second position indicates that the battery pack has been used.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is disposed on the charger for moving the member from the second position to the first position.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a second protrusion is disposed on the cordless device for moving the member from the first position to the second position.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first position indicates that the battery pack is charged and second position indicates that the battery pack has been used.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery pack further comprises a spring disposed between the housing and the member.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cell has a chemistry of at least one of the group consisting of lithium-ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lead-acid.

13. A battery pack comprising:

a housing;

at least one cell disposed within the housing;

pack terminals connectable to the device terminals; and

a movable member disposed within the housing, the member being movable between first and second positions to indicate a condition of the battery pack;

wherein one of the housing and the member has a detent engaging a detent notch disposed on the other of the housing and member for maintaining the member in at least one of the first and second positions.

14. The battery pack of claim 13, wherein the first position indicates that the battery pack is charged and second position indicates that the battery pack has been used.

15. The battery pack of claim 13, further comprising a spring disposed between the housing and the member.

16. The battery pack of claim 13, wherein the at least one cell has a chemistry of at least one of the group consisting of lithium-ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lead-acid.