Power tool, battery, charger and method of operating the same

• US 20060267548A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mergener, Matthew J., Uehlein-Proctor, Nancy, Holly, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,557,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A power tool battery, battery charger, and a method of operating the same. The battery and the charger can be lockingly engageable with each other. The battery can be electrically coupled to a charging circuit of the charger for charging the battery. One of the battery and the charger can include a protrusion and the other of the battery and charger can include a recess for receiving the protrusion. The method can include inserting the battery into the charger along an insertion axis and charging the battery. The method can further include rotating the battery about the insertion axis to secure the battery with the charger while continuing to charge the battery.

Claims

1. A method of operating a battery charger having a body defining an aperture and a charging circuit extending through the body, the method comprising the acts of:

inserting a battery into the aperture along an insertion axis and electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit to charge the battery; and

pivoting the battery about the axis relative to the battery charger to secure the battery in the battery charger.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery remains electrically connected to the charging circuit during pivoting movement of the battery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the charger and the battery includes an outwardly extending protrusion, wherein an other of the charger and the battery defines a recess for receiving the outwardly extending protrusion, and wherein pivoting the battery about the axis includes moving the protrusion into locking engagement with the recess.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is movable between a locked position, in which the battery is secured to the body of the charger, and an unlocked position, in which the battery is removably supported in the aperture, and wherein the battery is electrically connected to the charging circuit when the battery is in the locked position and when the battery is in the unlocked position.

5. A method of operating a battery charger having a body and a charging circuit, one of the charger and the battery including an outwardly extending protrusion and an other of the charger and the battery defining a recess for receiving the outwardly extending protrusion, the method comprising the acts of:

electrically connecting the battery and the charging circuit to charge the battery before engaging the protrusion in the recess to secure the battery to the body of the charger.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the body of the battery charger defines an aperture, and wherein electrically connecting the battery and the charging circuit includes inserting the battery into the aperture along an insertion axis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein engaging the protrusion in the recess includes pivoting the battery about the axis relative to the battery charger.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein engaging the protrusion in the recess includes moving the battery toward a locked position, in which the battery is secured to the body of the charger, and further comprising moving the battery toward an unlocked position, in which the battery is removably supported on the body, the battery being electrically connected to the charging circuit when the battery is in the locked position and when the battery is in the unlocked position.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit includes moving the battery along a first path, and wherein securing the battery to the body includes moving the battery along a second path, the second path being different than the first path.

10. A method of operating a battery charger having a body and a charging circuit extending through the body, the method comprising the acts of:

electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit to charge the battery; and

moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body while continuing to charge the battery.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit includes moving the battery along a first path, and wherein securing the battery to the body includes moving the battery along a second path, the second path being different than the first path.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the body of the battery charger defines an aperture, and wherein electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit includes inserting the battery into the aperture along an insertion axis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the charger and the battery includes an outwardly extending protrusion, wherein an other of the charger and the battery defines a recess for receiving the outwardly extending protrusion, and wherein moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body includes moving the protrusion into locking engagement with the recess.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body includes pivoting the battery about the axis.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body includes moving the battery toward a locked position, in which the battery is secured to the body of the charger, and further comprising moving the battery toward an unlocked position, in which the battery is removably supported on the body, the battery being electrically connected to the charging circuit when the battery is in the locked position and when the battery is in the unlocked position.

16. A combination comprising:

a battery including a casing and a battery cell supported in the casing; and

a battery charger including a body and a charging circuit, one of the charger and the battery including an outwardly extending protrusion and an other of the charger and the battery defining a recess for receiving the outwardly extending protrusion,

wherein the battery is movable relative to the body of the charger between a locked position, in which the protrusion lockingly engages the recess, and an unlocked position, in which the protrusion removably engages the recess, the battery cell being electrically connectable to the charging circuit of the battery charger when the battery is in the locked position and the unlocked position.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the body of the battery charger defines an aperture, and wherein the battery is insertable into the aperture along an insertion axis.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the recess extends circumferentially around the insertion axis and into the body of the charger.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein, when the battery is supported in the aperture, the battery is supported for pivoting movement relative to the body about the axis between the locked position and the unlocked position.