BATTERY PACK

• US 20070173090A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Johnson, Todd, Meyer, Gary, Rosenbecker, Jay, Zeiler, Jeffrey, Kubale, Mark, Grzybowski, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/621,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173090A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/157
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack that is configured to be coupled to an electrical device comprises a housing, at least one battery cell positioned in the housing, and a terminal assembly configured to electrically connect the battery cell to the electrical device. The battery pack also includes a locking assembly that is configured to engage the electrical device. The locking assembly includes a locking member, an actuator coupled to the locking member, and a biasing member. The locking member is movable about a pivot point between a first position to engage the electrical device and a second position. The actuator is actuatable to move the locking member from the first position to the second position. The biasing member biases the locking member to the first position.

Claims

1. A battery pack configured to be coupled to an electrical device, the battery pack comprising:

a housing;

at least one battery cell positioned in the housing;

a terminal assembly configured to electrically connect the battery cell to the electrical device; and

a locking assembly configured to engage the electrical device, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable about a pivot point between a first position to engage the electrical device and a second position,

an actuator coupled to the locking member and actuatable to move the locking member from the first position to the second position, and

a biasing member to bias the locking member to the first position.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, and further comprising a second locking member movable between a first position to engage the electrical device and a second position, and a second actuator coupled to the second locking member and actuatable to move the second locking member to the second position.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, and further comprising a second biasing member to bias the second locking member to the first position.

4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to slide relative to the electrical device when the locking member is in the second position, such that the battery pack can be decoupled from the electrical device.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the locking member is positioned between the actuator and the pivot point.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the actuator is positioned between the locking member and the pivot point.

7. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the pivot point is positioned between the locking member and the actuator.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a grooved surface to facilitate actuation by a user.

9. A system comprising:

an electrical device having a support portion and a circuit, the support portion defining at least one recess; and

a battery pack configured to be selectively coupled to the electrical device, the battery pack including

a housing,

at least one battery cell positioned in the housing,

a terminal assembly configured to electrically connect the at least one battery cell to the circuit,

at least one locking member movable about a pivot point between a first position to engage the at least one recess and a second position,

at least one actuator actuatable to move the at least one locking member from the first position to the second position, and

at least one biasing member to bias the at least one locking member to the first position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the housing is configured to slide relative to the electrical device when the at least one locking member is in the second position, such that the battery pack can be decoupled from the electrical device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one actuator includes a grooved surface to facilitate actuation by a user.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical device further has a motor electrically coupled to the circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to selectively transfer power from the battery pack to the motor.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical device is a battery charger.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical device is a power tool.