ELECTRICAL COMPONENT INCLUDING A BATTERY CHARGER ASSEMBLY

• US 20110291617A1
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Johnson, Todd, Durian, Gary L., Rosenbecker, Jay, Phillips, Michael W., Feldman, Joshua, Zick, Jonathan, Burch, Wade
• Granted Patent: US 9,273,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0673 Battery powered
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/02 capable of hand-held use, e.g. inspection lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/06 Bases for movable standing lamps; Fixing standards to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/406 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/1005 of working places, building sites or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

An electrical assembly selectively receives power from an external power supply. The electrical assembly includes a base that at least partially defines a tool port and a battery port and an electrical tool selectively coupled to the tool port. A rechargeable battery pack is selectively coupled to the battery port and a circuit is supported by the base and is operable to direct power to the tool port and the battery port such that the external power provides power to the electrical tool to operate the electrical tool and to recharge the rechargeable battery pack.

Claims

1. An electrical assembly that selectively receives power from an external power supply, the electrical assembly comprising:

a base that at least partially defines a tool port and a battery port;

an electrical tool selectively coupled to the tool port;

a rechargeable battery pack selectively coupled to the battery port; and

a circuit supported by the base and operable to direct power to the tool port and the battery port such that the external power provides power to the electrical tool to operate the electrical tool and to recharge the rechargeable battery pack.

2. The electrical assembly of claim 1, wherein the base further defines feet that support the base in a first orientation with respect to a horizontal support surface and a second orientation with respect to the horizontal support surface, the second orientation being rotated about 90 degrees from the first orientation.

3. The electrical assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks at least one of the electrical tool and the rechargeable battery pack in the corresponding one of the tool port and the battery port.

4. The electrical assembly of claim 3, further comprising an eject button that is selectively actuatable to release the locking mechanism.

5. The electrical assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes an eject mechanism that at least partially disconnects the one of the electrical tool and battery pack from the respective tool port and battery port in response to actuation of the eject button.

6. The electrical assembly of claim 1, further comprising a power outlet coupled to the base.

7. The electrical assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical tool is one of a light and a fan.

8. The electrical assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bar coupled to the base and positioned to protect at least one of the electrical tool and the rechargeable battery pack.

9. The electrical assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical tool includes a handle movable between a first position and a second position without disconnecting the electrical tool from the tool port.

10. The electrical assembly of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a second tool port that removably receives a second electrical tool and electrically connects the second electrical tool to the circuit.

11. The electrical assembly of claim 10, wherein the base further includes a second battery port that removably receives a second rechargeable battery pack and electrically connects the second rechargeable battery pack to the circuit.

12. The electrical assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit is operable to deliver power from the battery pack to the electrical tool in the absence of the external power supply.

13. The electrical assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical tool is directly connectable to the battery pack such that the battery pack delivers power directly to the electrical tool.

27. The electrical assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks at least one of the electrical tool and the rechargeable battery pack in the corresponding one of the tool port and the battery port.

28. The electrical assembly of claim 27, further comprising an eject button that is selectively actuatable to release the locking mechanism.

29. The electrical assembly of claim 28, wherein the locking mechanism includes an eject mechanism that at least partially disconnects the one of the electrical tool and battery pack from the respective tool port and battery port in response to actuation of the eject button.

14. An electrical component system comprising:

a base at least partially defining a tool port and a battery port;

a battery pack selectively connectable to the battery port;

an electrical tool selectively connectable to the tool port and the battery pack; and

a circuit positioned substantially within the base and operable in response to the receipt of an external AC power to convert the AC power to a DC power and deliver the DC power to the tool port to operate the electrical tool and to the battery port to charge the battery pack, and wherein in the absence of the external AC power, the circuit directs DC power from the battery pack to the electrical tool to power the electrical tool.

15. The electrical assembly of claim 14, wherein the base further defines feet that support the base in a first orientation with respect to a horizontal support surface and a second orientation with respect to the horizontal support surface, the second orientation being rotated about 90 degrees from the first orientation.

16. The electrical assembly of claim 14, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks at least one of the electrical tool and the rechargeable battery pack in the corresponding one of the tool port and the battery port.

17. The electrical assembly of claim 16, further comprising an eject button that is selectively actuatable to release the locking mechanism.

18. The electrical assembly of claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism includes an eject mechanism that at least partially disconnects the one of the electrical tool and battery pack from the respective tool port and battery port in response to actuation of the eject button.

19. The electrical assembly of claim 14, further comprising a power outlet coupled to the base.

20. The electrical assembly of claim 14, wherein the electrical tool is one of a light and a fan.

21. The electrical assembly of claim 14, further comprising a bar coupled to the base and positioned to protect at least one of the electrical tool and the rechargeable battery pack.

22. The electrical assembly of claim 14, wherein the electrical tool includes a handle movable between a first position and a second position without disconnecting the electrical tool from the tool port.

23. The electrical assembly of claim 14, wherein the base further includes a second tool port that removably receives a second electrical tool and electrically connects the second electrical tool to the circuit.

24. The electrical assembly of claim 23, wherein the base further includes a second battery port that removably receives a second rechargeable battery pack and electrically connects the second rechargeable battery pack to the circuit.

25. The electrical assembly of claim 14, wherein the electrical tool is directly connectable to the battery pack such that the battery pack delivers power directly to the electrical tool.

26. An electrical component system comprising:

a base at least partially defining a tool port and a battery port;

a battery pack selectively connectable to the battery port;

an electrical tool selectively connectable to the tool port and the battery pack; and

a circuit positioned substantially within the base and operable to deliver power from one of an external source and the battery pack to the electrical tool, and wherein the electrical tool is directly connectable to the battery pack to receive power from the battery pack without the circuit.

30. The electrical assembly of claim 26, wherein the base further includes a second tool port that removably receives a second electrical tool and electrically connects the second electrical tool to the circuit.

31. The electrical assembly of claim 30, wherein the base further includes a second battery port that removably receives a second rechargeable battery pack and electrically connects the second rechargeable battery pack to the circuit.