ELECTRIC TOOLS

• US 20150104250A1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: TADA, Yoshiro, FURUSAWA, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 10,076,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/375
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• 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

An electric tool may include a battery mount portion having a guide groove structure that can be slidably fitted with a guide projection structure of a rechargeable battery. A reinforcing member may be attached to the guide groove structure of the battery mount portion and may include a connecting structure for detachably connecting the reinforcing member to the guide groove structure.

Claims

1. An electric tool comprising:

a battery mount portion configured such that a rechargeable battery can be mounted to the battery mount portion as the rechargeable battery is slid along the battery mount portion; and

a drive device configured to be driven with a supply of electrical power from the rechargeable battery, wherein;

the battery mount portion comprises a first molded member and a second molded member divided so as to be respectively located on a front side and a rear side with respect to a sliding direction of the rechargeable battery along the battery mount portion, the first molded member and the second molded member being joined together to form the battery mount portion;

the battery mount portion further comprises a guide groove structure configured to fit with a guide projection structure of the rechargeable battery in the sliding direction so as to guide the rechargeable battery to move in the sliding direction when the rechargeable battery is mounted to the battery mount portion;

the electric tool further comprises a reinforcing member attached to the guide groove structure of the battery mount portion so as to cover a slide contact part of the guide groove structure where the guide projection structure slidably contacts the guide groove structure;

the reinforcing member is connected to the guide groove structure as the reinforcing member is moved toward opposing portions of the first molded member and the second molded member before the first molded member and the second molded member are joined to each other;

the reinforcing member includes an engaging structure that is engaged with portions of the first molded member and the second molded member, where the reinforcing member is connected, so as to inhibit removal of the reinforcing member from the guide groove structure when the first molded member and the second molded member are joined together to form the battery mount portion.

2. The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a substantially U-shape as viewed in the sliding direction and has three sides extending in three different directions.

3. The electric tool according to claim 2, wherein the engaging structure includes a first engaging structure and a second engaging structure respectively provided on two of three sides of the reinforcing member such that they are opposing each other.

4. The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein the engaging structure includes at least one guide outer edge portion inclined relative to a joining direction of the first molded member and the second molded member and configured to guide the reinforcing member such that the reinforcing member is brought to a position to be connected as the first molded member and the second molded member are joined together.

5. The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is attached to a position proximal to an insertion opening end of the guide groove structure, wherein the guide projection structure is fitted into the guide groove structure starting from the insertion opening end.

6. The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein when the first molded member and the second molded member are separated from each other, the reinforcing member is detachable from a portion of the guide groove structure.

7. The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein:

the battery mount portion comprises a plurality of battery mount portions each including the guide groove structure;

the reinforcing member comprises a plurality of reinforcing members;

the plurality of reinforcing members are attached to the guide groove structures of the plurality of battery mount portions.

8. The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein:

the drive device is configured to reciprocally move a working tool;

the electric tool further includes a battery contact portion;

the battery contact portion is molded from an elastomeric material so as to be integrated with the battery mount portion and configured to contact the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is mounted to the battery mount portion; and

the battery contact portion urges the rechargeable battery in a direction parallel to a reciprocating direction of the working tool.

9. An electric tool comprising:

a battery mount portion having a guide groove structure configured to be slidably fitted with a guide projection structure of a rechargeable battery; and

a reinforcing member configured to be attached to the guide groove structure of the battery mount portion and including a connecting structure detachably connecting the reinforcing member to the guide groove structure.

10. The electric tool according claim 9, wherein:

the battery mount portion comprises a first member and a second member joined together to form the battery mount portion; and

the connecting structure comprises an engaging structure configured to be engaged with the first member or the second member.

11. The electric tool according to claim 10, wherein:

the engaging structure comprises a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion;

the first engaging portion frictionally engages the first member in a first direction along a sliding direction of the rechargeable battery; and

the second engaging portion frictionally engages the second member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

12. The electric tool according to claim 9, wherein:

the connecting structure comprises a lock claw engaging the first member in a direction perpendicular to a sliding direction of the rechargeable battery.

13. An electric tool comprising:

a battery mount portion configured such that a rechargeable battery can be mounted to the battery mount portion as the rechargeable battery is slid in a sliding direction along the battery mount portion;

a drive device configured to reciprocally move a working tool with a supply of electric power from the rechargeable battery; and

a first battery contact portion molded from an elastomeric material so as to be integrated with the battery mount portion and configured to contact the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is mounted to the battery mount portion;

wherein the first battery contact portion urges the rechargeable battery in a first direction parallel to a reciprocating direction of the working tool.

14. The electric tool according to claim 13, wherein:

the first battery contact portion is located inside of the battery mount portion; and

the elastomeric material is introduced from the outer side to the inside of the battery mount portion for forming the first battery contact portion.

15. The electric tool according to claim 13, wherein:

the first battery contact portion includes a contact distal end portion configured to contact the rechargeable battery in a second direction intersecting the first direction when the rechargeable battery is mounted to the battery mount portion.

16. The electric tool according to claim 15, further comprising a second battery contact portion disposed at the battery mount portion and configured to contact the rechargeable battery mounted to the battery mount portion in a third direction, wherein the third direction intersects both the first direction and the second direction.

17. The electric tool according to claim 13, wherein:

the battery mount portion further comprises a guide groove structure configured to be fitted with a guide projection structure of the rechargeable battery in the sliding direction so as to guide the rechargeable battery to move in the sliding direction when the rechargeable battery is mounted to the battery mount portion; and

the first battery contact portion is disposed at the guide groove structure.

18. The electric tool according to claim 13, further comprising a body housing including the battery mount portion, an electric component disposed within the body housing, and a component support portion configured to contact and support the electric component within the body housing, wherein the component support portion is formed of the same elastomeric material as that of the first battery contact portion.

19. The electric tool according to claim 13, wherein the battery mount portion comprises a plurality of battery mount portions, so that a plurality of rechargeable batteries can be mounted to the plurality of battery mount portions.

20. The electric tool according to claim 13, wherein the sliding direction of the rechargeable battery intersects the reciprocating direction of the working tool.