CORDLESS POWER TOOL HAVING REMOVABLE BATTERY PACK

• US 3,757,194 A
• Filed: 07/03/1972
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin J. Weber, Timothy G. Pugh
• Original Assignee: Edwin J. Weber, Timothy G. Pugh
• Inventors: Weber, Edwin J., Pugh, Timothy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skudy, R.
• Application Number:
  US05/268,770
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 310/50,47,89 320/2,27 30/228,383,DIG.1,216 15/DIG.1 136/173
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/053 motor-driven
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 30/01 Rechargeable battery operated

Abstract

A shrub and hedge trimmer including elongated relatively reciprocating toothed blades and a housing containing a D. C. motor for operating at least one of the blades, and incorporating a battery pack having exterior grooves slidably mounted on tracks in the body member for automatic snap-in connection to the motor. The battery pack is shaped to form, with the housing, a smooth, aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, the battery pack is readily removably from the housing for recharging and may be replaced by an A. C. - D. C. converter unit of the same size and shape for direct connection of the hedge trimmer to house current. Handles are provided on and attached to the housing for easy handling of the device.

Claims

1. A power operated shrub or hedge trimmer comprising a housing having an electric motor disposed in the forward end thereof, a blade assembly extending forwardly from the lower end of said housing and driven by said motor through a transmission below said motor, said housing having a lower, rearward part cut away to form an outwardly opening recess, an electric power unit constructed to slidably fit within said recess and having such an external configuration that when it is fully within the recess its external walls form continuations of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, cooperating electrical connector means on said power unit and said housing for electrically powering said motor when said power unit is fully in place within said housing, a transverse recess in the upper rearward part of said housing, forming above it a first handle extending longitudinally of said housing, to be grasped by one hand of a user, and a second handle positioned forwardly of said recess and being inverted U-shaped in configuration whereby its cross piece is above said housing to be grasped by the other hand of said user, said motor, said transmission, and said power unit being disposed for good balance of said tool when handled by said user.

2. A power operated tool according to claim 1, comprising in addition a finger-operated switch trigger extending from said first handle downwardly into said transverse recess.

3. A power operated tool according to claim 1, in which said power unit contains batteries.

4. A power operated tool according to claim 1, in which the power unit contains an A.C. - D.C. converter and has a trailing cord for connection to house current.

5. A power operated shrub or hedge trimmer comprising a blade assembly and a housing, an electric motor within said housing and operatively connected to the blade assembly, said housing having a part thereof cut away to form an outwardly opening recess, a battery pack constructed to slidably fit within said recess and having such an external configuration that when it is fully within the recess its external walls form continuations of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, and cooperating plugs on said battery pack and said housing for powering said electric motor when said battery pack is fully in place within said housing.

6. A power operated tool according to claim 5, in which said plugs on said battery pack are male and female, and said cooperating plugs on said housing are, respectively, female and male.

7. A power operated shrub or hedge trimmer comprising a housing having an electric motor disposed therein, a blade assembly extending forwardly from said housing and driven by said motor, said housing having a part thereof cut away to form an outwardly opening recess, a battery pack constructed to slidably fit within said recess and having such an external configuration that when it is fully within the recess its external walls form continuations of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, cooperable electrical connector means on said battery pack and said housing connecting said battery pack and motor when said battery pack is fully within said recess, and a latch carried by said housing and normally biased toward a position whereby to automatically secure said battery pack to said housing upon complete insertion of said battery pack into said recess, said latch being manually releasable whereby said battery pack can be removed from said housing.

8. A power operated tool according to claim 7, in which the housing has an exterior access opening, said latch having a part within said opening for finger engagement to release said latch from said battery pack.

9. A power operated tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said latch includes an elongated resilient member carried within said housing and having a manually engageable portion disposed exteriorly of said housing, said latch member having detent means cooperable with detent means on said battery pack, whereby to allow assembly of said battery pack to said housing without manual operation of said detent means, said detent means automatically engaging when said battery pack is slidably inserted fully into said recess, whereby said battery pack can only be removed by positive manual actuation of said latch member.

10. A power operated tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said connector means on said battery pack extends outwardly thereof, and a shield surrounding and protecting said battery pack connector means.

11. A power operated shrub or hedge trimmer comprising a housing having an electric motor therein, a blade assembly extending forwardly from said housing and driven by said motor, said housing including clam shell members enclosing said motor and cut away at their rear end to form an outwardly opening recess, a power pack constructed to fit within said recess, said housing members and said battery pack having pairs of longitudinally extending, complementary flanges and guide ways slidably supporting said battery pack in said housing recess, a latch carried by one of said housing and battery pack and operable to secure said battery pack to said housing upon complete insertion of said battery pack into said recess, said latch being manually releasable whereby said battery pack can be removed from said housing, and means on said housing electrically connectable with means on said housing battery pack when said battery pack is fully assembled to said housing, whereby to electrically connect said battery pack to said motor.

12. A power operated tool according to claim 11, in which said housing is formed by two matching complementary halves joined along a longitudinal face of said housing.

13. A power operated tool as defined in claim 11 wherein said housing members are formed with opposed flange tracks, said battery pack being formed with guideways slidably receiving said tracks.

14. A power operated device comprising a housing having an electric motor disposed therein, output means powered by said motor, Said housing having a part thereof cut away to form an outwardly opening recess, a battery pack constructed to slidably fit within said recess and having such an external configuration that when it is fully within the recess its external walls form continuations of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, cooperable electrical connector means on said battery pack in said housing connecting said battery pack and motor when said battery pack is fully within said recess, and a latch carried by one of said housing and battery pack and operable to secure said battery pack to said housing upon complete insertion of said battery pack into said recess, said latch being manually releasable whereby said battery pack can be removed from said housing.

15. A power operated device comprising a housing having an electric motor disposed therein and powering output means, said housing having a handle, switch means adjacent said handle and electrically connected with said motor, said housing having a part thereof cut away to form an outwardly opening recess, a battery pack constructed to slidably fit within said recess and having such an external configuration that when it is fully within the recess its external walls form continuations of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, and cooperating means on said battery pack and said housing for powering said electric motor when said battery pack is fully in place within said housing.

16. A power operated device comprising a housing having an electric motor disposed therein, output means on said housing connected to said motor to be driven thereby, said housing including handle means, switch control means adjacent said handle means and operably connected to said motor for controlling the same, said housing having an outwardly opening recess therein, means defining slidable guide ways on said housing adjacent said recess and cooperatively, slidably receiving generally complementary slidable guide way means on a battery pack, said battery pack being constructed to slidably fit, by means of said slidable guide way means, within said recess and having an external configuration such that when said battery pack is fully within said recess, its external walls form a smooth continuation of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, cooperating electrical connection means on said battery pack and said housing for powering said electric motor when said battery pack is fully in place within said housing, and releasable latch means retaining said battery pack within said recess.

17. A power operated shrub or hedge trimmer comprising a housing having an electric motor disposed in the forward end thereof and provided with handle means, a blade assembly extending forwardly from the lower end of said housing and driven by said motor through a transmission below said motor, said housing having an outwardly opening recess at its lower, rearward portion, a battery pack constructed to slidably fit within said recess and having such an external configuration that when it is fully within the recess its external walls form a smooth continuation of the external walls of said housing adjacent said recess, latch means releasably retaining said battery pack within said recess, cooperating electrical connector means on said power unit and said housing for electrically powering said motor when said power unit is fully in place within said housing, said motor, said transmission, and said power unit being disposed for good balance of said tool when handled by said user.

18. A power operated, hand-held shrub or hedge trimmer comprising a housing having an electric motor therein, a blade assembly extending forwardly from the lower end of said housing and driven by said motor, handle means on the upper portion of said housing, said housing including clam shell members enclosing said motor and open at their lower rear end to form an outwardly opening recess, the battery pack constructed to fit within said recess and cooperAble with said motor and blade assembly to balance said trimmer about said handle means, said housing members and said battery pack having pairs of longitudinally extending, complementary flanges and guide ways slidably supporting said battery pack in said housing recess, latch means carried by one of said housing and battery pack and cooperable with the other to secure said battery pack to said housing upon complete insertion of said battery pack into said recess, said latch being manually releasable whereby said battery pack can be removed from said housing, and means on said housing electrically connectable with means on said battery pack and when said battery pack is fully assembled to said housing, whereby to electrically connect said battery pack to said motor.