Battery pack and latch
First Claim
1. Quick release securing means for removably securing first and second items together, comprising a latch member movably mounted on said first item, release means mounted on said second item, said release means comprising a release member pivotally mounted on pivot pin means, spring means in said release means adapted to urge said release member to a normal position, said release member comprising a locking portion, means on said latch member engagable with said locking portion in the latched condition of said latch member on said release means, and a manually operable portion of said release member adapted to move said release member about said pivot pin means to disengage said locking portion from said latch member engaging means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Securing means particularly for slide-in type battery pack to be used in cordless electric power tools. An L-shaped latch is pivoted on the tool, and its short leg cooperates with a release mechanism at the remote end of the battery pack. A release member, spring loaded on the battery pack, urges the latch away from the pack during disengagement. A thermostated subassembly of the cells within the battery pack is also disclosed.
548 Citations
33 Claims
- 1. Quick release securing means for removably securing first and second items together, comprising a latch member movably mounted on said first item, release means mounted on said second item, said release means comprising a release member pivotally mounted on pivot pin means, spring means in said release means adapted to urge said release member to a normal position, said release member comprising a locking portion, means on said latch member engagable with said locking portion in the latched condition of said latch member on said release means, and a manually operable portion of said release member adapted to move said release member about said pivot pin means to disengage said locking portion from said latch member engaging means.
-
13. In combination, a battery pack for use in a portable, battery operated tool, said battery pack comprising a first group of batteries lying in a common horizontal plane and the remainder of said batteries being arranged in columns extending from at least two of said first group of batteries;
- a housing for said battery pack, said housing comprising an enlarged bottom portion adapted to encompass said first group of batteries, said housing comprising an upper elongated portion adapted to accommodate said batteries arranged in said columns, means to join said upper and lower casing portions to each other, contact means at the upper end of said upper portion, and means for connecting said batteries in a series circuit between said contacts;
a cordless electric device adapted to receive said elongated portion and to cooperate with said contact means, said enlarged bottom portion extending outwardly of said device; and
quick release securing means disposed partly on said housing and partly on said device to removably secure said battery pack and said device together, said quick release securing means comprising a latch member movably mounted on said device and release means resiliently mounted on said housing, said release means comprising a release member pivotally mounted on a pivot pin, spring means in said release means adapted to urge said release member to a normal position, said release member comprising a locking portion means on said latch member engageable with said locking portion in the latch condition in said latch member on said release means, and a manually operable portion of said release member adapted to move said release member about said pivot pin to disengage said locking portion from said latch member engaging means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
- a housing for said battery pack, said housing comprising an enlarged bottom portion adapted to encompass said first group of batteries, said housing comprising an upper elongated portion adapted to accommodate said batteries arranged in said columns, means to join said upper and lower casing portions to each other, contact means at the upper end of said upper portion, and means for connecting said batteries in a series circuit between said contacts;
-
17. Means for securing a separable case adapted to be at least partially telescoped within a housing to said housing, said securing means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said housing and said separable case and a release member movably mounted on the other of said housing and said separable case, said latch member having a portion coextensive with the portion of said case which is not telescoped within said housing, said securing means comprising at least one notch engageable with at least one locking finger and a manually operable portion adapted to effect disengagement between said locking finger and said notch, said manually operable-portion being connected to one of said locking finger and said notch for movement thereof out of engagement with the other, said other of said locking finger and said notch being connected to said latch member for movement away from the latched position of said one of said locking finger and said notch upon movement of said manually operable portion, said notches being formed in said latch member and said latch member being mounted on said housing, said case comprising a slide-in battery pack, said housing comprising a portion of a cordless electric device, means to resiliently mount said release member on said battery pack, and said locking finger being formed on said release member.
-
18. Means for securing a separable case adapted to be at least partially telescoped within a housing to said housing, said securing means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said housing and said separable case and a release member movably mounted on the other of said housing and said separable case, said latch member having a portion coextensive with the portion of said case which is not telescoped within said housing, said securing means comprising at least one notch engageable with at least one locking finger and a manually operable portion adapted to effect disengagement between said locking finger and said notch, said manually operable-portion being connected to one of said locking finger and said notch for movement thereof out of engagement with the other, said other of said locking finger and said notch being connected to said latch member for movement away from the latched position of said one of said locking finger and said notch upon movement of said manually operable portion, said release member being of generally elongated shape;
- a pivot pin in said case positioned at one end of said release member, said manual operable portion being positioned at the opposite end of said release member, and said locking finger being formed on said release member and interposed therebetween; and
operable portion spring means bearing against said release member in the vicinity of said locking finger.
- a pivot pin in said case positioned at one end of said release member, said manual operable portion being positioned at the opposite end of said release member, and said locking finger being formed on said release member and interposed therebetween; and
-
19. Means for securing a separable case adapted to be at least partially telescoped within a housing to said housing, said securing means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said housing and said separable case and a release member movably mounted on the other of said housing and said separable case, said latch member having a portion coextensive with the portion of said case which is not telescoped within said housing, said securing means comprising at least one notch engageable with at least one locking finger and a manually operable portion adapted to effect disengagement between said locking finger and said notch, said manually operable-portion being connected to one of said locking finger and said notch for movement thereof out of engagement with the other, said other of said locking finger and said notch being connected to said latch member for movement away from the latched position of said one of said locking finger and said notch upon movement of said manually operable portion, said case being formed with a pair of slots disposed parallel to each other and generally parallel to the direction of the manual disengaging motion applied to said manual operable portion, a pivot pin mounted in said slots, and said release member being mounted on said pivot pin, and a spring adapted to urge said pivot pin via said release member mounted thereon towards one end of said slots.
- 20. Quick release securing means comprising at least one locking finger cooperable with a latch, at least one latch formed in said latch in spaced relation to its remote end, means to resiliently mount said locking finger, means to pivotally mount said latch at the end thereof opposite said notched remote end in such a way as to permit said latch to approach said locking finger in a predetermined direction, said finger being formed with a tapered surface facing the direction of approach of said latch towards the secured condition of said latch and said locking finger, the opposite side of said locking finger comprising a flat adapted to engage said notch after said latch has urged said finger out of said approach path and to thereafter lock said finger into said notch when said finger is urged back towards said notch by said resilient mounting means.
- 26. A cordless electric tool having a motor and a slide-in battery pack therefor, a trigger actuated switch interposed between said motor and said battery pack, a portion of said battery pack being positioned within the housing of said tool and a portion of said battery pack being positioned outside the housing of said tool, securing means located at least partially on said outside portion of said battery pack for removably securing said battery pack to said tool, said securing means comprising a latch pivotally mounted on said tool and manually operable locking and release means on said outside portion of said battery pack cooperable with said latch, and said latch extending coextensively with at least a substantial portion of said outside portion of said battery pack.
Specification