Modular cordless tools

• US 4,050,003 A
• Filed: 02/18/1976
• Issued: 09/20/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black and Decker Manufacturing Co (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black and Decker Manufacturing Co (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bunyea, Roderick Francis, Owings, Peter Russell, Beckering, Jacobus Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/659,035
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 310/50, 320/2-5
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 3/00 Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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

Cordless electric tools or the like comprising a power handle and a plurality of diverse tool heads detachably securable thereto. The power handle includes battery means therein and operator controlled switch means, whereas each of the diverse tool heads may include an electric motor and an output means. The tool heads and power handle include interengageable means constructed for quick mechanical and electrical interconnection therebetween facilitating quick connection and disconnection of the power handle from the various tool heads without requiring any special tools or implements. Electrical interconnection is made automatically upon mechanical interconnection. In addition, a battery charger for the battery means may include similar mechanical and electrical connection means operatively engageable with the power handle to afford ready and easy charging of the battery means between uses of the power handle.

Claims

1. A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module having an enclosing casing, said casing forming a four-sided closed loop about a central opening, one of said sides being configured to provide a hand grip, a plurality of battery cells enclosed within said casing, switch means comprising an electric switch mounted within said casing and a switch operator extending externally of said casing within said closed loop for engagement and manipulation by an operator having his hand in place on said hand grip, a second side of said power handle being provided with a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, means internally of said casing connecting said contacts with said battery cells, a longitudinally extending pilot surface on said second side of said power handle;

a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, one side of said housing having electrical contact means exposed thereon for interengagement with said electrical contacts on said power handle, a pilot region exposed in said one side of said tool head housing for engaging said pilot surface on said power handle; and

complementary male and female interconnection means provided respectively on said second side of said power handle and on said one side of said tool-housing permitting sliding interengagement and disengagement of said power handle and said tool head, said tool head module being stably connected mechanically to said power handle module and electrically connected to said batteries when said power handle and said tool head are engaged.

2. A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module and a tool head;

said power handle module including a casing comprising a hand grip and enclosing battery means, electric switch means on said handle module for operation by an operator, said tool head including a housing and output means on said housing;

said power handle casing and said tool head housing including confronting, complementary surfaces, each of said surfaces having a length and a width, said length being greater than said width, electrical connector means exposed within said surfaces and electrically engaging one another when said power handle module and said tool head are assembled, said electrical connector means being connected respectively to said tool output means, and to said rechargeable battery means and said switch for enabling operation of said output means from said battery means when said switch is operated, said surfaces each including means elongated in the direction of said length of said surfaces, said elongated means being engageable for aligning said power handle module and said tool head, and latch means for retaining said power handle and said tool head in assembled relationship.

3. A modular battery and charger assembly comprising a power handle module having an enclosing casing, one side of said power handle being configured to provide a hand grip, a plurality of battery cells enclosed within said casing, switch means comprising an electric switch mounted within said casing and a switch operator extending externally of said casing for engagement and manipulation by an operator having his hand in place on said hand grip, said power handle being provided with a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, means internally of said casing connecting two of said contacts with said battery cells, said second means internally of said casing connecting one of said two contacts and a third one of said exposed contacts with said electric switch, an elongated pilot surface extending along the maximum dimension of a second side of said power handle;

a charger module including a housing, electrical output means on said housing comprising a pair of contact means exposed thereon for interengagement with said two electrical contacts on said power handle which are connected to said battery cells, an elongated pilot region exposed in one side of said charger module housing and extending along a maximum dimension thereof for engaging said pilot surface on said power handle; and

complementary male and female interconnection means provided on said second side of said power handle and on said one side of said charger module housing permitting sliding interengagement and disengagement of said power handle and said charger module, said charger module being stably connected mechanically to said power handle module and electrically connected to said batteries when said power handle and said charger module are engaged.

4. A modular battery and charger assembly comprising a power handle module having an enclosing casing, said casing forming a multi-sided loop about a central opening, one of said sides being configured to provide a hand grip, a plurality of battery cells enclosed within said casing, switch means comprising an electric switch mounted within said casing and a switch operator extending externally of said casing for engagement and manipulation by an operator having his hand in place on said hand grip, said power handle being provided with a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, means internally of said casing connecting two of said contacts with said battery cells, and second means internally of said casing connecting one of said two contacts and a third one of said exposed contacts with said electrical switch, an elongated pilot surface extending along the maximum dimension of a second side of said power handle;

a charger module including a housing, electrical output means on said housing comprising a pair of electrical contact means exposed thereon for interengagement with said two electrical contacts on said power handle which are connected to said battery cells, an elongated pilot region exposed in one side of said charger module housing and extending along a maximum dimension thereof for engaging said pilot surface on said power handle; and

complementary male and female interconnection means provided on said second side of said power handle and on said one side of said charger module housing permitting sliding interengagement and disengagement of said power handle and said charger module, said charger module being stably connected mechanically to said power handle module and electrically connected to said batteries when said power handle and said charger module are engaged.