Battery pack retaining latch for cordless device

• US 5,663,011 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Thomas J., Judge, Alfred H., Miller, Philip T., Smith, Allen P., Bunyea, Roderick F., Karasa, Alvydas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/479,586
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 429/97, 429/99, 429/123, 292/341.15, 30/500
• US Class Current: 429/97
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 With movable dog, catch or striker

Abstract

A battery retention latch (350) comprises a retaining member (354), a release button (356) and a cam element (362). A biasing member 358 maintains the retention catch in a normally engaged position. The cam element (362) retains a battery pack (26) in a cordless device (352) regardless of the annular orientation of the battery pack (26) about a casing axis. A holding device (382, 394) maintains the battery (26) in the cavity (34) against a spring ejecting force such that the battery (26) partially extends from the device (352) enabling the battery (26) to be removed from the device (352).

Claims

1. A retention latch adapted to be positioned within a device for retaining a battery, said retention latch comprising:

an overall L-shaped retaining member adapted for engaging with the battery;

a release member integral with said retaining member, said release member adapted to be activated to move said retaining member to a release position to enable the battery to be removed from the device; and

biasing means for positioning said retaining member within said device and for returning said retaining member to a normally engaged position upon deactivation of said release member, said biasing means coupled with said retaining member.

2. The retention latch according to claim 1, wherein said release member coupled with the vertical leg of the L.

3. The retention latch according to claim 2, wherein said biasing means coupled with the horizontal leg of the L and positioned adjacent the vertical leg.

4. The retention latch according to claim 2, wherein a cam element is positioned at an end of the horizontal leg of the L, said cam element adapted for engaging the battery.

5. The retention latch according to claim 4, wherein said cam element includes a cam face which enables the battery to pass by the retention device.

6. The retention latch according to claim 5, wherein said cam element includes a retaining face opposing said cam face, said retaining face adapted for engaging the battery to retain the battery in the device.

7. The retention latch according to claim 3, wherein said horizontal leg includes a cut-out for receiving said biasing means.

8. The retention latch according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means being a helical spring.

9. A cordless device comprising:

a cavity;

a receptacle in the cavity;

a battery pack removably located in the cavity, said battery pack including means for electrically coupling with said receptacle; and

a latch including an overall L-shaped retaining member adapted for engaging with the battery, a release member coupled with said retaining member, said release member adapted to be activated to move said retaining member to a release position to enable the battery to be removed from the device, and biasing means for positioning said retaining member within said device and for returning said retaining member to a normally engaging position upon deactivation of said release member, said biasing means coupled with said retaining member.

10. The cordless device according to claim 9, wherein said release member coupled with the vertical leg of the L.

11. The cordless device according to claim 10, wherein said biasing means coupled with the horizontal leg of the L and positioned adjacent the vertical leg.

12. The cordless device according to claim 10, wherein a cam element is positioned at an end of the horizontal leg of the L, said cam element adapted for engaging the battery.

13. The cordless device according to claim 12, wherein said cam element includes a cam face which enables the battery to pass by the retaining member.

14. The cordless device according to claim 13, wherein said cam element includes a retaining face opposing said cam face, said retaining face adapted for engaging the battery to retain the battery in the device.

15. The cordless device according to claim 11, wherein said horizontal leg includes a cut-out for receiving said biasing means.

16. The cordless device according to claim 9, wherein said biasing means being a helical spring.

27. The cordless device according to claim 9, wherein said battery pack includes a cap having a cylindrical wall and an annular groove in the cylindrical wall adapted for receiving said retaining member of said latch for retaining the pack in the cordless device.

17. A cordless device comprising:

a cavity;

an electrical receptacle in the cavity;

a battery pack removably located in the cavity, said battery pack including means for electrically coupling with said electrical receptacle;

a biasing means in said cavity for ejecting said battery pack from said cavity;

means for holding said battery pack in said cavity against an ejecting force of said biasing means, said holding means positioned in said cavity; and

a latch for retaining said battery pack in said cavity such that upon release of said latch, said battery pack being partially ejected from said cavity by the ejecting force from said biasing means and is held in said cavity against the ejecting force by said holding means.

18. The cordless device according to claim 17, wherein said holding means including an annular member with at least one retention finger for engaging and retaining said battery pack.

19. The cordless device according to claim 18, wherein further including a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers for engaging and retaining said battery pack.

20. The cordless device according to claim 17, wherein said holding means is axially slidable in said cavity.

21. The cordless device according to claim 17, wherein said annular member includes a cam surface for enabling said battery pack to pass by said annular member.

22. The cordless device according to claim 18, wherein said finger includes a detent for coupling with said battery pack.

23. The cordless device according to claim 17, wherein said holding means coupled with said receptacle.

24. The cordless device according to claim 23, wherein said holding means including a member for removably coupling with said battery pack such that said member retains said battery pack in the cavity against said ejecting force.

25. The cordless device according to claim 23, wherein said member is axially movable in said cavity.

26. The cordless device according to claim 24, wherein said member includes a plurality of spaced fingers for coupling with said battery electronically coupling means.

28. The cordless device according to claim 17, wherein said holding means is unitarily formed with said biasing means.

29. The cordless device according to claim 28, wherein said holding means further includes an arm in said cavity extending from said housing, said arm adapted to engage an annular recess in said battery pack to retain said battery pack in the cavity in an unlatched condition.

30. The cordless device according to claim 29, wherein said holding means is coupled with said receptacle.