Power tool and convertible remote battery pack therefor

• US 6,501,197 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cornog, Robert A., Eggert, Daniel M., Pagac, William T., Mowry, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US09/596,182
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 307/150, 429/97, 429/100, 429/123, 429/98, 429/99, 429/107, 320/107, 320/111, 320/112, 320/114, 320/128
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/543 Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack has a housing with a plug portion mateably receivable in a socket of a battery-powered power hand tool on which the battery back is designed to be mounted. The battery pack also has a connector cable with a connector plug at its distal end mateably receivable in the tool socket so that the battery pack can be disposed remotely from the tool. The battery pack can be mounted on tools with which it does not mate by use of an adapter having a plug portion mateably receivable in the tool socket, and an adapter socket mateably receiving the battery pack plug portion. Multiple battery packs may be interconnected on a wearable carrier and connected to the tool by a cable with a plug connector.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a small portable housing of a size adapted to be mounted on a power hand tool,

a battery disposed in the housing and having positive and negative terminals,

a plug portion projecting from the housing and adapted to be received in a socket portion in an associated power hand tool,

first connector terminals on the plug portion respectively connected to the battery terminals,

a cable connectable to the battery terminals and extending outside the housing to a distal end, and

a plug connector having second Connector terminals connected to the distal end of the cable and adapted to be received in the socket portion in the associated power hand tool.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the plug portion is unitary with the housing.

4. In combination:

a power hand tool having a socket formed therein, and

tool terminals disposed in the socket; and

a battery pack including a small portable housing of a size adapted to be mounted on the hand tool,

a battery disposed in the housing and having positive and negative battery terminals,

a plug portion projecting from the housing and adapted to be received in the socket of the hand tool for mounting the battery pack on the hand tool,

first connector terminals on the plug portion respectively connected to the battery terminals and respectively connectable with the tool terminals when the plug portion is disposed in the socket,

a cable connectable to the battery terminals and extending outside the battery pack housing to a distal end, and

a plug connector having second connector terminals connected to the distal end of the cable,

the connector being adapted to be received in the tool socket for connection of the second connector terminals to the tool terminals.

5. In combination:

a power band tool having a socket formed therein designed to directly receive a plug portion of a battery pack, and

tool terminals disposed in socket;

an adapter body,

an adapter plug portion projecting from the adapter body and mateably receivable in a mounted condition in the tool socket,

first adapter terminals on the adapter plug portion connectable with the tool terminals when the adapter plug portion is disposed in the tool socket,

an adapter socket in the body, and

second adapter terminals in the adapter socket connected with the first adapter terminals; and

a battery pack different from that which the power hand tool socket is designed to receive and including a small portable housing of a size adapted to be mounted on a power hand tool,

a battery disposed in the housing and having positive and negative battery terminals,

a battery pack plug portion projecting from the housing and adapted to be received in the adapter socket, and

battery pack connector terminals on the battery pack plug portion respectively connectable with the adapter second terminals when the battery pack plug portion is disposed in the adapter socket,

thereby to mount the battery pack on the tool and connect the battery terminals to the tool terminals although the battery pack plug portion does not mate with the tool socket.