Adapter for a power tool battery and a battery charger

• US 6,965,214 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Crisp, Robert, Kubale, Mark, Rozwadowski, David, Stegehuis, Pamela
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/635,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/114, 307/80
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An adapter for a power tool battery. The adapter enables a battery having a first configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration, to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having a second configuration, such as a “tower” configuration. The adapter may also enable a battery having one general configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration or a “tower” configuration, and a first connecting structure to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having the same general configuration, such as the “slide-on” configuration or the “tower” configuration, respectively, and a second connecting structure different than the first connecting structure.

Claims

1. An electrical combination comprising:

a battery charger including a charger housing and a charging circuit supported by the charger housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the charger housing including a charger support portion;

a battery electrically connectable with the charging circuit such that the charging circuit selectively supplies power to the battery, the battery including an insertion portion; and

an adapter separate from and connectable between the charger housing the battery to support the battery on the charger housing and to electrically connect the battery with the charging circuit, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening along an opening axis to support the battery on the adapter, the adapter housing further including an adapter support portion connectable to the charger support portion along an adapter attachment axis, the opening axis being generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis; and

a locking assembly for locking the adapter to the charger housing, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the adapter is locked to the charger housing, and an unlocked position, and

an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

2. An electrical combination comprising:

a battery charger including a charger housing and a charging circuit supported by the charger housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the charger housing including a charger support portion;

a battery electrically connectable with the charging circuit such that the charging circuit selectively supplies power to the battery, the battery including an insertion portion; and

an adapter separate from and connectable between the charger housing and the battery to support the battery on the charger housing and to electrically connect battery with the charging circuit, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening along an opening axis to support the battery on the adapter, the adapter housing further including an adapter support portion connectable to the charger support portion along an adapter attachment axis, the opening axis being generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis; and

a locking assembly for locking the battery to the adapter, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the battery is locked to the adapter, and an unlocked position, and

an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the charger support portion includes a charger opening defining an inner surface, wherein the adapter housing is configured as a sleeve member insertable between an outer surface of the insertion portion of the battery and the inner surface of the charger opening to connect the adapter to the battery charger.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal assembly, wherein the battery charger further includes a charger terminal assembly electrically connected to the charging circuit, and wherein the adapter includes an adapter electrical assembly including

a first adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the battery terminal assembly, and

a second adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the charger terminal assembly to electrically connect the battery to the charging circuit to selectively transfer power between the battery and the charging circuit.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the battery terminal assembly is supported on the insertion portion of the battery, and wherein the first adapter terminal assembly is supported in the opening defined by the adapter housing.

6. A combination for charging a power tool battery, the combination comprising:

a battery charger including a charger housing and a charging circuit supported by the charger housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the charger housing defining a charger opening;

a battery electrically connectable with the charging circuit such that the charging circuit selectively supplies power to the battery to charge the battery, the battery including a battery insertion portion; and

an adapter separate from and connectable between the charger housing and the batten to support the battery on the charger housing and to electrically connect the battery with the charging circuit;

wherein the adapter is configured as a sleeve member insertable between an outer surface of the battery insertion portion and an inner surface of the charger opening to connect the battery to the battery charger; and

further comprising a locking assembly for locking the adapter to the charger housing, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the adapter is locked to the charger housing, and an unlocked position, and

an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

7. A combination for charging a power tool battery, the combination comprising:

a battery charger including a charger housing and a charging circuit supported by the charger housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the charger housing defining a charger opening;

a battery electrically connectable with the charging circuit such that the charging circuit selectively supplies power to the battery to charge the battery, the battery including a battery insertion portion; and

an adapter separate from and connectable between the charger housing and the battery to support the battery on the charger housing and to electrically connect the battery with the charging circuit;

wherein the adapter is configured as a sleeve member insertable between an outer surface of the battery insertion portion and an inner surface of the charger opening to connect the battery to the battery charger; and

further comprising a locking assembly for locking the battery to the adapter, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the battery is locked to the adapter, and an unlocked position, and

an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the charger opening extends along an opening axis, the sleeve member being insertable into the charger opening along the opening axis, and wherein the battery insertion portion is insertable within the sleeve member along a battery attachment axis generally parallel to the opening axis.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal assembly, wherein the battery charger further includes a charger terminal assembly electrically connected to the charging circuit, and wherein the adapter includes an adapter electrical assembly including

a first adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the battery terminal assembly, and

a second adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the charger terminal assembly to electrically connect the battery to the charging circuit to selectively transfer power between the battery and the charging circuit.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the battery terminal assembly is supported on the battery insertion portion, and wherein the first adapter terminal assembly is supported in an opening defined by the adapter housing.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the adapter has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the adapter is complementary to and engageable with the outer surface of the battery insertion portion and the outer surface of the adapter is complementary to and engageable with the inner surface of the charger opening.

12. An adapter for use with an electrical component and a battery, the electrical component including a component housing, the battery being electrically connectable to the electrical component to transfer power between the electrical component and the battery, the battery defining a battery insertion portion, the adapter comprising:

an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the battery and the component housing to support the battery on the component housing; and

an adapter electrical assembly electrically connectable between the electrical component and the battery to selectively transfer power between the electrical component and the battery;

wherein the component housing defines a component projection and a component groove, and wherein the adapter housing includes an adapter projection and an adapter groove, the component projection being engageable with the adapter groove and the adapter projection being engageable with the component groove to support the adapter on the component housing along an adapter attachment axis; and

wherein the adapter housing further includes an adapter opening defining an opening axis generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis, the battery insertion portion being insertable into the adapter opening along the opening axis to connect the battery to the adapter housing;

wherein the electrical component is a battery charger including a charger housing and a charging circuit electrically connectable to a power source, wherein the charging circuit is electrically connectable with the battery to selectively supply power to the battery to charge the battery, and wherein the adapter is connectable between the charger housing and the battery to support the battery on the charger housing.

13. An adapter for use with a battery charger and a battery, the battery charger including a charger housing defining a charger opening, the battery being electrically connectable to the battery charger to transfer power between the battery charger and the battery, the battery defining a battery insertion portion not compatible with the charger opening, the adapter comprising:

an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the battery and the charger housing to support the battery on the charger housing; and

an adapter electrical assembly electrically connectable between the battery charger and the batten to selectively transfer power between the battery charger and the battery;

wherein the adapter is configured as a sleeve member insertable between an outer surface of the battery insertion portion and an inner surface of the charger opening to connect the battery to the battery charger; and

further comprising a locking assembly for locking the battery to the adapter, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the battery is locked to the adapter, and an unlocked position, and

an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

14. An adapter for use with a battery charger and a battery, the battery charger including a charger housing defining a charger opening, the battery being electrically connectable to the battery charger to transfer power between the battery charger and the battery, the battery defining a battery insertion portion not compatible with the charger opening, the adapter comprising:

an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the battery and the charger housing to support the battery on the charger housing; and

an adapter electrical assembly electrically connectable between the battery charger and the battery to selectively transfer power between the battery charger and the battery;

wherein the adapter is configured as a sleeve member insertable between an outer surface of the battery insertion portion and an inner surface of the charger opening to connect the battery to the battery charger; and

further comprising a locking assembly for locking the adapter to the charger housing, the locking assembly including

a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the adapter is locked to the charger housing, and an unlocked position, and

an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

15. The adapter as set forth in claim 14, wherein the charger opening extends along an opening axis, the sleeve member being insertable into the charger opening along the opening axis, and wherein the battery insertion portion is insertable within the sleeve member along a battery attachment axis generally parallel to the opening axis.

16. The adapter as set forth in claim 14, wherein the battery includes a battery terminal assembly, wherein the battery charger further includes a charger terminal assembly electrically connected to a charging circuit, and wherein the adapter includes an adapter electrical assembly including

a first adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the battery terminal assembly, and

a second adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the charger terminal assembly to electrically connect the battery to the charging circuit to selectively transfer power between the battery and the charging circuit.

17. The adapter as set forth in claim 14, wherein the battery terminal assembly is supported on the battery insertion portion, and wherein the first adapter terminal assembly is supported in an opening defined by the adapter housing.

18. The adapter as set forth in claim 14, wherein the adapter housing has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the adapter housing is complementary to and engageable with the outer surface of the battery insertion portion and the outer surface of the adapter housing is complementary to and engageable with the inner surface of the charger opening.

19. A method of assembling an electrical combination, the electrical combination including a tower-style battery charger configured to receive a tower-style battery in a charger opening, a slide-on battery including a battery support portion, and an adapter separate from and connectable between the tower-style battery charger and the slide-on battery to support the slide-on battery on the tower-style battery charger and to electrically connect the slide-on battery with the tower-style battery charger, the adapter including an insertion portion compatible with the charger opening and an adapter support portion compatible with the battery support portion, the method comprising the acts of:

engaging the adapter support portion and the battery support portion to support the slide-on battery on the adapter; and

inserting the insertion portion into the charger opening to support the adapter on the tower-style battery charger.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein engaging the adapter support portion and battery support portion includes

engaging an adapter projection and a battery groove, and

engaging a battery projection and an adapter groove.

21. A method of assembling an electrical combination, the electrical combination including a slide-on battery charger configured to receive a slide-on battery, the slide-on battery charger defining a charger support portion, a tower-style battery including an insertion portion, and an adapter separate from and connectable between the slide-on battery charger and the tower-style battery to support the tower-style battery on the slide-on battery charger and to electrically connect the tower-style battery with the slide-on battery charger, the adapter defining an opening along an opening axis, the adapter further including an adapter support portion, the method comprising the acts of:

inserting the insertion portion of the tower-style battery in the opening of the adapter to support the tower-style battery on the adapter; and

engaging the adapter support portion and the charger support portion to support the adapter on the slide-on battery charger.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein the charger support portion includes a charger projection and a charger groove, wherein the adapter support portion includes an adapter projection and an adapter groove, and wherein the act of engaging the adapter support portion and the charger support portion includes the act of engaging the charger projection with the adapter groove and the adapter projection with the charger groove.