Battery pack—cordless power device interface system

• US 7,160,132 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Francis, Jeffrey J., Trinh, Danh Thanh, Carrier, David A., Brotto, Daniele C., Phillips, Steven J., Seman, Andrew E. Jr., White, Daniel J., Yahnker, Christopher R., Watson, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/093,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20050221654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 439/341, 439/500, 439/953, 310/50, 320112-114
• US Class Current: 439/341
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes 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: 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 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/975 Holders with resilient means for protecting apparatus against vibrations or shocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/953 with latch rod to be retainingly received by opening of mating connector

Abstract

A battery pack for a cordless power tool and a cordless power tool and battery pack combination includes the battery pack having a retention member that pivotally engages a retention member of the power tool and a latch system in which one of the battery pack and power tool has a ball and the other of the power tool and battery pack has a latch that engages the ball. Spring biased actuators may be used to open the latch to enable insertion or release of the ball from the latch.

Claims

1. A cordless power tool and battery pack combination, comprising:

a. each of the power tool and battery pack having at least one retention member that pivotally engages the retention member of the other of the power tool and battery pack; and

b. a latch system including one of the power tool and the battery pack having a ball and the other of the power tool and battery pack having a latch that captures the ball between movable portions of the latch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power tool has the ball and the battery pack has the latch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ball extends toward the battery pack from a bottom of a foot of the power tool.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the power tool'"'"'s retention member includes at least one hook extending toward the battery pack and the battery pack'"'"'s retention member includes at least one rod extending transversely across at least a portion of the battery pack.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch includes inner and outer sleeves that extend laterally across at least a portion of the one of the battery pack and power tool that includes the latch, each sleeve including a recess therein, a portion of the inner sleeve slidably received in a portion of the outer sleeve, the latch including at least one spring that urges the sleeves together to capture the ball between the sleeves in the recesses of the sleeves.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the ball includes a shaft and the shaft is captured in the recesses of the sleeves.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the latch includes at least one spring for each sleeve urging the recess in that sleeve toward the recess in the other sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each sleeve has an actuator member coupled to it, the actuator members, when pressed, moving the sleeves with respect to each other to open the latch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retention members are at generally a rear of the power tool and battery pack and the latch system is at generally a front of the power tool and battery pack.

10. A cordless power tool and battery pack combination, comprising:

a. each of the power tool and battery pack having at least one retention member that pivotally engages the retention member of the other of the power tool and battery pack; and

b. a latch system including the power tool having a ball extending from a bottom of a foot of the power tool and the battery pack having a latch that engages the ball, the latch including inner and outer sleeves that extend laterally across at least a portion of the battery pack, each sleeve including a recess therein, a portion of the inner sleeve slidably received in a portion of the outer sleeve, the latch including at least one spring for each sleeve, the springs urging the sleeves together so that the ball is captured between the recesses of the sleeves.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the ball includes a shaft and the shaft is captured in the recesses of the sleeve.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the retention members are at generally a rear of the power tool and battery pack and the latch system is at generally a front of the power tool and battery pack.

13. A battery pack for a power tool having a retention member and a ball, comprising:

a. at least one retention member that pivotally engages the retention member of the power tool; and

b. a latch for capturing the ball of the power tool between movable portions of the latch.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the latch includes inner and outer sleeves that extend laterally across at least a portion of the battery pack, each sleeve including a recess therein, a portion of the inner sleeve slidably received in a portion of the outer sleeve, the latch including at least one spring for each sleeve, the springs urging the sleeves together so that the ball is captured between the recesses of the sleeves.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the retention member of the battery pack is at generally a rear of the battery pack and the latch is at generally, a front of the battery pack.