Adapter for a power tool battery

• US 7,183,745 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• 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): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US11/095,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114, 320/112, 320/111, 362/119, 439/500
• 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 electrical combination including a power tool manufactured by a first power tool company, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, a battery manufactured by a second power tool company, and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing.

Claims

1. An electrical combination comprising:

a power tool having a first connecting structure manufactured by a first power tool company, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element;

a battery having a second connecting structure manufactured by a second power tool company, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure; and

an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing.

2. The electrical combination of claim 1, wherein the adapter electrically connects the battery to the motor to selectively power the motor.

3. The electrical combination of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an opening, and wherein the adapter includes an insertion portion insertable into the opening to support the adapter on the tool housing.

4. The electrical combination of claim 3, wherein the adapter includes an adapter support portion connected to the insertion portion, and wherein the battery is connectable to and supportable on the adapter support portion.

5. The electrical combination of claim 4, wherein the battery is selectively connectable to the adapter support portion along a battery attachment axis in a first direction, in which the battery is supported in a first orientation relative to the tool housing, and in a second direction, in which the battery is supported in a second orientation relative to the tool housing.

6. The electrical combination of claim 1, wherein the battery includes a battery housing having a battery support portion, and wherein the tool housing has a tool support portion, the tool support portion not being connectable with the battery support portion to support the battery on the tool housing.

7. The electrical combination of claim 6, wherein the adapter includes a first connecting portion connectable with the battery support portion to support the battery on the adapter, and wherein the adapter includes a second connecting portion connectable with the tool support portion to support the adapter on the tool housing.

8. The electrical combination of claim 7, wherein the battery support portion defines a battery groove, wherein the tool support portion defines a tool groove, wherein the first connecting portion has a first adapter projection engageable in the battery groove to connect the battery to the adapter, and wherein the second connecting portion has a second adapter projection engageable in the tool groove to connect the adapter to the tool housing.

9. An electrical combination comprising:

a power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element;

a battery; and

an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to electrically connect the battery to the motor to selectively power the motor;

wherein the battery is selectively connectable to the adapter along a battery attachment axis in a first direction, in which the battery is supported in a first orientation relative to the tool housing, and in a second direction, in which the battery is supported in a second orientation relative to the tool housing.

10. The electrical combination of claim 9, wherein the adapter is mechanically connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing.

11. The electrical combination of claim 9, wherein the housing defines an opening, and wherein the adapter includes an insertion portion insertable into the opening to support the adapter on the tool housing.

12. The electrical combination of claim 11, wherein the adapter includes an adapter support portion connected to the insertion portion, and wherein the battery is connectable to and supportable on the adapter support portion.

13. The electrical combination of claim 9, wherein the battery includes a battery housing having a battery support portion, and wherein the tool housing has a tool support portion, the tool support portion not being connectable with the battery support portion to support the battery on the tool housing.

14. The electrical combination of claim 13, wherein the adapter includes a first connecting portion connectable with the battery support portion to support the battery on the adapter, and wherein the adapter includes a second connecting portion connectable with the tool support portion to support the adapter on the tool housing.

15. The electrical combination of claim 14, wherein the battery support portion defines a battery groove, wherein the tool support portion defines a tool groove, wherein the first connecting portion has a first adapter projection engageable in the battery groove to connect the battery to the adapter, and wherein the second connecting portion has a second adapter projection engageable in the tool groove to connect the adapter to the tool housing.

16. An adapter for use with an electrical component and a battery, the electrical component including a component housing and a first connecting structure, the battery including a second connecting structure incompatible with the first connecting structure and being electrically connectable to the electrical component to transfer power between the electrical component and the battery, 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, the adapter housing being engageable with the first connecting structure of the electrical component and the second connecting structure of the battery; 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 first connecting structure of the electrical component is manufactured by a first power tool company, and wherein the second connecting structure of the battery is manufactured by a second power tool company.

17. The adapter of claim 16, wherein the battery includes a battery housing having a battery support portion, wherein the component housing has a component support portion, and wherein the component support portion is not connectable with the battery support portion to support the battery on the component housing.

18. The adapter of claim 16, wherein the adapter housing includes a connecting portion, wherein the battery is selectively connectable to the connecting portion along a battery attachment axis in a first direction, and wherein the adapter is selectively connectable to the component housing in a second direction.

19. The adapter of claim 18, wherein, when the battery is connected to the connecting portion of the adapter and the adapter is connected to the component housing, the second direction is substantially normal to the first direction.