Electrical combination including a battery pack

• US 7,339,350 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• 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: Rozwadowski, David, Stegehuis, Pamela, Crisp, Robert, Kubale, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward H
• Application Number:
  US11/252,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/110
• 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, a method and a power tool. An electrical combination may includes an electrical component including a component housing, and an electrical circuit supported by the component housing, a first terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a second terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a first battery including a first battery terminal assembly electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit, and a second battery including a second battery terminal assembly electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit. The second battery may be different than the first battery. At least one of the first battery terminal assembly is not electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly and the second battery terminal assembly is not electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly.

Claims

1. An electrical combination comprising:

an electrical component including

a component housing, and

an electrical circuit supported by the component housing;

a first terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit;

a second terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit and removable from the electrical circuit;

a first battery including a first battery terminal assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and being electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit; and

a second battery including a second battery terminal assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and being electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit, the second battery being different than the first battery, at least one of the first battery terminal assembly not being electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly and the second battery terminal assembly not being electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly.

2. The electrical combination of claim 1, wherein the electrical component includes a power tool, the power tool including a motor electrically connected to the electrical circuit and supported by the component housing, wherein the first battery terminal assembly is electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit to power the motor, and wherein the second battery terminal assembly is electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit to power the motor.

3. The electrical combination of claim 1, wherein the electrical component includes a battery charger, the battery charger including a charging circuit electrically connected to the electrical circuit and supported by the component housing, wherein the first battery terminal assembly is electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit to charge the first battery, and wherein the second battery terminal assembly is electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit to charge the second battery.

4. The electrical combination of claim 1, and further comprising an adapter including

an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the second battery and the component housing to support the second battery on the component housing, the second terminal assembly being supported by the adapter housing, and

an adapter electrical circuit supported by the adapter housing, the adapter electrical circuit electrically connecting the second terminal assembly to the electrical circuit.

5. The electrical combination of claim 4, wherein the adapter further includes an adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the adapter electrical circuit to the electrical circuit.

6. The electrical combination of claim 1, and further comprising:

a first support structure having a first configuration and operable to support the first battery; and

a second support structure having a second configuration and operable to support the second battery, the second configuration being different than the first configuration.

7. The electrical combination of claim 6, wherein the first support structure includes a tower support structure, the tower support structure defining an insertion opening, and wherein the first battery has a tower portion insertable into the insertion opening.

8. The electrical combination of claim 6, wherein the first support structure includes a slide-on support structure, the slide-on support structure including a support rail, and wherein the first battery has a groove portion receiving the support rail.

9. The electrical combination of claim 6, and further comprising an adapter including an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the second battery and the component housing to support the second battery on the component housing, the adapter housing at least partially providing the second support structure.

10. A method of operating an electrical combination, the electrical combination including an electrical component including a component housing, and an electrical circuit supported by the component housing, a first terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a second terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a first battery including a first battery terminal assembly, and a second battery including a second battery terminal assembly, the second battery being different than the first battery, the method comprising the acts of:

electrically connecting a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the first battery terminal assembly to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit;

transferring power between the first battery and the electrical circuit;

electrically connecting a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the second battery terminal assembly to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit;

transferring power between the second battery and the electrical circuit; and

separating the second terminal assembly from the electrical circuit;

wherein at least one of the first battery terminal assembly is not electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly and the second battery terminal assembly is not electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical component includes a power tool, the power tool including a motor electrically connected to the electrical circuit and supported by the component housing, wherein the act of transferring power between the first battery and the electrical circuit includes the act of transferring power from the first battery to the motor, and wherein the act of transferring power between the second battery and the electrical circuit includes the act of transferring power from the second battery to the motor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical component includes a battery charger, the battery charger including a charging circuit electrically connected to the electrical circuit and supported by the component housing, wherein the act of transferring power between the first battery and the electrical circuit includes the act of transferring power from the charging circuit to the first battery to charge the first battery, and wherein the act of transferring power between the second battery and the electrical circuit includes the act of transferring power from the charging circuit to the second battery to charge the second battery.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical combination further includes an adapter including an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the second battery and the component housing to support the second battery on the component housing, the second terminal assembly being supported by the adapter housing, and an adapter electrical circuit supported by the adapter housing, and wherein the act of electrically connecting the second battery terminal assembly to the second terminal assembly includes the act of electrically connecting the adapter electrical circuit to the electrical circuit to electrically connect the second terminal assembly to the electrical circuit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the adapter further includes an adapter terminal assembly, wherein the act of electrically connecting the adapter electrical circuit to the electrical circuit includes the act of electrically connecting the adapter terminal assembly to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the adapter electrical circuit to the electrical circuit.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical combination further includes a first support structure having a first configuration and operable to support the first battery, and a second support structure having a second configuration and operable to support the second battery, the second configuration being different than the first configuration, and wherein the method further comprises the act of:

before the acts of electrically connecting the first battery terminal assembly to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit and transferring power between the first battery and the electrical circuit, the act of connecting the first battery to the first support structure; and

before the acts of electrically connecting the second battery terminal assembly to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit and transferring power between the second battery and the electrical circuit, the act of connecting the second battery to the second support structure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first support structure includes a tower support structure, the tower support structure defining an insertion opening, wherein the first battery has a tower portion, and wherein the act of connecting the first battery to the first support structure includes the act of inserting the tower portion into the insertion opening.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first support structure includes a slide-on support structure, the slide-on support structure including a support rail, wherein the first battery has a groove portion, and wherein the act of the act of connecting the second battery to the second support structure includes the act of receiving the support rail in the groove portion.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical combination further includes an adapter including an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the second battery and the component housing to support the second battery on the component housing, the adapter housing at least partially providing the second support structure, and wherein the act of connecting the second battery to the second support structure includes the act of connecting the second battery to the adapter housing.

19. An electrical combination comprising:

a power tool including

a housing,

a motor supported by the housing and operable to drive a tool element, and

an electrical circuit supported by the housing and electrically connected to the motor;

a first terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit;

a second terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit and removable from the electrical circuit;

a first battery including a first battery terminal assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and being electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit to power the motor; and

a second battery including a second battery terminal assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and being electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit to power the motor, the second battery being different than the first battery, at least one of the first battery terminal assembly not being electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly and the second battery terminal assembly not being electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly.

20. The electrical combination of claim 19, and further comprising an adapter including

an adapter housing separate from and connectable between the second battery and the housing to support the second battery on the housing, the second terminal assembly being supported by the adapter housing,

an adapter electrical circuit supported by the adapter housing, and

an adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the adapter electrical circuit to the electrical circuit such that the adapter electrical circuit electrically connects the second terminal assembly to the electrical circuit.