Accumulator package with charge state display

• US 7,746,030 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft (Hilti Martin Family Trust)
• Original Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft (Hilti Martin Family Trust)
• Inventors: Thanner, Thomas, Ziegler, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US11/544,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/132
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• 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 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An accumulator package (2) for a hand-held power tool includes:

• a housing (4) having a plurality of accumulator cells (28) provided therein, a connection element (18) electrically connected with the accumulator cells (28) and accessible from outside, a charge state display (22) for displaying a charge state of the accumulator cells (28), a locking mechanism (14) for securing the accumulator package (2) on the power tool, and locking mechanism-operating elements (16) that simultaneously form accessible from outside outer switch elements for actuating the charge state display.

Claims

1. An accumulator package (2) for a hand-held power tool, comprising:

a housing (4) having a plurality of accumulator cells (28) provided therein;

connection means (18) electrically connected with the accumulator cells (28) and accessible from outside;

a charge state display (22) for displaying a charge state of the accumulator cells (28);

a locking mechanism (14) for securing the accumulator package (2) on the power tool; and

means (16) for operating the locking mechanism (14), wherein the locking mechanism-operating means (16) includes outer switch means for actuating the charge state display (22), with the outer switch means being simultaneously accessible from outside of the housing (4).

2. An accumulator package according to claim 1, further comprising measurement electronics (34) connected with the charge state display (22), and inner switch means (36) located in the housing (4) for actuating the measurement electronics (34) and mechanically connected with the locking mechanism-operating means (16).

3. An accumulator package according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism-operating means (16) comprises a locking member (12), and the accumulator package (2) comprises a pressure member (40) connected with the locking member (12) and associated with the inner switch means (36), thereby providing a mechanical connection between the inner switch means (36) and the locking mechanism-operating means (16).

4. An accumulator package according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism-operating means (16) comprises two push-buttons arranged on opposite sides of the accumulator package (2), with the measurement electronics (34) being actuated by at least one of the push-buttons.

5. An accumulator package according to claim 4, wherein the measurement electronics (34) is actuated by simultaneous actuation of both of the push-buttons.

6. An accumulator package according to claim 2, wherein the measurement electronics (34) has a timer for deactuating of the charge state display (22) after expiration of a predetermined time after actuation of the charge state display (22).

7. An accumulator package according to claim 1, wherein the charge state display (22) comprises a plurality of LEDs (24), wherein, upon actuation of the measurement electronics (34), at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs (24) are actuated, wherein the number of actuated LEDs is dependent on a measured charge state.