Cordless power supply

• US 8,970,164 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elisa Sartori
• Original Assignee: Karl Frederick Scheucher
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US13/195,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/134, 320/136, 320/163
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery

Abstract

A cordless power supply comprising a battery, a power conversion unit, a first standard coupling half permanently affixed to the power conversion unit and a second standard coupling half which reciprocally mates with the first standard coupling half is disclosed and claimed. The second standard coupling half includes a first interengaging half and a second interengaging half. The first interengaging half being standardly engageable with the first standard coupling half permanently affixed to the power conversion unit. The second interengaging half is interengageable with a specific battery. The battery may be a dual use cordless tool battery or an original equipment battery. Alternatively, a cordless power supply comprising an interchangeable adapter may be mounted on the power conversion unit for interconnection with a plurality of batteries. Alternatively, a cordless power supply comprising an adapter integral with the power conversion unit may be used with a specific battery type.

Claims

1. A cordless power supply, comprising:

a power source and a power conversion unit;

said power source releasably coupled to said power conversion unit with a quick disconnect fitting;

said quick disconnect fitting comprising first and second coupling halves;

said first coupling half affixed to said power conversion unit;

said first coupling half intermatable with said second coupling half; and

, said second coupling half being integral with said power source;

said first and second halves of said quick disconnect fitting being coupled or uncoupled;

said first coupling half including second coupling half engaging surfaces having first electrical conductors for communicating electrical power and/or information between said second coupling half engaging surfaces and said power conversion unit;

said second coupling half including first coupling half engaging surfaces having second electrical conductors for communicating electrical power and/or information between said first coupling half engaging surfaces and said power source;

such that, when coupled, said first and second coupling halves allow electrical power and/or information to be communicated between said power conversion unit and said power source.

2. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a direct current power source and said power conversion unit converts direct current.

3. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first coupling half is an integral part of said power conversion unit.

4. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first coupling half is affixed to said power conversion unit by removable fasteners allowing a plurality of configurations of first coupling halves to be interconnected with said power conversion unit.

5. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first coupling half with said power conversion unit affixed thereto is interengageable with said second coupling half;

said first coupling half includes first longitudinal alignment surfaces, said second coupling half includes second longitudinal alignment surfaces;

said first electrical conductors of said first coupling half include a first power interconnection and a second power interconnection;

said second electrical conductors of said second coupling half integral with said power source includes a first electrical receptacle and a second electrical receptacle;

said first coupling half includes a mating catch and said second coupling half includes a biased latch; and

, during coupling;

said first longitudinal alignment surfaces of said first coupling half and said second longitudinal alignment surfaces of said second coupling half slidingly interengage each other preventing vertical and lateral separation of said first and second coupling halves;

said first power interconnection of said first electrical conductors of said first coupling half slidingly interengages said first electrical receptacle of said second electrical conductors of said second coupling half, said second power interconnection of said first electrical conductors of said first coupling half slidingly interengages said second electrical receptacle of said second electrical conductors of said second coupling half;

said sliding of said first longitudinal alignment surfaces with respect to said second longitudinal alignment surfaces and said sliding of said first and second power interconnections with respect to said first and second electrical receptacles continues until said mating catch of said first coupling half interengages said biased latch of said second coupling half; and

,

said interengagement of said mating catch and said biased latch preventing longitudinal separation of said first and second coupling halves.

6. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more of said fasteners is made of an electrically conductive material and electrically connects one or more of said second coupling half engaging surfaces of said first coupling half with said power conversion unit, said fasteners simultaneously mechanically and electrically connect said first coupling half, one or more second coupling half engaging surfaces of said first coupling half, and said power conversion unit.

7. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first coupling half comprises adapting circuitry interposed between said second coupling half engaging surfaces and said electrical conductors.

8. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a cordless tool battery pack.

9. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a power adapter comprising a second coupling half compatible with said first coupling half, an electrical cable, said cable connects to a second power source and conveys electrical power and/or information from said second power source to said second coupling half, said first coupling half, and said power conversion unit.

10. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 9 wherein said power adapter comprises power adapting circuitry interposed between said electrical cable and said second coupling half.

11. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery.

12. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit, comprising:

a step for mounting a first coupling half to said power conversion unit;

a step for establishing electrical communication between said first coupling half and said power conversion unit; and

,

a step for coupling a second coupling half to said first coupling half, said second coupling half interconnected with a power source, and establishing electrical communication between said first coupling half, said second coupling half, said power source, and said power conversion unit.

13. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said steps for mounting a first coupling half to said power conversion unit and establishing electrical communication between said first coupling half and said power conversion unit further comprises:

a step for mounting a first intermediate coupling half to said power conversion unit;

a step for establishing electrical communication between said first intermediate coupling half and said power conversion unit; and

,

a step for coupling a second intermediate coupling half to said first intermediate coupling half establishing electrical communication between said first and second intermediate coupling halves, and, the combination of said first and second intermediate coupling halves function together as said first coupling half.

14. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 13 further comprising:

a step for removing said first coupling half from said power conversion unit and re-mounting another first coupling half to said power conversion unit.

15. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said power source is a cordless tool battery.

16. A process for coupling a power source to a power conversion unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said power source is a power adapter comprising a second coupling half compatible with said first coupling half, an electrical cable, said cable connects to a second power source and conveys electrical power and/or information from said second power source to said second coupling half, said first coupling half, and said power conversion unit.

17. A cordless power supply, comprising:

a power conversion unit;

a first coupling half and a second coupling half;

said first coupling half comprises a female component and a male component;

said female component of said first coupling half includes electrical receptacles therein;

electrically conducting fasteners affix said female component of said first coupling half to said power conversion unit;

said electrical receptacles of said female component of said first coupling half being in electrical communication with said electrically conducting fasteners;

said male component includes male electrical conductors protruding therefrom which intermate with said electrical receptacles of said female component coupling said male and female components together;

said male component of said first coupling half further includes female receiving surfaces;

a second coupling half, said second coupling half being integral with a power supply, said second coupling half includes male engaging surfaces; and

,

said male engaging surfaces of said second coupling half interengaging said female receiving surfaces of said female component of said first coupling half.

18. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 17 wherein said power supply is a direct current power supply and said power conversion unit converts direct current to alternating current.

19. A cordless power supply as claimed in claim 17 wherein said power supply is a battery.