Rechargeable battery accessories

• US 9,620,989 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Inventors: Meoli, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US14/208,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A plurality of battery pack accessories are presented. The accessories include a battery power gauge adapted to be applied to a battery pack and provides a visual indication of the state of the charge in the battery pack, a light adapted to the battery pack such that the battery pack can be used as a flashlight when needed, a connector (e.g., a Universal Serial bus (USB) connector) that can be used for charging the battery pack or to allow the battery pack to charge a device.

Claims

1. A cordless power tool battery pack accessory comprising:

a housing comprising at least a first side having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge;

a first interface defined on the first side of the housing comprising;

a first mechanical interface comprising a first alignment guide defined along the first lateral edge and a second alignment guide defined along the second lateral edge, the first and second alignment guides being configured to slidably and detachably connect the accessory to a battery pack configured to slidably and detachably connect to a cordless power tool; and

a first electrical interface comprising an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the accessory to the battery pack; and

a second interface defined in the housing comprising;

a second mechanical interface configured to mechanically and detachably connect the accessory to a first device; and

a second electrical interface, in electrical communication with the first electrical interface, configured to electrically connect the accessory to the first device.

2. The apparatus accessory of claim 1 wherein said second interface comprises a female universal serial bus (USB) port.

3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said first device comprises a mobile telecommunications device.

4. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said second interface comprises a female AC power plug.

5. The accessory of claim 1 further comprising a battery power gauge configured to provide a visual indication of a state of a charge in the battery pack.

6. The accessory of claim 1 further comprising a light source, wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode (LED).

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the first electrical interface is configured to receive power having direct current (DC), and wherein the second electrical interface is configured to supply power having direct current (DC).

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the first electrical interface is configured to receive electrical power having a voltage of approximately 12 to 24 volts.

9. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a third interface defined in the housing comprising:

a third mechanical interface configured to mechanically and detachably connect the accessory to a second device; and

a third electrical interface, in electrical communication with the first electrical interface, configured to electrically connect the accessory to a second device.

10. The accessory of claim 9, wherein said third interface comprises a female universal serial bus (USB) port.

11. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the second device comprises a mobile telecommunications device.

12. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory is configured to stack vertically relative to the battery pack.

13. The accessory of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second alignment guides comprises a flange-like guide member configured to mate with a corresponding channel-like guide member on the battery pack.

14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein the first alignment guide comprises an elongate, flange-like guide member spanning substantially an entire length of the first lateral edge, and the second alignment guide comprises an elongate, flange-like guide member spanning substantially an entire length of the second lateral edge.

15. The accessory of claim 1 further comprising a flashlight.

16. A method comprising connecting the cordless power tool battery pack accessory of claim 1 to a mobile telecommunications device via the second interface.

17. A cordless power tool battery pack accessory comprising:

a housing;

a first interface defined in the housing comprising;

a first mechanical interface with at least one alignment guide configured to slidably and detachably connect the accessory to a battery pack configured to slidably and detachably connect to a cordless power tool; and

a first electrical interface comprising an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the accessory to the battery pack; and

a second interface defined in the housing comprising;

a second mechanical interface configured to mechanically and detachably connect the accessory to a device; and

a second electrical interface, in electrical communication with the first electrical interface, configured to electrically connect the accessory to the device.

18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein said second interface comprises a female universal serial bus (USB) port.

19. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the device comprises a mobile telecommunications device.

20. The accessory of claim 17 further comprising a battery power gauge configured to provide a visual indication of a state of a charge in the battery pack.