Power driver and charger with flexible mounting system for battery pack

• US 20060091852A1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Watson, James B., Trinh, Danh, Wall, Daniel P., Phillips, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/024 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 45/02 driven by electric power
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/30 Nickel accumulators H01M10/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• 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: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power tool may include a housing that supports an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may include at least two terminal sets that are arranged in parallel to each other. The at least two terminal sets may include a first terminal set configured for engagement along a first axis to a battery pack having a first configuration and a second terminal set configured for engagement along a second axis to a battery pack having a second, different configuration. A battery charger may include a housing, and an interface that is electrically and mechanically compatible with at least two battery packs having different configurations and battery cell chemistries.

Claims

1. A power driver comprising:

a housing; and

an electrical circuit supported by the housing;

wherein the electrical circuit includes at least two terminal sets that are arranged in parallel to each other, the at least two terminal sets including

a first terminal set configured for engagement along a first axis to a battery pack having a first configuration, and

a second terminal set configured for engagement along a second axis to a battery pack having a second configuration.

2. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

3. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein only one of the at least two terminal sets is engageable with a battery pack at a given moment in time.

4. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit includes a motor.

5. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit includes a switch.

6. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cavity, and one of the at least two terminal sets is located in a bottom of the cavity.

7. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes rails respectively defining grooves, and one of the at least two terminal sets is located toward longitudinal ends of the grooves.

8. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein none of the at least two terminal sets is provided on an adapter that is releasably engageable with the housing.

9. The power driver according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal set is mounted for movement on the housing.

10. The power driver according to a claim 9, wherein the second terminal set is moveable between a connecting position and a released position.

11. The power driver according to claim 10, wherein the second terminal set is biased toward the connecting position.

12. A power driver comprising:

a housing; and

an electrical circuit supported by the housing;

wherein the power driver includes an interface having

a first interface portion configured for engagement along a first axis to a battery pack having a first configuration, and

a second interface portion configured for engagement along a second axis to a battery pack having a second configuration.

13. The power driver according to claim 12, wherein the interface includes at least two terminal sets of the electrical circuit.

14. The power driver according to claim 12, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

15. A cordless drill comprising:

a housing; and

an electrical circuit supported by the housing;

wherein the electrical circuit includes

a motor,

a first terminal set electrically coupled to the motor and configured for engagement along a first axis to a battery pack having a first configuration, and

a second terminal set electrically coupled to the motor and configured for engagement along a second axis to a battery pack having a second configuration.

16. The cordless drill according to claim 15, wherein the electrical circuit includes a switch.

17. The cordless drill according to claim 15, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

18. A battery charger comprising:

a housing; and

an interface having

a tower interface portion with a first terminal set that is electrically compatible with a tower battery pack having one of nickel-cadmium battery cells and nickel-metal-hydride battery cells, and

a rail interface portion with a second terminal set that is electrically compatible with a rail battery pack having lithium ion battery cells.

19. The battery charger of claim 18, wherein the first and the second terminal sets are fixed to the housing.

20. The battery charger of claim 18, wherein the housing includes a single battery receiving port.