Kit of power tools

• US 20080101100A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Griffin, Paul W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/54
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 3/00 Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence

Abstract

A kit comprising a plurality of power tools configured to operate on different operating voltages and a plurality of receivers configured to provide different output charging voltages for charging the power tools. Each receiver is configured to engage and charge only the one or more power tools having an operating voltage equal to or greater than the output charging voltage of that receiver.

Claims

1. A kit comprising:

(a) a plurality of power tools, each power tool configured to operate on an operating voltage, the operating voltages of at least two of the power tools being different from each other; and

(b) a plurality of receivers for charging the power tools, each receiver including a power source configured to provide an output charging voltage, the output charging voltages of at least two of the receivers being different from each other, the output charging voltage of one of the receivers being equal to or greater than the operating voltage of at least one of the power tools and the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being equal to or greater than the operating voltage of at least one of the other power tools, each receiver configured to engage and charge only one or more power tools having an operating voltage equal to or greater than the output charging voltage of the receiver.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein each of the power tools includes a power tool housing and each power tool housing is substantially similar in construction to each other power tool housing.

3. The kit of claim 1 wherein each receiver includes a receiver housing and each receiver housing is substantially similar in construction to each other receiver housing.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein each power tool includes a housing having engaging structure for engaging the receivers and each engaging structure is substantially similar in construction to each other engaging structure.

5. The kit of claim 4 wherein each power tool housing includes a base and the engaging structure of each power tool housing defines a slot on the base and wherein each receiver includes engaging structure for engaging the power tools comprising a rail configured to be slidably received by the slot.

6. The kit of claim 1 wherein each power tool includes a power tool housing having a base including engaging structure for engaging the receivers and each engaging structure is substantially similar in construction to each other.

7. The kit of claim 6 wherein the engaging structure of each power tool housing defines a pair of slots on the base and wherein each receiver includes a receiver housing having engaging structure for engaging the power tools comprising a pair of rails configured to be slidably received by the slots.

8. The kit of claim 1 wherein each receiver includes a receiver housing having engaging structure for engaging the power tools and each engaging structure is substantially similar in construction to each other.

9. The kit of claim 8 wherein the engaging structure of each receiver housing is configured to engage the base of each of the power tools.

10. The kit of claim 1 further including a plurality of terminal blocks, each terminal block secured to a respective one of the power tools, the terminal block configured to electrically connect each receiver with only the one or more power tools.

11. The kit of claim 10 wherein each power tool includes a housing having a base and each of the terminal blocks is secured to the base of the respective one of the power tools.

12. The kit of claim 10 wherein each of the power tools includes a power tool housing and each power tool housing is substantially similar in construction to each other.

13. The kit of claim 12 wherein each receiver includes a receiver housing and each receiver housing is substantially similar in construction to each other.

14. The kit of claim 1 wherein each of the power tools include working elements, the working elements being different from each other.

15. The kit of claim 1 wherein there are at least six power tools, the operating voltage of one of the power tools being 9.6 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools being 12 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools being 14.4 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools being 18 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools being 20 volts, and the operating voltage of an other of the power tools being 24 volts.

16. The kit of claim 1 wherein there are at least six receivers, the output charging voltage of one of the receivers being 9.6 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being 12 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being 14.4 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being 18 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being 20 volts, and the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being 24 volts.

17. A kit comprising:

(a) a plurality of power tools having power tool housings of substantially similar constructions, the power tools being configured to operate at an operating voltage different from each other;

(b) a plurality of receivers having receiver housings of substantially similar constructions, the receivers for charging the power tools, each receiver including a power source configured to provide an output charging voltage, the output charging voltages of at least two of the power receivers being different from each other, the output charging voltage of one of the receivers being equal to or greater than the operating voltage of at least one of the power tools and the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers being equal to or greater than the operating voltage of at least one of the other power tools, each receiver configured to engage and charge only one or more power tools having an operating voltage equal to or greater than the output charging voltage of the receiver.

18. The kit of claim 17 wherein the power tool housings include a base having engaging structure for engaging the receiver housings and each engaging structure is substantially similar in construction to each other.

19. The kit of claim 18 wherein each engaging structure defines a pair of slots and wherein each receiver housing includes engaging structure for engaging the base comprising a pair of rails configured to be slidably receivably by the slots.

20. The kit of claim 17 further including a plurality of terminal blocks, each terminal block associated with a respective one of the power tools, the terminal block configured to electrically connect each receiver with only the one or more power tools.

21. The kit of claim 20 wherein each power tool housing includes a base and each of the terminal blocks is secured to the base of the power tool housing of the respective one of the power tools.

22. The kit of claim 17 wherein the operating voltage of one of the power tools is 9.6 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools is 12 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools is 14.4 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools is 18 volts, the operating voltage of an other of the power tools is 20 volts, and the operating voltage of an other of the power tools is 24 volts, and wherein the output charging voltage of one of the receivers is 9.6 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers is 12 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers is 14.4 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers is 18 volts, the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers is 20 volts, and the output charging voltage of an other of the receivers is 24 volts.

23. The kit of claim 17 wherein each of the power tools includes working elements, the working elements of each power tool being different from the working elements of the other power tools.