Adaptor/holder for rechargeable electrical tool

• US 5,159,256 A
• Filed: 02/11/1991
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wella AG Per Parent
• Original Assignee: Wella AG Per Parent
• Inventors: Mattinger, Detlef, Trinkaus, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKEY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/653,671
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 30/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 320/115
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/286 providing for two or more different electrical power sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 30/01 Rechargeable battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

The mechanism for operating a rechargeable electrical tool having a rechargeable battery for line-powered operation or for battery-powered operation includes an adapter for electrical connection of a tool portion to a current source; a holder shaped to hold the adapter alone and also the adapter together with the tool portion when the adapter is connected with the tool portion; a device for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter; a device for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder; means for detaching the adapter from the holder at least partially located in the adapter and cooperating with the means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that when the adapter is in the holder and when the means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and a device for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with the means for releasably attaching the adapter and the holder, so that, when the adapter is in the holder and when the means for releasably attaching the adapter with the holder is actuated to attach the adapter with the holder, the tool portion is detachable from the adapter.

Claims

1. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter;

means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder;

means for detaching the adapter from the holder cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that, when said adapter is in said holder and when said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and

means for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the adapter and the holder, so that, when the adapter is in the holder and when said means for releasably attaching the adapter with the holder is actuated to attach the adapter with the holder, the tool portion is detachable from the adapter;

wherein said means for detaching the adapter from the holder is at least partially located in the adapter.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said tool portion is a hair cutting device.

3. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter; and

means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder;

wherein said means for said releasably attaching said adapter and said tool portion comprises a magnetic circuit and means for closing said magnetic circuit, and said means for electrical connection of said tool portion and said current source of said adapter include a plurality of spring contacts providing an electrical connection of said adapter with said tool portion; and

wherein said means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder is at least partially located in the adapter and said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is also at least partially located in the adapter.

4. The device defined in claim 3, wherein said magnetic circuit includes a coil an said means for closing said magnetic circuit is a magnetic current switch positioned in said tool portion and said coil is energized by said magnetic circuit switch.

5. The device defined in claim 4, wherein said holder is provided with a holder cavity for receipt of said adapter and said tool portion, said holder cavity having a bottom portion, and wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter with said holder comprises at least one permanent magnet located in the holder in the bottom portion of said holder cavity, said adapter having at least one anchoring plate positioned to cooperate with said permanent magnet when said adapter is placed in said holder cavity.

6. The device defined in claim 5, wherein said magnet circuit has means for generating a stray magnetic field in said coil, which compensates action of said permanent magnet.

7. The device defined in claim 4, further comprising circuit means which makes the electrical connection between said adapter and said tool portion so that said tool portion is connected electrically with said current source, when said rechargeable battery has been substantially discharged.

8. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

manually actuable means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter wherein said means for said releasably attaching said adapter and said tool portion includes at least one adapter spring, said at least one adapter spring urging said adapter and said tool portion away from each other, and at least one snap coupling, which, on pressing together said tool portion and said adapter against a spring force of said adapter spring, locks said tool portion with said adapter, said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter being at least partially in the adapter.

9. The device defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one adapter spring comprises a coil spring directed toward said tool portion in said adapter, and wherein said snap coupling comprises two snap catches in said adapter, said snap catches being arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said adapter, and a plurality of guide members for said snap catches located on said tool portion, said snap catches being moveable radially outwardly relative to an axis of said tool;

portion during a motion of said tool portion and said snap catches subsequently being engageable in said tool portion and said snap catches being pivotally mounted so that said snap catches are guidable by said guide members located on said tool portion on application of an additional force.

10. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter;

means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder;

means for detaching the adapter from the holder cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that, when said adapter is in said holder and when said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and

means for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the adapter and the holder, so that, when the adapter is in the holder and when said means for releasably attaching the adapter with the holder is actuated to attach the adapter with the holder, the tool portion is detachable from the adapter; and

wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter and said tool portion and also said means for detaching said tool portion from said adapter comprises a mechanical two-state device located in said adapter, said two-state device having a first stable position and a second stable position and being mechanically shiftable between said first and second stable positions, so that, when said tool portion is engaged with said adapter with said two-state device in said first position, said tool portion is electrically connected with said adapter but not attached to said adapter so that said rechargeable battery can be charged and with said two-state device in said second position said tool portion and said adapter are attached to each other and released from said holder for said line-powered operation.

11. The device defined in claim 10, wherein said means for releasably connecting said adapter and said holder comprises a locking lever connected with said mechanical two-state device and a recess in said holder in which said locking lever is engagable, said locking lever being engaged in the recess when said mechanical two-state device is in said first position to connected said adapter and said holder and being disengaged from the recess when said mechanical two-state device is in said second position, so that said adapter is released from said holder.

12. The device defined in claim 11, in which said mechanical two-state device has a spring-loaded prime lever pivotally mounted in said adapter for releasable locking of said tool portion and said adapter engageable under a ring-like shoulder of said tool portion under which said prime lever engages when said adapter is locked with said tool portion.

13. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter;

means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder;

means for detaching the adapter from the holder cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that, when said adapter is in said holder and when said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and

means for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the adapter and the holder, so that, when the adapter is in the holder and when said means for releasably attaching the adapter with the holder is actuated to attach the adapter with the holder, the tool portion is detachable from the adapter wherein said adapter has a substantially angular shape, one portion of said adapter being shaped to fit partially to one side of said tool portion and another portion of said adapter being shaped to fit to a lower end of said tool portion, and wherein said interlocking means for releasably locking said adapter and said tool portion comprises an operating projection provided on said lower end of said tool portion in the vicinity of said one side, said operating projection being engagable in a recess of said adapter;

a clip-receiving tool portion cavity provided in said side of said tool portion and spaced from said lower end of said tool portion, said tool portion cavity containing at least one locking stud projecting from said side of said tool portion; and

a locking clip attached to and projecting from said other portion of said adapter and engagable in said tool portion cavity when said tool portion is engaged with said adapter.

14. The device defined in claim 13, wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter and said holder comprises another adapter spring provided in said recess in said other portion of said adapter, said other adapter spring being compressed in said recess when said operating projection is inserted in said recess.

15. The device defined in claim 14, wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter and said holder further comprises a plurality of slidable bolts in said adapter connected with said other adapter spring to be slidable on compression and release of said other adapter spring, each of said slidable bolts being engagable in one of a plurality of holes provided in said holder adjacent said adapter on release of said other adapter spring from compression when said operating projection is removed from said recess.

16. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter;

means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder;

means for detaching the adapter from the holder cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that, when said adapter is in said holder and when said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and

means for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the adapter and the holder, so that, when the adapter is in the holder and when said means for releasably attaching the adapter with the holder is actuated to attach the adapter with the holder, the tool portion is detachable from the adapter;

wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter and said holder comprise a conical stud of said holder engageable in a passage of said adapter and a plurality of spreading arms of said adapter engagable under edges of a recess of said holder, and

wherein said means for detaching the adapter from the holder comprise the conical stud of the holder.

17. The device defined in claim 16, wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter and said tool portion comprises a pin in the tool portion and a pin spring in the tool portion acting on the pin, the pin being engagable in said passage of said adapter and being mounted slidable axially against the action of the pin spring, a projection of said tool portion engagable under a shoulder of said adapter, and a plurality of tongues of said adapter engagable in a plurality of grooves of said tool portion.

18. The device defined in claim 17 wherein said adapter is provided with inclined surfaces rising toward said passage, by which said pin of said tool portion which is spring-loaded slides longitudinally so that said pin is forced in said passage under action of said pin spring when said tool portion slides into an end in said holder position said spreading arms of said adapter are operated.

19. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter;

means for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder;

means for detaching the adapter from the holder cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that, when said adapter is in said holder and when said means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and

means for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with said means for releasably attaching the adapter and the holder, so that, when the adapter is in the holder and when said means for releasably attaching the adapter with the holder is actuated to attach the adapter with the holder, the tool portion is detachable from the adapter; and

wherein said tool portion is provided with a tool portion cavity and said adapter is formed to substantially fit in the tool portion cavity of said tool portion;

and said means for releasably attaching the adapter and the tool portion comprise an spring-loaded axial pin projecting from the tool portion and an axial passage provided in the adapter, said spring-loaded axial pin entering said axial passage on engagement of said adapter and said tool portion, the spring-loaded axial pin projecting from said tool portion into said cavity and into said axial passage of said adapter, when said adapter is connected with said tool portion; and

a plurality of projections and tongues and additional grooves and recess provided in said tool portion and said adapter, so that motion of said adapter from said tool portion in a longitudinal direction of said pin is prevented, when said tool portion is attached to said adapter.

20. The device defined in claim 19, wherein said adapter has a slot extending longitudinally up to one end of said adapter from said passage, which enlarges toward said end of said adapter and two laterally projecting ones of said tongues located at the other end of said adapter.

21. The device defined in claim 19, wherein said means for releasably attaching said adapter and said holder comprise an additional stud in said holder and an additional adapter spring acting on said additional stud in said holder, said additional stud projecting substantially vertically relative to and through a bearing surface of said holder for said adapter and being slidable against a force of said additional adapter spring, and also a plurality of hooks of said holder connected with and projecting beyond an end wall of said holder so that said hooks partially engage over said adapter, when said adapter is positioned at said end wall.

22. The device defined in claim 21 wherein said additional stud has a diameter smaller than a diameter of said axial passage, and an end of said additional stud is spherical.

23. The device defined in claim 21, wherein said holder is provided with a longitudinal passage extending in a longitudinal direction of the holder, and said additional adapter spring is arranged in said longitudinal passage and said additional stud has a guide and retaining member attached thereto and located in said longitudinal passage slidable against the action of said additional adapter spring, said additional stud projecting through an elongated hole provided in said bearing surface of said holder.

24. The device defined in claim 23 wherein said holder has an inclined one of said bearing surfaces for said tool portion, said cable issues from said lower end of said bearing surface and a downwardly opening is provided both in the vicinity of a lower end of said bearing surface and under an upper end of said bearing surface.

25. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and when connected with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion; and

a mechanical two-state device in said adapter for interlocking the tool portion with the adapter and releasing the adapter from the holder and also for releasing the tool portion from the adapter while connecting the adapter with the holder, said two-state device having a first stable position and a second stable position and being mechanically shiftable between said first and second stable positions, in said first position said tool portion being electrically connected with said adapter but not mechanically locked with said adapter so that said rechargeable battery can be charged and in said second position said tool portion and said adapter being locked together and released from said holder for said line-powered operation, said two-state device having a spring-loaded prime lever pivotally mounted in said adapter for releasable locking of said tool portion and said adapter, said prime lever being engagable under a ring-like shoulder of said tool portion; and

a locking lever connected with said prime lever engagable in a recess in said holder, said locking lever being engaged in the recess when said mechanical two-state device is in said first position to connect said adapter and said holder and being disengaged from the recess when said mechanical two-state device is in said second position so that said adapter is released from said holder.

26. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and when connected with said current source;

a holder shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

at least one adapter spring in said adapter, said at least one adapter spring urging said adapter and said tool portion away from each other;

two additional contact coil springs for electrical connection of said tool portion and said adapter between said tool portion and said adapter; and

at least one snap coupling for releasable locking of said tool portion and said adapter, said at least one snap coupling locking said tool portion with said adapter against a spring force of said adapter spring, said at least one snap coupling including two snap catches in said adapter, said snap catches being arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said adapter, and a plurality of guide members for said snap catches located on said tool portion, said snap catches being moveable radially outwardly relative to an axis of said tool portion and said snap catches being engagable behind inclined surfaces of said tool portion, said snap catches being pivotally mounted so that said snap catches are guidable by said guide members located on said tool portion.

27. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and when connected with said current source;

a holder having a holder cavity shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

at least one permanent magnet located in the holder in a bottom portion of said holder cavity, said adapter having at least one anchoring plate positioned to cooperate with said permanent magnet and hold said adapter in said holder when said adapter is placed in said holder cavity; and

a coil in said adapter connectable with said current source for generating a magnetic field so that said tool portion is locked to said adapter.

28. A device for operating a rechargeable electrical tool comprising:

a rechargeable tool portion containing a rechargeable battery;

means for line-powered operation of said tool portion;

means for battery-powered operation of said tool portion including said rechargeable battery;

an adapter including means for electrical connection of said tool portion to a current source, said tool portion being mechanically and electrically connectable and disconnectable from said adapter, said adapter supplying current to said tool portion when connected electrically with said tool portion and when connected with said current source;

a holder having a holder cavity shaped to hold said adapter alone and also said adapter together with said tool portion when said adapter is connected with said tool portion;

means for releasably connecting said adapter and said holder including a conical stud of said holder engagable in a passage of said adapter and a plurality of spreading arms of said adapter engagable under edges of a recess of said holder; and

means for releasable locking of said adapter and said tool portion including a pin in the tool portion and a pin spring in the tool portion acting on the pin, the pin being engagable in said passage of said adapter and being mounted slidable axially against the action of the pin spring, a projection of said tool portion engagable under a shoulder of said adapter, and a plurality of tongues of said adapter engagable in a plurality of grooves of said tool portion.