Ruggedized tradesworkers radio

• US 7,043,283 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Domes, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/758,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343, 455/344, 455/347, 455/351, 455/348, 455/66.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/111
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/06 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/08 Constructional details, e.g. cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A tradesworker'"'"'s radio has a weather and impact resistant features to enable a tradesworker to use the radio under adverse working conditions, such as construction or other work sites. Louvered grills covering moisture resistant loudspeakers are angled downward to protect the speakers from direct splash in case the radio is left outdoors in a heavy downpour. A layer of felt-like material is interspersed between the louvered grills and the loudspeaker cones to offer improved moisture resistance. A non-telescoping antenna of the rubber covered spring type material folds neatly into recess when not in use. The controls include waterproof pushbuttons for on/off, volume adjustment, a weather channel, AM/FM selection and tuning. Elastomeric blocks are bonded to the interior of the housing and the blocks have bonded threaded studs, which are used to shock mount the radio circuit board to the inside of the housing. This circuit board is treated with a conformal coating to improve its moisture resistance. The preferred housing material is a layer of rigid plastic, which is impact resistant and the outer covering is a resilient tough elastomer. The radio can be used with an adapter to convert to a power hand tool battery pack to accommodate a variety of different battery packs and adapters. The battery compartment is generous in size and lined with a soft polyurethane material to protect the battery pack from damage.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a charger disposed within the housing;

a receptacle in the charger;

a battery pack, detachably connectable to a power tool, mounted in the receptacle;

an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger;

a first electrical circuit for charging the battery pack and for powering the audio circuit; and

a cable connector for connecting the first electrical circuit to an AC power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprising a second electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a charger disposed within the housing for charging a power tool battery pack detachably connectable to a power tool;

an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger;

a power supply circuit disposed within the housing for providing power to at least one of the charger and the audio circuit; and

a cable connector for connecting the power supply circuit to an AC power source.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit.

7. A method for charging a power tool battery pack comprising:

providing an audio equipment component having a housing, a power supply disposed within the housing, a charger disposed within the housing, an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, the audio circuit being connected to the power supply;

connecting the power supply to an AC power source via a cable;

connecting the charger to the power supply;

connecting the battery pack to the charger;

providing power to the battery pack; and

disconnecting the battery pack from the charger.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising inserting the battery pack into a power tool.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing power to the audio circuit while providing power to the battery pack.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising manually switching the power supply to provide power to the audio circuit from the battery pack.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an audio circuit for producing an audio signal disposed in the housing;

a charger disposed in the housing;

a receptacle in the charger;

a battery pack detachably connectable in a power tool mounted in the receptacle;

a first electrical circuit in the charger for charging the battery pack and for powering the audio circuit; and

a cable connector for connecting the first electrical circuit to an AC power source.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus further comprising a second electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit.

15. A method for charging a power tool battery pack comprising:

providing an audio equipment component having a power supply, a circuit for producing an audio signal connected to the power supply and a charger connected to the power supply;

disposing the battery pack in the charger;

connecting the power supply to an AC power source via a cable;

providing power to the battery pack; and

removing the battery pack from the charger.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising inserting the battery pack into a power tool.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing power to the audio signal circuit while providing power to the battery pack.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising manually switching the power supply to provide power to the audio signal circuit from the battery pack.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a charger electrically connectable to an AC power source;

a battery pack, detachably connectable to a power tool, connectable to the charger; and

an audio circuit electrically connected to at least one of the battery pack and the charger for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, the audio circuit being powerable by at least one of the battery pack and the AC power source.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a housing for enclosing the audio circuit.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a housing for enclosing the charger.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a power supply circuit electrically connecting the audio circuit to the AC power source.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit.