Power tool, battery, charger and method of operating the same

• US 7,557,534 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mergener, Matthew J., Uehlein-Proctor, Nancy, Holly, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US11/435,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 320/110, 320/107, 320/112, 320/114, 320/113, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take 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 battery, battery charger, and a method of operating the same. The battery and the charger can be lockingly engageable with each other. The battery can be electrically coupled to a charging circuit of the charger for charging the battery. One of the battery and the charger can include a protrusion and the other of the battery and charger can include a recess for receiving the protrusion. The method can include inserting the battery into the charger along an insertion axis and charging the battery. The method can further include rotating the battery about the insertion axis to secure the battery with the charger while continuing to charge the battery.

Claims

1. A method of operating a battery charger having a body and a charging circuit, one of the charger and the battery including an outwardly extending protrusion and an other of the charger and the battery defining a recess for receiving the outwardly extending protrusion, the method comprising the acts of:

electrically connecting the battery and the charging circuit to charge the battery before engaging the protrusion in the recess to secure the battery to the body of the charger,

wherein electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit includes moving the battery along a first path, and wherein securing the battery to the body includes moving the battery along a second path, the second path being different than the first path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body of the battery charger defines an aperture, and wherein electrically connecting the battery and the charging circuit includes inserting the battery into the aperture along an insertion axis.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein engaging the protrusion in the recess includes pivoting the battery about the axis relative to the battery charger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the protrusion in the recess includes moving the battery toward a locked position, in which the battery is secured to the body of the charger, and further comprising moving the battery toward an unlocked position, in which the battery is removably supported on the body, the battery being electrically connected to the charging circuit when the battery is in the locked position and when the battery is in the unlocked position.

5. A method of operating a battery charger having a body and a charging circuit extending through the body, the method comprising the acts of:

electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit to charge the battery; and

moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body while continuing to charge the battery,

wherein electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit includes moving the battery along a first path, and wherein securing the battery to the body includes moving the battery along a second path, the second path being different than the first path.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the body of the battery charger defines an aperture, and wherein electrically connecting the battery to the charging circuit includes inserting the battery into the aperture along an insertion axis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the charger and the battery includes an outwardly extending protrusion, wherein an other of the charger and the battery defines a recess for receiving the outwardly extending protrusion, and wherein moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body includes moving the protrusion into locking engagement with the recess.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body includes pivoting the battery about the axis.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein moving the battery with respect to the battery charger to secure the battery to the body includes moving the battery toward a locked position, in which the battery is secured to the body of the charger, and further comprising moving the battery toward an unlocked position, in which the battery is removably supported on the body, the battery being electrically connected to the charging circuit when the battery is in the locked position and when the battery is in the unlocked position.