Battery for a power tool with a battery pack ejector

• US 8,312,937 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Turner, Terry L., Campbell, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/544,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 173/213, 173/216, 173/217, 310/36, 310/50, 320/115, 320/116, 429/96, 429/97, 403/375, 403/381
• US Class Current: 173/217
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever

Abstract

A power tool has a mechanism for ejecting a battery pack which includes a receiving frame which defines a cavity to receive a battery pack. A receiving member is adjacent the cavity. The receiving member meshes with a member on the battery pack to hold the battery pack in the cavity. A biasing member is in the cavity adjacent the receiving member. The biasing member ejects the battery pack from the ejecting mechanism. A member retains the biasing member in the cavity. The member guides a portion of the battery pack meshing with the receiving member into contact with the biasing member such that when the battery pack is locked onto the frame, the biasing member is in a compressed condition and when the battery pack is an unlocked position, the biasing member ejects the battery pack from the frame.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a housing for retaining a battery;

a retention mechanism coupled with said housing, said retention mechanism for retaining said battery pack on a power tool, said retention mechanism including a pair of rails extending along said housing, the rails being located on opposite sides of said battery pack and facing outwardly, each rail including a first channel, said first channel adapted to receive a tab on the power tool to guide the battery pack into position on the power tool; and

an electrical connector extending from said housing adapted for coupling with an electrical connector on the power tool for electrically coupling the battery pack with the power tool;

wherein said rails further comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions being at least partially spaced from one another along a direction from the base to the top of the housing, the at least partial spacing being visible from the outward direction, with said first channels between said upper and lower portions; and

wherein second channels are formed between an upper surface of the battery pack housing and the lower portions of the rails.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said housing has an overall rectangular configuration with a pair of sidewalls parallel to a longitudinal axis and a pair of end walls continuous with said sidewalls and perpendicular to said axis and a bottom wall and a top wall with said retention mechanism extending from said top wall.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a release button positioned on a wall for activating a latch that extends from a top wall.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said retention mechanism is acted on by a biasing mechanism for biasing the battery pack in a direction away from a power tool when a release button on said battery pack is activated.

5. A battery pack comprising:

a housing for retaining a battery, said housing having a side wall, a base and a top;

a retaining mechanism for retaining the battery pack in a power tool, said retaining mechanism including mating members for coupling with mating members on the power tool; and

a release mechanism for securing and releasing the battery pack from a power tool, said release mechanism including a release button and a latch mechanism; and

an electrical connector adapted for coupling with an electrical connector on the power tool for electrically coupling the battery pack with the power tool;

wherein said retaining mechanism includes at least two rails extending along said housing, the at least two rails being located on opposite sides of said battery pack and facing outwardly;

wherein said rails each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions being at least partially spaced from one another along a direction from the base to the top of the housing, the at least partial spacing being visible from the outward direction;

wherein channels are formed between an upper surface of the battery pack housing and the lower portions of the rails.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein said retention mechanism projects from said top.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein said latch projects from said retention mechanism.

8. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein said latch automatically engages the power tool as the battery pack is slid onto the power tool.

9. A method for coupling a battery pack with a tool comprising:

providing a power tool including a frame for receiving a battery pack, said frame including a pair of channels and a catch;

providing a battery pack including a housing for retaining a battery, said housing having a side wall, a base and a top;

a retention mechanism coupled with said housing, said retention mechanism for retaining said battery pack on a power tool, said retention mechanism including at least two rails extending along said housing, the at least two rails being located on opposite sides of said battery pack and facing outwardly; and

an electrical connector adapted for coupling with an electrical connector on the power tool for electrically coupling the battery pack with the power tool wherein said rails each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions being at least partially spaced from one another along a direction from the base to the top of the housing, the at least partial spacing being visible from the outward direction;

positioning said rails of said battery pack in said channels of said frame;

moving said battery pack and said power tool toward one another;

engaging said release mechanism with said latch for locking said battery pack and power tool together;

electrically coupling said battery pack electrical connector with an electrical connector of said power tool.

10. The method of coupling a battery pack with a tool of claim 9, further including releasing said battery pack from said power tool.

11. The method of coupling a battery pack with a tool of claim 10, further comprising activating said release mechanism.

12. The method of coupling a battery pack with a tool of claim 11, further comprising releasing said release mechanism from said latch.

13. The method of coupling a battery pack with a tool of claim 12, further comprising ejecting said battery pack from said power tool.