Abstract:
A charger (40; 240; 340) charges a battery pack (20) that is detachably attachable to a cordless power tool (12). The charger has at least a first side wall (44b) that at least partially defines a battery pack receiving hole (44; 244) shaped to receive and accommodate the battery pack. A charging output element (62; 362) supplies charging power to the battery pack. The battery pack receiving hole has a lateral cross sectional area that decreases downwardly in the vertical direction of the battery pack receiving hole such that gravity causes the battery pack to be guided to a prescribed position within the battery pack receiving hole. In addition, the charging output element is positioned so as to be proximal to a corresponding charging power input element of the battery pack when the battery pack is disposed in the prescribed position.
Abstract:
A method for recharging a battery pack (40; 40′) includes attaching a portable charger (120) to a user, which portable charger comprises or is attached to a self-contained power supply (130, 140) and wherein a first charging port (132, 146) of the portable charger is disposed, e.g., on a belt (144) worn by the user, hanging the battery pack on the belt while the battery pack is physically engaged and in electrical communication with a power tool (10; 10′), and initiating a transfer of power from the charger to the battery pack when the first charging port is at least proximal to a second charging port (85, 148) that is in electrical communication with at least one battery cell (50) of the battery pack. A portable charging system capable of performing this method, as well as an adapter for use in performing this method, are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A charger charges a rechargeable battery pack of a cordless power tool. The charger includes at least one wall that at least partially defines a battery pack receiving space for the battery pack, a first guide extending away from the at least one wall, and a second guide extending away from the at least one wall and spaced from the first guide. The at least one wall, the first guide and the second guide are configured to guide the battery pack to a prescribed position relative to the at least one wall. The first guide and the second guide each include a portion inclined relative to the insertion direction by an angle of inclination such that the distance between the inclined portion of the first guide and the inclined portion of the second guide decreases in the insertion direction.
Abstract:
A power tool system includes a hand-held power tool having a housing with a battery pack interface, an electrically-driven device and a first connector. A battery pack is detachably attached to the battery pack interface and supplies current to the electrically-driven device. An adapter has a second connector physically and electrically connected with the first connector in a detachable manner. The adapter receives power from the battery pack via the hand-held power tool and provides at least one additional electrical function to the hand-held power tool or performs at least one additional electrical function that the hand-held power tool is not otherwise capable of performing. Further, the adapter is at least partially disposed in a space defined in part by the housing and in part by the battery pack when the housing and battery pack are attached to each other.
Abstract:
A power tool includes a motor and a controller in a power tool housing. A battery pack interface is defined on and/or in the power tool housing. A receptacle is defined on and/or in the power tool housing to removably accommodate a wireless communication adapter such that the wireless communication adapter is disposed entirely within a shell of the power tool and no portion of the wireless communication adapter extends beyond an outer contour of the power tool housing. At least one communication terminal is disposed within the receptacle and is electrically connectable to the wireless communication adapter. The controller outputs to the at least one communication terminal a signal indicating a charge level of a battery pack attached to the battery pack interface, a number of hours of operation of the power tool, a power tool overheated alert, and/or a battery pack overloaded alert.
Abstract:
A power tool system includes a hand-held power tool having a power tool housing accommodating a motor, and a battery pack interface electrically connected to the motor within the power tool housing. A battery pack includes a battery pack housing accommodating at least one battery cell and a power tool interface electrically connected to the at least one battery cell within the battery pack housing. The power tool interface is configured to be physically and electrically connected to and disconnected from the battery pack interface of the power tool. A wireless communicator is attached to or accommodated within the battery pack housing. The wireless communicator is configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device using radio waves while the power tool interface of the battery pack is physically and electrically connected to the battery pack interface of the hand-held power tool.
Abstract:
A charger charges a rechargeable battery pack of a cordless power tool. The charger includes at least one wall that at least partially defines a battery pack receiving space for the battery pack, a first guide extending away from the at least one wall, and a second guide extending away from the at least one wall and spaced from the first guide. The at least one wall, the first guide and the second guide are configured to guide the battery pack to a prescribed position relative to the at least one wall. The first guide and the second guide each include a portion inclined relative to the insertion direction by an angle of inclination such that the distance between the inclined portion of the first guide and the inclined portion of the second guide decreases in the insertion direction.
Abstract:
A battery system for a power tool includes two or more battery packs (12), at least one battery holder (14) adapted to detachably engage two or more of the battery packs and a charger (16, 216, 316, 416) adapted to detachably engage the battery holder and to simultaneously electrically communicate with two or more of the battery packs while the at least one battery holder engages both the charger and the battery packs.
Abstract:
A battery system for a power tool includes two or more battery packs (12), at least one battery holder (14) adapted to detachably engage two or more of the battery packs and a charger (16, 216, 316, 416) adapted to detachably engage the battery holder and to simultaneously electrically communicate with two or more of the battery packs while the at least one battery holder engages both the charger and the battery packs.
Abstract:
A power tool includes a power tool housing accommodating a motor; a battery pack interface electrically connected to the motor and being configured to be physically and electrically connected to and disconnected from a power tool interface of a battery pack; and a wireless communicator configured to be attached to or detached from the power tool housing. The wireless communicator wirelessly transmits data between the power tool and an external device using radio waves. In addition, the power tool housing includes a receptacle opening configured to accommodate the wireless communicator within the power tool housing such that no part of the wireless communicator projects or protrudes beyond an outer surface or contour of the power tool housing.