EP0561423A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Battery packs
Assignee: Black and Decker Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A battery charger (12) accepts battery packs (14, 116,18) of several configurations and size (number of cells). The common feature of the battery packs (14,16,18) is (at least) one cell (124, 124c) housed on end and substantially coaxial with a specific terminal block (22, 22a). Terminal pins (158, 160: 248, 250) are shielded from external contact and engage the terminal blades (90) of a charger terminal assembly (88) on the floor (46) of a receptacle (20). Charger terminal assembly (88) is at one end of the receptacle (20) which is elongated so that it can accommodate a battery pack "nose" portion (130, 242, 180) with either one or two cells (124, 124c) housed on end and side-by-side. Upright side walls (36, 37) of the receptacle (20) support the battery pack (14, 16, 18). In the battery pack portion (136, 170, 182) outside the receptacle (20), cells (124, 124c) may be arranged in any configuration to suit tool or other requirements. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Billy J. Gardner
- 👤 Benjamin C. Jelovich
- 👤 Frank O'hara
- 👤 Ralph Alan Secoura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H01M10/441; H01M10/48; H01M10/488; H01M10/443; H01M10/46; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/213; H01M50/296; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/70; H02J7/751; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A battery pack (14) for connection, selectively, with a tool as a power source and with a battery charger (12) for charging, comprising a housing (126); a battery cell assembly (124a, 124b) contained in the housing (126) and having a nose portion (130) including a terminal block (22, 22a) and a body portion (132,136) substantially contiguous with the nose portion (130), the body portion (132, 136) including at least one cell (124b), each cell (124) having a longitudinal axis and the axis of said at least one cell of each of the nose (130) and body portions (132, 136) extending in first and second directions respectively, said directions being mutually perpendicular, characterized in that the body portion includes at least two cells (124b) stacked side by side and having parallel longitudinal axes defining a first plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the at least one cell in the nose portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the nose portion (130) includes at least two cells (124a), the axes of said cells in the nose (130) being parallel and defining a second plane perpendicular to the first plane
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A battery pack according to claim 2 characterized in that the body portion (132, 136) of the battery cell assembly (124) includes at least four cells (124b) including said at least two cells (124b) in the first plane and at least two cells (124b) disposed so that their axes define a third plane parallel to the second plane and so that the cells (124b) of the first and third planes are substantially contiguous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
A battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the body portion (132, 136) includes at least four cells (124b) said cells (124b) being of substantially equally length and having ends (218, 222) of opposite polarity, the four cells (124b) being stacked side-by-side and end-for-end so that cell ends (218,222) of opposite polarity are in juxtaposition so as to facilitate electrical connection in series, said juxtapositioned ends defining opposite sides of the body portion (132, 136), and including a plurality of substantially linear connecting elements (230) for coupling selectively contiguous pairs of cell ends (218, 222) at both of the opposite sides of the body portion, so that on both sides the respective connecting elements (230) are substantially coplanar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A battery pack (14,18) according to any of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the housing (126) is a substantially rigid shell and including a flexible envelope (232) interposed between the cell assembly (124b) and the housing (126) and substantially enclosing said cell assembly (124).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that the flexible envelope (232) has a wall and is designed so that said wall is in tension when substantially enclosing said cell assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A battery pack according to any of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the terminal assembly (22,22a) includes a base (128) disposed closely adjacent an end of the at least one cell of the nose portion (130,180) and a pair of terminal members (154,156) carried by the base (128) and extending parallel to the axis of said cell (124) and connector means (162,164) for making substantially direct electrical connection with the at least one cell (124.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A battery pack for connection selectively with a tool as a power source and with a battery charger (12) for charging, characterized in that it comprises : a housing (126, 170) having a nose portion (130, 242) including side walls and a terminal end transverse the side walls; a first battery cell (124) having a side wall (220) and first and second opposite ends (218,222), said ends (218, 222) being of first and second electrical polarities respectively, disposed in the nose portion (130, 242) with the longitudinal axis passing through the terminal end and with the first end (222) of the cell adjacent the terminal end; a terminal block (22, 22 a) having a pair of spaced apart elongated terminal pins (158, 160; 248, 250) extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cell (124, 124c) and outwardly from the first end (222) of the cell (124,124 c ) and connecting means (164, 254) included in the terminal assembly for electrically connecting the terminal assembly (22,22 a ) to the first cell (124,124 c ).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A battery pack (14,16) according to Claim 8 characterized in that the terminal assembly (22, 22 a ) includes a base (128, 252) substantially abutting the first end (222) of the cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A battery pack according to Claim 9 characterized in that said base (128, 252) includes a pair of spaced guides (168, 274) engaging the side wall of said first cell (124, 124 c )
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A battery pack according to Claim 9 or 10 characterized in that the base (128, 252) carries the terminal pins (156, 158; 248, 250) and at least one terminal pin (156, 158; 248, 250) is connected through the base (128, 252) substantially directly with the first end (222).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A battery pack according to any of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a second cell (124, 124c) having first and second opposite ends (218, 222), said ends (218, 222) being of said first and second electrical polarities respectively, and disposed alongside the first cell (124, 124 c ) with respective opposite ends (218, 222) of the cells (124, 124 c ) substantially coplanar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A battery pack according to any one of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a second cell (124) having first and second opposite ends (218, 222) said ends being of said first and second electrical polarities respectively, and disposed generally alongside the first cell (124) with the longitudinal axes of the cells (124) generally parallel, said base (128) including a pair of guides (168) engaging the side walls (220) of the first and second cells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A battery pack according to any of Claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the terminal block is between the housing terminal end and the first end of the cell and at least partially overlaying said first end of the cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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