US6621246B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adapter for a power tool battery
Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp
•
Filing: 2002-11-19
•
Granted: 2003-09-16
•
Expires: 2022-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An adapter for a power tool battery. The adapter enables a battery having a first configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration, to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having a second configuration, such as a “tower” configuration. The adapter may also enable a battery having one general configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration or a “tower” configuration, and a first connecting structure to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having the same general configuration, such as the “slide-on” configuration or the “tower” configuration, respectively, and a second connecting structure different than the first connecting structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Kubale
- 👤 David Rozwadowski
- 👤 Pamela Stegehuis
- 👤 Robert Crisp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:35
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/70; H02J7/731; B; B25; B25F; B25F5/00; B25F5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An electrical combination comprising: a power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the tool housing including a tool support portion; a battery electrically connectable with the electric motor such that the battery selectively supplies power to the electric motor, the battery including an insertion portion; and an adapter separate from and connectable between the tool housing and the battery to support the battery on the tool housing and to electrically connect the battery with the motor, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening along an opening axis to support the battery on the adapter, the adapter housing further including an adapter support portion connectable to the tool support portion along an adapter attachment axis, the opening axis being generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An electrical combination comprising: a power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the tool housing including a tool support portion; a battery electrically connectable with the electric motor such that the battery selectively supplies power to the electric motor, the battery including an insertion portion; and an adapter separate from and connectable between the tool housing and the battery to support the battery on the tool housing and to electrically connect the battery with the motor, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening along an opening axis to support the battery on the adapter, the adapter housing further including an adapter support portion connectable to the tool support portion along an adapter attachment axis, the opening axis being generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the adapter support portion includes an adapter projection and an adapter groove, and wherein the tool support portion includes a tool projection and a tool groove, the adapter projection being engageable with the tool groove and the tool projection being engageable with the adapter groove to connect the adapter to the power tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking the battery to the adapter, the locking assembly including a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the battery is locked to the adapter, and an unlocked position, and an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking the adapter to the tool housing, the locking assembly including a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the adapter is locked to the tool housing, and an unlocked position, and an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the battery includes a battery terminal assembly, wherein the power tool further includes a tool terminal assembly electrically connected to the motor, and wherein the adapter includes an adapter electrical assembly including a first adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the battery terminal assembly, and a second adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the tool terminal assembly to electrically connect the battery to the motor to selectively transfer power between the battery and the motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the battery terminal assembly is supported on the insertion portion of the battery, and wherein the first adapter terminal assembly is supported in the opening defined by the adapter housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
An electrical combination comprising: a power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the tool housing including a tool support portion including a tool projection and a tool groove; a battery electrically connectable with the electric motor such that the battery selectively supplies power to the electric motor, the battery including an insertion portion; and an adapter separate from and connectable between the tool housing and the battery to support the battery on the tool housing and to electrically connect the battery with the motor, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening, the adapter housing further including an adapter support portion connectable to the tool support portion, the adapter support portion including an adapter projection and an adapter groove, the adapter projection being engageable with the tool groove and the tool projection being engageable with the adapter groove to connect the adapter to the power tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
An electrical combination comprising: a power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the tool housing including a tool support portion including a tool projection and a tool groove; a battery electrically connectable with the electric motor such that the battery selectively supplies power to the electric motor, the battery including an insertion portion; and an adapter separate from and connectable between the tool housing and the battery to support the battery on the tool housing and to electrically connect the battery with the motor, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening, the adapter housing further including an adapter support portion connectable to the tool support portion, the adapter support portion including an adapter projection and an adapter groove, the adapter projection being engageable with the tool groove and the tool projection being engageable with the adapter groove to connect the adapter to the power tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the insertion portion is insertable into the opening along an opening axis to support the battery on the adapter, and wherein the adapter support portion connects to the tool support portion along an adapter attachment axis, the opening axis being generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking the battery to the adapter, the locking assembly including a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the battery is locked to the adapter, and an unlocked position, and an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking the adapter to the tool housing, the locking assembly including a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the adapter is locked to the tool housing, and an unlocked position, and an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the battery includes a battery terminal assembly, wherein the power tool further includes a tool terminal assembly electrically connected to the motor, and wherein the adapter includes an adapter electrical assembly including a first adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the battery terminal assembly, and a second adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the tool terminal assembly to electrically connect the battery to the motor to selectively transfer power between the battery and the motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the battery terminal assembly is supported on the insertion portion of the battery, and wherein the first adapter terminal assembly is supported in the opening defined by the adapter housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electrical combination comprising: a slide-on power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the tool housing including a tool support portion configured to receive a slide-on battery; a tower-style battery including an insertion portion; and an adapter separate from and connectable between the slide-on power tool and the tower-style battery to support the tower-style battery on the tool housing and to electrically connect the tower-style battery with the motor, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening, the adapter housing further including a slide-on adapter support portion slidably connectable to the tool support portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electrical combination comprising: a slide-on power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and selectively electrically connectable with a power source, the tool housing including a tool support portion configured to receive a slide-on battery; a tower-style battery including an insertion portion; and an adapter separate from and connectable between the slide-on power tool and the tower-style battery to support the tower-style battery on the tool housing and to electrically connect the tower-style battery with the motor, the adapter including an adapter housing defining an opening, the insertion portion being insertable into the opening, the adapter housing further including a slide-on adapter support portion slidably connectable to the tool support portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the insertion portion is insertable into the opening along an opening axis to support the tower-style battery on the adapter, and wherein the slide-on adapter support portion is slidably connectable to the tool support portion along an adapter attachment axis, the opening axis being generally parallel with the adapter attachment axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the adapter support portion includes an adapter projection and an adapter groove, and wherein the tool support portion includes a tool projection and a tool groove, the adapter projection being engageable with the tool groove and the tool projection being engageable with the adapter groove to connect the adapter to the power tool.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking the tower-style battery to the adapter, the locking assembly including a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the tower-style battery is locked to the adapter, and an unlocked position, and an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising a locking assembly for locking the adapter to the tool housing, the locking assembly including a locking member movable between a locked position, in which the adapter is locked to the tool housing, and an unlocked position, and an actuating member operable to move the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the tower-style battery includes a battery terminal assembly, wherein the slide-on power tool further includes a tool terminal assembly electrically connected to the motor, and wherein the adapter includes an adapter electrical assembly including a first adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the battery terminal assembly, and a second adapter terminal assembly electrically connectable to the tool terminal assembly to electrically connect the tower-style battery to the motor to selectively transfer power between the tower-style battery and the motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the battery terminal assembly is supported on the insertion portion, and wherein the first adapter terminal assembly is supported in the opening defined by the adapter housing.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of assembling an electrical combination, the method comprising the acts of: providing a slide-on power tool configured to receive a slide-on battery; providing a tower-style battery including an insertion portion; providing an adapter separate from and connectable between the slide-on power tool and the tower-style battery to support the tower-style battery on the slide-on power tool and to electrically connect the tower-style battery with the slide-on power tool, the adapter defining an opening along an opening axis, the adapter further including a slide-on portion; engaging the insertion portion of the tower-style battery in the opening in the adapter to support the tower-style battery on the adapter; and engaging the slide-on portion of the adapter with the slide-on power tool to support the adapter on the slide-on power tool.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of assembling an electrical combination, the method comprising the acts of: providing a slide-on power tool configured to receive a slide-on battery; providing a tower-style battery including an insertion portion; providing an adapter separate from and connectable between the slide-on power tool and the tower-style battery to support the tower-style battery on the slide-on power tool and to electrically connect the tower-style battery with the slide-on power tool, the adapter defining an opening along an opening axis, the adapter further including a slide-on portion; engaging the insertion portion of the tower-style battery in the opening in the adapter to support the tower-style battery on the adapter; and engaging the slide-on portion of the adapter with the slide-on power tool to support the adapter on the slide-on power tool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the slide-on power tool includes a tool housing including a tool support portion, the tool support portion including a tool projection and a tool groove, wherein the slide-on portion of the adapter includes an adapter projection and an adapter groove, and wherein the act of engaging the slide-on portion with the slide-on power tool includes the act of engaging the tool projection with the adapter groove and the adapter projection with the tool groove.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-15 | 2007-03-17 | 2007-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-15 | 2011-03-17 | 2011-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-15 | 2015-03-17 | 2015-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |