Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Cell support for removable cell – For plural cells
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-12-04
Maples, John S. (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Cell support for removable cell
For plural cells
C429S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326101
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to battery packs and, more particularly, to battery packs for cordless power tools.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cordless products which use rechargeable batteries are prevalent throughout the workplace as well as in the home. From housewares to power tools, rechargeable batteries are used in numerous devices. Ordinarily, nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride battery cells are used in these devices. Since the devices use a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells are ordinarily packaged as battery packs. These battery packs couple with the cordless devices and secure to the device. The battery pack may be removed from the cordless device and charged in a battery charger or charged in the cordless device itself.
FIGS. 1-3
illustrate a typical battery pack
10
, which includes a bottom housing
11
, a plurality of cells
12
disposed within the housing, a cell
13
disposed on the plurality of cells
12
, and a terminal block
14
disposed on cell
13
. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the terminal block
14
and cells
12
,
13
are electrically connected in a manner well known in the art, and that such electrical connections are not shown for the sake of clarity. Also, persons skilled in the art are referred to U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,217 for further information on a typical prior art terminal block
14
.
A pack cover
15
carrying a tower
16
is disposed on housing
11
so as to contain cells
12
,
13
therein. Tower
16
has an aperture
17
exposing terminal block
14
for electrical connection to the power tool (not shown). The pack cover
15
may be held in place via screws
19
, or other means, so as adhesives, molten plastic, etc.
Typical battery packs include at least one latch mechanism
18
for latching the battery pack
10
to the power tool, or cordless device. Latch mechanism
18
typically includes a button
18
B disposed on housing
11
, a latch hook
18
L movably connected to button
18
B and movable between a latching position and an unlatched position, and a spring
18
S for biasing latch hook
18
L towards the latching position. Accordingly, in order to unlatch a battery pack from the power tool, the user needs to press button(s)
18
B with one hand, moving latch hook
18
L towards the unlatched position, and pull out the battery pack
10
, while holding the power tool with the other hand.
Typically battery packs
10
have two buttons
18
B on opposing walls of housing
11
. Accordingly, the operator needs to bridge the composite distance of A, B and C, i.e., the lengths along the housing
11
, in order to press both buttons
18
B and unlatch battery pack
10
. However, as the number of cells
12
is increased to obtain higher voltages, the composite distance (A+B+C) is also increased, until the operator cannot easily reach both buttons
18
B.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an improved battery pack is employed. The battery pack includes a housing with opposing walls, a plurality of cells disposed within the housing, at least two terminals electrically connected to the cells, a latching mechanism disposed on each opposing wall for latching the battery pack to a cordless device, each latching mechanism including a latch and a button disposed on the wall for moving the latch between unlatching and latching positions, the latching buttons being disposed along a first plane, the first plane being substantially vertical, wherein the number of cells disposed along the first plane is smaller than the number of cells disposed along a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The battery pack may also include a stacked cell disposed on the plurality of cells. The stacked cell may be disposed along the first plane. However, the stacked cell is not included in the number of cells disposed along the first plane.
Additional features and benefits of the present invention are described, and will be apparent from, the accompanying drawings and the detailed description below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5144217 (1992-09-01), Gardner et al.
patent: 5213913 (1993-05-01), Anthony et al.
patent: 6007939 (1999-12-01), Clowers
Patent Abstract of Japan , Application No. 07225575, Aapplication Date Jan. 9, 1995.
Agnes Michael J.
Larkin Mary Elizabeth
White Paul S.
Ayala Adan
Black & Decker Inc.
Maples John S.
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