CN-122000587-A - Battery pack interface for power tool

Abstract

An electric tool includes a housing and a battery pack including a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a positive battery terminal disposed on the first end of the body, and a negative battery terminal disposed on the first end of the body. The power tool further includes a battery pack interface supported by the housing and configured to receive a battery pack. The battery pack interface has a first cover having a plurality of resilient members configured to interact with the first end of the battery pack and a second cover configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface.

Inventors

• Jeremy A. Schmiedinger
• Douglas A. Fujimoto Fujimoto
• James. G. Tobin

Assignees

• 米沃奇电动工具公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251110

Priority Date

20241108

Claims (20)

1. 1. A power tool, comprising: A housing; a battery pack including a main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a positive battery terminal disposed on the first end of the main body, and a negative battery terminal disposed on the first end of the main body, and A battery pack interface supported by the housing and configured to receive the battery pack, the battery pack interface comprising: A first cover having a plurality of resilient members configured to interact with the first end of the battery pack, and A second cover configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface.
2. 2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the positive battery terminal has an annular shape and is positioned around the negative battery terminal, and wherein the negative battery terminal is concentric with the positive battery terminal.
3. 3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein each elastic member is formed as a pogo pin.
4. 4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein each elastic member is formed as a leaf spring.
5. 5. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising: A motor disposed within the housing, and An output driver supported by the housing and configured to be driven by the motor.
6. 6. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the battery pack includes a negative temperature coefficient thermistor disposed at a central portion of the battery pack such that the negative battery terminal is positioned around the negative temperature coefficient thermistor, and wherein one of the plurality of resilient members is configured to interact with the negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
7. 7. A power tool, comprising: A housing, and A battery pack interface supported by the housing, the battery pack interface comprising: an interface housing defining an interface axis extending centrally through the battery pack interface, the interface housing configured to receive a battery pack, A first cover coupled to the first end of the housing, the first cover having at least one positive battery contact and at least one negative battery contact positioned closer to the interface axis than the at least one positive battery contact, and A second cover removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the second cover configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface.
8. 8. The power tool of claim 7, wherein the at least one positive battery contact is positioned a first distance from the interface axis, wherein the at least one negative battery contact is positioned a second distance from the interface axis, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
9. 9. The power tool of claim 7, wherein the at least one positive battery contact and the at least one negative battery contact are formed as pogo pins.
10. 10. The power tool of claim 7, wherein the at least one positive battery contact and the at least one negative battery contact are formed as leaf springs.
11. 11. The power tool of claim 10, wherein the at least one positive battery contact and the at least one negative battery contact each comprise a tab portion configured to interact with the battery pack.
12. 12. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the tab portion of the at least one positive battery contact is positioned a first distance from the interface axis, wherein the tab portion of the at least one negative battery contact is positioned a second distance from the interface axis, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
13. 13. A power tool, comprising: A housing; a battery pack including a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal concentric with the positive battery terminal, and A battery pack interface supported by the housing, the battery pack interface comprising: an interface housing configured to receive the battery pack, A first cover coupled to the first end of the housing, the first cover having a first set of resilient members positioned to interact with the positive battery terminal and a second set of resilient members positioned to interact with the negative battery terminal, and A second cover removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the second cover having a spring configured to bias the battery pack against the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members.
14. 14. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the second set of resilient members is positioned closer to a central portion of the battery pack interface than the first set of resilient members.
15. 15. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members are formed as pogo pins.
16. 16. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the first and second sets of resilient members are formed as leaf springs.
17. 17. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the positive battery terminal and the negative battery terminal are located on a same end of the battery pack.
18. 18. The power tool of claim 13, further comprising: A motor disposed within the housing, and An output driver supported by the housing and configured to be driven by the motor.
19. 19. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the battery pack includes a negative temperature coefficient thermistor disposed at a central portion of the battery pack such that the negative battery terminal is positioned around the negative temperature coefficient thermistor, and wherein the first cover includes a negative temperature coefficient contact configured to interact with the negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
20. 20. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the first cover is permanently coupled to the first end of the housing.

Description

Battery pack interface for power tool Cross reference to related applications The present application claims priority from co-pending U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 63/762,396 filed 24 at 2 months 2025 and U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 63/717,936 filed 11 at 8 at 2024, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Technical Field The present invention relates to power tools, and more particularly to battery pack interfaces for power tools. Background Cordless power tools (e.g., reciprocating saws, drills, circular saws, wire saws, etc.) are powered by a variety of rechargeable batteries. A battery pack interface may be provided within the power tool to connect a rechargeable battery, such as a single cell battery pack, that may be used to power a small device. Disclosure of Invention In one aspect, the present invention provides a power tool that includes a housing and a battery pack. The battery pack includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a positive battery terminal disposed on the first end of the body, and a negative battery terminal disposed on the first end of the body. Further, the power tool includes a battery pack interface supported by the housing and configured to receive a battery pack. The battery pack interface includes a first cover having a plurality of resilient members configured to interact with the first end of the battery pack. The battery pack interface also includes a second cover configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface. In another aspect, the present invention provides a power tool that includes a housing and a battery pack interface supported by the housing. The battery pack interface includes an interface housing defining an interface axis extending centrally through the battery pack interface. The interface housing is configured to receive a battery pack. The battery interface further includes a first cover coupled to the first end of the housing. The first cover has at least one positive battery contact and at least one negative battery contact. The at least one negative battery contact is positioned closer to the interface axis than the at least one positive battery contact. The battery pack interface also includes a second cover removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end. The second cover is configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface. In another aspect, the present invention provides a power tool that includes a housing, a battery pack including a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal concentric with the positive battery terminal, and a battery pack interface supported by the housing. The battery pack interface includes an interface housing configured to receive the battery pack and a first cover coupled to a first end of the housing. The first cover has a first set of resilient members positioned to interact with the positive battery terminal and a second set of resilient members positioned to interact with the negative battery terminal. The battery interface further includes a second cover removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end. The second cover has a spring configured to bias the battery pack against the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members. Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a power tool including a battery pack interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of a battery pack receivable within the battery pack interface of fig. 1. Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the positive and negative battery terminals of the battery pack of fig. 2. Fig. 3B is a perspective view of a positive battery terminal, a negative battery terminal, and an insulator according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the battery pack interface of fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an inner housing of the battery pack interface of fig. 1. Fig. 6A is a top view of a terminal cover of the battery pack interface of fig. 1. Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cover of fig. 6A. Fig. 7A is a front perspective view of an end cap of the battery interface of fig. 1. Fig. 7B is a rear perspective view of the end cap of fig. 7A. Fig. 8A is a perspective view of a terminal cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cover of fig. 8A. Fig. 9A is a perspective view of a terminal cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9B is another perspective view of the terminal cover of fig. 9A with the insulator member removed. Fig. 10A is a perspective view of a terminal cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10B is a top view of the terminal cover of fig. 10A with the support removed. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a batter