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EP-4741109-A1 - BATTERY PACK INTERFACE FOR POWER TOOL

EP4741109A1EP 4741109 A1EP4741109 A1EP 4741109A1EP-4741109-A1

Abstract

A power tool includes a housing and a battery pack having a body with 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 the battery pack. The battery pack interface has a first cap with a plurality of resilient members configured to interact with the first end of the battery pack and a second cap configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface.

Inventors

  • SCHMITTINGER, Jeremy A
  • FUJIMOTO, Douglas A
  • TOBIN, James G

Assignees

  • Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251107

Claims (15)

  1. A power tool comprising: a housing; 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; and a battery pack interface supported by the housing and configured to receive the battery pack, the battery pack interface including a first cap having a plurality of resilient members configured to interact with the first end of the battery pack, and a second cap configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface.
  2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the positive battery terminal has a ring shape and is positioned to surround the negative battery terminal, and wherein the negative battery terminal is concentric with the positive battery terminal.
  3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein each resilient member is formed as a pogo pin or is formed as a leaf spring.
  4. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a motor disposed within the housing; and an output drive supported by the housing and configured to be driven by the motor.
  5. 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 to surround the negative temperature coefficient thermistor, and wherein one of the plurality of resilient members is configured to interact with the negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
  6. A power tool comprising: a housing; and a battery pack interface supported by the housing, the battery pack interface including 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 cap coupled to a first end of the housing, the first cap having at least one positive battery contact and at least one negative battery contact, the at least one negative battery contact is located closer to the interface axis than the at least one positive battery contact, and a second cap removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the second cap configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface.
  7. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the at least one positive battery contact is located at a first distance from the interface axis, wherein the at least one negative battery contact is located at a second distance from the interface axis, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
  8. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the at least one positive battery contact and the at least one negative battery contact are formed as pogo pins, or wherein the at least one positive battery contact and the at least one negative battery contact are formed as leaf springs.
  9. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the at least one positive battery contact and the at least one negative battery contact each include a bump portion configured to interact with the battery pack, preferably wherein the bump portion of the at least one positive battery contact is located at a first distance from the interface axis, wherein the bump portion of the at least one negative battery contact is located at a second distance from the interface axis, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
  10. 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 including an interface housing configured to receive the battery pack, a first cap coupled to a first end of the housing, the first cap 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 cap removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the second cap having a spring configured to bias the battery pack against the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members.
  11. The power tool of claim 10, wherein the second set of resilient members is located closer to a central portion of the battery pack interface than the first set of resilient members.
  12. The power tool of claim 10, wherein the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members are formed as pogo pins, or wherein the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members are formed as leaf springs.
  13. The power tool of claim 10, wherein the positive battery terminal and the negative battery terminal are positioned on a same end of the battery pack, or further comprising a motor disposed within the housing; and an output drive supported by the housing and configured to be driven by the motor.
  14. The power tool of claim 10, 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 to surround the negative temperature coefficient thermistor, and wherein the first cap includes a negative temperature coefficient contact configured to interact with the negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
  15. The power tool of claim 10, wherein the first cap is permanently coupled to the first end of the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/762,396, filed February 24, 2025, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/717,936, filed November 8, 2024, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to power tools and, more particularly, to a battery pack interface for power tools. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Cordless power tools (e.g., reciprocating saw, drill, circular saw, jigsaw, etc.) are powered by various rechargeable batteries. A battery pack interface may be provided within the power tool to connect rechargeable batteries such as single-cell battery packs that may be used to power small devices. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a power tool including a housing and a battery pack. The battery pack has a body with 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. Moreover, the power tool includes a battery pack interface supported by the housing and configured to receive the battery pack. The battery pack interface includes a first cap 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 cap configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface. The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a power tool including 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 pack interface further includes a first cap coupled to a first end of the housing. The first cap has at least one positive battery contact and at least one negative battery contact. The at least one negative battery contact is located closer to the interface axis than the at least one positive battery contact. The battery pack interface also includes a second cap removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end. The second cap is configured to secure the battery pack within the battery pack interface. The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a power tool including 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 cap coupled to a first end of the housing. The first cap 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 pack interface further includes a second cap removably coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end. The second cap has a spring configured to bias the battery pack against the first set of resilient members and the second set of resilient members. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a power tool including a battery pack interface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.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 a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal 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 disclosure.FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the battery pack interface of FIG. 1.FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an interior housing of the battery pack interface of FIG. 1.FIG. 6A is a top view of a terminal cap of the battery pack interface of FIG. 1.FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cap of FIG. 6A.FIG. 7A is a front perspective view of an end cap of the battery pack 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 cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the terminal cap of FIG. 8A.FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a terminal cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 9B is another perspective view of the terminal cap of FIG. 9A with an insulator member removed.FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a terminal cap according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 10B is top-down plan view of the terminal cap of FIG. 10A with a support body removed.FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack interface according to another em