Support member for battery pack top housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016359151-A1
Application number	US-201615173007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery pack that is connectable to and supportable by a power tool (e.g., a hand-held power tool). The battery pack includes a top housing having a support member. The support member of the battery pack top housing is configured or operable to reinforce a support portion of the battery pack that is used to connect the battery pack to the power tool. By reinforcing the support portion of the battery pack, an interface between the battery pack and the power tool is able to withstand greater forces (e.g., from vibrations caused by the power tool).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery pack connectable to and supportable by a power tool, the battery pack comprising:
a housing that includes a support portion operable to interface the battery pack with the power tool, the support portion including a support member operable to reinforce the support portion, the support member made of a different material than the housing.

2 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the support member is located within a top housing of the housing.

3 . The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the support member is insert molded within the top housing.

4 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the support member is attached to a top housing of the housing.

5 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the support member is made of a metallic material.

6 . The battery pack of claim 5 , wherein the support member includes a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion, the first portion and the second portion approximately perpendicular to the third portion and the fourth portion.

7 . The battery pack of claim 6 , wherein the first portion is approximately parallel to the second portion and the third portion is approximately parallel to the fourth portion.

8 . The battery pack of claim 7 , further comprising a fifth portion that is approximately perpendicular to the first portion and the second portion, and parallel to the third portion and the fourth portion.

9 . The battery pack of claim 8 , wherein the fifth portion is integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed with the third portion and the fourth portion, respectively.

10 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the support member is the same size as the support portion.

11 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of perforations.

12 . A battery pack connectable to and supportable by a power tool, the battery pack comprising:
a housing that includes a top housing, the top housing including a support portion operable to interface the battery pack with the power tool, the support portion including a support member operable to reinforce the support portion, the support member made of a metallic material.

13 . The battery pack of claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion, the first portion and the second portion approximately perpendicular to the third portion and the fourth portion.

14 . The battery pack of claim 13 , wherein the first portion is approximately parallel to the second portion and the third portion is approximately parallel to the fourth portion.

15 . The battery pack of claim 14 , further comprising a fifth portion that is approximately perpendicular to the first portion and second portion and approximately parallel to the third portion and the fourth portion.

16 . The battery pack of claim 15 , wherein the fifth portion is integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed with the third portion and the fourth portion, respectively.

17 . The battery pack of claim 12 , wherein the support member is the same size as the support portion.

18 . The battery pack of claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of perforations.

19 . A battery pack connectable to and supportable by a power tool, the battery pack comprising:
a housing including a support portion operable to interface the battery pack with the power tool, the support portion including a support member operable to reinforce the support portion, the support member made of a different material than the top housing and including a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a fourth portion, and a fifth portion, the first portion and the second portion approximately perpendicular to the third portion and the fourth portion, the first portion approximately parallel to the second portion, the third portion approximately parallel to the fourth portion, the fifth portion approximately perpendicular to the first portion and the second portion and approximately parallel to the third portion and the fourth portion.

20 . The battery pack of claim 19 , wherein the fifth portion is integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed with the third portion and the fourth portion, respectively.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Beyerl Andrew T
• Kolden Michael
• Thorson Troy C
• Wackwitz Jeffrey M
• Holly Jeffrey S

Classifications

• H01M50/227

  Organic material · CPC title

• H01M50/224

  Metals · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H01M50/244

  Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method · CPC title

• H01M2/1055 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic