Battery pack support portion configured to accommodate multiple different device interfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021043893-A1
Application number	US-201916536427-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 9, 2019
Priority date	Aug 9, 2019
Publication date	Feb 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery pack that includes a battery pack housing. The battery pack housing includes a battery pack support portion that is configured to removably mechanically and electrically connect the battery pack to a device. The support portion includes a plurality of terminals for electrically connecting the battery pack to the device. The battery pack support portion includes a central recess. The battery pack support portion has a support portion length and a central recess length. The battery pack support portion is configured to receive a first device interface that electrically connects to a first subset of the plurality of terminals and is approximately the same length as the support portion length. The battery pack support portion is also configured to receive a second device interface that electrically connects to a second subset of the plurality of terminals and is approximately the same length as the central recess length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery pack comprising:
a housing including a battery pack support portion configured to removably mechanically connect the battery pack to a first device and a second device, the battery pack support portion having a support portion length, the battery pack support portion including:
a first rail, a second rail, and a coupling mechanism for securing the battery pack to the first device and the second device; and
a central recess having a central recess length;
a plurality of battery cells located within the housing; a first battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to an interface of the first device; and a second battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to an interface of the second device, the second battery pack terminal accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion, wherein the second battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the interface of the first device, and wherein the first battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the interface of the second device.

2 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the first battery pack powered device requires a higher discharge current from the battery pack than the second battery pack powered device.

3 . The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprising a third battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the interface of the first device and the interface of the second device.

4 . The battery pack of claim 3 , further comprising a fourth battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the interface of the first device and the interface of the second device.

5 . The battery pack of claim 4 , wherein the fourth battery pack terminal is accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion.

6 . The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprising a third battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the interface of the second device,
wherein the third battery pack terminal is accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion.

7 . A battery pack comprising:
a housing including a battery pack support portion configured to removably mechanically connect the battery pack to a first device and a second device, the battery pack support portion having a support portion length, the battery pack support portion including a central recess having a central recess length; a plurality of battery cells located within the housing; a first battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to an interface of the first device; and a second battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to an interface of the second device, the second battery pack terminal accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion, wherein the second battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the interface of the first device, and wherein the first battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the interface of the second device.

8 . The battery pack of claim 7 , wherein the first battery pack powered device requires a higher discharge current from the battery pack than the second battery pack powered device.

9 . The battery pack of claim 7 , further comprising a third battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the interface of the first device and the interface of the second device.

10 . The battery pack of claim 9 , further comprising a fourth battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the interface of the first device and the interface of the second device.

11 . The battery pack of claim 10 , wherein the fourth battery pack terminal is accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion.

12 . The battery pack of claim 7 , further comprising a third battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the interface of the second device,
wherein the third battery pack terminal is accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion.

13 . A system of battery pack powered devices, the system comprising:
a first battery pack powered device including a first electrical interface; a second battery pack powered device including a second electrical interface; a battery pack configured to electrically connect to the first battery pack powered device through the first electrical interface and the second battery pack powered device through the second electrical interface, the battery pack including:
a housing including a battery pack support portion configured to removably mechanically connect the battery pack to the first device and the second device, the battery pack support portion having a support portion length, the battery pack support portion including:
a first rail, a second rail, and a coupling mechanism for securing the battery pack to the first device and the second device, and
a central recess having a central recess length,

a plurality of battery cells located within the housing,
a first battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the first electrical interface of the first device, and
a second battery pack terminal configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the second electrical interface of the second device, the second battery pack terminal accessible through the central recess of the battery pack support portion,
wherein the second battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the first electrical interface of the first battery pack powered device, and wherein the first battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the second electrical interface of the second battery pack powered device.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first electrical interface of the first battery pack powered device has a first length, and the first length is approximately the same length as the support portion length.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the second electrical interface of the second battery pack powered device has a second length, and the second length is approximately the same length as the central recess length.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first battery pack powered device requires a higher discharge current from the battery pack than the second battery pack powered device.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the second electrical interface of the second battery pack powered device has a second length, and the second length is approximately the same length as the support portion length.

18 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third device including a third electrical interface, the battery pack configured to electrically connect to the third device through the third electrical interface.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the second battery pack terminal is configured to electrically connect the battery pack to the third electrical interface of the third device; and
wherein the first battery pack terminal does not electrically connect to the third electrical interface of the third device.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the third device is a battery pack charger.

Assignees

• Techtronic Cordless Gp

Inventors

• Huggins Mark

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/572

  Means for preventing undesired use or discharge · CPC title

• H01M50/543

  Terminals · CPC title

• H01M50/296

  characterised by terminals of battery packs (terminals of batteries H01M50/543) · CPC title

• H01M10/488

  Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density · CPC title