Power tool system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9406915-B2
Application number	US-201514715258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	May 18, 2014
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A power tool system includes a first power tool having a first power tool rated voltage, a second power tool having a second power tool rated voltage that is different from the first power tool rated voltage, and a first battery pack coupleable to the first power tool and to the second power tool. The first battery pack is switchable between a first configuration having a first battery pack rated voltage that corresponds to the first power tool rated voltage such that the first battery pack enables operation of the first power tool, and a second configuration having a convertible battery pack rated voltage that corresponds to the second power tool rated voltage such that the battery pack enables operation of the second power tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power tool system comprising:
a first power tool having a low power tool rated voltage;
a second power tool having a medium power tool rated voltage that is higher than the low power tool rated voltage;
a third power tool having a high power tool rated voltage that is higher than the medium power tool rated voltage;
a first battery pack having a low battery pack rated voltage that corresponds to the low power tool rated voltage of the first power tool; and
a convertible battery pack operable in a first configuration in which the convertible battery pack has a first convertible battery pack rated voltage that corresponds to the first power tool rated voltage, and in a second configuration in which the convertible battery pack has a second convertible battery pack rated voltage that corresponds to the second power tool rated voltage,
wherein the first battery pack is coupleable to the first power tool to enable operation of the first power tool, the convertible battery pack is coupleable to the first power tool in the first configuration to enable operation of the first power tool, the convertible battery pack is coupleable to the second power tool in the second configuration to enable operation of the second power tool, and a plurality of the convertible battery packs are coupleable to the third power tool in their second configuration to enable operation of the third power tool.

2. The power tool system of claim 1 , wherein the third power tool is alternatively coupleable to an AC power supply having a rated voltage that corresponds to a voltage rating of an AC mains power supply to enable operation of the third power tool using either the plurality of convertible battery packs or the AC power supply.

3. The power tool system of claim 2 , wherein the AC mains voltage rating is approximately 100 volts to 120 volts or approximately 220 volts to 240 volts.

4. The power tool system of claim 2 , wherein the high power tool rated voltage corresponds to the voltage rating of the AC mains power supply.

5. The power tool system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack charger having a low charger rated voltage that corresponds to the low battery pack rated voltage and corresponds to the first convertible battery pack rated voltage, wherein the battery pack charger is configured to be coupled to the first battery pack to charge the first battery pack, and to be coupled to the convertible battery pack when in the first configuration to charge the convertible battery pack.

6. The power tool system of claim 1 , wherein the medium power tool rated voltage is a whole number multiple of the low power tool rated voltage, and the high power tool rated voltage is a whole number multiple of the medium power tool rated voltage.

7. The power tool system of claim 6 , wherein the low power tool rated voltage is between approximately 17 volts and 20 volts, the medium power tool rated voltage is between approximately 51 volts and 60 volts, and the high power tool rated voltage is between approximately 100 volts and 120 volts.

8. The power tool system of claim 1 , wherein the first power tool was on sale prior to May 18, 2014, and the second power tool and the third power tool were not on sale prior to May 18, 2014.

9. The power tool system of claim 1 , wherein the first power tool is a DC-only power tool, the second power tool is a DC-only power tool, and the third power tool is an AC/DC power tool.

10. The power tool system of claim 1 , wherein the convertible battery pack is automatically configured in the first configuration when coupled to the first power tool and is automatically configured in the second configuration when coupled to the second power tool or the third power tool.

11. The power tool system of claim 1 , further comprising a third battery pack having a medium battery pack rated voltage, wherein the third battery pack is coupleable to the second power tool to enable operation of the second power tool, a plurality of third battery packs are coupleable to the third power tool to enable operation of the third power tool.

12. The power tool system of claim 1 , wherein the first battery pack is not capable of enabling operation of the second power tool or the third power tool.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc
• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• White Daniel J
• Velderman Matthew J
• Seman Jr Andrew E

Classifications

• H02J4/25

  for transfer of electric power between AC and DC networks, e.g. for supplying the DC section within a load from an AC mains system · CPC title

• H02J7/47

  Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/575 Primary

  Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit · CPC title

• H02J7/94

  in response to battery current · CPC title