Tool batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE46429-E
Application number	US-201514882994-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Aug 20, 2010
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A battery housing of a tool battery has a hook accommodation chamber and a battery cell accommodation chamber defined therein. A hook is accommodated within the hook accommodation chamber and is operable to lock and unlock the tool battery against a tool body of a power tool. Battery cells are disposed within the battery cell accommodation chamber. The hook accommodation chamber and the battery cell accommodation chamber are partitioned from each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool battery comprising:
a battery housing;
a hook disposed within the battery housing configured to lock the battery housing against a tool body of a power tool;
a hook accommodation chamber defined within the battery housing and accommodating the hook such that the hook can move between a lock position for locking the battery housing against the tool body and a lock release position for releasing the battery housing from being locked against the tool body;
a battery cell accommodation chamber defined within the battery housing for accommodating battery cells; and
a first partitioning device partitioning between the hook accommodation chamber and the battery cell accommodation chamber, so that when water enters the hook accommodation chamber, water is prevented from entering further into the battery cell accommodation chamber;
wherein a discharge hole is formed in a bottom portion of the hook accommodation chamber, so that water entering the hook accommodation chamber is discharged from the hook accommodation chamber via the discharge hole, and
wherein the bottom portion of the hook accommodation chamber is arranged such that the hook moves toward the bottom portion when moving to the lock release position.

2. The tool battery as in claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrode accommodation chamber defined within the battery housing and accommodating electrodes for connecting with corresponding terminals of the power tool body,
a second partitioning device partitioning between the electrode accommodation chamber and the battery cell accommodation chamber, so that when water enters the electrode accommodation chamber, water is prevented from entering further into the battery cell accommodation chamber.

3. The tool battery as in claim 2 , wherein the hook accommodation chamber and the electrode accommodation chamber communicate with each other.

4. The tool battery as in claim 1 , wherein the first partitioning device includes a hook accommodation member, and wherein the hook accommodation member is a separate member from the battery housing and is fitted into the battery housing, so that the hook accommodation chamber is defined as a substantially closed space by the hook accommodation member.

5. The tool battery as in claim 4 , wherein the battery housing includes a housing body having an upper opening and a lid detachably mounted to the housing body for closing the upper opening, and wherein the hook accommodation member is mounted to the lid, so that the hook accommodation chamber is defined between the hook accommodation member, the lid and a part of the housing body.

6. The tool battery as in claim 4 , wherein the hook accommodation member is detachably mounted within the battery housing.

7. The tool battery as in claim 4 , further comprising a biasing device disposed between the hook and the hook accommodation member and biasing the hook toward the lock position.

8. The tool battery as in claim 4 , further comprising a guide device provided on the battery housing, so that the hook can move between the lock position and the lock release position under the guide of the guide device.

9. The tool battery as in claim 8 , wherein the guide device comprises a guide pin protruding from an inner wall of the battery housing, and wherein the hook accommodation member is detachably mounted to the guide pin.

10. The tool battery as in claim 2 , wherein the second partitioning device includes an electrode accommodation member, wherein the electrode accommodation member is a separate member from the battery housing and is mounted within the battery housing, so that the electrode accommodation chamber is defined as a substantially closed space by the electrode accommodation member.

11. The tool battery as in claim 10 , wherein the battery housing includes a housing body having an upper opening and a lid detachably mounted to the housing body for closing the upper opening, and wherein the electrode accommodation member is mounted to the lid, so that the electrode accommodation chamber is defined between the electrode accommodation member and the lid.

12. The tool battery according to claim 1 , wherein:
the battery housing includes a slide connection mechanism configured to be slidably connected to a tool body of a power tool;
the hook has a lock claw and an operation portion, the lock claw being configured to lock the battery housing against the tool body not to slide relative thereto, and the operation portion being operable to release the lock claw from locking against the tool body;
the battery housing has a claw opening and an operation opening, the claw opening permitting the lock claw to protrude to the outside of the battery housing via the claw opening, and the operation opening permitting the operation portion from being exposed to the outside of the battery housing at the operation opening;
when the hook is positioned at the lock position, the lock claw protrudes from the claw opening; and
when the hook is positioned at the lock releasing position, the lock claw does not protrude from the claw opening.

13. A tool battery comprising:
a battery housing; a hook disposed within the battery housing configured to lock the battery housing against a tool body of a power tool; a hook accommodation chamber defined within the battery housing and accommodating the hook such that the hook can move between a lock position for locking the battery housing against the tool body and a lock release position for releasing the battery housing from being locked against the tool body; a battery cell accommodation chamber defined within the battery housing for accommodating battery cells; and a first partitioning device partitioning between the hook accommodation chamber and the battery cell accommodation chamber, so that when water enters the hook accommodation chamber, water is prevented from entering further into the battery cell accommodation chamber, wherein a discharge hole is formed in a bottom portion of the hook accommodation chamber, and wherein the bottom portion of the hook accommodation chamber is arranged such that the hook moves toward the bottom portion when moving to the lock release position.

14. The tool battery as in claim 13, further comprising:
an electrode accommodation chamber defined within the battery housing and accommodating electrodes for connecting with corresponding terminals of the power tool body; and a second partitioning device partitioning between the electrode accommodation chamber and the battery cell accommodation chamber, so that when water enters the electrode accommodation chamber, water is prevented from entering further into the battery cell accommodation chamber.

15. The tool battery as in claim 14, wherein the hook accommodation chamber and the electrode accommodation chamber communicate with each other.

16. The tool battery as in claim 13, wherein a discharge hole is formed in a bottom portion of the hook accommodation chamber, so that water entering the hook accommodation chamber is discharged from the hook accommodation chamber via the discharge hole.

17. The tool battery as in claim 13, wherein the first partitioning device includes a hook accommodation member, and
the hook accommodation member is a separate member from the battery housing and is fitted into the battery housing, so that the hook accommodation chamber is defined as a substantially closed space by the hook accommodation member.

18. The tool battery as in claim 17, wherein the battery housing includes a housing body having an u

Assignees

• Makita Corp

Inventors

• Hayashi Hidekazu
• Kondo Eiji
• Ogura Hironori
• Taga Hideyuki

Classifications

• H01M50/24

  adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion (thermal insulation H01M10/658) · CPC title

• H01M50/262

  with fastening means, e.g. locks · CPC title

• H01M50/204

  Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells · 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