Patent ID: 8211560
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A battery pack for use with a hand-held power tool, comprising: a battery housing defining an internal cavity, and wherein a multiplicity of recesses are formed in the battery housing and which individually extend through the battery housing and are each coupled with the internal cavity of the battery housing; a battery received within the internal cavity of the battery housing and which, when appropriately charged, produces a source of electricity for use by the hand-held power tool; an electronics unit electrically coupled to the battery, and located within the internal cavity of the battery housing; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the electronics unit, and selectively, electrically coupled with the battery by way of the electronics unit, and which, when selectively energized by the electronics unit, emits light; a first longitudinally elongated light guiding element mounted on the battery housing, and within the internal cavity, and which further defines a plurality of discrete light guiding zones, and wherein the respective light guiding zones of the first longitudinally elongated light guiding element each have a first light entry face; and an opposite, second, light decoupling face which are individually received in the respective recesses formed in the battery housing, and wherein the emitted light received at the first light entry face is passed along the respective light guiding zones, and departs from the second light decoupling face, and may be observed from a location which is outside of the battery housing, and wherein the respective light guiding zones are decoupled, one relative to the others, as to the transmission of light therebetween adjacently positioned light guiding zones; and a second light guiding element mounted on the electronics unit, and located within the internal cavity of the battery housing, and wherein the second light guiding element further defines a plurality of discrete light guiding zones which individually correspond in number to the plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the electronics unit, and wherein the respective light guiding zones defined by the second light guiding element each have a first, light entry face which is located in spaced relation relative to an adjacent LED, and an opposite, second, light decoupling face which is located in an aligned, spaced, light transmitting relationship relative to the light entry face of an adjacent light guiding zone as defined by the first longitudinally elongated light guiding element, and wherein the light emitted by an energized LED passes along individual light guiding zones of the first and second light guiding elements and is observable from a location exterior to the battery housing, and wherein the battery housing is subjected to a source of vibratory energy when the hand-held power tool is in use, and wherein the vibratory energy imparted to the battery housing is not transmitted by way of the first longitudinally elongated light guiding element to the electronics unit so as to impede vibratory damage from being imparted to the electronics unit.