Patent Publication Number: US-7719230-B2

Title: Kit of power tools

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This disclosure relates generally to power tools and more specifically to a kit that includes power tools that operate on different voltages. 
   In the power tool field, it is common to use different types of power tools to address the varied needs of the user of the power tools. It is also common to use power tools that operate on different voltages also to address the varied needs of the user. The need to use different types of power tools and/or power tools of different voltages typically cause manufacturing, costs, storage and charging issues. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present disclosure relates to a kit comprising a plurality of power tools configured to operate on different operating voltages and a plurality of receivers configured to provide different output charging voltages for charging the power tools. Each receiver is configured to engage and charge only the one or more power tools having an operating voltage equal to or greater than the output. charging voltage of that receiver. The power tools may comprise power tool housings of substantially similar construction and the receivers may comprise receiver housings of substantially similar construction. 
   Features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings described below, wherein an embodiment of the disclosure is described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plurality of power tools, a plurality of receivers engaged with the power tools to charge the power tool, and a plurality of terminal blocks electrically connecting the power tools and the receivers, including a power drill tool configured to operate on 9.6 volts engaged with a corresponding receiver configured to provide a charging output of 9.6 volts, a power screwdriver tool configured to operate on 12 volts engaged with a corresponding receiver configured to provide a charging output of 12 volts, a power drill tool configured to operate on 14 volts engaged with a corresponding receiver configured to provide a charging output of 14 volts, a power flashlight tool configured to operate on 18 volts engaged with a corresponding receiver configured to provide a charging output of 18 volts, a power sander tool configured to operate on 20 volts engaged with a corresponding receiver configured to provide a charging output of 20 volts, and a power reciprocating saw tool configured to operate on 24 volts engaged with a corresponding receiver configured to provide a charging output of 24 volts; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a representative housing of one of the power tools and one of the receivers and terminal blocks of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the shells of the representative housing separated from each other and the terminal block associated with one of the power tools; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the terminal blocks associated with one of the power tools of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side plan view of one of the power tools engaged with the corresponding receiver of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 5A-5F  are broken rear plan views illustrating each of the power tools of  FIG. 1  engaged with its corresponding receiver of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, an embodiment with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the details of construction, methods and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1-5  illustrate a plurality of power tools  10 A- 10 F, a plurality of receivers  12 A- 12 F, and a plurality of terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The power tools  10 A- 10 F are in the form of a power drill  10 A, a power screwdriver  10 B, an other power drill  10 C, a power flashlight  10 D, a power sander  10 E, and a power reciprocating saw  10 F. The types of power tools  10 A- 10 F included in the illustrated embodiment are merely exemplary, and may, in accordance with other embodiments, be any other suitable type, combination and construction. 
   Each of the terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F is secured to or otherwise associated with a corresponding one of the power tools  10 A- 10 F and electrically connects a respective and one of the power tools  10 A- 10 F with one of the receivers  12 A- 12 F. Each of the receivers  12 A- 12 F includes a battery pack or any other suitable power source. In accordance with the present disclosure, the power tools  10 A- 10 F, receivers  12 A- 12 F and terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F can be in any suitable number and have any suitable construction and the terminal blocks can be omitted or can have substantially different constructions depending upon the construction of the power tools and receivers. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the power tools  10 A- 10 F comprise power tool housings  20 A- 20 F of substantially similar, if not identical, construction. With reference to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a representative sample of each of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F, each power tool housing  20 A- 20 F includes a working portion  22 A- 22 F, a handle portion  24 A- 24 F, and a base  26 A- 26 F, and may comprise two complementary shells  28 A- 28 F fitted or otherwise engaged together. Each of the power tools  10 A- 10 F includes respective power tool elements corresponding to the type of power tool including working elements such as, for example, a drill bit  30 A, a screwdriver  30 B, a drill bit  30 C, a sander  30 D, a flashlight  30 E, and a saw  30 F, and also includes any suitable hardware and electronics to operate the tool elements. The tool elements and the hardware, and electronics may be contained partly or entirely within the power tool housing  20 A- 20 F or may otherwise be associated with the power tool housing. 
   Each of the power tools  10 A- 10 F may operate on different voltages. For example, the power tool  10 A is configured to operate on 9.6 volts, the power tool  10 B is configured to operate on 12 volts, the power tool  10 C is configured to operate on 14.4 volts, the power tool  10 D is configured to operate on 18 volts, the power tool  10 E is configured to operate on 20 volts, and/or the power tool  10 F is operated on 24 volts. The power tools  10 A- 10 F may operate on any other voltages, including any other combination of voltages, in accordance with other embodiments. Each of the power tools includes an on-off switch  32 A- 32 F. 
   The base  26 A- 26 F of each power tool housing  20 A- 20 F defines on opposed sides  36 A- 36 F a pair of slots  38 A- 38 F extending along most of the length of the base. The slots  38 A- 38 F are defined by a pair of ridges  40 A- 40 F extending along the entire length of the side  36 A- 36 F of the base  26 A- 26 F and by a pair of outwardly extending rails  50 A- 50 F extending along most of the length of the base. The front of the base defines a U-shaped opening  52 A- 52 F and the bottom of the base defines a void  54 A- 54 f contiguous with the U-shaped opening for receiving a corresponding one of the terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F. 
   The receivers  12 A- 12 F comprise receiver housings  60 A- 60 F of substantially similar, if not identical, construction. Each of the receivers  12 A- 12 F is configured to engage and charge the one or more of the power tools  10 A- 10 F that have an operating voltage equal to or greater in magnitude than the output charging voltage of the receiver. Accordingly, each of the receivers  12 A- 12 F also includes the battery pack or any other suitable power source and any suitable hardware and electronic components to provide power from the battery pack or other power source to the one or more power tool  10 A- 10 F. The battery packs may be contained within the receiver housing  60 A- 60 F of be otherwise associated with the receivers  12 A- 12 F. 
   The receivers  12 A- 12 F may each provide different output charging voltages for charging the one or more of the power tools  10 A- 10 F. For example, the receiver  12 A provides an output charging voltage of 9.6 volts, the receiver  12 B provides an output charging voltage of 12 volts, the receiver  12 C provides an output charging voltage of 14.4 volts, the receiver  12 D provides an output charging voltage of 18 volts, the receiver  12 E provides an output charging voltage of 20 volts, and the receiver  12 F provides an output charging voltage of 24 volts. The receivers  12 A- 12 F may provide any other output charging voltages, including any other combination of voltages, in accordance with other embodiments. Each receiver includes a power switch  58 A- 58 F. 
   Each receiver housing  60 A- 60 F includes a top portion  62 A- 62 F that defines a rear U-shaped opening  64 A- 64 F and a void  66 A- 66 F contiguous with the U-shaped opening. The top portion  62 A- 62 F of each receiver housing  60 A- 60 F also includes a pair of inwardly-extending rails  70 A- 70 F that each define upper and lower slots  72 A- 72 F and  74 A- 74 F separated by the rail  70 A- 70 F. The upper and lower slots  72 A- 72 F and  74 A- 74 F of each receiver housing are contiguous with the void  66 A- 66 F. The receiver housing  60 A- 60 F is configured to be slidably engageable with each of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F such that the pair of rails  70 A- 70 F of the receiver housing  60 A- 60 F are slidably received by the pair of slots  38 A- 38 F defined by the base  26 A- 26 F of the power tool, such that the rails  50 A- 50 F of the power tool housings are received by the upper slots  72 A- 72 F of the receiver housings, and such that the ridges  40 A- 40 F of the base of the power tool are slidably received by the lower slots  74 A- 74 F of the receiver of the housing. Thus, each of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F is slidably engageable with each of the receiver housings  60 A- 60 F, except that the present disclosure further includes means for selectively engaging with each receiver  12 A- 12 F and charging one or more power tools  10 A- 10 F that operate on a voltage equal to or greater than the output charging voltage of the receiver. 
   Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, all of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F are of identical or substantially identical construction and all of the receiver housing  60 A- 60 F are of identical or substantially identical construction. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, all of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F are slidably engageable with all of the receiver housings  60 A- 60 F by virtue of the above-described engaging structure at the base  26 A- 26 F of the power tool housings and the top portion  62 A- 62 F of the receiver housings. As a result, the kit in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure may be easier and less expensive to manufacture and may also provide other use and storage advantages over other kits or assemblies of power tools of different types and voltages and receivers or other charging structures. 
   Notwithstanding that in the illustrated embodiment all of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F are configured to engage all of the receiver housings  60 A- 60 F, the present disclosure further includes the means for selectively engaging each receiver  12 A- 12 F and charging only the one or more power tools  10 A- 10 F that operate on a voltage equal to or greater to the output charging voltage of the receiver  12 A- 12 F. Such engaging and charging means may be in any suitable form. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the engaging and charging means comprises the terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F and slots  80 A- 80 E defined by the receiver housings  60 A- 60 E, and the above-described engaging structure of the base  26 A- 26 F of the power tool housings  20 A- 20 F and the top  62 A- 62 F of the receiver housing  60 A- 60 F. The engaging and charging means may further include a contact plate  82 A- 82 F which may incorporate any suitable structure for contacting the terminal blocks  14 A- 14 E. Each of the terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F is associated with one of the power tools  10 A- 10 F. Each terminal block  14 A- 14 F is received by the void  54 A- 54 F of the base of the corresponding power tool  10 A- 10 F and is secured to the base in any suitable manner. 
   The terminal blocks  14 A- 14 F and slots  80 A- 80 F are configured such that each terminal block is engageable with and can charge only the one or more receivers  12 A- 12 F having an output charging voltage equal to or less than the operating voltage of the power tool  10 A- 10 F to which the terminal block is secured. Each terminal block  14 A- 14 E includes a bottom rib  90 A- 90 E receivable in one or more of the slots of one or more corresponding receivers  12 A- 12 E to engage one or more receivers, but the position of the rib of each terminal block depends upon the operating voltage of the power tool  10 A- 10 E to which the terminal block is secured. The terminal block  14 F does not include any ribs  90  and the receiver housing  60 F does not include any of the slots  80 , so that the power tool  10 F is engageable with all of the receivers  12 A- 12 F but the receiver  12 F is not engageable with any of the power tools  10 A- 10 E. Each terminal block  14 A- 14 F further includes contacts  94 A- 94 F. 
   The positions of the slots  80 A- 80 F on the receivers  12 A- 12 F depend upon the voltage provided by the receiver. Additionally, the receivers  14 A- 14 D may have more than one slot so that the receivers also engage power tools having operating voltages greater than the output charging voltage of the receiver. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal block  14 A- 14 F associated with each power tool  10 A- 10 F engages only the receivers  14 A- 14 F having output charging voltages that equal or are less than the operating voltage of the power tool, and, as a result, each power tool engages and can be charged by only the receivers having output charging voltages that equal or are less than the operating voltage of the power tool. 
     FIGS. 5A-5F  provide examples of locations of the ribs  90 A- 90 E of the respective terminal blocks  14 A- 14 E and locations of the slots  80 A- 80 E of the respective receivers  12 A- 12 E illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5A  shows the 9.6V power tool  10 A engaged with and being charged by the receiver  12 A, which includes a 9.6V battery pack, and also shows the positions of the rib  90 A corresponding to the power tool  10 A and one of the slots  80  of the receiver  12 A receiving the rib  90 A. The receiver  12 A includes other slots  80 A and, thus, is also engageable with and can charge the other power tools  10 B- 10 F. 
     FIG. 5B  shows the 12V power tool  10 B engaged with and being charged by the receiver  12 B, which includes a 12V battery pack, and also shows the positions of the rib  90 B associated with the power tool  10 B and one of the slots  80 B of the receiver  12 B receiving the rib  90 B. The receiver  12 B includes other slots  80 B and, thus, is also engageable with and can charge the other power tools  12 C- 12 F. The receiver  12 B is not engageable with the power tool  10 A because the operating voltage of the power tool  10 A is less than the output charging voltage of the receiver  10 B. 
     FIG. 5C  shows the 14V power tool  10 C engaged with and being charged by the receiver  12 C, which includes a 14V battery pack, and also shows the positions of the rib  90 C associated with the power tool  10 C and one of the slots  80 C of the receiver  12 C receiving the rib  90 C. The receiver  12 C includes other slots  80 C and, thus, is also engageable with and can charge the other power tools  12 D- 12 F. The receiver  12 C is not engageable with the power tools  10 A- 10 B. 
     FIG. 5D  shows the 18V power tool  10 D engaged with and being charged by the receiver  12 D, which includes a 18V battery pack, and also shows the positions of the rib  90 D associated with the power tool  10 D and one of the slots  80 D of the receiver  12 D receiving the rib  90 D. The receiver  12 D includes other slots  80 D and, thus, is also engageable and can charge the other power tools  12 E- 12 F. The receiver  12 D is not engageable with the power tools  10 A- 10 C because those power tools have an operating voltage less than the output charging voltage of the receiver  12 D. 
     FIG. 5E  shows the 20V power tool  10 E engaged with and being charged by the receiver  12 E, which includes a 20V battery pack, and also shows the positions of the rib  90 E associated with the power tool  10 E and the slot  80 E of the receiver  12 E receiving the rib  90 E. The receiver  12 E is also engageable and can charge the other power tool  12 F. The receiver  12 E is not engageable with the power tools  10 A- 10 D because those power tools have an operating voltage less than the output charging voltage of the receiver  12 E. 
     FIG. 5F  shows the 24V power tool  10 F engaged with and being charged by the receiver  12 F, which includes a 14V battery pack. The power tool  10 F does not include any ribs  90  and thus is engageable with all of the other receivers  12 A- 12 E because those other receivers have an output charging voltage less than the operating voltage of the tool. The receiver  12 F does not include any slots  90 . 
   While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions are considered to be exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. The description and figures are intended as illustrations of embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to be construed as containing or implying limitation of the disclosure to those embodiments. There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from various features set forth in the description. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the disclosure and associated methods, without undue experimentation, that incorporate one or more of the features of the disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims.