Battery pack receptacle for power tool
A power tool includes a housing that defines a battery pack attachment portion, which has a first cavity and a flange. A printed circuit board and a motor are positioned within the housing. The motor is electrically communicates with the printed circuit board. A battery pack receptacle is positioned within the first cavity, is movably coupled to the battery pack attachment portion. The battery pack receptacle includes a groove in which the flange of the battery pack attachment portion is received and a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a battery pack. One of a spring or a resilient body is positioned between the battery pack attachment portion and the battery pack receptacle and is configured to bias the battery pack attachment relative to the battery pack receptacle. Power tool terminals are supported by the battery pack receptacle and electrically communicate with the printed circuit board.
1 . A power tool comprising:
a housing defining a battery pack attachment portion, the battery pack attachment portion including a first cavity and a flange;
a printed circuit board positioned in the housing;
a motor positioned within the housing and in electrical communication with the printed circuit board;
a battery pack receptacle positioned within the first cavity and movably coupled to the battery pack attachment portion, the battery pack receptacle including a groove in which the flange of the battery pack attachment portion is received and a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a battery pack;
a spring positioned between the battery pack attachment portion and the battery pack receptacle and configured to bias the battery pack receptacle relative to the battery pack attachment portion; and
power tool terminals supported by the battery pack receptacle and in electrical communication with the printed circuit board,
wherein the battery pack receptacle is movable from a first position in which the spring is in a first compressed state and a second position in which the spring is in a second compressed state, the spring being further compressed in the second position of the battery pack receptacle than the first position of the battery pack receptacle, and wherein the battery pack receptacle is biased into the first position by the spring,
wherein in the first position of the battery pack receptacle, the flange is spaced apart from a bottom surface of the groove by a greater distance than in the second position.
2 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the second cavity includes a projection extending therefrom and configured to engage a latch mechanism of the battery pack.
3 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein each of the power tool terminals includes a detent that is received in an aperture in the battery pack receptacle.
4 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein in the second position of the battery pack receptacle, the flange abuts the bottom surface of the groove.
5 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the groove is positioned in an outer perimeter of the battery pack receptacle.
6 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack receptacle is movable in at least two orthogonal directions relative to the battery pack attachment portion.
7 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack receptacle includes one of a hollow projection or rails, the hollow projection configured to receive a stem of the battery pack along a first insertion direction, the stem including battery pack terminals, the rails configured to slidably engage corresponding grooves defined in the battery pack along a second insertion direction, and wherein the first insertion direction and the second insertion direction are transverse to each other.
8 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the spring is positioned between an inner surface of the first cavity of the battery pack attachment portion and a top surface of the battery pack receptacle.
9 . The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket adhered to a top surface of the groove, which is opposite the bottom surface, and configured to absorb energy when the flange engages the top surface of the groove.
10 . A power tool comprising:
a housing having a handle portion and a battery pack attachment portion, the battery pack attachment portion including a first cavity and one of a flange or a groove extending about a portion of a perimeter of the battery pack attachment portion;
a nosepiece assembly coupled to the housing and defining a driving axis;
a printed circuit board positioned in the housing;
a motor positioned within the housing and in electrical communication with the printed circuit board;
a battery pack receptacle positioned within the first cavity and movably coupled to the battery pack attachment portion, the battery pack receptacle including the other of the flange or the groove extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the battery pack receptacle and a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a battery pack;
a spring positioned between the battery pack attachment portion and the battery pack receptacle to bias the battery pack receptacle relative to the battery pack attachment portion, wherein the spring is oriented along an axis that is transverse to the driving axis; and
power tool terminals supported by the battery pack receptacle and in electrical communication with the printed circuit board,
wherein the battery pack receptacle is movable from a first position in which the spring is in a first compressed state and a second position that is closer to the battery pack attachment portion of the housing, in which the spring is in a second compressed state,
wherein the spring is more compressed in the second position than the first position,
wherein the flange is movably received within the groove such that the battery pack receptacle is movable relative to the battery pack attachment portion, and
wherein the flange is movable in a first direction relative to the groove and in a second direction relative to the groove, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.
11 . The power tool of claim 10 , wherein the battery pack receptacle further includes a projection configured to engage a latch mechanism of the battery pack.
12 . The power tool of claim 10 , wherein each of the power tool terminals includes a detent that is received in aperture in the battery pack receptacle.
13 . The power tool of claim 10 , wherein the battery pack receptacle includes one of a hollow projection or rails, the hollow projection configured to receive a stem of the battery pack along a first insertion direction, the stem including battery pack terminals, the rails configured to slidably engage corresponding grooves defined in the battery pack along a second insertion direction, and wherein the first insertion direction and the second insertion direction are transverse to each other.
14 . A power tool comprising:
a housing defining a battery pack attachment portion, the battery pack attachment portion including a first cavity and one of a flange or a groove;
a nosepiece assembly coupled to the housing and defining a driving axis,
a printed circuit board positioned in the housing;
a motor positioned within the housing and in electrical communication with the printed circuit board;
a battery pack receptacle positioned within the first cavity and movably coupled to the battery pack attachment portion, the battery pack receptacle including the other of the flange or the groove and a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a battery pack, the flange being movably received in the groove;
a gasket adhered to a surface of the groove and configured to absorb energy when the flange engages the surface of the groove;
a spring positioned between the battery pack attachment portion and the battery pack receptacle and configured to bias the battery pack receptacle relative to the battery pack attachment portion, wherein the spring is oriented along an axis that is transverse to the driving axis; and
power tool terminals supported by the battery pack receptacle and in electrical communication with the printed circuit board.
15 . The power tool of claim 14 , wherein the battery pack receptacle is movable in at least two orthogonal directions relative to the battery pack attachment portion.
16 . The power tool of claim 14 , wherein the battery pack receptacle includes one of a hollow projection or rails, the hollow projection configured to receive a stem of the battery pack along a first insertion direction, the stem including battery pack terminals, the rails configured to slidably engage corresponding grooves defined in the battery pack along a second insertion direction, and wherein the first insertion direction and the second insertion direction are transverse to each other.