Granted Patent B2

US 12,307,839 · App. 18/406,717 · Granted May 20, 2025

Inventors: Tauhira Hoossainy (Milwaukee, WI); Christian P. Coulis (Sussex, WI); Stephen Matson (Milwaukee, WI)

Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation

G07C9/00309E05B17/22G07C9/00896G07C9/20G07C9/30G07C9/38G07C2009/00507G07C2009/00642G07C2009/00769

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A power tool comprising:

a housing including a battery receiving portion that includes a compartment including an irreversible lock;

a wireless communication device including a wireless communication controller with a transceiver, the wireless communication device configured to be received in the compartment and to engage with the irreversible lock, wherein the wireless communication device includes a lock mating tooth configured to engage with a mating tab of the irreversible lock in response to the wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment;

a motor within the housing and having a rotor and a stator, wherein the motor is configured to drive an output drive device; and

a controller within the housing and having an electronic processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the motor;

wherein the wireless communication device includes (i) a top portion including a first mating structure that is configured to mate with the battery receiving portion and (ii) a bottom portion including a second mating structure that is configured to mate with a battery pack that is configured to provide power to the motor.

2. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first mating structure includes a first set of terminal connections configured to receive battery terminals of the battery receiving portion in response to the wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment; and

wherein the second mating structure includes a second set of terminal connections configured to be received by a third set of terminal connections of the battery pack in response to the battery pack being received by the wireless communication device.

3. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first mating structure includes first guide rails configured to secure the wireless communication device to the battery receiving portion as the wireless communication device is slidably engaged onto the battery receiving portion from a front of the battery receiving portion; and

wherein the second mating structure is configured to receive second guide rails of the battery pack that are configured to secure the battery pack to the wireless communication device as the battery pack is slidably engaged onto the wireless communication device from a front of the wireless communication device.

4. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the lock mating tooth includes a ramp that is narrower at a rear end of the ramp than at a front end of the ramp, wherein the ramp allows the wireless communication device to be inserted into the compartment; and

wherein a front edge of the lock mating tooth engages with the mating tab in response to the ramp of the lock mating tooth passing the mating tab upon insertion of the wireless communication device into the compartment.

5. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein a first footprint of the power tool when standing in an upright position on a horizontal surface without the wireless communication device inserted into the compartment is the same size as a second footprint of the power tool when standing in the upright position on the horizontal surface with the wireless communication device inserted into the compartment.

6. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein a first footprint of the power tool provides support to allow the power tool to stand in an upright position on a horizontal surface without the wireless communication device inserted into the compartment, and wherein a second footprint of the power tool provides support to allow the power tool to stand in the upright position on the horizontal surface with the wireless communication device inserted into the compartment.

7. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device includes an indicator light that is visible when the wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment.

8. The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the indicator light is configured to indicate a communication state of the wireless communication device.

9. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device includes a back-up power source that includes a coin cell battery.

10. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit an identification signal via the transceiver; and

wherein the identification signal can be used to track a location of the power tool to which the wireless communication device is attached.

11. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive, via the transceiver and from an external device, a security parameter that indicates whether operation of the motor of the power tool is enabled or disabled.

12. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a data connection configured to couple the electronic processor to the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is inserted into the compartment; and

wherein the controller is configured to communicate with an external device via the data connection and the wireless communication controller.

13. A method of deterring removal of a wireless communication device attached to a power tool, the method comprising:

receiving, by a compartment of a battery receiving portion of a housing of the power tool, the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device including a wireless communication controller with a transceiver;

engaging, by an irreversible lock of the compartment, the wireless communication device upon the compartment receiving the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device includes a lock mating tooth configured to engage with a mating tab of the irreversible lock in response to the wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment;

controlling, with a controller located within the housing, operation of a motor of the power tool to drive an output drive device, the controller including an electronic processor and a memory; and

communicating, by the wireless communication controller, with an external device;

wherein the wireless communication device includes (i) a top portion including a first mating structure that is configured to mate with the battery receiving portion and (ii) a bottom portion including a second mating structure that is configured to mate with a battery pack that is configured to provide power to the motor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lock mating tooth includes a ramp that is narrower at a rear end of the ramp than at a front end of the ramp, wherein the ramp allows the wireless communication device to be inserted into the compartment; and

wherein a front edge of the lock mating tooth engages with the mating tab in response to the ramp of the lock mating tooth passing the mating tab upon insertion of the wireless communication device into the compartment.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein communicating with the external device includes transmitting, by the wireless communication device, an identification signal via the transceiver; and

wherein the identification signal can be used to track a location of the power tool to which the wireless communication device is attached.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein communicating with the external device includes receiving, via the transceiver and from the external device, a security parameter that indicates whether operation of the motor of the power tool is enabled or disabled.

17. A power tool device comprising:

a housing including a battery receiving portion including a compartment with an irreversible lock, the battery receiving portion configured to receive either a removable power tool battery pack or a non-removable wireless communication device;

the non-removable wireless communication device including a wireless communication controller with a transceiver, the non-removable wireless communication device configured to be received in the compartment and to engage with the irreversible lock, wherein the non-removable wireless communication device includes a lock mating tooth configured to engage with a mating tab of the irreversible lock in response to the non-removable wireless communication device being inserted into the compartment;

a powered element configured to be selectively coupled to power provided by the power tool battery pack; and

a controller within the housing and having an electronic processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to control the powered element;

wherein the non-removable wireless communication device includes (i) a top portion including a first mating structure that is configured to mate with the battery receiving portion and (ii) a bottom portion including a second mating structure that is configured to mate with a battery pack that is configured to provide power to the powered element.

18. The power tool device of claim 17 , wherein the powered element is at least one selected from the group consisting of a lighting element, a motor, and combinations thereof.

19. The power tool device of claim 17 , wherein the non-removable wireless communication device is configured to transmit an identification signal via the transceiver; and

wherein the identification signal can be used to track a location of the power tool device to which the non-removable wireless communication device is attached.

20. The power tool device of claim 17 , wherein the non-removable wireless communication device is configured to receive, via the transceiver and from an external device, a security parameter that indicates whether operation of the powered element of the power tool device is enabled or disabled.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (317)