Adapter for cordless power tools

Abstract

An electrical combination including a power tool, charger and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool or the battery charger, the adapter having a mechanical lockout for allowing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the power tool while preventing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the battery charger.

1 . An electrical combination comprising:
 a power tool having a first connecting structure, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, the first connecting structure having tool leads;   a battery having a second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure, said battery having first battery terminals;   a battery charger having the first connecting structure, the battery charger having charger terminals; and,   an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool or the battery charger, the adapter having a mechanical lockout for allowing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the power tool while preventing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the battery charger.   
   
   
       2 . The electrical combination of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical lockout comprises a barrier disposed between the adapter leads and having a width that is comparatively greater than the width of a receiving recess disposed in the battery charger to prevent connection of the adapter with the charger. 
   
   
       3 . The electrical combination of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving recess is positioned between the charger terminals; 
   
   
       4 . The electrical combination of  claim 3 , wherein the receiving recess is formed in a shroud disposed at least partially about the charger terminals. 
   
   
       5 . An electrical combination comprising:
 a power tool having a first connecting structure, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, the first connecting structure having tool terminals of a first configuration;   a battery having a second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure, said first battery having first battery terminals;   a battery charger having the first connecting structure, the battery charger having charger terminals of a second configuration that is comparatively different than the first configuration of the tool terminals;   an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing; the adapter having adapter leads of a third configuration that allows electrically coupling of the adapter to the power tool while preventing electrically coupling of the adapter with the battery charger.   
   
   
       6 . The electrical combination of  claim 5 , wherein the tool terminals having a first length that is adapted to electrically couple the adapter to the power tool and that is comparatively longer that a second length of the charger terminals that is insufficient to electrically couple the adapter to the battery charger. 
   
   
       7 . An electrical combination comprising:
 a power tool having a first connecting structure, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, the first connecting structure having tool terminals of a first configuration;   a battery having a second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure, said first battery having first battery terminals;   a battery charger having the first connecting structure, the battery charger having charger terminals of a second configuration that is comparatively similar to the first configuration of the tool terminals;   an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing; the adapter having adapter leads of a third configuration that allows electrically coupling of the adapter to the power tool while preventing electrically coupling of the adapter with the battery charger.   
   
   
       8 . The electrical combination of  claim 7 , wherein the adapter terminals having a width length that is adapted to allow electrical coupling of the adapter to the power tool while preventing electrically coupling of the adapter to the battery charger. 
   
   
       9 . The electrical combination of  claim 8 , wherein the battery charger further comprises a first shroud with a recess of a width that is comparatively less than the width of the adapter leads that prevents electrical coupling of the adapter to the battery charger. 
   
   
       10 . The electrical combination of  claim 9 , wherein the power tool comprises a second shroud with a recess of a width that is comparatively greater than the width of the adapter leads that allows electrical coupling of the adapter to the power tool. 
   
   
       11 . An electrical combination comprising:
 a power tool having a first connecting structure, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, the first connecting structure having tool leads;   a battery having a second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure, said first battery having first battery terminals;   a battery charger having the first connecting structure, the battery charger having charger terminals; and,   an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool, the adapter leads being offset from an engaging path for allowing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the power tool while preventing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the battery charger.   
   
   
       12 . An electrical combination comprising:
 a power tool having a first connecting structure, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, the first connecting structure having tool leads;   a battery having a second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure, said first battery having first battery terminals;   a battery charger having the first connecting structure, the battery charger having charger terminals; and,   an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool or the battery charger, the adapter having a first secondary adapter for connecting to the battery and a second secondary adapter, connecting the first secondary adapter to the battery charger, and having a battery charger circuit to control the transmission of power to the battery from the battery charger.   
   
   
       13 . An adapter for electrically coupling a battery to an electrical device, comprising:
 a first connecting structure for connecting with a battery;   a second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being incompatible with the second connecting structure, for connecting with the electrical device; and,   a power management controller to manage the communication of power between the battery and the electrical device.   
   
   
       14 . The adapter as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the electrical device is a power tool and the power management controller comprises a power tool management circuit to control transmission of power from the battery to the power tool. 
   
   
       15 . The adapter as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the power tool management circuit includes a state of charge indicator that indicates the status of the battery pack. 
   
   
       16 . The adapter as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the state of charge indicator includes a display indicating the state of charge of the battery when coupled to the power tool. 
   
   
       17 . The adapter as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the power tool management circuit includes status display for visually displaying the charge status of the battery when coupled to the power tool. 
   
   
       18 . The adapter as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the electrical device is a charger and the power management controller comprises a charger management circuit to control transmission of power from the charger to battery. 
   
   
       19 . The adapter as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the charger management circuit further comprises a battery identification circuit to identify a battery type prior to any charging operations. 
   
   
       20 . The adapter as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the charger management circuit further comprises a radio frequency identification tag reader. 
   
   
       21 . An electrical combination comprising:
 a battery having a switching member indicating information about the battery;   a battery charger having a detecting device for detecting the presence of the switching member when the battery is physically connected to the battery charger and a battery charging management circuit for transmitting power to the battery from the charger upon detection of the switching member.   
   
   
       22 . The electrical combination as recited in  claim 21  wherein the switching member is a magnet. 
   
   
       23 . The electrical combination as recited in  claim 22  wherein the detecting device is a Hall-effect sensor.