Battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack includes a housing, a flexible button, and a switch. The housing includes an opening and a groove. The groove is disposed at least partially around the opening. A flexible button is molded into an opening on the housing. The flexible button includes a user engaging portion, a sidewall, a lip, and a strut. A sidewall extends from the user engaging portion into the housing. A lip extends laterally from the sidewall. The lip includes a ridge protruding into the groove of the housing. A strut extends from the user engaging portion. And the switch is arranged in the shell. The switch is positioned to be engaged by the strut.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 430,590, filed on December 6, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to battery packs and, more particularly, to battery packs configured to interface with a power tool. Background Art

[0004] Because components (e.g., buttons in a housing) are complex, many manufacturing processes are slow due to the steps required to assemble, fasten, and test multiple pieces. Therefore, it is beneficial that the housing of the battery pack is formed so that it is easy to mold or assemble peripheral components to the housing. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a battery pack having a housing, a flexible button, and a switch. The housing includes an opening and a groove. The groove is at least partially disposed around the opening. The flexible button is molded into the opening on the housing. The flexible button includes a user engagement portion, a sidewall, a lip, and a pillar. The sidewall extends from the user engagement portion into the housing. The lip extends laterally from the sidewall. The lip includes a ridge protruding into the groove of the housing. The pillar extends from the user engagement portion. The switch is disposed in the housing. The switch is positioned to be engaged by the pillar.

[0006] In another independent aspect, the present disclosure provides a battery pack having a housing, a light pipe, a retaining member, and a light emitting diode (LED). A channel is defined in the housing. The light pipe is disposed in the channel. The light pipe includes a base and an emitting surface. The emitting surface is opposite to the base. The retaining member is coupled to the housing. The retaining member includes a protrusion extending over at least a portion of the base to retain the light pipe in the channel. The LED is disposed in the housing. The LED is positioned to emit light into the base of the light pipe. Light exits the light pipe through the emitting surface.

[0007] In another independent aspect, the present disclosure provides a battery pack having a housing, a light pipe, a retaining member, a light emitting diode (LED), a flexible button, and a switch. A channel is defined in the housing. The light pipe is supported in the channel. The light pipe includes a base and an emitting surface. The emitting surface is opposite to the base. The retaining member is connected to the housing. The retaining member includes a protrusion extending on at least a portion of the base to retain the light pipe in the channel. The LED is positioned to emit light into the base of the light pipe. Light exits the light pipe through the emitting surface. The flexible button is molded into an opening on the housing. The flexible button includes a user engagement portion, a side wall, a lip, and a pillar. The side wall extends from the user engagement portion into the housing. The lip extends laterally from the side wall. The lip includes a ridge protruding into a groove of the housing. The pillar extends from the user engagement portion. The switch is disposed in the housing. The switch is positioned to be engaged by the pillar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Detailed side cross-sectional elevation view of a battery pack.

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Detailed side cross-sectional view of the housing of a battery pack with the buttons removed.

[0011] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Detailed perspective cross-sectional view of the battery pack housing, including the buttons.

[0012] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of multiple light guides of a battery pack.

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A bottom perspective view of a portion of a battery pack illustrating retention members in the housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Before explaining any embodiment of the present disclosure in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the construction details and component arrangements set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure can have other embodiments and can be practiced or performed in various ways. In addition, it should be understood that the words and terms used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive.

[0015] refer to Figure 1, an embodiment of a battery pack 10 is shown. The battery pack 10 is configured to power various power tools and be charged by a charger. The battery pack 10 includes a housing 12, a flexible button 14, a plurality of light pipes 16, a plurality of terminals 18, and a release mechanism 20. The battery pack 10 can also power any other electronic devices that are configured to interface with the battery pack 10 through the terminals 18. In the current embodiment, the release mechanism 20 includes two button instances and a connecting hook to releasably couple the battery pack to an appropriate device.

[0016] refer to Figure 2 The housing 12 has an internal cavity 22 in which a circuit board 24 is disposed. The circuit board 24 includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) 26 configured to illuminate the light guide 16 in response to a control signal from a microcontroller. A switch 30 is positioned on the circuit board 24 to be engaged by the flexible button 14.

[0017] Specific reference Figure 3 , the housing 12 has a channel 32 and an opening 34 with at least one groove 36 defined therein. The channel 32 extends into the cavity 22. In some embodiments, the channel 32 also extends to the outer surface of the housing 12. The opening 34 and the groove 36 define a peripheral wall 38 extending around the opening 34 into the cavity 22. The groove 36 surrounds the perimeter of the opening 34. In other embodiments, the groove 36 may partially surround the perimeter of the opening 34.

[0018] refer to Figure 4 , the button 14 is molded into the opening 34 and the groove 36 defined in the housing 12. The button includes a user engaging portion 40, a sidewall 42, a lip 44, and a ridge 46. In some embodiments, the button 14 is molded as a unitary piece and is configured to move toward the cavity 22 when the user engaging portion 40 is pressed. The sidewall 42 extends from the user engaging portion 40 along the peripheral wall 38 into the cavity 22. The button 14 is retained on the housing 12, and the lip 44 extends radially outward from the sidewall 42, further defining at least one ridge 46 extending into the groove 36. Additionally, a post 48 extends from the user engaging portion 40 toward the cavity 22. In this embodiment, when the user engaging portion 40 is pressed, the post 48 engages the switch 30.

[0019] In some embodiments, depressing the user engaging portion 40 deforms the user engaging portion 40 and allows the side wall 42 to flex away from the peripheral wall 38 of the housing 12. In other embodiments, the side wall 42 moves along the surface of the peripheral wall 38 toward the cavity 22. In yet another embodiment, the side wall 42 remains fixed against the peripheral wall 38.

[0020] refer to Figure 5, the current embodiment includes a plurality of connected light pipes 16, wherein each light pipe 16a serves a similar purpose and is parallel to each other. In other embodiments, there is only a single light pipe 16a. The light pipe 16 has a base 50 that includes a protrusion 52 extending radially outward from each corresponding light pipe 16a. Additionally, the base 50 includes a guide 54 extending along the protrusion 52 of each light pipe 16a. The guide 54 is used to combine each light pipe 16a along the base 50 into a single interconnected component. The base 50 serves as the light receiving end of the light pipe 16a, wherein each light pipe 16a has a corresponding light receiving base 50a. In the current embodiment, the light receiving base 50a is rectangular and ends with a flat end. In other embodiments, the light receiving base 50a is conical and can be positioned to enclose the body of the LED 26.

[0021] Opposite the base 50, each light pipe 16a includes an emitting surface 58. The light pipe body 56 extends between the base 50 of each light pipe 16a and the emitting surface 58. The emitting surface 58 serves as the end of the light pipe 16a facing the user. In the current embodiment, the emitting surface 58 is angled relative to the base and is textured to help diffuse the light that travels through the light pipe body 56 and exits from the emitting surface 58. The texture on the emitting surface 58 may include pits, grooves, notches, scratches, etc. In some embodiments, the material of the emitting surface 58 may be different from the material of the base 50, the guide rail 54, or the body 56. Other embodiments may still include voids, impurities, etc. disposed within the light pipe body 56, closer to the emitting surface 58 than the base 50. Still other embodiments may use, for example, a film.

[0022] refer to Figure 6 , the retention member 60 is disposed within the cavity 22 of the housing 12. The retention member 60 is configured to retain the light pipe 16 within the housing 12 using a plurality of L-shaped hook-like protrusions 62 that engage the protrusions 52 of the base 50. In some embodiments, the protrusions 62 may have different shapes or may not be protrusions at all. For example, some embodiments may include rods, blocks, lugs, etc. In addition to supporting the light pipe, the retention member 60 also supports the release mechanism 20 within the housing 12. The retention member 60 is removably fastened to the housing 12 using at least one fastener that extends through a corresponding fastening hole 64.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: a housing having a passage defined therein; A light pipe is disposed in the channel, the light pipe comprising base, and an emitting surface opposite the base; a retention member coupled to the housing, the retention member including a protrusion extending over at least a portion of the base to retain the light pipe in the channel; as well as A light emitting diode is disposed in the housing and is positioned to emit light into the base of the light guide, the light exiting the light guide through the emitting surface.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The retention member is removably coupled to the housing by a plurality of fasteners.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The emitting surface of the light guide is textured.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The emitting surface is angled relative to the base.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The base of the light pipe includes a flange.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The protrusion contacts the flange of the base.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The protrusion includes a hook.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The protrusion is L-shaped.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The channel is one of a plurality of channels defined in the housing, and the light pipe is one of a plurality of light pipes, each light pipe being disposed in a respective channel.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein: The light guides extend parallel to each other.

11. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising: a release button actuatable to release the battery pack from the power tool, and Wherein, the retaining component retains the release button in the housing.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein: The release button is one of two release buttons, and the light guide is disposed between the two release buttons.

13. A battery pack comprising: a housing having a passage and an opening defined therein; A light guide supported within the channel, the light guide comprising base, and an emitting surface opposite the base; a retention member coupled to the housing, the retention member including a protrusion extending over at least a portion of the base to retain the light pipe in the channel; as well as a light emitting diode positioned to emit light into the base of the light pipe, the light exiting the light pipe through the emitting surface; A flexible button molded into the opening on the housing, the flexible button comprising user engagement portion, a side wall extending from the user engagement portion into the housing, a lip extending laterally from the sidewall, the lip including a ridge that protrudes into the recess of the housing, and a support post extending from the user engaging portion; as well as A switch is disposed in the housing and is positioned to be engaged by the post.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein: The light emitting diode and the switch are arranged on a circuit board.

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