Battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack includes: a housing including an opening and a groove disposed to at least partially surround the opening; a flexible button molded into the opening on the housing, the flexible button comprising a user engaging portion, a sidewall extending from the user engaging portion into the housing, a lip extending laterally from the sidewall, the lip comprising a ridge protruding into the groove of the housing, and a strut extending from the user engaging portion; and a switch disposed in the housing, the switch positioned to be engaged by the strut.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese utility model patent application No. 202323324347.5, filed on December 6, 2023, entitled "Battery Pack", filed by the same applicant.

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 430,590, filed December 6, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] This disclosure relates to battery packs, and more particularly to battery packs configured to interface with power tools. Background Technology

[0005] Because the components (e.g., buttons in the housing) are complex, the manufacturing process can be slow due to the steps required to assemble, fasten, and test multiple parts. Therefore, it is beneficial for the battery pack housing to be shaped in a way that makes it easy to mold or assemble peripheral components into the housing. Utility Model Content

[0006] This disclosure provides, in one aspect, a battery pack comprising: a housing including an opening and a recess configured to at least partially surround the opening; a flexible button molded into the housing in the opening, the flexible button including a user engagement portion, a sidewall extending from the user engagement portion into the housing, a lip extending laterally from the sidewall, the lip including a ridge projecting into the recess of the housing, and a strut extending from the user engagement portion; and a switch disposed in the housing, the switch being positioned to be engaged by the strut.

[0007] In some implementations, the flexible button is molded as a single piece.

[0008] In some implementations, the support extends parallel to the sidewall.

[0009] In some implementations, the user engagement portion is chamfered and protrudes from the opening.

[0010] In some implementations, the lip forms a continuous perimeter around the pillar.

[0011] In some implementations, the ridge protrudes in a direction parallel to the sidewall. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0013] Figure 2yes Figure 1 Detailed side cross-sectional elevation view of the battery pack.

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A detailed side cross-sectional view of the battery pack housing, in which the buttons have been removed.

[0015] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A detailed perspective cross-sectional view of the battery pack housing, including the buttons.

[0016] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of multiple light guides in the battery pack.

[0017] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A bottom perspective view of a portion of the battery pack, illustrating the retaining members within the housing. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Before explaining any embodiment of this disclosure in detail, it should be understood that this 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. This disclosure can have other embodiments and can be practiced or performed in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting.

[0019] 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 is charged by a charger. The battery pack 10 includes a housing 12, a flexible button 14, multiple light guides 16, multiple terminals 18, and a release mechanism 20. The battery pack 10 can also power any other electronic devices configured to interface with the battery pack 10 via the terminals 18. In the current embodiment, the release mechanism 20 includes two button instances and a connecting hook for releasably connecting the battery pack to a suitable device.

[0020] 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, which is 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 and will be engaged by a flexible button 14.

[0021] For details, please refer to the following: Figure 3The housing 12 has a channel 32 and an opening 34, the opening defining at least one recess 36. The channel 32 extends into the cavity 22. In some embodiments, the channel 32 also extends to an outer surface of the housing 12. The opening 34 and the recess 36 define a peripheral wall 38 extending into the cavity 22 around the opening 34. The recess 36 surrounds the perimeter of the opening 34. In other embodiments, the recess 36 may partially surround the perimeter of the opening 34.

[0022] refer to Figure 4 Button 14 is molded into an opening 34 and a recess 36 defined within housing 12. The button includes a user engagement portion 40, a sidewall 42, a lip 44, and a ridge 46. In some embodiments, button 14 is molded as a single piece and configured to move toward cavity 22 when user engagement portion 40 is pressed. Sidewall 42 extends from user engagement portion 40 along peripheral wall 38 into cavity 22. Holding button 14 to housing 12, lip 44 extends radially outward from sidewall 42, further defining at least one ridge 46 extending into recess 36. Additionally, a support 48 extends from user engagement portion 40 toward cavity 22. In this embodiment, when user engagement portion 40 is pressed, support 48 engages switch 30.

[0023] In some embodiments, pressing the user engagement portion 40 deforms the user engagement portion 40 and allows the sidewall 42 to bend away from the peripheral wall 38 of the housing 12. In other embodiments, the sidewall 42 moves along the surface of the peripheral wall 38 toward the cavity 22. In yet another embodiment, the sidewall 42 remains fixed against the peripheral wall 38.

[0024] refer to Figure 5 The current embodiment includes a plurality of connected light guides 16, wherein each light guide 16a serves a similar purpose and is parallel to each other. In other embodiments, only a single light guide 16a exists. The light guide 16 has a base 50, which includes a protrusion 52 extending radially outward from each respective light guide 16a. Additionally, the base 50 includes a guide rail 54 extending along the protrusion 52 of each light guide 16a. The guide rail 54 is used to assemble each light guide 16a along the base 50 into a single interconnected component. The base 50 serves as a light receiving end of the light guide 16a, wherein each light guide 16a has a corresponding light receiving base 50a. In the current embodiment, the light receiving base 50a is rectangular and terminates with a flat end. In other embodiments, the light receiving base 50a is conical and can be positioned to encapsulate the body of the LED 26.

[0025] Conversely to the base 50, each light guide 16a includes an emitting surface 58. A light guide body 56 extends between the base 50 and the emitting surface 58 of each light guide 16a. The emitting surface 58 serves as the user-facing end of the light guide 16a. In the present embodiment, the emitting surface 58 is angled relative to the base and textured to facilitate the diffusion of light traveling through the light guide body 56 and emanating 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 guide body 56, closer to the emitting surface 58 than to the base 50. Other embodiments may use, for example, a film.

[0026] refer to Figure 6 A retaining member 60 is disposed within the cavity 22 of the housing 12. The retaining member 60 is configured to hold the light guide 16 within the housing 12 using a plurality of L-shaped hook-like protrusions 62, which 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 guide, the retaining member 60 also supports the release mechanism 20 within the housing 12. The retaining 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 characterized by comprising: Comprising: a housing including an opening and a recess disposed at least partially around the opening; a flexible button molded into the opening on the housing, the flexible button including a user engagement portion, a sidewall 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 post extending from the user engagement portion; and a switch disposed in the housing, the switch positioned to be engaged by the post.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The flexible button is molded as a unitary piece.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The post extends parallel to the sidewall.

4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The user engagement portion is chamfered and protrudes from the opening.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The lip forms a continuous perimeter around the post.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The ridge protrudes in a direction parallel to the sidewall.

Images