AU626612B2

AU626612B2 - Power supply device

Info

Publication number: AU626612B2
Application number: AU45875/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Johann Katzer; Wolfgang Lindermeir; Franz Lopic
Original assignee: Gardena Kress and Kastner GmbH
Current assignee: Gardena Manufacturing GmbH
Priority date: 1988-12-10
Filing date: 1989-12-04
Publication date: 1992-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-04
Also published as: DE58909396D1; JPH02195673A; DE3841735A1; EP0374600B1; ATE126933T1; AU4587589A; CA2004923A1; EP0374600A1

Abstract

An electric power supply device (1) for mains-independent operation of electrical devices (2) exhibits a holder (11) attached to the electrical device (2) for holding a storage unit (10) in an easily detachably locked and essentially completely exposed manner. The storage unit (10) exhibits for the electrically conductive contact connection flat and positionally rigid contacting contacts (38) which are located approximately in the plane of a recessed depositing area (13) and the corresponding counter-contacting contacts (39) are arranged in the area of the associated counter-depositing area (13) of the holder (11). The contacting contacts (38, 39) are located closely to a folding axis formed by a protruding folding nose (32) and nose pocket (33) between the storage unit (10) and the holder (11), resulting in advantageous levering conditions. For the detachable locking, two separate locks (18) which, however, can be operated at the same time, are provided in the area of the other end of the storage unit (10) which accommodates the holder (11) in an almost completely recessed manner. <IMAGE>

Description

II a 6266 12 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME ADDRESS OF APPLICANT: Gardena Kress Kastner GmbH Lichternseestrasse D-7900 Ulm/Donau Federal Republic of Germany I NAME(S) OF INVENTOR(S): Franz LOPIC Johann KATZER Wolfgang LINDERMEIR o..

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ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: Power supply device

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The following statement is ai full description of this invention, including the best method I of performing it known to me/us:- 1 I 1

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DESCRTPTION

The invention relates to a, electric power supply device for mainsindependently supplied uits or equipment and in particular for mobile or portable equipment or such equipment to be operated in the mobile or portable state, such as e.g. electrical tools in the form of portable hand drills and screwdrivers, electrical gardening equipment, etc. The supply device has a power storage unit connected into a working or normally open circuit of the equipment and which at least partly supplies the working current. The storage unit is to be connected to a mounting support, which appropriately in the manner of an electrical connecting piece at least produces the electrical connecting line between the storage unit and the circuit, or even essentially mounts the conplete storage unit. For producing the electrical connecting line between the mounting support and the storage unit detachable contact pairs are provided, whereof at least one comprises contacting contacts, which are arranged on the mounting support and the storage unit, the contacting contacts being provided in the vicinity of the bearing and counterbeazing srfaces of the storage unit and the mounting support. The storage unit and mounting support are to be interconnected or detached fn-m one another by an at least partial movement at right angles to said bearing and coanterbearhag surfaces.

US patents 4 084 123 and 4 191 917 disclose supply devices, in which the box-like storage unit is so inserted in a pocket on the underside of the equipment casing, that only a relatively small part of the storage unit is exposed at the bottn. The contacting contacts of the storage unit are formed by pins projecting upwards or at right angles to the bearing and counterbearing surfaces, which are in linear engagement with the contacti- 0 A contacts of the equipment embedded within the equipment casing and positioned above the pocket cover, said contacting catacts being formed by leaf spring legs. The latter are pressed into an upight position over a relatively long spring deflection during the insertin of the storage unit and this scarcely makes it possible to ensure a reliable electrically conductive and large-area contact. In addition, even with the storage unit renoved, it is scarcely possible to check the state of the leaf spring legs.

The contacting contacts of the storage unit project over the top thereof -2in an impeding manner and can therefore be easily damaged.

German patent 36 10 221 e.g. discloses power supply devices in which the contacting contacts are located in the vicinity of engagement surfaces, with which the storage unit and mounting support detachably engage within on another. However, these engagement surfaces are formed by faces located parallel to one plug-in direction of the release or insertion movement, so that it is not possible to ensure an adequate and reliable contact pressure between the contacting o intacts of the contact pairs. In addition, here again the contacts are only difficulty accessible and the contacting surface is small.

Finally, e.g. French patent 22 82 324 discloses power supply devices, in which the contact pairs comprise plug pins and sockets, which require a high positional accuracy for providing a safe connection and can also be easily rendered inoperative by contamination.

The problem of the invention is therefore to provide an electrical power supply device of the aforementioned type, which ensures a particularly safe and easy "handling, in the case of simple construction.

got 4 In accordance with the present invention there is provided an electric power wooj supply device for a power driven appliance, said supply device comprising: at least one power storage unit; a mounting support for said storage unit, said mounting support having at least one holder for removably receiving said storage unit, said holder having a counterbearing surface and said storage unit have a bearing surface for removably engaging said counterbearing surface, said counterbearing surface and said bearing surface defining a contact plane when engaged; contacting contacts providing at least one separably engagable contact pair, said contacting contacts including at least one storage unit electric contact provided on said storage unit and at least one holder electric contact provided on said holder, said STN storage unit electric contact and said holder electric contact providing electrical 92M08.gcxpda1.123,45875.c,2 as i i -I ii L-I~L_ iii t

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i 2aconnection when engaged, at least one of said storage unit electric contwt and said holder electric contact providing a contact face aligned in a plane substantially parallel to said contact plane, wherein said storage unit electric contact and said holder electric contact engage and disengage in a connecting direction transverse to said contact plane by corresponding mounting and dismounting of said storage unit with said holder and wherein at least one of said storage unit electric contact and said holder electric contact is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially parallel to said connecting direction.

As a result of the described construction, the contacting contacts can be exposed in easily accessible manner and therefore their state can be checked at any time or they can be made bright by machining if they have become oxidized. In addition, without any significant additional space requirement, they can be provided with relatively large-area, substantially planar contact faces, so that they ensure large *e I Ik O* *4 *r I I I 4 ,I V.

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920408,gcpdat.123,45875.c,3 -3- Line cross-sections. In particular in the case of flat shaping or construction frain contact sheet metal, the contacting contacts can also be positioned in an adeuately protectedi manner, so that they are secure against mechanical damage.

Appropriately both the contacting contacts of at least one contact pair and in particular all contact pairs have flat and e.g. elongated, strip-like contact faces, which are advantageously substantially of the same size and in the assembled state engage in an appro,,inately congruent manner. Despite their size, the contacting contacts can be closely juxtaposed in a confined space and e.g. the contact faces are parallel juxtaposed and have a limited reciprocal spacing, which is significantly snaller than their strip width.

In addition, longitudinally connecting extensions of the contacting contacts can form their connecting conductors and said e.g. angular extensions can have the sane strip width as the contacting contacts. The aforementioned and/or other extensions can also be in the fonn of fastening and securing members and/or as connecting lugs for the contacting contacts, so that an extremely simple construction is obtained.

With respect to the associated bearing or counterbearing surface, the contacting contacts can be transversely displaced or be located on an offset region of said surface. However, it is particularly advantageous 'if the contacting contacts are located approximately in the plane of th-e associated bearing or counterbearing surface, which can in turn be constructed in stepfree or continuous and in particular planar manner. Apprpriately one 9 9 contacting contact per contact pair and in particular that located on the storage unit is positionally rigid e.g. being arranged in such a way that with its side remote from the contact face it engages f lat on a support face, e.g. on an outer face of a carrier or a casing, so that it projects with its metal thickness over said outer face. However, the particular contacting contact can also be located in a depression adapted to its width or can engage in said depression with end legs and can be resiliently supported on the bottom of said depression, so that despite a one-part construction the transversely movable contacting contact can be arranged in protected manner with contact springs connected to both ends.

-4- A particularly advantageous further developmient of the invention. conprises the contact pairs being located relatively close to a leaf or hinged joint, about which the storage unit can pivot during insertion or release with respect to the holder and whose joint parts can be separated from one another in the fom of a plug connection. This gives advantageouis leverage and easy operation for contact pressing.

For the easily detachable securing of the storage unit and the holder with respect to one another, appropriately at least one lock is provided, which is appropriately located in the vicinity of the storage unit end further fron the contacting contacts, buit is set back with respect to said end and is accessible fran the side for operation puirposes, so that the risk of accidental unlocking is very snall. This can also be achieved by providing two separate and in particular equiaxial locks, which are preferably constructed in such a way that the two locks mrust be simultaneously operated for unlocking purposes. The actuating handles are appropriately located a n opposite sines with such a small reciprocal spacing, that they can be simultaneously reached with twfigrofnehd and cnsequetyi the operated state form a hand grip for the storage unit, so that the latter can in one-handed manner be unlocked and removed or inserted.

Although the holder can be constructed as a f ixed or one-part canponent of the appliance, it is appropriately constructed as a separate component, so that the sane holder can be positioned on different appliances and therefore on all such appliances the same storage unit or units can be used. The holder cani be constructed and arranged in such a way that in the assembled state, the storage unit is substantially camphL-tely free on the outsine of the appliance and consequently essentially forms a contii-uous extension of the appliance casing, e.g. in such a way that the lateral faces of the *storage unit and its one end are connected substantially flush to corresponding outer faces of the appliance. In addition, the holder and the storage unit can be constructed in such a way that, in the assembled state, the holder is substantially completely inserted or embedded within a receptacle of the storage unit, so that the contacting contacts are laterally shielded. If the hold v is constructed in a substantially flat web-like manner, then it only takes up a Limited amount of space.

A particularly reliable hold of the storage unit is ensured if it is secured with respect to the holder in positive manner exclusively in the vicinity of three points, which are appropriately located at the angles of an imaginary acute triangle and can be provided in a plane sloping to the bearing or counterbearing surfaces in such a way that one point is set back with respect to the plane of the bearing surface of the storage unit. This point can be formed by a hinged ca-n on the associated storage unit end which is much narrower than the storage unit width. At least one further point is appropriately outwardly displaced with respect to the bearing surface.

The inventive supply device is suitable e.g. for the operation of grass cutters, turbotrimers, shears, such as hedging shears, drillIing machines, electric screwdrivers, vacuuni cleaners, etc. and it is possible to provide the holder directly on the motor or engine casing or on a grip connected thereto by means of a handle. The power supply device can e.g. be used as 0 a starter battery, e.g. for an internal ccxnustion engine, such as for a lawnmnower. The storage unit can also be arranged separately frcan the appliance and connected thereto by an electric cable. The holder located on the appliance can also be constructed for connection to a randcm power supply, e.g. a battery, so that the appliance can e.g. be operated via a holder-connected car plug on the cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle with the battery thereof or by a high power transformier.

The storage unit appropriately has batteries or rechargeable storage cels, so that it essentially forms a battery or accumulator pack. For charging purposes it is possible to use rapid chargers with an average load of 3 to or even up to 10 A or normal chargers with an average load of approximately 1.2 A. It is also conceivable to use chargers supplied by means of solar cells. For charging with a relatively low loadi, the sto-rage unit appropriately has a separate and at least bipolar auxiliary connection, so that charging is only possible when the storage unit has been inserted in or mounted on the holder. otherwise charging can take place by means of the said contacting contacts and appropriately a third contacting contact or a third contact pair is provided for charge or load regulating purposes, which can eg. cperate thermally, so that it also responds if the storage -6cell is danaged.

These and further features of preferred develogpnents of the invention can be gathered from the claims and description, as well as the drawings. The individual features can be realized singly or in the form of subcambinations in an enbdrlient of the invention and in other fields and constitute advantageouxs constructions for which protection is hereby claimed.

Enbcdiments of the invention are described hereinafter relative to the drawings, wherein show: Fig. 1 An inventive power supply device in a partly assembled side view.

Fig. 2 Another embodiment of the supply device for the use of the storage unit according to fig. 1.

Fig. 3 The holder and storage unit according to fig. 1 in longitudinal section and disassembled state.

Fig. 4 The storage unit according to f ig. 3 in plan view.

4 the assembled state.

Fig. 7 A cross-section thrcugh the left-hand region of the storage unit according to fig. 1.

Fig. 8 A sloping partial section of the left-hand region of the storage unit according to fig. 1.

Fig. 9 The hld~ker according to fig. 3 in a~ view fran below.

Fig. 10 The holdier er.cording to fig. 3 in plan view.

-7- Fig. 11 The electric circuit of the storage unit.

Fig. 12 Another embodiment of a supply device in a view corresponding to fig. 1.

Fig. 13 A cross -section through the supply device according to f ig. 2, b:ut in t~ue assemnbled state.

Fig.. 14 A charger for the storage unit.

Figs. 15 Embodiments for the use of the supply device.

to 18 The power supply device 1 according to fig. 1 is used for placing on the appliance or tool grip 3 of an appliance 2 e.g. cons tructed as an electric tool and in the represented o~bodiment the grip 3 is constructed as a handle grip. Grip 3 forms with an upper longitudinal web a gripping web 4 to be grasped with one hand and a grip web 5 spaced parallel below' the s Me and on the inside of the gripping web 4 is provided a pushbuitton swttch 6 for aoo switching on and off the appliance 2. The appliance grip 3 is, according a 0, 0 to fig. 5, constituted by two lateral grip shells 7 to be contnected in the longitudinal direction thereof and which can be a one-part component of 0 0:00 casing shells of the appliance casing. The appliance grip 3 forms a reentrant angle zone facing the grippin5 web 4 and this is in side view so adapted to the outer shape of the supply device 1, that the 'tatter is located substantially entirely within said angle zone and forms extensions of the lateral faces, as well as the rear end face and also the boundary face of grip 3 remote from the gripping web 4. on the rear end of the angle side of the reentrant angle roughly parallel to the gripping web 4, the appliance grip 3 forms an angular recess 8 in side view extending up to the rear end face and over the width thereof and which is located directly behind the opening between the gripping web 4 and the grip web 5. In the other, shorter angle side, the appliance casing forms a further, e.g.

pocket-shaped recess 9, which is provided directly following onto the transition area of the two angle sides which are at an obtuse angle to one another.

8 The caeponent of the supply device to be arranged on appliance 2 essentially canprises a box-like storage unit 10 and a holder 11, which is muich smaller than the storage unit 10 and which is essentially to be fixed to the longer angle side, said holder 11 fonning the detachable connection between the storage unit 10 and the appliance 2. Holder 11 has a few, e.g. less than am thick flat web 12, which is substantially caopletely embedded in a depression on the underside of te appliance grip 3 or grip web 5, or can be so constructed that it substantially capletely fonns said grip web The flat web 12 extending only over part of the grip width forms ith its lower flat side a substantially planar, th-rcugh, closed or ribbed cotuiterbearing surface 13 for storage unit 10 extending approximately over the entire length of holder 11. At the front end the holder 11 forms a secvuring leg 14 projecting in one piece fran the flat web 12 over the ccntebearing sturface 13 corresponding to the angle of the reentrant angle and which is ,ubstarttially ca pletely enbedded in recess 9 in such a way that its inside is connected approximately flush to the inside of the associated angle side.

At the other end the flat web 12 passes into a locking casing 15 also c..stiucted in one piece therewith and projecting in the opposite direction and which fonns the associated end portion of the counterbearing surface 13 and engages in recess 8. The locking casing 15 is slightly wider than I*o the flat web 12, in such a way that its lateral faces are connected flush to the lateral faces of grip web 7 and it essentially forms at least part of the connecting web between gripping web 4 and grip web 5. In the vicinity of the locking casing 15 and optionally in the vicinity of the flat web 12 are provided counterbored holes for receiving fastening screws, with which the holder 11 can be fixed in easily replaceable manner against o Oo at least one of the said angle sides of the grip 3. The fastening screws are a7propriately located in the separating plane between the grip shells o°:o 7. The connecting face 17 of holder 11 remote frm the counterbearing surface 13, which is multiply offset and angled by the securing leg 14 and V a locking casing 15 and traversed by the fastening screws is consequently set back laterally with respect to the lateral faces of grip 3 over part of the holder length and in the vicinity of the locking casing 15 extends with its lateral faces 16 up to the grip lateral faces, so that there is a precisely centred reception of the holder 11.

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9- For the easy, but scarcely accidentaflly releasable securing of the storage unit 13 in the inserted state, on holder 11 is provided a lock 18 with two equiaxial locking members in the form of locking studs 19, which are springloaded and directed away from one another, but whose release handlles are located orn storage unit 10. The cup-shaped, hollow# locking studs 19 receiving, the retaining springs in the form of helical comtpress ion springs proj ecf wsith spherical segmental faces over the lateral faces 16 of the locking casing 15 adjacent to the counterbearing surface 13 and are stcpsecured in their projecting end positions in that they have on their inner ends projecting stop collars, which engage on the insidles of the side walls of the locking casing 15. The locking stud~s 19 can be at least pressed into the locking casing 15 untilI the tops of their outer faces are flush with the lateral faces As a result of the spherical segmental faces, the locking studs 19 essentillMy form insertion bevels.

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4* a t *1 t a'1~ 1199 The outer faces of the st-orage unit 10 are essentially formed by a casing, which has a lower casing shel_2, 20 or which can be open to full width towards its side associated with hokler 11 and has a cap-Like casing cover 21 with which it is possible to detachably close the opening of the casing shell 20. The latter has a substantially through, planar casing bottom 22, a fftxi and wall 23 associated with the securing leg 14 of holder 11 or int-ended for a substantially whole-area engagement on the associated angle sine, as well as a f acing, rear end wall 24, which is parallel to the front end wall 23 over part of its height connected to the casing bottan 22. The casing wall 23 is at an acute angle to the casing bottom 22, so that in sine view there is a parallelogram-shaped limitation of the casing.

oni the casing cover 21 substantially caiipletely forming the top of the casing is provided a depression 25 passing over the casing length and whose width and depth are adapted to the shape of the flat web 12 and the locking casing 15 and whose bottom 26 is essentially formed by the wall of casing over 21 parallel to casing carer 22. Two parallel, hollow longitudinal webs 27 connected to the front end of the casing cover 21 project on either sine over the casing bottom 26 and the height of said webs 27 is slightly greater than the thickness of the flat web 12 and their outer web flanks are connected substantially flush to the sine walls of the casing. The rear ends of the longitudinal webs 27 rise to two lateral plates 28 __0

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10 projecting over the depression bottcn 26, which are also slightly higher than the locking casing 15 and in side view have r' the sane shape as the latter. Thus, the flat web 12 and the locking casing 15 can be located substantially or laterally shielded in the depression 25. On their facing insides, the longitudinal webs 27 and the plates 28 have introduction bevels 29 passing into one another in the manner of chanfers, which facilitate during insertion the automatic alignment of the storage unit 10 and also run up onto the insertion bevels of the locking studs 19, so that the latter can be autanAtically turned back until they lock in openings on the insides of plates 28 and consequently positively secure the storage unit The depression bottan 26 forms over the entire width between the longitudinal webs 27 and the plates 28, a substantially through, planar bearing surface 30 for bearing on the counterbearing surface 13 of the holder 11.

The bearing surface 30 extends in slot-like manner over the entire length of the storage casing and is laterally shielded by the longitudinal webs 27 and the plates 28. Appropriately, between the longitudinal webs 27, the flat web has a lateral clearance with respect to the storage casing, whilst the rear end of the holder 11 formed by the locking casing 15 engages laterally in an almost clearance-free manner between the plates 28.

Pushbuttons 31, which are accessible fron the outside, are moved into said inner locking openings for the locking studs 19 in such a way that they force the latter back into their release position counter to spring tensin.

Thus, with the storage unit 10 inserted, each pushbutton 31 is appVi.itly equiaxial to the associated locking stud 19 and its inner face can foatm a circular reception depression for the engagement of the face of the lockiLnc stud 19. The pushbuttons 31, which are optionally outwardly spring-loaded with compression springs located within the hollow plates 28 and which surround the same, are accessible with widened, pushbutton-like heads on the outsides of the plates 28 and form on their outer end sides finger cavities. The pushbuttons 31 stcp-limited to the outside in a similar manner to the locking studs 19 can be mounted in the legs of a bow-shaped member, which surrounds the outside of the storage casing on the side walls and casing bottan 22 ad is inserted with inwardly directed collar located in the vicinity of its leg ends from the outside into the through openings of the bearing plates 28 for pushbuttns 31, so that said bow-shaped member age 0 0# 0* 0 ,0009 o o o o 01*

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fonnls an 'ditrnia1 sea~irng means for the casing cover 21 with respect to the casing shell 20. In the vicinity of the rear end of casing cover 21 a screw is inserted in the bearing surface 30 for securing the sarne and its shank engages in a reception eyelet on the ins ide of the rear end wall 24. As a result of the described construct ion of plates 28 and pushbuttons 31, they form a grip for the secure holding and carrying of the storage unit At the front end and spaced from the bottom wall 22 or closer to the bearing surface 30, the storage casing has a hinged can 32 which is much narrower than its widt(h and which projects in web-like manner over the outside of the end wall 23. The sa.i can 32 is located imneiately adjacent to the severating plane between the casing shell 20 and the casing cover 21 and is constructed as a one-part carponent with shell 20. On either sidie of said hinged cam 32 and roughly at the same level, the casing cover 21 according to fig. 3 so engages with hook-like securing cars in the openings of end wall 23, that following the release of the rear securing screw the rear end of the casing cover 21 can be raised in hinge-like manner about a joint @0 axis fonr., by saidl securing cans and the casing cover 21 can then be 00000 separatedi fron the casing shell 20 by rearward drawing off. The securing ,~leg 11'5 of holsler 11 has on its insidie and immediately adjacent to its free ~oend, a can pocket 33 adapted to the h~!x ged ca-n 32 and which is so widiened o~9 towards its pocket opening, that it forms a joint opening for the articu- 0 W..

16ted engagement of the hinged can 32. The lower limiting surface of the pocket opening 23 facing the counterbearing surface 13 is in cross-section slightly convex, so that the hinged can 32 can easily roll on its flank 0 face at right angles to the end wall 23 and consequently a hinge axis is o~defined, which is located in the transverse direction of holder 11 and parallel to the bearing and counterbearing surfaces 30, 13, as well as to centre axis of. locks 180 For the insertion of storage unit 10, the latter is moved up to the bolder 11 in 'the sloping position according to fig. 1, in such a way that the hinged can 32 enters the can pocket 33 and then the storage unit 10 is pivoted against holder 11 about the hinge axis and sim'.Itaneously is moved even further into the can pocket 33, until the locks 18 lock in the described manner and the hinged can 32 engages in almost clearance-free manner in the can pocket 33.L -12 Thus, the storage unit 10 is secured much Jn the sane way as a three-point suspension and the securing of the fruit end i located below the bearing surface 30 and the securing of the rt-r end abcve said bearing surface For the electrical and easily separable line connection between storage unit 10 and the appliance 2 on holder 11 and the storage casing are provided associated contact pairs, which are in each case formed by two contacting contacts 38, 39. The contacting contacts 38 of storage unit 10 are provided on an insulating material component, e.g. an insulating wedge 34 which can be easily detached fran the storage casing and which is substantially entirely located within the latter and is only connected by means of plug connections to the casing shell 20 and/or the casing covaer 21. In the represented mbodiment, the insulating wedge 34 is so inserted with a wedge leg roughly parallel to the end wall 23 and at a limited distance therefran in lateral plug guides 36 of casing shell 20, that its other wedge leg is roughly located in the plane of the depression bottan 26 and engages in an opening 35 extending over the entire width of the bearing surface 30 adjacent to the front end of the storage casing. This rearwardly directed wedge leg extending over the inner width of the casing shell b id supported on the upper ends of the plug guides 36 engages below the longitudinal webs 27 on either side, so that on either side of opening it is secured by its undersides against the engagement on the casing shell 20 and is fixed between the latter and casing cover 21. On removing the casing cover 21 the latter is autvatically detached from the insulating wedge 34 and subsequently the latter can be drawn out of the opened casing shell 20, so that all the contacting contacts 38 of storage unit 10 provided on the insulating web 34 can be replaced at any time.

d 4 As shown in fig. 3, the storage casing is appropriate for the reception of i a plurality of identical, substantially cylindrical and parallel storage cells 37, which are arranged in superinposed manner in two rows or are staggered on one another, the camon axial plane of bo adjacent storage cells 37 of two rows defining the inclined position of the end walls 23, 24, which are approximately parallel to said axial plane or planes. The centre axes of the storage cells 37 parallel to the bottom wall 22 or t o the bearing surface 30 are at right angles to the side walls of the storage Ai 131 casing, whose inside width corresponds to the length of the storage cells 37. On the insides of the side walls are prvvided not~ shown condiuctor bridges, which in each case electrically oonuctively or-nect the two different poles to the ends of two adjacent storage cells 37, so that all.

the storage cells 37 according to fig. 11 are connected in series. The conuctor bridges fonn contact springs for easily detachable engagement on the cell, poles, so that the storage cells 37 can be replaced at any tine.

The two front, superimposed cells 37 engage in the reentrant angle zone of insulating wedge 34, so that a very carpact reception of the cells 37 is ensured.

The storage unit 10 has three juxtaosed contacting contacts 38 at right angles to the longitudinal direction thereof andi positioned in a camon plane, the length of said contacts being muich greater than the width, whilst their intermediate spacings are snaller tha-n said width. The two outer contacting contacts 38 are used for taking current from and for the normal charging ji the storage cells 37, whilst the ntiddle contacting contact is used for regulated rspid charging, accarpanied by t1.- itercwrecticn of an overload safety device for the storage cells 37, e.g. in the form of a NTC element. The contacting contacts 38 extending over only part of "the *length of the associated angle side of the insuLating wedge or angle 34 and displaced. laterally inwards with respect to the webs 27, 12 7 (Fig. 7) or the -lateral edges of the opening 35 are formed by. intermediate portions of contact strips 42 having a constant width over their length and which in the vicinity of the contacts 38 engage flat on the outside of the associatedi angle side of the insulating wedge 34 located roughly in the plane of bearing surface 30, so that they proj ect over said bearing surfac.e 30 by *their strip thi.claiess which is only a few tenths of a millimetre or below a millimetre and are exposed there between the longitudiinal webs 27, 127. The rear endIs of the contact strips 42 adjacent to the free angle side are o~,inserted in angled manner from the outside into slots of said angle side andi consequently positionally secured. The other ends of the contacting con atacts 38 pass in angular nmner into portions, which also engage flat on the outside of the upright angle side and whose ends also traverse separate sl&,ts of said angle side. The ends projecting over the slots can be twisted angled, so thats the contact strips 42 are arranged in LLIKvV#U, j.7c is scarceLy possinie to cnecK tiie state or Lim: ±Ltku by.Luag The contacting contacts of the storage unit project over the tcp thereof 144 Positionally rigid manner On the insulating web 34 without additional fastening m~eans. The lastmentioned ends of the contact strips 42 form connecting lugs 46, e.g. Plugging and/or soldering lugs, which are connected to two adjacent conductor bridges located on the sane side of the casing via short cab.le portions, optionally accomipanied by the inter-I connection of the regulating member.

To tlie extenft that the holder 11 is only provided for taking current from the storage unit 10, it only has two contacting contacts 39,. which are associated with the two outer contacting contacts 38 of the storage unit These contacting contacts 39 are formed by contact strips 43 corresponding in cross-section to contact ,:trips 42 and which are fixed to the holder without additional fastening means by merely inserting and optionally stops or locking members. These contacting contacts 39 are formed by planar strip portions, which at both ends pass into obtuse-anglad strip legs, which are supported on the bottom of slot-like depressions 45 in the counterbearing surface 13 of holder 11. The rear strip leg formed by the associated Strip end forms a support surface curved in ski-like manner, whilst 06 the other strip leg passes into an approximnately planar or linear connecting lug 47, which is inserted in a slot of holder 11 adapted to its crosssections from the associated end limitation of depression 45 in such a way that it projects in freely accessible manner on the outside of securing leg 47 and can be connected toteassociatedaplnc o-eti.Onihr side of the slot the contact strips 43 can be supported with forked or drop-in -tongues bent therefromn in barb-like manner and are consequently secured against long itudlinal displacements. As a result of the described *00 cons truction the strip legs form contact springs 44, which make it possible to move the contacting contact 39 counter to spring tension and substantially 90 with parallel displacement towvards the counterbearing surface 13. The 00 maxium spring displacement is limited to a fee millimetres, particularly less than 5 am and preferably approximately 2 nyn in that the contacting P~contact 39 in the unloaded state only projects by a corresponding aivxint 000over the counterbearing surface 13. Duiring said transverse movement, the qS contacting contact 39 simultaneously performs a small longitudinal mnovement, which results from the pivoting movement of the strip leg connected to the connecting lug 47 and as a result of this sliding longitudinal movement pressing al-mig contacting contact 38, a particularly goad contacting is achieved bet-;en the two associated contacting contacts 38, 39.

As a result of tho "--scribed construction, the large-surface, substantially rectangularly bounded and substantially planar contact faces 40, 41 of the omntacting contacts 38, 39 are substantially p~arallel to one another and approximately congruent to one another in a plane, which approximately coincides with zlie plane of the bearing and counterbearing surfaces 30, 13 and is parallel to the hinge axis. For cleaning purposes all the contacting contacts are easily accessible at all times when the storage unit has been removed. As a result of the simiultaneous displacement of the hinged cani 32 on pivoting in the storage unit, there is an advantageouis longitudinal movement for ccntacting between the contact faces 40, 41. On unlocking the storage unit 10, the contacting contacts 39 press away the storage unit.

As is also shown in f igs. 3 11 on the outer contacting contacts 38 of storage unit 10 is also provided a secondary connection 38, e.g. in the form of a coaxial socket, which is~ also accessible from the outside of the storage casing if the latter is positioned on the holder 11. Connection 48 is appropriately arranged substantially flush in the casing shell and e.g. adjacent to its front end wall 38 is accessible from the undersideP 04 or fran 'che casing bottom 22. The secondary connection 48 can e.g. be used for chaxging the storage cells 37 or for removing current if the storage unit 10 located in the operating position on an appliance and consequently its contacting contacts 38 are already occupied or inaccessible. The regulating member for rapid charging is designated 49 in fig. 11.

The holder 11a 4 eivi. -=th ol-t=ao~_ i-nim nfg lob ta constructed for use in spaced manner fran the eppliance to be operated as a stand holder for mounting on a surface, as a wall holder for hanging on a awall, for carrying in apocket, box or the liks. In this case, at least the contacting contacts of the holder lla used for current removal or drain purposes are to be connected with the appliance to be connected by means of a flexible connecting cable 50, whose length can be greatly extended e.g. by coiling and led away from its associated leg 14a. The appliance can be provided in the aforementioned manner with a plug-in shoe 21a, which ~RA4/

T.

-16in much the sane way as described relative to casing cover 21 has correspondingly arranged contacting contacts, locking studs ani a hinged can 32a.

At the rear end of said plug-in shoe 21a is appropriately supplied the connecting cable 50.* As a result of the external mouinting of the storage unit, the handling weight of the appliance can be greatly reduced. In the represented embodiment the holIder lla is provided with a retaining clip 51 or is constructed as a retaining clip and its flat web 12a forms a clip leg 2 with a leg 14a located on the free end and on the side of the locking casing 15a associated with the bearing surface 17a is provided a further, shorter leg projecting freely roughly in the same direction, so that said holder lla can be carried on the body, e.g. by engaging on a waistband.

otherwise in fig. 2 corresponding parts are given the sane reference ntumerals as in the other drawings, buit with reference letters.

In the case of the embodiment according to f igs. 12 and 13, in which the appliance grip 3b and storage cells 37b are shown in dot-dash line manner, the flat web 12b of holder lib in the manner of a bridge completely forms the grip web 5b, so tvAt the holder lib is only fixed by its ends, namely the securing leg 14b and the locking casing 15b to the appliance grip 3b *and tfie web side remote from the ccointerbearing surface 13b forms the o,~associated inner boundary of the grip opening. The contact faces 41b of *,contacting contacts 39b of holder lib are shorter than those of the contacting contacts 38b of storage unit 10b, so that a higher specific contact surface pressing is obtained. The bearing surface 30b and the cantacting contacts 38b are not laterally shielded by longitudinal. webs and instead locate on the top of the storage casing substantially planar and 9: nctinuous over the entire width and above which project the plates 28b.

The hinged can 32b, which is approximately trapezoidal in side view is in this case bow-shaped, so that it can also be used in the manner of a carrying or hanging hook. The storage casing essentially cciprises two lateral, approximately mirror symmetrical casing shells 20b, which are connected to one another along a median longitudinal plane at right angles to the bearing surface 30b and whereof each is constructed in one piece with one of the plates 28b, so that there is no need for a separate casing cover. In this case no separate return springs are provided for the pushbuttons 31b and instead they are pressed into the starting position by the spring acting on the lockina studs 19b.

-17- By means of a shoulder projecting over the tcp of the lock casing holder llb is inserted in a recess 8b between the grip shells 7b and is transversely traversed by a screw securing said shells, so that a very simple fastening is obtained. The two locking studs 19b are loaded by a cammx conpression spring located between them, so that on operating only a single pushbutton 13b the facing locking stud 19b is forced with increased force into its locking position. The lateral faces of the storage unit project laterally over the lateral faces of the appliance grip 3b roughly by the thickness of plates 28b. Otherwise, in figs. 12 .and 13 corresponding parts are given the same references as in the other drawings, but followed by the letter b, so that the corresponding description parts again apply.

Fig. 14 shows a rapid charger 52 for the storage unit 10, whose casing is substantially iiteg. rated in one piece with a holder llc, so that its conterbearing surface 13c is located at the top or on a side remote fran the standing surface of charger 52. Thus, the storage unit 10 is inserted in the charger 52 with the base wall 22 at the top and downwardly directed plates 28 and its end region at the front renote fran the plates 28 o engages in a recess of the cesing of the charger 52 in such a way that it .4o is laterally shielded over the entire height thereof. For the reception of the hinged can 32, the er 52 also has a cam cket 33c is pro- Sofo vided with a lock 18c for securing other end of storage unit Adjacent to the end of the receptacle for the storage unit 10 associated with the can pocket 33c, the electrical operating parts are housed in the casing of the charger 52, whilst the other end of the charger casing terminates with the associated end of the storage unit 10. The charger can be provided on either side of its contacting contacts with webs, ribs, etc., which engage in corresponding slots of the bearing surface 30 or the insulating wedge 34, laterally shield the contacts and as spacers prevent short-circuits through metal parts passing into the vicinity thereof.

Corresponding webs can also be provided laterally of the contacting contacts 38 and can engage in slots of holder llc and appropriately between the contacts 38 is in each case provided a web on the insulating wedge 34 and the counterbearing surface 13c has webs on the outsides of the outer contacting contacts.

-18-* LAi A ic e- w In fig. 15 the appliance shamn is a lawnmower 2d, which kis provided on a chass is 53 with an internal combtustion engine 54 with a not shown electric starter, the lawnmow~er 2d being moved by pushing or pulling using a rearwardly projecting and rising handle 3c. In the upper end region the legs of the handle 3c are interconnected by a control panel 5c on which are provided the operating members for the manual control of the lawnmwer 2d or the internal comibustion engine 54. The control panel 5c is providedI with a not shown holder for receiving the storage unit 10 on the tcp of control panel 5c, the connecting lugs of the holder being conductively connected to the electric starter. The storage unit 10 can also electromotively drive an intermediate, e.g. a spring stor-age means, which in the charged state forms a starter for the motor, the starter power being higher than that of the storage unit.

In fig. 16 is shown the arrangement of the supply device 1 on an electric tool, in which the tool grip 3e or the gripping web 4e are inclined forwards with respect to the tool working plane, such as can e.g. be the case with hedging shears. The gripping web 4e is in this case positioned transversely over the holder 11, whose lock casing 15 engages in the lower end of the gripping web 4e, the grip opening being provided roughly in the vicinity 0~ of the centre of th,. length of the flat web 12, so that the latter can form its associated boundary. The bottom wall of the inserted storage unit terminates flush with the underside of the aprliance 2e or with its casing, so that the storage unit 10 can form an extension of the standing surface of the appliance when it is put down and in the put down or deposited state the connection between the storage unit 10 and the appliance 2e is relieved.

Fig. 17'shows an appliance 2f with an appliance grip 3f sloping rearwards A from the tool working plane or rising fran the working area of the tool and a gripping web 4f, the supply unit 1 correspond1ingly rising on the underside of the grip 3f andl being provided above the tool working area. This appliance 2f can e.g. be electric shears.

Whereas in the case of the constructions according to figs. 16 and 17 appliances with reciprocating working movements are involved, fig. 18 shows an electrical appliance 2h with a rotary workingj movement, nanely a hand o, ,portable drilling machine, which has a working spindle accessible at one 4 T i 6-I -19end for tool reception. At the other end of the appliance 2h is provided a sloping appliance grip 3h located substantially below the spindle axis.

The supply device 1 is located cn the front of the appliance grip 3h and below the spirxlle or motor casing of appliance 2h. Each appliance provided with an appropriate holder 11 can be equipped with the sane or a similar storage unit 10 for powier supply purposes.

9 04 9 49 601 0 N04

Claims

1. An electric power supply device for a power driven appliance, said supply device comprising: at least one power storage unit; a mounting support for said storage unit, said mounting support one holder for removably receiving said storage unit, said holder having a counterbearing surface and said storage unit have a bearing surface for removably engaging said counterbearing surface, said counterbearing surface and said bearing surface defining a contact plane when engaged; contacting contacts providing at least one separably engagable contact pair, said contacting contacts including at least one storage unit electric contact provided on said storage unit and at least one holder electric contact provided on said holder, said storage unit electric contact and said holder electric contact providing electrical connection when engaged, at least one of said storage unit electric contact and said holder electric contact providing a contact face aligned in a plane substantially parallel to said contact plane, wherein said storage unit electric contact and said holder electric contact engage and disengage in a connecting direction transverse to said contact plane by 20 corresponding mounting and dismounting of said storage unit with said holder and wherein at least one of said storage unit electric contact and said holder electric 0contact is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially parallel to said connecting S" direction. 4

2. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein between one and all contacting contacts of at least one of said at least one coitact pair are provided in flat, elongated, strip-like manner substantially parallel to said contact plane.

3. The supply device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein on at least one of units provided by said storage unit and said holder a plurality of contacting contacts is juxtaposed in a parallel manner. YT r 920330,gcpda.l23,45875.c,20 i 21

4. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contacting contacts of at least one of said at least one contact pair engages on one another over most of a strip length extension provided by said contacting contacts.

5. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one contacting contact of at least one of said at least one contact pair is provided exposed and substantially in said contact plane.

6. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said storage unit has at least one positionaiiy rigid contacting contact projecting substantially only by a contact strip thickness over the bearing surface.

7. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holder has at least one contacting contact resilient in a direction transverse to said counterbearing surface and engaging in at least one depression in said counterbearing surface. i;

8. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of members provided by an electrical line connection and at least one of said 20 at least one contact pair is located closer to a hinge axis provided for performing a relative pivoting and displacing assembly movement of said holder and said storage unit, than to unit and remote from said hinge axis.

9. The supply device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said at least 25 one contact pair is located substantially at right angles to said hinge axis. The supply device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said at least one contact pair is located substantially directly adjacent to an end of at least one of units provided by said storage unit and said holder.

11. The supply device according to claim 8, wherein said hinge axis is spaced from an outer end boundary of said storage unit. 92 410,gcpdat.123,45875.c,21 00 4 4 44 4 *44 4 4 ~r *4 o II *1 4 00*0 44 0 0*11 S4 04 4r 44 ,4 440*I 4+rl 22

12. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said storage unit is secured in an attached state with at least one lock means having at least two separately operable pushbutton locks located on remote sides of said supply device.

13. The supply device according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said at least two pushbutton locks is provided in the vicinity of a shield of said storage unit, said shield laterally engaging over said holder.

14. The supply device according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said at least two locks has successively located pushbuttons, namely a release pushbutton on said storage unit and a locking stud on said holder, said locking stud being located in a movement path of said release pushbutton at least one of said pushbuttons being spring loaded towards a locking position. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said V% holder is formed by a preassembled component constructed to be fixed to said appliance as a unit.

16. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holder has a flat web with the counterbearing surface and a securing leg projecting at g% one end of said web at an angle over the counterbearing surface for engaging with a projecting hinged cam of said storage unit.

17. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holder has at one end a locking casing projecting in a direction away from said counterbearing surface.

18. The supply device according to any one of the precdiUng claims, wherein in an attached state said holder is substantially completely embedded in at least one recess provided by at least one of members provided by said storage unit and said ;n appliance. r 0^ 920330,gcpdat.123,4575,c,22 ixp_~il i-LLlu~ 'r_~mt-a i ilii 23

19. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said storage unit is substantially formed by a casing, at least one of members provided by said bearing surface and locking countermembers of a lock being provided on a casing cover extending substantially over a casing length extension. The supply device according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said at least one contacting contacts of said storage is arranged on a separate insulating wedge engaging in an opening of said casing cover.

21. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in an attached state said storage unit and said holder engage in one another by means of a three-point connection.

22. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a hinged cam dimensioned narrower than said storage unit and two locks form three connecting points located at apices of an acute-angled triangle substantially inclined with respect to said contact plane. ,i 20 holder is substantially constructed as a casing. 0 24. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one aid at least on holder is substantially construconnected to an electric starter of a motor The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, at eei one Gf said at least on" holder is connected to an electric starter of a mototni

26. The supply device according to claim 25, wherein said motor is a lawnmower internal combustion engine. JA /Y C920330,gcpdat. 23,45875.c,23 T v N Ni 24

27. The supply device according to claim 25, wherein said at least one holder is located on a control panel of a handle.

28. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said at least one holder is constructed as a holder separate from said appliance, said holder having a flexible supply line.

29. The supply device according to claim 28, wherein said at least one holder is constructed as a plug-in retaining clip adapted to be worn on the body of an operator. The supply device according to claim 28, wherein said at least one holder is adapted to be connected by means of a flexible connecting cable to at least one plug- in shoe attachable in an electrically connecting manner to a holder provided on said appliance.

31. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said at least a holder is part of a charger for a number of between one and substantially ten storage cells superimposed in two rows in at least one of said at least one storage unit.

32. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at Sleast one of said at least one storage unit has at least one electric secondary Sconnection separate rom said at least one contacting contact.

33. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said at least one storage unit has a bipolar socket.

34. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of contact members provided by a secondary connection and a bipolar socket is located on a side remote from the contacting contacts of at least one of said at least one storage unit. 1- T Q330,gcp da.. 23,4587Sc,24 j A: 25 The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of contact members provided by a secondary connection and bipolar socket is located in the vicinity of an end of at least one of said at least one storage unit.

36. The supply device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said appliance is a portable electric driven tool.

37. An electric power supply device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 0' a 9* 4 r 44 4 444 4 4P 4444e 4 04*a 4O 4 *4 44 4 DATED this 24th day of April, 1992 GARDENA KRESS KASTNER GMBH By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 92G424.gcpd&iU23,45875.c,25 i