GB2582283A

GB2582283A - Power supply apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2582283A
Application number: GB1903164.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mccarthy Mathew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-08
Filing date: 2019-03-08
Publication date: 2020-09-23
Also published as: GB201903164D0

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying power to an electrical device 102 (for example power tools, impact wrenches, drills, screwdrivers, saws, measurement equipment) has a power supply module 106 (for example a battery) with a tether 104 (which may be flexible, extendible or helically coiled). The tether 104 has a connection for engaging with and supplying power to the electrical device 102. The power supply module 106 may have a clip for removable attachment to a body mount 108 (for example a belt) or may be positioned in a pocket of the body mount 108. The body mount 108 supports the weight of the power supply module 106. The tether connection may have inner conductive prongs (206, figure 2) for electrical connectivity and an outer sleeve (204, figure 2) for tightly securing to the electrical device 102. The tether 104 may also transmit data from the electrical device 102 to a processor.

Description

POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS

FIELD

The invention relates to apparatus. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to apparatus for supplying electrical power to an electrical device.

BACKGROUND

Building sites are replete with individuals who work for long periods with heavy handheld electrical devices such as impact wrenches and drills. These devices often come with attached power packs which are heavy and simply add to the weight of the electrical device. Use of these devices can therefore cause repetitive strain injury (RS1).

Aspects and embodiments were conceived with the foregoing in mind.

SUMMARY

Aspects relate to apparatus which may be used on a building site or other environment 20 where electrical devices with attached power supply modules are present. Such electrical devices include, for example, impact wrenches, drills, measuring equipment, electronic screwdrivers and circular saws.

Viewed from a first aspect, there is provided a power supply apparatus for supplying electrical power to an electrical device, the apparatus comprising a power supply module, a body mountable portion for mounting to the body of an operative of the electrical device, the body mountable portion arranged to support the weight of the power supply module, and a tether extending from the power supply module to an engagement portion for engaging with and supplying electrical power to the electrical device.

An apparatus according to the first aspect enables an electrical device to be used whilst the weight of the power supply module, which could be considerable, is borne by the body mountable portion rather than the operative's hand. This means that the electrical device becomes lighter and easier to use and manipulate and reduces the risk of the operative sustaining repetitive strain injury (RSI) through continued use of the electronic device but whilst still maintaining the supply of electrical power to the device.

The tether is used to carry electrical power from the power supply module to the device via the engagement portion.

The body mountable portion may be a belt. It may alternatively be a hat, an upper body 10 harness or an arm-sleeve or any other suitable garment which can be worn by the operative.

The power supply module may be attached to the body mountable portion and may be releasably attached to the body mountable portion which may be by use of a clip disposed 15 on the power supply module.

The power supply module may be enclosed in a pouch which is formed in the body of the body mountable portion.

The power supply module may be a battery. Examples of such batteries include 12V and 18V batteries although any suitable battery may be used.

The tether may comprise an outer coat to protect an inner conductive core for carrying electrical power to the engagement portion and may be flexible and/or extendible. The 25 outer coating may be plastic.

The tether may be coiled into a helical form. A helical tether prevents tangling and therefore reduces the chances the tether would be tangled in another instrument or article and thereby reduces another source of danger for the operative. :30

The engagement portion may comprise a fixing comprising an inner portion for electrical engagement with the electrical device and an outer portion arranged to tighten the engagement between the engagement portion and the electrical device.

The engagement portion may be pull tested. This means that the engagement portion is not likely to loosen if the operative accidentally drops the electrical device during use, which may be at height. Therefore, the use of a pull tested engagement portion improves the safety in the surrounding environment.

The tether may further comprise data transmission means configured for carrying data from the electrical device to a data processing means attached to the body mountable portion.

DESCRIPTION

An embodiment in accordance with the first aspect will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with the embodiment; Figure 2 illustrates an engagement portion for use on apparatus in accordance with the embodiment; and Figure 3 illustrates a cross section of a tether in accordance with the embodiment.

We now illustrate, with reference to Figure 1, the use of an apparatus in accordance with the embodiment to assist an operative 100.

The apparatus comprises a battery 106 which is attached to a belt 108 via a clip 110. The clip enables the battery to be removably attached to the belt 108. Alternatively, the battery 106 may be enclosed in a pouch attached to the belt 108.

Extending from the battery 106 is a coiled tether 104 which comprises a conductive inner core 302 and a plastic, i.e. inductive, outer core 304. The inner core 302 and the outer core 304 are illustrated in Figure 3 The inner core 302 enables electrical power to be carried from the battery 106 to the electrical device 102 and the outer core 304 provides protection against electric shock from the inner core 302 during use of the device 102.

The tether 104 is flexible and can be manipulated by the user during their routine use of the device 102.

The inner core 302 may additionally comprise a data transmission means such as copper 5 wire or fibre optic cable to enable the transmission of data along the tether 104 to a data processing and storage module on the belt 108 (not shown).

That is to say, the battery is attached to the belt 108 which is mounted on the body of the operative 100. This distributes the weight associated with the use of the electrical device 10 102 and provides mitigation against the onset of RSI caused by the sustained use of devices which require a heavy battery.

During sustained use of the electrical device 102, the weight of the battery will be supported by the belt 108 rather than the hand of the operative 100. This will lead to a 15 reduction in RSI in environments such as building sites.

Additionally, by distributing the weight of the battery 106, the device 102 becomes easier to manipulate which leads to more control and accuracy when using the device.

The tethering of the device 102 to the battery means that the device 102 cannot be used without the tethering. This increases the safety around the building site. The device 102 is attached to the device 102 using a pull tested three prong screw 200. Such a screw 200 is illustrated in Figure 2.

The three prong screw 200 comprises an inner portion 202 which provides electrical connectivity between the tether 104 and the device 102. The screw further comprises an outer sleeve portion 204 which can be tightened to secure the engagement between the tether 104 and the device 102. The electrical engagement between the tether 104 and the device 102 is enabled by conductive prongs 206.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. In the present specification, "comprises" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of'. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A power supply apparatus for supplying electrical power to an electrical device, the apparatus comprising: a power supply module; a body mountable portion for mounting to the body of an operative of the electrical device, the body mountable portion arranged to support the weight of the power supply module; a tether extending from the power supply module to an engagement portion for engaging with and supplying electrical power to the electrical device.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the body mountable portion is a belt.
3. Apparatus according to Claim I wherein the power supply module is attached to the body mountable portion.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the power supply module is releasably attached to the body mountable portion.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the power supply module is releasably attached using a clip disposed on the power supply module.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the power supply module is a battery.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the tether comprises a outer coat to protect an inner conductive core for carrying electrical power to the engagement portion.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the tether is a flexible.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the tether is extendible.
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the tether s coiled into a helical form.
11 Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the engagement portion comprises a fixing comprising an inner portion for electrical engagement with the electrical device and an outer portion arranged to tighten the engagement between the engagement portion and the electrical device.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein the engagement portion is pull tested.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the outer coating is plastic.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the tether further comprises data transmission means configured for carrying data from the electrical device to a data processing means attached to the body mountable portion.
15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the power supply module is positioned inside a pouch on the body mountable portion.