JPH1015839A - Lock mechanism of battery pack for power tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism which can reduce a production cost of a battery pack as low as possible, can easily be attached or removed and is sure to lock and to release a lock with high reliability. SOLUTION: A part of a casing in storage space for power tools to which a battery pack 2 is attached is opened to make a connection hole 1B, and a connection release switch 2A which elastically connects and locks to the connection hole 1B is installed at an opposite position to the connection hole 1B when it is attached to the storage space for power tools in the battery pack 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery pack for a power tool in which a battery pack containing a secondary battery is removably inserted into a power tool body, and more particularly to an electric tool for locking the battery pack to the power tool body. The present invention relates to a lock mechanism for a battery pack for a tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a power tool, a power tool which uses a battery pack which accommodates a power supply battery and is detachable from a power tool body has been developed and used. When the power supply voltage drops, the battery pack can be taken out of the power tool main body and can be repeatedly charged by an appropriate charger.

Therefore, this electric tool is provided with a locking projection 100A on the power tool main body 100 side and a locking projection 1 on the battery pack main body 101 side, for example, as shown in FIG.
A device having a lock mechanism 102 provided with a rotatable lock claw 102A that locks at 00A has been developed. The lock claw 102 is pivotally attached to a protruding receiving portion on the side of the battery pack main body 101. One end of the lock claw 102 is biased counterclockwise by a spring 102B, Push button 10 for removal on the side
2C.

[0004]

However, in the lock mechanism having such a structure, a housing portion is provided on a side portion of the battery pack main body 101 to house the lock claw. Not only is it complicated, but it also requires extra space, which hinders miniaturization of the battery pack and increases the manufacturing cost.

In addition, when the battery pack is used for a certain period of time and repeatedly charged and discharged, the charging efficiency is reduced. In many cases, the battery pack is discarded and replaced with a new one. Cost reduction on the battery pack side rather than the tool body has become an important issue.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention can minimize the manufacturing cost of the battery pack, can easily attach and detach the battery pack, and can surely lock and unlock the battery, and achieve high reliability. An object of the present invention is to provide a high lock mechanism for a battery pack for a power tool.

[0007]

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a battery pack for an electric tool in which a battery pack containing a secondary battery is detachably mounted on a main body of the electric tool. Along with providing an engagement hole by opening a casing of a mounting portion of the power tool to which the power tool is mounted, the battery pack has a portion facing the engagement hole when housed in the mounting portion of the power tool. A lock release switch for elastically engaging and locking the engagement hole is provided.

In the invention according to a second aspect, the engaging claw is formed integrally with the casing of the battery pack.

[0009]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a lock mechanism of a battery pack for a power tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The lock mechanism includes a grip portion 1A of a power tool main body 1 (the interior of which is also a storage portion) 1A. In addition to providing the engagement hole 1B, the battery pack 2 includes a lock release switch 2A that engages with the engagement hole 1B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lock release switch 2A has a flexible structure capable of swinging in and out of the housing portion. In this embodiment, an appropriate resin material is used. It is integrally formed with the casing 2 of the battery pack.

That is, the lock release switch 2A also serves as an engagement claw, and the portion connecting the battery pack casing 2 to the casing 2 is formed in a relatively thin shape so that the lock release switch 2A has a spring property. Is provided.

The lock release switch 2A has an engagement hole 1
B is formed in such a shape that the portion that engages with and contacts the lower edge of the battery pack B is substantially horizontal. However, the battery pack 2 is firmly engaged by its own weight, and a sufficient locking force can be maintained. I have. Since this contact surface is relatively large, it does not accidentally fall off during operation.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, in FIG. 2, the battery pack 2 is connected to the power tool main body 1 with a force exceeding the spring force.
When the lock release switch 2A is inserted into the housing portion while being bent inward from the base portion,
When the battery reaches the portion of the engagement hole 1B, it is pushed outward by a spring force and engages with the engagement hole 1B to be in a locked state, so that the battery pack 2 is mounted and held in a stable state.

When the battery pack 2 is to be taken out, when the lock release switch 2A is pushed in, the locked state of engagement is released, so that the battery pack 2 can be taken out of the accommodation portion by its own weight.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows a lock mechanism for a battery pack for a power tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The inside is also a housing part) 1A has an engagement hole 1B
An engagement member 5 pressed by a spring 4 is pivotally attached to the battery pack 3, and a lock release switch 5A provided at the tip of the engagement member 5 engages with the engagement hole 1B. It is supposed to.

In this embodiment, the attaching / detaching operation is also performed in the first manner.
What is necessary is just to carry out similarly to an Example.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, an engaging hole is formed by opening a casing of a mounting portion of a power tool to which a battery pack is mounted, and the power tool is mounted on the battery pack. Since the engaging claw that elastically engages and locks the engaging hole is provided at a portion facing the engaging hole when housed in the portion, in other words, a simple configuration ensures reliable operation. Since the locking and unlocking can be performed, the manufacturing cost of the battery pack can be reduced as much as possible, and the battery pack can be easily mounted and removed, and can be provided with high reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an electric tool to which a lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing the lock mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a modification of the lock mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power tool main body 2 Battery pack 2A, 5A Lock release switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A battery pack for a power tool which contains a secondary battery and is detachably mounted on a main body of the power tool, wherein a casing of a mounting portion of the power tool to which the battery pack is mounted is opened and engaged. A hole is provided, and the battery pack is provided with a lock release switch that elastically engages with and locks in the engaging hole at a portion facing the engaging hole when housed in the mounting portion of the power tool. A lock mechanism for a battery pack for a power tool. 2. The lock mechanism for a battery pack for a power tool according to claim 1, wherein the engaging claw is formed integrally with a casing of the battery pack.