WO1998047404A1

WO1998047404A1 - Battery belt assembly and related methods

Info

Publication number: WO1998047404A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/000647
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mckay H. Davis
Original assignee: Davis Mckay H
Priority date: 1997-04-21
Filing date: 1998-01-08
Publication date: 1998-10-29
Also published as: AU5915998A

Abstract

A battery belt assembly (10) for powering an electric device, such as a power tool (38, 46) at a remote location. The belt assembly includes a number of electrical power sources (14) removably attached to the belt (16). Such removable attachment of the power sources enables a user to selectively remove power deleted power sources for recharging purposes. Additionally, the battery belt assembly may have multiple power sources disposed thereon to enable more than one power tool to be powered by the battery belt assembly simultaneously.

Description

BATTERY BELT ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHODS

Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a battery belt assembly for carrying portable power sources and, more particularly, to a battery belt assembly with selectively removable electrical power sources disposed thereon for providing power to a power tool at a remote site.

Background Art

Portable electrical devices, such as electric power tools are frequently used at remote sites, especially in the construction and the landscaping industries. In the past, electrical power has been supplied to electrical devices at these remote sites, with great difficulty, via an extension cord from a generator, an extension cord from a permanent power outlet, or a battery housed in the tool itself.

These conventional methods of providing electrical power to an electrical device, such as a power tool at a remote site have certain disadvantages associated with them. For example, in many construction and landscaping applications, there are frequently no readily accessible permanent power outlets nearby. The use of portable electrical generators to supply power to these remote sites is often inconvenient or prohibited due to the cost, weight, size, and limited capabilities of electrical generators. Providing electrical power to electrical devices at remote sites via long electrical extension cords from either a generator or a permanent .power outlet is also problematic. One problem associated with long extension cords is that they often become tangled, unplugged, or both. Additionally, due to their length, electrical extension cords are cumbersome as they must be carefully unwound prior to each use and rewound after each use. Even when properly wound, long extension cords are bulky, heavy, and thus inconvenient to transport.

Additionally, the provision of power to a power tool via a long extension cord invariably creates a trip hazard for those who need to pass over the extension cord. Likewise, long extension cords which cross roads or other thoroughfares are frequently damaged by the traffic which passes over them, thus creating a potential electrical hazard. Moreover, in circumstances where a number of power tools powered by a number of extension cords are used in proximity with one another, the cords tend to become tangled which creates a potentially dangerous web of extension cords. The provision of electrical power to power tools by a battery housed within the power tool is also an inadequate solution. Batteries, by their nature; are inherently heavy. Thus, mounting a battery with significant power providing capabilities within a hand-held electrical device, such as a power tool, substantially increases the weight of the device. Such an increase in tool weight is highly undesirable because the heavier tool, the more difficult it is to maneuver. Further, a heavier tool is also undesirable because it causes the user's arm to become fatigued more quickly from having to maneuver and operate the heavier, battery-carrying, power tool. Lastly, many electrical devices, such as power tools, are used in relatively abusive applications, such as in the construction and landscaping industries where equipment is often subjected to relatively rough treatment. Accordingly, the power tools and power sources for power tools used in construction and landscaping applications which are not durably formed, often have short useful lives due to damage caused by the abusive nature of the work. Previous attempts to provide power to power tools have not been sufficiently durable to withstand the harsh treatment such tools and devices often receive.

Disclosure of Invention

In brief summary, the present invention overcomes or substantially alleviates prior art problems related to the provision of electrical power to electrical devices, such as power tools, and the like at remote sites. The present invention provides a novel, durable, electrical power source removably attached to a battery belt for providing a convenient supply of electrical power to an electrical device such as a power tool. The present invention also provides unique methodology by which electric devices, such as power tools, may be provided with power at remote sites.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with prior art methods and devices for providing, at a remote site, electrical power to electrical devices, such as power tools and the like.

Another object of importance is the provision of a novel battery belt assembly. A further paramount object is the provision of a battery belt assembly with at least one source of electrical power removably attached to the belt for conveniently supplying power to an electric device, such as a power tool.

It is an object of considerable value to provide a source of electrical power which is durable and substantially waterproof in removable attachment with a belt. It is a dominant object to provide a battery belt assembly capable of simultaneously supplying power to a plurality of electrical devices, such as power tools.

It is a valuable object to provide a method of providing electrical power to an electrical device, such as a power tool, without significantly increasing the weight of the electrical device. It is an object of significance to provide a source of electrical power for an electrical device, such as a power tool, the weight of which is carried at the waist portion of the user's body.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective of a battery belt assembly formed in accordance-with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the battery belt assembly of Figure 1 disposed around a user's waist portion and supplying power to two electrical devices;

Figure 3 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment of a battery belt assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective fragmentary representation of an electrical power source formed in accordance with the present invention comprising a plurality of batteries disposed in a synthetic resinous foam and encapsulated by a synthetic resinous layer or skin; and

Figure 5 is a perspective representation of a battery charger recharging electrical power sources formed in accordance with the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference is -now made to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout. Figure 1 illustrates a battery belt assembly formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates the battery belt assembly of Figure 1 disposed around a user's waist portion. Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of a battery belt assembly formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates the internal structure of an electrical power source formed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates a number of electrical power sources according to the present invention being recharged by a conventional battery charger.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a battery belt assembly 10. Battery belt assembly 10 is shown as comprising pouches 12, electrical power sources 14 disposed within the pouches 12, a belt 16, and a conventional belt buckle 18. As illustrated, each of the four pouches 12 shown in Figure 1 is removably attached to the belt 16. While the belt 16 is illustrated as having four pouches 12 removably attached thereto, different numbers of battery pouches 12 may be effectively employed.

Each pouch 12 is shown as comprising a hollow pocket portion 20 with a flap 22 attached thereto. As illustrated, each flap 22 is sized to at least partially cover an electrical power source 14 disposed within the pocket portion 20 and comprises a flap front portion 24. To secure the flap front portion 24 to the pocket portion 20, fasteners 26 and 28 are provided on the flap front portion 24 and the pocket portion 20, respectively. While fasteners 26 and 28 are illustrated in Figure 1 as comprising hook and loop fasteners, fasteners 26 and 28 may comprise any suitable fastener, such as snaps, buttons, clips, clasps, or the like. The battery pouches 12 are also illustrated as being removably attached to the belt 16 by clips 30. Clips 30 are shown as being attached to the flap 22 of the pouch 12, but may also be attached to the pocket portion 20 of the pouch 12. The clips 30 enable a user 32 to selectively attach and detach an electrical power source 14 to the belt 16. While the ends of the belt 16 may be fastened together in any suitable manner, the belt 16 is illustrated as comprising a conventional belt buckle fastener 18 disposed at one end thereof to permit the user 32 to selectively secure the belt 16 about the user's waist portion 34. The belt 16 is illustrated in Figure 1 as comprising a plurality of apertures 36 which permit the user 32 to selectively vary the diameter of the belt 16, thus enabling its use around users of different sizes. The belt 16 may be formed of any suitable belt material, such as leather, nylon, or the like.

An electrically powered device, such as an electric power tool 38 may be powered by an electrical power source 14 removably attached to the belt 16. While the power tool 38 is illustrated in Figure 2 as comprising an electrically powered drill, the power tool 38 may comprise a wide range of electrically powered tools, including, but not limited to, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers, grass shears, saws, grinders, buffers, etc. Additionally, other electrically powered devices, such as lighting or communication equipment, may also be powered by the electrical power source 14.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electric power tool 38 is electrically connected with the electrical power source 14 via a coiled conductor cord 40. The coiled conductor cord 40 is illustrated as being electrically connected with the power tool 38 at cord end 42 and electrically connected with the jack 43 of electrical power source 14 at cord end 44. It is through the conductor cord 40 that electrical power is transferred from the electrical power source 14 to the power tool 38.

With reference to Figure 2, the battery belt assembly 10 may be conveniently used to simultaneously power more than one power tool. As illustrated, a second electrically powered device, such as second power tool 46 may be connected with an electrical power source 14 attached to battery belt assembly 10 via a second coiled conductor cord 48 which is connected at one end 50 with the second electric power tool 46 and at the other end 52 with an electrical power source 14, illustrated as being disposed within pouch 12. Being able to power more than one electrical device from the belt assembly

10, enables the user 32 to simultaneously operate more than one power tool 38 from the belt assembly 10 so as to avoid the need to disconnect the first power tool 38 in order to reconnect a second power tool 46. As shown in Figure 2, the second power tool 46 may be connected with an electrical power source 14 disposed on battery belt assembly 10 so as to enable a second user 54 to operate the second power tool 46 simultaneously with the first user 32 operating the power tool 38.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment battery belt assembly 56 according to the present invention. As shown, the battery belt assembly 56 comprises a belt 57 which comprises a conventional belt buckle fastener 59 disposed at one end thereof and belt apertures 61 formed in the opposite end of the belt 57 to facilitate fastening of the belt ends. As shown, the electrical power sources 14 have disposed on an exterior surface 55 fasteners 58 which are illustrated as comprising hook and loop fasteners, but which may comprise any suitable fastener, such as snaps, buttons, clips, clasps, or the like. Similarly, the belt 57 has fasteners 60 secured thereon which are also illustrated as comprising hook and loop fasteners, but which may satisfactorily comprise a wide range of known fasteners.

In operation, the electrical power sources 14 are removably attached to the belt 57 by removably attaching fasteners 58 with fasteners 60. Such a removable attachment is advantageous in that it permits the user to quickly disconnect an electrical power source 14 after the power stored therein has been substantially depleted, or at any other time. The attachment of a charged or other electrical power source 14 is accomplished by connecting fastener 58 with fastener 60. Turning now to Figure 4, the internal structure of an electrical power source

14 is illustrated as comprising a two-layer array of four batteries 58 of commercially purchased type which are preferably rechargeable. When operable, the batteries 58 are electrically interconnected so as to constitute a single power source. While the electrical power source 14 may comprise a variety of shapes, sizes, and voltages, a generally rectangular or oval power source 14 having a voltage on the order of 12 volts is satisfactory.

The electrical power source 14 is illustrated as comprising four batteries 58. However, different numbers of batteries may be effectively employed. As illustrated, the batteries 58 are held together by the use of a bonding material 60. To house and protect the batteries 58, the batteries are substantially encapsulated on all sides by a layer of synthetic resinous foam 62 which is enclosed within an exterior layer or skin 64 formed of a substantially solid, substantially impervious synthetic resinous material. The encapsulation of the batteries 58 by the synthetic resinous foam 62 and by the exterior layer or skin 64 imparts increased durability and water resistivity to the electrical power supply 14. The high durability and water resistivity of the electrical power supply 14 is particularly advantageous in construction or landscaping applications where a battery belt assembly of the present invention may be subject to abuse or rough treatment. Figure 5 illustrates a battery charger 66. As illustrated, the battery charger 66 comprises control knobs 65, gauge 67, and electrical jacks 68. To connect an electrical power source 14 to the battery charger 66 for recharging, one end 69 of a battery charger cable 70 is inserted into an electrical jack 68. The other end 71 of the battery charger cable 70 is inserted into the electrical power source jack 43 of an electrical power source 14. With the battery charger 66, the battery charger cable 70, and the electrical power sources 14 configured as illustrated in Figure 5, the electrical power sources 14 may be effectively recharged by the battery charger 66 while being disconnected from the belt 16 or 57. However, while Figure 5 illustrates the electrical power sources 14 being recharged while disconnected from a belt, the electrical power sources 14 may be similarly recharged while connected to a belt.

In operation, a user 32 secures the belt 16 or 57 about the user's waist portion 34 by engaging the buckle fastener 18 or 59 with the belt apertures 36 or 61. With the belt secured about the user's waist portion, a portable power source, such as the electrical power source 14, is removably attached to the belt. This removable attachment may be accomplished a number of ways, such as, by clipping the power source directly to belt, by positioning the electrical power source within a pouch 12 comprising flap 30 and clipping the pouch to the belt, by hook and loop fastener attachment, or by snaps, buttons, clasps, or the like. Advantageously, a plurality of electrical power sources 14 are removably secured to the belt for additional power resources. A connector cord 40 which is illustrated in Figure 2 as being coiled, electrically interconnects an electrically powered device such as electric power tool 38 with the electrical jack 43 of an electrical power source 14. In such a configuration, the electrical power source 14 serves as a portable power source for the power tool 38, enabling the user to operate the electrical power tool with a power supply conveniently carried at the user's waist portion 34. Optionally, a second connector cord 48, which is illustrated in Figure 2 as being coiled, may be connected to a second electrical power source removably attached to the belt 16 about the user's waist portion 34. The second coiled connector cord 48 provides power to a second power tool 46 which may be operated by a second user 54, by the first user 32, or by both.

Once the stored power of the electrical power source 14 is substantially depleted, or at any other time, the user 32 may disconnect the connector cord end 44 from the electrical power source jack 43 and reconnect the cord end 44 to the jack 43 of a second electrical power source disposed on the belt 16 or 57 to provide additional power for the tool 38. Additionally, when one or more electrical power sources 14 are disposed on the belt 16 or 57 become substantially power-depleted, or at any other time, the electrical power source may be conveniently disconnected form the belt and from the connector cord 40 or 48. Once disconnected, the electrical power source 14 may be recharged by interconnecting the electrical jack 43 of the electrical power supply 14 with a battery charger 66 via battery charger cables 70, as illustrated in Figure 5. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

Claims

Claims: 1. In combinations a first hand-held electric power tool; a belt comprising an elongated base sized to be worn about a waist portion of a user; a first source of electrical power removably attached to the belt elongated base, the first source of electrical power comprising at least one battery substantially encapsulated in a synthetic resinous material; a first conductor cord electrically connecting the first hand-held electric power tool and the first source of electrical power.

2. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the synthetic resinous material further comprises a synthetic resinous foam.

3. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the battery comprises a 12 volt battery.

4. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the first source of electrical power is removably attached to the elongated base of the belt by hook and loop fasteners.

5. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the first source of electrical power further comprises a clip coupled to the first source of electrical power to removably attach the first source of electrical power to the base of the belt.

6. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the first source of electrical power further comprises a plurality of electrically interconnected batteries grouped together.

7. A combination according to Claim 1 further comprising: a second hand-held electric power tool; - - a second source of electrical power removably attached to the elongated base of the belt, the second source of electrical power comprising at least one battery encapsulated in a substantially impervious sheath formed of a synthetic resinous material; the second source of electrical power being removable from the elongated base of the belt independent from the first source of electrical power; a second conductor cord electrically connecting with the second hand-held electric power tool with the second source of electrical power. ΓÇó

8. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the battery further comprises a rechargeable battery.

9. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the first conductor cord is at least partially coiled.

10. A combination according to Claim 1 further comprising: a pouch comprising a hollow interior and an exterior surface; a clip affixed to the pouch exterior surface; the pouch being clipped to the belt elongated base; the first source of electrical power being positioned within the pouch hollow interior.

11. A method of providing power to at least one electric power tool comprising the steps of: - - . providing a first electric power tool; providing a belt sized to be worn about a waist portion of a user; securing the belt about a waist portion of a user; removably attaching a first portable power source to the belt; electrically connecting the first portable power source with the first electric power tool; providing power to the first electric power tool from the first portable power source.

12. A method according to Claim 11 further comprising the step of removably attaching a second portable power source to the belt.

13. A method according to Claim 11 further comprising the steps of: removably attaching a second portable power source to the belt; electrically disconnecting the first portable power source from the first electric power tool; electrically connecting the second portable power source with the first electric power tool.

14. A method according to Claim 11 further comprising the steps of: removably attaching a second portable power source to the belt; electrically connecting a second electric power tool with the second portable power source; providing power to the second electric power tool from the second portable power source.

15. A method according to Claim 11 further comprising the steps of: disconnecting the first portable power source from the belt; recharging the first portable power source.

16. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the removably attaching step further comprises the steps of: providing hook and loop fastening material on an exterior surface of the first portable power source; providing hook and loop fastening material on an exterior surface of the belt; affixing the first portable power source to the belt via the hook and loop fasting material disposed on both the first portable power source and the belt.

17. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the removably attaching step further comprises the steps of: providing a clip coupled with the first portable power source; clipping the first portable power source to the belt.

18. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the removably attaching step further comprises the steps of: providing a pouch; providing a clip coupled to the pouch; positioning the first portable power source within the pouch; clipping the pouch to the belt.

19. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the electrically connecting step further comprises the steps of: providing a coiled conductor cord having first and second ends; electrically connecting the conductor cord first end to the first portable power source; electrically connecting the conductor cord second end to the first electric power tool.

20. A battery belt assembly comprising: a hand-held power tool; - - a belt comprising an elongated base sized to be worn about the waist portion of a user; a plurality of electrical power sources removably attached to the belt elongated base, each electrical power source being individually removable from the belt elongated base; wherein each electrical power source comprises at least one battery substantially encapsulated in a synthetic resinous foam, the synthetic resinous foam being enclosed within a substantially impervious skin comprising a synthetic resinous material; a conductor cord comprising first and second ends, the conductor cord first end being electrically connected with the hand-held electric device and the conductor cord second end being electrically connected with the first source of electrical power.