Black Decker Inc.

Alvydas P Karasa

Roderick F Bunyea

Philip T Miller

Allen P Smith

Thomas J Howard, Jr

Thomas James Wheeler

Alfred H Judge

Timothy G Pugh

Carroll M Gantz

A power tool has a mechanism to reverse a motor. The mechanism includes a first member secured with the motor surrounding the motor commutator. A pair of electrical contacts are supported in the first member. A second member is rotatable on the fist member. The second member carries a pair of brush holders which include electrical contacts. As the second member is rotated in the first member, the electrical contacts of the brush holders, as well as the electrical contacts in the first member, electrically couple with one another from a first position to a second position which relates to a forward and reverse direction of the motor. A lever moves the second member between its first and second positions.

Reversing mechanism for electric motors

A battery retention latch (50, 140) comprises an annular ring member (52, 142), a release button (54, 172, 174) and a spring arm (156, 190, 192, 194, 196). The annular ring (52, 142) retains a battery pack (26) in a cordless device (20, 120) regardless of the annular orientation of the battery pack (26) about a casing axis. The spring arm (56, 190, 192, 194, 196) maintains the ring (52, 142) in a normally engaged position and upon depressing the push button (54, 172, 174), the battery (26) may be removed from the device (20, 120).

Battery pack retaining latch for cordless device

A battery retention latch (350) comprises a retaining member (354), a release button (356) and a cam element (362). A biasing member 358 maintains the retention catch in a normally engaged position. The cam element (362) retains a battery pack (26) in a cordless device (352) regardless of the annular orientation of the battery pack (26) about a casing axis. A holding device (382, 394) maintains the battery (26) in the cavity (34) against a spring ejecting force such that the battery (26) partially extends from the device (352) enabling the battery (26) to be removed from the device (352).

An enclosure 12 for a disposable battery pack 10 for a cordless power tool consists of a pair of end caps 26, 28 retained on the opposite ends of the pack by a central sleeve 30 of adhesive tape. The end caps are of unitary construction, formed from thin plastic sheet, and include raised terminal covers 32, 34, 36 for shielding exposed terminals 20, 22, 24 from inadvertent outside contact. Each terminal cover has a severable tip 50 which is removed when the pack is to be used, to provide an opening 56 for insertion of a terminal connector 60.

Terminal cover for a battery pack

A storing and recharging base for a cordless electric vacuum cleaner of the type which includes an elongated housing having an electric motor and fan and rechargeable batteries therein. The base has a flat bottom and key slots so that it can rest on a horizontal flat surface or be hung on a wall. The base has an upper surface contoured generally complementary to the lower surface of the vacuum cleaner housing, and has a pocket at one end which receives a nose portion of the vacuum cleaner, and a spring at the other end which releasably engages in a recess in the vacuum cleaner so that the vacuum cleaner can be stored on a horizontal surface, e.g. on a counter top or shelf, or in a drawer, or can conveniently be hung on a wall. The base also has a plug which electrically engages a receptacle in the vacuum cleaner connected to the batteries. A line cord connects the plug to a charger plug which includes a transformer and a plug for insertion into an A.C. outlet so that the batteries can be continuously recharged when the vacuum cleaner is stored on the base. The base is formed with wireways in which the line cord can be wrapped to vary the length of the line cord extending from the base.

Growing community of inventors

Fallston, MD, United States of America

Alvydas P Karasa