Black Decker Inc.

John R Dixon

James R Parks

Roderick F Bunyea

Robert A Meloni

Heinrich P Koehler

A charger 11 is configured to receive alternatively for charging, one at a time, battery packs having three different shapes, namely, a large oval pack 213 (FIG. 10), a small oval pack 219 (FIG. 11) and a D-shaped pack 225 (FIG. 12). When pack 219) is inserted into receptacle 25, a pack locater 77 biases pack 219 against the receptacle sidewall 29 and into a location to properly mate with electrical contacts 65, 66. When pack 225 is inserted into receptacle 25, locater 77 biases pack 225 against a retractable abutment 85 spaced from locater 77 and into a proper location to mate with contacts 65, 66. When pack 213 is inserted into receptacle 25, receptacle contacts 47, 49 mate with pack terminals 24. When pack 213 is in receptacle 25, contacts 65, 66, pack locater 77 and abutmet 85 serve no function and are substantially retracted from receptacle 25 by engagement with pack sidewall 216. Thus, charger 11 is automatically adaptable for charging a plurality of battery pack designs in a simple and low cost manner.

Charger with universal battery pack receptacle

A two-speed gear box for handheld electric drills and the like has the movable parts associated with gear changing on or associated with a lay shaft. Gear changing is preferably effected by moving a pair of dogs, slidably mounted in holes through a lay shaft gear, to drivingly engage in either of two dog clutch members on the lay shaft. A thin flexible arm, preferably including a ring around the lay shaft, mounted in cantilever fashion from a movable base effects movement of the dogs. Should the dogs not be in proper register with a respective dog clutch member when changing speed, then the arm flexes and urges the dogs into driving engagement when proper register occurs. A family of two-speed drills having different specialized functions, e.g. a drill, a hammer drill, a screwdriver/drill, a screwdriver, etc., can be produced with the maximum parts in common enabling greater manufacturing flexibility and lower cost of manufacturing the family. Essentially the only parts different for different members of the family need be the gear box output shaft and the specialized function parts associated directly therewith. Advantageously, a family of battery operated tools can be provided in this way.

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Hampstead, MD, United States of America

John R Dixon