Modular cordless tools

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module including a casing forming a hand grip and enclosing rechargeable battery means and electric switch means on said handle manipulatable by an operator having his hand on the hand grip thereof;

• a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, and an electric motor within said housing for driving said output means;
• said tool head housing and said power handle casing having slidably interengageable and disengageable means formed thereon for retaining said power handle and tool head together, said slidable means including matching pilot surfaces provided on said power handle casing and said tool head housing, said pilot surfaces each being elongated and extending substantially across the maximum dimension of one side of said casing and said housing, respectively;
• electrical connector means exposed on the interengaged faces of said power handle module and tool head module and electrically engaging one another when said power handle and tool head are assembled together, said electrical connector means being connected to said rechargeable battery means and said switch, and to said tool output means, respectively, whereby said electrical connection is automatically made when said parts are assembled, said motor and said output means being controlled by operation of said switch operator on said handle.

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module including a casing forming a hand grip and enclosing rechargeable battery means and electric switch means on said handle manipulatable by an operator having his hand on the hand grip thereof;

• a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, and an electric motor within said housing for driving said output means;
• said tool head housing and said power handle casing including complementary surfaces thereon, each of said surfaces having a length and a width, said length being greater than said width, each of said surfaces having slidably interchangeable and disengageable means formed thereon for retaining said power handle and tool head together, said slidable means comprising complementarily tapered male and female interconnecting means respectively disposed on said modules and elongated in the direction of said length dimension of said surfaces to provide a strong mechanical coupling therebetween;
• electrical connector means exposed on the interengaged faces of said power handle module and tool head module and electrically engaging one another when said power handle and tool head are assembled together, said electrical connector means being connected to said rechargeable battery means and said switch, and to said tool output means, respectively, whereby said electrical connection is automatically made when said parts are assembled, said motor and said output means being controlled by operation of said switch operator on said handle.

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module including a casing forming a hand grip and enclosing rechargeable battery means and electric switch means on said handle manipulatable by an operator having his hand on the hand grip thereof;

• a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, and an electric motor within said housing for driving said output means;
• said tool head housing and said power handle casing having slidably interengageable and disengageable means formed thereon for retaining said power handle and tool head together, said slidable means including matching pilot surfaces provided on said power handle casing and said tool head housing, said pilot surfaces each being elongated and extending substantially across the maximum dimension of one side of said casing and said housing, respectively, said slidable means further including complementarily tapered male and female interconnecting means respectively disposed on said modules to provide a strong mechanical coupling therebetween;
• electrical connector means exposed on the interengaged faces of said power handle module and tool head module and electrically engaging one another when said power handle and tool head are assembled together, said electrical connector means being connected to said rechargeable battery means and said switch, and to said tool output means, respectively, whereby said electrical connection is automatically made when said parts are assembled, said motor and said output means being controlled by operation of said switch operator on said handle.

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module including a casing forming a hand grip and enclosing rechargeable battery means and electric switch means on said handle manipulatable by an operator having his hand on the hand grip thereof;

• a tool head including a housing, output means on said housing, and an electric motor within said housing for driving said output means;
• said tool head housing and said power handle casing including complementary surfaces thereon, each of said surfaces having a length and a width, said length being greater than said width, each of said surfaces having slidably interengageable and disengageable means formed thereon for retaining said power handle and tool head together, said means being elongated in the direction of said length of said surfaces, latch means for retaining said power handle and said tool head in assembled relationship, electrical connector means exposed on the interengaged faces of said power handle and tool head and electrically engaging one another when said power handle and tool head are assembled together, said electrical connector means being connected to said rechargeable battery means and said switch, and to said tool output means, respectively, whereby said electrical connection is automatically made when said parts are assembled, said motor and said output means being controlled by operation of said switch operator on said handle.

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module including a casing forming a hand grip and enclosing rechargeable battery means and an electric switch, a switch operator on said handle casing and manipulatable by an operator having his hand on the hand grip thereof, lock-off means on said casing for normally preventing operation of said switch operator, means biassing said lock-off means into engagement with said switch operator for causing automatic operation of said lock-off means when the operator releases control thereof;

• a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, said tool head housing and said power handle casing including complementary surfaces thereon, each of said surfaces having a length and a width, said length being greater than said width, each of said surfaces having slidably interengageable and disengageable means formed thereon for retaining said power handle and tool head together, said means being elongated in the direction of said length of said surfaces, electrical connector means exposed on the interengaged faces of said power handle and tool head and electrically engaging one another when said power handle and tool head are assembled together, said electrical connector means being connected to said rechargeable battery means and said switch, and to said tool output means, respectively, whereby said electrcial connection is automatically made when said parts are assembled, said output means being controlled by operation of said switch operator on said handle.

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module having an enclosing casing, said casing forming a four-sided closed loop about a central opening, one of said sides being configured to provide a hand grip, a plurality of battery cells enclosed within said casing, switch means comprising an electric switch mounted within said casing and a switch operator extending externally of said casing for engagement and manipulation by an operator having his hand in place on said hand grip, a second side of said power handle being provided with a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, means internally of said casing connecting said contacts with said battery cells, an elongated pilot surface extending along the maximum dimension of said second side of said power handle;

• a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, one side of said housing having electrical contact means exposed thereon for interengagement with said electrical contacts on said power handle, an elongated pilot region exposed in said one side of said tool head housing and extending along a maximum dimension thereof for engaging said pilot surface on said power handle;
• and complementary male and female interconnection means provided respectively on said second side of said power handle and on said one side of sadi tool-housing permitting sliding interengagement and disengagement of said power handle and said tool head, said tool head module being stably connected mechanically to said power handle module and electrically connected to said batteries when said power handle and said tool head are engaged.

A modular, cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module having an enclosing casing, said casing forming a four-sided closed loop about a central opening, one of said sides being configured to provide a hand grip, a plurality of battery cells enclosed within said casing, switch means comprising an electric switch mounted within said casing and a switch operator extending externally of said casing within said closed loop for engagement and manipulation by an operator having his hand in place on said hand grip, a second side of said power handle being provided with a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, means internally of said casing connecting said contacts with said battery cells, an elongated pilot surface extending along the maximum dimension of said second side of said power handle;

• a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, one side of said housing having electrical contact means exposed thereon for interengagement with said electrical contacts on said power handle, an elongated pilot region exposed in said one side of said tool head housing and extending in the direction of a maximum dimension thereof for engaging said pilot surface on said power handle;
• and complementary male and female interconnection means provided respectively on said second side of said power handle and on said one side of said tool-housing permitting sliding interengagement and disengagement of said power handle and said tool head, said tool head module being stably connected mechanically to said power handle module and electrically connected to said batteries when said power handle and said tool head are engaged;
• and lock-off means provided on said power handle module, said lock-off means preventing operation of said switch means until said lock-off means is positively released whereby accidental energization of said output means during assembly of said power handle module and said tool head module is prevented.

A tool head module adapted to be supplied with controlled electric power from an independent modular power handle comprising an electric motor;

• output means, interconnecting means drivingly connecting said electric motor to said output means;
• a housing enclosing said motor, one surface of said housing encompassing a plurality of electrical contacts exposed therein;
• means connecting said contacts to said motor for energization thereof when power is applied to said contacts;
• said one surface further comprising elongated mechanical interconnection means adapted to mate with complementary means on a separate module;
• and a pilot region extending along substantially the complete length of the maximum dimension of said one surface for accurately and stably locating said tool head module against a corresponding surface.

A power handle adapted for use with a variety of tool head accessories comprising a generally rectangular housing, the four sides of said housing forming a closed loop about a central opening;

• one side of said four sides being shaped to provide a comfortable hand grip for an operator;
• rechargeable battery cells enclosed within said housing, switch means within said housing including a switch operator extending outwardly of said housing at said hand grip portion for manipulation by the operator;
• a piloting surface for receiving and stabilizing tool head accessories mounted on said handle, said piloting surface extending substantially the entire longitudinal length of a second side of said four sides;
• an electrical contact means exposed on said side including said pilot surface, means interconnecting said switch, said battery cells and said electrical contact to provide an output voltage between said electrical contacts when said switch is actuated;
• and tapered means on said second side of said housing for slidably interengaging with complementary tapered means on said tool head accessories for providing a strong but disengageable coupling therebetween.

A power handle adapted for use with a variety of tool head accessories comprising a generally rectangular housing, the four sides of said housing forming a closed loop about a central opening;

• one side of said four sides being shaped to provide a comfortable hand grip for an operator;
• rechargeable battery cells enclosed within said housing, switch means within said housing including a switch operator extending outwardly of said housing at said hand grip portion for manipulation by the operator, lock-off means normally preventing operation of said switch means, said lock-off means being movable by a positive manipulation by said operator to a position permitting operation of said switch means;
• a piloting surface for receiving and stabilizing tool head accessories mounted on said handle, said piloting surface extending substantially the entire longitudinal length of a second side of said four sides;
• an electrical contact means exposed on said side including said pilot surface, means interconnecting said switch, said battery cells and said electrical contact to provide an output voltage between said electrical contacts when said switch is actuated;
• and tapered means on said second side of said housing for slidably interengaging with complementary tapered means on said tool head accessories for providing a strong but disengageable coupling therebetween.

A modular cordless electric tool assembly comprising a power handle module including a casing forming a hand-grip and enclosing rechargeable battery means, an electric switch means on said handle manipulatable by an operator having his hand on the hand-grip thereof, one surface of said casing including exposed electrical contacts connected to said switch and said battery, an extended pilot surface, and mechanical interconnection means for receiving complementary means on a separate module for engagement and disengagement thereof;

• an extension module comprising first and second housing and a support member extending between said first and said second housings, said first housing having a surface including a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, an exposed pilot region complementary to said pilot surface on said power handle module, and mechanical interconnection means complementary to said mechanical interconnection means on said power handle module;
• said second housing having a surface including a plurality of exposed electrical contacts, a pilot surface extending therein, and mechanical interconnection means adapted to be engaged with complementary interconnection means on a separate module, and conductive means extending between said plurality of electrical contacts in said first housing and said plurality of electrical contacts in said second housing;
• and a tool head module including a housing, output means on said housing, and an electric motor within said housing for driving said output means upon energization by said battery means, said tool head housing including mechanical interconnection means complementary to said mechanical interconnection means provided on said second housing, a pilot region and a plurality of exposed electrical contacts;
• said modules in assembled relationship providing a self-contained cordless electric power tool wherein said support member forms an extension between said power handle module and said tool head module.

A modular, battery-powered electric appliance comprising a first module, said first module having a housing enclosing battery means, switch means and conductive means interconnecting said battery and said switch;

• a plurality of electrical contacts exposed on one surface of said housing and interconnected with said battery means and said switch means;
• an elongated, substantially flat pilot area surrounding said electrical contacts and extending across the maximum dimensions of said surface;
• a pair of elongated interconnection means disposed on opposite sides of said pilot area for receiving complementary interconnection means on a separate module;
• a tool head comprising a second, independent module, said tool head including a housing, output means extended from said housing, an electric motor within said housing drivingly connected to said output means;
• a plurality of electrical contacts exposed on a surface of said tool head housing and connected to said motor;
• an elongated flat pilot region extending across a maximum dimension of said surface and including a substantial portion of said surface within which said contacts are exposed;
• a pair of interconnection means extending on opposite sides of said pilot region, said interconnection means on said tool head being complementary to said interconnection means on said power handle module whereby said tool head module and said power handle module can be assembled to provide an operative power tool upon engagement of said respective interconnection means;
• said flat pilot area and said flat pilot region being slidably abutted during assembly to produce secure, accurate alignment of said modules in assembled relationship;
• and said respective pluralities of electrical contacts providing for energization of said electric motor from said battery when said switch means is operated.