Cordless power tool system

A method of charging a battery pack for a cordless power tool, the battery pack including positive and negative blade terminals disposed between laterally spaced apart guide rails, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a battery charger having a housing and positive and negative female terminals recessed within said housing, said housing further having an open deck and a coupling portion having a pair of laterally spaced grooves;
• vertically engaging said open deck with the battery pack;
• horizontally translating the battery pack toward said coupling portion;
• electrically coupling said positive and negative female terminals with said positive and negative male terminals, respectively;
• and
• mechanically coupling the battery pack and said charger by slidably engaging the guide rails with said grooves such that vertical displacement of the battery pack relative to said charger is prevented.

A system of cordless power tools comprising:

• a rechargeable battery pack having a housing and a battery terminal block, the housing being formed by at least two housing shells, the battery terminal block being disposed between the housing shells and including a positive blade terminal and a negative blade terminal;
• a battery charger having a charger housing, a positive charger terminal and a negative charger terminal, the positive and negative charger terminals being recessed within the charger housing and configured to engage the positive and negative blade terminals;
• and
• a cordless power tool having a tool housing, a positive tool terminal and a negative tool terminal, the positive and negative tool terminals being recessed within the tool housing and configured to engage the positive and negative blade terminals.